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BAGHDAD , Iraq -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Iraq awarded a lucrative oil contract to BP and China National Petroleum Corp. , government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said Wednesday , while rejecting other companies ' offers for other oil fields . BP and China National Petroleum Corporation have won a lucrative oil contract in Iraq . The joint BP-CNPC bid was for the al-Rumeila oil field , one of the largest in the world . The energy companies are expected to increase production at the oil field by 50 percent , to 285,000 barrels a day , for a service charge of $ 2 for each additional barrel produced , al-Dabbagh said in a statement . The Iraqi government rejected bids for five other oil fields and a natural gas field because the bidders did not agree to the service charge set by the Ministry of Oil , he said . The Ministry of Oil rejected the idea that the failure to award more than one contract made the much-anticipated auction a flop . Iraq did not say how much the BP-CNPC bid was worth . It runs for 20 years . Oil Minister Hussein Shahrastani chaired the government-sponsored auction for the oil and natural gas field contracts Tuesday , after a day 's delay due to a sandstorm . Much of the auction was broadcast live on state television , which Ministry of Oil spokesman Assem Jihad told CNN was a sign of the transparency of the process . He said the government was satisfied with the auction , even though only one contract was awarded , because the contract was for Iraq 's largest oil field . Iraq plans to open bidding this year on 10 more oil fields and one natural gas field , all of which are undeveloped , Jihad said . The companies whose bids were rejected Tuesday have been given time to review their offers , he said . Iraq has some of the largest oil reserves in the world , with an estimated 115 billion barrels -- tying Iran for second place , behind Saudi Arabia 's 264 billion barrels , according to estimates from the Energy Information Administration in the United States . CNN 's Jomana Karadsheh in Baghdad contributed to this report . | Iraq awards lucrative oil contract to BP , China National Petroleum Corporation . The joint BP-CNPC bid was for the giant al-Rumeila oil field . Energy companies expected to increase production at the field by 50 percent . | [[34, 112], [232, 319], [320, 374], [34, 112], [232, 319], [320, 374], [411, 498]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Mr. Ravenblade , Mr. Xtreme , Dark Guardian and hundreds of others . Some with elaborate costumes , others with haphazardly stitched outfits , they are appearing on city streets worldwide watching over the populace like Superman watched over Metropolis and Batman over Gotham City . Geist patrols the Rochester , Minnesota , area , with a group of like-minded and similarly dressed colleagues . As people become disillusioned from financial woes and a downtrodden economy and look to put new purpose in their lives , everyday folks are taking on new personas to perform community service , help the homeless and even fight crime . `` The movement is growing , '' said Ben Goldman , a real-life superhero historian . Goldman , along with Chaim `` Life '' Lazaros and David `` Civitron '' Civitarese , runs the New York-based Web site Superheroes Anonymous as part of an initiative dedicated to organizing and making alliances with superhero groups . According to Goldman , who goes by the moniker Cameraman because of his prowess in documenting the movement , economic troubles are spawning real life superheroes . `` A lot of them have gone through a sort of existential crisis and have had to discover who they are , '' Goldman said . People are starting to put value in what they can do rather than what they have , he said . `` They realize that money is fleeting , it 's in fact imaginary . '' Estimates from the few groups that keep tabs put the worldwide total of real-life superheroes between 250 and 300 . Goldman said the numbers were around 200 just last summer . Mr. Ravenblade , laid off after a stint with a huge computer technology corporation , found inspiration for his new avocation a few years ago from an early morning incident in Walla Walla , Washington . `` I literally stepped into a woman 's attempted rape/mugging , '' Mr. Ravenblade said . While details were lost in the fog of the fight , he remembers this much : `` I did what I could , '' he said , adding that he stopped the crime and broke no laws . `` And I realized after doing what I did , that people do n't really look after people . '' Public response to real-life superheroes has been mixed , according to Mr. Xtreme , who founded the Xtreme Justice League in San Diego , California . `` Sometimes it 's been really positive with people saying , ` Woohoo , the superheroes are here , ' and then the usual barrage , saying ` Oh , these guys are losers . ' Other times people will look kind of freaked out , and then sometimes people just do n't know what to think about us . '' Like Peter Parker kept his Spider-Man identity from his editor boss , Mr. Extreme and Mr. Ravenblade have asked CNN editors to keep their identities secret . The current superhero movement started a few years ago on MySpace , as people interested in comics and cool caped crusaders joined forces , Goldman said . It goes beyond the Guardian Angel citizen patrols of the early 1980s , as the real-life superheroes of today apply themselves to a broadly defined ethos of simply doing good works . Watch Crimson Fist help the homeless in Atlanta '' Chris Pollak , 24 , of Brooklyn , New York , can attest to the appeal . `` A lot more people are either following it or wanting to go out and do it , '' Pollack , who goes by the name Dark Guardian , said . By `` do it , '' he means patrol the harrowing streets late at night . `` A lot of kids say they 're real-life superheroes -LSB- on MySpace -RSB- , '' Mr. Ravenblade said . `` But what are you doing ? Being in front of a computer is not helping anybody . '' Comic book legend Stan Lee , the brain behind heroes such as Spider-Man and the X-Men , said in his comic books doing good -- and availing one 's self -- was indeed the calling card for superheroes . `` If somebody is committing a crime , if somebody is hurting some innocent person , that 's when the superhero has to take over . '' See a photo gallery of some real-life superheroes '' `` I think it 's a good thing that people are eager enough to want to help their community . They think to do it is to emulate the superheroes , '' Lee said . `` Now if they had said they had super powers -LSB- that would be another thing -RSB- . '' Without super powers , real life superheroes confess to a mere-mortal workload , including helping the homeless , handing out fliers in high-crime areas and patrolling areas known for drug-dealing . Mr. Ravenblade said he and some of his superfriends would soon be trying to organize a Walk for Babies fundraiser in Portland , Oregon . `` We work with charities that help children , '' he said . `` We think a lot of crimes happen because of people who did n't get a lot of love when they were younger . We do what we can to help that there . '' `` Homeless outreach is the main thing I like to do , '' said Chaim `` Life '' Lazaros , of Superheroes Anonymous . `` We give out food , water , vitamins , toothbrushes . A lot of homeless people in my area know me , and they tell us about what they need . One homeless guy said ' I need a couple pair of clean underwear . ' '' For Christmas , Lazaros said his group raised $ 700 in gifts and brought them to kids at St. Mary 's Children 's Hospital in New York . `` They were so excited to see real-life superheroes , '' Lazaros said . iReport.com : Searching for Cincinnati 's caped crusader . Many of the real-life superheroes even initiate citizen 's arrests , but what 's legal varies by state . And in North Carolina citizen 's arrests are illegal . Real-life superheroes who grab a suspected villain may find themselves under a specter of trouble . `` Not a good idea , '' said Katy Parker , legal director for the ACLU of North Carolina . `` Seeing as how there 's no citizen 's arrest statute -LSB- in the state -RSB- , people who do this are running a serious risk of getting arrested for kidnapping , and being liable for false imprisonment . '' `` Vigilantism is never a good thing , '' said Bernard Gonzales , public information officer for the Chula Vista , California , Police Department . He 's had some interactions with real-life superheroes . `` The very best thing a private citizen can do is be a good witness . '' Mr. Ravenblade said he 's just that . `` If you 're a real-life superhero you follow the law . If you catch somebody you ca n't just tie them up and leave them for the cops , that 's for the comics . You have to wait for the cops and give them a statement , '' Mr. Ravenblade said . iReport.com : Cincinnati superhero speaks . While citizens helping out in the community is encouraged , Gonzales said the costumes can go . `` Where these people are out in public , and there 's children around and everything , and these people are not revealing their identities , it 's not a safe thing . '' But the costumes go with the gig , right down to the do-it-yourself approach to good deeds , including , apparently , recycling . `` The costume I have is simple , '' said Mr. Xtreme . `` I made it myself . I had a graphic designer design it for me and just took it down to the swap meet and had somebody imprint it on for me . '' `` The mask , '' an old bullfighter 's piece , `` I got from Tijuana . '' | `` The movement is growing , '' said Ben Goldman , of Superheroes Anonymous . Disillusioned with crime and recession , more people creating super personas . Many say they are simply bringing attention to crime and doing good works . | [[650, 676], [679, 698], [1237, 1254], [2882, 2896], [417, 490], [1078, 1132]] |
NEW DELHI , India -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Expanded testing across India in the past three years shows a 2,000 percent jump in the number of HIV cases among children , the country 's health minister announced Wednesday . An HIV-positive Indian child at a government treatment center . More than 14,000 children get free care . In November 2006 , health authorities counted 2,253 children in India with HIV , the virus that causes AIDS , Ghulam Nabi Azad told parliament . The number went up to a `` cumulative total '' of 52,973 in May this year , he said . The huge increase in the number of confirmed cases may be due to the expanded testing for the virus . India , home to more than a billion people , currently has 217 facilities for HIV/AIDS treatment and 5,155 counseling and testing centers . The minister insisted that overall , HIV prevalence had decreased in India from 0.45 percent in 2002 to 0.34 percent in 2007 . At present , 758,698 HIV-positive patients are being treated under the country 's AIDS control program , Azad said . More than 232,908 AIDS patients , including 14,474 children , are receiving free treatment at the designated facilities , he added . Authorities say mother-to-child transmission is a major source of infection among children . Last year , 19,986 pregnant women among more than 4 million tested were found to be HIV-positive , said Azad . Of them , 10,179 received treatment to prevent transmission to their babies . | Expanded testing across India shows 2,000 percent jump in child HIV cases . Increase in confirmed cases may be due to the expanded testing . Number up from 2,253 in 2006 to 52,973 , according to statistics . | [[0, 33], [91, 159], [552, 653], [617, 653], [552, 653], [617, 653], [466, 529]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Searchers have recovered the bodies of three people who were aboard a Yemenia Airways jet that crashed off the coast of Comoros in the Indian Ocean , a spokesman for Yemen 's Civil Aviation department said Tuesday . A man hugs a relative of one of the victims at an airport in Marseille in southern France . Capt. Mohammed Abdel Rahman Abdel Qadir also told reporters that a child who was reported found alive was a 5-year-old boy . He did not give further details of the child 's condition . `` The French said that -LRB- Wednesday -RRB- they will send more French units to the accident location in order to retrieve the bodies and possibly that they may be able to locate people who are still alive , '' he said . The Airbus 310 went down early Tuesday , carrying 142 passengers and 11 crew members on a flight that originated in Yemen 's capital , Sanaa . Qadir said the jet took off from Sanaa shortly before 10 p.m. Monday and vanished from radar when it was about 16 miles from Comoros ' capital , Moroni . Searchers have not located the plane 's data recorders , Qadir said , and investigators were not speculating on the cause of the crash . `` The weather conditions were indeed very troubling and the winds were very strong , reaching 61 kilometers per hour -LRB- 38 mph -RRB- , '' he said . `` That 's one thing . The other thing was that the sea was very rough when the plane approached landing at Moroni airport . '' But French Transport Minister Dominique Bussereau noted that several years ago France banned the plane , a A310-300 , because of safety concerns . `` People are talking about poor weather conditions , but for the moment , we are unsure , '' Bussereau said . `` It seems the plane may have attempted an approach , put on the gas , and attempted another approach , which then failed . For the moment , we must be careful because none of this information is verified . '' Qadir said it was too early to blame the aircraft for the crash . `` This plane is just like any other plane , '' he said . `` It can have a malfunction , but we do n't know what really happened before the investigation is over . And then we can determine if there is a technical issue , bad weather or anything else that may have led to the crash . '' It was the second crash involving an Airbus jet in a month . On June 1 , an Air France Airbus A330 crashed off Brazil while en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris , France . All 228 aboard are presumed dead . The cause remains under investigation . Recent plane crashes '' Former pilot and aviation analyst John Cox said there were no similarities between the two incidents . `` These are two dramatically different airplanes flown by two different airlines , '' Cox told CNN 's `` American Morning . '' `` The accidents happened at two different regimes of flight . And Airbus has hundreds of millions of hours flying safely . I do n't believe that ... we can draw any conclusions because the manufacturer was the same in these two very different types of accidents . '' At first , Comoros officials said there were no signs of survivors among the dead bodies floating in the choppy waters . But then rescuers found the child . Watch as airline describes child 's rescue '' Cox said it reminded him of the 1987 crash of Northwest Flight 255 in Detroit , Michigan , in which only a 4-year-old girl survived while 156 others died . `` This has come up before , and it 's where the toddler was seated -LRB- during the impact -RRB- that allowed them to survive , '' he said . `` It 's a miracle and I 'm glad ... the toddler is safe . I 'm just saddened for the loss of everybody else , '' he added . The Yemeni crash occurred as the plane approached the Hahaya airport in Moroni . The plane tried to land , then U-turned before it crashed , Comoros Vice President Idi Nadhoim said . Officials did not know why the plane could not land , he said . Flight 626 was expected to be a four-and-a-half-hour flight . The airline has three regular flights a week to Moroni , off the east coast of Africa , about 2,900 km -LRB- 1,800 miles -RRB- south of Yemen . The crash occurred about 1:30 a.m. , Nadhoim said . There was no indication of foul play behind the crash , the official in Yemen said . Yemenia Air had used the jet since 1999 on about 17,300 flights , Airbus officials said . The company said it would assist in investigating the crash . `` The concerns and sympathy of the Airbus employees go to the families , friends and loved ones affected by the accident , '' the company said in a statement . In the wake of the Air France crash on June 1 , United States accident investigators have been probing two recent failures of airspeed and altitude indications aboard Airbus A330s . One flight was between the United States and Brazil in May , and the other between Hong Kong and Japan in June . The planes landed safely and there were no injuries or damage , according to the National Transportation Safety Board . CNN 's Saad Abedine and Ayesha Durgahee contributed to this report . | NEW : Three bodies found ; French sending team to help search and rescue . A 5-year-old boy recovered alive from Yemeni jet crash in Indian Ocean . Jet was carrying more than 150 people to island of Comoros from Yemen . Crash occurs as plane tries to land at airport , official says . | [[19, 70], [536, 624], [327, 332], [333, 366], [372, 451], [3668, 3748], [3749, 3772], [3775, 3779]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- More than 100 police officers and others were searching Friday in a southeastern Louisiana parish for a murder suspect who escaped from jail with three other inmates , a law enforcement official said . Timothy Murray , 29 , who is charged with murder , remains at large , authorities in Louisiana say . Searchers are still focusing inside St. Tammany Parish , on the northern shore of Lake Pontchartrain , 30 miles north of New Orleans , said Capt. George Bonnett of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff 's Office . At large is Timothy Murray , 29 , who is charged with murder , Bonnett said . Authorities believe Murray may have been injured during the escape , but Bonnett would n't elaborate . The inmates escaped about 9 p.m. Thursday from the St. Tammany Parish Jail in Covington , Bonnett said . As many as 250 sheriff 's deputies , Covington police officers , Louisiana State police and corrections officials were involved in the search overnight , using dogs , two helicopters and thermal-imaging equipment loaned from Livingston Parish , Bonnett said . The other three men were found about 1:30 a.m. Friday in a wooded area about a mile from the jail , he said . Three of the inmates were awaiting trial ; one already had been convicted , Bonnett said . The captured inmates were Gary Slaydon , 27 ; Eric Buras , 30 , and Jason Gainey , 27 . Slaydon is charged with attempted murder . Buras is a murder suspect and Gainey has been convicted of murder , Bonnett said . He said the escape was not discovered until a resident and Covington police reported seeing what appeared to be inmates in jail uniforms walking down a street . About the time those calls came in , jailers were doing a routine head count and found the four men missing , Bonnett said . He said the means of escape was under investigation , but it has been determined that their escape was n't due to human error . He repeated what St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strain said early Friday : `` Four inmates were able to defeat the structure of the maximum security area of our jail . '' Deputies have canvassed neighborhoods , going door to door to warn residents that an inmate is still at large . | Four inmates escape from jail in St. Tammany Parish , Louisiana . Three found in area near jail north of New Orleans , official says . Man charged with murder remains at large , official says . Deputies canvassing neighborhoods in hunt for escapee . | [[121, 137], [142, 184], [710, 797], [221, 240], [272, 315], [2122, 2187], [2076, 2113], [2076, 2084], [2116, 2152]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Military hardware that can be used in nuclear devices and ground fighting can be easily purchased In the United States and shipped overseas , a government investigation revealed Thursday . This inclinometer , which can be . used in homemade bombs , was easily bought and shipped overseas . The Government Accountability Office -LRB- GAO -RRB- watchdog agency set up fake companies to obtain military and dual use items -- which have both military and commercial use -- in the United States and ship them overseas , according to a report made public at a House subcommittee hearing . The domestic purchases allow buyers to avoid U.S. restrictions on sales to foreign entities , it noted . Items purchased in the bogus transactions included parts for making nuclear devices and guiding missiles that could carry nuclear warheads , as well as night-vision devices , body armor and other hardware for ground combat , said the report provided to the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee . `` There appears to be a gigantic loophole within our laws that makes it easy for our enemies to get hold of our superior military technology and use it against us , '' said Rep. Bart Stupak , D-Michigan . Gregory Kutz , a GAO managing director who led the 13-month investigation , said it found `` sensitive dual-use and military technology can be easily and legally purchased from manufacturers and distributors within the United States and illegally exported without detection . '' He stressed that no laws were broken by any of the companies that sold items to the undercover GAO operation , and that the magnitude of trying to check all overseas travelers and shipments made it impossible to halt illegal export of the items under current law . Committee members said the lack of regulation or export controls made the situation particularly troubling . `` The scandal here may be what is legal , not what is illegal , '' said Rep. Greg Walden , R-Oregon . However , he warned against excessive regulations that could stifle necessary commerce in items used by law enforcement , medical and other industries . Kutz held up some of the items purchased by undercover investigators , including a small device that looked like a spark plug called a triggered spark gap . The item has medical applications and can also be used to detonate a nuclear weapon , he said . Kutz also displayed a small device called a gyro chip that can be used to steer guided missiles . Other items on display in the committee room included some used in improvised explosive devices -LRB- IEDs -RRB- that target U.S. soldiers in Iraq , as well as sophisticated body armor and night-vision devices . Undercover investigators complied with all required checks in purchasing the equipment , Kutz said , including the submission of end-user agreements that forbid exporting the equipment or using it in any nuclear , biological and missile weapons . Such documents amount to an `` honor system '' pledge , rather than any enforcement mechanism , he said . The only further checks involved are confirming the validity of credit cards and the existence of Web sites , Kutz said . Most of the transactions took place by e-mail and telephone calls . `` The kind of front company we used and the kind of scheme we used is the kind being used by terrorist organizations today , '' Kutz said . `` This was not a hypothetical situation ; this is being done . '' The investigation shipped some of the dual-use items to `` a country that is a known trans-shipment point for terrorist governments and foreign governments attempting to acquire sensitive technology , '' Kutz said . He declined to name the country , but said it was in southeast Asia and that the shipments were simple packages labeled documents and sent by regular mail . `` As GAO proves , a cardboard box and the U.S. Postal Service is all it takes to move dual-use items out of the country , '' said Rep. Edward Markey , D-Massachusetts . One of those duped by the investigation -- Nicholas Fitton , a technology dealer in Georgia -- told the committee he complied with all required checks in selling an F-16 engine computer to what he thought was a legitimate U.S. buyer . Asked by Stupak why anyone other than the military would need such a device , Fitton said his customers often are museums , collectors and film companies seeking authentic items . Fitton said existing regulations were counter-productive , with seemingly harmless items associated with military gear more tightly controlled than the dual-use items of the investigation . At the same time , he said , making the system too restrictive would harm the competitive ability of U.S. manufacturers . Export laws in the United States have remained virtually unchanged since the Sept. 11 , 2001 , terrorist attacks , Anne-Marie Lasowski of the GAO told the committee . She called for a `` holistic '' approach involving all agencies charged with security and commerce for an issue involving billions of dollars in exports . | Watchdog agency GAO buys military hardware , ships it overseas with ease . Lawmaker : `` Gigantic loophole '' allows enemies to get U.S. technology . Hardware that can be used in nuclear devices and ground fighting purchased . `` The scandal here may be what is legal , not what is illegal , '' representative says . | [[301, 319], [320, 349], [524, 542], [1222, 1234], [1298, 1497], [1016, 1074], [1098, 1157], [27, 103], [718, 822], [718, 759], [806, 940], [2288, 2296], [2326, 2371], [1875, 1937]] |
LOS ANGELES , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- George Harrison 's closest friends and family gathered in Hollywood on Tuesday to dedicate the late Beatle 's star on the Walk of Fame . From left , musicians Tom Petty , Jeff Lynne and Paul McCartney join Harrison 's relatives for dedication of his star . `` There 's someone here from every important stage of George 's life and career , '' Harrison 's widow , Olivia , said . Harrison , who was 58 when he died of cancer in 2001 , becomes the second Beatle with a Hollywood star . John Lennon was the first . The new star is next to the iconic Hollywood headquarters of Capitol Records , the distributor of much of Harrison 's music for the past five decades . Tuesday 's ceremony coincided with the Capitol/EMI announcement that it will release Harrison 's first solo greatest hits collection -- `` Let it Roll : Songs by George Harrison '' -- on June 16 . Actor Tom Hanks said the world changed for him in January 1964 when he heard his first Beatles song . `` That 's when we escaped the doldrums and moved on to a brighter , better , more joyful future , '' Hanks said . Superstar musicians Paul McCartney , Tom Petty , Joe Walsh and Jeff Lynne attended the star 's dedication , but they did not address the crowd . Scores of Harrison fans showed up for the event , with some traveling from as far as Liverpool , England . `` We all have deep feelings for George , because he was such a deep-feeling person , '' Olivia Harrison said . `` He was a beautiful , mystical man , living in a material world , '' she said . `` He was funny as the day is long and just as perplexing . '' His son , Dhani , 30 , joked about his father 's star . `` It 's good , it 's lovely and it 's nice and shiny and I 'm glad it 's not outside of Frederick 's of Hollywood , '' he said . Harrison was just 15 when schoolmate Paul McCartney asked him to join his and John Lennon 's band , the Quarrymen . The band evolved into the Beatles and the rest is history . Harrison played lead guitar and sang for the Beatles . Songs penned by Harrison included `` Taxman , '' `` While My Guitar Gently Weeps , '' `` Something '' and `` Here Comes the Sun . '' Harrison was a pioneer of what has since become a tradition of rock stars supporting charitable causes with their music . In 1971 , he helped organize the star-studded `` Concert for Bangladesh '' at New York 's Madison Square Garden . In addition to his post-Beatles solo career , Harrison played with several groups -- most notably the Traveling Wilburys , alongside Petty , Lynne , Roy Orbison and Bob Dylan . CNN 's Denise Quan contributed to this report . | Harrison 's star next to Hollywood headquarters of Capitol Records . Harrison , who died of cancer in 2001 , is second Beatle with star after John Lennon . Some fans travel from as far as Liverpool , England for dedication of Harrison 's star . Harrison penned many Beatles songs before launching successful solo career . | [[556, 632], [423, 431], [438, 475], [423, 431], [478, 527], [1267, 1314]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- When the highly anticipated movie `` X-Men Origins : Wolverine '' opened Friday in theaters , many fans had already seen it . The pirating and distribution of `` Wolverine , '' starring Hugh Jackman , is being investigated by the FBI . The online leak of a pirated , unfinished version of the 20th Century Fox film a month ago sent federal authorities springing into action and stoked a heated conversation within the entertainment industry about digital piracy . Piracy of upcoming films is not new , but the theft of `` Wolverine '' is especially troubling for an industry concerned with a stalled economy and the financial bottom line . It 's rare for high-quality copies of a big-budget blockbuster to appear on the Internet more than a month before the film 's release , experts say . Within a week of `` Wolverine 's '' March 31 leak , more than a million people had downloaded the movie , according to TorrentFreak , a blog devoted to the BitTorrent file-sharing protocol . Watch intrepid reporter look for answers '' `` Unfortunately , the recent leak of the Fox film ` Wolverine ' provided a stark backdrop to the impact that digital piracy has on the large investments that producers make in creating state-of-the-art films , '' said Rep. Howard Berman , chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs , who oversaw a congressional hearing on piracy after the leak . `` During our hearing in Los Angeles , director Steven Soderbergh said that in 2007 , the entertainment industry generated a trade surplus of $ 13.6 billion , '' Berman added . `` Imagine what those numbers would be if we could rein in piracy . '' Bootleg , or illegally copied , movies have long been a thorn to the film industry . In 2003 , a version of Universal 's `` The Hulk '' appeared on the Internet two weeks before the film opened . A New Jersey man pleaded guilty to the theft . And in 2005 , a pirated print of `` Star Wars : Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith '' was uploaded to the Web within hours of the movie 's release . But where Hollywood 's biggest headache used to be murky , muffled copies of films taken by someone who snuck a camcorder into a theater , today 's pirates are getting more sophisticated and gaining access to better-quality goods . Greg Sandoval , who covers media and digital entertainment for CNET News , said that in the digital age , thieves can gain access to near-perfect advance copies of films on DVD that have greater potential to undermine a movie 's box-office prospects . And even studios ' attempts at safeguarding their products against piracy , such as by encoding DVDs with digital watermarks that allow authorities to trace individual copies , are n't enough , Sandoval said . He said tech-savvy thieves have figured out how to strip such watermarks from DVDs . `` When you 're talking about digital content ... it 's impossible to lock it down completely '' from theft , Sandoval said . `` These hackers are very creative . Sometimes , they 're one step ahead of the security experts . '' 20th Century Fox issued a statement vowing to prosecute the `` Wolverine '' thief `` to the fullest extent of the law . '' The FBI is investigating , but as of Thursday , no arrests had been made . Darcy Antonellis , president of technical operations for Warner Bros. -LRB- which is owned by the parent company of CNN -RRB- , said the growth of technology has aided the pirates . `` Digital piracy has continued to increase with greater access to -LSB- files -RSB- and improved broadband services , '' said Antonellis , who helps oversee Warner Bros. ' anti-piracy efforts . `` As broadband services increase their capacity to support legitimate services , they also enable increased illegal file-sharing . Technologies have evolved to encumber such distribution but must compete with the strength of viral or super distribution of content . '' The bad guys are n't the only ones keeping up with the technology . Keith Bolcar , special agent in charge of the FBI 's cyber division in Los Angeles , said agents and their partners as `` doing everything we can to keep up with the learning curve of technology , hopefully just as fast as our criminal subjects . '' The FBI meets routinely with studio representatives to share intelligence , to discuss strategy and to detect and fix vulnerabilities in security measures , he said . `` While I ca n't discuss investigative techniques , we employ a myriad of sophisticated methods to solve these crimes , '' said Bolcar , whose office is investigating the `` Wolverine '' leak . `` Our investigators receive extensive training and are technologically savvy . '' Hollywood also faces the challenge of protecting digital files that pass through so many hands while in production and post-production . Antonellis said Warner Bros. works diligently to safeguard its properties . `` Each project , for us , is unique , with its own unique set of challenges , '' she said . `` Whether there are 50 or 500 people involved in the process , we try to focus on ownership/responsibility of our assets throughout the entire production through to distribution process . '' John Malcolm , director of worldwide anti-piracy operations for the Motion Picture Association of America , said digital piracy can take many forms , including peer-to-peer file sharing and streaming . Malcolm said the association is conducting a lot of outreach to universities and Internet service providers to help them address piracy that occurs over their systems . The issue is global , Malcolm said , as evidenced by pending litigation in France that would shut down Internet accounts of illegal downloaders . The association is in litigation against an Australian service provider , iiNet , to try to establish the legal parameters of its responsibility in policing its system , Malcolm said . `` In some cases , we are making great progress with ISP , and in some cases , it 's a little bit tougher going , '' Malcolm said . `` After all , it 's their broadband that 's being eaten up , and it slows down their systems . '' Berman , D-California , said advances in technologies that enable filtering and other anti-theft tools will help curb piracy . So will creating more sites where viewers can legitimately access movies , shows and music , such as Hulu and the recently announced Vevo , a partnership between Universal Music and YouTube . `` Given how pirated materials often damage computers with viruses , spyware and other problems , consumers will continue to embrace the innovative , legitimate sites that are becoming more and more available , '' Berman said . Malcolm agrees . He said there are more than 350 sites that legitimately distribute digital content . If a person is a true movie lover , they will want to respect the art , the artists and the countless people behind the scenes who make the magic happen , Malcolm said . `` I hear periodically , ` Well , Tom Cruise has enough money ' or ` Tom Hanks has enough money , ' '' Malcolm said . `` I would say to movie lovers , stick around and watch all of the credits . When you see hundreds of names scrolling across the screen , those are the people whose talents contributed to making that movie , and they need to make a living . '' CNN.com 's Brandon Griggs contributed to this story . | Pirated version of `` Wolverine '' distributed online weeks before movie 's debut . Industry employs technology like digital watermarks to hinder thieves . Pending French legislation would shut down Internet accounts of downloaders . MPAA exec says fans should consider the livelihood of those who make films . | [[255, 328], [346, 403], [697, 765], [809, 858], [861, 912], [1905, 1926], [1891, 1902], [1905, 1920], [1954, 2039], [2528, 2648], [2701, 2715], [5596, 5605], [5611, 5669]] |
HONG KONG , China -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A 16-year-old Hong Kong boy makes two phone calls for delivery : One for pizza , the other for the drug ketamine . Two teenage girls are found semi-conscious in a car park after overdosing on ketamine . A 13-year-old boy joins a gang and is given free ketamine . Glass capsules containing ketamine , which has become the drug of choice for Hong Kong 's youth . These are anecdotes told to CNN by police , a family doctor and a former gang member . Ketamine has become the drug of choice among young people , as the number of people under 21 taking drugs has surged 57 percent in the last four years in Hong Kong , said Commissioner for Narcotics , Sally Wong . `` We started off with a very small number of young people taking drugs . We are now more worried about the trend , '' Wong said . `` We do n't want a runaway trend ; that 's why we are stepping up action . '' Ketamine , an animal tranquilizer , can put users in a dazed stupor for about two hours , doctors said . Long-term use of ketamine can impair cognitive function and damage internal organs . Watch Pauline Chiou 's report on ketamine sweeping Hong Kong '' An oversupply of the drug in Hong Kong and the fact that it is cheaper than other narcotics makes ketamine popular with young people , said Superintendent Wilson Fok of the Hong Kong Police Narcotics Bureau . One gram of ketamine sells on the street here for $ 13 and is enough to be shared with two other people , while cocaine , for example , sells for $ 103 a gram , Fok said . The drug is legal for medical use , but it is trafficked into Hong Kong from other parts of Asia , such as India and mainland China , and sold on the streets illegally , Fok said . Police have recently stepped up their efforts to crack down on drug use at clubs and bars in Hong Kong and Shenzhen , a city in mainland China just across the border . Nearly 120 alleged drug users from Hong Kong , mostly under the age of 30 , were arrested at entertainment venues in Shenzhen in July and held for 15 days in sweeps that made headlines for days here . However , narcotics police said entertainment venues are not the only places they find drug abuse . `` Forty percent of young people abuse drugs in public toilets and playgrounds . That 's what our recent data from last year shows , '' Fok said . `` They want to find some other places to take drugs . '' The problem has gotten so bad that authorities have decided to do something never done here before : random school drug tests . Beginning in September , some two dozen schools will conduct tests , as part of a trial program . Officials say the drug screening will most likely be in the form of urine tests , though they are still working out the details . Ketamine can be detected in urine for at least three days , doctors said . Watch a doctor explain how the test works '' Dr. Cheng Chi Man , a family practice doctor , runs a seminar that trains doctors to detect the signs of drug abuse in young patients : drowsiness , skin problems , frequent urination -LRB- ketamine can affect bladder function -RRB- and frequent sick leave . `` When we were 10 years old , we were still in primary school watching TV and eating candy . But they are now taking drugs . '' Alman Chan , principal of Hong Kong 's only drug rehab school for youth , the privately-run Christian Zheng Sheng School , said he has watched as drug use has grown . See photos of the rehab school in remote Hong Kong '' `` Just look at our school development . I was here 14 years ago . At that time , I was the only teacher . I had 18 kids . I only had one student who was 15 , '' he said . `` But now , I have one third -- about 40 of them -- who are 15 years old or younger . That shows you the number of students getting into drugs is bigger and also getting younger and younger . '' There were a few reasons why children were getting involved with drugs , such as troubled homes and difficulties at school , he said . `` People are more concerned about material things and they are getting lost , '' he added . Hong Kong Police have arrested children as young as age 13 for drug offenses , according to Commissioner for Narcotics , Sally Wong . Police last week reportedly busted a network that allegedly recruited teenagers to sell illegal drugs -- mainly to students . One of those arrested -- a 14-year-old school dropout -- was found with 28 grams of ketamine , according to the South China Morning Post . But ketamine abuse is not limited to young people . It is the second-most popular drug among all age groups in Hong Kong , Superintendent Wilson Fok of the Hong Kong Police Narcotics Bureau said . Many young drug abusers end up in Alman Chan 's drug rehab school for youth , which is located in a remote part of Lantau Island west of Hong Kong . CNN visited the campus , which is home to 99 boys and 24 girls . The closest road is a three-hour hike through the woods . Chan calls the school `` the last stop before jail '' for drug abusers . That was the case for Tai Ming Hung 's son Keith , a former gang member . She learned he was using ketamine when he ended up in the hospital after taking the drug a few years ago . `` I was in denial . I just did n't believe it was true . When I first heard about it , we all did n't know how to react , because we had n't heard of those drugs before , '' she said . `` I did n't really understand why we have these harmful drugs in the world . And I was so afraid that it would kill my son . '' 18-year-old Keith , who said he began using ketamine at the age of 13 when he joined a gang , has recovered and is now living at Chan 's school . `` I have a feeling that he 's really growing up , he keeps improving , '' his mother said . The school 's curriculum involves regular school subjects and chores . The goal is for each student to finish their court probation and either sit for the university exam or continue on to a vocational school . Many of the students have become interested in video editing and photography . There is a video lab on campus and the students showed CNN some video projects they have done . Other students run a pizza parlor and tea shop on a neighboring island . The average stay at the school is three years and students are encouraged to plan for life after rehab . `` We have vocational training . We help them get some marketable skills ; therefore , they may get a job or continue training afterward , '' Chan said . `` I believe everyone deserves a second chance . '' | Police : Ketamine is the top drug of choice among young people in Hong Kong . Drug use among those under 21 has jumped 57 percent in the last four years . Police stepping up crackdowns , say parks and public toilets hot spots for drug use . Hong Kong has one drug rehab center for youth , located on a remote former pig farm . | [[300, 397], [315, 336], [343, 397], [485, 542], [548, 648], [2213, 2273], [3429, 3479], [4675, 4750], [4741, 4752], [4759, 4823]] |
MIAMI , Florida -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- An internationally known Catholic priest who was shown in photographs last week embracing a bathing-suit-clad woman on a Florida beach has admitted they had a two-year affair . The Rev. Alberto Cutie was removed from his duties after pictures showed him bare-chested with a woman . The Rev. Alberto Cutie -- sometimes called `` Father Oprah '' because of the advice he gave on Spanish-language media -- said Monday on CBS ' `` Early Show '' that he is in love with the woman and is considering his options : Whether to break up with her or leave the priesthood and marry her . The woman , who has not been publicly identified , wants to get married , Cutie said . The priest was removed from his duties last week at St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church in Miami Beach , Florida , and on the Radio Paz and Radio Peace networks . `` I take full responsibility for what I did , and I know it 's wrong , '' he said Monday . The photos of the Cuban-American priest , also known as `` Padre Alberto , '' appeared on the cover of last week 's TV Notas magazine and on eight inside pages . The cover says in Spanish : `` Good God ! Padre Alberto . First photos of a priest ` in flagrante ' with his lover . '' Other media outlets throughout Latin America , including the official Notimex news agency in Mexico , picked up the story , and it became an Internet sensation . Cutie has millions of followers in the Spanish-speaking world . In a message posted on the Miami , Florida , archdiocese Web page last week , Archbishop John C. Favalora apologized to parishioners and radio listeners for what he called a `` scandal . '' `` Father Cutie made a promise of celibacy and all priests are expected to fulfill that promise with the help of God , '' Favalora said . `` Father Cutie 's actions can not be condoned despite the good works he has done as a priest . '' Cutie expressed his regret in an online statement last week and again Monday on the CBS program . `` I deeply apologize to the Catholic community and especially to my bishop and to my brother priests who are faithful and who are committed to celibacy , '' Cutie said . The priest said he believes in celibacy but thinks it should be optional . He said he had never had a sexual relationship with anyone other than the woman since leaving the seminary 15 years ago . Watch Father Cutie question the celibacy requirement '' `` I do n't support the breaking of the celibacy promise , '' Cutie said . `` I understand fully that this is wrong . `` I do n't want to be the anti-celibacy priest . I think that 's unfortunate , '' he said . `` I think it 's a debate that 's going on in our society , and now I 've become kind of a poster boy for it . But I do n't want to be that . I believe that celibacy is good , and that it 's a good commitment to God . This is something I 've struggled with . And something that I never expected to become a public debate . '' He also talked about the woman , saying they have been friends for a long time and the attraction was there from early on , but it was not acted on until a couple of years ago . They have `` both struggled '' with the relationship , he said . `` She 's also a woman of faith , '' Cutie said . `` She 's also somebody who cares about the priesthood , who cares about these things . So it has n't been easy . And those who have helped me through this process know it has n't been easy . Obviously , you know , through the photos , it looked like a frivolous thing on the beach , you know , and that 's not what it is . It 's something deeper than that . '' Cutie was the first Catholic priest to host a daily talk show on a major secular television network , his information on the LinkedIn online professional network says . In addition to his TV and radio appearances , he has written newspaper advice columns and a self-help book , `` Real Life , Real Love . '' Before being removed , he was president and general director of Pax Catholic Communications , home of Radio Paz and Radio Peace in Miami . | Catholic priest was removed from duties in Miami archdiocese . The Rev. Alberto Cutie says he is in love with the woman , considering his options . He and the woman `` both struggled '' with the relationship , he said . | [[699, 787], [317, 339], [514, 540], [2841, 2881], [3127, 3179], [3182, 3191]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- It takes seven minutes to execute a death row inmate , according to the state of Texas . Mike Graczyk poses outside the Texas death chamber prior to an execution in January . At that rate , Mike Graczyk has spent about 40 hours of his life watching men -- and a few women -- die . Graczyk , a correspondent for The Associated Press , is believed to hold a macabre record . He 's almost certainly watched more executions than anyone else in the United States . `` I ca n't possibly imagine there 's been someone present at more than Mike , '' said Michelle Lyons , the spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice , which uses lethal injection at its execution chamber in Huntsville . Since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976 , no state has executed more inmates than Texas . And no one has witnessed more of them than Graczyk . He 's on the witness list for 315 of the state 's 439 executions -- more than any other reporter , prison employee or chaplain -- and no records were kept for another 80 . Interactive map : See how Texas compares with other states '' In his early days , he kept count . But he eventually stopped . He did n't want to know . `` In one circle , I was perceived as putting notches on my gun belt , '' the 59-year-old reporter said . `` I did n't like that . '' Prison regulations in Texas require The Associated Press to be given one of the five designated media witness passes for each execution . Graczyk works in the AP 's Houston bureau -- it 's closest to the state 's execution chamber in Huntsville . Since the early 1980s , he 's made the hourlong drive north almost every time an inmate has faced the needle . The first was March 13 , 1984 , for the execution of James `` Cowboy '' Autry , convicted of shooting a female store clerk between the eyes with a .38 - caliber revolver while arguing over a six-pack of beer . She died , along with a former Catholic priest that Autry killed at the crime scene . `` The first time definitely leaves an impression on you , '' Graczyk said . There are others that stand out along the way . Graczyk remembers Bob Black , convicted of killing his wife and trying to collect the insurance money . `` I walked into the death house , and he was strapped to the table and he said , ` Hey Mike , how are you doing ? ' It threw me for a loop . '' Graczyk said it 's normal for him to know the name of the condemned and not uncommon for the reverse to be true . There have been others who greeted Graczyk by name with a needle in their arm . Once , while waiting to be let into the death house , a prisoner phoned him in the media holding area . It was the inmate whose execution Graczyk was about to witness . `` He said , ' I just wanted to call and make sure you were OK . ' I was flabbergasted . '' Over the years , the inmate 's name has slipped from Graczyk 's memory , but not the unexpected phone conversation . `` I do n't think he had any family to call , '' he said . There was Ponchai Wilkerson , who once nearly escaped from death row and , years later , coughed up a handcuff key as he lay dying from his injection . There was the `` Candy Man , '' Ronald Clark O'Bryan -- convicted of poisoning his child 's Halloween candy with cyanide -- and the gauntlet of college students wearing Halloween masks who showed up to cheer . And Karla Faye Tucker , the first woman executed in Texas since the 1800s . He remembers a network correspondent crying after her death -- and another blow-drying his hair . Of the entire death chamber ritual , Graczyk said , it 's the final statements that stick in his mind . Some have been confessions . Others were denials . Poetry . Prayers . Bible verses . Curses . Emotions ranging from defiance to resignation . There was Jonathan Nobles , an electrician who stabbed two people to death . He sang `` Silent Night . '' `` Ever since then , I think of him on Christmas or Christmas Eve when I 'm in church , '' Graczyk said . `` That 's the kind of thing that haunts you . '' The person who may come closest to Graczyk 's status also felt things that haunted him . Don Reid , a writer for the AP and , before that , a Texas newspaper , witnessed 189 executions in the 1960s , when Texas still strapped inmates to `` Old Sparky , '' the nickname for the state 's electric chair . The experience changed Reid , who died in 1981 , from a supporter of the death penalty to an opponent . He wrote a book , `` Have a Seat , Please , '' chronicling that transformation . Graczyk said he does n't worry about the mental toll of watching so many deaths . His bosses with the AP have offered counseling . He 's declined . `` To see someone go to sleep -- not to sound insensitive -- but the carnage at the murder scene is harder than what you see in the death house in Huntsville , '' he said . Over a 25-year career , Graczyk said , the executions have only been a small portion of his work . He finds balance in those other stories . As a journalist , Graczyk never answers the question when friends ask his own views on the death penalty . `` I 'm not sure I really know , '' he said . But as long as Texas keeps executing people , Graczyk said , it 's important that he keep showing up . The next execution in Huntsville was scheduled for Thursday before the condemned , convicted murderer Kenneth Mosley , was granted a reprieve until September . If the execution goes ahead then , Graczyk plans to make the drive . `` I would hate for the state of Texas to take someone 's life and no one be there , '' he said . CNN 's Doug Gross contributed to this report . | Texas reporter has covered executions in Texas since the early 1980s . Graczyk stopped counting , did n't want `` notches on my gun belt '' Inmates waiting to die have greeted him by name , called to check up on him . He says he does n't worry about the mental toll and has declined counseling . | [[1139, 1162], [2465, 2544], [2481, 2487], [2492, 2544], [4514, 4595], [4527, 4595], [4645, 4661]] |
