story
stringlengths 117
4.55k
| questions
sequence | answers
sequence | summary
stringlengths 65
465
|
|---|---|---|---|
(CNN) -- Between 1.5 trillion and 2 trillion tons of ice in Greenland, Antarctica and Alaska have melted at an accelerating rate since 2003, according to NASA scientists, in the latest signs of what they say is global warming. This image shows the changing rate of mass in mountain glaciers on the Gulf of Alaska. Using new satellite technology that measures changes in mass in mountain glaciers and ice sheets, NASA geophysicist Scott Luthcke concluded that the losses amounted to enough water to fill the Chesapeake Bay 21 times. "The ice tells us in a very real way how the climate is changing," said Luthcke, who will present his findings this week at the American Geophysical Union conference in San Francisco, California. NASA's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment, or GRACE, mission uses two orbiting satellites to measure the "mass balance" of a glacier, or the net annual difference between ice accumulation and ice loss. "A few degrees of change [in temperature] can increase the amount of mass loss, and that contributes to sea level rise and changes in ocean current," Luthcke said. The data reflects findings from NASA colleague Jay Zwally, who uses different satellite technology to observe changing ice volume in Greenland, the Arctic and Antarctica. In the past five years, Greenland has lost between 150 gigatons and 160 gigatons each year, (one gigaton equals one billion tons) or enough to raise global sea levels about .5 mm per year, said Zwally, who will also present his findings at the conference this week. GRACE measured that mountain glaciers in the Gulf of Alaska lost about 84 gigatons each year, about five times the average annual flow of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, according to NASA. "Every few extra inches of sea level have very significant economic impacts, because they change the sea level, increase flooding and storm damage," said, Zwally, ICESat Project Scientist. "It's a warning sign." Melting ice, especially in Greenland and the Arctic, is also thought to contribute to global warming, Zwally said. When the vast ice sheets and glaciers melt, they lose their reflective power, and instead, oceans and land absorb the heat, causing the Arctic waters and the atmosphere to warm faster. "We're seeing the impacts of global warming in many areas of our own lives, like agriculture," Zwally said. As an example, he cited the pine beetle infestation of this summer in the forests of Colorado and western Canada. "They were believed to be spreading because the winter was not cold enough to kill them, and that's destroying forests," he said. In the 1990s, Greenland took in as much snow and water as it let out, Zwally said. But now, about 15 years later, sea levels are rising about 50 percent faster, making the global climate situation even more unpredictable. "The best estimates are that sea levels will rise about 18 to 36 inches by the end of the century, but because of what's going on and how fast things are changing, there's a lot of uncertainty," he said. | [
"how much ice has melted?",
"what percent is rising?",
"How many times could the lost water fill up Chesapeake Bay?",
"how much water will there be",
"where is the ice melting",
"where is the ice melted from?",
"Where did most of the ice melt?",
"How much ice ice melted since 2003?"
] | [
[
"1.5 trillion and 2 trillion tons of"
],
[
"about 50"
],
[
"21"
],
[
"to fill the Chesapeake Bay 21 times."
],
[
"Greenland, Antarctica and Alaska"
],
[
"Greenland, Antarctica and Alaska"
],
[
"Greenland, Antarctica and Alaska"
],
[
"1.5 trillion and 2 trillion tons of"
]
] | About 2 trillion tons of ice have melted in Greenland, Antarctica, Alaska since 2003 .
Lost amount of water could fill up Chesapeake Bay 21 times, NASA scientist says .
Most came from Greenland, where losses raised global sea levels .5 mm annually .
Scientist says sea levels rising 50 percent faster than 15 years ago . |
(CNN) -- Beyond the noise of raucous crowds and angry protesters who have turned town hall meetings into shouting matches is genuine concern from ordinary citizens who are afraid that President Obama's health care proposals would only make things harder for them, experts say.
The battle over health care reform has energized people on both sides of the debate.
"The reason that we see these protests and people asking tough questions at town hall meetings is because they feel like the president is going to take something away from them. That motivates people. That gets them out," said Michael Cannon, director of health policy studies at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank.
Those fears were heard Tuesday at Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter's town hall meeting in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. "This is going to take away my freedom," charged one man who wanted assurance from Specter that the private option for health insurance would stay viable.
Specter repeated Obama's pledge, telling the crowd, "If you like your policy, you can keep it."
Acknowledging the skepticism at a town hall meeting Tuesday, Obama tried to alleviate fears that reform would take something away.
"I recognize there's an underlying fear here that people somehow won't get the care they need. You will have not only the care you need, but also the care that right now is being denied to you, only if we get health care reform. That's what we're fighting for," he said at the Portsmouth, New Hampshire, event.
Since his days on the campaign trail, Obama has promised the public that those who like their health insurance plans won't have to give them up, but he's stopped short of saying at what cost.
"I think that's the fear," said Diana Owen, an associate professor of political science and the director of American studies at Georgetown University. "Even though they are going to keep the plan, the plan is going to be at a much greater cost. And he's not been able to really allay that fear." Watch what happened at Specter's town hall meeting »
The themes coming up at town hall meetings across the country are broadly the same as doubts expressed during the campaign. Critics are voicing fears about socialism and the dismantling of the government they are used to. And those who have sufficient health care coverage worry they'll have to foot the bill for reform, echoing concerns heard during the presidential campaign that Obama would "spread the wealth around."
"That was one of the campaign critiques of Obama that seemed to work well, that seemed to resonate well," Owen said. "I really do think that it was an issue, and I think the opponents of the health care plan, by bringing that back up again ... I think that it could be an effective obstacle to what he's trying to accomplish."
Obama originally asked Congress to send him a health care bill before the August recess, but neither chamber met the deadline. As lawmakers spend the break in their home districts, they've been met with sometimes fierce opposition to Obama's proposals.
"It's not anti-reform -- it's anti-bad reform," Cannon said. "I think the public is reacting to what's in the legislation. And I think that's why the president wanted the House and the Senate to pass their versions before the August recess, because the president knew that the public would object to a lot of what is in these bills."
The White House, however, said that Obama "asked Congress to move quickly because we can't wait any longer to begin fixing what's wrong with our system." iReport.com: Are you attending a town hall? Share photos, video
Obama's health care battle has been compared to former President Clinton's failed effort more than 15 years ago, but lawmakers didn't experience the same backlash during the Clinton years.
Part of the reason was because of the calendar, CNN Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider said. Clinton proposed his plan in September 1993, and | [
"what does the congress have to do",
"What does Michael Cannon say that people fear?",
"What does Obama promise?",
"what people fear",
"what obama promise",
"Who says that Congress will have to rethink the plan?"
] | [
[
"move quickly"
],
[
"the president is going to take something away from them."
],
[
"those who like their health insurance plans won't have to give them up,"
],
[
"that President Obama's health care proposals would only make things harder for them,"
],
[
"that those who like their health insurance plans won't have to give them up,"
],
[
"Diana Owen,"
]
] | People fear they'll have something taken away from them, Michael Cannon says .
Obama promises those with coverage they like can keep it .
Concerns coming up at town hall meetings echo sentiments from the campaign .
Congress will have to "rethink the plan" after recess, Diana Owen says . |
(CNN) -- Big Ben, arguably the world's most famous clock, celebrates on Sunday 150 years of keeping London on time. The British landmark has lived through war, bad weather and disasters. Big Ben's distinctive bongs have been a part of the London scene for 150 years. Big Ben is the 14-ton bell inside the world's largest four-faced chiming clock, although most people use the name to describe the tower that houses it. The clock is perched on a 96-meter (310-foot) elegant tower at the Westminster Bridge end of the Palace of Westminster. The Victorian masterpiece, which provides distinctive chimes known as bongs, was voted Britain's favorite monument in 2008. It has been featured in films such as "101 Dalmatians" and "Harry Potter and the Order of The Phoenix." Big Ben has been disrupted a few times over the years for various reasons, including weather and breakages. Its bongs went silent for about two months in August 2007 to allow a crew to repair its mechanism system. During that time, the rest of the clock was running on an electric system. It was fully restarted again October 1. The clock pays tribute to Britain's royal history: It has a Latin inscription of the phrase: "O Lord, save our Queen Victoria the First." The ornate masterpiece has some quirky features. The hour hand, which weighs 300 kilograms (661 pounds), is made of gun metal while the minute hands are made of copper sheet. The minute hands would not work when they were first made of cast iron because they were too heavy. The clock started working on May 31, 1859, after the lighter copper hands were installed. The origins of the landmark's name are obscure. Some say it was named after the 1850s heavyweight boxer Ben Caunt while others suggest it was named after Sir Benjamin Hall, a former member of parliament. Hall, the commissioner of works in 1859, was responsible for ordering the bell. Alan Hughes, the director of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry that made the bell, prefers the latter. "I suppose I like it chiefly because it was a nickname of a man who was big and loud and pompous, and never used one word if 27 would do," he said in a 2008 interview. Hughes' company also made America's Liberty Bell and a number of others for cathedrals and churches around the world. | [
"When will London's Big Ben turn 150 years old?",
"What are other monuments in Britain",
"What is the Victorian masterpiece?",
"What is the clock's moniker?",
"What is the height of Big Ben?",
"What year was Big Ben built?",
"Where did the clock's moniker come from?",
"What is Big Ben?"
] | [
[
"Sunday"
],
[
"Big Ben's"
],
[
"Ben,"
],
[
"Ben,"
],
[
"96-meter (310-foot)"
],
[
"1859,"
],
[
"Some say it was named after the 1850s heavyweight boxer Ben Caunt while others suggest it was named after Sir Benjamin Hall,"
],
[
"world's most famous clock,"
]
] | London's Big Ben turns 150 years old on Sunday .
Last year, Victorian masterpiece was voted Britain's favorite monument .
No one is quite sure where the clock's moniker came from . |
(CNN) -- Billionaire hedge fund manager T. Boone Pickens spoke about the beleaguered U.S. economy, a prospective bailout and natural gas Thursday, a day after reports that his energy-related hedge funds lost $1 billion this year. Billionaire T. Boone Pickens has reportedly lost about $270 million this year. Speaking to CNN's John Roberts, Pickens said he concurred with President Bush's Wednesday assessment that a "distressing scenario would unfold" in the U.S. economy without immediate intervention. The U.S. economy needs a quick solution, and the U.S. Treasury -- while capable in its own right -- could use help from someone like Warren Buffett, whose Berkshire Hathaway Inc. reportedly invested $5 billion this week in Goldman Sachs, the Wall Street investment bank. Roberts: By some estimates, your energy fund lost $1 billion. Personally, you may have lost almost $300 million. A lot of people say, "Well, T. Boone Pickens has got a lot of money," but by some accounts, that's 10 percent of your net worth. That was a real hit. Pickens: That's a good hit. That's right. Watch Pickens discuss his, America's problems » Roberts: What happened? Pickens: I turned the wrong direction, is what it was. You know, you win some and lose some. Some are rained out, you know. You wish this one had been rained out, but it wasn't. Roberts: I'm sure you saw the president's address last night, or at the very least you heard about it. The secretary of the treasury wants all the money up front. The government wants safeguards on it. They want to make sure there's protection for taxpayers. They want to limit executive compensation. Are you on board with all that? Pickens: I'm ready to go. I'd give [Treasury Secretary Henry] Paulson the money and tell him get it fixed. Roberts: You believe that his plan will work? Pickens: I do. I think it will work, yes. But I think it needs to work quickly. I think you've got to move on with it. I liked Warren Buffett's play into Goldman Sachs. Roberts: Five billion dollars the other day. Pickens: That's right. That showed good confidence and all. So that's another leadership opportunity. Roberts: In fact, you have said, Boone, that you would like to see Warren Buffett handle a lot of these illiquid assets that the government buys up in terms of their disbursement. Pickens: Can you imagine anybody better? Sure, that'd be great if he'd do it. I don't know whether he would or not. But you need to get somebody like Warren to do it. Roberts: You don't think they have the expertise at the Treasury Department to do it? Pickens: Oh, they do have. They may need some help. And that kind of help -- you can't pay for that kind of help. Watch Bush explain the government's plan » Roberts: Let me turn to the energy issue. ... We've talked about your plan to wean America off of foreign oil, use natural gas, you know, get wind power going. You're also -- correct me if I'm wrong -- but you're going to be launching another series of ads here encouraging the presidential candidates to come forward with a plan to wean America off its dependence on foreign energy. Don't they already have a plan? Pickens: No. Neither one of them has a plan. The plan I want is to reduce imports of foreign oil. And we can do that one way. Natural gas is a resource we have in America. It is cleaner, it's cheaper, it's abundant and it's ours. So every gallon of natural gas you put in a tank, you will reduce foreign oil by one gallon. So it's a one-to-one trade-off every time. We could reduce foreign oil by 30 percent | [
"How much was lost?",
"How big is Pickens' stake?",
"How much money did T. Boone Pickens lose?",
"What is natural gas better than?",
"Who lost the money?",
"Who reported a $270 million loss?",
"Who is the treasury secretary?",
"How much did Pickens lose?"
] | [
[
"about $270 million this year."
],
[
"$270 million"
],
[
"about $270 million this year."
],
[
"foreign oil,"
],
[
"Billionaire T. Boone Pickens"
],
[
"T. Boone Pickens"
],
[
"Henry] Paulson"
],
[
"about $270 million"
]
] | T. Boone Pickens on losing a reported $270 million: "I turned the wrong direction"
Pickens: Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson's bailout plan will work, but do it fast .
Natural gas better than oil -- it's "cheaper, cleaner, abundant and ours," he says .
Pickens says he has only a "very small" stake in natural gas production . |
(CNN) -- Billionaire oilman T. Boone Pickens is sinking billions of dollars into a new wind farm in Texas. It is likely to become the biggest in the world, producing enough power for the equivalent of 1.3 million homes. CNN's Ali Velshi asked the oil legend why he thinks wind could be the answer to this country's energy problems: T. Boone Pickens explains his investment in a 4,000-megawatt wind farm to CNN's Ali Velshi. Ali Velshi: Tell me about the wind. Now, you are buying, for a start, more than 600 wind turbines from General Electric. You're going to put them on this big tract of land in Texas, and you're going to generate a lot of electricity. What happens to that electricity? Tell me where you think you're going to make your money and how this is going to help the situation in America. T. Boone Pickens: Well, that's the first step to a 4,000-megawatt wind farm. This is 1,000 megawatts. We start receiving those turbines in mid 2010. We will have the total 4,000 megawatts finished by the end of 2015. That power will go into a transmission line that will tie into the Electric Reliability Council of Texas system in the state of Texas, and it will be transmitted downstate. Watch why Pickens is willing to spend billions on wind » Velshi: What's your view of wind power? It's one of several things that we should be looking at in terms of powering our homes, electrical power? We get most of it from coal and natural gas, and some from nuclear. Are you thinking it's one of the formats of power we should be thinking about, or is this going to be bigger than we all thought? Pickens: The Department of Energy came out with a study in April of '07 that said we could generate 20 percent of our electricity from wind. And the wind power is -- you know, it's clean, it's renewable. It's -- you know, it's everything you want. And it's a stable supply of energy. It will be located in [the] central part of the United States, which will be the best from a safety standpoint to be located. You have a wind corridor that goes from Pampa, Texas, to the Canadian border. And it has -- the wind, it's unbelievable that we have not done more with wind. Look at Germany and Spain. They have developed their wind way beyond what we have, and they don't have as much wind as we do. It's not unlike the French have done with their nuclear. They're 80 percent power generated off of nuclear, we're 20 percent. Velshi: I'm fascinated by wind power. I love going by a field of these turbines. And I think they're fascinating. You don't happen to think they're attractive, and you're not really putting them on your land. You're going to be using other people's land to put these things on. Pickens: That's right. And it's very clear, these are my neighbors. And they want them. It generates income for them. A turbine will generate somewhere around 20,000 [dollars] a year in royalty income. And on a 640-acre tract, you can put five to 10 of these on the tract. And you don't have to have them if you don't want them. Velshi: And it's quite common that people who maybe have a piece of land, they might be farmers or something like that, this is extra income to them by making a deal with somebody like you who is going put these things up, if they don't mind having them on the land. Do they get the electricity from it or do they just get a royalty check? Pickens: A royalty check. But look at Sweetwater, Texas. That town was 12,000 people, then went down below 10,000. The wind came in, it's above 12,000 in population now. The local economy is booming. That can be repeated over | [
"Where will Pickens put the turbines?",
"What is the yearly amout of royalties a turbine will generate?",
"How much will a turbine generate?",
"What is Pickens planning?",
"Where will he put the turbines?",
"How many megawatts?",
"Who's planning 4,000-megawatt wind farm?",
"Where will he pit the turbines?",
"What does Pickens say?"