-LRB- CNET -RRB- -- At a hacker conference no one is safe . Demographic of Defcon conference for hackers is older , wiser and employed . When I first went to Defcon in 1995 , the halls were mobbed with teenagers and attendees seemed more concerned with freeing Kevin Mitnick and seeing strippers than hacking each others ' computers . Jump forward to Defcon 17 this year , which was held over the weekend in Las Vegas , things certainly have changed . The attendees are older and wiser and employed , most of the feds are n't in stealth mode , and even the most savvy of hackers is justifiably paranoid . `` Welcome to the hacker world , '' said Defcon founder Jeff Moss . The evolving demographic of Defcon attendees shows that the hacker community , like all of us , is aging . But it 's also a reflection of how the threat landscape has changed . Web site defacements have given way to much more serious risks like financial fraud and unaddressed critical infrastructure weaknesses . It 's a cornucopia of phishing e-mails , cross-site scripting attacks that poke holes in trusted Web sites , and criminals harvesting credit card numbers and selling them on the underground equivalent of eBay with guarantees of service and support . Defcon and Black Hat , the pricier and more corporate sister confab held the two days preceding Defcon -LRB- $ 120 for Defcon registration versus $ 1,395 to $ 2,095 for phased registration at Black Hat -RRB- , offer a forum for researchers to share information about vulnerabilities they find in software , hardware and systems . Targeted this year were everything from the iPhone and surveillance video feeds to e-parking meters and security underlying the Domain Name System . Vendors and users were n't the only ones who need worry . Attendees had plenty to fear and security experts themselves were n't spared . On July 27 , Web sites belonging to a handful of security researchers and groups were hacked and passwords , private e-mails , IM chats , and potentially sensitive documents were exposed on the vandalized site of security golden boy Dan Kaminsky . -LRB- Mitnick , whose jailing in the '90s for computer crimes made him a cause celebre at `` Free Kevin '' benefits at Defcon at the time , was among those attacked . -RRB- . There were more widespread threats at the shows , too . Anyone using the Wi-Fi networks at the events had better be careful lest they get their password sniffed and posted on the Wall of Sheep . Then there was the USB thumb drive that was passed around among attendees of Black Hat that was found to be infected with the Conficker virus . Reporters who are n't nearly as geeky as the sources they interview are always easy prey . One reporter was concerned about being hacked via the local area network in the press room after a rare Blue Screen of Death crashed his laptop . Last year , three French men were expelled for sniffing the press room LAN at Black Hat . They said they had obtained eWeek 's and CNET 's passwords but failed to prove the CNET allegation . This year , three South Koreans registered as press were ejected for asking questions that led organizers to believe were on an intelligence-gathering mission instead of merely reporting , according to the IDG News Service . I had a panic of my own at Defcon this year . I was connected to the Internet using an EVDO wireless card and a virtual private network and was startled a short while later when a Web page opened up out of the blue and I noticed the VPN was disconnected . Granted it looked like a legitimate page for my wireless carrier , but not wanting to take any chances I immediately logged off . -LRB- See `` Defcon : What to leave at home and other do 's and do n'ts '' for tips on how to best protect yourself . -RRB- Unfortunately , I had neglected to disable the Wi-Fi on the laptop . Because Windows XP event logging is lacking , it 's not clear whether someone may have spoofed the name of a wireless network the laptop is configured to automatically connect to . Time to call the help desk . At least I did n't use any automatic teller machines at the hotel . Defcon organizers confirmed on Monday that a fake ATM was discovered in a lobby of the Riviera Hotel where the event was held , right near the hotel security office . The ruse was up after someone looked through the camera hole using a flashlight and saw a PC inside . Meanwhile , Chris Paget , a security expert who works at Google , reported on Twitter that he lost $ 200 from a compromised ATM at the Rio Hotel over the weekend . There are multiple Diebold ATMs with the skimmers inside at the Rio casino , he tweeted , later adding : `` Secret Service just called back . They 're taking it seriously , reading between the lines it seem -LRB- s -RRB- like there 's more going on here . '' There is no evidence that the fake Riviera ATM was planted by anyone at Defcon , and in all likelihood the hacked Rio ATM was not associated with the hacker show . Heightening the paranoia at Defcon was the report from event organizers on Saturday that there was a confirmed Trojan on the CD the conference hands out to all attendees . The report turned out to be false . Also arousing suspicion were the Defcon badges , which featured a built-in microphone , LED , digital signal processor , and custom circuit boards designed to be hacked as part of a contest . I prudently popped the battery out of my badge after discussing the microphone capability with another journalist . Some attendees chose not to wear the badges at all , even without the battery , tucking them in satchels and digging them out every time they needed to display them . As it does every year , Defcon also had its share of stupid attendee tricks -- one arrest reportedly for carrying a concealed weapon and another for bungee jumping off the hotel roof . But those are par for the course when you mix booze and rebellious youth trying to out-impress each other . It was the other stuff -- the hacking and viruses and sniffing -- that made me and others at the show jumpy . Security guru Bruce Schneier , however , brushed it off as the mere cost of doing business . `` This is the way hackers play , '' he said . `` This is the experimental battlefield . It 's not bad ; it is just what it is . Defcon has an important place in computer security . '' © 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. . All rights reserved . CNET , CNET.com and the CNET logo are registered trademarks of CBS Interactive Inc. . Used by permission . | Defcon is a forum to share info on vulnerabilities in software and hardware . Attendees worried about using Wi-Fi for fear of passwords being stolen . Fake ATM was spotted in hotel with a PC inside it . Thumb drive with virus was passed around at conference . | [[1237, 1297], [1447, 1519], [1504, 1566], [2332, 2399], [2332, 2377], [2389, 2428], [2706, 2830], [4125, 4225], [4292, 4300], [4376, 4393], [2482, 2505], [2511, 2557]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A diary reported to have come from a top Colombian guerrilla leader killed last year says key officials in Ecuador accepted money from the rebels and had connections with Mexican drug gangs . The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia , known as FARC , has been at war with the government for decades . The money was meant to finance Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa 's 2006 election campaign , Marxist rebel Raul Reyes is said to have written in a diary allegedly obtained after his death . Ecuador denies the allegations and has asked the Organization of American States to investigate . `` The president of the republic did not know anything about this and never sent any emissary to finance his electoral campaign , '' Interior Minister Gustavo Jalkh said at a news conference Wednesday . Ecuadorian officials released excerpts from the diary Thursday . Wednesday 's revelation was the second instance in two weeks tying Correa to donations from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia , known as FARC . Last week , Colombian media broadcast a 2008 video in which guerrilla leader Victor Julio Suarez Rojas , widely known as Mono Jojoy , said the rebels donated money to Correa 's campaign . The guerrilla group also had conversations with Correa 's emissaries and has reached `` some accords , according to documents that we have , '' Suarez said in the videotape . Correa denied those allegations , asking the nation 's civil service commission to investigate . FARC issued a statement Tuesday denying that the rebels have `` given money to any electoral campaign of any neighboring country . '' The guerrillas accused the United States and Colombia of manipulating the Suarez video to make Correa look bad . FARC has been at war with the Colombian government for more than 45 years . In the latest allegations , Reyes , FARC 's second-in-command until his death in March 2008 , identifies the Ecuadorians who had contacts with the rebels as former head of security Gustavo Larrea , former under secretary for governing Ignacio Chauvin , retired Col. Jorge Brito and dentist Luis Ayala . `` Larrea , Brito and Dr. Ayala , I am sure , move among the Mexican drug cartels and , in order to have free reign , collaborate with the CIA , '' Reyes wrote , according to the state-run Notimex news agency in Mexico . `` For them , I am the true loot , and turning me over would be their major deal . '' Ecuadorian Interior Minister Jalkh and Foreign Minister Fander Falconi declined Wednesday to confirm the diary 's authenticity , attributing to it `` neither truth nor falseness . '' Instead , they said they turned it over to the Organization of American States so that the hemispheric body can verify its authenticity . Ecuadorian officials also turned a copy over to the nation 's attorney general . The 20-page diary goes from July 2007 to February 23 , 2008 , seven days before a Colombian bombing attack killed Reyes at his camp inside the Ecuadorian border . In addition to Reyes , the attack killed 24 people , including four Mexicans and an Ecuadorian . As a result , Ecuador broke diplomatic relations with Colombia in March 2008 . Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez , an ally of the leftist Correa , also strongly objected to the attack and sent tanks to his country 's border with Colombia in March 2008 . On Tuesday , Chavez froze relations with Colombia and recalled Venezuela 's ambassador after Colombia revealed that the FARC had gotten hold of shoulder-launched anti-tank grenades that Sweden sold to Venezuela 20 years ago . Reyes ' diary portrays a rebel leader who feels trapped and betrayed . `` No matter how much Nacho -LSB- Ignacio -RSB- Chauvin insists , as well as correspondence from Larrea , I do n't see any convenience in staying at the Angostura camp that I occupied as a result of Col. Brito , '' Reyes wrote . `` I know that Larrea is behind all this . '' Writing about the Angostura camp on the border with Colombia , Reyes said , `` This place is a trap . They have me tied up here under the pretext that I should receive the international delegations . All this stuff is very false . '' He goes on to doubt the people who come to see him at the jungle base . `` The revolutionaries who visit me , save for a few people , only want money and deals . I ask myself , how many of them are infiltrators who work as double agents ? I feel the presence of double agents in Correa 's intimate group , without a doubt . '' Giving money to Correa was a waste , Reyes wrote . `` Trusting Correa was suicide , '' the diary said . `` All the contributions of money for Correa 's campaign were n't worth a damn . '' | FARC leader reportedly wrote about donating to Rafael Correa 's 2006 campaign . `` Trusting Correa was suicide , '' Raul Reyes allegedly wrote before death last year . Ecuador denies allegations , asks the Organization of American States to investigate . FARC denies giving money `` to any electoral campaign of any neighboring country '' | [[322, 413], [1070, 1082], [1092, 1128], [1166, 1219], [4524, 4554], [513, 543], [513, 520], [548, 610], [2618, 2730], [1492, 1622], [1504, 1622]] |
JAKARTA , Indonesia -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The death toll from a flash flood in Indonesia 's capital grew to 98 people on Sunday as rescuers widened their search for more than 130 other people in the aftermath . Members of a search and rescue team look for bodies near Jakarta . The nation 's health ministry said 62 women , 31 men and three students had been killed . Of those , 12 bodies remained unidentified , ministry spokesman Rustam Pakaya said . Another 13 people were missing . The search for the missing will be called off Sunday night , he said . The flood started Friday morning after heavy rains caused waters to smash through a dam and rush into Jakarta . The breach unleashed a torrent of water that plowed into hundreds of homes in what some survivors described as a suburban `` tsunami . '' About 1,500 volunteers -- mostly students from two flooded universities in Jakarta -- are assisting in the search and rescue effort , said Mardjito , a social affairs ministry official who , like many Indonesians , goes by one name . He said rescuers started using heavy machinery to lift debris . Still , the death toll is expected to rise . At least 50 people were injured and nearly 1,500 have been displaced . Mardjito said a camp for survivors so far has adequate supplies as members of political parties continue to send food , blankets , flashlights and other items amid a major election year . Sleeping residents were taken by surprise by the powerful flash flood as it crashed through the crowded Cirendeu district near Jakarta early Friday . Watch scenes of the flood devastation '' Drenched and shivering survivors were taking refuge on the rooftops of their homes as rescuers in rubber boats were struggling to reach them , said social affairs ministry official Mardjito . Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono , currently on the campaign trail ahead of the elections later this year , has said he had ordered senior ministers to visit the scene of the disaster . `` On behalf of the government , I express my condolences to the families of the dead victims and may their souls be accepted by God almighty , '' he said , according to the official Antara news agency . The rain obliterated a 255-meter-long section of the dam , releasing a wall of water from a 20-hectare lake that some survivors said reminded them of the tsunami that hit Indonesia in 2004 . `` They said they had heard loud rumbling sounds like during a powerful earthquake . They later found out that the sounds came from the water rushing out from the dam 's lake , '' according to Antara . Floods from heavy rains are an annual occurrence in and around Jakarta , a low-lying city on the northern coast of Java island , where poor infrastructure often results in polluted canals and rivers overflowing their banks and spilling into thousands of homes . In 2007 , 38 people were killed and 430,000 forced from their homes when storm water 3 meters deep in some places swamped 75 percent of the capital , which is home to about 9 million people . With poor sanitation and a hot and humid climate , the risk of water-borne diseases is usually a major concern following floods in the city , where mosquito-transmitted malaria is also a threat . CNN 's Andy Saputra contributed to this report . | At least 98 dead , many more missing , from flash floods in Jakarta . Flood began after heavy rains caused waters to smash through a dam . Survivors say rumbling of waters sounded like an earthquake . Rescuers are having difficulties reaching people because of mud . | [[10, 35], [97, 207], [376, 407], [450, 482], [554, 665], [593, 665], [2192, 2248], [2305, 2353], [2383, 2467], [2396, 2467], [1683, 1737]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman was arrested early Sunday on suspicion of choking and restraining MTV reality show star Tila Tequila , police said . Shawne Merriman is accused of restraining reality TV star Tila Tequlia as she tried to leave his home , police say . However , Merriman 's attorney denied the allegations , saying more than a dozen other people were at Merriman 's house in suburban San Diego , California , at the time of the incident and `` witness after witness after witness will back up his story 100 percent . '' Authorities responded to a disturbance call about 3:45 a.m. Sunday from a woman who said she had been choked and restrained by a male , the sheriff 's department of San Diego County , California , said in a statement . When police arrived , `` the reporting party identified herself as Tila Nguyen , aka Tila Tequila , and her alleged assailant as Shawne Merriman , '' the statement said . `` Nguyen told deputies she had been choked and physically restrained by Merriman when she attempted to leave his residence , '' the statement said . Watch Merriman 's side of the story '' Nguyen signed a citizen 's arrest at the scene , and Merriman was taken into custody on suspicion of battery and false imprisonment , according to the statement . Deputies did n't see any physical injuries on Nguyen , but she asked to be transported to a local hospital , sheriff 's spokeswoman Jan Caldwell said . Nguyen 's condition was not immediately known . Merriman 's attorney , Todd Macaluso , told reporters that Nguyen was `` extremely intoxicated and inebriated '' and that the player tried to make arrangements for her to leave the house . `` At no time did Mr. Merriman assault her . At no time did Mr. Merriman keep her against her will , '' Macaluso said . `` His intentions were nothing but good . ... We 're very confident that this matter will be resolved without any charges being filed whatsoever . '' Caldwell said alcohol `` was involved '' on Nguyen 's part . Caldwell did n't elaborate . Merriman was released from jail late Sunday morning . Caldwell said she did n't know whether Merriman was released on bail or on his own recognizance . The district attorney 's office will determine whether criminal charges will be pursued , Caldwell said . As Tila Tequila , Nguyen starred on the MTV reality shows `` A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila '' in 2007 and `` A Shot at Love 2 With Tila Tequila '' in 2008 . On her Twitter account , Nguyen did not mention the incident but tweeted about going to meet Merriman on Saturday . In a statement posted on the Chargers ' Web site Sunday , team General Manager A.J. Smith said it is `` disappointing to hear about the issue involving Shawne Merriman . '' `` We 'll continue to monitor the situation and let the legal process run its course , '' Smith said . Merriman , a three-time Pro Bowl selection , is entering his fifth year with the Chargers and the NFL . He recorded at least 10 sacks in each of his first three seasons , but he was limited to one game last season because of a knee injury that required surgery . The Chargers begin their 2009 NFL regular-season campaign on September 14 in Oakland , California , for a game against the Raiders . | NEW : Merriman 's attorney says NFL player did n't assault Tila Tequila . Police : Tila `` Tequila '' Nguyen alleges NFL 's Shawne Merriman choked her . Incident allegedly happened as she tried to leave Merriman 's home , police say . Nguyen starred in MTV 's `` A Shot at Love With Tila Tequila '' | [[182, 283], [656, 675], [791, 805], [809, 883], [957, 1038], [182, 283], [286, 298], [981, 984], [1005, 1080], [2334, 2420]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A whistle-blower who helped shed light on misconduct among the ranks of contractors working as guards for the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan is back home in England sooner than he expected after he resigned in the fallout of the scandal . `` It was just downright stupid , '' Terry Pearson says of guard misconduct in Afghanistan . Terry Pearson , who worked as an operations manager for contractor R.A. International at Camp Sullivan in Afghanistan , said he witnessed mistreatment among the guards employed by ArmorGroup North America , who were housed at the camp . `` It was just downright stupid , some of the things they were doing , '' Pearson told CNN . `` And insensitive . '' Allegations surfaced last week that contractor ArmorGroup allowed mistreatment , sexual activity and intimidation within the ranks of private guards hired to protect the embassy in Kabul . The company and U.S. officials are investigating . Wackenhut Services Inc. , the corporate parent of ArmorGroup , said in an e-mail it is `` fully cooperating '' in the investigation . Fourteen guards were fired and the entire management team for ArmorGroup in Kabul was to be replaced , the U.S. Embassy in Kabul said . The actions of the embassy guards went beyond pranks or laughs , he said . `` When you start encouraging people to drink alcohol running off someone 's body parts , '' Pearson said , pausing for a moment , `` a bit over the top . '' Watch Pearson describe guards ' `` insensitive '' conduct '' He took his grievance to his superiors as well as those of ArmorGroup . The answer he received was , '' ` they 're just letting off steam , ' and I think that 's the way they looked at some of the incidents that happened , '' Pearson said . Pearson said he was looking for a change of behavior , not for mass firings . But at Camp Sullivan , he was made to feel that he had done something wrong and he resigned . Pearson said he reconsidered the resignation almost immediately after he submitted it , but it was too late . `` Although we are now aware of the alleged events at Camp Sullivan ... the employee 's resignation was not associated with this matter , '' R.A. International said in a statement . The scandal came to light last week when the watchdog group Project on Government Oversight sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and briefed reporters on its findings , which it said were based on e-mails and interviews with more than a dozen guards who have worked at the U.S. compound in Kabul . Speaking with CNN at his hometown of Liverpool , England , Pearson said that given a chance to go back , he would have taken the same stance . `` Dignity at work and respect at work is more important than having a job yourself , '' he said . CNN 's Paula Newton contributed to this report . | Terry Pearson is back in England after allegedly witnessing guard misconduct . Pearson resigned from R.A. International at Camp Sullivan in Afghanistan . 14 guards were fired after allegations of abuse , sexual activity and intimidation . ArmorGroup and U.S. officials are investigating . | [[0, 15], [157, 180], [289, 347], [348, 361], [468, 515], [348, 361], [468, 515], [738, 850], [1076, 1106], [891, 941]] |
STOCKHOLM , Sweden -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Bjorn Ulvaeus was one half of the songwriting genius behind Swedish pop legend ABBA . After the band split up in 1982 Ulvaeus turned his talents to writing musicals , including `` Mamma Mia , '' now a blockbuster movie . Bjorn Ulvaeus on the ABBA phenomenon : `` I 'm amazed how this could happen . I 'm just grateful and humble . '' He took My City_My Life on a tour of his home town of Stockholm and talked about his past and future as pop royalty . CNN : What is the secret of ABBA 's success ? Bjorn Ulvaeus : I think the secret behind the fact that our songs are still around and that ABBA became so big is a lot of factors together . But one of them was definitely that we put so much effort into song writing . We hardly ever toured , we just wrote and wrote and produced the records over a period of seven or eight years . So it 's the songs , plus I think the two girls , the voices -- the blend was unique and very special . CNN : Where did get the inspiration for your songs ? BU : Well mostly in song writing my experience is that there is n't so much inspiration as hard work . You sit there for hours , days and weeks with a guitar and piano until something good comes . But the urge to write is something you have to have . A conviction , an ambition to write and never stop until you think , `` This is the best I can do . '' Watch Bjorn Ulvaeus take CNN on a tour of Stockholm '' CNN : What drives you ? BU : In my career the push has always been to take another step , to try something new . That means that after ABBA , when we split up in 1982 , we were onto writing a musical -LSB- `` Chess '' -RSB- because we had n't done that before . CNN : How do you feel about working in the theater ? BU : Every time I sit in the audience and watch a show that I have been involved with , it is such an amazing feeling to see all those people around me , knowing they are actually watching and enjoying something I have written . That is such a feeling of pure joy that never goes away and that 's why I guess I 'm so attracted to work in the theater . CNN : How did `` Mamma Mia ! The Movie '' come about ? BU : When you have a big hit on the West End and on Broadway with a musical , as we had with `` Mamma Mia , '' there is always the question , `` when are you going to do the movie ? '' Some people say you should n't do it until the actual stage musical is on its last legs , but I do n't think that matters . We had been on Broadway for seven or eight years and eight or nine in the West End and we thought now is the time to make that movie . CNN : How has Stockholm changed over the years ? BU : A city like Stockholm , being so dynamic and following trends , develops all the time . It 's gradually changing but you can hardly see that . It is changing in a very healthy way that cities should change . CNN : How would you describe Stockholm in a few words ? BU : Stockholm is unique in the world in that it 's built on , I think , 14 islands . There are so many bridges and it does n't have any high-rise buildings to speak of . It 's quite spread out and open and airy with lots of parks . See photos of Bjorn Ulvaeus in Stockholm '' CNN : Let 's talk about the cultural scene in Stockholm . BU : There is a very vibrant cultural scene in Stockholm . There are lots of places where there are concerts and there are loads of museums and theaters . There is everything really , and eventually there is going to be an ABBA museum as well . CNN : When will that happen ? BU : I do n't know -- I like to be arm 's length when it comes to a museum about oneself . Other people should do that . CNN : That 's quite a Swedish trait ... BU : A lot of Swedes are quite modest and unassuming . I think that 's actually the closest you can get to a national trait , if there is one . CNN : How does it feel that people from different generations are still enjoying ABBA songs ? BU : In a way I 'm kind of a bystander looking at this phenomenon that is ABBA , which is still around , and that I thought would be finished in 1981 and forgotten . I 'm amazed how this could happen and I do n't know why it happened . I 'm just grateful and humble . I just sit back and enjoy . CNN : What would you like your legacy to be ? BU : I would like for my children to feel that what I left behind was something that I did whole heartedly and with honesty , and something that was the best I could do and hopefully that they too can enjoy . | Bjorn Ulvaeus is half of the songwriting pair behind Swedish pop legend ABBA . He lives in Stockholm , which he describes as being `` dynamic '' and trendy . Ulvaeus thought ABBA would be forgotten and is `` amazed '' by its popularity . An ABBA museum is being planned for Stockholm . | [[0, 9], [12, 116], [2650, 2652], [2679, 2716], [4037, 4093], [3442, 3491]] |
MEXICO CITY , Mexico -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A legislative candidate was killed , along with his wife and two children , bringing campaigns for statewide offices in the southeastern state of Tabasco to a halt , the state-run news agency Notimex reported . PRI candidate Jose Francisco Fuentes Esperon was killed , along with his wife and their two sons . The bodies of Jose Francisco Fuentes Esperon , his wife and two young sons were found inside their home in the capital of Villahermosa on Saturday . According to local reports , Fuentes ' wife was shot in the head , and the boys , ages 10 and 13 , had been asphyxiated . Less clear was the candidate 's fate . Some reports said that his body had signs of torture and had a wound on his neck , which may have been from a gunshot . As of Sunday , authorities had not released a motive for the crime , though speculation of a drug cartel hit or a robbery circulated in Tabasco . Fuentes ' party , the Institutional Revolutionary Party , or PRI , immediately announced a campaign moratorium for all of its candidates for the state 's October 18 elections . Other political parties followed suit . `` The PRI can not go out at this moment and ask citizens for their vote when it finds itself with a broken heart because of the homicide of its candidate , '' Tabasco PRI director Adrian Hernandez Balboa said , according to Notimex . In response , the Tabasco state government offered all political candidates protection during their campaigns if they requested it , a statement from the office of Gov. Andres Granier Melo said . Mexican President Felipe Calderon called Granier to offer his condolences and show his support for the investigation , the statement said . The weekend slaying was not the first time an entire family has been killed in Tabasco . In February , a Tabasco police official who had arrested a drug trafficker a week earlier was killed together with his mother , wife , children and nieces and nephews . His brother , also a state police officer , was wounded , as were two others . The day before Fuentes and his family were killed , unknown gunmen fatally shot two state police officers in Villahermosa and injured two others . | Bodies of Jose Francisco Fuentes Esperon , wife and 2 sons found inside their home . Discovery brings campaigns for statewide offices in state of Tabasco to halt . Fuentes ' wife shot in head ; their sons , 10 and 13 , had been asphyxiated . Officials release no motive for slayings ; speculation centers on drug cartel or robbery . | [[251, 306], [309, 349], [350, 498], [1803, 1814], [1817, 1842], [1880, 1971], [0, 11], [14, 30], [116, 193], [926, 990], [993, 1102], [251, 306], [309, 349], [350, 498], [528, 563], [570, 595], [598, 620], [795, 846]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Valentino Rossi is one of only a handful of champions in the modern era whose popularity has transcended their sport . As the Italian maestro closes in on an eighth world title , CNN charts the rise of the charismatic king of two wheels . Valentino Rossi celebrates his 102nd victory at the Brno Grand Prix in the Czech Republic . Born in Urbano , Italy in 1979 , Valentino Rossi 's achievements in the sport are nothing short of extraordinary . Eight world titles , 102 wins and over 150 podium finishes have already made him the most successful rider of all time . Rossi began racing karts as a ten-year-old , before moving to two wheels in 1992 . Four years later in his first Grand Prix season he won -- aged seventeen -- at the Brno circuit in the Czech Republic in the 125cc World Championship . The following year he clocked up a record 321 points in winning his first 125cc World Championship title . 1998 was meant to be a learning year on the more powerful 250cc bikes , but Rossi finished second overall before going on to take the title the following season . His progress in the 500cc class in 2000 and 2001 followed an identical trajectory to that in Rossi 's two seasons racing 250cc bikes . In 2002 , he was crowned MotoGP champion in his first season , finishing 140 points clear of his nearest rival , one-time fight opponent and fellow countryman Max Biaggi . Click here to view Rossi 's career highlights '' Three more MotoGP titles -- including two for his new team Yamaha -- followed in succession . But when it seemed as if he was going to dominate MotoGP for the rest of the decade , Rossi experienced the first real blip in his career , crashing out of the final race of the 2006 season in Valencia . In the process , Rossi handed his rival -- American Nicky Hayden -- the title . A year later Rossi finished third . A poor season by his standards was compounded by the split from his long-term girlfriend Arianna Matteuzzi , a fall out with his manager Gibo Badioli and the Italian government chasing him for eye-watering amounts of unpaid taxes -- Rossi eventually coughed up an estimated $ 42 million . Rossi returned to winning ways in 2008 notching up his fifth world title and is on course for a sixth this year . He is affectionately known as `` The Doctor '' by his fans on account of his clinical overtaking maneuvers out on the track , but it 's his wit and easy charm off it that have also helped propel him into the super league of sport 's rich list . Rossi is famous for a succession of colorful and often playful helmet motifs which he rotates almost as much as his hairstyle underneath . His post race celebrations have taken in all manner of bizarre antics including chicken costumes -- he gave a lift to a man wearing one -- blow-up dolls and porta loos -- he visited one on a victory lap at the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez this year . His skills on two wheels have n't gone unnoticed by the bosses at Ferrari 's Formula One team . Rossi first tested a Ferrari in 2004 and he revealed this week that he spoke with Ferrari about the possibility of him replacing Luca Badoer in the upcoming Italian Grand Prix at Monza on September 13 . But Rossi told Ferrari that he would prefer to concentrate on this year 's MotoGP . With five rounds to go , Rossi is where he likes to be . In front . With 25 points separating him from his young rival and Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo , few would back against the great man relinquishing his title come the season 's end . | Italian legend is closing in on a ninth world title in 2009 and sixth MotoGP crown . `` The Doctor '' is the greatest ever rider in MotoGP with 102 victories to date . Famed for his post-race antics , Rossi visited a portable loo on a victory lap this year . | [[158, 212], [2167, 2172], [2244, 2280], [482, 553], [559, 602], [482, 602], [2836, 2914]] |
LOS ANGELES , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Bone-dry conditions in an area that has not seen a major fire in more than 60 years pushed a Southern California wildfire from 45,000 acres to more than 100,000 acres in a matter of hours Monday , fire officials said . A charred fire truck sits at the bottom of a hill Monday near Acton , California . Two firefighters died in the vehicle . The Station fire , burning in Angeles National Forest north of Los Angeles , has forced thousands of evacuations and threatened thousands of structures -- including major communications installations on Mount Wilson , said Mike Dietrich , the U.S. Forest Service 's incident commander . `` This is a very difficult firefight , '' Dietrich said . `` This is a very angry fire that we 're fighting right now . Until we can get a change in weather conditions , I 'm not overly optimist . '' Weather forecasts show little change in conditions for the next four to five days . The fire , which has sent plumes of thick smoke spiraling as much as 20,000 feet into the air , is creating its own wind patterns , making it unpredictable , officials said . See images of the wildfire '' `` This fire is headed just about anywhere it wants to right now , '' said Dietrich , who earlier said the blaze had `` a mind of its own . '' Fire officials said Monday they had issued evacuation notices for residents of the 10,000 homes under threat . Nearly 100 homes were added to the notices Monday afternoon . But six people in the evacuation area had refused repeated requests to leave , said Commander David Fender , the Los Angeles County Sheriff 's Department 's incident commander . `` There 's six individuals , they 're up there , they 've been asked to leave three times , '' Fender said . `` They refuse to leave . That 's their choice . '' Earlier reports indicated the six were trapped at their Gold Canyon ranch and firefighters were unable to reach them , but Fender said he had no indication that was true . `` They 've all shared that they do not want to leave , '' he said . The fire claimed the lives of two firefighters Sunday . Capt. Tedmund Hall , 47 , and Specialist Arnaldo Quinones , 35 , were killed when their vehicle went down a steep , 700-foot embankment , Dietrich said . Hall was with the department for 26 years and Quinones for eight years . Watch a fire official give details on the `` tragic '' accident '' Dietrich said the blaze had destroyed two communications arrays in the area but had not flared up on Mount Wilson , home to 20 television and radio transmission towers , fire and police communications equipment and the Mount Wilson Observatory . That area is under a critical threat and a strike team is in position to protect the observatory . But , Dietrich stressed , `` My No. 1 priority is our firefighters ' safety . '' `` If they have to abandon the position , there 's no facility that is worth a human life , '' he said . Despite the difficulties , Dietrich told reporters that firefighting teams `` will not rest until it 's out . '' And Los Angeles County Fire Department Deputy Chief Mike Bryant noted that `` there have been hundreds of homes saved by firefighters in this effort . '' The Station fire was the largest of eight blazes burning across the state on Monday , officials said . Watch iReporters ' footage of the wildfire '' Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Monday his administration is `` working around the clock to ensure that our brave men and women working on the fires ' front lines have the resources needed to respond and beat back these fires as quickly as possible . `` We have the toughest and best-trained firefighters in the world fighting to protect public safety and property , '' Schwarzenegger said . `` I am confident in the state 's response as these fires continue to burn throughout California . '' The governor on Monday toured damage left in the wake of the 49 Fire in Placer County , in northern California . As of Monday , the fire had burned 275 acres and was 50 percent contained . On Sunday , the governor expressed his condolences for the loss of the firefighters in the Station fire . Learn more about areas under threat '' The Station fire started Wednesday and had destroyed 18 structures by Sunday . At least 10,000 homes , 500 businesses and 2,000 other structures are threatened by the fire , which exploded in size over the weekend , fueled by low humidity and high temperatures . Evacuations have been ordered for an unspecified number of residents . One of them was Elsa Aguirre , 57 , who left her ranch home in Altadena , California , early Saturday . She , her husband and her cat were at a Red Cross shelter in a high school on Monday . Aguirre brought a box of mementos with her , including her mother 's tea set from Argentina . `` The challenge is going to be going back to reality because I 've been looking at the fire and the mountains from where I am , '' she said . `` The mountains look pretty spooky right now without any vegetation . ... I 'm just taking it one day at a time . '' Watch homeowners discuss fears '' Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency Friday as a result of the Station fire . The governor also declared a state of emergency in Monterey County , where one blaze , called the Gloria fire , has burned about 6,500 acres , and another , called the Bryson fire , has charred more than 3,000 acres , according to the Forest Service . On Sunday , Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in Placer County , his office said . Three people suffered burns while in the Big Tujunga Canyon recreational area , where three homes were destroyed by the Station fire , said Bruce Quintelier , fire information officer for the Forest Service . In addition , two to three dozen recreational cabins were destroyed , said Randi Jorgensen , another Forest Service information officer . The fire is also threatening communication towers on Mount Disappointment , Quintelier said . CNN 's Rob Marciano , Chad Myers , John Torigoe and Stephanie Chen contributed to this report . | NEW : Fire creates own wind patterns , making it unpredictable , officials say . Fast-growing wildfire nearly doubles to 164-square-mile conflagration . Two firefighters killed battling blaze when vehicle went down steep embankment . Six people refuse to evacuate their Gold Canyon ranch . | [[957, 1004], [1053, 1086], [957, 1004], [1089, 1112], [1115, 1131], [3293, 3309], [4347, 4355], [4364, 4397], [346, 384], [2059, 2114], [2115, 2172], [2175, 2250], [1482, 1554], [1769, 1791]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A former State Department employee and his wife , who are accused of spying for Cuba for nearly 30 years , will remain in jail as they await trial , a judge ruled Wednesday . An artist 's sketch shows Walter Kendall Myers , 72 , and his wife , Gwendolyn Myers , 71 , in court Wednesday . Walter Kendall Myers , 72 , and his wife , Gwendolyn Myers , 71 , are charged with conspiracy to act as illegal agents of the Cuban government , wire fraud and providing classified information to Havana , according to court documents . U.S. Magistrate John Facciola ordered the couple Wednesday held without bail after a prosecutor said they posed a flight risk . Investigators found a calendar showing that the couple planned to sail to the Caribbean in November , federal prosecutor Michael Harvey told the court . The two have the financial means to obtain false documents and flee to Cuba with their sailboat or through Mexico or Canada , he said . `` They are unworthy of this court 's trust , '' Harvey added . The couple was quiet and expressionless during the proceedings Wednesday . Kendall Myers sat with his arms folded across his chest , while his wife sat with her arms at her side . They stared straight ahead , and did not appear to acknowledge anyone in the courtroom . A defense attorney urged the court to allow them to remain in their home , where they could visit with their children . `` You could disable the sailboat , freeze their funds and require ankle bracelets , '' Thomas Green said . The judge allowed the couple to meet briefly with their son after the court proceedings , but turned down the request to allow them to go home . He said he was concerned that the two would go to the Cuban Interests Section or the embassy of a country that has diplomatic relations with Cuba . Such a move would put them beyond the reach of federal law enforcement agencies . The State Department has not described what information the Myerses may have passed to their Cuban handlers , but said more information would come out after a full assessment . A senior State Department official said Kendall Myers was an `` upper-level civil service employee '' at the Bureau of Intelligence and Research who `` had come up in the ranks . '' U.S. officials did not discuss the Myerses ' motives for their alleged work for the Cuban government . Conviction on the wire fraud charge would carry a sentence of up to 20 years ; illegally acting as an agent of a foreign government would carry a sentence of up to 10 years ; and the conspiracy charge would carry a sentence of up to five years . Myers retired from the State Department on October 31 , 2007 . He had viewed more than 200 classified reports on Cuba in his final months , even though he was an analyst on European issues at the time , court documents say . The couple has been held without bail since pleading not guilty Friday . A future trial date has not been scheduled . CNN 's Carol Cratty contributed to this report . | NEW : Judge rules that husband , wife will remain in jail as they await trial . NEW : He cites concern about pair fleeing beyond reach of U.S. law enforcement . They 're charged with conspiracy , wire fraud , providing classified data to Havana . State Department has n't said what data the pair may have passed to Cuban handlers . | [[0, 26], [129, 176], [179, 204], [554, 654], [1825, 1906], [318, 358], [379, 411], [412, 520], [318, 358], [478, 520], [2323, 2368], [1907, 2014]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- In a field largely still in its infancy , scientists are making headway toward using stem cells to treat heart ailments . The FDA regulates which adult stem cell techniques are allowed to go into clinical trials . The major focus of stem cell research in cardiology is promoting regeneration of the heart or preventing scar formation , said Jeffrey Karp , who runs a stem cell biology lab at Harvard University . One study reporting successful results in humans involves harvesting patients ' own stem cells , purifying them , and injecting them directly into the heart muscle . The stem cells have a surface marker called CD34 , which means they are capable of growing new blood vessels . The study , sponsored by Baxter Inc. , is the largest adult stem cell study for heart disease in the U.S. , said Dr. Douglas Losordo , cardiologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago , Illinois , who is leading the trial . The researchers will present their one-year findings from Phase II of the trial in September , Losordo said . `` It 's important to point out that this is a use of a patient 's own body 's repair capabilities , '' Losordo said . If everything goes well , it 's conceivable this treatment could be widely available in a little over four years , he said . The target patient population , consisting of end-stage cardiac patients who have tried all other available therapies , is about 300,000 to 900,000 people , he said . So far , researchers have not found side effects from this method , Losordo said . However , because it is an invasive surgical procedure in which stem cells are delivered through a catheter , there is a risk of perforation of about 1 percent , he said . There is also a small risk of blood clotting from the drug , GCSF , which mobilizes stem cells . Injecting stem cells into the heart muscle carries the risk of arrhythmia , said Techung Lee , associate professor of biochemistry at the State University New York at Buffalo . But Losordo said this risk is theoretical in his trial , and is believed to be very low with CD34 cells in general . Lee and colleagues are working on a less-invasive technique . In a study in mice , they injected stem cells from bone marrow into skeletal muscles of limbs . They found that the stem cells produced growth factors that traveled to the heart , in addition to stimulating the muscle itself to make growth factors that also improved cardiac function . The challenge for translating this method to humans would be that , while each mouse needed only a few million stem cells , each human patient would need close to a billion stem cells for the therapy -- which would be far too expensive and logistically difficult . `` This is a problem that 's been experienced by everyone in the field , '' Lee said . He estimates that his method could be available clinically in five years , after researchers find ways to reduce the required number of cells by a factor of 10 or even 100 . Another therapeutic possibility is giving a patient an IV of stem cells , which would come from a stem cell bank or a company . The challenge is that the cells may not have the right homing receptors to land in the heart , Karp said . Karp 's group is working on an approach to chemically modify the surface of cells to enhance their targeting to specific sites . Results from animal models have shown promising results for targeting sites of inflammation , he said . `` Essentially we know the ZIP code of vessels within a certain tissue , we can program the address on the surface of the cell , '' he said . Lee 's and Karp 's teams use adult mesenchymal stem cells , which may develop into connective tissue , lymphatic tissue , and blood vessels . These stem cells are largely interchangeable between patients and do n't require matching , as organ transplants do . However , as more becomes known about the relatively new field of stem cell therapy , a more specific matching system may be required , said Dr. Joon Lee , cardiologist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center . Some stem cell therapies for the heart are being tested in human clinical trials . Osiris Therapeutics Inc. is enrolling patients in a phase II trial for Prochymal , which contains mesenchymal stem cells . The company intends to use this drug , which gets injected into the vein , to repair heart damage in patients who have just experienced their first heart attack . More than 90 percent of research on using stem cells to repair the human heart involves adult stem cells , Lee said . That means the controversy about using stem cells derived from human embryos is largely absent from this line of research . For developing treatments that involve transplanting stem cells from adults , there is no ethical concern about the use of embryos , Lee said . Embryonic stem cells are advantageous in research because they can be grown more easily than adult stem cells in a culture , and are pluripotent , meaning they can develop into any of the various cell types of the body , according to the National Institutes of Health . But it is not yet known whether tissues derived from embryonic stem cells would cause transplant rejection , whereas this does not seem to be a problem with adult stem cells . The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates which adult stem cell techniques are allowed to go into clinical trials and sets the requirements for more routine use . Whether the FDA will become more or less lenient in these respects is unclear , Lee said . It 's not unfathomable that within the next two to five years , some FDA-approved stem cell treatments will be available for cardiovascular disease , Lee said . Karp has a longer view -- five to 10 years before stem cell treatments become widely available for heart problems , he said . The biology of stem cell treatments for the heart is not well understood , said Dr. Ronald Crystal , chief of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center . One of the challenges is that once a stem cell gets put into a person 's body , no one can get it out , Crystal said . This is the opposite of other kinds of medications -- for instance , a person may get sick from taking too many aspirin , but eventually the drug leaves the system . Not so with stem cells , he said . Crystal expressed general caution about the future of stem cell research , which is still experimental , for heart patients . `` This is a good idea , but patients and families should not expect immediate results , '' he said . | Most stem cell research targeted at the heart uses adult stem cells . The FDA regulates adult stem cell techniques that are allowed to go into clinical trials . Unlike organ transplants , adult stem cells generally can be given to any patient . Therapies be available in a little over four years , although some say five to 10 . | [[3593, 3650], [4440, 4518], [4440, 4492], [4503, 4544], [4682, 4757], [141, 148], [165, 232], [4071, 4153], [5272, 5440], [5272, 5309], [5353, 5391], [1197, 1283], [5560, 5679]] |