] | [
[
"big tract of land in Texas,"
],
[
"around 20,000"
],
[
"20,000 [dollars] a year in royalty income."
],
[
"Texas."
],
[
"Texas"
],
[
"4,000-megawatt wind farm"
],
[
"T. Boone Pickens"
],
[
"Texas,"
],
[
"explains his investment in a 4,000-megawatt wind farm"
]
] | Oil billionaire T. Boone Pickens planning 4,000-megawatt wind farm .
Power will tie to Electric Reliability Council of Texas transmission lines, says Pickens .
He will put the turbines on other people's land .
A turbine will generate around $20,000 a year in royalties, says Pickens . |
(CNN) -- Billy Graham is being treated for pneumonia and "is responding well to antibiotic treatment," said a pulmonologist at the North Carolina hospital where the evangelist was admitted Wednesday.
Dr. Mark Hellreich, who is treating Graham at Mission Hospital in Asheville, said Thursday that the 93-year-old is in stable condition, and a spokesman for Graham said he is in "good spirits" and resting comfortably.
Graham spent time reading the Bible and praying with his daughter, Gigi, Wednesday night, spokesman A. Larry Ross said on Twitter.
When Graham was admitted Wednesday for evaluation of his lungs, "he was alert, smiling and waving at hospital staff," the hospital said. "While no date has been set for discharge, Mr. Graham is looking forward to returning home to spend the upcoming Christmas holidays with his family."
Ross said Graham was visited Thursday by his pastor, the Rev. Don Wilton, who shared a passage from the book of Ephesians: "For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God's people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers."
"Given the outpouring of love and well-wishes Mr. Graham has received from people around the world, the verse seemed to have special meaning to him," Ross said.
Ross said that as Graham and his daughter were channel-surfing to find a news broadcast, they came upon a broadcast of Graham's 1973 crusade in St. Louis.
"It was a blessing to Mr. Graham to realize his preaching still reaches around the world," said Ross, "and even into hospital rooms like his."
Graham was hospitalized in May for treatment of pneumonia. He resumed his ongoing program of physical therapy and normal activity shortly after release, the hospital said.
Graham, a resident of nearby Montreat, has provided counsel to generations of U.S. presidents beginning with Harry S. Truman and is the founder of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
The Charlotte native has preached to untold millions over six decades, beginning his missionary work in 1944 when he started speaking at rallies for the Youth for Christ Campus Life ministry. Five years later, Graham was holding crusades in tents in downtown Los Angeles. Originally scheduled for three weeks, the crusades drew so many followers they were extended to seven.
His most recent book, "Nearing Home," was published in October.
Graham's "last crusade" in June 2005 drew a total of 230,000 people.
He described it as his last American crusade, but hedged his farewells during a poignant appearance in Corona Park in Queens, New York.
"We hope to come back again someday," Graham announced. "I was asked in an interview if this was our last crusade and I said it probably is -- in New York. But I also said, 'I never say never.' " | [
"What is the full name of the evangelist?",
"When was the evangelist admitted to the hospital?",
"which was the comment of pulmonologist?",
"at what age the evangelist was admitted in the hospital?",
"What is the age of the evangelist?"
] | [
[
"Graham"
],
[
"Wednesday."
],
[
"\"is responding well to antibiotic treatment,\""
],
[
"93-year-old"
],
[
"93-year-old"
]
] | NEW: Billy Graham has pneumonia, according to Mission Hospital in Asheville, N.C.
NEW: Graham is stable and "responding well to antibiotic treatment," a pulmonologist says .
The 93-year-old evangelist was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday .
He is in "good spirits" and resting comfortably, his spokesman says . |
(CNN) -- Billy Joel and his wife, Katie Lee Joel, are separating. Billy Joel married Katie Lee in 2004. "After nearly five years of marriage, Billy Joel and Katie Lee Joel have decided to separate," a joint statement on behalf of the pair said. "This decision is a result of much thoughtful consideration. Billy and Katie remain caring friends with admiration and respect for each other." Billy Joel, 60, and Katie Lee Joel, 27, were married in 2004. Billy Joel is the multimillion-selling musician behind such albums as "The Stranger," "52nd Street" and "Storm Front." Katie Lee is a food critic and chef. The marriage was the third for Billy Joel. His marriage to Elizabeth Weber ended in divorce in 1982 after nine years. He married his second wife, model Christie Brinkley, in 1985; they divorced in 1994. Both Joels have retained attorneys, according to a report in the New York Daily News. Billy Joel's publicist, Claire Mercuri, told the Daily News the singer was bearing up well. "Billy's doing fine," Mercuri said. "He's looking forward to resuming his Face2Face Tour with Elton John." | [
"What is the decision is a result of?",
"How many times has Billy Joel been married?",
"How long was Billy Joel married to Katie Lee Joel?",
"What did the joint statement say?",
"How many time have Billy Joel been married?",
"How many marriage's has Billy Joel had?",
"Who is Billy Joel separating from?",
"What is his wife's name?"
] | [
[
"much thoughtful consideration."
],
[
"The marriage was the third"
],
[
"five years"
],
[
"\"After nearly five years of marriage, Billy Joel and Katie Lee Joel have decided to separate,\""
],
[
"The marriage was the third for"
],
[
"was the third for"
],
[
"Katie Lee"
],
[
"Katie Lee Joel,"
]
] | Billy Joel separating from wife of almost five years, Katie Lee Joel .
"This decision is a result of much thoughtful consideration," said joint statement .
Marriage was Billy Joel's third . |
(CNN) -- Billy Mays always let you know who you were talking to. OxiClean pitchman Billy Mays, king of the "yell and sell" technique died Sunday morning at his home in Tampa. "Billy Mays, here." The 50-year-old became famous for hawking products like OxiClean ("Powered by the air you breathe!") and Mighty Mendit ("Before you throw it away, let Mighty Mendit save the day!"). You needed more space in your closet, Mays had a special hanger for that. You wanted to hang a picture without putting a hole in your wall, he had some supernatural putty you needed to know about. You had a spill? One word. Zorbeez. "I'm a pitchman, my business comes from the pitch, nothing else," Mays said recently in an interview with Portfolio. "My voice, my likeness is my livelihood. That's it. I keep it simple. I pick good products." Mays died Sunday at his home near Tampa, Florida. The Hillsborough County medical examiner Dr. Vernard Adams said Monday that Mays had heart disease. Listen to the 911 call » Mays' wife, Deborah Mays, released this statement Monday: "While it provides some closure to learn that heart disease took Billy from us, it certainly doesn't ease the enormous void that his death has created in our lives." Handsome in a Brawny Towel Guy sort of way, Mays seemed to be as boisterous off camera as he was on, at least in interviews. He once compared his hands to "weapons" for the way they would whip around a product like a fast-dancing showgirl. And even when he didn't feel like cracking a smile, he dug deep. "When I'm up against a wall, that's when Billy Mays performs best," he told a Fortune magazine writer earlier this year while driving his Bentley near his home. At the time, Mays' bum hip was hurting him. He had his hip replaced last year and recently talked about using a special gel insole to help him with the pain -- another product he planned to push. How well does that work? Mays had demonstrated it informally in interviews by wrapping his hand in the insole and whacking it with a hammer. That was just Mays: A sunshiny attitude and an "I've tried it" believability. Even on Saturday, less than a day before his wife found him dead in their home, Mays was cheerful as he described being conked on the head by falling luggage when his US Airways flight had a rough landing at Tampa International. "I gotta hard head," he said, shrugging. Watch Billy Mays smile and sell » Mays' success in the $300 billion infomercial industry was his ability to come off sincere, a magical feat for what is, essentially, huckstering, said Marian Salzman, partner at advertising PR giant Porter Novelli. "He was the everyday Burt Reynolds; Burt in a next-door neighbor format," she said. "Burt Reynolds was not approachable, but Billy appealed to the 'Mrs. I Push My Cart in Wal-mart.' Friend: "No better pitchman on Earth" » "He was that good looking guy at the end of the cul de sac that you could talk to, and even though you know he was going to talk a lot of nonsense, there was going to be an integrity in there." Mays often told interviewers of being raised in Pennsylvania, where he played high school football. He left college and began pushing products on the boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey, a vibrant scene a few decades ago. "There'd be one here, one there, you know, it's just the knife, the slicer, the Vitamix, you know, the Washamatic," Mays told ABC's "Nightline" in April. "And there would be tons of people coming in and you just had to, you know, attack these people, stop them, you know | [
"In which state was Mays found dead?",
"where did he start his career",
"who was Billy Mays",
"where was his body found",
"Billy Mays started his career in which city?",
"What happened in Florida?"
] | [
[
"Florida."
],
[
"Atlantic City, New Jersey,"
],
[
"OxiClean pitchman"
],
[
"home in Tampa."
],
[
"Atlantic"
],
[
"Mays died"
]
] | Billy Mays was "Burt Reynolds in next-door format," advertising expert says .
Mays started his career on the boardwalk of Atlantic City, New Jersey .
"I'm a pitchman, my business comes from the pitch, nothing else," he said.
Mays was found dead in his Tampa, Florida, home on Sunday . |
(CNN) -- Billy Powell, keyboardist with the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, died of a heart ailment at his condo in the Jacksonville, Florida, suburb of Orange Park, police said Thursday. He was 56. Billy Powell, center, poses with other members of Lynyrd Skynyrd at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2006. Powell, who died early Wednesday, had survived the band's October 1977 plane crash in Mississippi that killed lead singer Ronnie Van Zant; guitarist Steve Gaines; Gaines's sister, vocalist Cassie Gaines; an assistant road manager; and the pilot and copilot. Powell was seriously injured in the crash. More than 40 fans left messages on a fan Web site. "Billy, you are truely free now. Rock on with Ronnie and the gang. You also will be forever missed," read a note signed by traceyspruill. "I cannot believe the hurt that I have felt from being a Skynyrd fan, but I realize that it only hurts so much because I love the members of this band like my own family. We will always miss you, Billy. I can hear your fingertips rolling off those ivory keys right now. Thanks for being you. Rest in peace and may God bless you," another fan wrote. According to Orange Park Police Lt. Mark Cornett, Powell called 911 around midnight Tuesday from his condo at the Club Continental, complaining about chest pains. "When paramedics and police arrived, they found him unresponsive on the bed," Cornett said. Powell was pronounced dead at the scene, and his cardiologist signed the death certificate at 1:52 a.m. ET Wednesday. According to the officer, Powell missed an appointment with the same doctor on Tuesday. Powell joined the original Skynyrd band in 1972, but he worked for the Jacksonville, Florida-based band for several years before that as a crew member. Among the Southern rock band's acclaimed songs are "What's Your Name," "Freebird" and "Sweet Home Alabama," all released in the 1970s. "Sweet Home Alabama" reached the top 10 in 1974. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. Two years after the plane crash, Powell, Allen Collins, Gary Rossington and Leon Wilkeson formed the Rossington-Collins Band. It broke up in 1982. A new Lynyrd Skynyrd band formed in 1987 and included Johnny Van Zant, Ronnie's brother. It began a tour in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where the plane was headed when it crashed. The band's last album, "Vicious Cycle," came out in 2003. | [
"Who called 91 that night?",
"What did he survive?",
"What did one of the fan write on Lynyrd Skynyrd web site?",
"Where was he pronounced dead?",
"What did Billy Powell call 911 about?",
"What is Powell famous for?",
"Who did Billy Powell call Tuesday night?",
"What happened to him?"
] | [
[
"Powell"
],
[
"the band's October 1977 plane crash in Mississippi"
],
[
"\"Billy, you are truely free now."
],
[
"at the scene,"
],
[
"chest pains."
],
[
"keyboardist with the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd,"
],
[
"called 911"
],
[
"died of a heart ailment"
]
] | Billy Powell called 911 Tuesday night complaining of chest pains, police say .
Paramedics found him unresponsive and he was pronounced dead at the scene .
Powell, 56, survived 1977 plane crash that killed Ronnie Van Zant and 5 others .
"Thanks for being you," one mourning fan writes on Lynyrd Skynyrd Web site . |
(CNN) -- Billy Ray Cyrus may be a country boy at heart, but he is also pretty savvy when it comes to navigating Hollywood. Billy Ray Cyrus has a full plate with acting, touring, composing and being a dad. When others wrote him off as a novelty act after the 1992 hit "Achy Breaky Heart," Cyrus kept making music and eventually turned to acting. It was a decision he said came after some well-timed fatherly advice. "In the mid-'90s, my dad said to me 'Son, you've got all of your eggs in one basket and you are living and dying by music,' " Cyrus recalled. "He said 'I want you to have a career like Kenny Rogers.' " Cyrus said his dad suggested he branch out into acting. Cyrus eventually auditioned for and won a role in what appeared to be an unlikely vehicle -- David Lynch's 2001 film "Mulholland Drive." After Lynch, known for such works as "Blue Velvet" and "Twin Peaks," suggested that Cyrus should continue to pursue the craft, he went on to star in the television drama "Doc," which also helped spur the career of Cyrus' greatest production -- "Hannah Montana" star, and Cyrus' daughter, Miley Cyrus. Now, with the release of "Hannah Montana: The Movie" on Blu-ray and DVD, a music tour and an upcoming role in a film featuring comedian George Lopez and martial arts expert Jackie Chan, Cyrus is staying busy. He recently took some time out of his hectic schedule to talk to CNN about how he keeps it all together, how he manages raising a family full of performers (son Trace is a member of the band Metro Station, daughter Brandi performs with the band Frank and Derol and also acts, as do younger children Braison and Noah) and what makes him a good fit for Hollywood. CNN: What do you like about "Hannah Montana: The Movie?" Billy Ray Cyrus: I think it's got a certain amount of realism to it with art imitating life imitating art. It certainly parallels a lot of things in mine and Miley's real world and real lives. I wrote the song "Back to Tennessee" and as I read the script for the movie, "Back to Tennessee" became a cornerstone of the film and the title track off the album. The realism of the film translates into the music, and I think vice versa. CNN: The film speaks to never losing touch with your roots. How important is that to you? Cyrus: Extremely. My dad told me as a kid to always be aware of where you are, always have a vision for your future, but never forget where you came from. CNN: You've had careers in both music and acting. Do you still feel a bit like a fish out of water dealing with Hollywood? Cyrus: I love Hollywood as far as being an actor. Getting to work with Jackie Chan and George Lopez in this new film we have coming out in January ["The Spy Next Door"], working with Heather Locklear and Patricia Neal in the Lifetime movie "Flying By" and Brooke Shields, who has appeared as my deceased wife on "Hannah Montana." I look back at it now and think that I may fit in more to the film community than I do Nashville, to tell you the truth. I love what I do. CNN: Do you have a preference, then, for acting over music? Cyrus: My preference is to find projects that can combine the two. I also love to write scores. I wrote a lot of the scores for "Doc" and I love to write scores for other projects. CNN: How do you balance being a star with being a dad? Cyrus: The very best I can. I just take it one step at a time and do the best I can. My dad was to me what I try to be to Miley, which | [
"what year did Achy Breaky Heart come out?",
"what was in 1992",
"who advised him to take up acting?",
"what sort of projects does he prefer working on?"
] | [
[
"1992"
],
[
"\"Achy Breaky Heart,\""
],
[
"dad"
],
[
"that can combine the two. I also love to write scores."
]
] | Billy Ray Cyrus has worked steadily since 1992's "Achy Breaky Heart"
Singer turned to acting on advice of father and director David Lynch .
Says he prefers working on projects that combine acting and music .