LOS ANGELES , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- John Travolta , still in mourning over the death of his teenage son earlier this year , issued a rare public statement urging fans to see his latest movie , `` The Taking of Pelham 123 , '' which he filmed last year . John Travolta stars as a villainous ex-inmate in `` The Taking of Pelham 123 , '' which opens in theaters Friday . `` I promise , you wo n't be disappointed , '' said Travolta , who plays a deranged ex-inmate who takes hostages on a New York subway . Travolta did not join co-star Denzel Washington in the promotional tour for the movie -- which hits theaters Friday -- because he said his family needed `` additional time to reconcile our loss . '' His son Jett , 16 , was found unconscious on January 2 while on vacation with his family in the Bahamas . The teen was taken to a hospital , where he was pronounced dead on arrival , local police said . Washington , who plays a subway train dispatcher forced to face down Travolta 's character , said he talked to the actor about three weeks ago . `` Needless to say , he 's struggling , '' Washington said in an interview last week . Travolta 's statement , which can be read on his official Web site , said Washington , director Tony Scott and the producers `` stepped up without hesitation to help promote this wonderful film , and their unselfish efforts have allowed my family the additional time to reconcile our loss . '' Making the movie was `` a labor of love , '' Travolta said . `` Tony gave me the freedom to define , and then to become , the ultimate evil mastermind , '' he said . `` This role as an actor gave me the chance to dispense with all moral and ethical limitations , and explore just how bad this character could really be . I believe you will like the result . '' Much of the movie is a dialogue between Washington and Travolta 's character over a two-way radio . Many of the action shots were filmed in New York subway tunnels . | John Travolta releases statement on his Web site about `` The Taking of Pelham 123 '' Travolta , still mourning son 's death , praised colleagues for `` unselfish efforts '' Travolta 's son Jett died in January during family vacation . | [[1147, 1213], [1343, 1437], [0, 11], [66, 129]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A Florida man arrested with his wife on anabolic steroid possession charges claimed to have sold steroids to professional hockey and baseball players in the District of Columbia , but the National Hockey League and Washington Capitals said Wednesday they doubted the allegation . Richard Thomas and his wife , Sandra , were arrested Tuesday night at their home in Lakeland , Florida . Richard Thomas , 35 , told officers he sold the steroids to unidentified players on the NHL 's Capitals and the Washington Nationals of baseball 's National League , said Sheriff Grady Judd of Polk County , Florida . `` Richard Thomas told us that he sold steroids to ballplayers on those teams , '' Judd said after the arrests late Tuesday night . `` Now , is that one ballplayer to two ballplayers ? We do n't know . '' NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said the league would investigate the claim , but added that the Washington Capitals `` have no knowledge of any aspect of this allegation . '' `` Capitals players were subjected to no-notice testing five separate times over the past two seasons pursuant to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and there was no indication of any improper conduct or wrongdoing , '' Daly said in a statement issued Wednesday . A separate statement by Capitals president Dick Patrick said the team had `` no reason to believe there is any merit to this story , '' but would fully cooperate with the NHL 's investigation . MLB.com , the Web site of Major League Baseball , reported Wednesday that the league would look into the allegation involving the Washington Nationals . The report posted on the Web site of the Washington Nationals quoted Nationals president Stan Kasten as saying the team knew nothing about the steroids claim , and that the league was handling it . Thomas and his wife , Sandra , 49 , were arrested Tuesday night at their home in Lakeland , Florida , on 21 counts of possession of anabolic steroids , importation of anabolic steroids and maintaining a residence for drug sales , Judd said . He said the couple has been charged with 10 counts of steroid possession with intent to distribute , 10 counts of importing the drugs and one count of maintaining a residence for drug sales . According to Judd , U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in Philadelphia received information that the Florida couple would be receiving a shipment of steroids . Judd 's office then obtained a search warrant for the Lakeland home , where officers found steroids from points outside the United States , including Iran , he said . The arrest report says Richard Thomas told officers he was `` the biggest steroids dealer in central Florida . '' Bond for Richard and Sandra Thomas was set at $ 215,000 each , said Carrie Eleazer , spokeswoman for the Polk County Sheriff 's Office , and Sandra Thomas was released on bail Wednesday afternoon . The two are scheduled to make an initial court appearance Thursday . CNN 's John Couwels contributed to this report . | Couple arrested in central Florida on anabolic steroid possession charges . Claim they sold steroids to professional athletes in District of Columbia , sheriff says . Richard Thomas says he sold steroids to pro baseball , hockey players , sheriff says . | [[19, 94], [0, 15], [95, 196], [621, 698], [0, 15], [95, 196], [404, 418], [426, 567], [404, 418], [570, 608], [621, 698]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Members of the nation 's oldest black sorority have accused the organization 's president of using her sorority credit card for personal items and its board of directors of spending too much on her . Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority President Barbara McKinzie denies the claims in the lawsuit against her . The suit alleges that the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority 's board of directors signed off on spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on President Barbara McKinzie and commissioned an expensive wax figure of her . McKinzie denied the allegations , saying they are `` without merit . '' The most `` outlandish representation '' in the lawsuit , she said , is the allegation that the sorority spent $ 900,000 on a wax figure of her . Two wax figures -- one of McKinzie and one of the sorority 's first president , the late Nellie Quander -- were purchased by the hostess chapters of the sorority 's centennial convention last year , not the national AKA organization , for a total of $ 45,000 , McKinzie said . The lawsuit says the sorority 's board of directors approved the use of $ 900,000 for the wax likeness of McKinzie ahead of the centennial celebration . Edward W. Gray Jr. , an attorney representing the plaintiffs , acknowledged that the sorority disputes the lawsuit 's account of the statue 's price tag . However , he said , `` we have no way of knowing what the actual number was . We hope that it was as little as they say . '' He added that $ 45,000 is still a large amount of money , although , `` certainly , it 's a lot better than $ 900,000 . '' He called the alleged conduct `` shocking and bordering on illegal . '' The wax figures are to appear in the National Great Blacks in Wax museum in Baltimore , Maryland , according to AKA . The museum said they are on a traveling exhibit . The lawsuit , filed last month in a Washington superior court , also accuses McKinzie of using her sorority credit card for `` designer clothing , lingerie , jewelry , gifts and other excessive and inappropriate expenses of a personal nature . '' It demands that the sorority fire McKinzie and the board of directors and that the alleged damages be repaid . The lawsuit says that by using her credit card for personal purchases , as well as for `` properly reimbursed expenditures , '' McKinzie amassed American Express points , which she then redeemed for a 46-inch television and gym equipment . It also says that the sorority 's board of directors had agreed on compensation for McKinzie without the approval of the sorority 's policy-making body . The compensation , it says , included a $ 4,000-a-month stipend that McKinzie is to receive for four years after she leaves office . The board of directors also voted to buy a $ 1 million life insurance policy for McKinzie , a purchase that was also not approved by the policy-making body , the lawsuit says . McKinzie denied the accusations . `` Allegations about personal use of AKA funds are false and unsupported by the organization 's audited books , '' she said . The `` malicious allegations leveled against AKA by former leaders are based on mischaracterizations and fabrications not befitting our ideals of sisterhood , ethics and service . '' The lawsuit also blames McKinzie and Betty James , the executive director for the organization 's corporate office , for financial decisions they made for the sorority . The sorority 's claimed deductions on its federal tax returns in 2006 and 2007 were `` unreasonably large and inappropriate , thus exposing the sorority to potential IRS claims and obligations , '' the suit says . Furthermore , the sorority 's policy-making body has not approved McKinzie 's investment philosophy , which `` has caused the shifting of several million dollars of the sorority and foundation funds from cash and cash equivalents to stock and bond investments . '' McKinzie said in her statement that under her leadership , `` accounting and budgetary practices have been tightened , erasing past IRS liabilities and cost overruns . '' In addition to McKinzie , James and the sorority , the lawsuit names other members of the board of directors and the AKA Educational Advancement Foundation Inc. as defendants . AKA was founded in 1908 and is based in Chicago , Illinois . CNN 's Taylor Gandossy contributed to this report . | Alpha Kappa Alpha members say board OK 'd $ 900,000 for wax figure of president . She is accused of using sorority credit card for `` inappropriate expenses '' President of U.S. 's oldest black sorority denies `` malicious allegations '' | [[320, 530], [342, 480], [320, 328], [485, 530], [661, 669], [672, 748], [603, 658], [672, 748], [1026, 1164], [1043, 1178], [0, 15], [51, 218], [1822, 1833], [1891, 2065], [2180, 2302], [219, 319], [531, 562], [572, 576], [2884, 2917]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A wicked opportunity is brewing at Wookey Hole Caves in western England . Aspiring witches audition for the job Tuesday at Wookey Hole Caves in England . Applicants are flocking to the town of Wells in Somerset Tuesday in the hopes of being selected as the caves ' new resident witch . With the promise of # 50,000 -LRB- $ 82,000 -RRB- per year , and a spacious cave to boot , more than 2,000 candidates are stashing their wart remover and grabbing their broomsticks to persuade a panel of judges to choose them . The winner will portray the notorious witch that is said to have haunted the caves in the Dark Ages . The witch lived in the cave with goats until an abbot threw holy water on her , turning her to stone , legend says . Locals say her frozen figure can still be seen in the caves today . Legend has it that the witch cursed crops , caused disease and soured milk in the area , audition organizers say . Today , the caves at Wookey Hole are part of a tourist attraction with rides , a circus , theme parks and restaurants . The company that runs it , Wookey Hole Ltd. , pays the witch 's salary on a year-long contract . The would-be witches have one minute to perform for the panel Tuesday , employing their best cackle and whatever props they can carry , organizers say . The position wo n't necessarily go to a woman ; male and transgender witches are also invited to apply . Applicants are told they must , however , be knowledgeable in the history of witchcraft , be willing to travel , sleep overnight in caves , and can not be allergic to cats . Organizers say they 've had applications from men , women and 230 mothers-in-law . | Wookey Hole Caves in western England looking to hire a witch . Role promises $ 82,000 per year salary and a spacious cave . Applicants must be knowledgeable in the history of witchcraft . | [[0, 6], [9, 32], [57, 109]] |
BANGKOK , Thailand -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A Bangkok Airways plane crashed at an airport at a resort island in Thailand , killing the pilot and injuring 37 people Tuesday , aviation officials said . Rescue workers inspect the Bangkok Airways plane at Samui airport on Thailand 's Ko Samui . The plane carrying 68 people and four crew members skidded and then crashed after landing at Koh Samui airport , officials with the civil aviation department said . The ATR-72 turboprop had taken off from the town of Krabi on the west coast Thailand for its trip to the resort island of Koh Samui . Air traffic control warned the pilot of volatile winds before the plane landed , aviation officials said . Seven people were seriously injured and emergency officials were working to free the plane 's co-pilot who was trapped in the plane , officials said . CNN 's Dan Rivers contributed to this report . | Officials : Plane skidded and then crashed after landing at Koh Samui airport . Bangkok Airways ATR-72 turboprop carrying 68 people , four crew members . Air traffic control warned the pilot of volatile winds before the plane landed . | [[10, 34], [62, 114], [194, 285], [286, 336], [349, 396], [286, 344], [286, 336], [349, 396], [585, 663]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A 15-year-old South Carolina girl who was shot earlier this week by a man authorities say fits the description of a serial killer has died , police said Saturday . Police say the suspect may be driving a light gray or champagne tan 1991-94 two-door Ford Explorer . Abby Tyler died at 11:25 a.m. Saturday at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center , said Chief Rick Turner of the Gaffney Police Department . Her father , Stephen Tyler , 48 , was pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting Thursday in the family-run furniture and appliance store , Tyler Home Center , in Gaffney . On Friday , the Cherokee County Sheriff 's Office released a second sketch of a man believed to have fatally shot five people in less than a week . `` Let me say that under the FBI 's definition of a serial killer , yes , we have a serial killer , '' Sheriff Bill Blanton said in Gaffney , a town in the county of about 54,000 residents 50 miles southwest of Charlotte , North Carolina . He would not detail what has led investigators to conclude the shootings are linked or how they received the description of the suspect that has led to the two sketches . In addition , he said he did not know whether the shooter knew his victims or whether he may have chosen them at random . Watch locals gather to pray for victims and killer '' Police said he may be driving a light gray or champagne tan 1991-94 two-door Ford Explorer . The first shooting happened Saturday , when peach farmer Kline W. Cash , 63 , was found dead by his wife in their home , said Leigh Caldwell , a victims services coordinator for the sheriff 's office . Blanton said Cash 's home may have been robbed . On Wednesday , the bound and shot bodies of 83-year-old Hazel Linder and her 50-year-old daughter , Gena Linder Parker , were found in the mother 's home , where she lived alone . `` We 're still trying to determine if anything 's missing from there , '' Blanton said . Leave has been canceled for all members of the Police Department and the Sheriff 's Department , said their respective chiefs , who urged residents to take precautions . Watch how fear has gripped the town '' About 100 investigators from North and South Carolina were working the case , Blanton said . `` I think our community has a right to be concerned , '' he said . `` We 're concerned . We 're dealing with a man that 's killed four people . '' He urged residents to check on relatives , especially those who live alone . `` We 're asking the people in our community to be vigilant , to report anything . '' But he cautioned against taking that too far . `` Our concern is that people are going to start shooting at shadows , '' he said . | Man fatally shoots 5 people in less than a week near Gaffney , South Carolina . `` Under the FBI 's definition of a serial killer , yes , we have a serial killer , '' sheriff says . 100 investigators from North and South Carolina working the case . People urged to check on relatives , especially those who live alone . | [[672, 697], [711, 722], [675, 680], [706, 744], [2338, 2392], [2358, 2363], [2369, 2392], [746, 810], [748, 751], [755, 842], [2155, 2230], [2048, 2071], [2078, 2115], [2396, 2436]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A man who his attorney says was the youngest prisoner sent to the Guantanamo Bay detention center -- captured in Pakistan at 14 -- was ordered freed by a federal judge Wednesday . A guard keeps watch from a tower at the military facility at Guantanamo Bay , Cuba . The judge ruled Mohammad el-Gharani was not an enemy combatant and directed the military `` to take all necessary and appropriate diplomatic steps to facilitate the release '' of el-Gharani from the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay , Cuba . El-Gharani , now 21 , was among the first terrorism suspects and enemy fighters sent to the U.S. military prison camp . His arrival in 2002 came after he was seized by Pakistanis at a mosque and transferred to the U.S.-led coalition . He has been in custody since . El-Gharani 's lawyers filed a habeas corpus petition in federal court , demanding the government justify its continued detention or release him . Details of his case have not been widely released , but his lawyer said he was accused of working with al Qaeda 10 years ago , at age 11 . The court ruling also alleges el-Gharani , a citizen of Chad , was an al Qaeda courier and participated in the battle of Tora Bora in late 2001 in Afghanistan . But U.S. District Judge Richard Leon noted serious questions were raised about another detainee who implicated el-Gharani . Leon said that given the `` substantial and troubling uncertainties regarding petitioner 's conduct and whereabouts prior to his detention by Pakistani forces , the -LSB- U.S. -RSB- government has failed to establish a preponderance of the evidence '' that el-Gharani was an al Qaeda agent . The judge gave no timetable on when the suspect -- also called Yousef -- must be freed . Under U.S. and international policy , he could not be sent to a country where he might face torture or severe physical mistreatment . The Bush administration has said it has had difficulties finding countries willing to take many Guantanamo prisoners awaiting release . El-Gharani 's lawyers have alleged mistreatment by his captors , including cigarette burns and verbal abuse . Court records allege he was a native of Saudi Arabia who left that country around 2001 and moved to Pakistan . He denied that he was fleeing the fighting in Afghanistan when he was captured across the border in Pakistan . Another Guantanamo detainee , Canadian Omar Khadr , was 14 or 15 when he was captured six years ago . Military prosecutors formally charged him in April 2007 with killing Sgt. Christopher James Speer , a U.S. soldier whose reconnaissance patrol was ambushed in Afghanistan in 2002 . The American died nearly two weeks later . Khadr and el-Gharani remain among the youngest of Guantanamo 's approximately 250 prisoners . The civil case is el-Gharani v. Bush -LRB- 05-429 -RRB- . | Mohammad el-Gharani , now 21 , not an enemy combatant , U.S. judge rules . El-Gharani was 14 when he was captured in Pakistan , detained at U.S. base in Cuba . Judge notes questions raised about a detainee who implicated el-Gharani . El-Gharani was accused of being al Qaeda courier , Tora Bora battle participant . | [[311, 357], [92, 127], [131, 157], [2350, 2377], [2402, 2451], [1247, 1338], [1322, 1338], [1343, 1366], [1082, 1098], [1173, 1242]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The United States on Thursday imposed economic sanctions on a North Korean company that the United Nations said is linked to the country 's nuclear weapons program . News comes on day U.S. State Department Envoy Philip Goldberg met with U.N. sanctions committee . A U.S. Treasury Department statement said Korea Hyoksin Trading Corporation is owned or controlled by Korea Ryonbong General Corporation , which has been designated by the United Nations as a proliferator of weapons of mass destruction . The order freezes any U.S. assets of Hyoksin and prohibits any Americans from dealing with it , the statement said . It notes that a sanctions committee set up by the U.N. Security Council recently cited Hyoksin for involvement in development of weapons of mass destruction . The announcement came as the U.S. coordinator for implementation of U.N. sanctions against North Korea met Thursday with the Security Council sanctions committee . The envoy , Philip Goldberg , said the talks showed `` strong commitment '' by all nations to enforcing Security Council Resolution 1874 , which authorized sanctions against North Korea 's weapons program . `` What I found in that room and in my dealings with other governments ... is unity of view , '' Goldberg said , specifically mentioning China , which is North Korea 's longtime supporter . `` Commitment to implementation is strong and unified , '' he said . | U.S. : Hyoksin linked to corporation associated with weapons of mass destruction . Order freezes Hyoksin 's U.S. assets , prohibits Americans from dealing with company . U.N. recently cited Hyoksin for involvement in weapons of mass destruction . | [[393, 531], [532, 576], [532, 541], [581, 625], [113, 195], [649, 807], [663, 807]] |
LOS ANGELES , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Grammy-winning rapper Coolio was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday on suspicion of possessing illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia , according to a spokeswoman for the airport . Coolio 's `` Gangsta 's Paradise '' was used in the movie `` Dangerous Minds . '' Coolio , whose real name is Artis Leon Ivey Jr. , was taken to the Van Nuys Division station for booking , the spokeswoman said . A source at the airport 's public relations division confirmed the arrest but declined to be named . Coolio is best known for his 1995 hip-hop hit `` Gangsta 's Paradise . '' Efforts to reach his publicist were unsuccessful . | Grammy winner held at Los Angeles International Airport . He is accused of possessing illegal drugs , paraphernalia . His best-known hit is `` Gangsta 's Paradise '' | [[0, 11], [14, 34], [146, 196], [557, 627]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Two monorail trains at Walt Disney World collided early Sunday , killing a 21-year-old driver . A 2 a.m. ET monorail crash at Disney World killed one person , a park spokesman said . A witness said one of the trains rammed into the back of a stationary train about 2 a.m. at the resort 's Ticket and Transport Center . There were eight people on board at the time , the Orange County Sheriff 's Office said . A second employee was taken to a hospital to be checked ; the six guests -- members of a single family -- were evaluated by paramedics at the scene and released . Disney World officials said none of the seven was injured . Authorities identified the driver as Austin Wuennenberg , a senior at Stetson University studying computer science . `` It 's a terrible day for us , '' said Mike Griffin , Disney 's vice president for public affairs . `` Our hearts go out to Austin and his family . '' A statement from Wuennenberg 's family said , `` He always enjoyed his work at Disney , and especially enoyed his work as a monorail pilot . He has many great friends who he has positively influenced ; everyone will truly miss this dynamic young man . '' The theme park is working with county authorities and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the investigation . `` The safety of our cast and our guests is legendary and it 's our top priority , '' Griffin said . Disney World calls its employees `` cast members . '' The monorail was shut after the accident , Griffin said . Images from the scene showed the front car of a train badly damaged where it hit the other train at a station . | Driver identified as Austin Wuennenberg , 21 . Eight people were aboard , including family of six . Crash occurred about 2 a.m. at Ticket and Transport Center . Witness says one monorail train rammed into a stationary train . | [[0, 15], [84, 114], [651, 706], [338, 382], [484, 575], [486, 530], [580, 590], [224, 337], [202, 234], [224, 337]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The parent company of a security contractor said Thursday it is `` fully cooperating '' in the investigation of allegations that the contractor allowed mistreatment , sexual activity and intimidation within the ranks of private guards hired to protect the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan . A spokeswoman for a watchdog group says hazing at a camp for security guards went `` well beyond partying . '' The allegations came to light earlier this week when the watchdog group Project On Government Oversight sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and briefed reporters on its findings , which it said were based on e-mails and interviews with more than a dozen guards who have worked at the U.S. compound in Kabul . The company , ArmorGroup , North America , has a security contract with the State Department to provide services through July 2010 . Wackenhut Services Inc. , the corporate parent of ArmorGroup , e-mailed a statement on Thursday in response to questions about ArmorGroup 's private guards in Kabul . `` Our contract with the Department of State requires us to refer all questions to the Department of State , director of public affairs . We are fully cooperating with the DOS in the investigation of the recent incidents referred to in the letter from '' Project On Government Oversight , said the statement , sent by Wackenhut Services spokeswoman Susan Pitcher . On Wednesday , the U.S. Embassy said it was taking the allegations very seriously . `` Nothing is more important to us than the safety and security of all Embassy personnel -- Americans and Afghan -- and respect for the cultural and religious values of all Afghans , '' the embassy said . `` We have taken immediate steps to review all local guard force policies and procedures and have taken all possible measures to ensure our security is sound . '' The watchdog group said it began receiving whistleblower-style e-mails two weeks ago , some with graphic images and videos , that are said to document problems taking place at a nonmilitary camp for the guards near the U.S. diplomatic compound in Kabul . `` This is well beyond partying , '' Danielle Brian , executive director of Project On Government Oversight , told reporters earlier this week after showing a video of a man with a bare backside and another man apparently drinking a liquid that had been poured down the man 's lower back . She said that ranking supervisors were `` facilitating this kind of deviant hazing and humiliation , and requiring people to do things that made them feel really disgusted . '' In the letter Project On Government Oversight sent to Clinton , Brian wrote that the problems are `` posing a significant threat to the security of the embassy and its personnel . '' Among the recommendations from the group : immediate military supervision of the private security guards , a review of whether the contract should be revoked and consideration as to whether government forces should replace private security in a combat zone . CNN 's Charley Keyes contributed to this report . | ArmorGroup 's private guards accused of mistreatment , sexual activity , intimidation . ArmorGroup contracts to protect the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan . Watchdog group reports problems at nonmilitary camp for the embassy guards . Wackenhut says it is `` fully cooperating '' with embassy investigation . | [[0, 26], [74, 264], [316, 392], [1961, 1993], [1999, 2092], [1966, 1991], [2008, 2123], [0, 26], [74, 264]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Yemenia Airways is canceling all its flights between Yemen and the Comoros Islands after this week 's crash on the same route , the airline said Saturday . Bahia Bakari holds her father 's hand as she lies on a stretcher in a plane after landing in France . One more flight between Sanaa and Moroni is scheduled for Sunday , but all flights on the route are canceled after that , Yemenia said . A Yemenia Airways Airbus 310 went down early Tuesday , carrying 142 passengers and 11 crew members . It originated in Yemen 's capital , Sanaa , and went down just miles from Comoros ' capital , Moroni . One person , 13-year-old French girl Bahia Basari , survived for hours in the Indian Ocean clinging to the debris of the downed plane . She arrived home in France on Thursday , where she was reunited with her father . Watch teen survivor from crash '' She is the only known survivor from the crash , which killed her mother . The Airbus 310 plane tried to land at the airport in Moroni , then made a U-turn before it crashed , Comoros Vice President Idi Nadhoim said . The Comoros Islands are between the east African country of Tanzania and the island nation of Madagascar . French and U.S. divers are helping to search for debris and bodies . The French military has detected a rescue beacon , but rescue workers say the wreckage is difficult to reach in deep waters . The plane 's data recorders have yet to be found , said Capt. Mohammed Abdel Rahman Abdel Qadir , a spokesman for Yemen 's civil aviation department . | Teenage girl only person to survive plane crash off Comoros islands . French , U.S. divers are helping to search for debris and bodies from the plane . The plane 's data recorders have yet to be found , Yemeni authorities say . | [[618, 654], [670, 708], [870, 915], [1194, 1262], [1389, 1425], [1389, 1416], [1426, 1437]] |
STOCKHOLM , Sweden -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Bjorn Ulvaeus was one half of the songwriting genius behind Swedish pop legend ABBA . After the band split up in 1982 Ulvaeus turned his talents to writing musicals , including `` Mamma Mia , '' now a blockbuster movie . Bjorn Ulvaeus on the ABBA phenomenon : `` I 'm amazed how this could happen . I 'm just grateful and humble . '' He took My City_My Life on a tour of his home town of Stockholm and talked about his past and future as pop royalty . CNN : What is the secret of ABBA 's success ? Bjorn Ulvaeus : I think the secret behind the fact that our songs are still around and that ABBA became so big is a lot of factors together . But one of them was definitely that we put so much effort into song writing . We hardly ever toured , we just wrote and wrote and produced the records over a period of seven or eight years . So it 's the songs , plus I think the two girls , the voices -- the blend was unique and very special . CNN : Where did get the inspiration for your songs ? BU : Well mostly in song writing my experience is that there is n't so much inspiration as hard work . You sit there for hours , days and weeks with a guitar and piano until something good comes . But the urge to write is something you have to have . A conviction , an ambition to write and never stop until you think , `` This is the best I can do . '' Watch Bjorn Ulvaeus take CNN on a tour of Stockholm '' CNN : What drives you ? BU : In my career the push has always been to take another step , to try something new . That means that after ABBA , when we split up in 1982 , we were onto writing a musical -LSB- `` Chess '' -RSB- because we had n't done that before . CNN : How do you feel about working in the theater ? BU : Every time I sit in the audience and watch a show that I have been involved with , it is such an amazing feeling to see all those people around me , knowing they are actually watching and enjoying something I have written . That is such a feeling of pure joy that never goes away and that 's why I guess I 'm so attracted to work in the theater . CNN : How did `` Mamma Mia ! The Movie '' come about ? BU : When you have a big hit on the West End and on Broadway with a musical , as we had with `` Mamma Mia , '' there is always the question , `` when are you going to do the movie ? '' Some people say you should n't do it until the actual stage musical is on its last legs , but I do n't think that matters . We had been on Broadway for seven or eight years and eight or nine in the West End and we thought now is the time to make that movie . CNN : How has Stockholm changed over the years ? BU : A city like Stockholm , being so dynamic and following trends , develops all the time . It 's gradually changing but you can hardly see that . It is changing in a very healthy way that cities should change . CNN : How would you describe Stockholm in a few words ? BU : Stockholm is unique in the world in that it 's built on , I think , 14 islands . There are so many bridges and it does n't have any high-rise buildings to speak of . It 's quite spread out and open and airy with lots of parks . See photos of Bjorn Ulvaeus in Stockholm '' CNN : Let 's talk about the cultural scene in Stockholm . BU : There is a very vibrant cultural scene in Stockholm . There are lots of places where there are concerts and there are loads of museums and theaters . There is everything really , and eventually there is going to be an ABBA museum as well . CNN : When will that happen ? BU : I do n't know -- I like to be arm 's length when it comes to a museum about oneself . Other people should do that . CNN : That 's quite a Swedish trait ... BU : A lot of Swedes are quite modest and unassuming . I think that 's actually the closest you can get to a national trait , if there is one . CNN : How does it feel that people from different generations are still enjoying ABBA songs ? BU : In a way I 'm kind of a bystander looking at this phenomenon that is ABBA , which is still around , and that I thought would be finished in 1981 and forgotten . I 'm amazed how this could happen and I do n't know why it happened . I 'm just grateful and humble . I just sit back and enjoy . CNN : What would you like your legacy to be ? BU : I would like for my children to feel that what I left behind was something that I did whole heartedly and with honesty , and something that was the best I could do and hopefully that they too can enjoy . | Bjorn Ulvaeus is half of the songwriting pair behind Swedish pop legend ABBA . He lives in Stockholm , which he describes as being `` dynamic '' and trendy . Ulvaeus thought ABBA would be forgotten and is `` amazed '' by its popularity . An ABBA museum is being planned for Stockholm . | [[0, 9], [12, 116], [2650, 2652], [2679, 2716], [4037, 4093], [3442, 3491]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Brazilian military said late Friday it is calling off the search for bodies of passengers and crew from the Air France plane that crashed into the Atlantic earlier this month . Wreckage from Flight 447 spotted by search teams in the Atlantic last week . It was unlikely that any more bodies would be found , the military said . So far , search teams have found 51 of the 228 people who died when Air France Flight 447 plunged into the sea June 1 , according to the military . They have also found more than 600 parts and structural components of the plane , along with luggage , the military said . The bodies were handed to Brazilian authorities for identification while the debris and luggage were given to French aviation investigators , the military said . In the 26 days of the search operation , the Brazilian air force used 12 planes along with aircraft from France , the United States and Spain , the military said . The Brazilian navy used 11 ships . Ships remain in the search area hundreds of miles northeast of Brazil in an effort to find the flight data recorders , the Brazilian military said . Last week investigators said they were running out of time to find the recorders which could prove crucial to working out what caused the disaster . Officials remain in the dark about what caused the airliner to plunge into the sea off the coast of Brazil . The wreckage is believed to be about 15,000 feet -LRB- 4,500 meters -RRB- deep , amid underwater mountains and mixed in with tons of sea trash . A French submarine and other vessels are searching for black boxes by attempting to trace their locator beacons , which send out acoustic pulses , or `` pings , '' to searchers . The U.S. Navy has contributed two high-tech acoustic devices -- known as towed pinger locators -- which have been attached to French tug boats and can search to a maximum depth of 20,000 ft -LRB- 6,100 meters -RRB- . The firm which makes the recorders , Honeywell Aerospace , has told CNN it has a 100 percent recovery record from air accidents . Honeywell said it was hard to estimate how much battery life the locator beacon on the recorders had , as it depended on the conditions , but it is typically around 30 days . One recorder taped radio transmissions and sounds in the cockpit , such as the pilot 's voices and engine noises . Sounds of interest could be engine noise , stall warnings , landing gear extension and retraction , and other clicks and pops . From these sounds engine revs per minute , system failures , speed and the time at which certain events occurred could often be determined , according to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board . CNN 's Claudia Dominguez in Atlanta , Georgia , contributed to this report . | Brazilian military : Unlikely that any more bodies would be found . Search teams have found 51 of the 228 people who died . Plane wreckage believed to be on Atlantic seabed , around 4,500 meters deep . Investigators still trying to find flight data recorders for crucial information . | [[277, 328], [1102, 1131], [360, 404], [1056, 1099], [1161, 1165], [1191, 1280]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Jose Mourinho has admitted he was left angered by the decision to sell Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Barcelona , although the Inter Milan coach reveals he is delighted to welcome Samuel Eto'o to the San Siro . Jose Mourinho believes Inter Milan have done good business in selling Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Barcelona . Inter are on the verge of completing a deal which will see them receive 45 million euros -LRB- $ 64m -RRB- plus Eto'o for Ibrahimovic after both players agreed terms with their prospective clubs . Mourinho knows it will be a blow to lose last year 's leading goalscorer in Serie A but , speaking about the deal for the first time , admitted it is a fantastic bit of business . `` I was a bit angry because no coach is happy to lose Ibrahimovic , '' the Portuguese told Sky Italia . `` But no one is not happy to have Eto'o -- we have lost a top player but we have taken another one . If I talk as a coach and a man on the pitch , I say that I do n't want to lose this player . If I talk as a manager , I say that Inter have done great business , '' added Mourinho . Mourinho feels Ibrahimovic will adapt to life at the Nou Camp in no time but insists he would not make a similar move . `` He had this dream and wanted to go , '' added the Nerazzurri coach . `` He told me he would miss me and I told him exactly the same thing . He 's going to a club in which I worked for four years , Barcelona are an extraordinary club and he will be happy . `` I did n't give him any advice but I spoke to him a few days before the final decision . I told him that if he wins the Champions League with Barcelona he wo n't be doing anything extraordinary , seeing as they have won it twice in three years . I like doing something extraordinary , not what 's normal . '' | Jose Mourinho angered by the decision to sell Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Barcelona . However , Inter Milan coach happy to welcome Samuel Eto'o to the Italian club . Inter Milan to receive 45 million euros -LRB- $ 64m -RRB- plus Eto'o for Swede Ibrahimovic . | [[19, 81], [0, 15], [58, 81], [69, 121], [133, 220], [325, 330], [348, 458]] |
-LRB- Budget Travel -RRB- -- Just a two-hour detour from Paris , the Loire was once a playground to Renaissance royals . Now its vaunted châteaux are attracting enterprising young couples and artists who have remade them into captivating -- and surprisingly affordable -- inns . Surrounded by 10-foot-high limestone walls , Le Clos d'Amboise offers an unexpected sanctuary in the town of Amboise . CHINON . Hôtel Diderot . `` If you 've never eaten a brioche with fresh Ste. Maure goat cheese , honey and walnuts for breakfast , then you have n't been to the Loire , '' says Laurent Dutheil , who is justifiably proud of the simple breakfasts he serves at his 23-room hotel in the western corner of the valley . Dutheil also produces dozens of fragrant artisanal jams such as apple-lavender and quince-cinnamon . -LRB- Sadly , they are n't for sale , but you can buy Dutheil 's recipe book , `` Jam in the Cupboard . '' -RRB- The traditional foods fit well with the hotel 's venerable atmosphere : Diderot is housed in a sprawling 15th-century home that the Chinon-born Dutheil , along with his two sisters , Martine and Francoise , bought and renovated six years ago . Budget Travel : See the hotels . Dutheil tackled structural issues , taking care to keep the exposed oak beams and original stone walls intact , while his sisters refurbished the rooms with cheerful striped wallpaper , toile bedding , and 19th-century armoires they scavenged on trips to Paris . The largest room , which sleeps four , has double windows with views of a courtyard . In the distance lie vineyards full of the red Chinon grapes much loved by 16th-century novelist and satirist François Rabelais . 4 rue de Buffon , 011-33/2 -47 -93 -18 -87 , hoteldiderot.com , rooms from $ 72 . THÉSÉE . Le Moulin de la Renne . A tunnel of towering fir trees leads to the entrance of this converted 19th-century mill in Thésée , on the banks of the Cher River . Guests are greeted by an enormous Bernese mountain dog named Alpha and his equally friendly owners , Véronique and Christophe Villanfin . There are 13 guest rooms , decorated with items such as embroidered quilts and framed puzzles of boats assembled by jigsaw fanatic Véronique . Jazz enthusiasts , the Villanfins host occasional concerts featuring local groups , including Les Bras ` Coeurs , a quartet that performs Georges Brassens standards . The soirees are held in the restaurant , known locally for its coq au vin : rooster stewed in cabernet bottled at Le Chai des Varennes winery next door . 11 route de Vierzon , 011-33/2 -54 -71 -41 -56 , moulindelarenne.com , closed Jan. 10 -- Feb. 10 and 10 days in Nov. , rooms from $ 76 , entrées from $ 15.75 . CIVRAY-DE-TOURAINE . Château de l'Isle . The Château de l'Isle is quiet to the core -- unless you count the chorus of quacks coming from the duck pond on the 35-acre grounds . The 18th-century manor house had been abandoned for 10 years when Denis Gandon bought it in 1986 and transformed the place into a 12-room hotel . Still , the château somehow feels like a private home : A portrait of Gandon 's grandfather hangs over a 100-year-old antique table in the dining area , and an amiable Jack Russell terrier entertains guests with endless rounds of fetch . The stylish bedrooms have exposed wood beams and beds draped with coverlets in shades of crimson and marigold . Budget Travel : See the hotels . In the summer , breakfast is served in an expansive glassed-in terrace overlooking the garden . A nearby potager -LRB- or kitchen garden -RRB- supplies produce for some of chef Fabrice Cherioux 's breakfast treats , such as a zesty tomato confiture . 1 rue de l'Ecluse , 011-33/2 -47 -23 -63 -60 , chateau-de-lisle . com , rooms from $ 69 , breakfast $ 13 . CHENONCEAUX . La Roseraie . This 18-room hotel in Chenonceaux was a must-stay on the itineraries of political notables after World War II , when the Allies were trying to figure out how to piece Europe back together . Winston Churchill , Harry Truman and Eleanor Roosevelt all , at one time or another , laid their heads at La Roseraie . -LRB- A letter from Roosevelt still hangs in the breakfast room . -RRB- . In 2000 , Sophie and Laurent Fiorito acquired the property and completed a top-to-bottom renovation . There is no such thing as a standard room here -- tiny singles have just enough space for a twin bed , while one suite fits a family of five . The decor is equally varied . One room has a Louis Philippe-style dresser and a crystal chandelier ; another shows off a modern pink-checkered sofa . The hotel 's best asset is its proximity -LRB- a five-minute walk -RRB- to Château de Chenonceau , which Henri II gave to his beloved mistress , Diane de Poitiers ; the massive 16th-century building hovers over the River Cher . 7 rue du Docteur Bretonneau , 011-33/2 -47 -23 -90 -09 , hotel-chenonceau . com , closed Nov. -- Jan. and Mar. , rooms from $ 85 . AMBOISE . Le Clos d'Amboise . Surrounded by 10-foot-high limestone walls , in the heart of the old market center of Amboise , this 17-room mansion inn offers an unexpected sanctuary from the town 's bustling , narrow streets . The bedrooms come equipped with decorative elements such as mahogany four-poster beds and original fireplaces , while the common room features wood floors modeled after those at the Palace of Versailles . Most of the rooms overlook the hotel 's private park , landscaped with 100-year-old magnolias and a pine tree that survived the French Revolution . A pool by the rose garden is perfect for a cool dip after relaxing in the wood sauna , housed in a former stable . Just a 10-minute stroll from the hotel stands the riverside castle that belonged to King François I -- part medieval fortress , part Renaissance royal house . The king became famously enthralled by Leonardo da Vinci during a 1515 excursion to Italy , and he set up the painter in a gabled redbrick château -LRB- now a museum -RRB- , just down the road from his castle . 27 rue Rabelais , 011-33/2 -47 -30 -10 -20 , leclosamboise.com , closed Dec. -- Jan. , rooms from $ 98 . LIMERAY . Auberge de Launay . Between the two of them , François and Hélène Thévard have honed their hospitality skills at some of the world 's most well-respected hotels , including Le Meurice in Paris and the Savoy in London . After years helping manage other people 's properties , the couple -- with their two small kids , Emma and Alexandre -- packed up their Paris apartment and bought an unassuming farmhouse in the secluded hamlet of Limeray to convert to a 15-room inn . `` I grew up in the region , so when we made the decision to open our own place , I knew that I had to come back to the Loire , '' says François . In keeping with the spare design of the house , the decor at the Auberge is simple -- bedrooms are outfitted with neutral suede sofas , blond-wood floors and minimalist photographs of daisies and landscapes . The duo oversees the daily lunch and dinner service at the on-site restaurant , which serves local specialties such as butter-poached Loire eel and chicken with mustard cream . The house dessert , a salted-caramel fruit tart , is baked with apples picked in the hotel 's orchard . Le Haut Chantier , 011-33/2 -47 -30 -16 -82 , aubergedelaunay.com , closed Dec. 15 -- Jan. 15 , rooms from $ 72 , two-course dinner from $ 26 . ONZAIN . Château des Tertres . This mansion in the heart of the Loire once belonged to the mother of novelist Marguerite Duras -LRB- who mentions the château in her famous work `` The Lover '' -RRB- . Later , in the 1960s , its marble hallways were filled with students from a nearby engineering school , which used the building as a dorm . In 1992 , another curious owner took over management of the 14-room château : Bernard Valois , an artist who kept the mansion 's 19th-century detailing -LRB- high ceilings , gilded mirrors -RRB- but added contemporary design flourishes , such as a photograph of a mysterious pair of eyes in the foyer . Last year , Valois and his wife , Christine , redecorated a former gatekeeper 's house as a contemporary four-room cottage with knockoff Jackson Pollock paintings and sculptures that resemble enormous eggs . `` My husband likes to turn things that seem ordinary into the extraordinary , '' Christine says . `` He designed a ` Sputnik ' bidet that has Japanese robots stationed around the tank . '' Valois also tends a 12-acre garden of roses and clematises , where guests can find a shed stocked with complimentary bikes for exploring the area 's 186 miles of riding paths . 11 rue de Meuves , 011-33/2 -54 -20 -83 -88 , chateau-tertres . com , closed Oct. 19-Apr . 1 , rooms from $ 94 . CHITENAY . Auberge du Centre . When Gilles Martinet 's grandmother found herself widowed at the end of World War I , she started selling milk and eggs to make ends meet . One thing led to another , and her home eventually became a guesthouse and restaurant specializing in French country fare , like chicken sautéed in fresh cider . Three generations later , Martinet is now proprietor and chef of this inn , which has 26 brightly decorated rooms in shades of sage and rose , as well as a flower-filled garden terrace out back . He has kept the breakfast area much the way his grandmother designed it , with rustic stone walls , an ample fireplace and simple country furnishings . There are bicycles available to rent -LRB- $ 14.50 per day -RRB- for excursions to the Château de Cheverny , about five miles away . 34 Grande Rue , 011-33/2 -54 -70 -42 -11 , auberge-du-centre . com , closed Feb. , rooms from $ 78 , entrées from $ 17 . Loire Basics . A two-hour drive southwest of Paris , the Loire Valley is known for its earthy cabernet franc wines and hundreds of majestic castles . It 's impossible to see them all -LRB- a visit to one château can take half a day -RRB- , so it 's wise to focus on the worthy ones : Chenonceau , the graceful riverine palace that once belonged to Henri II -LRB- chenonceau.com , $ 13 -RRB- ; Chambord , which has a double-helix staircase inspired by the designs of Leonardo da Vinci -LRB- chambord.org , $ 12.50 -RRB- ; and Cheverny , renowned for its flamboyant , gilded interiors -LRB- chateau-cheverny . com , $ 9.75 -RRB- . Get the best travel deals and tips emailed to you FREE - CLICK HERE ! Copyright © 2009 Newsweek Budget Travel , Inc. , all rights reserved . Note : This story was accurate when it was published . Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip . | Hotel Diderot in Chinon is housed in a sprawling 15th-century home . The 18-room La Roseraie is a five-minute walk from Château de Chenonceau . Auberge du Centre in Chitenay has 26 brightly decorated rooms . | [[996, 1048], [4562, 4658], [9082, 9090], [9099, 9201]] |
LOS ANGELES , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Michael Jackson 's ex-wife and the mother of his two oldest children , Debbie Rowe , has agreed not to challenge the singer 's mother for custody of the children , according to a joint statement from lawyers for Rowe and Katherine Jackson . Debbie Rowe will not pursue custody of the children she bore with Michael Jackson , a lawyer says . The agreement does not involve any financial payments to Rowe `` apart from the continuation of spousal support payments '' that Michael Jackson personally agreed to make to Rowe after their divorce , the lawyers said . Rowe will get visitation rights with the children and the `` timing , frequency and manner of visits shall be implemented according to the best interests of the children , as determined by a child psychologist selected jointly , and paid jointly , '' by Jackson and Rowe , the announcement said . Rowe never publicly said if she would fight Jackson 's 79-year-old mother for custody of her son and daughter -- ages 11 and 12 -- and a court hearing concerning custody was delayed several times this month while lawyers for the two talked . Jackson 's youngest child , 7 , was carried by a surrogate mother , whose name has not yet been released . Katherine Jackson gained temporary guardianship of the three children soon after his death last month . Learn about other notable custody cases '' The agreement must be approved by the judge . A custody hearing is set for Monday before Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff . Beckloff will also hear arguments Monday about Jackson 's estate and who will control it . Katherine Jackson is asking the court for more involvement in the estate 's business . Watch what may have happened in Jackson 's final hours '' Jackson family lawyer Londell McMillan said the family was pleased the custody matter was `` resolved and was handled in a caring , thoughtful and courteous manner by the parties and their representatives . '' `` We were all united in our goals to do what is best for Michael 's wonderful children , and both Mrs. Jackson and Debbie Rowe were on the exact same page , '' McMillan said . `` Accordingly , although important issues had to be resolved , this was no legal contest but rather simply a process -LRB- of -RRB- doing the right thing for the right reasons . '' Rowe 's lawyer , Eric George , said the women and their lawyers `` engaged in a dignified discussion that resulted in a dignified outcome . '' `` The sole consideration between the parties was the best interests of the children , '' George said . `` I 'm proud to have worked with such professionals who represented Ms. Jackson , and I am particularly proud of Deborah for her integrity and selflessness . '' Efforts to resolve who will control Jackson 's estate have not been so amicable . Earlier this month , Beckloff granted temporary control to the executors named in his 2002 will : John Branca , Jackson 's longtime personal attorney , and John McClain , a music industry executive and longtime friend . McMillan , in a statement issued Wednesday , said Katherine Jackson was not disputing the will . But , he said , she wanted the judge to order the executors to disclose information about what he said was `` a suspicious circle of relationships '' involving them . He said the executors `` have either denied Mrs. Jackson access to critical information or insisted on ... onerous and unreasonable restrictions '' to information about deals they are making on behalf of the estate . McMillan , in an interview with CBS Thursday , estimated the Jackson estate was worth $ 2 billion , while the executors have estimated in court that its value is around $ 500 million . The will placed all assets into a family trust benefiting his mother , his three children and unnamed charities . Jackson 's children have been living with their paternal grandmother at her Encino , California , home since their father 's death on June 25 . `` They read the news on the Web and the reports , '' McMillan said . `` I really tried to push the media to be responsible in how they try to handle this matter because there are three precious children involved . '' The oldest child -- Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. , more commonly known as Prince Michael -- was born in February 1997 . A daughter -- Paris Michael Katherine Jackson -- was born the next year . Details of how the children were conceived -- and who was the biological father -- have been closely guarded amid much public speculation . The couple divorced in 1999 with Rowe giving Jackson full custody while she got an $ 8.5 million settlement , according to court documents . Jackson later agreed to additional support . Rowe gave up parental rights to Jackson in 2001 , but she changed her mind more than two years later and sought temporary custody of the children . A California appeals court later ruled her rights were improperly terminated , opening the door to a possible custody battle . CNN 's Randi Kaye , Kay Jones and Allison Blakely contributed to this report . | Debbie Rowe , Katherine Jackson make custody agreement . Rowe , Michael Jackson 's ex-wife and mother of two kids , will have visitation rights . Katherine Jackson is the children 's guardian . Hearing is set for Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court . | [[605, 705], [1251, 1320], [1326, 1354], [902, 1071], [1444, 1546]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Saturday called on the state bar to overlook a technical error and allow a paralyzed law school graduate to take the bar exam next week . Arnold Schwarzenegger says a technical error should n't stop the law school graduate from taking the bar exam . `` It is outrageous that someone who has overcome so much in life is penalized by a bureaucratic error that prevents her from taking the bar exam next week , '' the governor said in a statement . `` Government should work for the people , not against them , and I 'm calling on the state bar to allow Sara Granda to take next week 's test . Sara is a fighter , and I am with her all the way . '' The state bar 's Web site never processed Granda 's application for Tuesday 's test because California 's Department of Rehabilitation paid her $ 600 fee with a check , according to the Sacramento Bee . The Web site requires a credit card number , but Granda said she was assured by a state bar representative that she was properly registered with the check , the newspaper reported . Granda , 29 , a University of California-Davis Law School graduate , has petitioned the California Supreme Court to allow her to take Tuesday 's test . She said she was `` surprised '' to hear about Schwarzenegger 's statement in her defense . `` I 'm not used to a lot of attention , '' she told CNN television affiliate KCRA . She said she went to the governor 's office last week , `` but they would n't let me in . '' `` So I knew there was no way that the governor was going to get involved , '' she said . Granda was paralyzed from the neck down after a car accident in 1997 , when she was 17 . The accident happened a month before she was to attend California Polytechnic State University , San Luis Obispo , on a full scholarship , according to the Sacramento Bee . Granda , who has been studying 11 hours a day for the bar exam with the help of assistants , said she wants the state of California to resolve the matter because it spent about $ 100,000 for her education . `` I worked very , very hard for every cent , '' she told KCRA . `` So for everything to come together in the end and for it to just kind of fall through on such a minor , minor detail . '' | Bar 's Web site did n't process Sara Granda 's payment to take bar exam . Granda , 29 , was paralyzed from the neck down after a car accident in 1997 . She was 17 at that time , and about to go to college in California . Schwarzenegger : `` Outrageous '' that she 's being `` penalized for a bureaucratic error '' | [[706, 872], [1679, 1691], [313, 412], [392, 412], [418, 465]] |