He won't reveal the big-name artists he says want to remake his hit . |
(CNN) -- Bitter cold weather was sweeping across the nation Thursday, putting the Midwest in a deep freeze. A thermometer registers minus 20 degrees Thursday in Hudson, Wisconsin. It was brutal in Ames, Iowa, on Wednesday. "Last night, the temperature was still above zero (3 degrees Fahrenheit), but the wind chill (minus 14 degrees) was cold enough to make your skin burn," iReporter Kevin Cavallin said. "When it gets this cold, your hands are just in pain when doing something as simple as carrying bags of groceries from the car to the apartment." iReport.com: What's the weather like near you? Send photos, video In Minneapolis, Minnesota, it felt like 40 below because of the wind chill, CNN meteorologist Rob Marciano said. It was 48 below in Fargo, North Dakota, where unprotected fingers could suffer frostbite in 60 seconds. Watch the freeze in Iowa » The freezing temperatures are likely to remain in the East through the weekend, according to the National Weather Service. There were low teens Thursday along much of the Interstate 95 corridor, which hugs the Atlantic from Maine to Florida. It was 17 in New York, which had a moderate snowfall Thursday that delayed flights a few hours on the ground at LaGuardia Airport. "If you live east of the Mississippi River, the temperature at mid-morning may be the best you'll get," Marciano added. Temperatures dipped to 19 degrees below zero in Michigan and 10 below in Chicago, Illlinois. Snow caused more traffic nightmares in the Midwest. Snow also was falling in Trenton, New Jersey; New Haven, Connecticut; and other Northeast cities. Meanwhile, an icy cold front was pushing into the Southeast, with a cold high-pressure center expected to remain over the area through Saturday, the National Weather Service said. Another cold front is to move in late Sunday. The sun came out in Georgia, but forecasters said the weather would deteriorate by evening. Much of Georgia, including Atlanta, will be under a wind chill advisory from 7 p.m. Thursday to 7 a.m. Friday. Thursday's high in the state could reach 59, but the thermometer could reach as low as 14 at night, the weather service said. Forecasters said overnight temperatures will be accompanied by bitterly cold wind chills, possibly setting a record. | [
"What was the coldest spot in the US?",
"It was what temperature in Chicago?",
"Where is the icy cold front pushing into?",
"What was the feels-like temp in Mpls.?",
"What was the temperature in Chicago?",
"What was the actual temp in Chicago?",
"The cold front is pushing where?",
"How cold did it feel in Minneapolis?",
"How long will this cold weather last, possibly?",
"What did it feel like because of the wind chill?",
"It felt like 40 below in Minneapolis because of what?"
] | [
[
"Fargo, North Dakota,"
],
[
"(3 degrees Fahrenheit),"
],
[
"the Southeast,"
],
[
"40 below"
],
[
"10 below"
],
[
"Illlinois."
],
[
"Southeast,"
],
[
"felt like 40 below"
],
[
"through the weekend,"
],
[
"40 below"
],
[
"of the wind chill,"
]
] | NEW: It felt like 40 below in Minneapolis, Minnesota, because of wind chill .
NEW: It was 10 below in Chicago -- without the wind chill .
Icy cold front is pushing into the Southeast and could last through Saturday .
iReport.com: Cold near you? Share your photos, video, stories . |
(CNN) -- Blair MacIntyre imagines a world where tiny clouds of information -- Facebook statuses, business cards, Twitter posts -- float above all of our heads. "Augmented reality" can combine live video with data and information from the Internet. In some ways, it's not that far from reality. Advancements in mobile phone technology have cleared the way for a coming wave of "augmented reality" applications that merge the physical world with information compiled about people and places on the Internet. "When the technology gets there, this stuff could be amazingly useful and mildly terrifying in some ways," said MacIntyre, an associate professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology who has taught classes in augmented reality for a decade. The idea of pairing digital information with our real, 3-D environments is not especially new -- think robot-human vision in the "Terminator" movies. MacIntyre even plodded about college campuses in the 1990s wearing a 40-pound backpack and nerdy goggles, trying to make something similar happen. But as mobile phones become better equipped with GPS systems, which use satellites to locate the phones; compasses, which tell the direction the phone faces; and accelerometers, which relay the device's tilt; the once-lofty idea of augmented reality is being put into the hands of consumers. Last July in the Netherlands, a company called SPRXmobile released a mobile browser, Layar, that lets people see pieces of this new info-reality through their phone screens. A Layar user sets his or her phone to video mode, aims it around and sees all kinds of information pop up on the screen: blinking dots on apartments that are for sale, the values of those units, pull-down reviews of the bar up on the corner or details about sales at a nearby retail store. Watch a video demo of the app This makes information easier to find and helps people make better sense of the physical world around them, said Maarten Lens-FitzGerald, co-founder of Layar. "I think it will actually get you out more than you would stay at home," he said. "You're not at your couch anymore, you're not at your desk" when you need to find information. Layar, which bills itself as the first mobile browser that features augmented reality, is only available in the Netherlands and only on certain phones, including Google's Android, T-Mobile's G1 and the HTC Magic. But Lens-FitzGerald said the company plans to announce a global expansion plan on August 17 and will develop an app for the iPhone if Apple changes policies that obstruct developers from creating such applications on that device. A range of other "AR" apps are in development or are on the market. One, called Nearest Tube, highlights subway routes in New York and London. Wikitude is an app that aims to show people encyclopedic information about nearby landmarks. Like Wikipedia, users can add information to the service. The idea could usher in an era of cell-phone tour guides. Total Immersion, a French company, developed an app that makes 3-D baseball players spring to life from baseball cards. Users can turn the card to see their favorite players, through a phone screen, from all angles. And at Georgia Tech, researchers are working on video games that may one day make it look like virtual zombies are chasing players down real-world streets. Alex Michaelis, CEO of Tweetmondo, a site that pairs Twitter posts with geographical information, said he has developed an app that will let mobile phone users see their friends' tweets through the video camera on their phones. He expects it to be available within the month. "It adds information to your world, and this is what it's all about," he said. To picture how that service would work, think about walking into your living room in the evening. If a roommate had posted to Twitter from the couch, his or her Tweet would hover in that space when viewed through a mobile phone's video camera. Michaelis admits the model is a bit clunky for now | [
"What is Augmented reality?",
"what is helping the advance of these technologies?",
"What do AR apps do?",
"What devices are AR apps being made for?",
"what is the Augmented reality?"
] | [
[
"combine live video with data and information from the Internet."
],
[
"MacIntyre"
],
[
"merge the physical world with information compiled about people and places on the Internet."
],
[
"Google's Android, T-Mobile's G1"
],
[
"can combine live video with data and information from the Internet."
]
] | "Augmented reality," a merger of the digital and virtual worlds, is coming to phones .
"AR" apps put info -- like Twitter posts -- on top of live video captured by phone .
Smartphone GPS and compass systems paved the way for the advance .
Some say AR is in its infancy; others question its usefulness . |
(CNN) -- Blistering temperatures and winds battered parts of the upper Midwest on Tuesday, delivering to some states the coldest weather in decades. A chilling cold front is battering the upper Midwest and Great Lakes. On the heels of a blizzard that barreled into the Northern Plains, temperatures dropped to minus 18 degrees Fahrenheit in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In Hayward, Wisconsin, a man who was prone to sleepwalking died after exposure to the freezing temperatures there, according to CNN affiliate KDLH-TV in Duluth, Minnesota. Authorities said the man's son reported him missing about noon Tuesday. Police told KDLH they found bare footprints leading 190 feet away from the man's home. For Tony Williams, the temperature in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was more than his body could handle. After shoveling outside his home without gloves for 45 minutes in minus-17-degree weather, Williams suffered second-degree frostbite, according to CNN affiliate KARE-TV. "On his finger pads, all of his fingers and his thumb, he had the formation of blisters," Dr. Cheryl Adkinson, an emergency physician at Hennepin County Medical Center who treated Williams, told KARE. In Grand Forks, North Dakota, the weather was severe enough to break a record temperature from 1979, with minus 37 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. The blast of cold, snow and ice wreaked havoc on traffic throughout the Midwest. In cities across the area, schools and businesses shut their doors because of the icy temperatures, and residents tried to dig out their cars and streets. iReport.com: How is winter weather affecting you? In Arlington Heights, Illinois, railroad worker Matt Tesh was feeling the sting of near-zero wind chills as he shoveled snow from railroad tracks Tuesday morning, CNN affiliate WGN reported. See how the storm has hit Chicago, Illinois » Wearing several layers under his bright orange coat, he tried working without a face mask. That didn't last long. "Two or three minutes [without it], and my face was burning," he told WGN. In the next couple of days, forecasters aren't predicting much of a letup. The weather system, known as an "Alberta clipper," is expected to bring gusty winds, plummeting temperatures and a couple of inches of snow to Chicago, Illinois, on Wednesday morning, according to the weather service. The cold system from Canada will meet a system that originated in the Arctic and will spread below-freezing temperatures across the Great Lakes area, according to CNN meteorologist Guillermo Arduino. See the forecast » The system will bring many states in the Midwest the coldest days of the season, with hazardous wind chills. The weather service forecasters predicted snowfall of 1 to 5 inches from the Dakotas to the southern Great Lakes and even to the Northeast by the end of the week. "Near-whiteout conditions and slick roads are expected to impact travel of all types," according to the weather service's central region headquarters. After previous blasts of snow and cold, airports in Chicago, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Grand Rapids and Detroit, Michigan, are expected to have continuing delays, Arduino said. Temperatures in Detroit are expected to reach minus 18 degrees Wednesday and minus 12 degrees Thursday. In Minneapolis, the front will bring temperatures down to minus 21 degrees Wednesday and minus 29 degrees Thursday. In Bismarck, North Dakota, temperatures on Wednesday will dip near minus 20, with wind chills as low as minus 45 degrees. In the next couple of days, forecasters said, the city could receive 3 to 6 inches of snow on top of the 5 inches dumped there by the last winter system. | [
"Where did the winter system hit?",
"Who are predicting below zero temps for the next few days?",
"Where did a major winter system strike?",
"What caused a man to suffer frostbite?",
"How cold were the temperatures that affected the man who got frostbite?",
"In what state did someone die because of the weather?",
"What did forecasters predict?",
"What did the man suffer from after shoveling in cold weather?",
"What part of the country was affected by the storms, in general?",
"What caused the frostbite case?",
"What state did the man die in after sleepwalking?",
"What caused a death in Wisconsin?"
] | [
[
"across the Great Lakes area,"
],
[
"forecasters"
],
[
"upper Midwest"
],
[
"shoveling outside his home without gloves for 45 minutes in minus-17-degree weather, Williams suffered second-degree"
],
[
"minus-17-degree"
],
[
"Wisconsin,"
],
[
"The weather system, known as an \"Alberta clipper,\" is expected to bring gusty winds, plummeting temperatures and a couple of inches of snow to Chicago, Illinois, on Wednesday morning,"
],
[
"second-degree frostbite,"
],
[
"Grand Forks, North Dakota,"
],
[
"shoveling outside his home without gloves for 45 minutes in minus-17-degree weather,"
],
[
"Wisconsin,"
],
[
"second-degree frostbite,"
]
] | Major winter system hits Midwest, packing heavy winds and snow .
Forecasters predicting below-zero temperatures for next few days .
One man dies after sleepwalking barefoot outside in Wisconsin .
Man suffers frostbite after shoveling without gloves in minus 17 degree weather . |
(CNN) -- Boeing is asking pilots who fly its 737 jets to pay careful attention to flight instruments after Dutch investigators said a faulty altimeter contributed to the recent crash of a 737 in the Netherlands.
Turkish Airlines Flight 1951 broke into three pieces near Schiphol Airport on February 25.
The 737 is the most widely flown jet in commercial aviation. More than 6,000 have been sold, according to Boeing.
"Boeing reminds all operators to make sure flight crews pay close attention to all primary flight controls during critical stages of a flight," Boeing spokesman Jim Proulx told CNN on Thursday.
On February 25, Turkish Airlines Flight 1951 from Istanbul to Amsterdam dropped from the sky on approach to the landing strip at Schiphol Airport, breaking into three pieces in a muddy field.
Nine people died and 80 people were hurt in the accident.
In a memo to pilots, Boeing says there was a malfunction in one of the plane's two altimeters, which measure the altitude above the terrain where the plane is going to land.
The left altimeter was giving "erroneous" information, indicating that the plane was below 7 or 8 feet from ground level when it was actually about 2,000 feet in the air, the memo said.
That caused the automatic throttles to slow the plane down.
"Boeing recommends operators inform flight crews of the above investigation details and the (Dutch Safety Board) interim report when it is released. In addition, crews should be reminded to carefully monitor primary flight instruments," the memo said.
The plane was on automatic pilot when it crashed, said Pieter van Vollenhoven, head of the Dutch Safety Board.
The weather was misty at the time of the crash, possibly keeping the pilots from noticing their altitude, Van Vollenhoven said. Automatic pilot should not be used for landings if altimeters are malfunctioning, he said. Dutch investigators said there had been faulty meter readings on two other flights of the same jet, but the pilots were able to land.
In the Amsterdam crash, the pilots did not recognize the altimeter problem until it was too late, Van Vollenhoven said.
The Boeing memo notes that "the autothrottle, which uses the left radio altimeter data, transitioned to landing flare mode and retarded the throttles to the idle stop. The throttles remained at the idle stop for approximately 100 seconds during which time the airspeed decreased to approximately 40 knots below the selected approach speed."
Proulx said he did not know what that speed was for that particular 737 model.
The warning issued by Boeing was for many other models of 737 jets, not just the 737-800 involved in the Amsterdam crash. | [
"What caused automatic throttles to slow the plane down?",
"who broke into three pieces?",
"What type of pilots?",
"What investigators said?",
"Who should pay careful attention to flight instruments?",
"What contributed to Netherlands crash?"
] | [
[
"left altimeter was giving \"erroneous\" information, indicating that the"
],
[
"Turkish Airlines Flight 1951"
],
[
"who fly its 737"
],
[
"a faulty altimeter contributed to the recent crash of a 737 in the Netherlands."
],
[
"pilots"
],
[
"faulty altimeter"
]
] | Boeing urges 737 pilots to pay careful attention to flight instruments .
Dutch investigators said a faulty altimeter contributed to Netherlands crash .
Erroneous altitude data caused automatic throttles to slow the plane down .
The Turkish Airlines jet broke into three pieces on impact, killing nine people . |
(CNN) -- Bolivian President Evo Morales has put the brakes on a controversial road project through a national park in the Amazon rainforest where indigenous communities live.
"The road project in the indigenous park ... is suspended," Morales announced Monday, after 41 days of sometimes violent protests.
Before the project can proceed, it will have to pass a referendum in Cochabamba and Beni provinces, where the road would be located, according to the president.
The announcement came as Morales condemned weekend violence between police and an indigenous group protesting the construction.
"We ... do not share the use of violence and the abuse toward the indigenous brothers who were on the march," the president said.
Some indigenous leaders said a baby was killed, but Morales said there was no evidence to support the claim.
"We do not know of the death of a baby or child; I hope it did not happen," the president. said.
But Jose Ortiz, leader of the Indigenous from northern La Paz, said "this attack ... will stay in the memory of all Bolivians. ... We are outraged."
Hundreds of people gathered Monday in the capital, La Paz, to denounce the violence, chanting "killers, killers, killers" to police.
Bienvenido Zacu, the deputy of the Guarayos Indigenous people from Santa Cruz called the violence "a violation of the human rights," saying it was the first time he had seen "this kind of abuse by an Indian government."
Some groups are planning a general strike for Wednesday. | [
"where the road ran?"
] | [
[
"national park in the Amazon rainforest"
]
] | The suspension follows 41 days of protests .
Violence broke out between demonstrators and police Sunday .
A referendum is required for the project to restart .
The road would run through the Amazon rainforest . |
(CNN) -- Bolivian President Evo Morales on Sunday pledged to continue his hunger strike until Monday, when Congress -- including the opposition-led Senate -- is set to reconvene. Evo Morales on hunger strike at the presidential palace in Bolivia's capital, La Paz. Morales' speech, televised by a state-run station, was his first formal address to the nation since starting the strike Thursday in the government palace. More than three days into the strike, Morales appeared healthy during his address. The president wants the opposition-led Senate to set a date for general elections that are expected to give him another five-year term. Morales on Friday called on opposition members -- who walked out of the Congress in mid-session late Thursday -- to pass the election law, the government-run Bolivian Information Agency said. The nation's first indigenous president reportedly carried out an 18-day hunger strike in 2002, when he was expelled from Congress. | [
"who is the nations first indigenous president",
"What did Evo Morales initiate on Thursday?",
"what is expected to happen after the general election",
"Who started a hunger strike?",
"What nationality is he?",
"Who is Evo Morales?",
"Who is Morales?"
] | [
[
"Evo Morales"
],
[
"starting the strike"
],
[
"give him another five-year term."
],
[
"Evo Morales"
],
[
"Bolivian"
],
[
"Bolivian"
],
[
"Bolivian"
]
] | Evo Morales initiated his hunger strike Thursday in the Government Palace .
Opposition-controlled Senate yet to pass law setting December date for vote .
General election expected to give him another five-year term .
Morales is the South American nation's first indigenous president . |
(CNN) -- Bolivians are widely expected to approve a new constitution Sunday that would allow leftist President Evo Morales to run for another term this year, which he can't do under the current document.
The new constitution would eliminate term limits and allow President Evo Morales to run again for president.
The new constitution would replace the 1967 charter and give greater voice to the indigenous people who make up most of the country. It would also give more power to the central government.