ATLANTA , Georgia -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- It 's Geek Pride Week in Atlanta as thousands of fans take over four downtown hotels for Dragon * Con , an annual celebration of science fiction , fantasy , comics and gaming . Karen Lee and husband Dillan dressed like comic book characters for Dragon * Con in Atlanta , Georgia . Where else -- OK , other than San Francisco or New Orleans -- are city streets shut down for a ragtag parade of zombies , superheroes , robots , Klingons and Middle Earth dwellers ? Where else can comic book collectors rub shoulders with movie stars , vampires , alternate-history speculators and Harry Potter look-alikes , all while taking part in a lively game of Godzilla Bingo ? The whole thing is a bit of a shock to college football fans in town for the season-opening game between Alabama and Virginia Tech , one of whom called it a `` freak show . '' But those aliens grow on you after a while . `` At first I thought it was really strange , '' Hokies fan Emily Nardone of Ashburn , Virginia , said . `` But now I see everybody 's having so much fun . And I enjoy looking at the freaks . '' One Dragon * Con `` freak '' getting a lot of looks was Karen Lee of Cullman , Alabama . She was dressed a dramatic , cleavage-baring winged costume inspired by `` Dawn '' comic book artist Joseph Michael Linsner . Lee made the costume by hand at home . `` My living room is completely demolished , '' she said . Her husband , Dillan , made up as the Batman character Two-Face , said he could attest to the condition of the living room . Lee is entered in a Dawn look-alike contest with a top prize of $ 1,000 . `` The theory behind the concept of Dawn is just paying homage to women of all shapes and sizes , '' she said . `` She can be blonde , brunette or redhead . So basically , it 's just inviting women to get up there and do their interpretation of what they think beauty in women is . '' iReport.com : Share your pics and videos from Dragon * Con . Fashion augmented with gadgetry is what drew Pendleton , South Carolina , librarians Gypsey Teague and Marla Roberson to a Dragon * Con workshop on Steampunk costuming . Steampunk is sci-fi set in a Victorian aesthetic . Think pearl-handled , brass-barreled ray guns . The movies `` League of Extraordinary Gentlemen '' and `` Wild Wild West '' are examples of the genre . `` Anything your imagination can come up with , you can do , '' Roberson said as she marveled at a vendor 's shoes that had little copper boilers and compasses on them . But it seems there 's a certain element of snobbery in Steampunk . A crew of Steampunk pirates entered the room , decked out in their tricorn hats and eye patches . Teague was not impressed . `` Where 's your molecular destabilizer ? '' she sniffed . Out in the hallway , Steampunk time travelers Candace and Kane Bacon were just arriving . They 're new to the game , but Kane had a copper staff with dials on top and a big metal backpack with dials and knobs strapped to his back . A large brass key dangled from the sash around Candace 's waist , and she carried a basket of dinosaur eggs they 'd found . `` Some of it we had just -LSB- lying -RSB- around the house , antique stuff , '' Candace said . `` Other parts we got from Lowe 's . The backpack is made from radio parts ; my dad is in the radio business , and he got some old radio parts for us . And yard sale gadgets . '' She said she was a Steampunker before she knew what Steampunking was . Watch the Dragon * Con parade '' `` I 'd always liked Jules Verne and H.G. Wells , that type of stuff , '' she said . `` I decorated my living room in antiques and like , old compasses , and I did n't realize that that was Steampunk until we actually got here '' to last year 's Dragon * Con , she said . The Johnson City , Tennessee , couple chose to forego the hotels and stay with a friend just outside Atlanta and ride MARTA , the public rail system , in to the convention . MARTA 's central Five Points station was peopled Saturday morning with anime heroines , a wizardess with green lipstick and an incongruous ladybug who appeared to be about 8 years old -- all mingling with football fans , a few of whom were in pretty outlandish getups themselves . Watch Dragon * Con attendees in full regalia '' There were no incidents , however , as intergalactic military police were on hand everywhere to maintain order . Back at the Marriott Marquis , thousands of attendees snaked through lobbies on several levels . Among them was Melinda Ellington , an international affairs student at Georgia Tech . She carried an orange and yellow parasol and wore a green jumpsuit as the spaceship mechanic Kaylee from the short-lived Joss Whedon TV series `` Firefly . '' `` You meet anyone who likes ` Firefly , ' it 's weird because we immediately become like family , '' she said on the hotel 's mezzanine . `` A very large , creepy , incestuous family , but family nonetheless . '' In the lobby below her , a 20-piece brass band blasted a set of Henry Mancini show tunes while thousands of attendees filed past . They needed to keep moving , lest anyone be late for the Evil Geniuses for a Better Tomorrow Recruiting Session and Bake Sale . | Convention celebrates science fiction , fantasy , comics and games . College football fans caught unawares by Atlanta , Georgia , `` freak show '' Steampunk aficionado sneers at pirates ' lack of molecular destabilizer . | [[701, 831], [834, 873]] |
Editor 's note : The following story , based on testimony in Phillip Garrido 's trial for a 1976 kidnapping , contains some sexually explicit material . Phillip Garrido is show in an early mug shot taken in connection with the 1976 rape and abduction case . -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Fifteen years before the girl was held captive in the shed , there was the woman in the warehouse -- and at least one other woman who escaped capture . Phillip Garrido , who with his wife is charged in the 1991 kidnapping of Jaycee Dugard , had been convicted of kidnapping before . When he stalked , kidnapped and raped Katie Callaway Hall on November 22 , 1976 , he fulfilled an overpowering sexual fantasy that he had methodically planned for weeks , according to court records obtained by CNN . He told police it was his second kidnapping attempt of the day . Those facts came to light in Garrido 's 1977 trial , in which he was convicted and sentenced to 50 years for kidnapping and rape . In her testimony , Hall said Garrido asked for a ride in her car , then bound and handcuffed her before taking her to a small warehouse in Reno , Nevada , where he repeatedly raped her for 5 1/2 hours . It was not an act of impulse . `` He told me he had been renting it -LSB- the small warehouse -RSB- for a couple weeks , preparing it , '' Hall testified . Watch how Garrido prepared for and explained the kidnapping '' It is CNN policy to withhold the identity of alleged victims of sexual assault . But in this case , Hall recounted her ordeal last week in an interview on CNN 's `` Larry King Live , '' saying it changed her life forever . `` I had to tell everyone I met what had happened to me -- because I did n't feel like myself . It was as if I had to explain why I was n't ` normal , ' '' she said . Watch Hall describe her ordeal '' She was not his first victim that day . The trial transcript reveals that Garrido told authorities that one hour before Hall 's kidnapping , he tried to kidnap another woman , who wrestled away and escaped . And , police in Antioch disclosed last week that Garrido was charged with raping a 14-year-old in 1972 , but the charges were dropped because the victim refused to testify . Watch details of the 1972 case '' In the case involving Hall , CNN reviewed the 1977 trial documents , which include Garrido 's psychiatric evaluation and the testimony of Hall and Garrido . The documents reveal a pattern of behavior that Garrido is accused of repeating in the 1991 kidnapping of Jaycee Dugard , who was recently found after being kept in a shed for 18 years . The 32-year-old documents also detail Garrido 's self-described struggle with drugs and his efforts to control his sexual obsessions . Can sex offenders be cured ? '' Garrido and his wife , Nancy , have pleaded not guilty to charges involving Dugard 's abduction , but police say he admitted kidnapping her in his initial interview . Police say Garrido and his wife kidnapped Dugard outside her home in South Lake Tahoe , California , and took her to an elaborate compound hidden in the backyard of their Antioch , California , home more than 160 miles away . Tucked behind overgrown trees and a fence were tents , outbuildings and a soundproof shed where Dugard lived with the two daughters she had with her captor . Out of sight . Garrido took great pains to make sure nobody could find the camp , not even the parole officer who visited twice a month at times , police said . Hall , too , was taken directly to a carefully prepped small warehouse after her kidnapping . As they drove from South Lake Tahoe , California , where she was abducted , to Reno , she tried to persuade Garrido to rape her in the bushes . `` I asked him , could n't we just pull over and get it over with , '' she testified . But Garrido was determined . `` You might as well get that our of your mind ; you are going with me , you have got no choice , '' Hall testified Garrido told her , according to court transcripts . `` I have it all planned . '' He had set up the mini-warehouse in Reno exactly as he wanted , and worked to ensure nobody would inquire about it . He asked a man who lived in a storage unit 30 feet away to call him should any unknown vehicles show up . The mini-warehouse was meticulously furnished . On the other side of an unassuming metal , garage-style door , the walls were covered in long , heavy rugs hanging from the ceiling . Thick opaque plastic sheets were scattered throughout , creating a maze-like atmosphere that prohibited anyone from seeing all the way through , Hall testified . Staging the attacks . In the back , Garrido created a space set up like a stage . At the center was a mattress covered with an old , red satin , hole-ridden sheet and a fur blanket , Hall testified . Illuminating the bed were red , yellow and blue stage lights , with a stack of pornographic magazines and a projector alongside it . His intent , a prosecution psychologist said , could n't have been clearer based on the methodical planning . From the moment she got to the mini-warehouse , Hall said it was clear to her Garrido was a man on a mission . `` He knew what he was doing , '' she testified . '' -LSB- He -RSB- knew exactly how he was going to do it . '' She testified that it was there that he raped her for 5 1/2 hours . As he drank wine and she smoked a small bit of hashish , Hall said she kept track of the time by listening to a radio , which regularly announced the time . Hall did n't know that she was n't originally part of the plan , although Garrido alluded to the fact he had n't targeted her , saying it was n't intentional that she was taken . `` Could have been anybody , '' Hall recalled him saying , adding he told her it was her fault because she was attractive . He did n't say that his original plan had gone awry one hour earlier . Victim managed to escape . Despite his planning , there was one thing Garrido had n't accounted for -- that one of his intended victims would fight back . One hour before Hall was kidnapped in her own vehicle , Garrido asked a different woman in South Lake Tahoe , California , for a ride . Like Hall , she obliged . But when he tried to handcuff her , he only secured one hand . `` She jumped out of the vehicle , struggling with him , '' prosecutors told the judge during a private conversation during the trial . When he unlocked the one handcuff , she escaped by jumping out of the moving car and running up the street . That kidnapping attempt came to light in a conversation between the prosecutor , defense attorney and judge in the case , according to the trial transcript . Despite prosecutors ' wishes , the details of the first kidnapping attempt were kept from the jury , after a judge ruled they were n't necessary to prove Garrido 's intent to kidnap . The court documents also discussed Garrido 's use of marijuana , cocaine and LSD , which Garrido said was so heavy it fueled his sexual desires and sometimes pushed him to a point he could no longer control them . He said he responded to the urges by masturbating in drive-in movie theaters , restaurants , bathrooms , bars and while watching partially clothed or naked women in their homes . An interest in young girls . Though police have recently said they never expected Garrido would have kidnapped someone as young as Dugard based on his record , Garrido 's own words during his trial showed young girls did grab his attention . Watch how Garrido slipped through the cracks '' He admitted masturbating in his car while watching small girls outside their school . Sometimes , he said , he would open the car door , get out and pull down his pants . His own explanation of his sexual fantasies hinted at an obsession with sexual bondage and captivity . `` There has been a type of bondage pictures , '' he said , when asked if certain images heightened his arousal . `` Women in handcuffs , chained . '' On the night he took Hall captive and bound her with a leather strap in her car , he said he took four hits of LSD , a drug that he said he used daily for at least four years , sometimes taking up to 10 hits at a time . He said when he used the drug it acted as a sexual stimulant . `` I had this fantasy that was driving me to do this inside of me , '' Garrido testified . `` Something that was making me want to do it without -- no way to stop . '' Garrido said the urges would strike and continue to build until he was `` overcome '' with sexual cravings . Hall was curious , too , even during her kidnapping , what would make Garrido do this to her . So she asked him . `` He said that he did n't get off on pain , '' Hall recalled during her testimony . `` It was just a fantasy he had to live out . '' | Trial transcripts show Phillip Garrido tried to kidnap woman before Katie Hall in 1976 . Garrido methodically prepared places to bring kidnapped Hall . Kidnap suspect spoke in trial about his drug-fueled , uncontrollable sexual urges . `` You are going with me , you have got no choice , '' Hall recalls Garrido saying . | [[17, 107], [0, 14], [17, 36], [39, 107], [1858, 1991], [1922, 1956], [1959, 2025], [2234, 2260], [2263, 2300], [6547, 6567], [6588, 6623], [3457, 3461], [3470, 3550], [17, 107], [0, 14], [17, 36], [39, 107], [6861, 6888], [6910, 6951], [8136, 8198], [8149, 8198], [8367, 8374], [8380, 8389], [8407, 8475], [3860, 3881], [3882, 3906], [3927, 3943], [5675, 5702]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Iran 's supreme leader blamed enemies and outsiders on Monday for the turmoil that followed last month 's presidential elections , according to an Iranian news agency . Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused the West on Monday of meddling in Iran 's affairs . To a gathering in Tehran , Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Western governments of having `` clearly meddled in the internal affairs of Iran '' and the American and European media of depicting Iranians `` as rioters , '' according to Fars News Agency . He warned that meddling from presidents , prime ministers and foreign ministers would hurt those nations ' relations with Iran , according to Fars . He said Iranians would see through the `` lies '' of Western governments and `` know that your objective is to create doubt amongst them and propagate hate against the system of the Islamic Republic . '' While `` disappointment and sorrow '' from voters when their candidate lost the June 12 election was `` natural , '' Khamenei said , he condemned involvement by `` outsiders '' in the civil unrest that gripped the country after the balloting . Government results showed that incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad won in a landslide over his nearest rival , Mir Hossein Moussavi . Widespread street protests followed , during which at least 20 demonstrators died and more than 1,000 were arrested , according to Iranian state-run media . The numbers of casualties and arrests could not be independently verified by CNN because the Iranian government has banned international journalists . The crackdown on the media followed widespread dissemination of video of the mass protests . Khamenei described American and European media coverage of the protests as `` disrespectful to the people of Iran . '' Despite any internal differences , Iranians would come together against their `` enemy , '' he said , referring to outsiders . `` When it comes to confronting the enemy , even with various differences and viewpoints , -LSB- Iranians -RSB- will become united and be as one punch against them , '' he said . | Ayatollah says West `` clearly meddled in the internal affairs of Iran '' Disappointment in lost election `` natural , '' but outsiders stoked civil unrest , he says . Supreme leader referring to media coverage of protests after presidential election . Number of protesters killed , injured unknown because of Iranian media crackdown . | [[188, 270], [231, 237], [241, 270], [298, 361], [359, 473], [0, 15], [42, 96], [875, 975], [989, 1005], [1008, 1071], [1055, 1071], [1077, 1118], [1866, 1876], [1879, 1903], [1414, 1564]] |
NORCROSS , Georgia -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Beneath seven flat-screen TVs and one large pulldown screen , members of the Racquet Club of the South gathered Monday to watch and celebrate one of their own . Members of the Racquet Club of the South erupt when Melanie Oudin beats Nadia Petrova . Melanie Oudin , 17 , of Marietta , Georgia , has taken the tennis world by storm at the U.S. Open . The 70th-ranked female has upset some of the sport 's biggest female stars , including Russian aces Elena Dementieva -LRB- No. 4 seed -RRB- and Maria Sharapova -LRB- No. 29 seed , who has been ranked No. 1 worldwide in the past -RRB- . And on Monday , she beat 13th seed Nadia Petrova in three sets . Her latest win makes her the youngest American to make the quarterfinals since Serena Williams in 1999 . `` It 's still so surreal , '' said Anne Keeton , player liaison at the club , before the match started . `` She sort of wins no matter what happens . She 's there going for it and not giving up . '' At this suburban club , co-owned and co-directed by Oudin 's longtime coach , Brian de Villiers , articles about the local tennis phenom dot the walls . In the Grill , on a Bud Light message board above drink specials , are the words `` Congratulations Melanie ! '' And a photo of her mixed in with other young players is posted near a downstairs fitness room . Blending in with others and not retreating to `` a Melanie court '' is part of what makes her special , Keeton said . When there was a flood on some indoor courts this year , she was down there squeegeeing with everyone else . `` She so lovely and so accessible , '' Keeton said . `` It could n't happen to a nicer kid . '' The restaurant buzzed as tables filled with more than 80 onlookers who were courtside in spirit . They feasted on a spread laid out to mark the special occasion as the match started . Watch friends , family cheer Oudin on '' When Petrova took the upper hand , and the first set , fans erupted into applause with each of Oudin 's hard-earned points and offered encouragement like `` There we go ! '' When she pumped her fist in celebration , they did the same . And when a play did n't go her way , they groaned in unison . Her skills were apparent from an early age , said Turhan Berne of Norcross , a coach and tournament director who 's known Oudin since she was 9 . He watched her rake in wins , beating older kids and snagging No. 1 junior rankings in the country and world . `` But you know when I knew she was going to be something ? '' he said . `` She would play with anybody her coach had her hit with . ... She always gave back . She 's very grounded . Her parents and coach did a great job not letting her fame and success change her into a different person . '' As Oudin came back for the second set , the crowd held its collective breath . With every point she earned , they hooted , hollered and exchanged high-fives . They booed when they saw Petrova losing her cool , banging her racquet against the net after losing a big point . `` C'mon , Melanie ! '' people screamed as the tiebreaker began in the second set . When Oudin took that set , they rose to their feet , screamed , did happy dances and shared hugs . `` It 's awesome , '' said Kathleen Brady of Norcross . `` We are so glad her opponent double-faults . '' `` Bless her heart , '' Lisa Wells chimed in with a laugh , offering the Southern tagline to downplay any insult . Earlier in the day , John Sklare joked that the young pro learned something from him . Over the winter , the Alpharetta psychologist often played on the indoor court beside her . `` I knew she was good , but I did n't know she was that good -- and that 's what we 're all finding out now , '' he said . He spoke about what a `` great kid '' Oudin is but then added that what he likes best about her is how quiet she is on the court . Sklare , a former writer for Atlanta Tennis magazine , said he called Sharapova `` Screamapova . '' Oudin , on the other hand , is `` like a stealth fighter , '' he said . `` She 's quiet , but you know she 's there . '' Her overall attitude is as inspiring as her play , said Jeannette Latimer of Decatur , Georgia , whose 11-year-old daughter , Kelsey , has been playing for five years . `` She shows the kids not to get upset on the court , '' Latimer said . `` She 's always so positive . If the kids learn nothing else from her , it 's her mental toughness . '' But Kelsey has been more intent on studying Oudin 's moves on the court . `` I think she has a nice top-spin forehand , '' Kelsey said . `` I think it 's better than mine . '' With Oudin up 5-2 in the third set , anticipation hung in the air . `` Both of them are pressing each other , but to see the 70 -LSB- ranked player -RSB- outplaying 13 , that takes heart , '' Ernie Jensen of Woodstock said . Going into the match point , some rose to their feet . Together , the hordes clapped , carrying Oudin to the win . When she took the match , earning her first quarterfinal seat in a Grand Slam , the room exploded . They stood by and watched , smiling widely and some wiping away tears as Oudin gave her victory speech . `` It 's like something so big happening to all of us all at once , '' said Jennifer Silverberg of Alpharetta . `` Watching her , it 's like watching your own little girl . ... My heart 's still going crazy . '' | Melanie Oudin , 17 , moves into quarterfinals with latest win . Oudin caused hubbub when she beat former No. 1 Maria Sharapova on Saturday . Oudin honed her skills at the Racquet Club of the South in Georgia . Fellow members are as impressed by positive attitude as by her talent . | [[4085, 4133]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- When Albert Budacz was young , he prided himself on having good eyesight ; he never wore glasses . But as he eased into his late 40s , he could n't see as well . `` I noticed a change in my vision , '' he explained . `` Primarily in church when I would open a Bible , or something like that , I had to position myself under a light to see it . '' Ophthalmologist Dr. Sharon Solomon examined Albert Budacz and found age-related macular degeneration . Concerned that he was beginning to lose his sight , Budacz went to his ophthalmologist , Dr. Sharon Solomon with the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins . He was found to have the beginnings macular degeneration , an eye condition that occurs when the central portion of the retina -- called the macula -- begins to deteriorate . Until recently , people with age-related macular degeneration , the leading cause of severe vision loss in Americans older than 60 , had few treatment options . But now , thanks to new research and advancing technology , there are more vision-saving choices . Early signs of macular degeneration-related vision loss include shadowy areas or fuzzy distortion in a person 's central vision . `` A patient told me recently that he noticed when he was driving that the streetlights were slanted ; the poles themselves were slanted , '' Solomon said . `` That 's a classic sign of the beginning of this disease . '' Although obesity , smoking , high blood pressure and certain drugs can cause it , age is the primary risk factor . `` As people approach their 50s and later , they may have little yellow deposits that develop underneath the retina , and that 's called drusen , '' Solomon explained . `` Those deposits are the hallmark of what we call early age-related macular degeneration . '' There are two forms of age-related macular degeneration , or AMD : the dry form , known as non-neovascular , and the wet form , called neovascular . The dry form , which Budacz has , is more common . According to the National Eye Institute , about 85 to 90 percent of patients with advanced macular degeneration have the dry form . Dry macular degeneration is caused when drusen begin to accumulate in and around the macula . Drusen , those yellowish deposits , are debris from deteriorating tissue . With dry AMD , there is usually a gradual loss of central vision . Over a period of years , dry AMD can progress to a gradual deterioration of retinal cells , which can result in severe vision loss or lead to the wet version of AMD . As of now , there is no FDA-approved treatment for dry macular degeneration , although a few drugs and devices are in clinical trials . Health Minute : Watch more on new therapies for macular degeneration '' However , studies have shown that supplements and a healthy diet can slow the progression of dry macular degeneration . A recent National Eye Institute study found that certain nutrients such as beta carotene -LRB- vitamin A -RRB- and vitamins C and E may reduce the risk of progression of early-stage AMD by 25 percent . Solomon says these antioxidants have a positive effect . `` They 're known as ` preservision , ' '' she said , noting that they are commonly given to certain patient groups to slow their progression to advanced macular degeneration . Other research has shown that B6 , B12 and folic acid may help prevent age-related macular degeneration . In a study of more than 5,000 women , researchers noted those who took a combination of B6 and B12 vitamins along with a folic acid supplement had a 34 percent lower risk of developing AMD then those taking a placebo . Although the studies showed strong results , the American Academy of Ophthalmology cautions patients to talk to their eye doctors about which supplements are best for their condition before they start popping vitamins . In the wet version of macular degeneration , abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the retina and leak blood and fluid . This leakage causes permanent damage to light-sensitive retinal cells , which die off and create blind spots in central vision . Doctors say it 's the body 's misguided way of attempting to supply the retina with more nutrients and oxygen . Instead , the attempt creates scarring , leading to severe central vision loss . Up until recently , there 's been very little doctors could do for the wet form of macular degeneration . But over the past decade , there have been a few treatments developed to slow its progression . Cold lasers are now used to freeze the abnormal blood vessels responsible for destroying the macula ; they have a 60 percent success rate . And within the past three years , researchers pinpointed a protein in the eye , called vascular endothelial growth factor , that stimulates the development of blood vessels . Injectable drugs that inhibit VEGF are now FDA-approved and available ; without VEGF , there is little to encourage the growth of blood vessels in the retina . `` They actually have a 90 percent chance of stabilizing vision and a 30 to 40 percent chance of improving vision , '' Solomon said . `` This is the first therapy that we 've had that can actually -LSB- reverse -RSB- vision loss . '' Most ophthalmologists prefer an ounce of prevention to a pound of cure . They promote yearly eye exams as the easiest way to keep macular degeneration in check -- and warn against waiting for a crisis to schedule a checkup . `` We typically pick up a patient when , all of a sudden , they 've had an acute , abrupt loss of vision or change in the quality of their vision , '' Solomon said . `` And sometimes it 's too late . '' Albert Budacz was lucky . He caught his macular degeneration in time . He 's stopped smoking and takes antioxidants to slow the progression of the disease . And although he may not have the eyesight he had as a young man , he can still see pretty well with or without glasses . And to him , that 's all that matters . | Age-related macular degeneration causes central vision loss . Age is primary risk factor ; other factors : obesity , smoking , high blood pressure . Two forms of AMD : wet and dry ; until recently few treatments were available . Injections containing anti-growth factor can slow progress of wet AMD . | [[719, 752], [777, 800], [1076, 1096], [1097, 1116], [1061, 1190], [2307, 2358], [4205, 4233], [4236, 4268], [4205, 4216], [4236, 4275], [1421, 1488], [1494, 1526], [801, 815], [818, 862], [934, 961], [1791, 1855], [4276, 4293], [4296, 4381], [4386, 4477]] |
NEW YORK -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Latino immigrants living in Suffolk County , New York , have been living in an environment of intolerance and attacks against them , a report released Wednesday by the Southern Poverty Law Center said . The atmosphere of intolerance is stoked in part by anti-immigrant groups , an indifferent police department , and county leaders themselves , according to the report . The law center , which researches and keeps tabs on hate groups , became interested in the Long Island county after the November 8 , 2008 , murder of Marcelo Lucero , an Ecuadorian immigrant in Patchogue , New York . Prosecutors allege that the killers were a group of teenagers who targeted Latinos as part of a sport they called `` beaner-hopping . '' After four months of research in Suffolk County that included interviews with more than 70 Latino immigrants , 30 local religious leaders and other community leaders , the law center said it found a pattern of ethnic intolerance going back 10 years . Low-level harassment of Latinos in Suffolk County is common , the report said . `` They are regularly taunted , spit upon and pelted with apples , full soda cans , beer bottles and other projectiles , '' the report said . Latino residents riding bikes have been run off the road and others have been beaten with baseball bats or shot at with BB guns , the report said . `` Our feeling is that what we found is really the tip of a very ugly iceberg , '' Mark Potok , who edited the report , said at a news conference Wednesday . `` We were told stories that are absolutely hair-raising . '' The findings point to a disturbing larger trend , the report said . The situation in Suffolk `` is a microcosm of a problem facing the entire United States , where FBI statistics suggest a 40 percent rise in anti-Latino hate crimes between 2003 and 2007 , '' the report said . Tuesday night in Patchogue , the same city where Lucero was killed , a church frequented by Latinos was vandalized with anti-Mexican graffiti , Potok said . The climate of fear in Suffolk County was created in part by anti-immigration voices that found sympathetic ears in the area , according to the report . Anti-immigrant groups , such as the now-defunct Sachem Quality of Life , `` heavily influenced the tone for public discourse on immigration in the area , '' the report said . This stance was adopted by county leaders themselves , the law center said . In August 2001 , county legislator Michael D'Andre said that if his community were `` attacked '' by Latino day laborers , `` we 'll be up in arms ; we 'll be out with baseball bats . '' In March 2007 , another county legislator , Elie Mystal , said of Latino day laborers looking for work , `` If I 'm living in a neighborhood and people are gathering like that , I would load my gun and start shooting , period . '' Both men later apologized for their remarks , according to news reports . Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy , who was also criticized in the report for employing measures seen as anti-immigrant , responded to the report Wednesday with a list of facts he says were distorted or taken out of context by the law center . For instance , a statement in the report that raids evicted day laborers from their homes in Suffolk County was distorted , Levy 's office said . The action in question affected a condemned house where 60 people were living in hazardous conditions , the statement said . The law center 's contention that Levy tried to downplay the significance of the Lucero murder was a misrepresentation of a comment the executive made to a reporter , the statement said . The law center report also said Latinos who had suffered harassment and crimes against them seldom reported them to police because they seemed indifferent . `` Many said police did not take their reports of attacks seriously , often blaming the victim instead , '' the report said . The law center recommended that police receive training to take hate-motivated crimes more seriously , and that area leaders avoid language that could be conducive to inciting violence against immigrants . | New York county studied by Southern Poverty Law Center after slaying . Ecuadorian immigrant was killed in '08 in what prosecutors call a race crime . Latinos `` regularly taunted , spit upon and pelted '' with objects , report says . `` What we found is really the tip of a very ugly iceberg , '' law center spokesman says . | [[399, 415], [465, 529], [0, 24], [77, 158], [1084, 1113], [1084, 1091], [1116, 1136], [1084, 1091], [1130, 1202], [1374, 1467], [1594, 1641]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A motorized parachute crashed into a crowd at a Labor Day festival in Hooper , Utah , injuring at least six people , including children , authorities said . Spectators scatter as a motorized parachute plummets Monday in Hooper , Utah . The parachute was operated by a man and his son who were on the aircraft , but neither was injured when it dropped to the ground amid spectators . Scores of people had gathered Monday for what was to have been a candy drop from the motorized parachute , according to Lt. Lonnie Eskelson of the Weber County , Utah , Sheriff 's Department . Video from the incident showed the small craft in the air , approaching the crowd , when it quickly lost altitude and came down as spectators ran for safety . Spectator Damon Martin said the crowd was waiting for the scheduled candy drop when the wind picked up . Watch vehicle slam into crowd '' The motorized parachute `` gets just over the field , they start dropping the candy and all of a sudden he starts to descend real quick . He guns it to get it back up and goes straight down into the crowd , '' said Martin , who shot video of the incident . The crowd parted `` like the Red Sea , but they just could n't move fast enough , '' he said . Six people were taken to area hospitals , including two sisters , 4 and 5 years old , authorities said . The 5-year-old was being treated Monday night at Primary Children 's Medical Center in Salt Lake City , Utah , for a leg fracture , Eskelson said , while her sister was treated and released . A 3-year-old also was being treated at the center Monday night . The other injured spectators were treated and released , Eskelson said . CNN 's Amanda O'Donnell contributed to this report . | Crowd gathers at Labor Day festival in Hooper , Utah , awaiting candy drop . Man and his son operating motorized parachute lose control of aircraft . They descend rapidly toward crowd , which parts `` like the Red Sea '' Operators of parachute not hurt ; 6 on ground , including children , are injured . | [[19, 95], [402, 506], [754, 832], [255, 302], [987, 1029], [1030, 1096], [1149, 1185], [0, 15], [105, 154], [1244, 1327]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- When Clifton Green and his wife adopted an adorable little girl from Ethiopia , they knew they would eventually have to deal with the hair issue . Clifton Green learned how to care for his daughter Miriam 's hair , which is very different from his own . The Atlanta , Georgia-based couple , who are white , had read books about transracial adoptions that addressed how to deal with Miriam 's springy curls that grew in full , dark and strong after a toddlerhood of baldness . Green took it upon himself to learn how to care for and style his daughter 's textured tresses . `` We did n't have any skills , but we had the desire , '' said Green of learning to do his now 5-year-old daughter 's hair . `` It 's the culture , it 's important and we want to honor it and respect it . '' For many African-Americans , having a child walk around with unkempt hair is an almost unpardonable sin . That desire to be well groomed extends into adulthood and the multitudes of hairstyles are as diverse as the black community itself . There are naturals , weaves , chemically relaxed styles , braids and dreadlocks , to name just a few . Far from being superficial , black hair and its care goes well beyond the multibillion-dollar industry it has become and is deeply rooted in African-American identity and culture . `` Barbershops and beauty salons are perhaps second only to black churches as institutions in the community , '' said Ingrid Banks , an associate professor of Black Studies at University of California , Santa Barbara and author of a forthcoming book on contemporary black beauty salon culture . iReporters share their hair-stories '' `` It 's not about hair per se , it 's about what hair means , particularly for black women in terms of racial identity , identity based on gender and ideas about power , '' she said . `` On one level , hair matters because race matters in our society . For black people , our hair has been infused with these racial politics . '' Banks points to the ideas , which continue to linger , that if a black woman straightens her hair she is `` selling out the race '' and/or `` embracing the white standard of beauty '' while women who wear their hair in natural styles are `` blacker than thou . '' `` When we think about that , there is no other racial or ethnic group in which those ideas come to bear on someone 's politics , '' said Banks , who gathered data for her book by traveling to black hair salons across the country . `` No one is saying that about white women , Asian women or Latino women . '' Erin Aubry Kaplan , who wrote an article about Michelle Obama 's hair and its implications for Salon.com , believes the first lady 's straightened and perfectly coiffed style helps her image . `` She has been criticized about many things , but I think that underneath the criticism about her being radical or too outspoken about race is this uneasiness people have about her being this tall , dark-skinned woman , '' Kaplan said . `` So her hair is important , because if she is tall , dark-skinned and has an Afro then she becomes really scary . '' Sound off : Is there such a thing as ` good hair ? ' That unease was also evident in 2008 when The New Yorker magazine ran a cover with a drawing portraying Michelle Obama wearing an Angela Davis-style Afro while fist bumping her turban wearing husband . '' -LSB- The cover -RSB- I think was meant to poke fun at what people really fear , '' said Kaplan , who added that as a black woman who does not have kinky hair , she has had her own share of issues . `` I understood the intent , but we are n't at the point where we can laugh at black images , because every black image resonates and reflects on black people as a whole . '' Robert Morris can relate to the perceptions that black hair can evoke . The CNN iReporter recently cut the dreadlocks he had been growing for years and said that along with the physical makeover came an attitude shift in how people responded to him . Check out Morris ' iReport on his change . `` I was n't as approachable when I had the locks , '' said Morris , who now sports a shorter , cropped do that he is enjoying . `` It seemed like I had the stigma of being ` the angry black man . ' '' People 's possible reactions to hair caused another iReporter to lose sleep . Tamille Johnson said her decision to get kinky twists kept her up the night before her visit to the salon . Read Johnson 's concerns in her iReport . `` It was really surprising to me because I was so afraid what people would think about them and I did n't think I would feel that way , '' Johnson said . `` Whenever I would get my hair done , I would get straight styles and I did not know if people would think that the kinky style was pretty . '' Johnson , an administrator at UC Berkeley , said she found the experience to be soul searching and she came to terms with the fact that as long as she thought her hair was beautiful , that was all that mattered . That attitude is one Renae Valdez-Simeon hopes to impart to her two daughters . Because her children are biracial , Valdez-Simeon said she has often heard comments about her children 's `` good hair . '' Go to Valdez-Simeon 's iReport . `` When a child has straight hair , they are told they have ` good hair ' and while people are n't telling children with curly hair that they have ` bad hair , ' in essence that is what you are saying because you are saying that straight hair is good hair , '' Valdez-Simeon said . Valdez-Simeon , whose site Mixtkids.com is billed as `` One Mom 's journey to raise empowered mixed-race children , '' said she has increasingly heard the comments because her 7-year-old sports tight , curly ringlets while her 1-year-old 's hair has yet to curl . `` I try to explain to people that good hair is not straight hair , it 's healthy hair , '' said Valdez-Simeon , who also said all of the comments have come from African-Americans . Comedian Chris Rock saw the same attitudes in his young daughters and it helped motivate his new documentary `` Good Hair . '' The film is narrated by Rock and explores black hair from a variety of angles , including the booming $ 9 billion generated by the black hair industry and the science behind chemical relaxers used to straighten hair . Rock also visited the Bronner Bros. . International Hair Show in Atlanta , a twice-a-year event that has been in existence since the company started in 1947 . Janet Wallace , hair show manager , said as many as 50,000 attendees have come annually to each of the events to see the latest trends , services and products available . Stylists and the public alike are enthralled by the art form that is hairstyling , Wallace said . `` People want to look good from the cradle to the grave , '' Wallace said . `` Hair is fun because there are so many adornments and things you can do with it . '' Green acknowledges that he has not reached that level of artistry yet , but takes pride in styling his daughter 's hair well . On weekends , the Emory University professor can be found wielding the various combs , brushes and products he has found that work for Miriam 's hair -LRB- Carol 's Daughter is a favorite at the moment -RRB- . While he said he 's still not that good with `` rows , '' the cornrow style that braids the hair close to the scalp , he can work other braided styles , twists and an occasional French braid . The ritual of doing Miriam 's hair is not only a time of bonding for the pair , but also an opportunity for him to honor his daughter and her heritage . Green has kept his sense of humor about the many people who express surprise that he is so well educated about and skilled with black hair . `` I do n't want people to look at her and tell she has white parents , '' he said , laughing . | Hairstyles tied to black culture and identity . Professor : `` Hair matters because race matters '' iReporters share their experiences with their hair . Father of an adopted daughter honors her heritage through her hair care . | [[1173, 1196], [1265, 1324], [1913, 1929], [1932, 1986], [1620, 1658], [6885, 6890], [6961, 7004], [7523, 7567]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- After stints as a guard in the jails of Washington , D.C. , and on the streets of post-Katrina New Orleans , Stephen Tyrone Johns had settled in to a job he liked at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum , family members said . Security officer Stephen Johns reportedly opened the door for the man police say was his killer . `` It seemed to be kind of laid-back -- it did n't seem to be that dangerous , '' Leroy Carter , the stepfather who helped raise Johns since he was 3 , told CNN affiliate WUSA-TV in Washington . `` He had wanted to be on the Metro Police force or places like that , but I would have rather him been where he was . `` But it just backfired . '' Johns , 39 , was shot and killed while on duty Wednesday -- allegedly gunned down by an 88-year-old white supremacist who stepped into the museum with a rifle and began firing . Johns is remembered by friends and family as a `` gentle giant '' -- he stood 6 feet 6 inches , according to Carter . And he lived up to the moniker to the very end . One of his last acts was reaching out and opening the door for the man who shot him , police said . Watch museum officials pay tribute '' James von Brunn , an outspoken Holocaust denier who had served six years in prison for a 1981 kidnapping attempt , was shot and wounded by Johns ' fellow officers . He remained in critical condition Thursday at George Washington University Hospital . Johns , a six-year veteran of the museum 's security staff , was a resident and native of Temple Hills , Maryland . In the hours following the shooting , friends and co-workers repeatedly remembered `` Big John '' for his quiet , friendly nature . `` To look at him initially he was very intimidating , '' said Alan Burkee , a friend and former co-worker at the museum . `` But he was very shy . ... He had a great demeanor -- very pleasant , very courteous to all the visitors that came in and the staff that worked there . '' Friends said Johns was an avid Washington Redskins fan and loved to travel , but lived just 10 minutes away from where his mother and stepfather raised him . He had an 11-year-old son , Stephen Jr. , and recently had remarried , according to friends . `` He was a pretty great guy , '' Stephen Johns Jr. , known as `` Little Stephen '' to family , told WUSA . `` He was always there for me when I was down or sad . '' Carter had picked up Stephen after school to tell him the news of the shooting , and the two were on the way to the hospital when Johns died . Steve Maritas is organizing director with the International Union of Security , Police and Fire Professionals of America -- of which Johns was a member . He said the way Johns and his fellow officers responded Wednesday saved lives -- and it flies in the face of the stereotype of the run-of-the-mill security guard . `` If that was the case , there would have been 50 people shot yesterday , '' said Maritas , whose organization represents more than 30,000 officers nationally and about 5,000 in the Washington area . `` These guys are very highly trained , highly paid officers . It 's not like they 're just there wearing a uniform . '' Johns had worked for Wackenhut Security Inc. since 2003 . Maritas said Johns and his colleagues trained for days like Wednesday -- when years of safety and quiet give way to a sudden burst of terror . `` Hopefully , you 'll never have to use your gun , '' he said . `` But you get a situation where you get a crazy guy like this -- it happens within two or three seconds . '' For Carter , there will always a clear reminder of the stepson he raised as his own . Little Stephen , he said , looks and acts just like his father did at that age . Carter said he takes comfort knowing that the roughly 2,000 people visiting the Holocaust museum at the time of the attack were able to walk away unharmed . `` That guy would n't have stopped until he was stopped , '' Carter said . | Stephen Johns was prison guard , worked in New Orleans before museum . `` Gentle giant '' opened door for the man accused of killing him , police say . Security guard , 39 , loved Washington Redskins , traveling . Eleven-year-old son says dad was `` a pretty great guy '' | [[244, 320], [306, 341], [1031, 1101], [1948, 2022], [2203, 2228], [2210, 2228], [2254, 2293]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Nearly a decade has passed since Bill Clinton left the White House , but despite becoming a private citizen , the former president never left the public eye . Former President Clinton receives flowers from a girl Tuesday upon landing in Pyongyang , North Korea . While much of his time has been devoted to global philanthropic interests and speeches , Clinton has never strayed too far from the campaign trail and remains one of the world 's most recognizable statesmen . Clinton , 62 , jumped back onto the world stage Tuesday with an unannounced trip to North Korea on a mission to negotiate the release of two imprisoned American journalists . North Korean President Kim Jong Il later pardoned and released the journalists . They were traveling back to the United States with Clinton on Tuesday night . The United States has no diplomatic relations with North Korea . Clinton arrived to a warm welcome in Pyongyang . Watch more on Clinton 's North Korea trip '' There is a lot of nostalgia in Pyongyang for his administration , when relations between North Korea and the U.S. were stronger , said John Glionna , the Seoul , South Korea , bureau chief for the Los Angeles Times . `` Well , I think most of the people that I talked to in Washington earlier today were of the opinion that Bill Clinton is a big enough personality that would not risk the loss of face of him showing up in Pyongyang and returning empty-handed , '' Glionna said . Clinton 's high profile has led critics to accuse him of upstaging his wife , Secretary of State Hillary Clinton , especially when he was making headlines while campaigning for her unsuccessful 2008 presidential bid . His first major verbal stumble during that campaign came in the run-up to the New Hampshire primary when he told a crowd that then-candidate Obama 's claim to have been an early and consistent opponent of the Iraq war was `` the biggest fairy tale I 've ever seen . '' In the ensuing media uproar , many Democratic activists -- African-Americans in particular -- came to believe that the former president had belittled Obama 's entire campaign effort . And while stumping for his wife in heavily black South Carolina , he seemed to try to minimize the impact of an Obama win by noting that the Rev. Jesse Jackson also won the state in 1984 and 1988 but went on to lose both nominations by wide margins . Critics accused the former president of trying to peel off Obama 's white supporters by marginalizing him as the black candidate . Clinton 's hesitancy to back Obama once he locked in the Democratic nomination also fueled the storyline of the Clinton-Obama riffs . But in a high-drama moment last year at the Democratic National Convention , both Clintons announced their wholehearted support for their party 's nominee . Bill Clinton 's name was tossed around as a possible pick to fill his wife 's vacant Senate seat after she was selected as