Morales, speaking at rallies in La Paz and Cochabamba this week, said the new document will propel the nation.
"Once approved, this will be the refoundation of Bolivia and the refoundation of a new state where there will be equality and we will all have the same rights and the same obligations," he said.
Others say the referendum is a way for Morales to keep himself in power, a move that could plunge the country into further violence, division and uncertainty. That effort, critics say, is in ample evidence as some regions fight to break away and as the deaths of up to 30 peasant government supporters a few months ago led to accusations of a right-wing massacre.
"What will be opened is a new chapter of violence," said Carlos Toranzo, an investigator in La Paz with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, a policy institute associated with the Social Democratic Party of Germany.
As campaigning on Sunday's referendum came to a close Thursday with massive festive rallies for each side, Bolivians gave voice to the chasm that separates them.
"What this constitutional project does is divide us," said Fernanda San Martin, who was at the final opposition rally in the city of Santa Cruz. "What it does is feed hate and racism in the country."
Efrain Tico Quispe, at a rally in favor of the new constitution, sees it from a different perspective.
"For them, it's division. It doesn't benefit them," he said. "But for humble people of our class, it serves us well."
The referendum has two parts: a straight yes-or-no vote on adopting the new constitution and a question asking Bolivians whether the maximum amount of private property that can be owned should be 5,000 or 10,000 hectares (12,355 or 24,710 acres).
The wide-ranging constitution would give the government a greater role in the economy and more control over natural resources, broaden nationalization of private industries and increase the rights of indigenous people.
The new document also would eliminate term limits for all elected offices and would allow the president to run for re-election to a second consecutive five-year term. The current constitution limits the president to one five-year term.
Under provisions of the new constitution, current terms would not be counted, so Morales could run in December and in 2014. In return for support for the constitution, Morales reportedly has agreed not to run in 2014 if he wins this year.
But Morales, who was elected in December 2005 by the largest margin since civilian rule was restored in 1982, would still be in office for nine years.
That part bothers those who see the vote as a way for Morales to keep himself in power.
Peter Hakim, president of the Inter-American Dialogue policy institute in Washington, warns against politicians "who use democracy to concentrate power."
Sunday's vote comes after a long and troubled path that saw the referendum postponed three times.
Morales, who campaigned on a promise to change the constitution, convened a constitutional assembly in July 2006, with a referendum scheduled for August 2007. The assembly did not have a draft document ready until December 2007.
After much wrangling and accusations that opponents were locked out of crucial votes, the Bolivian congress approved a referendum in February 2008, scheduling it for May. But the government suspended that vote in March because some of the nation's nine departments, or states, wanted to hold local referendums on greater autonomy during the May balloting.
In August, Morales said the referendum would be held in December. That vote | [
"Which country is this new constitution for?",
"Who would the new constitution give more voice to?",
"What kind of effect can it have on the people?",
"Which country will have a new constitution?",
"Who may this change keep in power?"
] | [
[
"Bolivia"
],
[
"the indigenous people"
],
[
"The wide-ranging constitution would give the government a greater role in the economy and more control over natural resources, broaden nationalization of private industries and increase the rights of indigenous"
],
[
"Bolivia"
],
[
"President Evo Morales"
]
] | New constitution would eliminate term limits, give more voice to indigenous people .
Some say it's just way for president to keep himself in power .
Critics express concern that dramatic change could lead to violence, divisions .
Policy investigator: "Bolivians won't know what to respect" under new constitution . |
(CNN) -- Both people who died of swine flu in the United States had pre-existing health problems, federal health authorities said Thursday in a report. A student uses disinfectant as she arrives Thursday at the National Technical Institute in Mexico City. The 22-month-old child who died April 27 of the flu, also called H1N1, had neonatal myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disease, said the report, which was written by a virus investigation team at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and published online in the New England Journal of Medicine. The child -- who was from Mexico and who fell ill while visiting relatives in Texas -- also had a heart defect, problems swallowing and chronic hypoxia, the report said. The 33-year-old Texas woman who died last week was pregnant when she became ill, the article said. She had been diagnosed with asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. The details came in a summary of the 642 confirmed cases of H1N1 infection that were diagnosed between April 15 and May 5 in 41 states among patients ranging in age from 3 months to 81 years. Sixty percent were 18 years or younger and 18 percent had recently traveled to Mexico, the report said. It said that 36 of the 399 patients with confirmed H1N1 infection whose hospitalization status was known had been hospitalized. Of the 22 hospitalized patients for whom data were available, four were younger than 5. Nine had chronic medical conditions, some of which included Down Syndrome and congenital heart disease. Seven patients said they had traveled to Mexico during the week before onset of illness. Eleven of those 22 hospitalized patients had pneumonia and eight patients were treated in an intensive care unit. Four were placed on ventilators. As of Tuesday, 18 of the 22 patients who had been hospitalized had recovered, it said. In a conference call with reporters, CDC's Dr. Carolyn Bridges said epidemiologists would be scrutinizing the disease's spread in South America, where the cool season is set to begin. Flu virus "prefers lower humidity and lower temperatures for transmission," she said. "We'll be looking closely to the Southern Hemisphere during their winter to see what happens. That may give us some clues as to what to expect." Brazil's health minister told reporters Thursday that four cases of H1N1 infection have been confirmed in Brazil. Three have been hospitalized and one is at home, said Health Minister Jose Gomes Temporao. One case is in Rio de Janeiro, two are in Sao Paolo and the fourth was in Minas Gerais in southeastern Brazil. Two of the patients had recently been in Mexico City; the other two had recently been in Florida, he said. Another 21 cases are suspected in Brazil, he said. In Buenos Aires, Health Minister Graciela Ocana confirmed Argentina's first H1N1 case -- a man who arrived April 25 from Mexico. The man was hospitalized in the capital and released after he recovered, Ocana said. The ultimate course of the disease remains unclear, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who is involved in the effort to create a vaccine. "We may be seeing the tip of the iceberg," he told CNN. "We can't make any definitive projections about where this is going. It appears to be acting like a typical seasonal flu, only it's out of season. We shouldn't be seeing this much influenza and it's with a new virus and that's the cause fo the concern." Asked when a vaccine might be available, he said, "We hope to get doses by mid- to late fall." Journalist Fabiana Frayssinet in Rio de Janeiro and Brian Byrnes in Buenos Aires contributed to this story. | [
"What do Brazil report?",
"What contributed to deaths of U.S. victims?",
"What contributed to the deaths of the U.S. victims?",
"How many cases of the H1N1 infection have been confirmed by the CDC?",
"How many confirmed cases of H1N1 infections was summarized by the CDC?",
"How many confirmed cases did the CDC report?",
"How many case of the H1N1 infection does Brazil report?",
"Who reports cases of H1N1?"
] | [
[
"H1N1 infection"
],
[
"pre-existing health problems,"
],
[
"pre-existing health problems,"
],
[
"642"
],
[
"642"
],
[
"642"
],
[
"four"
],
[
"Centers for Disease Control and Prevention"
]
] | Pre-existing conditions contributed to deaths of U.S. victims, officials say .
CDC report summarizes 642 confirmed cases of H1N1 infection .
Most hospitalized patients have recovered, report says .
Brazil reports four cases of H1N1 . |
(CNN) -- Botswana has been hailed as one of Africa's success stories and a beacon for democracy on the continent. It's home to Africa's longest continuous multi-party democracy and has remained politically stable since gaining independence in 1966. President Ian Khama took office in April 2008 promising steady progress. At its helm is President Ian Khama, the country's former vice president and son of Botswana's founding president. The diamond trade and disciplined government have helped to transform Botswana from one of the world's poorest nations to a middle-income country. But there are still large problem facing the country, including the world's second high level of HIV infections, according to the World Bank, and a slowing of the countries economic growth. The 56-year-old Khama took over office in April 2008, succeeding Festus Mogae who had been in power for 10 years, promising no radical departure from his predecessor's policies. Khama was born in southern England and trained at the UK's Sandhurst Military Academy before returning to Botswana and later becoming the commander of the Botswana Defence Force. He left the military in 1998 to take up the position of vice president. As the son of Botswana's most popular former president, political analysts inside the country have expected Khama to unite the factions in the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and continue steady economic and political progress. While Khama has only been in power for 11 months, there has been some criticism that his style is too authoritarian. Citing Afrobarometer, an independent research group, Botswana's newspaper Sunday Standard recently wrote that there was a growing public perception that Khama has issued more directives compared to his predecessors. One area in which he has taken a definite line is on his policy towards neighboring Zimbabwe, publicly opposing the government of President Robert Mugabe and declaring it illegitimate. A general election is set for October 2009, with the BDP expected to win. No other political party has held power in Botswana and some commentators fear the emergence of a political dynasty that would affect Botswana's democracy. | [
"Who is President of Botswana?",
"what is the presidents name",
"Is Botswana one of Africa's success stories?",
"Which country is one of Africa's succees stories?",
"Who is Botswana's president?"
] | [
[
"Ian Khama"
],
[
"Ian Khama"
],
[
"of"
],
[
"Botswana"
],
[
"Ian Khama"
]
] | Botswana's President Ian Khama talks to CNN on 'African Voices'
Former military general and son of Botswana's first president .
Botswana is one of Africa's success stories although HIV and Aids are rife . |
(CNN) -- Brazil has confirmed 557 deaths caused by H1N1 flu, the highest total in the world, the nation's Health Ministry says. A vaccine against H1N1 is being tested but is not expected to be available until at least mid-October. The United States has counted 522 fatalities through Thursday, and nearly 1,800 people had died worldwide through August 13, U.S. and global health officials said. In terms of mortality rate, which considers flu deaths in terms of a nation's population, Brazil ranks seventh, and the United States is 13th, the Brazilian Ministry of Health said in a news release Wednesday. Argentina, which has reported 386 deaths attributed to H1N1 as of August 13, ranks first per capita, the Brazilian health officials said, and Mexico, where the flu outbreak was discovered in April, ranks 14th per capita. Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico and the United States have the most total cases globally, according to the World Health Organization. The Brazilian Ministry of Health said there have been 6,100 cases of flu in the nation, with 5,206 cases (85.3 percent) confirmed as H1N1, also known as swine flu. The state of Sao Paulo had 223 deaths through Wednesday, the largest number in the country. In addition, 480 pregnant women have been confirmed with H1N1, of whom 58 died. Swine flu has been shown to hit young people and pregnant women particularly hard. Many schools in Sao Paulo have delayed the start of the second semester for a couple of weeks, and students will have to attend classes on weekends to catch up. Schools also have suspended extracurricular activities such as soccer, volleyball and chess to try to curtail spread of the disease. Flu traditionally has its peak during the winter months, and South America, where it is winter, has had a large number of cases recently. The World Health Organization said this week that the United States and other heavily populated Northern Hemisphere countries need to brace for a second wave of H1N1 as their winter approaches. Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other U.S. health agencies have been preparing and said this week that up to half of the nation's population may contract the disease and 90,000 could die from it. Seasonal flu typically kills about 64,000 Americans each year. A vaccine against H1N1 is being tested but is not expected to be available until at least mid-October and will probably require two shots at least one week apart, health officials have said. Since it typically takes a couple of weeks for a person's immunity to build up after the vaccine, most Americans would not be protected until sometime in November. The World Health Organization in June declared a Level 6 worldwide pandemic, the organization's highest classification. | [
"How many people died worldwide from H1N1?",
"Who could die from new strain?",
"where are the countries were this disease is most common?",
"Who have most total cases globally?",
"how many people die because of h1n1?",
"How many people does the seasonal flu typically kill each year?",
"How many people could die from the new strain?",
"Which kills about 64,000 Americans each year?",
"how many people die because of seasonal flu?"
] | [
[
"nearly 1,800"
],
[
"90,000"
],
[
"Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico and the United States"
],
[
"Brazil"
],
[
"557"
],
[
"64,000"
],
[
"90,000"
],
[
"Seasonal flu"
],
[
"typically kills about 64,000 Americans each year."
]
] | Nearly 1,800 people died worldwide of H1N1 through August 13 .
Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico and U.S. have most total cases globally .
U.S. health officials said that up to 90,000 could die from new strain .
Seasonal flu typically kills about 64,000 Americans each year . |
(CNN) -- Brazil has confirmed 657 fatalities caused by the H1N1 flu, the highest number of deaths in the world, the nation's Health Ministry said. Brazil registered 7,569 new cases of the virus also known as swine flu from August 25 to 29, the Health Ministry said. However, new cases of the virus had dropped in the past three weeks. In terms of mortality rate -- which considers flu deaths in terms of a nation's population -- Brazil ranks sixth and the United States is 12th, the Brazilian Health Ministry said in a news release this week. Argentina ranked first per capita, Brazilian health officials said. | [
"What happened over the past three weeks?",
"What rank is Brazil for mortality rate?",
"What has dropped in the last three weeks?",
"How many new cases does Brazil have?",
"Where doeas Argentina rank in mortality?",
"What are the number of cases of viruses that Brazil has?",
"What are the dates of the viruses being recorded?",
"What did Healthy Ministry say about Brazil?",
"Where does Argentina rank in mortalilty rate?"
] | [
[
"new cases of the virus had dropped"
],
[
"sixth"
],
[
"new cases of the virus"
],
[
"7,569"
],
[
"first"
],
[
"7,569"
],
[
"August 25 to 29,"
],
[
"657 fatalities caused by the H1N1 flu,"
],
[
"first per capita,"
]
] | Brazil has 7,569 new cases of the virus from August 25 to 29, Health Ministry says .
However, new cases of the virus had dropped in the past three weeks .
In terms of mortality rate, Argentina ranks sixth, Brazil sixth and the U.S. is 12th . |
(CNN) -- Brazil have returned to the top of the FIFA world rankings after a two-year absence, following their Confederations Cup final victory over the United States in South Africa on Sunday -- FIFA.com have reported. The Brazilian national side top the FIFA world rankings again after an absence of two years. Dunga's side came from behind to defeat the United States 3-2, a result which sees them replace Spain after the European champions were beaten in the semifinals to finish third in the Confederations Cup. Other changes in the top 10 see the Netherlands slip down a place into third while world champions Italy remain in fourth despite failing to make it past the first round in South Africa. Of the other countries that took part in the Confederations Cup, the United States are up two places to 12th, Egypt are up two to 38th and hosts South Africa are also up two to 70th. Meanwhile, disappointing performances from Iraq (94th, down 17) and New Zealand (100th, down 18) caused them to lose ground. In other news, Algeria (47th, up 19) and Tunisia (49th, up two) have climbed into the top 50 at the expense of Burkina Faso (51st, down one) and Finland (52nd, down three). Latest FIFA world rankings: 1. Brazil 1672 points (+4 places) 2. Spain 1590 (-1) 3. The Netherlands 1379 (-1) 4. Italy 1229 (0) 5. Germany 1207 (-2) 6. Russia 1161 (+3) 7. England 1135 (-1) 8. Argentina 1091 (-1) 9. France 1082 (+1) 10. Croatia 1031 (-2) | [
"Spain dropped to what position?",
"Who was at the top of the ranking for the two years they weren't?",
"Spain dropped to what position after their defeat?",
"What did Dungas side win?",
"How long was Brazil's absence?",
"Who was the European champion?",
"What country is at the top of the FIFA world ranking?"
] | [
[
"third"
],
[
"Brazil"
],
[
"2."
],
[
"Confederations Cup final"
],
[
"two years."
],
[
"Spain"
],
[
"Brazil"
]
] | Brazil are back at the top of the FIFA world rankings after a two-year absence .
Dunga's side return to head of the list after winning recent Confederations Cup .
European champions Spain drop to second position after their semifinal defeat . |
(CNN) -- Brazil legend Pele has been threatened with court action unless he retracts a reported allegation that compatriot Robinho, the Manchester City striker, has taken drugs. Robinho is "upset and disappointed" at comments attributed to Pele regarding the use of drugs. Pele had claimed Robinho and Brazil's former world footballer of the year Ronaldo used recreational drugs at a private party in Sao Paolo. Robinho's official Web site says the player is "upset and disappointed" at Pele whose alleged comments came during a court case involving his son, Edinho, was has admitted cocaine addiction. The story hit the headlines in Brazil and Robinho´s Web site says "that a formal retraction from Pele will be requested, if what he said was not misinterpreted by the media that published it. And if Pele does not come forward, he will have to deal with his very unfortunate comment in court. The statement by the player's representatives, added: "Robinho is upset and disappointed at Pele, who seems to have forgotten the great idol he was and that it appears Pele must be reading sensationlist medias, to come up with such wrongful statement." Brazilian radio station, Jovem Pan, had quoted Pele as saying that: "It is unfair to talk about drugs in football just because of one or two cases, like Robinho and (former Brazil striker) Ronaldo, who had that problem." | [
"Who did he accuse of doing drugs?",
"Who is requesting a formal retraction?"
] | [
[
"Robinho,"
],
[
"Robinho,"
]
] | Pele threatened with court action unless he retracts reported drug accusations .
He reportedly alleged fellow Brazilians Robinho and Ronaldo had taken drugs .
Robinho's representatives say a formal retraction will be requested from Pele . |
(CNN) -- Brazil turned on the style to defeat their South American rivals Chile 3-0 on Monday and set up a World Cup quarterfinal against the Netherlands.
The five-time world champions, who showed little of their usual dazzling play during the group phase, sent an ominous warning to their rivals as they comprehensively outplayed Chile in Johannesburg, with Juan, Luis Fabiano and Robinho all on target.
"We have to improve in all sectors of our play, but it was a nice game against Chile," Brazil coach Dunga told AFP.
"We have already said we are trying to play the open football which everyone wants to see. The players did well and we got forward a lot.
Dutch outclass Slovakia to reach quarters
Brazil, who welcomed playmaker Kaka back from a one-match ban, took the lead after 34 minutes from a straightforward corner routine.
Right-back Maicon crossed for central defender Juan, who rose above the Chilean defense to power his header into the net.
Brazil's second goal, four minutes later, was more characteristically Brazilian in its style and execution.
Robinho carried the ball down the left flank before squaring to Kaka, who cushioned a pass into the path of Luis Fabiano, who rounded the goalkeeper and scored.
The third goal, after 60 minutes, stemmed from a swift counter-attack, with Ramires charging down the center with the ball and passing to Robinho, who curled his finish around the goalkeeper.
Chile, who reached the semifinals on home soil in 1962, struggled to break down a well-drilled Brazilian back line and were restricted to half chances for Humberto Suazo and Jorge Valdivia.
Robinho came close to adding a fourth when he was released down the right, but his low shot was tipped around the post by goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.
The victory was Brazil's eighth in a row over Chile, who became the first South American side to go out of the tournament.
Brazil will play the Netherlands in the quarterfinals in Port Elizabeth on Friday, July 2.
"We know the Netherlands are a very difficult team to beat and they are very able technically, they play their football like South Americans," said Dunga.
Meanwhile, the president of the French Football Federation Jean-Pierre Escalettes said he will resign following the country's disastrous World Cup showing.
France, the 1998 winners and 2006 runners-up, were eliminated in the group stage after collecting just just one point and scoring one goal in a campaign marred by infighting.
"After a weekend of reflection during which I consulted my elected colleagues and those close to me, I have decided that I must resign," Escalettes said in a statement on the federation website. | [
"when did Brazil beat Chile 3-0 in Johannesburg?",
"What did Brazil beat Chile by?",
"where Juan, Luis Fabiano and Robinho all score?",
"who is the president of the French Football Federation?",
"Who will Brazil meet next?",
"who met with Brazil?"
] | [
[
"Monday"
],
[
"3-0"
],
[
"Johannesburg,"
],
[
"Jean-Pierre Escalettes"
],
[
"Netherlands."
],
[
"Chile"
]
] | Brazil beat Chile 3-0 in Johannesburg to reach World Cup quarterfinals .
Juan, Luis Fabiano and Robinho all score for the five-time winners at Ellis Park .
Brazil will meet the Netherlands in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, on Friday, July 2 .
Escalettes resigns as president of French Football Federation after poor World Cup campaign . |
(CNN) -- Brazil's economic powerhouse was once thought of as the ugly sister to Rio de Janiero's beach-fronted glamour. São Paulo, the world's fifth largest city, is the fashion capital of Brazil. But, over the past few years, São Paulo' fashion, music and design scenes have gained such momentum that it's tipped by some as cooler destination than more touristy Rio. True, São Paulo doesn't have a beach, nor does it go out of its way to cater to foreign visitors, but hidden in the sprawl is a trove of hip hotels and restaurants, modernist architecture and some of the best shopping south of the Equator. It would take a lot longer than a day to discover everything São Paulo has to offer, but our guide should help visitors short on time to navigate the city's immense grid of skyscrapers and traffic jams to find an entirely different Brazilian experience. Watch the sun come up over the world's fifth largest urban area like many of its mega-wealthy inhabitants -- with a helicopter ride over the city. Tourist rides normally leave from Campo de Marte Airport and take in aerial views of city landmarks like Ibirapuera Park and Avenida Paulista. You may have worked up an appetite by now so head back into town for breakfast on Rua Oscar Freire, São Paulo's answer to Rodeo Drive. Eat delicious cheese bread known as pão de queijo, fruit, yoghurt and granola and wash it down with a freshly squeezed juice or coffee at Oscar Cafe. The prosperous, tree-lined avenues of the surrounding area, known as Jardins, are perfect for a bit of shopping. Look out for Clube Chocolate where you can buy upscale designerwear in divine surroundings ( Rua Oscar Freire 913) and Endossa, a collaborative shop filled with cubes of shelving where entrepreneurs can rent a cubby-hole to sell their wares. It's possible to walk to Avenida Paulista, São Paulo's financial district from here, and there you can mill past some of the most expensive real estate in South America with the Paulistano business folk on your way to take in some culture at MASP, also known as São Paulo Museum of Art. Once you've had your fill of high culture, take in some of São Paulo's famous street art on Beco de Batman, which translates as "Batman Alley." Every inch of this street in the super hip Vila Madalena area is covered in graffiti, much of it by well-known local artists. Recharge your batteries with a beer and snack on empadas, delicious miniature pies with a variety of fillings like palm hearts, Portuguese salted fish and cheese at Empanadas (Rua Wisard 489, Vila Madalena). Otherwise, why not hop in a cab and head over to Liberdade and check out the home of the biggest Japanese community anywhere in the world outside Japan. Check out the Buddhist temple (Rua São Joaquim), the karaoke bars and sushi restaurants -- one of the best of which is Takô (Rua da Glória 746, Liberdade). With a shimmering green-copper facade, the Unique Hotel is just one example of São Paulo's stunning modern architecture. The highlight of this area, if you happen to be lucky enough to be there at the right time, is the anything goes weekend market Feira da Liberdade (Praça da Liberdade) and if you're even luckier you might catch one of the sumo competitions held there from time to time. After all these hours in the concrete jungle you may be longing for a bit of green, which you can find in ample supply in the enormous Ibirapuera Park. As you wander the tree-lined walkways, dodging throngs of body-conscious Paulistanos exercising along the way, you will encounter one masterpiece of modernist architecture after another -- mostly designed by the father of Brazilian modernism Oscar Niemeyer. Look out for the beautiful sci-fi dome, Oca and the Grande Marquise an extraordinary white pavilion which houses MAM (Museu de Arte Moderna) and features expanses of covered concrete which attract many of the city's skateboarders. No visit to São Paulo | [
"What elements of culture can be found in Sao Paulo?",
"Which architect has designed buildings in Sao Paulo?",
"What nationality is mentioned in the article?",
"What was designed by Oscar Niemeyer?",
"What cities are mentioned in the article?"
] | [
[
"fashion, music and design scenes"
],
[
"Oscar Niemeyer."
],
[
"Brazil."
],
[
"Look out for the beautiful sci-fi dome, Oca and the Grande Marquise an extraordinary white pavilion which houses MAM (Museu de Arte Moderna) and features expanses of covered concrete which attract many of the city's skateboarders."
],
[
"São Paulo,"
]
] | São Paulo's art, fashion and music scene means it's no longer second to Rio .
Among the grid of skyscrapers is iconic modernist architecture by Oscar Niemeyer .
Uniquely Brazilian, the city also has a twist of other cultures .
Do what the Paulistanos do and sample street side delicacies and top cocktails . |
(CNN) -- Brazilian authorities detained the wife of former world boxing champion Arturo Gatti as a suspect in his killing, according to local reports. Arturo Gatti pictured during the final fight of his career, a knockout defeat by Alfonso Gomez in 2007. Gatti was found dead Saturday in a hotel in Brazil, where he was taking a vacation with his wife, Amanda Carina Barbosa Rodrigues, and their young child. The 37-year-old Canadian, who was born in Italy and made his name as a fighter based in New Jersey, was staying in the northeast seaside resort of Porto de Galihnas. Rodrigues, 23, was being held in a police station in the city of Recife in connection with the killing, a police official in Porto de Galihnas told CNN. Police official Osmar Silva Santiago confirmed local reports that Gatti's body was found Saturday morning in his hotel room with strangulation marks. "This crime is being investigated by our homicide experts and we hope to have more answers tomorrow," Santiago said. Police recovered a blood-stained purse strap from the scene, according to media reports. Rodrigues became a suspect because of inconsistencies during her interrogation, local reports quoted homicide task force chief Josedith Ferreira as saying. Gatti made his name in a series of three fights against "Irish" Micky Ward, losing the first but triumphing in the other two. He held the IBF super-featherweight and WBC light-welterweight titles, and he also won the WBC junior welterweight belt but lost it to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2005. Gatti retired in 2007 after suffering a knockout defeat by Alfonso Gomez in his comeback, ending with a record of 40 wins and nine losses. He grew up in Montreal, Quebec, after leaving Italy at an early age, and returned to the city following his retirement. According to Gatti's official Web site, the Italian-born pugilist won "Fight of the Year" for three consecutive years. CNN's Helena de Moura contributed to this report. | [
"what was the cause of death",
"Where was Gatti's body found on Saturday night?",
"How many years old is Gatti's wife?",
"Where was Amanda Carina Barbosa Rodrigues detained?",
"What manner did Gatti die?",
"What was the age of the wife?",
"What was the name of the person detained?",
"What was significant about Gatti's body?",
"What was his former profession?",
"who was detained at Recife police station?",
"Who was detained at Recife police station ?",
"what was The former world boxing champion doing?",
"Whose answers to interrogation reportedly had inconsistencies ?",
"Gatti's body was found Saturday in hotel room with whay kind of marks ?",
"what had inconsistencies?"
] | [
[
"strangulation"
],
[
"in a hotel in Brazil,"
],
[
"23,"
],
[
"Recife"
],
[
"with strangulation marks."
],
[
"23,"
],
[
"Amanda Carina Barbosa Rodrigues,"
],
[
"strangulation marks."
],
[
"world boxing champion"
],
[
"the wife of former world boxing champion Arturo Gatti"
],
[
"the wife of former world boxing champion Arturo Gatti"
],
[
"taking a vacation"
],
[
"Amanda Carina Barbosa Rodrigues,"
],
[
"strangulation"
],
[
"interrogation,"
]
] | NEW: Wife, Amanda Carina Barbosa Rodrigues, detained at Recife police station .
NEW: Rodrigues' answers to interrogation reportedly had inconsistencies .
NEW: Gatti's body was found Saturday in hotel room with strangulation marks .
The former world boxing champion was vacationing with his 23-year-old wife . |
(CNN) -- Brazilian playmaker Kaka was officially presented as a Real Madrid player, after being handed the number eight jersey in front of thousands of supporters and a huge media contingent at the club's Bernabeu stadium on Tuesday evening. Kaka parades his new Real Madrid jersey after completing his $92 million transfer to the Spanish giants. An estimated 50,000-strong crowd, almost three times the anticipated number, turned up to watch the ceremony as Kaka was unveiled as Madrid's latest addition by club president Florentino Perez and honorary president Alfredo di Stefano. Latest transfer gossip and rumors Kaka, who completed his medical earlier in the day having landed in the Spanish capital in the morning, has penned a six-year contract and has cost Madrid a reported $92 million. There had been speculation that Kaka would be handed the number five shirt that Zinedine Zidane had once worn for Madrid, but the new arrival will instead take up the number eight shirt formerly worn by Fernando Gago. The presentation took place on a stage erected on the Bernabeu pitch that also included Madrid's record nine European Cup trophies, a giant screen and with a backdrop of four huge images showing club legends Raul, Juanito, Di Stefano and Zidane. The 27-year-old Kaka, who was named player of the tournament after helping Brazil win the Confederations Cup in South Africa over the last few weeks, told supporters: "Today is a very happy day for me. "I'm very happy because this new stage of my career will be at Real Madrid. I hope to write my name into the history of this club with many victories and successes." Kaka was the first signing confirmed by Madrid after Perez returned to the club presidency at the start of June. Soon after bringing in the Brazilian, Perez also agreed a world-record 80 million euros fee with Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo. That deal was finalized on Friday night and will come into effect from Wednesday, with Ronaldo, who like Kaka will be tied to the Spanish giants until 2015, being presented on July 6. Aside from Kaka and Ronaldo, Madrid also struck a deal to sign Valencia defender Raul Albiol last week for a fee believed to be around 13 million euros, while the likes of Franck Ribery, David Villa and Xabi Alonso are all being linked with moves to the Bernabeu as Perez relaunches the famous 'galacticos' policy that he presided over during his first tenure at the club. Then, while president from 2000-06, Perez sanctioned the big-money signings of superstars such as Zidane, David Beckham, Luis Figo and Ronaldo, a policy that reaped indifferent rewards with Madrid winning seven trophies under Perez in total but none in his final three years. | [
"What club has signed Kaka?",
"What age is Kaka?",
"What is his ethnicity?",
"What is his jersey number?",
"Who is a Real Madrid player?",
"What country is Real Madrid in?",
"What tournament has Kaka won playing for Brazil?"
] | [
[
"Madrid"
],
[
"27-year-old"
],
[
"Brazilian"
],
[
"eight"
],
[
"Kaka"
],
[
"Spanish"
],
[
"Confederations Cup"
]
] | Kaka is unveiled as a Real Madrid player after completing his move from Milan .
The Brazilian playmaker is handed the No.8 shirt in front of thousands of fans .
27-year-old just helped Brazil to victory in the Confederations Cup tournament . |
(CNN) -- Brazilian star Kaka has agreed to join Real Madrid from Italy's AC Milan in a $92 million deal, the Spanish radio station Cadena Ser reported on Tuesday. Former World Player of the Year Kaka has agreed to join Real Madrid in a $92m move according to reports in Spain. Cadena Ser claimed that Real president Florentino Perez had thrashed out a deal with AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani and Bosco Leite, Kaka's father and agent. Kaka is currently in Brazil with the national team ahead of a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay and earlier in the day had appeared to rule out a move from Italy's Serie A. "I'll say it for the last time. The last time. I don't want to leave Milan," he told Gazzetta dello Sport. "In this period I prefer to remain silent because I don't want to be misunderstood. Or, worse still, to be used. "To the millions of Milan supporters, I say that I have made my choice. I have said what I want to stay. Leave me in peace, please." However, AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi also hinted at Kaka's departure just before Cadena Ser's claim. "I do not know if we can keep Kaka at Milan because they (Real) have offered him so much money," Berlusconi was quoted as saying by Italian press agency Ansa. Spanish reports said Kaka will sign for five years with a salary worth nearly $13 million a year. Former team-mate Paolo Maldini, who retired at the end of the season, admitted he still had doubts about Kaka's future at the San Siro. "I don't know if he'll still stay at Milan," Maldini told Gazzetta dello Sport. "Ancelotti might have been cryptic about his future but Kaka has been even more so." Last January, Kaka rejected a move to Premier League Manchester City who were prepared to pay the 2007 world player of the year $750,000 per week. Kaka's coach at Milan Carlo Ancelotti was on Monday appointed manager at Premier League Chelsea who have also been linked with a bid for the Brazilian. | [
"what is the name of the Spanish radio station",
"How much will Kaka's salary be?",
"How much will he get paid?",
"Where is kaka now",
"How many years did Kaka sign for?",
"What did Spanish radio station Cadena Ser claim Kaka agreed to?",
"what did the reports say"
] | [
[
"Cadena Ser"
],
[
"$13 million a year."
],
[
"$92 million"
],
[
"is currently in Brazil"
],
[
"five"
],
[
"join Real Madrid from Italy's AC Milan in a $92 million deal,"
],
[
"Former World Player of the Year Kaka has agreed to join Real Madrid in a $92m move according to"
]
] | Spanish radio station Cadena Ser claim Kaka agrees $92m Real Madrid move .
Kaka currently in Brazil with the national team ahead of a World Cup qualifier .