secretary of state . His name comes up in discussions of possible Supreme Court picks that Obama might have the opportunity to make . Before his wife 's presidential campaign , Clinton focused most of his efforts on the William J. Clinton Foundation . The foundation 's projects include the Clinton Global Initiative , which seeks to combat poverty and climate change and promote health and education programs worldwide as well as separate initiatives directed at childhood obesity , global warming , HIV/AIDS and malaria , inner-city entrepreneurship and economic growth in Latin America . It also funded the construction of the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock , Arkansas . The foundation boasts more than 800 staff and volunteers around the world . In his post-presidency , Clinton also has shared the stage with former President George H.W. Bush on numerous occasions . The two teamed up to establish the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund and Bush-Clinton Tsunami Fund . They toured the tsunami-ravaged areas following the 2004 disaster , and they teamed up again the following year to lead relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina . Clinton also has taken time to author a couple of best-selling books . His 2004 memoir , `` My Life , '' sold more than 400,000 copies the first day it was available . Later that year , Clinton underwent heart bypass surgery after experiencing chest pain and shortness of breath . A biting Vanity Fair article published last summer suggested that Clinton 's surgery left him in an altered state of mind -- one marked by constant anger and rage . The Clinton campaign hit back , saying that theory is `` false and is flatly rejected by President Clinton 's doctors who say he is in excellent shape and point to his vigorous schedule as evidence of his exceptional recovery . '' In a sharp critique of the article , Clinton spokesman also criticized Todd Purdum , national editor of Vanity Fair , for not giving enough attention to the former president 's charitable works through his foundation since leaving the White House . `` Most revealing is one simple fact : President Clinton has helped save the lives of more than 1,300,000 people in his post-presidency , and Vanity Fair could n't find the time to talk to even one of them for comment , '' spokesman Jay Carson said . While the 42nd president 's image has gotten a few bruises over the years , Clinton has held on to his reputation as a master politician with a penchant for making news . CNN 's Kristi Keck and Alan Silverleib contributed to this report . | NEW : Kim Jong Il pardons two U.S. journalists , state-run news agency KCNA says . Bill Clinton has focused on philanthropic interests in post-presidency . Clinton has stayed involved in politics , sparking controversy in wife 's 2008 campaign . Clinton also has authored books , teamed up for charity with George H.W. Bush . | [[3065, 3105], [3108, 3182], [1464, 1539], [1595, 1681], [4084, 4091], [4097, 4154]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Piracy is expected to pick up in the high seas off Somalia after a lull caused by monsoon season , maritime officials warned Monday . Suspected Somali pirates sit behind bars during the first hearing in their trial at Aden port court on July 15 . The Combined Maritime Forces urged crews to take up safety measures , including using recognized transit corridors in the Gulf of Aden and reporting to the European Union 's security center before transit . `` The prior preparation and vigilance of merchant mariners at all times of day and night is more important now than ever , '' said Rear Admiral Caner Bener of the Combined Task Force . International forces made up of more than 30 ships and aircraft from 16 nations will continue patrolling the waters to help fight pirates , according to officials . `` While our ability to deter and disrupt attacks has improved over time , we are constantly adapting the way we do our business as the pirates adapt and modify their tactics , '' Bener said . The waters off Somalia are rife with pirate activity , despite increased measures by military forces and shipping companies to ward off attacks . Heavily armed pirates have struck the busy Indian Ocean shipping lanes and the Gulf of Aden , which connects the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean . They have captured dozens of vessels and hundreds of hostages , making off with millions of dollars in ransom . It was unclear whether a ransom was paid . The Gulf of Aden , off northern Somalia , has the highest risk of piracy in the world . | Earlier this month Somali pirates release German ship held since May . Its crew was unharmed , NATO says . Gulf of Aden , off northern Somalia , has the highest risk of piracy in the world . | [[1017, 1069], [1461, 1477], [1503, 1548]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Ed McMahon , the longtime pitchman and Johnny Carson sidekick whose `` Heeeeeeerre 's Johnny ! '' became a part of the vernacular , has died . Ed McMahon had suffered several health problems in recent years . McMahon passed away peacefully shortly after midnight at the Ronald Reagan/UCLA Medical Center , his publicist , Howard Bragman , said Tuesday . McMahon , 86 , was hospitalized in February with pneumonia and other medical problems . He had suffered a number of health problems in recent years , including a neck injury caused by a 2007 fall . In 2002 , he sued various insurance companies and contractors over mold in his house and later collected a $ 7 million settlement . Though he later hosted a variety of shows -- including `` Star Search '' and `` TV 's Bloopers and Practical Jokes , '' McMahon 's biggest fame came alongside Carson on `` The Tonight Show , '' which Carson hosted from 1962 to 1992 . The two met not long after Carson began hosting the game show `` Who Do You Trust ? '' in 1957 . iReport.com : Share your memories of Ed McMahon . `` Johnny did n't look as if he was dying to see me , '' McMahon , who was hosting a show on a Philadelphia TV station , told People magazine in 1980 about the pair 's first meeting . `` He was standing with his back to the door , staring at a couple of workmen putting letters on a theater marquee . I walked over and stood beside him . Finally the two guys finished , and Johnny asked , ` What have you been doing ? ' I told him . He said , ` Good to meet you , Ed , ' shook my hand , and I was out of the office . The whole meeting was about as exciting as watching a traffic light change . '' Watch McMahon discuss meeting Johnny Carson '' Though McMahon was surprised to be offered the job as Carson 's sidekick , the two soon proved to have a strong chemistry . Carson was , by nature , introverted and dry-witted ; McMahon was the boisterous and outgoing second banana , content to give Carson straight lines or laugh uproariously at his jokes -LRB- a characteristic much-parodied by comedians -RRB- . Watch Comedian Joan Rivers recall McMahon '' Carson made cracks about McMahon 's weight , his drinking and the men 's trouble with divorce . McMahon was married three times ; Carson , who died in 2005 , had four wives . McMahon was also the show 's designated pitchman , a talent he honed to perfection during `` Tonight 's '' 30-year run with Carson , even if sometimes the in-show commercial spots fell flat . For one of the show 's regular sponsors , Alpo dog food , McMahon usually extolled the virtues of the product while a dog eagerly gobbled down a bowl . But one day the show 's regular dog was n't available , and the substitute pooch was n't very hungry . McMahon recalled the incident in his 1998 memoir , `` For Laughing Out Loud . '' `` Then I saw Johnny come into my little commercial area . He got down on his hands and knees and came over to me . ... I started to pet Johnny . Nice boss , I was thinking as I pet him on the head , nice boss . By this point the audience was hysterical . ... I just kept going . I was going to get my commercial done . '' ` The next time you 're looking at the canned dog food ... ' -- he rubbed his cheek against my leg -- ... reach for the can that contains real beef . ' Johnny got up on his knees and started begging for more . I started petting him again ... and then he licked my hand . '' McMahon also promoted Budweiser , American Family Insurance and -- during the most recent Super Bowl -- Cash4Gold.com . Entertainment Weekly named him No. 1 on its list of TV 's greatest sidekicks . Edward Leo Peter McMahon Jr. was born in Detroit , Michigan , on March 6 , 1923 . His father was a promoter , and McMahon remembered moving a lot during his childhood . `` I changed towns more often than a pickpocket , '' McMahon told People . He later joined the Marines and served in World War II and Korea . Though McMahon was well-rewarded by NBC -- the 1980 People article listed his salary between $ 600,000 and $ 1 million -- his divorces and some poor investments took their toll . In June 2008 , The Wall Street Journal reported that McMahon was $ 644,000 in arrears on a $ 4.8 million loan for a home in Beverly Hills , California , and his lender had filed a notice of default . McMahon and his wife , Pamela , told CNN 's Larry King that McMahon had gotten caught in a spate of financial problems . `` If you spend more money than you make , you know what happens . And it can happen . You know , a couple of divorces thrown in , a few things like that , '' said McMahon , who added that he had n't worked much since the neck injury . McMahon later struck a deal that allowed him to stay in the house . He is survived by his wife , Pamela , and five children . A sixth child , McMahon 's son Michael , died in 1995 . | McMahon 's biggest fame came alongside Johnny Carson on `` The Tonight Show '' McMahon hosted `` Star Search '' and `` TV 's Bloopers and Practical Jokes '' McMahon had suffered several health problems in recent years . | [[54, 86], [820, 891], [162, 227], [461, 520]] |
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]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Five-time defending champion Roger Federer is bidding to match the record of a controversial tennis legend who dominated the sport in the 1920s but died in disgrace . Tilden dominated tennis in the 1920s with his own trademark style . American Bill Tilden achieved fame and fortune through his tennis exploits and befriended Hollwyood stars such as Charle Chaplin , but he spent over a year in jail in the 1940s on a morals charge , which ruined his reputation before his untimely death in 1953 . Tilden won his six straight U.S. Open titles from 1920-1925 - a record since the tournament abolished the challenge system - where the champion automatically qualified for the final - in 1911 . Under that system , Richard Sears won the first seven editions of the U.S. Open -LRB- then the U.S. National Tennis Championships -RRB- in the 1880s . Tilden , who claimed his seventh U.S . Open title in 1929 as well as being twice a losing finalist , goes down in the history books as one of the greatest tennis players of all time . A relatively late starter , Tilden struggled to get into his college tennis team in Pennsylvania , but years of dedicated practice started to bear fruit after the First World War as he reached the U.S. Open finals of 1918 and 1919 . He reached his peak in the 1920s , winning his first U.S. Open title and holding the world number one spot for seven straight years . Tilden also led the United States to a record seven straight Davis Cup titles as well as claiming three Wimbledon titles . His famed `` cannonball '' services worked particularly well on the fast grass surfaces on which the U.S. Open and Wimbledon were staged . Tilden never won the French Open being losing finalist in the last year it was held on grass courts , in 1927 , and 1930 on clay . He won the last of his 10 grand slam titles at Wimbledon in 1930 before deserting the amateur ranks for the fledging professional circuit . Eventually joined by the likes of Ellsworth Vines , Fred Perry and Don Budge , Tilden remained a star attraction until well into his 40s , filling arenas such as Madison Square Garden in big money matches . But off the court , Tilden was a controversial figure , battling with tennis officials as his amateur status was called into question and being accused of being arrogant and inconsiderate . Tilden , who never married , saw his reputation destroyed in the 1940s when he was found guilty of a morals charge in connection with a minor . He served seven-and-a-half months of a year jail term but was arrested again in 1949 after picking up a 16-year-old male hitchhiker . Tilden served a further 10 months for his probation violation and was shunned by the tennis community . His friendship with Hollywood stars such as Chaplin and a love of the theatrical world saw Tilden pour much of his riches into less than successful Broadway productions . He died a tragic figure in 1953 , having a stroke in Los Angeles as he prepared for a trip to play in the U.S. Pro Championships despite his 60 years of age . Tilden was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1959 and in any polls of all-time great tennis players always features in the top order . Federer , who won a record 15th grand slam title at Wimbledon , is top seed at Flushing Meadows , the venue since 1978 . | Roger Federer seeking to match the six straight U.S. Open wins of Bill Tilden . Tilden dominated tennis in the 1920s , winning 10 grand slam titles . The American legend served two prison sentences on morals charges in the 1940s . Tilden was shunned by the tennis comminty and died at the age of 60 . | [[0, 15], [19, 125], [516, 586], [96, 125], [130, 162], [186, 253], [1278, 1310], [2375, 2485], [2620, 2626], [2686, 2723]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- One of the most unexpected controversies of the Obama administration came to a head Tuesday as the president delivered a hotly debated back-to-school speech to students across the country . President Obama speaks to students Tuesday at Wakefield High School in Arlington , Virginia . Many conservatives expressed fear over the past week that the president 's address would be used to push a partisan political agenda . Obama , however , avoided any mention of political initiatives . He repeatedly urged students to work hard and stay in school . `` There is no excuse for not trying , '' he told students at Wakefield High School in Arlington , Virginia . Watch Obama speak to the students '' `` This is n't just important for your own life and your own future . What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country . What you 're learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future . '' Read text of Obama 's speech to students -LRB- pdf -RRB- . Several Cabinet officials are slated to deliver similar messages at various schools across the country throughout the day . In the past week , news of Obama 's speech had upset some parents . `` Thinking about my kids in school having to listen to that just really upsets me , '' suburban Colorado mother Shanneen Barron told CNN Denver affiliate KMGH last week , before the text of the speech was released . `` I 'm an American . They are Americans , and I do n't feel that 's OK . I feel very scared to be in this country with our leadership right now . '' But Amy Veasley , a parent from the Dallas , Texas , area , said Monday that she was surprised by the controversy . `` The president of our country wants to call our students to action . I 'm not sure why parents would n't want their students to hear out the leader of our country , '' she said . A Baltimore , Maryland , teacher who asked not to be identified bemoaned the fact that the country has `` become so polarized that we believe that our president is an enemy and not our leader . '' During George W. Bush 's presidency , she said , `` whether I disagreed or not , I still saw him as a leader . '' iReport.com : Share your thoughts on Obama 's speech . White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Monday that `` it 's a sad state of affairs that many in this country politically would rather start an ` Animal House ' food fight rather than inspire kids to stay in school . '' Some school administrators had decided to show the president 's speech , but others decided against it . And others were leaving the decision in the hands of individual teachers . One school district in Toronto , Ohio , decided to air the speech live for students in the third grade and up but not show it to younger children , according to CNN affiliate WTOV . Nine out of 550 students attending the Toronto schools showing the speech chose not to watch it , WTOV noted . Toronto Superintendent Fred Burns said the parents of the nine children were concerned that the speech was too political . Watch students respond to Obama 's speech '' `` It 's a very charismatic speech , '' Burns told WTOV . `` It 's very much a speech to help kids get involved in education and finish school . '' Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty , a possible contender for the GOP 's 2012 presidential nomination , said Sunday that Obama 's speech could disrupt an already-hectic first day of school for many students . `` I think there 's concerns about the disruption , '' he said on CNN 's `` State of the Union , '' calling the scheduling of the speech a `` little ham-fisted '' by the White House . Watch CNN 's Ed Henry talk about school speech uproar '' Education Secretary Arne Duncan , however , noted that Obama 's speech was not unprecedented . President George H.W. Bush delivered a nationally televised speech to students from a Washington school in fall 1991 , encouraging them to say no to drugs and work hard . In November 1988 , President Reagan delivered more politically charged remarks that were made available to students nationwide . Among other things , Reagan called taxes `` such a penalty on people that there 's no incentive for them to prosper ... because they have to give so much to the government . '' Some of the controversy over Obama 's speech involved a proposed lesson plan created by the Education Department to accompany the address . An initial version of the plan recommended that students draft letters to themselves discussing `` what they can do to help the president . '' The letters `` would be collected and redistributed at an appropriate later date by the teacher to make students accountable to their goals , '' the plan stated . After pressure from conservatives , the White House distributed a revised version encouraging students to write letters about how they can `` achieve their short-term and long-term education goals . '' Duncan said Sunday that the passage was poorly worded . Some politically conservative figures said they had no problem with Obama speaking to students about education . `` I think there is a place for the president ... to talk to schoolchildren and encourage '' them , former first lady Laura Bush told CNN Monday . Parents should follow Obama 's example and `` encourage their own children to stay in school and to study hard and to try to achieve the dream that they have , '' she added . Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said on `` Fox News Sunday '' that Obama 's speech was a good idea if the message is a positive one about completing school . `` It is good to have the president of the United States say to young people across America , ` Stay in school , study , and do your homework , ' '' Gingrich said . Florida Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer accused Obama last week of trying to `` indoctrinate America 's children to his socialist agenda . '' `` Now that the White House got their hand in the cookie jar caught , they changed everything , '' he said Monday . After reading the text , he said , `` My kids will be watching the president 's speech , as I hope all kids will . '' | President Obama speaks to students about education 's importance . `` There is no excuse for not trying , '' Obama says . Secretary of Education Arne Duncan says speech not unprecedented . Some school administrators did not show speech ; others let teachers decide . | [[220, 287], [687, 720], [5096, 5140], [5646, 5715], [577, 613], [3752, 3783], [3796, 3846], [2625, 2699]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- What would you see if you could fly over Mars in a plane and look out the window ? Victoria Crater as seen by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter . The crater is about half a mile in diameter . It must be something like the thousands of curious , intriguing and spectacular images taken by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment -LRB- HiRISE -RRB- camera mounted on NASA 's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter . The University of Arizona , Tucson , which operates HiRISE , has just released a new batch of these photos taken in the last several months . You can check out the full set here . They reveal an alien landscape of craters , valleys , ridges , channels , weird surface patterns and other features in incredible detail . Take the stunning image on the left , which shows the muffin-cup-like Victoria Crater , a site once explored by the Mars rover Opportunity . The camera is n't looking straight down , but is pointed 22 degrees east so we get a better view of the crater 's slopes , `` comparable to a view from an airplane window , '' the university says . Looking at some of the photos , you feel like you 're flying over the Grand Canyon or the Sahara . Others are distinctly extraterrestrial in nature . In all cases , the images reveal lots of details about the surface of our neighbor in the solar system . `` Each full image from HiRISE covers a strip of Martian ground 6 kilometers -LRB- 3.7 miles -RRB- wide , about two to four times that long , showing details as small as 1 meter , or yard , across , '' according to NASA 's Web site . It might be the closest thing to visiting Mars without leaving your chair . | Photos were taken by a camera mounted on NASA 's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter . They show an alien landscape of craters , valleys , ridges in incredible detail . A new batch of these photos taken in the last several months has just been released . | [[102, 117], [121, 162], [325, 426], [607, 745], [1235, 1247], [1250, 1339], [427, 452], [488, 533], [521, 568]] |
SOUTH CHINA SEA -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Aboard the Svend Maersk , the sound of the ship 's five-story high engine permeates like a heartbeat through the four-football field length of ship . Chief Officer Christian Vium talks to CNN 's Eunice Yoon as night falls on the bridge of the Svend . It 's also the heartbeat of the world economy , as the Maersk takes its thousands of containers filled with shoes , computers , furniture and fireworks from China to markets in Europe . But a more telling sight is when the massive vessel nears Singapore and passes by dozens of idle ships . `` A lot of ships have been taken out of service or laid up . Instead of sailing with half empty ships , it 's cheaper to lay up the ship , '' said Bo Nikolaisen , captain of the Svend . `` I feel lucky , of course , that I am on a ship that is still working . '' A 10 percent drop is expected this year in the shipping business , which one analyst called `` a $ 20 billion black hole . '' It 's an industry that is a prime indicator of the global economy -- 90 percent of world trade is carried on ships such as the Svend Maersk to ports and onto shops around the world . CNN sailed with the crew of the Svend Maersk for four days as the ship sailed from Hong Kong to Malaysia to get a sea-level view of the industry . What stands out on these vessels is the incredible size -- the vessels stack 15 stories high -- and streamlined crew : Only 21 men are required to run the ship . The crew comes from Denmark , Germany , Romania and the Philippines . `` We 've been joking that the ship was the United Nations at sea , '' said Captain Nikolaisen . `` There are many nationalities , sometimes eight , maybe more . They are professionals -- most of them -- and they know that we can not afford to be unfriendly to one another . '' Some of the crew are over 60 ; among the youngest is 24-year-old recruit Joey Lamasan . Lamasan still has trouble sleeping since he left his village in the Philippines . But here , he can earn triple what he would make back home . `` The salary in the Philippines is too small compared to the salary on board the ship , '' said Lamasan , who is on a six-month contract -- typical for many young seafarers . Piracy has been making the news in recent months , exacerbating economic concerns of the financial crisis . More common than large-scale theft of multi-million dollar cargo is thieves coming on board and stealing cash , computers and personal items . But what they fear the most `` would be fire or explosion , '' said Captain Nikolaisen . `` We can not run away . '' Life on the boat -- like the scenery -- can be repetitive . There is no mobile phone service , no booze , and limited Internet access . Many of the seamen work in two four-hour shifts ... to stay alert . Meals and coffee breaks are routine . Free time is usually spent alone in the cabins , playing computer games together , or occasionally calling home on a satellite phone . `` Ten to 15 minutes just to hear how it 's going and keep contact . Also it 's nice for the kids too . So they can still remember what Dad sounds like , '' Captain Nikolaisen said . After two months on the high seas officers get two months ' vacation . `` When I am out here I miss the family , '' Nikolaisen said . `` And when I am at home I miss a little bit being at sea . '' | The shipping industry is expecting a 10 percent drop this year . CNN sailed with the Svend Maersk to get a sea-level view of the industry . Svend captain : `` A lot of ships have been taken out of service or laid up '' | [[841, 905], [1212, 1296], [577, 625], [577, 594], [629, 638]] |
LOS ANGELES , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Three men charged with sexually exploiting Cambodian children are being brought back to the United States to face prosecution , the Justice Department announced Monday . The men are among the first charged under an international law enforcement initiative specifically targeting Americans traveling to Cambodia for the purpose of sexually abusing children . The initiative , Operation Twisted Traveler , is an effort by the Justice Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to crack down on sex tourism . `` The men charged in this investigation apparently thought they could pursue their abhorrent desires by leaving the United States to prey on children in another country , but they were sadly mistaken , '' U.S. Attorney Thomas P. O'Brien said in a statement . `` We are now working closer than ever with officials in other nations and concerned private parties to take every effort we can to identify and prosecute sex tourists , as well as to provide every protection we can to the world 's children . '' Ronald Boyajian , 49 , Erik Peeters , 41 , and Jack Sporich , 75 , are each charged with international travel and engaging in sexual contact with minors , a charge carrying a maximum prison sentence of 30 years , according to the Justice Department . They are slated to make their first appearances in federal court on Tuesday , the Justice Department indicated in a news release . The defendants are charged with international travel and engaging in sexual contact with minors , a charge carrying a maximum prison sentence of 30 years for each of their alleged victims , according to the department . They are charged under the federal Protect Act , enacted six years ago to strengthen federal laws relating to predatory crimes against children outside U.S. borders , the department added . The three defendants were apprehended , according to Immigration and Customs officials , as a result of information provided by the human rights organization International Justice Mission and the group Action Pour les Enfants , which combats child exploitation . All three men have been previously convicted of sex offenses in the United States , the Justice Department noted in its statement . `` These types of cases are disturbing not only because young , defenseless children were victimized in unspeakable ways but also because the defendants went to such lengths to engage in their dark activities overseas , '' O'Brien said at a news conference . He highlighted the case against Peeters , who was convicted on child molestation charges in 1990 . `` Our case against Mr. Peeters outlines evidence of him allegedly molesting Cambodian boys , paying them small amounts of money -- $ 5 to $ 10 -- and possibly taking digital pictures of his young victims while they were naked , '' O'Brien noted . He said Peeters molested at least three boys in Cambodia over the course of several months . One of the boys was 12 years old when the abuse is said to have started . Boyajian is said to have `` engaged in sexual activity with a 10-year-old Vietnamese girl in an area outside Phnom Penh frequented by child sex tourists known as ` Kilo 11 , ' '' the Justice Department statement said . Sporich , according to Action Pour les Enfants investigators cited in the government 's criminal complaint , repeatedly hosted three Cambodian boys at a residence outside the city of Siem Reap . The complaint states that Sporich `` was known to drive his motor bike through the neighborhoods while dropping Cambodian -LRB- money -RRB- on the street in order to meet kids . '' The new charges `` clearly demonstrate to the Cambodian people that the United States will not tolerate this type of abuse , '' said Carol Rodley , the American ambassador to Cambodia . `` These cases not only signal to the Cambodian victims our commitment to justice , but they will also act as a powerful deterrent for those individuals who are contemplating traveling to Cambodia to engage in illegal sexual activity with minors . '' The International Labor Organization estimates that at least 12.3 million adults and children are victims of forced labor , bonded labor and sex slavery each year . Cambodia is one of several countries recently added to a U.S. `` watch list '' because of what a State Department report calls a worsening human trafficking record in that country . | Operation Twisted Traveler is crackdown on U.S. sex tourism in Cambodia . Three men being returned to United States , charged under Protect Act . Suspects convicted of previous sexual offenses in U.S. , agency says . They face sentences of 30 years for each alleged victim . | [[256, 354], [1671, 1717], [2124, 2158], [2169, 2205], [2124, 2137], [2148, 2205], [1224, 1279], [1549, 1638]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- You do n't want to monkey around on a blind date , especially if your friends are also taking an interest in the same dark , handsome stranger . Jookie , as she is known , studies a poster of French gorilla Yeboah , who is heading for London Zoo . So when three female gorillas at London Zoo heard that they would soon be visited by a brooding French hunk -- well , they went a bit bananas . The latest development in Anglo-French relations sees Yeboah , a 20-stone 12-year-old , leave his current home at La Boissiere Du Dore Zoo , Pays de la Loire , northwest France and head for the British capital by the end of the year . There he will be greeted by gorilla trio Zaire , Effie and Mjukuu , who were given posters of their prospective boyfriend for the first time Thursday . One female gorilla shrieked in delight , while another wedged the poster in a tree to stare at it . A third , clearly overcome by emotion , held the photo close to her chest -- then ate it . Their reception was somewhat unsurprising . The zoo has been without a male gorilla since the demise of Bobby , a silverback , in December . Tracey Lee , team leader at London Zoo , put in a good word for the hirsute lothario on the London Zoo Web site , saying Yeboah is `` a very charming , fun loving and intelligent gorilla . '' But whom will Yeboah choose to charm first ? Zaire , at 34 , is the oldest female gorilla and has been at London Zoo since 1984 . The zoo says she 's `` happiest when she 's taking down and rebuilding her nest in various spots around the island . She loves to play with fabric and often drags it around with her all day . '' Then there 's Effie , 16 , who `` enjoys seeing toddlers and often makes her way over to the glass when they come to see her , '' according to the zoo Web site . Finally there 's 10-year-old Mjukuu , or `` Jookie . '' Dan Simmonds , a keeper at the zoo 's Gorilla Kingdom , says she `` has this ` butter would n't melt look ' to her , and she gets away with murder . '' `` The other two females get along with her very well ; she seems to have them all wrapped around her little finger . '' Bridget Fallon contributed to this story . | London Zoo has been without a male gorilla since December . French gorilla Yeboah is being sent from La Boissiere Du Dore Zoo , NW France . Female gorillas at London have been shown posters of their new guest . | [[1050, 1115], [482, 488], [516, 566], [181, 187], [208, 249], [292, 399], [722, 730], [735, 814]] |
URUMQI , China -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Reports of alleged syringe stabbings in a restive western Chinese city are generating a bit of panic , but doctors say some people have incorrectly concluded they were attacked with needles . People 's Armed Police units equipped with armored personnel carriers take positions in Urumqi on Saturday . `` In the patients we have seen in the last couple of days , there are many which we believe were not actually punctured with needles , '' Wang Hanbin , a Peoples ' Liberation Army doctor examining people in Urumqi , told reporters on Saturday at a briefing . Wang said about 20 cases are being investigated closely and samples were being taken to laboratories in Beijing for more testing . But , he said , `` many of the patients we have seen were mainly influenced by psychological factors . '' Wang , a member of a six-person military medical panel reviewing the syringe-stabbing claims , attributes the false reports to widespread fear and lack of medical knowledge . `` Many of the patients did not actually see their attacker or the act of others attacking them with needles . Some patients who had needle puncture wounds experienced some discomfort in the area of the wound , and showed some symptoms , but could n't give an accurate account of what they perceived to have been a needle attack . '' This is the latest crisis plaguing Xinjiang province and its capital city of Urumqi , where tensions have boiled over between Uyghurs and Han Chinese . The Han Chinese are the country 's dominant ethnic group , and the Uyghurs are a Turkic-speaking Muslim minority who consider Xinjiang their homeland . Ethnic Uyghurs have been blamed for the alleged syringe stabbings , and demonstrators clashed with police in Urumqi for two days this week over the issue . Protesters were demanding better police protection and a crackdown on the Uyghurs . The latest unrest left five people dead and 14 injured , according to Urumqi 's deputy mayor , and the Communist party chief in the city has been dismissed from his job amid the crisis , according to state-run media reported . Watch report on unrest in Urumqi from CNN 's John Vause '' The Urumqi Public Prosecutors Office on Saturday said four ethnic Uyghurs were arrested in connection with three syringe-wielding incidents . At the press conference held by military medical personnel , the doctors said puncture wounds could not be found `` in a large percentage of the patients . '' `` Some could have been bitten by insects such as mosquitoes , and in other cases there were moles , or skin pigmentation , and we could n't find a needle puncture wound , '' said Wang , speaking at the news conference . `` Maybe they heard something from someone , then they discovered that they had a growth on their body . So , then they suspect that they may have been attacked with a needle and came to seek treatment . Some patients who came to seek treatment had some red marks or rash on their skin , but we did n't find any needle puncture wounds . '' Wang urged people not to panic and urged them to immediately seek medical treatment if they think they were stabbed . He also said people need to educate themselves about medical care . Rumors have abounded in Urumqi of recent syringe stabbers trying to spread AIDS and other diseases . But another doctor , Duan Qing , explained at the briefing that would be impossible for there to be any such cases of AIDS , Hepatitis B , Hepatitis C , or syphilis because there is a lengthy incubation period . `` Even if there are cases of such illnesses , they are unrelated to incidents . This is basic medical knowledge , '' she said . The three incidents that led to the arrests occurred in late August . A man admitted stabbing a female shopper with a pin on August 28 . Authorities said a man and woman on August 29 stole money from a taxi driver after threatening him with a syringe . And in the third incident , a man resisting arrest stabbed a police officer with a syringe on August 31 . | NEW : Many `` we believe were not actually punctured with needles , '' army doctor says . NEW : About 20 cases are being investigated closely , including testing , doctor says . Five killed in riots between predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and Han Chinese . Communist Party chief for Urumqi dismissed after deadly unrest . | [[396, 468], [406, 410], [428, 478], [2313, 2336], [2374, 2468], [595, 725], [605, 650], [1418, 1424], [1433, 1492], [1885, 1939], [1984, 2021], [2072, 2100], [1984, 2069]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Moussavi plans to form a new political party aimed at reining in the power of the Islamic Republic 's leadership , a leading reformist newspaper reported Sunday . Mir Hossein Moussavi is reportedly seeking to form a new political party in Iran . Moussavi told supporters the party will be focused on upholding `` the remaining principles of the constitution , '' according to Etemad-e Melli , a newspaper aligned with fellow opposition candidate Mehdi Karrubi . He is expected to file papers with Iran 's Interior Ministry to establish the party before hard-line incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is sworn in for a new term , the newspaper reported . The announcement comes after weeks of protests over Iran 's disputed presidential election and an attempted clampdown by Iran 's clerical leadership . The clerical leadership has declared Ahmadinejad the winner of that vote . Moussavi , a former prime minister , was the leading challenger to Ahmadinejad in the June 12 balloting . The official results showed Ahmadinejad winning with more than 62 percent of the vote . Moussavi and Karrubi have consistently rejected those results as fraudulent and demanded a new vote . Their supporters turned out in crowds estimated in the hundreds of thousands to demand the results be overturned . Iran 's Guardian Council , which oversees the elections , has declared the official count will stand . | Mir Hossein Moussavi seeks to curb power of clerics , reformist newspaper reports . He 's expected to file papers to form party before Ahmadinejad is sworn in . Moussavi 's loss to President Ahmadinejad in election sparked mass protests in Iran . | [[172, 219], [0, 15], [19, 169], [220, 302], [220, 240], [263, 302], [519, 521], [534, 602], [554, 558], [580, 649], [704, 854]] |
MOSCOW , Russia -- President Obama arrived in Moscow on Monday for a summit with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev aimed at trying to `` reset '' the U.S.-Russian relationship . But he also may have a less publicized goal : figuring out who 's really in charge here . President Obama , right , and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev walk by an honor guard in Moscow on Monday . When Obama 's predecessor , George W. Bush , engaged in his first summit with his Russian counterpart , things took an odd turn . Bush said -- now infamously -- that he looked into then-President Vladimir Putin 's eyes and saw into his soul , and basically found he was a good guy that Americans could do business with . Oops . The Bush-Putin relationship ended up getting pretty chilly , which is why the new U.S. president is now trying to warm things up . Obama gets his first shot at literally looking into Putin 's eyes Tuesday , when he has a sitdown with the man who is now prime minister of Russia , a post that many international analysts believe allows Putin to continue to pull the strings behind the scenes . Obama 's outreach to Medvedev started sooner , their first meeting coming back in April at the G-20 summit in London , and it 's been bearing some fruit for Obama . Russia recently signed on to sanctions against North Korea , and this week both sides will officially announce that Russia has agreed to let U.S. military equipment headed for Afghanistan fly over Russian territory . Watch Obamas arrive in Russia '' Both sides are also hoping to announce significant cuts in nuclear arms , though there are still major hurdles to clear , such as Russian suspicions about U.S. plans for a missile defense shield in Eastern Europe . In an interview with The Associated Press late last week , Obama seemed to be trying to work through the sticking points by driving a bit of a wedge between Medvedev and Putin . `` The old Cold War approaches to U.S.-Russia relations is outdated and that it 's time to move forward in a different direction , '' said Obama . `` I think Medvedev understands that . I think Putin has one foot in the old ways of doing business and one foot in the new . '' Ouch . If he wants to accomplish some key goals in Moscow , such as winning Russian cooperation in dealing with Iran 's nuclear program , why would Obama fire a rhetorical shot like that at Putin -- if , in fact , he 's really in charge here ? It could be that Obama is trying to flex his muscles a bit for American domestic political consumption to show he 's not rolling over to Russia , amid Republican charges that he 's soft on foreign policy . It 's a move Putin knows well , having perfected the art of flexing his muscles at then-President Bush as a way of asserting Russian nationalism in recent years . Watch Russian students talk about Obama 's visit '' Whatever the intention of Obama 's words , the back and forth with Putin is a reminder of the high stakes here . Of course , the president 's second stop in Italy for the G-8 summit will be important too , with a packed agenda including Iran , the financial crisis , climate change and eradicating world poverty . The first African-American president 's third and final stop at the end of the week in Ghana will also get wide international attention . But it 's this first stop where Obama will get a big diplomatic test as he juggles , among many issues , who 's really in charge here . | President Obama meets with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Monday . Tuesday , he meets Prime Minister Vladimir Putin , who some say is really in charge . Obama seems to be driving a bit of a wedge between the two , says CNN 's Ed Henry . Moscow meetings will be a big diplomatic test for Obama , Henry says . | [[0, 6], [9, 114], [1787, 1792], [1800, 1905], [3325, 3381]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- There was a time when singer-actress LeAnn Rimes was considered as clean cut as they come . LeAnn Rimes , at the 2009 Lollapalooza Music Festival , is being spotted with Eddie Cibrian . Once hailed as a country music ingénue , she first captivated fans as a 13-year-old with a mature-beyond-her-years voice and a poised stage presence . After selling millions of records and amassing Billboard Music Awards and Grammys , Rimes was often held up as an example of a child star who managed to avoid the pitfalls of fame and emerge with a successful career and a happy marriage . Then rumors surfaced that she was allegedly having an affair with actor Eddie Cibrian . Now the two have both separated from their respective spouses and the ensuing scandal has cast a shadow over Rimes ' wholesome , good-girl image . `` I kind of feel like the public 's perception is changing towards her , '' said Lindsay Powers , staff editor for Us Weekly . `` She had n't even announced -LSB- her -RSB- divorce yet and here she was on a beach in Cabo -LSB- San Lucas -RSB- , wearing a little bikini with Eddie Cibrian rubbing suntan lotion all over her . She 's like flaunting their relationship while her husband is piecing together his life in New York City on his own . '' Such relationship woes among celebrities are as old as Hollywood itself . Stories of celebrity hookups on movie sets , be it Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in the 1960s or Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in the 21st century , are the stuff of which tabloid dreams are made . But Rimes , who married former dancer Dean Sheremet in 2002 when she was 19 and he 21 , seemed an unlikely candidate to star in such a drama . Unlike other young celebrity couples , Rimes and Sheremet were unlikely tabloid targets , choosing to live quietly and often being captured smiling and embracing on the red carpet . The pair appeared devoted to each other and seemed to take a swipe at critics of their young love when they reportedly held a `` seven year itch '' party to toast their union . In her book , `` What I Can not Change , '' Rimes wrote glowingly of her spouse . `` My husband , Dean , has changed my heart -- and life -- in more ways than I can ever imagine , '' she wrote . `` We met in Los Angeles when I was hosting the Academy of Country Music Awards . It was almost an instant attraction . '' Rumors began swirling about the singer and `` CSI : Miami '' actor Eddie Cibrian after they co-starred in the Lifetime movie `` Northern Lights . '' During an interview with Matt Lauer in April on the `` Today '' show , Rimes sidestepped questioning about her relationship with Cibrian . `` I refuse to discuss tabloid rumors , '' Rimes said . `` I 've grown up in the press my entire life . I think people are fascinated by my personal life , and I totally get it . '' Soon after , Cibrian 's wife and mother of his two young sons , Brandi Glanville , was quoted as demanding Rimes leave her husband alone . Now , Glanville is being as vocal about the breakup of her and Cibrian 's marriage . She told PEOPLE in August that she sensed her husband was attracted to Rimes after double-dating with the singer and Sheremet . Rimes and Cibrian have been seen publicly golfing , vacationing and attending a concert . She announced on her Web site that she and Sheremet were ending their marriage . Jonathan L. Bernstein , president of Bernstein Crisis Management Inc. , said fans are often very forgiving of stars for their bad behavior . `` The public is very tolerant of a wide range of behaviors from celebrities , '' said Bernstein . `` To the extent the public truly expected her to be someone with a clean-cut image , she may lose some fans there . '' `` On the other hand , there are some people who like celebrities who lead racy , unpredictable lives , so she could gain fans at the same time . '' Bernstein , the author of `` Keeping the Wolves at Bay ; A Media Training Manual , '' said , `` Everybody wants to read the juicy gossip , '' but Rimes could mitigate potential damage to her career if she is real and does `` not pretend to be one thing and then be the other . '' `` People like watching real-life soap operas , '' he said . `` Ultimately , if people love -LSB- Rimes ' -RSB- singing , they are going to come to her concerts . '' Us Weekly 's Powers said Rimes and Cibrian 's situation mirrors that of actress Tori Spelling and her husband , Dean McDermott . Like Rimes and Cibrian , Spelling and McDermott were both married to others when they met on the set of a Lifetime movie in 2005 . Spelling and McDermott divorced their spouses , married and now are the parents of two children and stars of their own reality show on Oxygen network . As was the case with fans who rallied around Jennifer Aniston because they believed she had been wronged by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie , Powers said she believes Rimes ' estranged husband , Sheremet , will emerge the winner of public sympathy . `` Celebrity history will show that people tend to feel bad for the person who is scorned , '' Powers said . `` I think people are always going to feel bad for -LSB- Sheremet -RSB- with the fact that LeAnn not only left him after seven years of marriage , but ran off with this man she met on the set of her movie . '' Leslie Litzenberger of Santa Clara , California , has run the fan site Leannfans.com since 1995 and said the singer has a supportive fan base . All of the media surrounding Rimes has not decreased her admiration for the singer , Litzenberger said . `` The recent stories do n't at all change how I feel about LeAnn , '' Litzenberger said . `` What has happened is between them . I love the person that she is and tabloid stories with quotes from supposed `` friends '' are not going to change that . '' | LeAnn Rimes is divorcing her husband and has been spotted with co-star . Rimes and actor Eddie Cibrian have been photographed on vacation . A former child star , Rimes had enjoyed an image as a happily married celeb . Magazine editor says Rimes ' spouse gathering sympathy for being wronged . | [[111, 122], [125, 155], [167, 204], [3196, 3285], [3196, 3213], [3248, 3259], [481, 493], [498, 594], [440, 445], [540, 594], [4873, 4980]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Samoa will switch its driving from the right side to the left side of the road on Monday in a move opponents have called ill-conceived and said will lead to dozens of wrecks and fatalities . Proponents tout the change , which no other country has attempted since the 1970s , as making economic sense . Thousands of angry Samoans protested in the streets , and one group -- People Against Switching Sides -LRB- PASS -RRB- -- unsuccessfully challenged the constitutionality of the change in the country 's Supreme Court . Opponents have also aired nightly ads depicting roadsides littered with crosses and vandalized newly-erected signs warning drivers to `` keep left . '' Bus drivers have demanded the government compensate them to change the location of passenger door and the steering wheel . The nation has declared Monday and Tuesday holidays for people to adjust to the change and banned alcohol sales for the next three days . The government said it will strictly enforce the use of seat belts and has built speed bumps to prevent wrecks . Until now , most of the cars in the Pacific island nation have been imported from the United States , where drivers travel on the right side , and Samoa 's neighbor , American Samoa . The change will allow the thousands of expatriate Samoans who live in their nation 's biggest neighbors , New Zealand and Australia , to send used -- and therefore , cheaper -- cars to their families back home . In both those countries , drivers travel on the left side of the road . `` It narrows the bridge between the rich guys and people like us , the lower class people from the rural areas , '' Fa'aleaga Young Yen told CNN affiliate TVNZ in New Zealand . Watch people speak out about the switch '' `` Just the freight alone cost me US $ 3,500 from Hawaii , '' he said . `` To send the same kind of car from New Zealand ? NZ$ 1,400 -LRB- US$ 968 -RRB- . '' About 70 percent of the world 's population drive on the right side of the road . But many countries -- primarily those that were once British colonies -- remain to the left . Many have gradually switched over the years , including Sweden in 1967 , Iceland in 1968 , Nigeria in 1972 and Ghana in 1974 . All have gone from driving on the left side to the right . Samoa 's case seems to be unique because it is steering in the opposite direction . | Samoa declares Monday , Tuesday holidays for people to adjust to change . Supreme Court rejected constitutional challenge to change . Drivers in Samoa 's biggest neighbors , New Zealand and Australia , use the left side . Sweden , Iceland , Nigeria and Ghana switched from driving on left side to the right . | [[814, 865], [379, 388], [443, 538], [1461, 1484], [1487, 1532], [2215, 2273], [2215, 2218], [2229, 2273]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The White House released the text Monday of a controversial back-to-school speech to students from President Obama . The uproar over President Obama 's back-to-school speech led the White House to release the transcript Monday . Many conservatives have expressed a fear that the address would be used to push a partisan political agenda . In the text of the speech , however , Obama avoids any mention of controversial political initiatives . He repeatedly urges students to work hard and stay in school . `` No matter what you want to do with your life , I guarantee that you 'll need an education to do it , '' he says . `` This is n't just important for your own life and your own future . What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country . '' The text of the 18-minute speech was posted on the White House Web site so people can read it before its scheduled Internet broadcast to schoolchildren Tuesday . Read text of Obama 's speech to students -LRB- pdf -RRB- . Some of the president 's critics have been adamantly opposed to the idea of an address by Obama to children . `` The president 's speeches tend to be -LSB- about -RSB- what 's wrong with the country and what can we do to fix it , '' said Bill Hogsett , a parent from Dallas , Texas . `` I believe this is the greatest country on Earth , and I try to teach that to my children . ... I do n't want them hearing that there 's a fundamental flaw with the country and the kids need to go forward to fix it . '' Hogsett , who spoke Monday shortly before Obama 's remarks were released , said he wanted to read the speech before making a final judgment . Amy Veasley , another parent from the Dallas area , said she was surprised by the controversy . `` The president of our country wants to call our students to action . I 'm not sure why parents would n't want their students to hear out the leader of our country , '' she said . A Baltimore , Maryland , teacher who asked not to be identified bemoaned the fact that the country has `` become so polarized that we believe that our president is an enemy and not our leader . '' During Bush 's presidency , she said , `` whether I disagreed or not , I still saw him as a leader . '' On Sunday , Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said that parents who are threatening to keep their children home Tuesday to avoid Obama 's speech were being `` silly . '' Appearing on the CBS program `` Face the Nation , '' Duncan emphasized that it is up to school officials whether to include the speech in the day 's activities and that the message of the speech is simply to encourage children to finish school . `` That 's just silly , '' he said of anyone planning to have their kids stay home because of the speech . `` They can go to school . They can not watch . '' The speech is about `` the president challenging young people , '' Duncan asserted . Some school administrators have decided to show the president 's speech , but others will not . Watch CNN 's Ed Henry talk about school speech uproar '' Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty , a possible contender for the GOP 's 2012 presidential nomination , said Sunday that Obama 's speech would disrupt an already-hectic first day of school for many students . `` I think there 's concerns about the disruption , '' he said on CNN 's `` State of the Union , '' calling the scheduling of the speech a `` little ham-fisted '' by the White House . Watch school reject Obama 's speech on education '' `` There -LSB- are -RSB- also concerns about is this going to be done in an appropriate manner . I trust and hope that the White House will have a content that is not political and they 're not using the public school infrastructure for that purpose . '' Duncan , however , noted Obama 's speech is not unprecedented . President George H.W. Bush delivered a nationally televised speech to students from a Washington school in fall 1991 , encouraging them to say no to drugs and work hard . Read text of Bush 's speech to students -LRB- pdf -RRB- . In November 1988 , President Reagan delivered more politically charged remarks that were made available to students nationwide . Among other things , Reagan called taxes `` such a penalty on people that there 's no incentive for them to prosper ... because they have to give so much to the government . '' Read text of Reagan 's speech to students -LRB- pdf -RRB- . Some of the controversy over Obama 's speech involved a proposed lesson plan created by the Education Department to accompany the address . An initial version of the plan recommended that students draft letters to themselves discussing `` what they can do to help the president . '' The letters `` would be collected and redistributed at an appropriate later date by the teacher to make students accountable to their goals , '' the plan stated . After pressure from conservatives , the White House distributed a revised version encouraging students to write letters about how they can `` achieve their short-term and long-term education goals . '' Duncan said Sunday that the passage was poorly worded . Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich told `` Fox News Sunday '' that Obama 's speech is a good idea if the message is a positive one about completing school . `` It is good to have the president of the United States say to young people across America , ` Stay in school , study , and do your homework , ' '' Gingrich said . Florida Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer last week accused Obama of trying to `` indoctrinate America 's children to his socialist agenda . '' `` Now that the White House got their hand in the cookie jar caught , they changed everything , '' he said Monday . After reading the text , he said , `` My kids will be watching the president 's speech , as I hope all kids will . '' CNN 's Lauren Kornreich and Rebecca Sinderbrand contributed to this story . | Speech posted on Web site Monday for parents , pundits to view . Obama says , `` No matter what you want to do ... you 'll need an education '' Secretary of Education Arne Duncan : `` Silly '' of parents to keep kids out of school . Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty : Speech could cause first-day `` disruption '' | [[817, 888], [586, 637], [2264, 2273], [2276, 2431], [2682, 2702], [2705, 2787], [3077, 3104], [3174, 3278]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- China has developed a vaccine for swine flu and is set to become the first country in the world to begin mass inoculations , but there are concerns over possible side effects , the World Health Organization -LRB- WHO -RRB- has said . A swine flu vaccine has been approved in China and inoculations could begin in the next few weeks . WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl told CNN , `` We have to be ready for the fact that there might be adverse effects . '' `` No matter what vaccine you 're looking at , sometimes there are extremely rare side effects . We do n't even know what those are yet , but they will show up in one in every two or 10 million vaccinated . '' Inoculations could begin in the next few weeks , according to the South China Morning Post , before celebrations begin on October 1 to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People 's Republic . The vaccine , PANFLU .1 , was developed by Sinovac Biotech Ltd and is suitable for people aged three to 60 . Sinovac says the single-shot vaccine has been approved by China 's National Institute for the Control of Pharmaceutical and Biological Products and has obtained the Certificate for the Release of Biological Products . It says more than five million doses will be ready by the end of September . The South China Morning Post reports Health Minister Chen Zhu as saying that some 200,000 people taking part in the anniversary celebrations will be the first to receive the vaccine . Others considered to be high priority are students aged five to 19 , those with medical conditions , especially chronic respiratory and coronary diseases , and pregnant women . The inoculation program will also target medical staff and key workers , including police officers , soldiers and quarantine officials . Chen said on Tuesday that there have so far been 5592 recorded cases of H1N1 in China 's 31 inland provinces , but no one has yet died from the illness . `` Due to the rising number of cases , especially since late August , we have indeed started seeing some serious cases , '' he said . The Post reported that there are plans to vaccinate 65 million people before the end of the year and that Chen admitted the amount of available vaccine was not nearly enough to inoculate the country 's population of 1.3 billion people . The Chinese State Food and Drug Administration -LRB- SFDA -RRB- last week approved two factories to produce the vaccine -- Sinovac , based in Beijing , and Hualan Biological Engineering , based in Henan -- according to the Post . But it reports the SFDA has announced that `` more qualified enterprises which could produce swine flu vaccines '' would be licensed by the end of September . Hartl said that in Europe , several drug firms are set to submit clinical trial data in the next few weeks , with GlaxoSmithKline likely to be among the first . Weidong Yin , CEO of Sinovac , said last week , `` With the support of the Ministry of Health , State SFDA , and Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention , Sinovac was able to successfully and rapidly complete the clinical trials and registration process for the H1N1 vaccine . '' | China has approved a swine-flu vaccine and is set to begin inoculations . Sinovac Biotech has developed the vaccine , suitable for those aged three to 60 . There have been 5592 recorded cases of H1N1 in China 's 31 inland provinces . | [[19, 62], [253, 316], [993, 1136], [884, 895], [905, 946], [967, 992], [1786, 1894]] |
SEATTLE , Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Across the country , insurance companies , trial lawyers and legislators are closely watching a November referendum in the state of Washington that could change how insurers are required to treat their customers . Insurance companies are using the referendum process to try to strike down a new law in Washington state . Insurance giants like Allstate , State Farm , Safeco and Farmers have poured more than $ 8 million into the referendum battle . Their goal is to convince voters to reject a law passed earlier this year that could force insurers to pay up to triple damages and lawyer fees if they fail to pay a legitimate claim and then lose in court . A `` yes '' vote on the referendum allows the law to go into effect while a `` no '' vote strikes the law down . Supporters of the law say it forces insurance companies to pay legitimate claims in a timely and fair fashion and frees the courts from relatively minor cases that clog the system for months and even years . One supporter , the Washington Trial Lawyers Association , has raised almost $ 900,000 to fight the insurance industry over the referendum . `` Insurance companies have figured out that they can make more money if they do n't pay your claim , '' said Washington state Rep. Steve Kirby . Kirby and his fellow Washington state lawmakers heard so many complaints from policy holders who believed insurers were n't treating them fairly that earlier this year they passed a law called `` The Fair Conduct Act . '' Hearings were held , the bill was revised -- even watered down , according to Kirby -- and both the House and Senate passed it . The governor readily signed it . But the very next day a coalition , funded primarily by insurance companies , moved in to stop the law from going into effect by filing petitions for a voter referendum on the law . Representatives of the insurance industry say the law will raise premiums and that the system is working fine as it is . The law , they said , will only make things worse , and they want voters to have the final say . `` The insurance companies stepped in and said , ` Consumers , you get to decide if you want to do this , ' '' said Dana Childers , executive director of the Liability Reform Coalition , which is leading the insurance company charge to defeat the new law . Childers said the state 's own insurance commissioner sees no need for the law . `` His own information that he provided to the legislature and the public says that this law simply is n't necessary , '' Childers said . But that 's not what Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler told CNN in a recent interview in Seattle . Kreidler said he strongly supports the new law and that if insurance companies act responsibly they have nothing to fear . `` If companies act in good faith , -LSB- they are -RSB- not going to have a problem , '' Kreidler said . `` It 's not going to cost any more money . There 's not going to be any legal action . There 's going to be no treble damages , because if companies deal with their customers in good faith there 's no penalty . '' The campaign to woo voters has already begun . The insurance industry-backed group is already running television commercials depicting greedy lawyers planning to sue and warning consumers that the law will lead to frivolous lawsuits and higher rates . It 's not a new tactic by the insurance companies . Earlier this year , CNN exposed a controversial insurance industry strategy that began in the mid-1990s . Former insiders say insurance companies began limiting or denying legitimate claims in minor injury cases and reaped billions in profits as a result . The strategy has tied up courts across the country -- over minor claims , judges told CNN -- for months and even years . How did they do it ? `` It really came down to basically three elements : a position of delay , a position of denying a claim and ultimately defending that claim that you 're denied , '' said Jim Mathis , a former insurance industry insider . But Robert Hartwig , with the industry-backed Insurance Institute , said the strategy was not intended to deny valid claims but to attack fraud , which , he claimed earlier this year , was rampant in minor accident cases . `` What insurers are doing is trying to monitor costs . And every insurance company is under the same pressure to do it , '' Hartwig said . Washington state resident Michelle Tribble plans to vote for the law because she says she has experienced the strategy first-hand . She says her two accidents convinced her insurance companies do n't want to play fair . Tribble was working for an insurance company when she got rear-ended on the freeway . Ten weeks later she got hit again , this time by an uninsured motorist . The two accidents , she said , resulted in back injuries that required medical treatment . The first company agreed to pay but her own insurer , Allstate , refused to pay even though she had coverage . `` I just wanted my medical bills paid because I did n't want my credit being hurt , '' Tribble said , adding that the total came to about $ 18,000 . She said Allstate dug into her medical past . `` They brought out stacks of medical records , you know , to see if I was at all deceptive . '' An arbitrator sided with Tribble , but Allstate refused to pay . The case went to court , where a jury , too , ruled for Tribble . But Allstate appealed again . Finally , four years after the accident , the company paid her claim . Allstate said it could not comment on individual claims but said cases like Tribble 's prove `` that the current judicial system is working . '' E-mail to a friend . | Referendum in Washington state aims to derail new insurance law . Insurance industry opposes law that could force triple damages in some cases . Measure 's supporters say it will ensure that customers are treated fairly . | [[254, 360], [284, 360], [1711, 1722], [1767, 1870], [545, 562], [568, 632]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Kate Hudson 's ex , Black Crowes rocker Chris Robinson , is going to be a dad again , a representative for the band confirmed in a statement Tuesday . Chris Robinson and girlfriend Allison Bridges will be having a child in early 2010 . Robinson and girlfriend Allison Bridges , who have been dating for two years , are expecting their first child in early 2010 , the statement said . The baby will be the 42-year-old frontman 's second child -- - he and Hudson have a 5 1/2 - year-old son , Ryder Russell , together . Hudson and Robinson were married for six years and their divorce was finalized in October 2006 . They were granted joint custody of their son . Robinson and his brother Rich formed the band that would eventually become the Black Crowes in the 1980s . The Crowes ' new album , `` Before the Frost ... Until the Freeze , '' is in stores now . | Black Crowes frontman Chris Robinson having baby with girlfriend . Robinson and girlfriend Allison Bridges have been dating for two years . He and ex Kate Hudson have a 5-1/2 - year-old son , Ryder Russell , together . | [[170, 254], [255, 294], [334, 379], [189, 215], [255, 331], [255, 294], [334, 379], [466, 503]] |
Douglas Khayat is a psychologist for the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders / / Medicins Sans Frontieres -LRB- MSF -RRB- , working in Complexo do Alemao , one of the poorest and most violent favelas in Rio de Janeiro . RIO DE JANEIRO , Brazil -- An estimated 150,000 people live in Complexo do Alemao , where armed groups fight for turf , and fighting between police forces and ruling groups leave thousands of people trapped by violence . Complexo do Alemao , a poor area of Rio de Janeiro controlled by armed drug-dealers . There are no private or public health facilities inside Alemao and not even government ambulances enter . In this extremely violent corner of the world , residents live with a great deal of psychological trauma . In recognition of this trauma , Doctors Without Borders offers psychological support , in addition to the medical services we provide to the community in the favela . The people who call Alemao home live under a vow of silence , the unspoken code of survival that dictates that no one discuss what goes on inside the community particularly the violent episodes they endure or witness . Killings , beating , threats , expulsions , regular exposure to heavy weapons , and other forms of abuse , are all carried out by the armed groups that control the drug trafficking , imposing their own set of rules . See images of life in the favelas '' Since October 2007 , Doctors Without Borders psychologists have conducted 2,000 consultations for 1,000 different patients . For 85 percent of patients , suffering was directly related to violence . They have either been directly affected by combat , experienced the trauma of witnessing extreme violence , have had family members killed or tortured . The symptoms we mostly see are anxiety disorders , depression , psychosomatic conditions , and learning and behavior problems in children . When police enter the area , fighting often breaks out with armed groups . The state of fear created by these groups creates an environment in which psychological disorders multiply . Some get used to living this way , but others do not , particularly children . See a report on healthcare in Brazil '' The needs are incredible , so are the stories . Last year a middle-aged man arrived at our project asking to see a psychologist . Two years earlier he suffered a series of tragic events that resulted in persistent insomnia and anxiety that almost ruined his family . He was crossing a football field holding hands with a female friend , not his wife , when suddenly a armored police car entered the community and began shooting . Everything happened in a matter of seconds . His girlfriend told him she was wounded . The shooting became so bad that he had to leave her to find shelter . She died and he could not stop blaming himself for leaving her in the middle of the field . It made his marriage hell . It started to affect his work and he began to have terrible nightmares . He started to drink a lot . But our treatment with him went really well . We helped him reevaluate others facets of his life and things started to get better , his marriage , his work . People around him reacted to his new attitude , and his life began to improve . The population trusts us because we live the same day-to-day routine they live . Our project is the only health facility inside Complexo do Alemao . During the day , we are exposed to the same environment as the residents . This experience in the same environment helps to develop a bond with our patients . For me as a Brazilian , as a middle class carioca -LRB- from Rio de Janeiro -RRB- , it is difficult to experience this aspect of my country . I 've grown angrier about the conditions in my city and country after doing this work . At the same time , it has been and continues to be a life changing experience , a possibility to dive into my country 's soul and play an important part of people 's lives . | Dr. Douglas Khayat describes life in one of Brazil 's most violent favelas . Psychologists have so far given 2,000 consultations for traumatized locals . Doctors Without Borders provide the only medical/psychiatric help in the region . | [[1416, 1434], [1437, 1540], [776, 805], [808, 860]] |
ANTIOCH , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- In many respects , Jaycee Dugard and her two daughters lived an unremarkable public life -- one that belied the horrifying circumstances that have since made front-page news . Dugard 's daughters attend a birthday party two weeks ago . CNN has blurred their faces to protect their privacy . Dugard , kidnapped 18 years ago in South Lake Tahoe , California , helped manage the small printing company her alleged captor , Phillip Garrido , ran from his home in Antioch , east of San Francisco . Her two daughters , fathered by 58-year-old Garrido , attended birthday parties and , like many girls their age , shared a love for the TV show `` Hannah Montana . '' The media `` made it seem like these little girls were living like wolves or jungle kids in the backyard dungeon . Perhaps that 's it , but they did n't give that visual to me , '' said Cheyvonne Molino , who runs an auto wrecking yard with her husband . See photos of Dugard 's living conditions '' Garrido would often bring the girls by the yard , delivering bottles of water on hot days . The 11-year-old went by the name Angel and the 15-year-old , Starlet . `` They were polite . They were well-mannered , '' Molino said . Two weeks ago , the girls attended a birthday party for Molino 's daughter , who turned 16 . Again , they showed no signs of lives lived in turmoil . Customers of Garrido 's printing company , Printing for Less , knew the girls ' mother as Allissa . Watch interview with Garrido '' They spoke to her about graphic design , business cards and fliers , and describe her as professional , polite and responsive . `` She was always having a very pretty smile on the face , '' said Deepal Karunaratne , who had real estate brochures printed . `` She comes and talks to me and was always smiling . She was a very pretty girl , a very pretty young lady . '' The children , however , sometimes stood out . `` They were not dressed like average teenage girls . They were dressed very conservatively , '' Karunaratne said . Another customer , Ben Daughdrill , sometimes corresponded with Dugard when he used the printing service for his junk-hauling business . `` Nothing stood out , '' he said . `` Obviously , there was some brainwashing going on . That 's all I can think . She had access to a phone and a computer , so obviously something went on that no one knows about . '' Dugard 's real identity was discovered last week and her alleged kidnappers -- Garrido , a registered sex offender , and his 55-year-old wife , Nancy -- were arrested . They face 29 felony charges , including rape and kidnapping , and both have pleaded not guilty . Authorities said the Garridos held Dugard and her daughters in a soundproof shed in the couple 's overgrown , littered backyard . Garrido told Karunaratne that he had a soundproof recording studio in the backyard , said Karunaratne , who described Garrido 's music as `` Christian , contemporary '' and said some songs `` were about love and romance . '' Watch aerial view of backyard compound '' Dugard and her mother and daughters have moved to an undisclosed location as they try to get reacquainted , said Carl Probyn , Dugard 's stepfather . A team of psychologists and several law enforcement officers are with them , he said . In a related development , authorities in two San Francisco Bay-area cities are investigating whether disappearances dating back to the late 1980s could be connected to Garrido . Police in Hayward , about 20 miles south of Oakland , say they are investigating whether he is connected to the disappearance of Michaela Garecht , last seen in 1988 at age 9 . Hayward Police Lt. Chris Orrey said there are similarities between Garecht 's disappearance and Dugard 's -- similar age and appearance , both were abducted in daylight , and a sketch of a suspect resembles Garrido , she said . Orrey said there were differences as well , though she would not elaborate . But she said Hayward police have been in contact with Garecht 's family and witnesses since Dugard was found alive last week . And in Dublin , about 25 miles east of Oakland , police are looking into whether Garrido was connected to the 1989 disappearance of Ilene Misheloff . Ilene was 13 when she was abducted , investigators said . Investigators announced Saturday that they were looking into whether Garrido may have been behind other unsolved crimes . Contra Costa County Sheriff 's Lt. Steve Simpkins said police in Antioch and neighboring Pittsburg were searching Garrido 's property `` for evidence relating to open cases . '' Authorities brought cadaver dogs to search the property next door to the Garridos as they tried to determine whether Garrido was connected to a string of unsolved slayings of prostitutes in the 1990s . Several of the women 's bodies were dumped near a park where Garrido worked at the time . Watch where police are searching '' `` What we also know is that Phillip Garrido had access to that property , '' said Jimmie Lee , spokesman for the Contra Costa Sheriff 's Department . `` He used that property , and it looks like he lived on that property in a shed . '' A bone fragment was found during the search , but investigators do not know whether it was from a human or an animal , Lee said . The fragment is being sent to a laboratory for testing . And building inspectors have declared the Garrido home unsafe , due to substandard structures and `` junkyard '' conditions , he said . CNN 's Ed Lavandera , Patrick Oppman and Dan Simon contributed to this report . | NEW : Police check 2 other cases for connection to alleged kidnapper Phillip Garrido . Jaycee Dugard 's daughters attended birthday parties , loved `` Hannah Montana '' They were `` polite ... well-mannered , '' says mother of one of their friends . Dugard was allegedly held captive for 18 years by sex offender who fathered the girls . | [[3298, 3322], [3325, 3476], [4294, 4415], [4332, 4415], [216, 275], [533, 550], [587, 612], [1228, 1241], [1244, 1302], [1163, 1184], [1185, 1208], [1510, 1514], [1583, 1637], [533, 550], [553, 584]] |
Editor 's note : We asked readers to weigh in on CNN.com Live producer Jarrett Bellini 's vacation destination , and you chose South Africa . Check back for updates on his trip . Giraffes are a common sight in Kruger National Park . KRUGER NATIONAL PARK , South Africa -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- I spent two nights sleeping under a full-moon sky , nestled in my trusty hammock at Kruger National Park . Our guides provided us with tents , but I figured I would n't have too many opportunities in my life to slumber in the open bush on the African continent . Thus , I rested more or less exposed throughout the night , hoping that a lion would n't figure that he would n't have too many opportunities in his life to maul a sleeping American tourist in the open bush on the African continent . Needless to say , I survived , and it was magnificent . Visually speaking , I was n't sure what , exactly , to expect from a South African safari , for my complete mental database of safari images spanned a wide variety of distinct landscapes , and most were cartoonishly obstructed by rich , middle-aged tourists covered head to toe in unnecessary beige safari gear . However , Kruger National Park seemed to fit , quite perfectly , my idea of the African savannah . Arid and brown from the winter dry season , it was a forever-long expanse of low trees and dusty earth , the kind that somehow allows the early sun to reflect that perfect glow of stunning reds and oranges . Our guide was a self-proclaimed African bushman named Elson , who seemed to have an amazing one-ness with both the land and the animals . We 'd be driving down one of the many nondescript dirt roads at a fairly fast pace , only to have him hit the brakes of our jeep , slam into reverse and point out a leopard 200 yards away . It would take the rest of us a fair bit of time to finally see what he noticed at a mere passing glance . He knew the land , and he knew the animals -- a talent that proved helpful for finding the less common residents in the savannah . The other creatures carelessly came into view as though the roads and cars were just a natural part of their habitat , a mild annoyance at worst . iReport.com : Share your South Africa experiences and suggestions . Kruger National Park is roughly the same size as Israel , and here , many animals roamed right along the roadside , gnawing on whatever vegetation remained until the rainy season would flourish the plants anew . Seemingly endless miles of terrain , and there they were just feet away from us . If you did n't know you were in a national park , you might think you were in a zoo . That 's how close the animals came to our jeep . Only , here , they were n't in separate enclosures , wandering aimlessly within an artificial terrain . This was truly their home , and we were only passing guests . Giraffes tore away at high branches . Elephants walked fearlessly , one-by-one across the road . Rhinos ... well , the rhinos pretty much just sat there looking stupid . But the zebras frolicked . The hippos splashed in the water . And the baboons stopped at nothing to make me laugh . Of course , the rare lions and leopards pretty much just shaded themselves under distant trees , and the crocs swam silently through the bog . But they were there . And we were there . And it was beautiful . And just as soon as it began , our time in the South African bush was over . A couple of giraffes and elephants met us by the roadside to bid our group farewell as we drove out of the park . The preserve faded silently behind us , and the road ahead paved my way to Swaziland for a short stopover before continuing to the second part of this South African journey . | CNN.com 's Jarrett Bellini is traveling in South Africa . Readers chose his destination and can share their travel suggestions . Bellini will provide updates from South Africa on CNN.com and CNN.com Live . | [[17, 110], [2173, 2184], [2187, 2240]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Vehicles began streaming across the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge early Tuesday -- a day ahead of schedule -- after the completion of repairs to a crack in the structure 's east span . Commuters make the trek across the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge after it reopened Tuesday . Commuters began driving over the bridge around 6:40 a.m. PT -LRB- 9:40 a.m. ET -RRB- , shortly after Randy Iwasaki , director of the California Department of Transportation , announced the reopening at a news conference . `` The bridge has been inspected , and it is safer than when we closed it on Friday , '' Iwasaki said . Over the weekend , crews began repairing a `` significant crack '' that was found on the east span of the bridge during a planned closure for another project . The target time for reopening had been early Wednesday , but crews worked nonstop overnight to repair the eyebar beam , Iwasaki said . He thanked motorists for being patient . `` I know it 's been trying . I received a few e-mail notes , '' the official said . Iwasaki said some closures or detours near the bridge would remain in place a while longer , including those along northbound and southbound Interstate 880 . About 280,000 vehicles cross the landmark bridge every day , according to the department . The Bay Bridge was closed last week as part of a seismic retrofitting project that required cutting out and replacing a double-deck portion of the east span . Watch as the bridge needed big repairs '' A 50-foot section of the bridge collapsed in 1989 during the Loma Prieta earthquake , prompting efforts to make it quake tolerant . | NEW : Bridge `` is safer than when we closed it on Friday , '' official says . California bridge closed last week for scheduled retrofitting . Workers discovered `` significant crack '' on east span of bridge . About 280,000 vehicles travel San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge daily . | [[564, 608], [1299, 1376], [629, 645], [648, 770], [670, 695], [701, 788], [1208, 1266], [1269, 1298]] |
NEW YORK -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz could lose the right to her entire portfolio of world-famous photographs if she does n't meet a Tuesday deadline to pay back a $ 24 million loan she is alleged to owe . Annie Leibovitz appears before her photo of Demi Moore during an exhibition of her work in June in Madrid , Spain . Leibovitz , who has photographed everyone from the Rolling Stones to Queen Elizabeth II , put her art , intellectual property and even real estate assets up for collateral last year when she consolidated her massive debts . Art Capital Group , which restructured the debts , says Leibovitz agreed `` to make Art Capital her ` irrevocable exclusive agent ' '' of the assets `` in exchange for a reduced interest rate on the loan . '' Now the company is suing Leibovitz for breach of contract , saying she has `` refused to cooperate in the sale of those assets , '' according to a question-and-answer sheet on the lawsuit issued by Art Capital . It also says she has `` refused to pay to Art Capital hundreds of thousands of dollars she owed as part of the same agreement . '' Asked by CNN for comment , Leibovitz 's attorney , Steven Brawer , said , `` I do n't have anything I can tell you . '' They have until October 1 to respond to the lawsuit . In the question-and-answer sheet , Art Capital says Leibovitz `` acknowledged that in order to repay the loan she would sell her fine art , intellectual property and real estate assets . She authorized Art Capital to act as agent in the sale of those assets through which Art Capital could recoup its decrease in interest rate . She would have realized a significant gain from that sale . '' It says the loan agreement gave Art Capital `` the right to sell the collateral before the loan came due on September 8 and for a two-year period thereafter . '' One of Leibovitz 's best known photos is of John Lennon with his wife , Yoko Ono , shortly before the Beatles star was assassinated in 1980 . She is no stranger to controversy . In 1991 , Leibovitz photographed a nude and extremely pregnant Demi Moore for the cover of Vanity Fair . The issue , considered scandalous at the time , was sold in many places nationwide with a sheath of white paper . Last year , Leibovitz photographed Disney star Miley Cyrus wrapped in a bedsheet , eliciting claims that the photographer pressured the teen queen into poses that were too provocative for her young age . In July , Art Capital filed a complaint with the New York Supreme Court , asking it to uphold the sales agreement it signed with Leibovitz , including its right to sell her art and real estate . If the court agrees with Art Capital , it means Leibovitz could end up owing far more than she did originally . Art Capital has asked for an unspecified amount of damages in addition to the money it says the photographer originally borrowed . Art Capital -- through its affiliate , American Photography -- provides financial and consulting services to artists , galleries and art owners , and offers loans based on their intellectual property and fine art assets . | Photographer Annie Leibovitz faces Tuesday deadline to pay back $ 24 million loan . Leibovitz put up art , real estate as collateral in consolidating massive debt . Art Capital Group sues Leibovitz , alleging she has n't repaid money . Photos of Demi Moore , Miley Cyrus among Leibovitz 's most controversial works . | [[143, 211], [352, 361], [442, 505], [539, 575], [143, 211], [961, 996], [997, 999], [1005, 1124], [2253, 2262], [2265, 2311]] |
ISLAMABAD , Pakistan -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- In Pakistan 's combustible Swat Valley , some girls refuse to wear uniforms so they can make it to school without being harmed . Shiza Shahid , left , a 20-year-old Stanford University student , is helping to teach young girls in Pakistan . Other girls hide textbooks in their shawls to escape harassment . School-age girls are among the victims in the fierce fighting between government soldiers and Taliban militants in the Swat Valley . The Pakistani government said it has flushed much of the Taliban out of the area , but some fighting persists . Many girls remain banned from schools . Dozens of their schools have been bombed , and militants have burned books . A new program has taken 26 girls out of the battle-scarred region to Islamabad for a 10-day retreat , where they can learn in safer surroundings . A group of college students of Pakistani background is helping the girls . Among them are Shiza Shahid , 20 , from California 's Stanford University , who organized the program called Shajar-e-llm , or Tree of Knowledge . Shahid said she was moved to help after hearing about how the girls struggled to get an education . `` I think we were so angry , upset and emotional that we decided we have to do something , '' she said . Watch as Shahid says she had to act to help the girls '' Though well-intentioned , the program sometimes seems disorganized . `` We need support . We need unfortunately more organization , more of the bureaucratic nitty-gritty that you do n't want to do , but you have to , '' Shahid said . `` We are young , and that does come with the burden as not being equally trusted or seen as capable . '' Nonetheless , the group has ambitions for a boys ' learning retreat as well . The lessons are simple enough -- confidence-building exercises , critical-thinking lessons -- all framed in the context of Islamic values . The girls -- ages 11 to 14 -- spoke about their dreams . One wants to meet a poet ; another wants to learn calligraphy . Another wants to grow up to lead Pakistan . `` I want to become president and rule this country in a good way , '' said 12-year-old Malila . One day during the retreat , the girls were taught a song about freedom of speech . As a guitarist strummed , the girls sang that God gives everyone the right to free speech and no one can take it away . Free speech seemed to end with the song , however . The girls could not risk talking about Taliban harassment , because the militants ' version of Islamic law lingers . Such Islamic law , or shariah , also keeps females from going to school or going outside without their husbands . The United Nations estimates that 375,000 Swat Valley residents fled their homes during fighting that started in April . In all , 2.5 million Pakistanis were displaced in what was said to be one of the largest human migrations in recent history . Many residents have returned to their homes , but peace has not been completely restored to the region . And soon , the girls at the learning retreat will return home to the Swat Valley as well . Organizers said they hope the girls will carry a new love for education . `` There were tears and there were tough moments , '' said Madihah Akhter , a volunteer with the program . `` But the girls surprised me . They were really resilient . They were beyond their years . '' | Schoolgirls victims of fighting between Pakistani soldiers and Taliban in Swat Valley . A retreat in Islamabad gives 26 girls a safe haven to learn . A student from Stanford University is helping lead the retreat . | [[347, 479], [709, 741], [792, 800], [811, 855]] |
KABUL , Afghanistan -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Four U.S. service members were killed in fighting Tuesday in eastern Afghanistan , the U.S. military said . An Interior Ministry official said the victims of a suicide bomb blast at Kabul airport were all civilians . The deaths took place in Kunar province in what a spokeswoman called an `` ongoing event . '' Troop deaths have mounted in Afghanistan this year as American and other international forces have stepped up their fight against the Taliban . August was the deadliest month for the U.S. military in the nearly eight-year-old war , with 52 fatalities . The four deaths on Tuesday bring the number of U.S. troop deaths in Afghanistan to 13 in September . Elsewhere , a suicide bomber killed two people and wounded six others Tuesday morning in the Kabul airport 's military section , Afghan officials said . U.S. and Belgian nationals were among the wounded , a Western diplomatic official told CNN . The victims were all civilians , the Interior Ministry official said . The blast occurred near a gate at Kabul International Airport , said Zamari Bashari , a representative of Afghanistan 's Ministry of Interior . NATO forces fighting in Afghanistan and other government organizations use the military side of the airport . In Pakistan , eight tankers carrying fuel for NATO forces over the border in Afghanistan were attacked near Quetta , according to Quetta police . People on motorcycles fired shots at the tankers when they were parked at a rest area , but they did not catch fire , police said . CNN 's Atia Abawi contributed to this report . | Four U.S. service members killed in fighting in eastern Afghanistan . Two people killed in explosion at Kabul International Airport , six wounded . Official : Suicide bomber struck near gate of military section of airport . | [[8, 35], [39, 119], [147, 234], [704, 713], [716, 750], [716, 732], [755, 830], [147, 234], [716, 732], [755, 830], [1021, 1082]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A judge has ordered mediation in the case of a teen girl who says her family threatened to kill her for converting from Islam to Christianity . Rifqa Bary , 17 , ran away from her family in Columbus , Ohio , in July . She claims her father threatened to kill her . The 17-year-old girl , Rifqa Bary , ran away from her family in Columbus , Ohio , in July and took refuge in the home of the Rev. Blake Lorenz with the Global Revolution Church in Orlando , Florida . Bary 's parents want her back home . At a court hearing Thursday in Orlando , the girl 's parents denied all the allegations against them . Also at the hearing , Judge Daniel Dawson of the Orange County Juvenile Court ordered the girl and her parents to seek the mediation within 30 days . The judge had previously ruled that the girl will remain in Florida foster care until the allegations are resolved . The parents , Mohamed and Aysha Bary , could not attend the hearing in person but listened through a telephone conference as their lawyer spoke for them . They denied they ever threatened to kill their daughter because she converted to Christianity . Mohamed Bary told CNN he believes a lot of false information has been circulated about the case . `` We would n't do her harm , '' the father said , adding that he knew his daughter was involved with Christian organizations . `` I have no problem with her practicing any faith , '' he said . But Bary conceded he would have preferred that his daughter practice the Muslim faith first . The teen had heard of pastor Lorenz and his church through a prayer group on Facebook . The girl 's parents reported her missing to Columbus police , who found her two weeks later in Florida through cell phone records . The teenager , in a sworn affidavit , claims her father , 47 , was pressured by the mosque the family attends in Ohio to `` deal with the situation . '' In the court filing , Rifqa Bary stated her father said , `` If you have this Jesus in your heart , you are dead to me ! '' The teenager claims her father added , `` I will kill you ! '' Watch the teen talk about her fears '' Also at Thursday 's hearing , the judge sealed a report on the girl from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and issued a gag order for attorneys in the case . At one point during the hearing , the girl 's court-appointed guardian , Krista Bartholomew , told the court : `` This is not a holy war but a case about a broken family . '' Outside the courthouse after the hearing , a Muslim activist and several Christian activists exchanged words over the case . Watch the heated exchanges '' Another hearing is scheduled for September 29 if the family is not able to resolve the conflict through mediation . | Teenager claims father threatened to kill her because she converted to Christianity . Parents of teen have denied all allegations against them . Rifqa Bary , 17 , ran away from Ohio home ; took refuge in home of Christian pastor . Judge orders teen and her family to seek mediation within 30 days . | [[64, 75], [80, 162], [237, 283], [248, 283], [1058, 1141], [1748, 1760], [1786, 1803], [2045, 2061], [2065, 2093], [521, 559], [562, 623], [163, 173], [181, 217], [284, 304], [320, 356], [284, 304], [378, 460], [0, 15], [19, 75], [629, 643], [646, 773]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Will Michael Jackson stop the world ? Fans have set up impromptu shrines to Michael Jackson , including this one at his family 's house . Thousands are expected to swamp Los Angeles , California , to mourn him Tuesday at the Staples Center , and the accompanying media crush will be enormous . The tribute to the King of Pop at Harlem 's Apollo Theater earlier this week drew coverage from all over the world , along with a public turnout in the thousands . Given the feverish interest in all things Jackson , the Los Angeles memorial could be one of the most-viewed events of all time . `` This will obviously be a huge media event , and with Web streams of the funeral , it may be impossible to say for sure how many people watched once all is said and done , because there 's still no comprehensive way to measure Web viewing , '' said Toni Fitzgerald , of Media Life , in an e-mail interview . A handful of events have earned the kind of worldwide coverage to put the world on pause , if only for a moment . The 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy `` had the nation locked in a trance for two or three days , '' recalled TV critic Ed Bark of UncleBarky.com . The world audience for the Apollo 11 moon landing has been estimated in the hundreds of millions . The BBC estimated 2.5 billion people watched the 1997 funeral of Princess Diana . Watch Jermaine Jackson talk about his brother 's legacy '' The numbers are easily exaggerated -- nobody knows how many people are watching in groups or in public places -- and the Web has complicated matters further . But in a multichannel , satellite TV , computer-and-cell phone world , the Jackson memorial could have an audience in the hundreds of millions . It was first believed the event would take place at Jackson 's Neverland Ranch . But the family announced Thursday that it will hold a private ceremony Tuesday , and then a massive public memorial service at the Staples Center . Fans had until 6 p.m. Saturday to register for free tickets to the memorial service . Organizers used a computer to choose 8,750 names from 1.6 million who registered since Friday . Watch a tour of Neverland '' `` You have to go back to the Beatles , the death of John Lennon perhaps , and the death of Elvis Presley to find a comparable figure in , not just pop music , but pop culture , '' said Entertainment Weekly critic-at-large Ken Tucker . -LRB- EW , like CNN , is a unit of Time Warner . -RRB- `` And Jackson so self-consciously turned himself into not just an American pop icon but a global pop icon . I think this does have worldwide implications and interest . '' See how interest in Jackson 's music has skyrocketed '' The circumstances of Jackson 's death have led to comparisons with Presley 's in 1977 , but in terms of coverage , the two ca n't compare . The news was n't even the top story on CBS ' `` Evening News , '' Bark recalled , and there certainly was n't wall-to-wall nationwide live coverage of his funeral . A public viewing drew about 30,000 fans ; the funeral , two days after his death , was held in Graceland 's living room . But Bark said there are parallels , at least in terms of coverage , with the Kennedy assassination . `` These days it 's so much harder to get a bulk audience on any given venue the way the -LSB- broadcast networks -RSB- did back then , but still the enormity -LSB- of the event -RSB- -- it 's the syndicated tabloid shows ... and TMZ and all the cable networks devoting lots of attention to it , -LSB- and -RSB- the broadcast networks ca n't seem to do enough specials in prime time , '' said Bark . `` I do think it 's comparative but in a very different way . '' Officially , the sorts of events that have attracted the largest mass audiences have been scheduled entertainment or sports programs . Sixty percent of America watched the 1983 `` M * A * S * H '' finale ; more than half watched the 1980 `` Who Shot J.R. '' episode of `` Dallas '' and the 1977 `` Roots '' conclusion . The Beatles ' first appearance on `` The Ed Sullivan Show '' in 1964 drew about 45 percent of the country . The Super Bowl is routinely the year 's most watched program , with audiences north of 80 million -- about 40 percent of U.S. television households . Although interest in Jackson has been high , the number of viewing choices -LRB- and , perhaps , the traditional decline in summer viewing -RRB- has kept the ratings for individual Jackson-oriented shows down . `` Jackson 's death came up in just about every conversation I had from Thursday to Sunday , and yet only 5 million people tuned in to some of those broadcast specials , '' Media Life magazine 's Fitzgerald observed . Still , the public memorial service might be different . `` I expect you 'll see very big tune-ins on the cable news networks and on BET , if they cover it ; they had huge numbers for their BET Awards focused on Jackson over the weekend , '' Fitzgerald said . The BET Awards was watched by 10.7 million , the most ever for a cable awards show . `` With the celebrity factor thrown into the funeral , who 'll be there , who 'll talk , I would guess tens of millions in the U.S. will watch it on TV , '' she said . It is certain is that the news media will be there in force . `` I guess we 're all going to wait and see what the spectacle is , '' Bark said . `` There may be no precedent for this . '' | Public memorial Tuesday could be one of the most-viewed events of all time . It could have a television and online audience in the hundreds of millions . Jackson 's death has led to comparisons with Elvis Presley 's death . Others see parallels , at least in terms of coverage , with the Kennedy assassination . | [[527, 606], [2993, 3032], [1184, 1282], [1587, 1727], [2247, 2325], [2688, 2773], [3119, 3215]] |