Reports said Kaka will sign for five years with salary worth nearly $13m a year . |
(CNN) -- Brazilian star Kaka is leading the campaign for David Beckham to stay at Italian giants AC Milan beyond his agreed loan spell. Former England captain David Beckham has made an immediate impact with his contribution at AC Milan. The England midfielder is due to return to the Los Angeles Galaxy in March but playmaker Kaka said Beckham had already shown his star qualities. The 33-year-old played 89 minutes of the 2-2 draw with Roma on Sunday following a friendly outing against Hamburg. "David has shown that he is a player ready to run the extra mile," Kaka told a news conference in Zurich ahead of FIFA's world player of the year gala. "The first matches showed quite clearly what his qualities are and his passing ability and his capacity to play well. "Perhaps these first two months will lead to six months or to one year, to more contracts. I certainly would like to play more with him." Beckham's advisers have stressed that there are no plans for him to stay at AC Milan beyond March 9. However, former Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas last week expressed fears that Beckham could be tempted to bring an early end to his time in the U.S. AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti revealed Beckham's attitude and intelligence had won him a place in the starting side in Rome where he had been expected to start on the bench. "He did well," said Ancelotti. "I chose Beckham to start because he proved in recent days to be a very intelligent player and serious. "The appearance against Roma is a small reward for him because he worked very hard and has adapted well to the team. "This was only his second game with us and he will improve. I believe everyone is happy to have Beckham here." Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf said: "We have to compliment him. He has done a good job and he grew in the game. He still needs to improve but I think he can be very satisfied with what he has done after two months of not playing." Roma stand-in captain Daniele De Rossi suggested Milan had made a shrewd move in capturing the 33-year-old. "From a media standpoint Beckham is impressive," De Rossi said. "He is a nice guy, has a beautiful wife, has won so many trophies in his career and perhaps this penalises him as a player although I believe he has the feet and the determination." Beckham, meanwhile, forecast that Sunday's double goalscorer Alexandre Pato of Brazil is destined for greatness. "I have seen him in training and on the pitch. He is only 19 years of age and I think he can become one of the greatest players in the world," said Beckham. Milan are nine points behind Serie A leaders Inter going into Saturday's home game against Fiorentina with Beckham seemingly set to retain his starting slot. | [
"What position does Beckham play?",
"Who wants David Beckham to extend his loan at AC Milan?",
"Kaka wants who to extend his loan?",
"When is David Beckham due to return to Los Angeles Galaxy?",
"Who wants David Beckham to extend his loan?",
"When is Beckham due to return to Los Angeles?",
"What do Beckhams advisors say?",
"Where is Beckham to return?"
] | [
[
"midfielder"
],
[
"Brazilian"
],
[
"David Beckham"
],
[
"March 9."
],
[
"Brazilian"
],
[
"March"
],
[
"at AC Milan beyond March 9."
],
[
"Los Angeles Galaxy"
]
] | Brazilian star Kaka wants David Beckham to extend his loan at AC Milan .
England midfielder Beckham due to return to Los Angeles Galaxy in March .
Beckham's advisers say no plans for him to stay beyond agreed deadline . |
(CNN) -- Brazilian superstar Kaka celebrated his return from injury by scoring Real Madrid's winner against 10-man Zaragoza on Saturday night, keeping the pressure on Spanish leaders Barcelona.
Kaka ended a six-week absence as he came off the bench in the second half and slotted home his eighth goal this season with eight minutes to play to give Real a 2-1 away win that left the capital club a point behind defending champions Barca.
The midfielder, who cost $100 million when he signed from AC Milan in June, fired in a low effort across goalkeeper Roberto after running into the box to collect a precise pass from fellow big-money acquisition Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo was also involved when Real, knowing they had to win after Barcelona's earlier 3-1 victory against bottom club Xerez, finally took the lead five minutes after halftime.
The Portugal forward was quickest to react after Roberto could only first parry a low shot by Gonzalo Higuain and then block the former Manchester United star's own attempt, and veteran forward Raul was in the right place to sidefoot home the resulting cutback pass.
Raul, who came on for injured Dutch midfielder Rafael van Der Vaart in the first half, also hit the post in the 26th minute.
Zaragoza, just two points above the relegation zone, were reduced to 10 men only a minute after Raul's goal when Matteo Contini was sent off for aiming an elbow at Higuain -- the Argentine went down clutching his face even though the on-loan Italian defender's limb appeared to strike his chest.
Raul also left the pitch with an injury, to be replaced by French forward Karim Benzema.
But the home side, promoted back to the top flight this season, shocked Real by equalizing in the 61st minute as on-loan striker Adrian Colunga broke free on the counterattack and rounded goalkeeper Iker Casillas to slot the ball into the empty net.
Sergio Ramos headed against the Zaragoza woodwork from Guti's free-kick as Real pressed for a winner, which came after the 75th-minute introduction of Kaka.
Barcelona bounced back from the 3-1 midweek defeat against Inter Milan, which followed a long bus trip to northern Italy due to the volcanic ash cloud that closed Europe's airspace.
Coach Josep Guardiola rotated his squad ahead of Wednesday's second leg of the Champions League semifinal, and Jeffren and Thierry Henry took advantage of their call-ups to put the Catalans 2-0 up inside 25 minutes.
The 22-year-old winger Jeffren curled in a fine 14th-minute effort after linking with Xavi, while France forward Henry was set up by strike partner Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Xerez pulled one back just a minute later with a fierce shot from Mario Bermejo that caught Barca napping after a mistake by defender Dmitro Chygrynskiy, but Ibrahimovic restored the hosts' two-goal cushion 11 minutes as halftime after Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure laid on an easy chance.
Xerez ended the match with nine men as Matias Alustiza and Fabian Orellana were red-carded for bad tackles in the final minutes, and are now six points from safety with four matches to play.
It was Xavi's 200th victory in 349 appearances in a Barcelona shirt, extending his club record.
"It was a dangerous game because however much you prepare tactically, your mind is on last Tuesday's match and the one we will play on Wednesday against Inter," Guardiola told reporters.
"Today we played thinking about Inter, and it was inevitable because it's just so important for us."
Valencia consolidated third place with a 1-0 victory at home to Deportivo La Coruna in the late match, with striker David Villa scoring the only goal from the penalty spot in the 34th minute after defender Ze Castro handled the ball.
Los Che moved seven points clear of fourth-placed Mallorca, who host Malaga on Monday.
The only blot on the night was the late sending-off of substitute Rubens Baraja, who received two quickfire yellow cards.
The first spell also ended on a bizarre note as the referee blew for halftime before the required 45 minutes were played | [
"How many points are Real Madrid behind?",
"who scored in the 82nd minute",
"who stays one point behind",
"who is a bottom club",
"What did Kaka score?"
] | [
[
"a"
],
[
"Kaka"
],
[
"Real Madrid's"
],
[
"Xerez,"
],
[
"Real Madrid's winner"
]
] | Real Madrid remain one point behind Spanish leaders after beating Zaragoza 2-1 .
Kaka scores 82nd-minute winner as he comes off bench after six weeks on sidelines .
Barcelona earlier bounced back from midweek defeat to beat bottom club Xerez 3-1 .
Xerez have two men sent off in final minutes as Barca have eye on Champions League . |
(CNN) -- Breakaway conservative members of the Episcopal Church in the United States and its Canadian counterpart are expected to formally announce Wednesday the formation of a rival North American Anglican church.
The consecration of Rev. Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire left many conservatives disaffected.
Leaders of the Common Cause Partnership, a network of more than 100,000 Anglican Christians in North America, are expected to unveil a draft constitution for a new ecclesiastical territorial division, or province, at an evening service in Wheaton Evangelical Free Church in Wheaton, Illinois, the group said in a written statement.
"The public release of our draft constitution is an important concrete step toward the goal of a biblical, missionary and united Anglican Church in North America," Bishop Robert Duncan of the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, diocese, said in the written statement.
The move comes after years of debate over issues from the interpretation of the Bible to homosexuality. Tensions reached a boiling point in 2003, when the Episcopal Church consecrated an openly gay man, Rev. Gene Robinson, as bishop of New Hampshire.
The move outraged worshippers with traditionalist tendencies, and since then, four dioceses and several parishes have left the Episcopalian Church, including Duncan's Pittsburgh diocese.
In all, the newly formed division will consist of about 100,000 members from the secessionist dioceses and parishes, along with splinter groups that had left the Episcopalian Church in earlier years, said Robert Lundy, a spokesman for the group
"This constitution brings them back together under one church, all aligned together," Lundy said. "This is all these folks coming back together."
Lunday said it was safe to say Duncan will lead the nascent province. An assembly is likely to be called next year to determine additional leadership, he said.
The Rev. Dr. Charles K. Robertson, canon to the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, Katharine Jefferts Schori, issued a statement saying it would not hazard a guess as to the consequences of Wednesday's service.
"We will not predict what will or will not come out of this meeting, but simply continue to be clear that the Episcopal Church, along with the Anglican Church of Canada and the La Iglesia Anglicana de Mexico, comprise the official, recognized presence of the Anglican Communion in North America," he said.
"We reiterate what has been true of Anglicanism for centuries: that there is room within the Episcopal Church for people with different views, and we regret that some have felt the need to depart from the diversity of our common life in Christ."
The Episcopal Church is part of the Anglican Communion, which is composed of 38 provinces around the world. It was not immediately clear which of the other provinces would recognize the Anglican Church in North America, but Lundy said in a meeting last year in Jerusalem indicated that some would do so.
Lundy said the draft constitution will state the province's core beliefs and doctrine.
He said it will not lay out definite policies for issues the leaders disagree on, such as ordaining women. | [
"What church does the gay bishop belong to?",
"What was the tiping point for many?",
"What came after years of dispute?",
"How many people is this new division expected to take from parishes?",
"Amount of people expected to bee taken from parishes that left Episcopal Church?",
"What was the tipping point?",
"What church are traditionalists trying to breakaway from?",
"What is the name of the church?",
"Who is going to make an announcement?",
"The move comes after what?",
"A network of who were exptected to announce the formation of a province?",
"How many people left the Episcopal Church?",
"When did the move come?",
"The new division is expected to take in how many?",
"Where does the gay bishop live at?",
"What is the number of people expected to be taken by the new division?",
"What are the breakaway traditionalists expected to announce?",
"How many are being taken in?",
"What was the tipping point for this change?"
] | [
[
"Episcopal"
],
[
"consecrated an openly gay man,"
],
[
"The move"
],
[
"more than 100,000"
],
[
"about 100,000 members"
],
[
"when the Episcopal Church consecrated an openly gay man, Rev. Gene Robinson, as bishop of New Hampshire."
],
[
"Episcopal"
],
[
"Wheaton Evangelical Free"
],
[
"conservative members of the Episcopal Church"
],
[
"years of debate over issues from the interpretation of the Bible to"
],
[
"more than 100,000 Anglican Christians in North America,"
],
[
"about 100,000"
],
[
"after years of debate"
],
[
"about 100,000 members"
],
[
"New Hampshire."
],
[
"100,000"
],
[
"the formation of a rival North American Anglican church."
],
[
"about 100,000"
],
[
"the Episcopal Church consecrated an openly gay man,"
]
] | Network of breakaway traditionalists expected to announce formation of rival province .
Move comes after years of dispute over progressive direction of Episcopal Church .
Tipping point for many was consecration of gay man as bishop of New Hampshire .
New division expected to take in 100,000 from parishes that left Episcopal Church . |
(CNN) -- Brett Ratner has resigned as a producer of this year's Academy Awards show for an anti-gay remark he made over the weekend, the movie director said Tuesday in an open letter to his colleagues.
"Over the last few days, I've gotten a well-deserved earful from many of the people I admire most in this industry expressing their outrage and disappointment over the hurtful and stupid things I said in a number of recent media appearances," Ratner said in the letter, which was given to CNN by his representative, Allan Mayer. "To them, and to everyone I've hurt and offended, I'd like to apologize publicly and unreservedly."
Ratner met with the representatives of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation prior to announcing his resignation, GLAAD said in a news release Tuesday.
When asked during a question-and-answer session about his newly released action comedy, "Tower Heist," whether he rehearses with his actors before shooting a scene, Ratner replied, "Rehearsing is for f*gs," GLAAD said in its release, citing New York Magazine's Vulture blog.
"When we sat down with Brett today, he seemed very sincere in his desire to use this experience as a way to begin speaking out against anti-gay language in popular culture," said Herndon Graddick, senior director of programs and communications at GLAAD. "We believe his resignation is just the first step and will be announcing a series of concrete actions with Brett in coming days and weeks."
In his statement Tuesday, Ratner said "it pains me deeply that I may have hurt" his colleagues who "are members of the LGBT community."
"Having love in your heart doesn't count for much if what comes out of your mouth is ugly and bigoted," Ratner said. "With this in mind, and to all those who understandably feel that apologies are not enough, please know that I will be taking real action over the coming weeks and months in an effort to do everything I can both professionally and personally to help stamp out the kind of thoughtless bigotry I've so foolishly perpetuated."
Ratner said he had called Tom Sherak, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, to resign as the producer of the Academy Awards show.
"Being asked to help put on the Oscar show was the proudest moment of my career," Ratner said. "But as painful as this may be for me, it would be worse if my association with the show were to be a distraction from the Academy and the high ideals it represents."
"Tower Heist," which stars Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy, made $24.2 million on its first weekend. | [
"Who has resigned from the 84th Academy Awards?",
"What movie was Ratner being interviewed about?"
] | [
[
"Ratner"
],
[
"\"Tower Heist,\""
]
] | Brett Ratner has resigned as producer of the 84th annual Academy Awards show .
In a statement Tuesday, Ratner says he apologizes "publicly and unreservedly"
Ratner made a demeaning remark during a Q&A session about his movie "Tower Heist"
"Rehearsing is for f*gs," New York Magazine's Vulture Blog quoted Ratner as saying . |
(CNN) -- Brian Adkins, a newly assigned American diplomat in Ethiopia, was found dead last weekend at his home in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, an embassy spokesman and a senior State Department official told CNN.
U.S. Embassy press officer Michael McClellan identified Adkins and said he was from Columbus, Ohio. He was 25 at the time of his death.
"He was found dead over the weekend and a criminal investigation is under way," McClellan told CNN on Thursday. "The Ethiopian federal police are investigating it."
Adkins, who would have turned 26 on Monday, received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from George Washington University, according to the school's newspaper, the GW Hatchet, which reported his death.
According to the newspaper, Adkins joined the State Department after receiving his master's degree in 2007.
A State Department official, who declined to be named because of the ongoing investigation, said it was the diplomat's first tour of duty as a foreign service officer. There were no apparent threats against him, and investigators were trying to determine whether he was the victim of a random crime.
Adkins' father, Dan Adkins, told CNN affiliate WBNS that his family worried about him, but Adkins assured them he would be safe at a guarded compound.
His sister, Tiffany Cooper, said the family was struggling.
"It is hurting us. There is no closure. We have no idea how our brother died," Cooper said.
The GW Hatchet reported that Adkins moved to Ethiopia as part of a Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship, after studying the local language and culture for nearly a year.
A GWU student and friend of Adkins described him as "selfless, hardworking, confident, funny, charming, articulate, a scholar and a gentleman," according to the newspaper.
"The world has lost someone who had so much to offer. I miss him tremendously," senior Michael Geremia told the newspaper. "When I received word of his death on Monday, which would have been his 26th birthday, a piece of me died in Ethiopia."
As a student, Adkins was active in the Knights of Columbus and the Newman Center, which are organizations run by the Catholic church, the paper reported.
-- CNN's Elise Labott and Ben Brumfield contributed to this report. | [
"what kind of investagtion is underway",
"What does the U.S. Embassy say is under way?",
"A criminal investigation is under way for what?",
"Who is invistegating",
"Who was found dead over the weekend?",
"It was Adkins first tour of duty as a what?",
"who was being threatened"
] | [
[
"a criminal investigation"
],
[
"a criminal investigation"
],
[
"found dead"
],
[
"\"The Ethiopian federal police"
],
[
"Adkins,"
],
[
"a foreign service officer."
],
[
"no apparent threats"
]
] | U.S. Embassy says a criminal investigation is under way .
Authorities found Brian Adkins dead over the weekend .
U.S. official says it was Adkins first tour of duty as a foreign service officer .
There were no apparent threats against Adkins . |
(CNN) -- Bringing a growing health concern to Congress, scientists squared off Thursday over whether cell phones contribute to brain cancer. Rep. Denis Kucinich of Ohio holds a model of a 5-year-old child's brain absorbing cell phone radiation. Studies have indicated that long-term cell phone use may be associated with brain cancer, according to Dr. Ronald Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, and Dr. David Carpenter, director of Institute for Health and the Environment at University of Albany. They both testified in front of the House Subcommittee on Domestic Policy. "I cannot tell this committee that cell phones are definitely dangerous. But, I certainly cannot tell you that they are safe," Herberman said. Herberman and Carpenter cited the results from a study recently presented by Dr. Lennart Hardell of Örebro University in Sweden. The results indicated that people who use cell phones have double the chance of developing malignant brain tumors and acoustic neuromas, which are tumors on the hearing nerve. The study also said people under age 20 were more than five times as likely to develop brain cancer. But Dr. Robert Hoover, director or Epidemiology and Biostatistics Program at the National Cancer Institute, said the study has not yet appeared in a peer-reviewed journal, so has not come under sufficient scrutiny. The evidence for the connection between cell phones and cancer is inconclusive and more research is needed, he said. "Larger studies are needed to sort out chance and bias," Hoover testified. Interphone, a series of multinational studies on the risk of cancer from cell phones, has not found an increase in tumors associated with the first 10 years of mobile phone use, he said. Some findings show an increased risk of tumors diagnosed on the side of the head that the cell phone is pressed against, but this pattern has not been seen consistently, Hoover said. CTIA, the International Association for Wireless Telecommunications, declined the invitation to testify, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, a former Democratic presidential candidate from Ohio, who led the hearing, said. Steve Largent, CEO of CTIA, issued a statement Wednesday saying the industry has supported scientific research on these issues and supports the Federal Communications Commision's safety guidelines. "The available scientific evidence and expert reviews from leading global health organizations such as the American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute, United States Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization reflect a consensus based on published scientific research showing that there is no reason for concern," Largent's statement said. The overall evidence for the cancer-phone link has not been statistically significant at a 95 percent confidence level, a standard in science, Carpenter said. But he also noted that U.S.-funded research is very scarce. "Are we at the same place we were with smoking and lung cancer 30 years ago?" he asked. Carpenter and Herberman testified that the risk of brain cancer for children is far greater than for adults. Herberman demonstrated a model showing that the radiation from cell phones would penetrate far deeper into a 5-year-old's brain than an adult's. See models from researchers at the University of Pittsburgh » But the incidence of brain cancer in children has not increased significantly from the late 1980s to 2005, Hoover said. The Federal Communications Commission limits cell phone radio frequency energy emissions, called the specific absorption rate (SAR), at 1.6 watts per kilogram, as measured over one gram of tissue. The standard was developed in 1997 in consultation with Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, a professional association open to everyone, including manufacturers and health specialists. But the SAR standard reflects a biological response to cell phone radio frequency energy heating tissue, Kucinich said. Many experiments show that radio frequency energy does cause "biological effects" without heating tissue, although not all of those effects are harmful, Carpenter said. Hoover agreed that there could be such effects related to cancer risk, but they have not been properly vetted in a laboratory. The FCC itself does not have the expertise to evaluate whether this standard is appropriate protection for possible heath | [
"Who is at higher risk from cell phone radiation?",
"What did the expert say?",
"What did the expert say he couldn't say?",
"What do studies show?",
"Who are at higher risk for cancer-causing radiation from the phone?",
"Who is at higher risk?"
] | [
[
"people under age 20 were more than five times as likely to develop brain cancer."
],
[
"that long-term cell phone use may be associated with brain cancer,"
],
[
"\"I cannot tell this committee that cell phones are definitely dangerous. But, I certainly cannot tell you that they are safe,\""
],
[
"have indicated that long-term cell phone use may be associated with brain cancer,"
],
[
"people under age 20"
],
[
"people under age 20"
]
] | Studies conflict; do not consistently show cell phones cause cancer, expert says .
Expert says he cannot say they are definitely dangerous or definitely safe .
Children are at higher risk for cancer-causing radiation from phone, scientist says .
Woman at House panel hearing says her husband's brain cancer from cell phone . |
(CNN) -- Britain says it has suspended the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands and imposed direct rule after allegations of systemic corruption and "serious dishonesty". Former Turks and Caicos Islands Premier Michael Misick, shown here with his wife, LisaRaye, could be investigated. British Foreign Office Minister Chris Bryant said he instructed the British governor of the island territory to suspend the ministerial government and the House of Assembly for as long as two years. Bryant said his order also suspends the constitutional right to trial by jury in the Turks and Caicos. "This is a serious constitutional step which the UK government has not taken lightly, but these measures are essential in order to restore good governance and sound financial management," Bryant said in a statement. "It remains our intentions that elections should be held by July 2011, if not sooner. It is also important that the people of Turks and Caicos Islands continue to have a voice in the interim and the order puts in place an advisory council and consultative forum to make sure this happens." The move follows allegations of corruption in the Turks and Caicos, a British Overseas Territory of eight major islands and numerous uninhabited keys, 800 kilometers (500 miles) southeast of Miami, Florida. The British government set up a commission of inquiry in July 2008 to look into possible corruption or other serious dishonesty in recent years of past and present elected members of the legislature. The commission's report, delivered May 31, found "information in abundance pointing to a high probability of systemic corruption and/or serious dishonesty" in the Turks and Caicos, the Foreign Office said. "This, together with clear signs of political amorality and immaturity and of general administrative incompetence, demonstrated a need for urgent suspension in whole or in part of the constitution and for other legislative and administrative reforms," the Foreign Office said. The report also recommends criminal investigations into former Premier Michael Misick and four of his former Cabinet ministers. "This is not a 'British takeover,'" said Gordon Wetherell, governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands. "Public services will continue to be run by people of the Turks and Caicos Islands, as indeed they should be. But I hope we can now begin to run them better." Queen Elizabeth is the head of state of the British territory, and the governor is her official representative. The governor is responsible for defense; external affairs; internal security, including the islands' police force; and the appointment of some public officials, but he is normally required to act on the advice of the Cabinet. The islands' ministerial system includes the premier and six other ministers who must act according to Cabinet policies. | [
"What has Britain suspended?",
"Which country has suspended the government of the Turks and Caicos?",
"who follows allegations of systemic corruption and \"serious dishonesty\"?",
"What allegations were laid against the government of Turks and Caicos?",
"What were the allegations of?",
"Where is Turks and Caicos?"
] | [
[
"the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands"
],
[
"Britain"
],
[
"Chris Bryant"
],
[
"\"serious dishonesty\"."
],
[
"systemic corruption and \"serious dishonesty\"."
],
[
"800 kilometers (500 miles) southeast of Miami, Florida."
]
] | Britain says it has suspended the government of the Turks and Caicos .
Move follows allegations of systemic corruption and "serious dishonesty"
Turks and Caicos is a British Overseas Territory of eight major islands . |
(CNN) -- Britain's Amir Khan has lost his International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Association (WBA) world light-welterweight titles after a controversial split points decision defeat to American Lamont Peterson in their showdown at the Washington Convention Center.
Khan was given the fight 115-110 on one of the judge's scorecards. However, the other two judges awarded local fighter Peterson the decision by scores of 113-112, enough for Khan to lose his belts.
The result proved contentious with referee Joe Cooper twice deducting Khan a point for pushing, in the seventh and 12th rounds, decisions that ultimately turned the fight in Peterson's favor.
A stunned Khan was clearly frustrated with the decision, saying in his post-fight interview: "It was like I was fighting two people in the ring, the referee and Lamont.
"I can see why there hasn't been a big fight in Washington in the last 20 years, because of decisions like this," added 25-year-old Khan -- who suffered only his second defeat from 28 professional bouts.
Meanwhile, Peterson, who improved to 30-1-1 after his win, said: "A lot of people thought I was the underdog but I followed my game plan the entire time and it worked.
"It was a long road but all the hard work paid off for me and it couldn't have been a better night."
Khan dominated the early stages of the fight, knocking down the challenger with a fierce right hand with just 28 seconds remaining of the opening round.
However, the fight began to harder to call as it progressed, and the moment when Khan was deducted a point for repeated pushing with his left forearm in round seven proved pivotal.
"Every time I tried to keep him away from me he kept coming in low," Khan continued. "I was the cleaner fighter. He was either going to head butt me or push me all night and the referee wasn't giving me a chance." | [
"what was khan deducted points for",
"who defeated the british champion",
"Who became the new world champ?",
"Who is the new champ",
"Who did Peterson defeat?",
"What was Khan deducted two points for?"
] | [
[
"pushing,"
],
[
"Lamont Peterson"
],
[
"Lamont Peterson"
],
[
"Lamont Peterson"
],
[
"Amir Khan"
],
[
"pushing,"
]
] | Lamont Peterson becomes the new world light-welterweight champion in Washington .
Local favorite Peterson defeats British champion Amir Khan on a split points decision .
It proves a controversial decision, after Khan was deducted two points for pushing . |
(CNN) -- Britain's David Cameron and Germany's Angela Merkel restated their commitment to a strong Europe Friday, as they sought to show a united front in the face of Europe's debt crisis.
Their talks in Berlin come amid tensions between the two nations over how to restore financial stability in Europe.
"The United Kingdom has a great interest, and very sensibly so, in seeing the eurozone being strong," Merkel said.
While Britain has some differences of opinion with Germany over the EU treaty and ways to boost competitiveness, she said, the two countries are tied by "strong bonds of friendship."
Both will work closely together ahead of a meeting of European leaders next month, she said.
Britain is the biggest economy in Europe outside the 17-nation eurozone, which uses the euro as its currency, while Germany is the economic powerhouse within it.
The pair have not always agreed on the best ways to tackle the current debt crisis, which has seen attention focused on Italy and Greece in recent weeks.
Senior members of Cameron's Conservative Party have been calling for more powers to be brought back to Britain from Europe, as EU treaty changes are made to ensure economic stability.
Cameron, who has previously expressed concern that Europe's difficulties are affecting Britain's economic recovery, also downplayed divisions between the countries as he stood alongside Merkel.
"We have had a very good discussion between very good friends," he said. "There are many things on which we are in absolute agreement."
However they have not made progress on plans for a European financial transactions tax, Merkel acknowledged. Britain opposes such a tax, fearing it could disadvantage London as a global financial center.
Cameron called for the deal reached at a summit in Europe on October 27 to be implemented as soon as possible.
The plan includes a series of measures to address the crisis, including debt relief for Greece, new capital requirements for banks and plans to build a financial "firewall" around vulnerable euro area economies.
"A strong, successful and stable eurozone is in all our interests," Cameron said.
"We need this crisis to be resolved. Britain, like Germany, has a big national interest in that happening."
And while the two do not agree on all matters, they can discuss and accommodate each other's views, he said.
Cameron met earlier Friday with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in Brussels.
Global markets have been volatile, as political turmoil linked to the financial crisis has forced a change of government in both Greece and Italy in the past week. | [
"Where is Cameron having talks with Merkel?",
"Who is in Berlin?",
"Where is David Cameron based?",
"What is Europe in the grip of?",
"Europe is in the grip of what crisis?",
"Which economies are large in Europe?"
] | [
[
"Berlin"
],
[
"David Cameron and Germany's Angela Merkel"
],
[
"Britain"
],
[
"debt crisis."
],
[
"debt"
],
[
"Britain"
]
] | David Cameron is in Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel .
Cameron: "A strong, successful and stable eurozone is in all our interests"
The two countries are among the largest economies in Europe .
Europe is in the grip of a debt crisis that has shaken market confidence . |
(CNN) -- Britain's Prince Harry apologized through a spokesman Saturday after videos surfaced showing him using offensive language to describe people in his military unit. Prince Harry apologized for videos of him making offensive comments while on military duty in 2006. In one clip, a voice said to be Harry's calls a soldier a "Paki." In another clip, the voice tells a soldier wearing a cloth on his head that he looks "like a raghead." The British newspaper News of the World posted the videos on its Web site Saturday. It did not say how it obtained them. A spokesman for Prince Harry apologized in a statement released by St. James's Palace Saturday. The spokesman said the prince -- who is third in line to the British throne -- "understands how offensive this term can be, and is extremely sorry for any offense his words might cause." It is not the first apology for offensive behavior by Prince Harry. In 2005, he was photographed wearing a Nazi uniform to a party. He said he was sorry for that incident. "It was a very stupid thing to do and I've learned my lesson, simple as that really," he said in a September 2005 interview with Britain's Press Association, marking his 21st birthday. "I'd like to put it in the past now. What's done is done. I regret it." The videos that surfaced Saturday were filmed by the prince himself during his military service in 2006, according to the News of the World Web site. "Ahh, our little Paki friend... Ahmed," a voice says as the camera zooms in on a soldier from across the room. The video does not show Prince Harry's face. The soldiers were waiting for their flight to Cyprus for a mission, according to the Web site. The Royal family said the 'Paki' term was a nickname for a friend in his platoon. "There is no question that Prince Harry was in any way seeking to insult his friend," the St. James's Palace statement said. The second video was filmed after arriving in Cyprus, according to News of the World, and shows a British soldier with a cloth over his head. A voice, which the News of the World claims to be Harry's, is heard saying, "(expletive) me, you look like a raghead." St. James's Palace said, "Prince Harry used the term 'raghead' to mean Taliban or Iraqi insurgent." Dickie Arbiter, a former press secretary to Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Harry's grandmother, urged people to take the prince's words in context. "Harry is not the same man as he was three years ago," Arbiter told Britain's ITN network. "You don't think when you are shooting a video." And he pointed out that Harry was serving in the army, where language is not always delicate. "It is quite common for names to be used in the military.... He's a serviceman first and foremost, but people see him as a prince first and he has to be careful of what he says." The British Ministry of Defense said it was not aware of any complaints against Prince Harry and would investigate the allegations of inappropriate behavior, according to a written statement released Saturday. "Bullying and racism are not endemic in the Armed Forces," it said. David Cameron, the leader of Britain's opposition Conservative Party, said Prince Harry's remark was "obviously a completely unacceptable thing to say." But he told the BBC's Andrew Marr program that he saw no need for the prince to be disciplined. "No, he has made an apology... and I think that's enough." --CNN's Katy Byron and Per Nyberg contributed to this report. | [
"What were the context of the videos that surfaced of him using slurs?",
"What media revealed Prince Harry's offensive languages?",
"Who is doing an investigation?",
"Where is Prince Harry from?",
"What does the British Ministry of Defense plan to do?",
"What does Prince Harry apologize for?",
"What did Prince Harry apologize for?",
"Who made offensive remarks while on duty three years ago?"
] | [
[
"offensive language to describe people in his military unit."
],
[
"British newspaper News of the World"
],
[
"The British Ministry of Defense"
],
[
"Britain's"
],
[
"would investigate the allegations of inappropriate behavior,"
],
[
"videos of him making offensive comments while on military duty in 2006."
],
[
"making offensive comments while on military duty in 2006."
],
[
"Prince Harry"
]
] | Prince Harry apologizes for offensive language used while on duty three years ago .
Videos surface of him calling one soldier "paki," another called "raghead"
British Ministry of Defense plans to investigate allegations . |
(CNN) -- British author J.G. Ballard, whose boyhood experience in a World War II internment camp became the novel and film "Empire of the Sun," died Sunday at age 78, his literary agent said. He had suffered from cancer for several years. Ballard's semi-autobiographical "Empire of the Sun" was made into a movie by Steven Spielberg. "J.G. Ballard has been a giant on the world literary scene for more than 50 years," Margaret Hanbury said Monday. "His acute and visionary observation of contemporary life was distilled into a number of brilliant, powerful novels, which have been published all over the world." Ballard was born in a Western enclave in the Chinese city of Shanghai in 1930. The Japanese occupied the city in 1937, and Ballard and his family were placed in a civilian internment camp in 1943. He began writing science fiction in the 1950s, with his work taking on a strongly psychological, apocalyptic bent in later decades. But, "Empire of the Sun," his semi-autobiographical account of the war years, became his best-known work, and it was made into a film by director Steven Spielberg in 1988. Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg adapted another of Ballard's novels, "Crash," in 1996. Its plot -- people sexually aroused by car accidents -- drew the novel an initial reaction of "beyond psychiatric help" from his publisher and an adults-only rating for the film. | [
"What was his novel called?",
"What did he die from?",
"When did he start writing fiction?",
"What was the name of the film",
"What did he write about?",
"What book was made into a film?",
"What books did he wrote",
"Who died from cancer?",
"What did they write"
] | [
[
"\"Empire of the Sun,\""
],
[
"cancer"
],
[
"1950s,"
],
[
"\"Empire of the Sun,\""
],
[
"boyhood experience in a World War II internment camp"
],
[
"\"Empire of the Sun,\""
],
[
"\"Empire of the Sun,\""
],
[
"British"
],
[
"\"Empire of the Sun,\""
]
] | Celebrated author J.G. Ballard dies at age of 78 from cancer .
Ballard began writing science fiction in 1950s .
His semi-autobiographical novel "Empire of the Sun" was made into film . |
(CNN) -- British billionaire Richard Branson's dream of space travel that thousands of people can afford took a leap toward reality with the maiden flight of the world's first commercial spacecraft over California's Mojave Desert.