NEW YORK -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Nearly a year after surviving a plane crash in South Carolina , disc jockey Adam `` DJ AM '' Goldstein was found dead in his New York apartment Friday afternoon , his publicist said . He was 36 . Adam `` DJ AM '' Goldstein was one of two people who survived a 2008 plane crash in South Carolina . `` The circumstances surrounding his death are unclear , '' his publicist , Jenni Weinman , said in a statement confirming the performer 's death . `` Out of respect for his family and loved ones , please respect their privacy at this time . '' Goldstein was found unconscious and unresponsive in his lower Manhattan apartment Friday afternoon , New York police said . The cause of death would be determined by medical examiners , but `` there is no criminality suspected at this time , '' a police statement reported . Goldstein and Travis Barker , the drummer for rock band Blink-182 , were the only survivors of a September plane crash in South Carolina that left both critically injured . Four others aboard the plane were killed when the Learjet skidded off a runway during takeoff from Columbia . Watch more about his career '' `` Daily I live with the guilt and grief of what happened that night , what I saw , who was lost and why I was spared , '' he wrote in a December post on his Web site . `` I have no words to express the pain that comes with knowing four people died , while I lived . '' In addition to spinning beats at clubs and festivals , Goldstein was known for dating reality-TV star Nicole Richie and singer-actress Mandy Moore . `` I am absolutely heartbroken , '' Moore said in a statement . `` For those of us lucky enough to have known him , Adam radiated a contagious exuberance for life and also personified the very definition of a true friend . To say that he will be missed beyond words is an understatement . My heart goes out to his loved ones . '' iReport.com : DJ AM `` bridged communities '' At the time of his death , he had been working on an MTV show about drug addiction that had been scheduled to debut in October . Goldstein himself had been a crack cocaine addict who said he wanted the show to help others recover . CNN 's Denise Quan contributed to this report . | Adam `` DJ AM '' Goldstein was found unconscious in his apartment . There is no criminality suspected at this time , '' police say in statement . `` The circumstances surrounding his death are unclear , '' Goldstein 's publicist says . He was one of two survivors of a September plane crash in South Carolina . | [[570, 668], [760, 809], [812, 844], [191, 211], [325, 379], [382, 398], [417, 436], [0, 14], [42, 89], [262, 272], [277, 324], [845, 872], [913, 981]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- McDonald 's probably wo n't be exclaiming `` I 'm Lovin ' It '' in this case . McCurry restaurant owners A.M.S.P Suppiah and his wife Kanageswary Suppiah . In a David-and-Goliath match-up in the world of fast food , McCurry -- a small Indian curry shop in Malaysia -- has won an eight-year legal battle against the hamburger giant . McDonald 's claimed that the prefix `` Mc '' in McCurry trampled on its trademark . The country 's Federal Court on Tuesday ruled that it did n't . `` We 're very relieved -- much , much relieved -- that this eight-year-old saga is finally over , '' said McCurry owner P. Suppiah . `` We 're a typical South Asian-Malay cuisine . No way people walking into McCurry can confuse us with McDonald 's . '' The sparse 24/7 self-service restaurant in the capital , Kuala Lumpur , is popular with blue-collar workers who are drawn to its affordable fare , such as biryani rice and fishhead curry . Its logo : a chicken flashing a thumbs-up . The eatery opened in 1999 . McDonald 's filed suit two years later . `` We were shocked that such a big giant wants to take us to court , '' Suppiah said . `` We felt that we had nothing in common , because we were not selling any Western fast food . '' The hamburger chain , which has 185 restaurants throughout Malaysia , said McCurry was violating the prefix `` Mc '' and that McDonald 's had the right to protect it . McCurry , in turn , said the prefix is common and is part of last names all across Europe . Furthermore , it said , the `` Mc '' in McCurry stands for `` Malaysian Chicken Curry . '' A lower court ruled in favor of McDonald 's , and Suppiah appealed . An appeals court in 2006 overturned that ruling , prompting McDonald 's to appeal this time . On Tuesday , the Federal Court -- the highest in the land -- held up the appeals court ruling . McDonald 's said it accepts the judgment . `` We respect the finding of the court and beyond that have no further comment , '' said Liam Jeory of McDonald 's Asia Pacific , Middle East and Africa region . Suppiah said the ruling means he can now add other McCurry locations , with its slogan : `` Tasty and so Gooood . '' | David-and-Goliath match-up in fast food world sees McCurry defeat McDonald 's . McDonald 's claimed that the `` Mc '' in McCurry trampled on its trademark . McCurry owner P. Suppiah : `` We 're very relieved -- much , much relieved '' | [[175, 232], [235, 242], [275, 351], [352, 435], [377, 435], [1241, 1260], [1311, 1392], [503, 523], [599, 633]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The struggle over health care reform intensified Thursday as President Obama sought to build on what administration officials hoped was new momentum generated by his prime-time address to Congress . In his address to Congress on Wednesday , President Obama pushed for the government to help the uninsured . Republican leaders ripped the president 's Wednesday night speech , arguing that he had botched a unique opportunity to build bipartisan consensus and offer specifics on his long-awaited plan . `` Now is the time to act , '' Obama told an audience near the White House . `` We have talked this issue to death . ... The time for talk is winding down . The time for bickering is past . '' The president was joined by representatives of the American Nurses Association , which has strongly endorsed the passage of a healthcare bill incorporating the president 's ideas . Obama repeated several reform principles outlined in his Wednesday night address , including the need for all Americans to have access to coverage regardless of pre-existing conditions . He again insisted that his plan will provide `` more security and stability to those who have insurance , '' extend it to those who do n't and slow the rate of growth in health care costs . He reiterated his call to cap out-of-pocket costs and create a health insurance exchange in which individuals and small businesses can pool resources to help bargain for lower coverage costs . iReport.com : `` Obama 's speech lacked courage '' Obama has also pushed for the federal government to provide greater financial assistance to those who ca n't afford insurance . The president 's latest call for reform came as the Census Bureau released new data showing that the number of people without health insurance rose from 45.7 million in 2007 to 46.3 million in 2008 . All Americans would be required by law to have health insurance under Obama 's proposal , which the administration has projected to cost $ 900 billion over 10 years . The requirement , Obama noted Wednesday night , would be similar to mandatory auto insurance in most states . Businesses would also be required to either offer health care coverage to workers or contribute to covering their costs of obtaining coverage . CNN 's political analysts respond to Obama 's speech '' Top congressional Republicans declared Thursday that they remain staunchly opposed to Obama 's plan . They also accused the president of delivering an intensely partisan speech to Congress that unfairly maligned opponents and distorted basic facts . `` I thought the speech was partisan , uninformative , disingenuous and not likely to encourage those who have honest disagreements with him to be able to work toward some kind of common solution , '' said Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl , R-Arizona . Kyl complained that Obama had made it tougher to reach common ground by constantly referring to opponents ' `` unyielding ideological '' arguments and `` bogus claims . '' `` Nobody can have a disagreement with him based upon a valid difference of opinion , '' Kyl said . `` It 's always the other -- the motive of the other individual is a bogus motive . '' Among other things , Kyl disputed Obama 's claims that the Democratic plan wo n't add to the federal deficit . `` He was n't referring to either the House or Senate bill that have gone through committee , because -LSB- the Congressional Budget Office -RSB- has projected that both of them have a deficit , '' he said . `` So somehow there 's going to be a different bill , which is going to solve that deficit problem , I gather , but we did n't hear any detail about that . '' Health care legislation has cleared three committees in the House of Representatives , as well as the Senate Health , Education , Labor and Pensions Committee . It is currently under consideration by the Senate Finance Committee . Kyl also took issue with Obama 's claim that people will have the option of keeping their current coverage if they like it . `` It 's not true under the bills . Even if you like your insurance , there 's a good chance you wo n't be able to keep it , '' Kyl claimed . Democrats and Republicans remain deeply divided over the question of whether to allow for a government-run public health insurance option . The president continued to stress his preference for such an option Thursday , saying it would force private insurers to lower costs . But he has repeatedly referred to the provision as only one alternative for increasing competition for health insurance and signaled his openness to ideas . Republicans are unanimous in opposing a public option , calling it an unfair competitor that would drive private insurers from the market and lead to a government takeover of health insurance . Obama has rejected that claim as a false allegation intended to scare people . House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , a strong supporter of the public option , insisted Thursday that such a provision would save `` tens of billions of dollars '' in health-care expenses . But the speaker , who has insisted that a health care bill can not pass the House without a public option , also indicated that she does n't consider the provision `` non-negotiable . '' At a separate news conference , Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid , D-Nevada , argued that if a nonprofit health care cooperative successfully expands competition and `` makes the insurance companies honest ... that would fill the bill . '' The speaker nevertheless skewered the Republican opposition for failing to provide what she claimed was a reasonable alternative . Opponent of reform `` hit us with their best shot '' during the August congressional recess , she said , and their attacks amounted to little more than `` distortion '' and `` misrepresentation . '' Pelosi also criticized Rep. Joe Wilson , the South Carolina Republican who heckled Obama on Wednesday night by shouting `` You lie ! '' when the president denied that health care legislation would provide free coverage for illegal immigrants . The `` episode was unfortunate , '' and Wilson 's remarks were `` stunning to hear , '' Pelosi said . But given Wilson 's subsequent apology , she said , `` it 's time to move on . '' Both Democrats and Republicans have criticized Wilson for what they called a show of disrespect toward the president . Shortly after the speech ended , Wilson issued a statement that apologized for his `` inappropriate and regrettable '' comments . Obama said Thursday that he accepted Wilson 's apology . `` I 'm a big believer that we all make mistakes , '' the president noted during a Cabinet meeting . But it 's important to have a debate `` without vitriol . ... Our goals are generally the same whether we 're Democrats or Republicans . '' Wilson insisted that his outburst was `` spontaneous '' and agreed with the White House that the health care debate merits `` a civil discussion . '' One top Republican , however , also opined that Wilson 's outburst reflected the strong passion being generated by the health care debate . `` We ought to have civil discourse in America , but do n't underestimate the amount of emotion that people are feeling , '' House Minority Leader John Boehner said . | NEW : Republicans say Obama missed opportunity to build consensus . `` The time for talk is winding down , '' president says near White House . He follows up address to Congress with call for legislation this year . New data show increase in number of Americans without insurance . | [[337, 402], [413, 453], [337, 355], [405, 453], [418, 530], [559, 607], [652, 687], [688, 720], [229, 268], [271, 336], [1702, 1853]] |
BERLIN , Germany -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A black politician campaigning in eastern Germany has become the victim of a racist campaign by a far-right party . Zeca Schall says he is not thinking of leaving Germany despite the threats . The National Democratic Party of Germany -LRB- NPD -RRB- says it is trying to persuade Zeca Schall , a German citizen who came from Angola 21 years ago , to leave the country . Schall is a member of the Christian Democratic Union , the party led by German Chancellor Angela Merkel , and has been named as a CDU expert for the integration of minorities . The NPD 's Web site calls Schall the CDU 's `` quota negro '' and urges him to leave the country . `` The CDU seems to be realizing that even after years of re-education , negroes can not be accepted as permanent guests in our state , '' said the NPD , which goes by its German initials . Watch more about the campaign against Schall '' Schall told CNN he had never before been subjected to such a level of racial hatred . `` I am shocked , '' he said Thursday at a campaign event in Erfurt , the capital of Thuringia . `` I simply can not believe that people would do this to fellow humans . '' Schall , who appears on a CDU election poster , said he is scared . `` I have police patrolling at my house day and night , and some officers stay in my house overnight , '' he said . But Schall said he is not thinking of leaving Germany and the CDU said he has the party 's full support . Schall and the CDU said they have filed a lawsuit against the NPD . The situation escalated Wednesday when the NPD 's national leadership held a rally in Schall 's adopted hometown of Hildburghausen . Party Chairman Udo Voigt tried to speak with Schall `` and persuade Mr. Schall that he is needed more in Angola than in Germany , '' the NPD said in a news release . Police sent to protect Schall stopped the NPD 's representatives from accessing Schall 's premises . He is campaigning for the CDU for a state election in Thuringia , which is in the former communist East Germany . Right-wing extremism is generally a bigger problem in eastern Germany than in the west of the country , and citizens of Hildburghausen told CNN that , though most people support the politician , fascism is a problem in the area . `` Of course we have a base of right-wingers here , '' a passer-by said at the market in the town 's center . But most of those questioned by CNN denounced the campaign against Schall and said he is a respected member of the community . `` I am not only a member of the CDU , I am also a voluntary firefighter at the local department , '' Schall said . Frank Schwerdt , the NPD 's leader in Erfurt , tried to downplay the events . `` This is not a personal campaign against Mr. Schall , '' Schwerdt said . `` We simply feel that many citizens do n't want foreigners to have a say in our politics . '' The NPD has been under surveillance by Germany 's Office for the Protection of the Constitution for alleged contacts with illegal neo-Nazi groups . However , past efforts to ban the party have failed on technical grounds . The NPD denies ties to illegal groups . But members of the Christian Democratic Union told CNN that , since the racist campaign started against Schall , he has received several death threats and the party will no longer allow him to do media interviews because of the risks . At Thursday 's campaign event in central Erfurt , increased police presence was noticeable and CDU members said plainclothes officers had been dispatched among the crowd . | National Democratic Party of Germany trying to persuade Zeca Schall to leave country . Schall is a German citizen who came from Angola 21 years ago . Schall is a member of the ruling Christian Democratic Union . Has received death threats and his party will no longer allow him to do interviews . | [[229, 327], [583, 602], [649, 681], [1670, 1748], [330, 346], [351, 380], [406, 458], [3207, 3295], [3300, 3314], [3331, 3380], [3300, 3309], [3318, 3380]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- With irresponsible banking practices taking the blame for bringing about the global economic crisis , there has been a surge of interest in Islamic finance . Islamic finance is estimated to be worth $ 700 billion and has been growing by 15 to 20 percent per year . Now , a slew of academic courses are springing up to meet the demand of those wanting to break into an expanding market . According to ratings agency Moody 's , the global Islamic finance sector is worth $ 700 billion and has the potential to be worth $ 4 trillion . What 's more , the ethical principles underpinning Islamic finance are seen by some as offering a more sustainable alternative to profit-oriented conventional banking . The result is that academic institutions are lining up to offer formal training in the area . `` There is a huge demand for Islamic finance courses now , so large that it 's difficult to cope with , '' Professor Habib Ahmed , Sharjah chair in the school of government and international affairs at Durham University , England , told CNN . Durham will launch a Masters degree in Islamic finance from October , becoming one of a number of European institutions to offer Islamic finance programs . `` Islamic finance has been growing by 15 to 20 percent per year for some time and there is a lot of interest at the moment . People are looking for alternatives after the economic crisis . '' `` Islamic economists believe that if the principles of Islamic finance were followed the crisis would n't have happened . We are seeing a lot of non-Muslim countries , including the UK , France , Japan , Hong Kong and Singapore encouraging Islamic finance , '' he said . There are many differences between Islamic and conventional banking practices . One fundamental difference is that Islamic banks do not charge interest . Rather than borrowers and lenders , the system is based on buyers and sellers . `` Conventional banking is biased to the seller . Islamic finance is trying to level the ethics between the two parties , '' Aly Khorshid , an Islamic finance scholar who writes for Islamic Banking and Finance magazine , told CNN . `` People think the Islamic system is based on faith , but it 's based on justice . The system is based on justice for the two parties and how you get to the justice is extracted from Islamic faith , '' he said . Khorshid said that there are similarities between `` ethical investment '' schemes and Islamic finance , in that the Islamic system does not allow investment that harms people or the environment . He credits the rapid growth of the Islamic finance sector on the success of `` sukuk '' -- Islamic bonds . In the West , banks including Lloyds TSB , HSBC , Deutsche Bank and Citibank all offer Islamic finance products , catering to a niche market of Muslim borrowers . But while Islamic banks allow Muslims to take advantage of financial services that are consistent with their religious beliefs , it is the ethics underpinning Islamic finance that are attracting the interest of conventional finance institutions keen to learn lessons from the banking crisis . Although Islamic banks have suffered from the global repercussions of the economic downturn , they emerged largely unscathed from the initial banking meltdown that brought about that financial turmoil . Ahmed told CNN that is because Islamic banks are not allowed to deal in mortgage-backed securities or credit-default swaps , two of the practices accused of helping bring about the banking crisis . Khorshid said that although it 's too early to say if Islamic finance has dealt with economic downturn better than conventional finance , the Islamic system has many more layers of risk assessment and management , which could help protect it from the problems afflicting conventional banks . But the growth of Islamic finance has brought its own problems . Critics say some banks use Islamic finance to package what are essentially conventional products . `` Islamic banks are also driven by the profit motive and sometimes that can dominate the ethics , '' Ahmed told CNN . While Europe is catching up with the demand for these banking products , the U.S. is lagging behind . Ahmed says that regulatory and legal changes are needed for Islamic finance to grow in the U.S. , but he adds there are signs that Canada may become a North American center for Islamic finance . The lack of Islamic finance services in the U.S. is reflected in a relative lack of demand for Islamic finance courses , but in the UK there is the opposite problem . With students coming from Asia and the Middle East to get the qualifications that will help them take advantage of the Islamic finance boom , Ahmed says it is difficult for universities to find qualified teaching staff . `` Most people with PhDs in Islamic finance are working in the industry , making a lot of money , '' he told CNN . He added that Islamic finance products have the potential to appeal to the non-Muslims market , pointing out that in Malaysia the majority of customers for Islamic banks are n't Muslims . `` If people look at the principles they 'll see something beneficial in terms of economics , rather than just religious reasons . It 's a type of ethical finance that may be attractive to a lot of people . '' | There is an increase in demand for academic courses in Islamic finance . Some believe Islamic finance principles would have avoided banking crisis . Islamic banks do not charge interest or deal in mortgage-backed securities . Some principles are similar to those used for ethical investments . | [[136, 193], [831, 888], [1424, 1546], [1459, 1546], [1776, 1849], [1811, 1849]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- More than two dozen times in the past three years , authorities came to Phillip and Nancy Garrido 's ramshackle home at 1554 Walnut Ave. in Antioch , California , a rural property where Jaycee Dugard is said to have been confined for 18 years . Jaycee Dugard was locked in a shed tucked under a blue tarp in her alleged captor 's backyard . And each time , they left without learning of the secret shed where Dugard lived . The Garridos have pleaded not guilty to charges of abduction and forcible rape . They are being held without bail in the Contra Costa County Jail in Martinez , California . After she was abducted in June 1991 , at age 11 , Dugard 's disappearance spawned a massive search that continued , on and off , for almost two decades . Federal agents remained committed to the case , chasing thousands of leads . But they apparently never had the Garridos on their radar . The case of the missing girl evoked deep emotions that rippled across the South Lake Tahoe community . Strangers threw fundraisers and parades to raise money for search efforts . Friends and neighbors wore T-shirts bearing images of Dugard 's smiling face to give the case exposure . Elementary school students toted signs that encouraged the community to stay committed to the hunt for their classmate . All they wanted was to find little Jaycee Lee Dugard . And for some of that time , authorities were visiting the home of the couple now accused of abducting her . Watch an FBI agent talk about why clues were missed '' Interviews with public officials show that parole officers , law enforcement officials and firefighters visited the Garrido household but left without realizing that the kidnapped girl had grown to adulthood and was living in a soundproof shed hidden in the backyard . Two Dozen Contacts . There were at least 16 visits from parole officers and seven by the fire department . There was also one by the sheriff 's office responding to an allegation that people were living in the backyard . State and local authorities have now begun internal investigations to find out why none of these visits uncovered the existence of Dugard , now 29 , and her children , Starlet , 15 , and Angel , 11 . Their makeshift home of tents , tarps and sheds was tucked behind a 6-foot wall at the rear of the Garrido property . `` I feel confident the sheriff will use this as an example of how to do things better , '' said Federal Glover , a district supervisor for Contra Costa County who also heads the community 's public safety committee . `` From this lesson , we will not have this type of missed opportunity occur again . '' One of the first red flags authorities might have caught was in 1993 , two years after the kidnapping . Garrido , who had been released from prison after serving 11 years for a 1976 kidnapping , violated his parole in April 1993 . It is unclear what he did or how the violation was flagged . As a result , he was placed in federal prison for one month and then released on house arrest for three months . He returned to the Antioch home , where he lived with his wife and his elderly mother . Violation Was n't Reported to Nevada . But the parole violation was never reported to the state of Nevada , where the first kidnapping and rape had occurred , said Gail Powell , a spokeswoman for the Nevada Department of Public Safety . `` The state of Nevada would have taken some action , '' Powell said . `` I do n't know what , but some action could have meant putting him back in prison , pulling him off parole . '' In 1999 , the California Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections agreed to take responsibility and authority for supervising Garrido 's parole because he resided in that state . Garrido 's most recent parole agent visited the home at least twice a month since December , according to California corrections officials . Sometimes the visits were unannounced , said Gordon Hinkle , a department spokesman . Parole officers also checked on Garrido frequently before 2008 , Hinkle said , but he did not know how often or how many parole officers visited Garrido 's residence . The parole agent who most recently entered Garrido 's backyard did n't notice any children 's toys or items to indicate that minors were living in the house . The agent saw a shed but assumed it belonged to a neighbor . `` There was a deceptive false impression , '' Hinkle said . `` If you were to be on the property walking around , you would have seen a big fence . '' Parole Officers Carry Big Caseloads . Hinkle said the parole officer performed his duties appropriately . The parole officer was also responsible for raising suspicions when two University of California Berkeley officers notified him that Phillip Garrido came in with his `` daughters . '' The parole officer called the Garridos in for questioning . California has one of the highest parolee-to-officer ratios in the country . State budget cuts are expected to strain the department this year , which could mean reducing the number of parole officers , Hinkle said . The officer assigned to supervise Garrido was also responsible for 39 other sex offenders . As recently as June , two months before Dugard was discovered with the Garridos , Contra Costa County firefighters responded to a fire on the property . They doused a car engine that had exploded into flames at the rear of the property , said department spokeswoman Emily Hopkins . They spent two hours there and then left . They also visited Garrido 's property in fall 2007 , after a neighbor reported fire coming from the backyard . In addition , they responded twice in 2008 and three times in 2009 to medical emergencies involving Garrido 's elderly mother , Patricia Franzen . Fire department officials were n't sure whether more visits were made to the home , because computerized records date only to 2006 . Neighbors Steered Clear . Neighbors who had encounters with Garrido said they did n't take the time to get to know him . Some said they knew that he was a sex offender , so they steered away from his house . Others ignored him because they thought he was strange . Betty Unpingco invited the entire neighborhood to her son 's graduation party in spring 2006 . She said Garrido attended and brought speakers for the party . When Unpingco and several adults noticed him talking to the high school girls , they asked him to leave . Later that night , she said , when they saw him waiting outside his home to speak to the girls , the adults escorted them home . Feeling uneasy after the party , Unpingco checked the sex offender registry and found Garrido 's picture . `` It was just so bizarre , '' said Unpingco , who has 10 children . `` I warned my children to stay away from him and to always walk in twos . '' She did not notify police . In November 2006 , another neighbor did call police , saying she saw people living in tents behind the Garridos ' house . Contra Costa County Sheriff Warren E. Rupf said he did n't think the deputy who responded knew at the time that Garrido was a sex offender . The deputy spoke to Garrido in his front yard about the allegations , but Garrido convinced him otherwise . | Officials visited Garrido home more than two dozen times in past three years . Phillip Garrido 's parole officer checked up on him at least twice a month . Garrido violated parole in 1993 , but offense was n't reported to all the right agencies . | [[71, 143], [1367, 1392], [1395, 1443], [1573, 1663], [3969, 3984], [3990, 4031], [5493, 5497], [5503, 5543], [1820, 1905], [3742, 3832], [3969, 3984], [3990, 4031], [2748, 2755], [2839, 2874], [3137, 3163], [3180, 3242], [6796, 6823]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Two words , delivered with index finger punctuating the air and directed at the president of the United States , made a little-known South Carolina congressman one of the most controversial men on the Internet -- at least Wednesday heading into Thursday . Many Facebook and Twitter users condemned Rep. Joe Wilson for his outburst toward President Obama . As soon as Rep. Joe Wilson was identified as the person whose angry and audible outburst disrupted President Obama 's health care speech to Congress , condemnation was swift -- and brutal . Within minutes , someone had altered Wilson 's entry on the online encyclopedia Wikipedia : . `` He is a -LSB- expletive -RSB- that called the president of the United States a liar on national television and has no respect for the office he holds . '' When the Web site scrubbed the sentence , an even more offensive entry wormed its way in . iReport.com : `` You are disrespectful , sir '' Soon , the site disabled edit options for Wilson 's entry , chalking it up to `` vandalism . '' On Twitter , post after post urged users to condemn Wilson 's breach of protocol , listing his Web site address and his congressional office phone number . Web surfers who visited http://www.joewilson.house.gov/ were greeted with the message : `` This site is down for maintenance . Please check back again soon . '' Those who called his office number either could not get through because the line was busy , or could not leave a message because the phone continued to ring without activating voice mail . `` If he 's the face of the GOP , we 'll have public option by Columbus Day ! '' wrote Andisheh Nouraee , a columnist for Creative Loafing , an alternative weekly in Atlanta , Georgia . Democrats on Capitol Hill piled on the condemnation as well . `` Biggest disappointment of evening , the total lack of respect show by one member for the president , '' wrote Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri . `` Never acceptable to behave like a jerk . '' As `` Joe Wilson '' trended on Twitter as the most popular conversation topic -- and on Google among the most searched terms -- the lawmaker 's supporters fought back . Many set up Twitter accounts and posted their first tweets Wednesday night and early Thursday . `` You have nothing to apologize for . You should be applauded for standing up and speaking the truth , '' said Jamie Sawyer of Madison , Wisconsin . `` Good for him ! Too bad he had to apologize '' was a comment on the Lonely Conservative blog . `` At last the little man found his voice tonight and called Obama what he surely is , a liar , '' said another blog , Sunlit Uplands . By early Thursday , genuine tweets about Wilson were interspersed with ads for male erectile dysfunction : `` Joe Wilson Cialis $ 1.9 Viagra $ 1.1 -LRB- Web site address -RRB- '' Though Wilson issued an apology , saying his emotions got the best of him , few online bought it . Watch Obama react to the `` You lie ! '' outburst '' On the Internet , where speculation runs rife , tweeters pointed to a comment Wilson posted on Labor Day as evidence that his outburst was planned : . `` Happy Labor Day ! Wonderful parade at Chapin , many people called out to oppose Obamacare which I assured them would be relayed tomorrow to DC , '' the tweet from Wilson 's account said . On Facebook , where users are n't impeded by Twitter 's 140-character limitation , a prolonged and nasty war of words dominated Wilson 's page . `` I have no problem being called a liberal hack by illogical , fear filled , unintelligent people . and actually , I will take it as a complement , '' wrote Janine Feczko . Name-calling was met by ad hominem attacks : `` Janine , I 'm sure in the trailer park where you live they gush over your incredible intellect and witty commentary . After all that toothless grin and tripple chin screams Harvard Law , '' wrote Dan Colgan . Nine hundred and 10 comments later , the battle raged on early Thursday . Amid all this , the campaign of Democrat Rob Miller , who hopes to unseat the Republican Wilson in next year 's midterm elections , raked in the dough : more than $ 200,000 from 5,000 individuals overnight and Thursday morning after Obama 's speech , according to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee . Finally , there were those who found humor in Wilson 's heckle . A hastily created Web site , JoeWilsonIsYourPreExistingCondition , hurled a new insult at the politician with every click of the refresh button . `` Joe Wilson poured salt on your lawn , '' said one . Refresh . `` Joe Wilson traded the dead batteries in walkman for the fresh ones in your TV remote . '' Refresh . `` Joe Wilson yells ` Freebird ' at concerts . '' Not everyone , however , was busy assigning blame to Wilson . Los Angeles actor and comic Paul Scheer decided to shoulder it . `` I apologize 4 yelling ` liar ' during Obama 's speech , '' he jokingly wrote . `` Sen McCain ate my Kit Kat while I was in the bathroom & he pretended like he did n't . '' | Little-known South Carolina congressman shouts , `` You lie ! '' at President Obama . Wikipedia disables editing for Rep. Joe Wilson 's entry , citing `` vandalism '' Name-calling rampant on Facebook and Twitter as political passions run high . | [[668, 691], [697, 768], [2525, 2539], [2568, 2607], [2949, 2963], [2966, 2977], [963, 1013], [956, 960], [963, 971], [1016, 1048], [3323, 3334], [3406, 3467]] |
-LRB- Mental Floss -RRB- -- Even in the midst of the Civil War , there was still one thing the North and South shared -- a serious addiction to caffeine . Confederate troops were less likely to get a cup of coffee . In that respect , the Union clearly had an advantage . Not only did the North have more than two-thirds of the population and control most of the heavy industry , railroads , and financial reserves in the country , it hoarded supplies of the highly addictive little bean , leaving the Confederacy to wage its own war against java deprivation . Coffee : It 's what 's for breakfast , lunch and dinner . Throughout the Civil War , coffee was as prevalent on the battlefields as it is in offices today . In fact , the Union army was fueled by the stuff to the point that , if there was no time to boil water , the Boys in Blue would chew on whole beans as they marched . And at night , Union campsites were dotted with tiny fires , each boiling a pot of coffee like a million miniature Starbucks . Beyond caffeine cravings , Union troops loved their coffee because it was , literally , the best thing on the menu . Before the advent of helpful -LRB- and tasty ! -RRB- artificial preservatives , a marching soldier 's rations were neither varied nor particularly appetizing . Typically , they consisted of salted meat , unleavened bread -LRB- accurately christened `` hardtack '' -RRB- , and a little sugar and salt . It did n't help that Union supply chains were riddled with corrupt food contractors who charged the government top dollar for rotten , stale , and insect-ridden foodstuffs . Coffee , however , was almost always fresh because it was delivered in whole-bean form -- making it difficult for even the most dishonest supplier to skimp on quality . Not that they did n't try , of course . In fact , officials began requesting coffee as whole beans after some crooked contractors tried to up their per-pound profits by slipping sand and dirt into packages of ground coffee . In 1861 , hoping to cut down on the time soldiers spent roasting and grinding beans , the army switched to a concentrated proto-instant coffee . The new concoction , called `` essence of coffee , '' was made by boiling prepared coffee , milk , and sugar into a thick gloop , which soldiers then reconstituted by mixing it with water . The product reportedly tasted every bit as bad as you 'd imagine , and thanks to the corrupt dairymen who sold the army spoiled milk , it also tended to cause diarrhea . Needless to say , the Union army was soon back on the bean . Southern discomfort . Noxious as essence of coffee was , Confederate soldiers would have gladly downed a cup or two . But , because of a Union naval blockade , coffee -LRB- along with weapons , machinery , medicine , and other vital materials -RRB- was in short supply in the South . Before the war , a pound of beans would have set you back around 20 cents in Yankee dough . Once pre-war stockpiles ran out , however , the same amount was running as high as $ 60 in Confederate money . -LRB- Despite the undervalued currency , that was still a lot . -RRB- . There was some coffee that made it into the Confederacy -- usually carried by steam-powered blockade-runner ships . But , for the most part , Southerners had to rely on coffee substitutes , including various forms of roasted corn , rye , okra seeds , sweet potatoes , acorns , and peanuts . Unfortunately , all these imitations lacked potency , tasted awful , and upset the bowels . The only slightly better alternative was tea made from the leaves of the native yaupon shrub . The good news was that it contained caffeine ; the bad news was that it was incredibly difficult to digest . Luckily , there was one surefire way for Southern folk to get their coffee -- by making peace with the Union . Soldiers on the front lines often called informal truces so Rebels could swap tobacco for Yankee coffee and then dash back to their camps before they were reported missing . E-mail to a friend . For more mental_floss articles , visit mentalfloss.com . Entire contents of this article copyright , Mental Floss LLC . All rights reserved . | Coffee was a hot commodity in the Civil War . Union troops had it for breakfast , lunch , dinner . Suppliers sometime ground dirt into beans . Blockade kept coffee had to get for Confederate troops . | [[569, 617], [1878, 1997], [155, 173], [191, 215], [2688, 2721], [2724, 2847], [3123, 3178]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Fans around the world have gathered at arenas and record stores , big screens , parks and makeshift shrines , to watch the memorial service of Michael Jackson and pay homage to their idol . A Michael Jackson fan in Berlin watches footage of the memorial concert . As thousands of fans joined Jackson 's family and closest friends at Los Angeles Staples Center arena , millions more followed proceedings on television and online . In Germany , at least 8,000 Jackson fans watched events in Los Angeles unfold at a Trauerfeier , '' -LRB- translated as Sadness Party -RRB- at Berlin 's O2 World arena , reported CNN 's Frederik Pleitgen . Fans began arriving at least three hours before the event was due to begin , Pleitgen said . `` He -LSB- Jackson -RSB- connects races , religions and ages , '' said one fan , `` his music connects the world . '' Many fans were moved to tears when Jackson 's daughter Paris Katherine wept as she called the singer `` the best father you could ever imagine . '' Pleitgen added : `` A lot of people got very wet eyes . '' Watch fans gather in Berlin '' South African former president Nelson Mandela paid his respects to Jackson in a statement read to the audience at the Los Angeles memorial by singer Smokey Robinson . Watch Smokey Robinson deliver Mandela 's message . '' `` Michael became close to us after he started visiting and performing in South Africa regularly . We grew fond of him and he became a close member of our family . We had great admiration for his talent and that he was able to triumph over tragedy on so many occasions in his life , '' Mandela said . `` We mourn with the millions of families worldwide . '' In the southern Chinese enclave of Hong Kong , fans carried flowers and Jackson paraphernalia , such as a doll and record , at a memorial . Watch Jackson tributes pour in from around the world '' `` I can not accept MJ has already left us , and I think we should come here and do something for him and express our feeling to show that we really miss him , '' said one man . Hundreds of British fans in London braved torrential rain to watch a giant screen outside the city 's O2 Arena , where Jackson was scheduled to play a series of 50 concerts from July 13 . Many more fans are expected to converge on the venue next Monday to mark what would have been the first of his concert dates . See images of Jackson fans from around the globe '' `` I am still in denial , '' said Jenny Keme , 21 . `` We 're going to stay here to the end of the ceremony even though it 's pouring . He had such a gentle soul , that 's what I love most about him . '' Celeste Dixon , 28 , added : `` He is the King of Pop , not was . No one will ever be worthy of him , he is bigger than life . Without Michael Jackson breaking barriers , Barack Obama would never have made it . '' Elsewhere in London the cast of musical `` Thriller - Live '' paid their own tribute during the evening performance at the Lyric Theatre , with cast , crew and audience observing a minute 's silence . `` Many of them were in tears during it , '' reported CNN 's Phil Black . The theater has become a shrine to Jackson , with devoted followers holding vigils and leaving cards and messages at the building 's entrance . In Japan , meanwhile , hundreds of fans gathered at a Tower Records store -- where Jackson twice visited -- in Tokyo to watch his videos on a big screen . Followers were even offered the chance to take a photograph next to a cast of a footprint left by Jackson when he last visited . Watch fans gather in Tokyo '' In a bar in New Delhi , the Jackson memorial gathering was small -- only a dozen or so people . On the wall of the bar that usually only plays hard rock , Jackson 's music was blasting , candles were lit underneath two framed pictures of Jackson and customers had written messages saying goodbye . The bar manager said : `` We all grew up with Michael Jackson . Other generations had The Beatles , or Elvis Presley . Michael is our generation . '' And on the streets of Beijing , people were greeted by a Jackson look-alike , 28-year-old Wang Jie , who performed ahead of the memorial . Though Jackson never himself performed in China , he is loved in the country . Members of the official Michael Jackson Fan Club rented a hotel room so they could watch his funeral broadcast live . Thousands of other fans worldwide following the coverage online via CNN and Facebook , with many again moved by the comments of Jackson 's daughter about her father . `` Never cried so much ever since my dad passed away , '' said Facebook user Rinoa S Koh from Singapore , while user Nomar Levey in Jamaica added : `` OMG Tears are really pouring . '' Facebook user Manu Tyagi from India said : `` The first English songs I ever heard in India were MJ songs ... grew up with his music ... and never though we would see him die so soon . He achieved his destiny before he passed to the kingdom of god ! Really hope he rests in peace . He was the best . '' As Jackson 's coffin casket was carried out of the Staples Center , Facebook user Marika Papazoglou in Greece said : `` RIP Michael . We love you more . '' Anouk Lorie contributed to this story . | `` Sadness Party '' held in Berlin , where fans follow service live from Los Angeles . In London , Jackson fans brave torrential downpours and hail to pay tribute . In Japan fans gathered at record store , have photo taken next to cast of footprint . Online fans pay tribute to King of Pop , comment as service progresses . | [[449, 459], [462, 519], [2058, 2110], [2058, 2099], [2116, 2168], [3262, 3270], [3285, 3335], [3417, 3506], [1824, 1876]] |
SEATTLE , Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Ann Holmes Redding has what could be called a crisis of faiths . Ann Holmes Redding says she sees no contradiction in being both a Christian minister and a Muslim . For nearly 30 years , Redding has been an ordained minister in the Episcopal Church . Her priesthood ended Wednesday when she was defrocked . The reason ? For the past three years Redding has been both a practicing Christian and a Muslim . `` Had anyone told me in February 2006 that I would be a Muslim before April rolled around , I would have shaken my head in concern for the person 's mental health , '' Redding recently told a crowd at a signing for a book she co-authored on religion . Redding said her conversion to Islam was sparked by an interfaith gathering she attended three years ago . During the meeting , an imam demonstrated Muslim chants and meditation to the group . Redding said the beauty of the moment and the imam 's humbleness before God stuck with her . `` It was much more this overwhelming conviction that I needed to surrender to God and this was the form that my surrender needed to take , '' she recalled . `` It was n't just an episode but ... . was a step that I was n't going to step back from . '' Ten days later Redding was saying the shahada -- the Muslim declaration of belief in the oneness of God and acceptance of Mohammad as his prophet . But Redding said she felt her new Muslim faith did not pose a contradiction to her staying a Christian and minister . `` Both religions say there 's only one God , '' Redding said , `` and that God is the same God . It 's very clear we are talking about the same God ! So I have n't shifted my allegiance . '' Watch Redding say , `` Being a Muslim makes me a better Christian '' '' The imam at the Islamic Center in Seattle , Washington , where Redding prays said she brings the best of both traditions to her beliefs . `` Coming from an example of wanting to be Christ-like and coming from the perspective of wanting to follow the best example -- the example of our prophet Mohammed -- it all makes sense then , '' Benjamin Shabazz said . There are many contradictions between the two religions . While Islam recognizes Jesus as a prophet , Christianity worships him as the son of God . James Wellman , who chairs the department of comparative religion at the University of Washington , said that while it is not unusual for people to `` mix and match '' beliefs , it is almost unheard of for a minister to claim two religions . `` When you take ordination as a Christian minister , you take an explicit vow of loyalty to Jesus . It 's hard for me to understand how a Christian minister could have dual loyalties , '' Wellman said . Redding said she sees the theological conflicts but that the two religions , at their core , `` illuminate '' each other . `` When I took my shahada , I said there 's no God but God and that Mohammed is God 's prophet or messenger . Neither of those statements , neither part of that confession or profession denies anything about Christianity , '' she said . To her parishioners and family , though , Redding has turned her back on her faith and office . There was , she said , `` universal puzzlement '' at her decision to convert to Islam but still remain an Episcopal minister . `` I have people who love me very much who really do n't want me to do this , and I love them very much . And I would love to be able to say , ` Because I love you I will renounce my orders ' or ' I will renounce Islam ' ... I hate causing pain to people who love me , that 's not my intention , '' Redding said . The Episcopal Church also rejected Redding 's religious choice . `` The church interprets my being a Muslim as ` abandoning the church , ' '' she said . `` And that -LSB- there -RSB- comes an understanding that you have to be one or the other , and most people would say that . It simply has n't been my experience that I have to make a choice between the two . '' The Diocese of Rhode Island , where Redding was ordained , told her to leave either her new Muslim faith or the ministry . A diocese statement said Bishop Geralyn Wolf found Redding to be `` a woman of utmost integrity . However , the Bishop believes that a priest of the Church can not be both a Christian and a Muslim . '' Even though she has been defrocked , Redding said she is not capable of turning her back on either faith . She said she wants to continue speaking about and teaching religion and perhaps even travel to the Hajj , a journey to Mecca that every Muslim is supposed to make in their lifetime . Redding said she does not want her belief in two religions to diminish the value she holds for both Christianity and Islam . Each faith by itself is enough to fulfill a person spiritually , she said . `` It 's all there . I am not saying you have to go somewhere else to be complete . Some people do n't need glasses , some people need single lenses . I need bifocals . '' | Ann Holmes Redding says she saw no contradiction in Muslim being a minister . Christian parishioners , family saw Redding as having abandoned her faith . Diocese rules that priest `` can not be both a Christian and a Muslim '' | [[105, 204], [129, 204], [1389, 1502], [3681, 3750], [4212, 4302]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Although there were no signs of missing aviation adventurer Steve Fossett Tuesday evening , an official leading the rescue said she remained optimistic . Aviation record-holder Steve Fossett is missing and a search is under way . Maj. Cynthia S. Ryan of the Civil Air Patrol said Fossett , who has been missing for a day , once walked 30 miles to get help after making a forced landing . But Ryan noted the challenge rescuers are facing as they comb the high desert region , which is covered with sagebrush and hides deep ravines . Rescuers are focusing on 600 square miles . `` It 's a very large haystack , '' she said . `` And an airplane is a very small needle . No doubt about that . '' The Civil Air Patrol has 10 aircraft that will be searching until dusk for Fossett , who has been missing since Monday afternoon , she said . The search will resume Wednesday at 7 a.m. -LRB- 10 a.m. ET -RRB- . Fossett , 63 , was in a single-engine plane when he took off at 9 a.m. -LRB- noon ET -RRB- in good flying conditions from hotel magnate Barron Hilton 's Flying M Ranch , Ryan said . He had planned to return to the ranch , which is about 30 miles south of Yerington , Nevada , at noon -LRB- 3 p.m. ET -RRB- . The search for him began about six hours later , Ryan said . Fossett did not file a flight plan , which is not required on flights using visual navigation . Fossett is the first person to solo around the world in a balloon , and has broken numerous other flight records . When he left , he had four to five hours of fuel for flight , said Ryan . `` Steve took off toward the south and was going to fly southbound , looking around for some dry lake beds for some plans he had for the future , '' Ryan said . Those plans , she said , involved testing a vehicle in an attempt to set a world land speed record . Ryan said authorities are analyzing information from radar intelligence to try to track Fossett . Helicopters and planes from Naval Air Station Fallon , in Fallon , Nevada , the Nevada Air National Guard and the California Highway Patrol are helping in the search . Watch CNN 's Miles O'Brien , who is a pilot , describe the search '' Fossett was flying in a single-engine , Citabria Super Decathlon -- a plane capable of aerobatics -- with tail number N240R , according to CAP . Fossett , though , had no parachute , which is required for aerobatics . See where Fossett took off '' There has been no sound detected from the plane 's emergency locator radio beacon , which goes off if there is a hard impact . The aircraft , with serial number 635-80 , was manufactured by Bellanca , and is registered to the Flying M Hunting Club Inc. in Yerington . `` Steve is a tough old boot . I suspect he is waiting by his plane right now for someone to pick him up , '' predicted Sir Richard Branson , president of Virgin Atlantic , in a written statement . `` The ranch he took off from covers a huge area , and Steve has had far tougher challenges to overcome in the past . Based on his track record , I feel confident we 'll get some good news soon . '' Virgin Atlantic sponsored the GlobalFlyer , which Fossett flew in 2005 during the first nonstop , solo flight around the world without refueling . A year later , he used GlobalFlyer again to break the world 's flight distance record , traveling more than 26,000 miles in 76 hours , 45 minutes from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral , Florida , to Bournemouth , on the coast of southern England . He made an emergency landing during that flight after electricity on the aircraft failed over Shannon , Ireland . His goal had been to land at Kent International Airport in Manston , England . In 2006 , Fossett piloted the plane to its new home , the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum 's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly , Virginia . In 2002 , he achieved the first solo balloon flight around the world , traveling 20,626 miles in 14 days . He 's credited with 115 world records or world firsts , and holds official world records in five sports , according to his Web site . CNN.com interviewed Fossett last year after he published a book about his life 's passion for breaking world records , titled `` Chasing the Wind . '' Asked which of his record-breaking feats was his personal favorite , he said , `` The first solo around-the-world balloon flight . We had to really upgrade the technical capability of balloons and the flight was much more difficult than I 'd ever imagined it would be . I tried six times over the course of six years before succeeding . '' `` I think I 'm a risk averse person , which might sound very strange because of the sports I 'm involved in , '' Fossett said , in response to a question about whether anything scares him . `` What I do is try and reduce the risk . I do n't do any of this for the thrills . I 'm doing them for the personal achievement . '' Asked how long he 'll keep going , Fossett answered , `` I imagine that when I 'm 80 years old and sitting in a wheelchair that I might do something like take a remote control airplane and try and fly it around the world . I plan to be setting and breaking records indefinitely . '' The aviator was in Sparks , Nevada , northeast of Reno , in August , preparing a jet racer to break the land speed record at Bonneville Flats in northwest Utah . Fossett was born in Jackson , Tennessee , but grew up in California , where he attended Stanford University , graduating with a degree in economics in 1966 . Two years later , he earned an MBA at Washington University in St. Louis and became a successful commodities broker , eventually launching the Chicago-based securities company Lakota Trading in 1980 . He married Peggy Viehland in 1968 . The couple have no children . His interest in adventure started early . As a Boy Scout , he grew up climbing the mountains of California . `` When I was 12 years old I climbed my first mountain , and I just kept going , taking on more diverse and grander projects , '' he told CNN in the 2006 interview . Fossett fueled his drive for adventure with the money he made from Lakota Trading . E-mail to a friend . | Fossett was scouting locales for land speed record attempt , official says . Aircraft combing rugged terrain in western Nevada for Fossett and his plane . Fossett made first solo , nonstop , non-refueled airplane trip around the world . The 63-year-old also made first solo balloon flight around the world . | [[1791, 1836], [225, 248], [411, 491], [1935, 1957], [2011, 2102], [3085, 3211], [1386, 1451], [3085, 3211], [3836, 3843], [3846, 3904], [4297, 4304], [4307, 4358]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Obama administration has decided to rescind invitations to Iranian diplomats for July Fourth celebrations overseas because of violent crackdowns against protesters in Iran , the White House said Wednesday . President Obama on Tuesday toughened his stance on Iran 's crackdown on protesters . `` July Fourth allows us to celebrate the freedom and the liberty we enjoy : freedom of speech , freedom of religion , freedom to assemble peacefully , freedom of the press , '' White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters . `` Given the events of the past many days , those invitations will no longer be extended . '' The administration had decided to invite Iranians to the celebrations at overseas posts as part of the president 's policy of engaging the Iranian regime . In late May the State Department sent a cable to its embassies and consulates worldwide informing them they `` may invite representatives from the government of Iran '' to their July Fourth celebrations . But in a fresh cable sent to all embassies and consulates Wednesday evening , Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ordered posts `` to rescind all invitations that have been extended to Iranian diplomats for July Fourth events . `` Unfortunately the circumstances have changed and participation by Iranian diplomats would not be appropriate in light of the Iranian government 's continued violent and unjust actions against its own people , '' said the cable , obtained by CNN . `` For invitations which have been extended , posts should make clear that Iranian participation is no longer appropriate in the current circumstances . For invitations which have not been extended , no further action is needed . '' A senior administration official said Clinton made the decision , and then informed President Obama . The U.S. receptions marking Independence Day usually feature symbols of Americana , such as hot dogs , red-white-and-blue decorations and remarks by U.S. officials about America 's founding fathers . One senior administration official said Wednesday the reconsideration of the July Fourth invitations is consistent with Obama 's comments Tuesday , in which he said he was `` shocked and appalled '' at the violence against demonstrators . `` The president said yesterday how this plays out will affect what we do , '' the official said . Obama said Tuesday , `` If Iran chooses a path that abides by international norms and principles , then we are interested in healing some of the wounds of 30 years in terms of U.S.-Iranian relations . '' Watch Obama ramp up criticism of Iran '' On Tuesday , Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen , R-Florida , the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee , said an invitation to Iranian diplomats would send the wrong message to Iranians `` who are bravely standing up for the same rights and freedoms which Americans celebrate on this day . '' `` The Fourth of July is a day when we celebrate democracy and reflect on the gift of freedom which all Americans cherish , '' she said in a statement . `` The Iranian people are no less worthy of freedom and self-governance than citizens of the United States . '' Earlier this year , as part of the policy to engage Iran , Obama videotaped a message for the Iranian people on the Persian new year and U.S. officials have engaged members of the Iranian government . In March , Richard Holbrooke , the Obama administration 's special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan , spoke briefly with Iran 's deputy foreign minister , Mohammad Mehdi Akhondzadeh , at an Afghanistan conference in The Hague . Administration officials believe the U.S. will engage Iran at some point to address issues of U.S. national security , including the nuclear issue , but the idea of bilateral engagement is in a holding pattern while the violence continues . `` I would n't say engagement is off the table , but it is certainly on ice , '' a senior administration official said this week . | Administration had planned to invite Iranians to celebrations at overseas posts . Clinton : Participation not appropriate given `` continued violent and unjust actions '' Violence against election protesters in Iran has caused the change , officials say . | [[650, 805], [904, 1010], [1290, 1447], [1534, 1640], [3827, 3851]] |
BURBANK , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Laura Ling on Wednesday expressed the shock she and Euna Lee felt when former President Clinton showed up in Pyongyang , North Korea , to help secure the two journalists ' release . The families of Euna Lee , left , and Laura Ling greet them Wednesday in California . `` We feared at any moment that we could be sent to a hard labor camp , and then suddenly we were told we were going to a meeting , '' a tearful and emotional Ling said at a news conference Wednesday morning in California shortly after arriving by plane with Lee and Clinton . She spoke minutes after the two women were reunited with their families at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank outside Los Angeles . They had been detained in North Korea since March . North Korea pardoned Ling , 32 , and Lee , 36 , after Clinton 's brief trip Tuesday to Pyongyang . `` We were taken to a location , and when we walked through the doors , we saw standing before us President Bill Clinton , '' Ling said , with Lee standing beside her . Watch the emotional return at the airport '' `` We were shocked , but we knew instantly in our hearts that the nightmare of our lives was finally coming to an end . '' She expressed her and Lee 's `` deepest gratitude '' to Clinton and his `` wonderful , amazing '' team . Watch as Ling says , `` We could feel your love '' '' `` The past 140 days have been the most difficult , heart-wrenching time of our lives , '' Ling said . `` We are very grateful that we were granted amnesty by the government of North Korea , and we are so happy to be home . '' She said that she and Lee are looking forward to spending `` some quiet , private time '' with their families . iReport.com : Share reaction to the freed journalists . Former Vice President Al Gore also spoke to the throngs of journalists at the news conference . He expressed his gratitude to Clinton and President Obama and his administration who `` have been deeply involved in this humanitarian effort . '' Watch Gore pay tribute to the people involved in the effort '' Lee and Ling are employed by Gore 's California-based media company , Current TV . The women were arrested in March while reporting from the border between North Korea and China . In June , they were sentenced to 12 years of hard labor on charges of entering the country illegally to conduct a smear campaign . On Wednesday morning , Lee bowed as she walked down the steps of the plane into a private hangar , and Ling raised her fists into the air . The women hugged their families , who were waiting at the bottom of the stairs . Lee 's 4-year-old daughter , Hana , clung tightly to her tearful mother . Watch as the women reunite with their families '' Clinton walked off the plane minutes later but did not address the crowd . `` I am very happy that after this long ordeal , Laura Ling and Euna Lee are now home and reunited with their loved ones , '' Clinton said in a statement . `` When their families , Vice President Gore and the White House asked that I undertake this humanitarian mission , I agreed . I share a deep sense of relief with Laura and Euna and their families that they are safely home . '' Journalist Lisa Ling said she never gave up hope that she would see her sister again . `` We always maintained our hope and knew in our hearts that we would see Laura again ; we just did n't know when , '' Lisa Ling said outside her home in Los Angeles , California . `` We are just thrilled beyond words that the day has finally arrived . '' She said her sister was looking forward to eating fresh fruit and food for the first time in four months , after many meals of rice that often contained rocks . `` I can tell she has gone through a lot , '' Ling said . `` My sister has an amazing , amazing spirit , and she 's a little bit weak right now , so I think it 's going take a little time for her to gather up her wits and be able to talk about what she experienced . '' At the White House , Obama applauded the release of the two journalists , saying , `` We are very pleased with the outcome . '' Their release is a `` source of happiness not only for the families but for the entire country , '' he said . Watch as Obama says , `` We are relieved '' '' Obama also thanked the former president and Gore for their roles in winning the women 's release . `` I think that not only is this White House ... extraordinarily happy , but all Americans should be grateful to both former President Clinton and Vice President Gore for their extraordinary work , '' he said . Clinton made the trip to North Korea after the women 's families asked him to travel there , a senior administration official said . Doug Ling , Ling 's father , earlier reacted to the news of his daughter 's release outside his home in Carmichael , California , saying it was `` one of the best days in my life . '' `` I figured , sooner or later , they 'd be back , '' he said . U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also expressed her relief that the two women were released . She spoke from Nairobi , Kenya , where she is taking part in a multination visit to Africa . `` I spoke to my husband on the airplane , and everything went well , '' she said . `` It is just a good day to be able to see this happen . '' In July , Ling and Lee spoke to their families and told them that the North Koreans were willing to grant them amnesty if a high-level envoy , such as former President Clinton , were willing to travel to Pyongyang , the administration official said on condition of anonymity . North Korea said Clinton `` expressed words of sincere apology to Kim Jong Il '' for the journalists ' actions , but the administration official said he knew nothing about an apology . He said Clinton met for three hours and 15 minutes with the North Korean leader but said he did not know what issues were discussed . But he said Clinton 's views on a verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula are well-known . North Korea 's state-run Korea Central News Agency said Clinton conveyed a message from Obama `` expressing profound thanks for this and reflecting views on ways of improving the relations between the two countries . '' But White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said before the announced agreement that Clinton was not carrying any message from Obama . Gibbs added the former president last spoke with Obama during a White House visit in March . He described Clinton 's trip as a `` solely private mission to secure the release of two Americans . '' Clinton 's mission came as the United States and its allies in the region are seeking to persuade North Korea to return to the stalled nuclear disarmament talks . North Korea conducted its second nuclear bomb test in May and has held several missile tests since then . The United Nations has responded by increasing sanctions on the nation . North Korea and the United States had no regular contacts before a 1994 crisis over Pyongyang 's nuclear program . North Korea agreed then to halt the development of nuclear weapons but abandoned that accord and withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 2003 . Clinton had considered visiting North Korea in 2000 , near the end of his second term as president . His secretary of state , Madeleine Albright , had gone to Pyongyang in 2000 to meet with Kim . She was the last high-ranking American official to do so before this week . CNN 's Elaine Quijano , Charlie Moore and Ninette Sosa contributed to this report . | NEW : Sister says freed journalist is looking forward to eating fresh food , resting . Journalist Laura Ling expresses gratitude for her and Euna Lee 's release . Clinton helps secure two journalists ' release from North Korea . Two journalists arrested in March near North Korea-China border . | [[3516, 3620], [92, 221], [2141, 2237]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Jewish groups on Wednesday rejected as inadequate an apology by Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone for remarks in which he praised German Nazi leader Adolf Hitler . Bernie Ecclestone : `` Many people in my closest circle of friends are Jewish . '' During an interview with The Times newspaper last week the billionaire spoke of the Nazi dictator 's ability to `` get things done . '' But after a storm of criticism , Ecclestone issued a statement on Tuesday in which he said : `` I unreservedly apologize for the remarks I made regarding Hitler in a recent interview . I am extremely distressed and embarrassed that these remarks have been used as suggesting that I support Hitler or Saddam Hussein . I would never support such people . `` I should never have been so foolish as to have been drawn into discussing these people but the fault was entirely mine , which I deeply regret . '' On Wednesday Jon Benjamin , Chief Executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews , rejected the apology . `` Mr. Ecclestone 's comments were crass , ignorant and insensitive , '' he said in a statement issued to CNN . `` There is no excuse for praising one of history 's most evil men for being good at being bad . '' Tell us what you think of Ecclestone 's comments . In his statement on Tuesday , the 78-year-old appeared to reignite the controversy by remarking : `` During the 1930s Germany was facing an economic crisis , but Hitler was able to rebuild the economy , building the autobahns and German industry . `` That was all I meant when I referred to him getting things done . `` I 'm an admirer of good leadership , of politicians who stand by their convictions and tell the voters the truth . I 'm not an admirer of dictators who rule by terror . '' He told The Jewish Chronicle on Tuesday he regretted offending people who took his remarks `` the wrong way . '' Ecclestone had earlier been described by the newspaper 's editor , Stephen Pollard , as `` either an idiot or morally repulsive . '' Germany 's Central Council of Jews had urged motor racing teams to boycott Formula One over Ecclestone 's comments but cautiously welcomed the apology . However one of the group 's leaders pointed out that the F1 chief 's remarks about the man who presided over the deaths of six million Jews had caused great pain . `` If Ecclestone says he was an idiot , I will certainly not contradict him , '' Dieter Graumann , vice president of the council , told Handesblatt newspaper . `` Apologizing is better than not apologizing . But the glorification of a mass murderer is not a trivial offense . '' German media also reported that Guenther Oettinger , premier of the southern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg , had canceled a meeting with the Briton at this weekend 's German Grand Prix at Nurburgring because of his comments about Hitler . The F1 chief had told the German newspaper Bild : `` Many people in my closest circle of friends are Jewish . Anyone who knows me knows that I would never attack a minority . '' | F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone apologizes for praising Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler . Billionaire had spoken of Hitler 's ability to `` get things done '' Jewish groups dismiss as inadequate Ecclestone 's apology . | [[0, 6], [9, 32], [63, 147], [140, 147], [157, 201], [487, 494], [504, 511], [514, 557], [140, 147], [157, 201], [285, 393], [1562, 1614], [0, 6], [9, 32], [63, 147], [925, 950], [953, 1009], [1012, 1034]] |
LOS ANGELES , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Many fans will always remember where they were when they heard the `` King of Pop '' had died . The rapper The Game will always remember what he did afterward . The Game created a tribute to Michael Jackson -- video and all -- within a day of Jackson 's death . That same day , Thursday , June 25 , he rounded up some famous friends , recorded a song , shot a music video and got a Michael Jackson tattoo etched on his upper arm . Actually , he got the tattoo while he was in the studio recording the track . Some people know how to multitask . The tune , `` Better on the Other Side , '' is n't available for sale yet -- although he 's hoping it will hit iTunes very soon . Because the record company was caught off guard , it is still playing catch-up . Game says all proceeds from the sale of the single will be donated to Michael Jackson 's family . The companion music video is all over YouTube . In it , the 29-year-old shares the spotlight with Chris Brown , who sings the hook as a counterpoint to Game 's rap . It 's the first project Brown has appeared in since he pleaded guilty to assaulting his former girlfriend , Rihanna . The video , in various forms , had received more than 750,000 views as of Thursday evening -- not bad for less than a week in release . In the following interview , The Game -LRB- born Jayceon Taylor -RRB- recounts how the project came together -- with a little help from Lady Luck and the muse of Michael Jackson . CNN : You may be the first well-known artist to have a Michael Jackson tribute out there . The Game : I did n't want to wake up the next morning and have somebody spread a tribute all over the Internet , and I was n't a part of it . So I decided to take matters into my own hands . CNN : Did you already have the beats pre-recorded ? The Game : No . The first thing I did was call DJ Khalil ... and I told him , `` Yo , I need you in the studio , and by the time I get there , I need a Michael Jackson tribute song made -LSB- the music bed -RSB- . I need violinists , I need pianists , I need everyone in there for a production . '' And then I started reaching out to Diddy . He 's on a set 18 hours a day , but he said he 'd get it done some way , somehow . Talked to Chris Brown . He and -LSB- his manager -RSB- Tina Davis said they were on their way to the studio -- so they told me after I do my part , to bring it over and Chris will do the hook . Before I took the beat over to Chris , Boyz II Men walked into the studio randomly -- so they took it to their studio next door , laid down all the background vocals . Then I took it to Mario -LSB- Winans -RSB- , then I took it to Diddy . In the meantime , me and my boy Taydoe -- we running around to the hospital , to the Jacksons ' house , to the star on Hollywood , getting all this -LSB- secondary -RSB- footage -LSB- for the video -RSB- . Crazy . CNN : This was the day he died , on Thursday ? The Game : It was just the day . By Friday , everything was done -- video , everything . We did it in 15 hours . Watch a report about Jackson 's final days '' CNN : You made the music video for $ 500 . The Game : All in tapes , $ 500 went to tapes , HD high-definition tapes . CNN : At the end of the video , you reveal a new tattoo . The Game : Yeah , I 'll show you . I thought if I was going to get a Michael Jackson tattoo , I would get a more menacing one . -LRB- The tattoo shows the `` King of Pop '' with a bandanna over the lower half of his face . -RRB- . CNN : Had you ever met Michael ? The Game : I never met him in person , but he tried to mediate a truce between myself and Curtis Jackson -LSB- aka 50 Cent -RSB- , and I was n't having it at that time . CNN : How did that happen ? Did somebody call you and say , `` Please hold the line for Michael Jackson ? '' The Game : At first my managers called me and they said , `` Mike -- Michael Jackson -- is going to want to talk to you in an hour . Exactly an hour . '' So I waited an hour , and I 'm like chewing on my fingers in the hotel room ... and the phone rings and a guy comes on and he 's got an English accent . He 's like -LRB- affects an English accent -RRB- , `` Hello Game , I have Michael Jackson on hold for you . '' It was just cool . So Michael comes on , and ... he was like , `` Yo , it 's Mike , and I 'm a big fan of your music , '' and starts going into my songs , `` Hate it or Love It '' and `` How We Do . '' And he 's like , `` I 'm a big fan of 50 's -- every time I get in the car , I tell my driver to play ` In Da Club . ' Would you guys be willing to make a truce , and then put it on my album ? '' Listen to Jackson 's biggest hits '' And then I was like , `` Yo Mike , we got ta slow down , man ! '' This was at the height of me and 50 's little beef , or whatever people called it , but I talked to him for another 35 minutes on why I could n't do it at that time , and at that point in my career , and he was OK with that . He said one day if we decided to do it -- myself and Curtis ' camp -- we could reach out to him . We never got a chance to do it . CNN : So the video also features Chris Brown . It 's the first track we 've heard him on since the hearing last Monday -LSB- June 22 -RSB- . The Game : They were really edgy about getting on it . I think -LSB- his managers -RSB- wanted Chris Brown 's first look to be kind of strategically thought out , and I came so fast with the Michael Jackson tribute -- but we talked it over , and at the end of the day , they thought it was a good idea , so we went ahead and did it . CNN : How is Chris ? I 'm sure you guys talk all the time . The Game : He 's like a little brother to me . I talk to him all the time , and I give him my support . You know , I 'm no stranger to trials and tribulations in life , and the court system . CNN : What are your thoughts about how Michael Jackson died , and how it seems as though prescription drugs may have been involved ? The Game : My thoughts on Michael Jackson are always the same . It does n't matter , the form or fashion he died in . He 's iconic to me , and his untimely demise is felt around the world . You got certain people saying , `` Oh everybody 's loving Michael now , '' but that 's neither here nor there . Me , myself -- I loved Michael Jackson to death . My mom sent me a host of pictures with all my `` Thriller '' shirts on , and the jacket with the zippers and glove -- me , my sisters and brothers -- so I really do n't care . I just know he left an impact on the world . I think he 's the most cried-for human being since Jesus Christ . It 's just my opinion . CNN : Are you thinking about donating part of the proceeds from the single ? The Game : Oh , all the proceeds of anything that I do that has anything to do with Michael Jackson will go to his family and his children . And that 's just the bottom line . | The Game records `` Better on the Other Side '' as tribute to Michael Jackson . Rapper greatly admired star ; Jackson tried to mediate between Game and 50 Cent . Game : `` He 's iconic to me , and his untimely demise is felt around the world '' | [[205, 267], [1975, 1976], [1982, 2045], [3593, 3678], [6083, 6101], [6083, 6154], [6493, 6537], [6505, 6537]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Cairo native and jewelry designer to the stars , Azza Fahmy , reveals her favorite sights , restaurants and activities in the Egyptian capital . Designer Azza Fahmy scours Cairo 's souks , mosques and streets to find inspiration for her jewels . MUST SEE PLACES : . Sultan Hassan Mosque -- Considered one of the masterpieces of Mamluk architecture . The building was commissioned by Sultan Hassan bin Al-Nasir Muhammad bin Qalawun in 1356 AD as a mosque and religious school for all four branches of Sunni Islam . The mosque is featured on the Egyptian one-hundred pound note . Address : Al-Qal ' a street , Islamic Cairo . Islamic Museum -- Established in 1881 , the museum displays 10,200 pieces from Egypt 's different Islamic eras , including the Fatimid , Ottoman and Persian periods . Address : Bab El Khalq Square in the Egyptian library . Take Port Saed Square to reach the intersection with Muhammad Ali St. in Ahmad Maher Square . Opening Hours : Saturday through Thursday : 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. . ; Fridays : 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Coptic Museum -- Recently reopened after renovations , the museum showcases the largest collection of Egyptian Christian artifacts in the world . It was founded by Marcus Simaika Pasha in 1910 to house Coptic antiquities . The museum traces the history of Christianity in Egypt from its beginnings to the present day . It also includes a beautiful garden -- a wonderful place to relax . Address : Religious Compound , Precinct of the old Roman Babylon Fort , Old Cairo . Across the street from the Mar Girgis Metro station . Phone Number : +20.2.362.8766 and +20.2.363.9742 . Beit El Seheimy -- A historic Ottoman restored house . It is one of the best examples of a rich private house dating back to 17th century Egypt . Address : El Moez Street , Fatimid Area close to Khan al Khalili . Beit El Keretleya -- Another authentic Ottoman House in Old Cairo . ACTIVITIES . Felucca ride -- Feluccas are the traditional Egyptian sailboats of the Nile . Perfect for catching the breeze on a hot summer night , for brisker sails the rest of the year , and catching the sunset anytime . Feluccas are usually furnished with cushions around the circumference and a table fixed in the middle , where one can enjoy picnic-style lunches or dinners while enjoying a different view of the metropolis . Address : They are usually parked on the side of the Nile in unique spots , including along the Corniche across the street from the Four Seasons on the Nile in the Garden City area of Cairo . Horseback riding aside the pyramids -- Pick up horses at an area called `` Nazlet el seman '' close to the pyramids . Camel ride -- At the pyramids . Hantour ride -- A horse carriage that goes around certain streets of Cairo , usually by the Corniche . Walk around -- Downtown streets , particularly Wist el Balad . PLACES TO EAT : . Abu El Sid -- Famous , though pricey , restaurant featuring Egyptian cuisine . Also a night spot . The mezzes are delicious , as are the mulukheya served with chicken or pigeon . Address : 157 , 26th of July street , Zamalek . Phone : +20.2.749.7326 . Felfela -- Authentic Egyptian fast food chain . The nicest outlets are in downtown Cairo or Haram/Pyramids Street -LRB- all you need to tell a cab is felfela Wist el balad or Haram street -RRB- . Best for breakfast . Felfela is a good place to taste such Egyptian staples as shorbat ads -LRB- lentil soup -RRB- , tasty with a squeeze of lemon ; taamiya -LRB- the local version of falafel -RRB- ; and ful -LRB- stewed fava beans served in a variety of ways -RRB- . Address : 15 Shara Hoda Sharaawi , Downtown Cairo . Phone : +20.2.392.2833 . Abu Shakra -- Moderately priced Egyptian cuisine . Known for its grilled meats and the Egyptian delicacy , stuffed pigeon . Branches in Maadi , Heliopolis , Downtown , & Mohandeseen . Address : Heliopolis 82 Marghani Street Cairo . Phone number : +20.2.418.9888 . El Omda -- Try the local specialty -- Kushari , a base of rice , lentils , chick peas , macaroni , with a topping of Egyptian garlic , vinegar and spicy tomato sauce . Inexpensive . They also serve Egyptian dishes such as kofta , grilled chicken and a selection of salads . Address : 6 El-Gazayer St. , Mohandesseen area behind the Atlas Hotel off Gameat El Dowal Street in Cairo , Egypt . Phone : +20.2.346.2701 . Opening Hours : noon until 2:00 am . Andrea -- Located near the Pyramids , this large restaurant features a spacious air-conditioned dining room with a fireplace for winter and a much-lauded garden terrace for summer . Soft lighting , pleasant views and the sizzle of the outdoor grill create a relaxed ambience . Roasted chicken is the house speciality . Kebabs , kofte and quails are also prepared on patio grills . Portions are generous , local beer and wine are served . No desserts . Address : 59 Teraat el-Maryotteya St. Cairo . Phone : +20.2.383.1133 . Opening Hours : Noon-midnight daily . | Must see the Sultan Hassan Mosque . Take a ride on a felucca on the Nile . Eat on Andrea 's garden terrace in the summer . Ride a camel or a horse at the Pyramids . | [[4405, 4411], [4443, 4586], [2585, 2626]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Although most Swedes would be too modest to say so themselves , Stockholm can stake a decent claim to being the capital of Scandinavia . Built on 14 islands , Stockholm seems to float on water . Built on 14 islands where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea , Stockholm is a soft-hued vision of light and water , the bewitching start to an archipelago of some 24,000 islands and islets . Sweden 's neutrality during World War II means Stockholm was spared the bombing inflicted on most European capitals ; the result is the unspoiled old town of Gamla Stan , with its winding , cobbled streets . Despite a post-war building blitz that saw the construction of some particularly uninspiring modernist architecture , it is a city where gray concrete facades are largely eschewed in favor of a smorgasbord of pastel colors , rusty reds and glowing ochres . For a capital city it 's unusually green -- not just leafy and dotted with verdant parks , but environmentally sound . Stockholm proper has a population of just 800,000 , avoiding the congestion and pollution that plague larger cities -- so much so that you can fish from , and swim in , the waters surrounding the city center . Cold and sometimes bleak during its long , dark winters , Stockholm comes alive during the summer , when the Scandinavian sun barely sets . As temperatures rise the city 's cafe culture blossoms , only for Stockholm to become a ghost town during July , when the locals make the most of their generous holiday entitlement and slip off to holiday cottages in the archipelago . But beyond its historic heart Stockholm is a progressive , evolving city . Its financial fortunes grew with the mid '90s IT boom and shrank when the dotcom bubble burst , but it remains a hotbed of technology and communications companies . Watch ABBA 's Bjorn Ulvaeus take CNN on a tour of Stockholm '' Around 20 percent of the residents of greater Stockholm are of foreign descent , giving a sense of cultural diversity -- not to mention some welcome variety to the city 's thriving restaurant scene . Despite Sweden 's largely anti-EU stance , Stockholm is cosmopolitan and outward looking , with a keen eye for the latest international trends . Its shops are filled with the latest in functional , minimalist Swedish design and there are enough boutiques boasting hip New York brands and cool Swedish labels to indulge Stockholmers ' obsession with style . It 's also the city where Swedish global exports H&M and IKEA have their flagship stores . For all its picture-postcard pleasantness and progressive civic planning , Stockholm can seem a little sterile . It 's not the kind of place likely to be described as `` edgy . '' Stockholmers themselves can come across as standoffish , but that 's not say that they are unfriendly -- just politely reserved . Small talk is regarded with a certain suspicion meaning the locals can be hard to get to know , but it 's amazing what a difference a couple of glasses of akvavit can make . Puritan legal regulations mean that high-alcohol drinks -LRB- that 's anything with more than 3.5 percent alcohol -RRB- are heavily taxed and can only be bought in bars and government-run `` Systembolaget '' shops . The result is that a night on the town is expensive enough to make anyone teetotal , with Stockholmers often avoiding midweek drinking , saving their krona for weekend partying . But what Stockholm lacks in grit it more than makes up for in style . From its artfully designed coffee shops to the classic contours of its baroque and rococo buildings , this island city is endlessly pleasing to behold , especially when viewed from the water that flows like blood through its veins . | From artfully designed cafes to baroque buildings , Stockholm exudes cool . The island city has dubbed itself the capital city of Scandinavia . City blossoms in the summer when temperatures rise and sun barely sets . Influx of immigrants has added new dimension to city 's gastronomic scene . | [[3478, 3572], [81, 155], [1256, 1295], [1975, 1993], [1997, 2075]] |
BAGHDAD , Iraq -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A roadside bomb targeted a police patrol in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk , killing a civilian bystander Thursday , a police official told CNN . Iraqis survey the damage after car bombs were detonated within minutes of each other in Mosul , July 9 . It is the latest in a series of attacks across Iraq that have killed at least 64 people and wounded 167 others over the past two days . The deadliest attack happened earlier in the day when a double suicide bombing killed at least 35 people and wounded 65 others in the city of Tal Afar in Nineveh province , also in northern Iraq . Political tensions have recently increased in the region between Arabs and Kurds . The Tal Afar bombings occurred a day after attacks on mainly Shiite targets in Nineveh province , including a car bomb in a Turkmen area of the provincial capital Mosul , left at least 19 people dead and dozens wounded . U.S. forces pulled out of Iraq 's urban centers June 30 . The U.S. military had suggested keeping its combat troops in Mosul beyond the withdrawal deadline , but the Iraqi government insisted on making no exceptions for the date set in the security agreement . Also on Thursday morning , at least seven people were killed and 25 wounded when a bomb detonated in a busy marketplace in Sadr City , the vast Shiite slum in Baghdad , an Interior Ministry official said . Bomb blasts from a rigged bicycle a car in two predominantly Shiite neighborhoods of southwestern Baghdad wounded six people , according to the official . In Baghdad 's central Karrada district , a roadside bomb targeting a convoy of Iraq 's Central Bank governor killed one civilian bystander and wounded five , another Interior Ministry official told CNN . The governor escaped unharmed . CNN 's Jomana Karadsheh contributed to this report . | Official : At least 35 people killed and 65 wounded in a double suicide bombing . Bombers struck the city of Tal Afar in Nineveh province . Tal Afar bombings occurred a day after attacks on mainly Shiite targets in Nineveh . | [[478, 528], [478, 502], [533, 594], [478, 502], [533, 594], [704, 872]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Writer and producer Larry Gelbart , most known for his work on the hit television series `` M * A * S * H , '' died Friday morning in his Beverly Hills , California , home , his wife said . He was 81 . Larry Gelbart said , before `` M * A * S * H , '' a TV set only produced feeling `` if you touched it while you were wet . '' Gelbart died of cancer , Pat Gelbart said . The family will hold a private memorial service . Throughout his career , Gelbart developed a portfolio of more than 40 works spanning radio , television , theater and film . His fascination with radio as a child inspired him and influenced his evolving career . `` I never had any aspirations of -LSB- a -RSB- literary career , but writing for radio seemed to be a natural extension of being such a radio fan , '' Gelbart told CNN in 1999 . `` So when I got my chance , that 's what I did . '' Barely out of high school , Gelbart began as a comedy writer for radio in the 1940s . He wrote for various programs , including the Fanny Brice show and `` Duffy 's Tavern . '' While in the Army , he wrote for Armed Forces Radio . Later , he joined the staff of Bob Hope 's show and jump-started his own television career as a TV writer for the star . Gelbart went on to write skits for the live comedy `` Your Show of Shows '' in 1953 , winning two Emmys for his work . '' ` Your Show of Shows ' was successful , was wildly successful . Not just because it got there first , but because it got there first with so much , '' Gelbart said . The 90-minute variety program was one of the first televised sketch comedy shows . Gelbart took his work to another stage , winning two 1963 Tony awards for his Broadway musical hit , `` A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum . '' In 1972 , Gelbart helped create the Korean War comedy drama `` M * A * S * H. '' The show went on for another 11 years , although Gelbart only wrote and produced `` M * A * S * H '' for the first four seasons . `` M * A * S * H '' won 50 awards , including eight Golden Globes . `` M * A * S * H '' was so popular it lasted much longer than the Korean War itself , and was seen as a commentary on American involvement in the Vietnam War . Gelbart also was involved in the short-lived sequel , `` After MASH . '' For Gelbart , `` M * A * S * H '' mixed a bit of comedy with drama , allowing viewers to connect more with the story . `` I said once that the only way before 'M * A * S * H ' you would get any feeling out of your television set is if you touched it while you were wet , '' Gelbart said . He added : `` We gave the audience permission to feel bad . Because America was feeling pretty rotten then , we were at war in Vietnam . And once the war stopped we did n't start feeling really terrific right away , if we ever will again about that situation . '' Gelbart continued steamrolling through the industry , with works including the 1982 hit film `` Tootsie , '' `` Oh , God ! '' in 1977 and the 2003 film `` And Starring Pancho Villa As Himself , '' which starred Antonio Banderas . `` Tootsie '' earned Gelbart an Oscar nomination for best writing . | Gelbart died of cancer at age 81 , his wife says . Gelbart 's film-writing credits include `` Tootsie '' and `` Oh , God ! '' Gelbart started in radio , moved to TV as writer for Bob Hope . He said about `` M * A * S * H : '' `` We gave the audience permission to feel bad '' | [[193, 208], [209, 220], [347, 369], [914, 971], [1117, 1122], [1125, 1237], [2566, 2574], [2577, 2625]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- One of the largest Jewish cemeteries in the Los Angeles , California , area has been accused of desecrating the remains of those buried there , according to a lawsuit . The cemetery holds the remains of celebrities such as Groucho Marx and Lenny Bruce . The suit , filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court , alleges that employees at Eden Memorial Park , in Mission Hills , California , `` intentionally , willfully and secretly desecrated the remains of deceased individuals , '' often moving them to make room for new remains . Attorney Michael Avenatti , who filed the suit , told CNN that his investigation revealed that as many as 500 graves may have been torn up without the families ' permission . `` We allege that Eden Memorial Park and its management for the better part of 15 years were engaging in improper burial practices , including the desecration of graves and the improper disposal of human remains , '' he said . The lawsuit is filed by F. Charles Sands , whose parents are buried at Eden Memorial Park , against the cemetery and its owner , Service Corporation International , based in Houston , Texas . The company is the largest owner of cemeteries and funeral homes in the United States . Watch what the lawsuit says workers did to remains '' This is not the first time Service Corporation International has faced allegations of digging up graves and moving bodies to make room for new remains . It reached a $ 100 million settlement with families of people whose remains were desecrated at Menorah Gardens in Florida . The company also reached a $ 14 million settlement with the Florida state attorney 's office over issues related to those claims . A number of celebrities are buried at Eden Park , including comedians Groucho Marx and Lenny Bruce , according to several Web sites that track burials of celebrities . Anthony Lampe , the general manager of Eden Memorial Park , said he had not seen the lawsuit and referred inquiries to Service Corporation International . Company spokeswoman Lisa Marshall said the allegations in the lawsuit were not valid . She said SCI had investigated and confirmed burial issues at Eden Memorial Park in 2007 , but she could not provide specifics of that investigation . The lawsuit alleges groundskeepers were secretly instructed to break buried concrete interment vaults that contained caskets that were already buried , using backhoes . It also alleges human remains would often fall out of the broken caskets , and those body parts were either scattered or thrown away . In one case , Avenatti said , a human skull was discarded . `` We have uncovered evidence that the groundskeepers and others at Eden Memorial Park have been instructed to break off or break apart that concrete vault and , at many times , that exposes human remains , '' Avenatti said . Asked about the seriousness of the allegations , he said , `` If the allegations are proven true , this is incredibly horrific . '' The lawsuit said that under Jewish tradition , `` the deceased are typically required to be interred within 24 hours , thereby leaving little time to obtain consent to move an encroaching vault in an adjacent plot and giving defendants a motive to desecrate human remains and commit other immoral acts rather than comply with the law . '' | Eden Memorial Park , in Mission Hills , California , is large Jewish cemetery . Lawsuit says it breaks open vaults , discards remains to make room . Cemetery is owned by Service Corporation International . SCI spokeswoman says allegations in the lawsuit are not valid . | [[88, 147], [0, 15], [163, 187], [397, 407], [443, 498], [501, 552], [728, 939], [1235, 1285], [1316, 1349], [1372, 1441], [2257, 2358], [2426, 2455], [2434, 2455], [2462, 2498], [2505, 2560], [2561, 2572], [2575, 2588], [2591, 2620], [2621, 2796], [2786, 2796], [2804, 2825], [1072, 1081], [1084, 1117], [1120, 1136], [2020, 2106], [2059, 2106]] |
NEW YORK -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- President Obama spoke at the Pentagon on Friday to those who lost loved ones on September 11 , 2001 , telling them no words would heal their pain yet calling for a renewed resolve against the ones who attacked the country eight years ago . President Obama addresses family members and friends who lost loved ones on September 11 , 2001 . Obama laid a wreath of white flowers at the Pentagon , where 184 people lost their lives when a hijacked jet smashed into the military icon outside the nation 's capital . `` No words can ease the ache of your hearts , '' Obama told a crowd of relatives and friends standing under umbrellas in a steady rain . The plane , American Airlines Flight 77 , struck the Pentagon 's west wall . Earlier in the day , the president and first lady Michelle Obama held a moment of silence outside the White House to mark the eighth anniversary of the al Qaeda attacks that killed 2,752 people . At the Pentagon , Obama was introduced by Defense Secretary Robert Gates , who spoke of the `` great pinnacle of sacrifice '' shown that day . `` Eight Septembers have come and gone , '' Obama said . `` Nearly 3,000 days have passed , almost one for each one who has been taken from us . `` We recall the beauty and meaning of their lives , '' he said . `` No passage of time , no dark skies can dull the meaning of that moment . Watch a slideshow of Obama 's speech and the day 's events '' `` Let us renew our resolve against those who perpetrated this violent act , '' Obama said . The nation paused at the moments when the planes crashed into the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon -- symbols of America 's financial and military might -- and at a field near Shanksville , Pennsylvania . Officials believe that plane 's target was either the White House or the Capitol . There was silence at the site of the former World Trade Center at 8:46 a.m. , the time the first plane struck the North Tower , followed by another at 9:03 a.m. when a jet struck the South Tower . iReport.com : 9/11 emotions surge back in sculpted tributes , memories on video . Family members and friends of those killed read their names in solemn roll calls at each site as bells tolled . In London , England , U.S. Ambassador Louis Susman and his wife , Marjorie , laid a wreath at the September 11 Memorial Garden in Grosvenor Square . At ground zero in New York , a woman whose husband worked on the 94th floor of one of the twin towers recalled that day . `` The pain can still be so sharp . ... I realize how much my life has changed , '' she said , mentioning that her children have now grown and she has grandchildren . Her husband left many lessons , she said , including `` the courage to be kind . '' Just before the first moment of silence , New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg praised the newly established September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance , designated by Obama . `` Appropriately , the city of New York has taken up that call . From this day forward we will guard the memories of those who died by rekindling the spirit of service and help keep us strong , '' Bloomberg said . At the Web site set up for that day , people were listing their charitable acts . One man who spoke to the crowd at ground zero remembered his brother , a partner at a law firm near the twin towers and a longtime volunteer firefighter . He rushed `` toward the inferno , '' to do what he could to help , the brother said . `` He was there when the tower collapsed . '' Near Shanksville , people gathered at a field where the 40 passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93 died . The passengers and crew , aware of the fate of other hijacked planes , fought the men who had taken control of their aircraft , leading to its crash . Former Secretary of State Colin Powell gave the keynote address at the 2,200-acre site , where a $ 58 million memorial is scheduled to open in 2011 , on the 10th anniversary of the attacks . More than 1 million people already have visited the field , Powell said . No one could capture the terror the 40 people aboard Flight 93 must have endured , Powell said . They were strangers to each other who `` represented the very best diversity that is America , '' he said . `` In place of fear , they found the courage of attack , '' he said . `` They seized the moment , and they lost their lives in so doing . We are here to ... honor their spirits . '' Powell said he believes the United States is safer since the attacks . He pointed to improvements in the visa system , which gives officials a better idea of who is coming into the country ; creation of the U.S. Homeland Security Department and beefed-up security at airports . Powell said there also have been improvements in law enforcement and intelligence-gathering . Engaging the terrorists in Afghanistan also is a solid move , he told CNN . `` But you ca n't rest on that . You have to keep studying the problem . You have to keep trying to get into their mind . And so it may be a long and continuous fight that may never end . '' The level of concern about terrorism in the United States is roughly half of what it was immediately after September 11 and is down 20 points since the five-year anniversary in 2006 , according to a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll . Thirty-four percent of Americans think an act of terrorism is likely in the United States over the next few weeks . More than six in 10 have confidence in the Obama administration 's ability to protect the nation . | Obama : `` Let us renew our resolve against those who perpetrated this violent act '' Family , friends of those killed in attacks read names in solemn roll calls . Former Secretary of State Colin Powell speaks at Pennsylvania site . Services take place in New York , at the Pentagon and in Shanksville , Pennsylvania . | [[0, 18], [130, 224], [1441, 1482], [1477, 1482], [1487, 1515], [268, 365], [2111, 2204], [3781, 3867]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Defense Secretary Robert Gates is expected to approve sending thousands of additional forces to Afghanistan to deal with the growing threat from roadside bombs , Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said Friday . Marines detonate a roadside bomb . Injuries from the bombs have increased 700 percent in two years . Over the past two weeks , Gates has concluded that there are not enough forces or equipment in Afghanistan to protect U.S. troops from the threat of roadside bombs , Morrell said . The secretary , he said , wants to send these forces `` as soon as possible . '' Morrell said the deployment would be separate from any that might be requested by Gen. Stanley McChrystal . The plan could send nearly 3,000 troops , another U.S. military official familiar with the proposal said . He said Pentagon planners have already identified some of the units that would be sent . This official asked not to be identified because no final decision has been announced . Plans have been in place to set the U.S. troop level in Afghanistan at 68,000 since earlier this year , when President Obama approved an additional 21,000 troops . The decision comes at a sensitive time politically . In the last few days , two key Democrats have questioned sending additional troops . `` I do n't think there 's a great deal of support for sending more troops to Afghanistan in the country or in Congress , '' Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi , D-California , told reporters Thursday . On Friday , Sen. Carl Levin , the head of the Senate Armed Services Committee who has recently returned from Afghanistan , said the emphasis should be on training and increasing the size of the Afghanistan army before considering more U.S. forces . `` Our primary goal should be to strengthen the Afghan army and the police , to provide the necessary training and equipment and also to see if we ca n't reintegrate some of the lower-level Taliban people , who are the young people who are n't the religious zealots but are being taken advantage of by the leaders , '' Levin , D-Michigan , told MSNBC . Gates himself has been a vocal opponent of expanding the U.S. presence for fear that the forces would be seen as occupiers by the Afghan population . But last week , he softened that position , saying McChrystal had made a persuasive argument that the concern should not be on the size of the forces but on their conduct . Morrell said the proposal may not raise total U.S. troop strength above 68,000 , because some of the units already scheduled to go could be sent not fully staffed or others already there could be sent home . Still , `` the secretary has already determined this is a requirement that needs to be fulfilled , '' Morrell said . `` The forces there now require more IED protection . '' The troops would specialize in route clearance , explosive ordnance disposal , medical treatment and intelligence-gathering , Morrell said . `` We owe this to the troops already committed to the fight , '' he said . Since 2007 , the number of roadside bombs in Afghanistan has jumped 350 percent , according to the Defense Department . Though many are found before they detonate , the number of troops killed has increased by more than 400 percent and the number wounded is up more 700 percent over the last two years . One U.S. military source told CNN that the Taliban 's capacity to manufacture bombs , train attackers and target U.S. troops has grown over the past year . On September 8 near Kandahar , troops seized five tons of ammonium nitrate , more than twice the amount used in the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City , Oklahoma , in 1995 . On August 27 , C-4 plastic explosives were found in Herat by Afghan troops . Afghanistan 's rugged terrain and dirt roads make it easy to quickly hide roadside bombs . `` You have disturbed earth all the time , '' said Gen. Montgomery Meigs , former head of the Department of Defense 's IED Task Force . `` Especially close to villages and close to intersections -- that just makes the seeing and finding , even by soldiers ' eyes , a lot more complicated . '' The Taliban have proven adept at adjusting their strategy as circumstances change . Seeing that troops were routinely stopping ahead of culverts to search for bombs that could be hidden under the roads , insurgents have started placing the bombs ahead of the culverts . | Defense secretary finds not enough forces in Afghanistan to protect U.S. troops . Plan could send nearly 3,000 troops , source says . Congressional Democrats have spoken against troop increases . Troops killed by roadside bombs up more than 400 percent in 2 years . | [[710, 749], [1211, 1295], [3021, 3031], [3034, 3100], [3184, 3252]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- An employee at a New Jersey chocolate processing plant died Wednesday after falling into a vat of hot chocolate , according to a spokesman for the Camden County Prosecutor 's office . Vincent Smith II , 29 , was dumping raw chocolate into the vat for melting when he fell in from a nine-foot high platform . He suffered a fatal blow to the head from the vat 's agitator , a paddle-like mechanism used for stirring the chocolate . According to the Camden County prosecutor 's office , three other people were on the platform at the time . One was able to shut the machinery off quickly , but it was too late to save Smith . The facility , owned by Cocoa Services Inc. , is managed and operated by by Lyons and Sons . The rectangular vat , which was 8 feet deep , 14 feet long and 6 feet wide , was churning a batch of chocolate for Hershey 's when the accident occurred , the prosecutor 's office said . CNN 's Jesse Solomon contributed to this report . | Worker was dumping chocolate into the vat when he fell from a 9-foot high platform . The vat was churning a batch of chocolate when the accident occurred . Vincent Smith II suffered a fatal blow to the head from the vat 's agitator . | [[0, 15], [74, 130], [203, 219], [227, 326], [735, 809], [812, 878], [327, 388]] |
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