Branson's company Virgin Galactic announced Monday that the VSS Enterprise had successfully completed what it called a captive carry flight attached to a carrier plane.
The spacecraft's developer called it a "momentous day."
"The captive carry flight signifies the start of what we believe will be extremely exciting and successful spaceship flight test program," said Burt Rutan, founder of Scaled Composites, which built the spacecraft.
The VSS Enterprise remained attached to its carrier aircraft for the duration of the 2-hour, 54-minute flight, reaching an altitude of 45,000 feet, according to a statement from Virgin.
Eventually, the 60-foot long rocket plane will be taken 60,000 feet above the Earth by its carrier and fire rockets to propel itself into space.
The test-flight program is expected to continue through 2011, going first to a free glide and then to a powered flight before commercial flights begin.
"Seeing the finished spaceship in December was a major day for us but watching VSS Enterprise fly for the first time really brings home what beautiful, ground-breaking vehicles Burt and his team have developed for us," Branson said.
"Today was another major step along that road and a testament to U.S. engineering and innovation," he said.
Virgin Galactic has envisioned one flight a week, with six tourists aboard. Each will pay $200,000 for the ride and train for at least three days before going. About 80,000 people have placed their names on the waiting list for seats.
"What we want to be able to do is bring space travel down to a price range where hundreds of thousands of people would be able to experience space, and they never dreamed that [they] could," Branson said last year.
He has said he hopes the technology will lead to a new form of Earth travel, jetting people across oceans and continents faster through suborbital routes. | [
"What is expected to continue through 2011 before commercial flights start ?",
"What will each pay the ride and train for at least three days before going ?",
"What remained attached to carrier aircraft for duration of near 3-hour flight ?",
"How long is the flight?",
"Who has envisioned one flight a week?",
"What is expected to continue through 2011?",
"How much will each pay?",
"What was the name of the vessle attached to the aircraft?",
"How long will the tourists train?"
] | [
[
"The test-flight program"
],
[
"$200,000"
],
[
"VSS Enterprise"
],
[
"2-hour, 54-minute"
],
[
"Virgin Galactic"
],
[
"test-flight program"
],
[
"$200,000"
],
[
"VSS Enterprise"
],
[
"at least three days"
]
] | VSS Enterprise remained attached to carrier aircraft for duration of near 3-hour flight .
Test-flight program is expected to continue through 2011 before commercial flights start .
Virgin Galactic has envisioned one flight a week, with six tourists aboard .
Each will pay $200,000 for the ride and train for at least three days before going . |
(CNN) -- British boxer Amir Khan has retained his WBA light-welterweight title after winning the much-hyped "battle of the faiths" by stopping challenger Dmitriy Salita in the first round on Saturday night.
Khan, a devout Muslim, knocked down his Jewish opponent three times before the referee stopped after just one minute and 16 seconds.
Salita, an American citizen who was born in Ukraine and is nicknamed "Star of David", was unable to follow up his bold claims made in the build-up to the fight, which took place in Newcastle in the north-east of England.
The 22-year-old Khan was successful in his first defense of the belt that he won in defeating Andreas Kotelnik in July.
He is trained by American Freddie Roach, who also guides Filipino star Manny Pacquiao, considered by many to be the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world.
"It was very explosive. The fight was just what we asked for, what Freddie asked me to do. We had too much power for this guy," a delighted Khan told reporters after the fight.
"I'm a growing young man and developing as a man. Freddie said to take it easy, pick the right shots and you'll take this guy out and we did.
"Freddie is a great trainer, he's like a father figure to me and to have him in my corner means a lot. Everyone knows I'm a hard-working fighter and if you put the hard work in you're going to get the benefits.
"After the first shot I could see his legs buckling and I just had to take my time. I knew he was going."
Roach has helped the Olympic silver medal winner to rebuild his career after a humiliating defeat by unknown Colombian Breidis Prescott last year.
"It was a blessing in disguise what happened against Prescott, I got beat and came back stronger," Khan said.
Roach was equally impressed with his young charge.
"I would give him an A+. I said if you hurt him, finish him. We've been working on that power and the fight was really over after that first punch," he said. | [
"Who is Khan's opponent ?",
"Does British boxer Amir Khan retain his WBA light-welterweight title in his first defense?",
"Who retains his light-welterweight title in his first defense?",
"how many times knocked ?",
"Who is Kahan a devout follower of?",
"Who did he knock down three times in the opening minute?"
] | [
[
"Andreas Kotelnik"
],
[
"has retained"
],
[
"Amir Khan"
],
[
"three"
],
[
"Muslim,"
],
[
"Dmitriy Salita"
]
] | British boxer Amir Khan retains his WBA light-welterweight title in his first defense .
Khan, a devout Muslim, destroys Jewish opponent Dmitriy Salita in the first round .
He knocked down the Ukraine-born American three times in the opening minute . |
(CNN) -- British mercenary Simon Mann has been jailed for 34 years for his part in plotting a coup in Equatorial Guinea. Simon Mann was arrested after a plane carrying him and about 60 mercenaries landed in Zimbabwe. The former British military officer confessed to trying to topple long-time ruler Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo - but denied being the plot's leader. The goal of the plot was to install exiled opposition leader Severo Moto who is currently in Spain awaiting trial on charges of arms trafficking, and to gain access to the former Spanish colony's oil wealth. During the trial, Mann testified he was a "junior" in the organization which plotted to overthrow the tiny west African country's president in 2004, and that Lebanese businessman Eli Calil was the man in charge. "Eli Calil was known as the cardinal -- the cardinal -- which I think says it all," Mann told the court. Watch Mann's reaction to his sentences » Footage of the proceedings was broadcast by Britain's Channel 4 News, which says it has the only camera in the courtroom. As Mann's trial progressed last month, South Africa rejected Mann's allegation that it had given its tacit support for the coup plot. "South Africa will never, tacitly or expressly, support the use of mercenaries to bring about fundamental political changes in any country in our continent or elsewhere in the world including Equatorial Guinea," the government said in a statement. Mann testified that several governments, including Spain and the United States, welcomed the idea of a coup. Mann is a former British army commando who was arrested four years ago after a plane carrying him and about 60 mercenaries landed in Zimbabwe. The government of Equatorial Guinea said the group was on its way to overthrow its president. Mann said at the time they were going to guard a diamond mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A Zimbabwe court convicted Mann of trying to buy weapons illegally. He served four years in jail there before being extradited to Equatorial Guinea's capital of Malabo earlier this year to face charges of leading an abortive coup. Mann testified that his former friend Mark Thatcher -- the son of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher -- was a main partner in the plot. Thatcher was arrested along with Mann in 2004, and he pleaded guilty in South Africa the following year to unwittingly bankrolling the plot. He escaped jail time by paying a fine. Thatcher admitted giving $275,000 toward the charter of a helicopter, saying he thought was for commercial purposes and discovered only later it was to be used by mercenaries. But Mann said Thatcher paid $350,000 for a helicopter and a plane which he knew would be used in the plot, and that he attended meetings about the plan with Calil in London. Calil, Mann said, initially asked him to assassinate President Obiang and talked about the possibility of staging a guerrilla war. Mann testified he refused both requests, considering them unethical, but he did agree to help stage a coup. Though he said Thatcher was a top figure in the plot, Mann testified that even Thatcher was under Calil in the group's hierarchy. Mann, appearing in a gray prison outfit, emphasized that he was not the man in charge. Mann's defense lawyer took 45 minutes to question Mann, Channel 4 reported, in contrast to the four hours of prosecution questioning Mann faced. Mann smiled often in the footage shown by Channel 4 and even stuck his tongue out playfully at the camera. After his stint in the British army, Mann was affiliated with the South Africa-based mercenary firm Executive Outcomes. The firm described itself on its now-defunct Web site as a "military advisory service" that had played a "crucial" role in ending two African civil wars. | [
"What did the organization plot?",
"Who implicated Mark Thatcher?",
"Who was jailed for plotting a Equatorial Guinea coup?",
"Who was jailed for plotting?",
"Who testifier he was a junior?"
] | [
[
"install exiled opposition leader Severo Moto who is currently in Spain awaiting trial on charges of arms trafficking, and to gain access to the former Spanish colony's oil wealth."
],
[
"Mann"
],
[
"Simon Mann"
],
[
"Simon Mann"
],
[
"Mann"
]
] | NEW: British mercenary Simon Mann jailed for plotting a Equatorial Guinea coup .
Mann testified he was "junior" in organization that plotted attempted coup .
Mann implicated former friend Mark Thatcher in 2004 plot during testimony . |
(CNN) -- British model and television personality Katie Price, also known as Jordan, and her singer husband, Peter Andre, are to separate, according to a statement released Monday. Peter Andre and Katie Price, who ran the London Marathon last month, are separating. The couple found romance on the reality show "I'm A Celebrity... Get me Out of Here!," which was filmed in the Australian jungle. The statement said: "Peter Andre and Katie Price are separating after four-and-a-half years of marriage," the British Press Association reported. "They have both requested that the media respect their families' privacy at this difficult time." Only last month the couple, whose reality TV show of their life features on British television, said they were trying for another child. They have two children together, son Junior, 3, and 1-year-old daughter Princess Tiáamii. Price has a 6-year-old son Harvey, by footballer Dwight Yorke, who is disabled. Price first made her name as a tabloid newspaper topless model, but has since gone on to become a television star, author and clothes designer. She also competes in show jumping events and has her own stable of horses. Andre, who was born in London but raised in Australia, came to prominence in 1996 with his international hit "Mysterious Girl." | [
"who is katie price",
"How many children do they have?",
"What job does Peter Andre do?",
"What are the names of their two children?",
"Which couple are to separate?",
"how long were they married",
"Name the British glamour model"
] | [
[
"model and television personality"
],
[
"two"
],
[
"singer"
],
[
"Junior,"
],
[
"Peter Andre,"
],
[
"four-and-a-half years of marriage,\""
],
[
"Katie Price,"
]
] | Katie Price and husband, Peter Andre, are to separate .
British glamour model and singer married in 2005 after meeting on TV show .
They have two children together -- Junior, 3, and 1-year-old Princess Tiáamii . |
(CNN) -- British police Wednesday arrested 12 people in a counterterrorism operation, and locations were being searched, authorities said. A Scotland Yard official's papers show details of the raid, which have been obscured in this photo. Arrests were carried out in a series of raids in northwest England, police said. Participating agencies included Merseyside Police, Greater Manchester Police and the Lancashire Constabulary, according to a statement from Greater Manchester Police. The men arrested were involved in a "very serious" plot closely associated with al Qaeda and escaped al Qaeda operative Rashid Rauf, whom British intelligence have linked to the 2006 plot to blow up trans-Atlantic airliners, according to a security source with knowledge of the investigation. The new plot was not believed to be targeting national infrastructure, such as rail lines, airports or utilities, nor was it clear if the plot was to involved bombs or an assault involving gunmen, the source said. Details, the source said, were speculative at this point in the investigation. The source also said authorities don't believe the targets would have been in the north of England, where the arrests took place, and that at least some of those arrested were Pakistanis in the United Kingdom on student visas. Several hundred officers were involved in the raids, according to a later Greater Manchester Police statement. The men arrested range in age from a youth in his mid- to late teens to a 41-year-old, the statement said. No further information was available, police said. "Today's action is part of an ongoing investigation and we have acted on intelligence received," said Steve Ashley, chief superintendent of Merseyside police. "We understand that this kind of police activity can cause concerns to people living in nearby communities. The extra patrols, cordons and measures we have in place have been implemented to make sure we are doing everything we can to reassure the public and maintain public safety." Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, in a written statement, congratulated police for the "successful anti-terrorism operation which has resulted in 12 arrests at a number of locations." She said the actions were an operational decision by police and Security Services, but she and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown were kept apprised. Police rushed to make the arrests after press photographers on Tuesday snapped images of the U.K.'s chief terrorism officer as he got out of a car at the prime minister's residence, according to the security source. Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick was carrying a document containing the names of those to be arrested, the source said, and the photographers were able to easily read the names when they enlarged the photographs. But, the source said, the arrests would probably have taken place Thursday, and preparations for the arrests were the reason for Quick's visit to see Brown. "Tonight, the focus is the ongoing operation. That's my priority," Smith said. Scotland Yard issued a statement regarding the incident. "Quick accepts he made a mistake on leaving a sensitive document on open view and deeply regrets it. He has apologized to the commissioner and the colleagues." CNN's Andrew Carey and Laura Perez-Maestro contributed to this report. | [
"Who was arrested?",
"What was arrested?",
"who apologizes for pictures of him with documents?",
"Which police got involved?",
"who involved in plot associated with escaped al Qaeda operative?",
"Who involved in plot?"
] | [
[
"12 people"
],
[
"12 people"
],
[
"Bob Quick"
],
[
"British"
],
[
"Rashid Rauf,"
],
[
"associated with al Qaeda and escaped al Qaeda operative Rashid Rauf,"
]
] | NEW: Men involved in plot associated with escaped al Qaeda operative, source says .
NEW: Some of those arrested were Pakistanis in the U.K. on student visas .
NEW: U.K.'s chief terrorism officer apologizes for pictures of him with documents .
Police from Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire Constabulary involved . |
(CNN) -- British police were told in March this year that missing girl Madeleine McCann may have been kidnapped by a pedophile ring which followed her three days before her abduction, according to reports. Madeleine McCann went missing in May 2007 after being left at a holiday apartment in the Algarve region. Britain's Daily Telegraph and The Sun newspapers both reported Thursday that an email released this week as part of the documents compiled by the Portuguese investigators probing Madeleine's disappearance revealed the connection to the ring. Madeleine was 3 when she disappeared May 3, 2007, while she was on holiday with her family at the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz. Her disappearance prompted headlines worldwide. According to the newspapers, the email was sent on March 4 by a London-based Metropolitan Police intelligence officer to Leicestershire police -- Madeleine's home county -- who then forwarded it on to investigators in Portugal more than a month later. In the email, which both newspapers printed a copy of, the officer writes that "intelligence suggests that a pedophile ring in Belgium made an order for a young girl three days before Madeleine McCann was taken. "Somebody connected to this group saw Maddie, took a photograph of her and sent it to Belgium. The purchaser agreed the girl was suitable and Maddie was taken," the officer wrote. The Daily Telegraph reported the Portuguese police then asked Interpol to investigate. However, nothing appears to have come of the lead. Watch how Madeleine McCann may have been abducted to order » Belgium has already featured in the case, with a reported sighting on the Dutch/Belgian border last August already discounted. The case files, released by the Portuguese investigators this week after they shelved the investigation for lack of evidence last month, have provided a raft of leads for the media to report. On Tuesday, the documents revealed a previously undisclosed sighting of Madeleine in the Netherlands shortly after her disappearance. The possible sighting of Madeleine in May 2007 stemmed from a report by a Dutch shopkeeper, who told authorities she encountered a little girl in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. She said the child identified herself as Maddie and said she was taken from her mother while on holiday. "I start to ask where her mommy was," Anna Stam said. "She couldn't tell me that. I wanted to give her a balloon, but she didn't want that. She only wants her mommy, she said. And she said that these people took her from her mommy." At one point, authorities had named the girl's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, as "arguidos," or suspects, along with a British man living in Portugal, Robert Murat. But a spokesman for the Portuguese public prosecutor's office said authorities found no evidence of involvement by any of the three and were no longer considering them "arguidos." After closing the case, police turned their case file -- containing up to 30,000 pages -- over to attorneys and private investigators working for the McCanns. The McCanns have vowed to keep searching for their daughter. . | [
"What is the name of the girl who disappeared?",
"What was suggested in an email from British police?",
"Who followed Madeleine?",
"Who was followed and then snatched by a ring?",
"When did the girl vanish?",
"What is the little girl's age?",
"The Portuguese police file revealed what?",
"What did the police suggest took Madeleine?",
"Who disappeared?",
"Who suggests Madeleine taken by pedophile ring?",
"Who followed the three-year-old girl?",
"What does the email from British police suggest?"
] | [
[
"Madeleine McCann"
],
[
"\"intelligence suggests that a pedophile ring in Belgium made an order"
],
[
"pedophile ring"
],
[
"Madeleine McCann"
],
[
"May 2007"
],
[
"3"
],
[
"a previously undisclosed sighting of Madeleine"
],
[
"a pedophile ring"
],
[
"Madeleine McCann"
],
[
"Portuguese investigators"
],
[
"pedophile ring"
],
[
"a pedophile ring in Belgium made an order for a young girl three days before Madeleine McCann was taken."
]
] | Portuguese police case file reveal more leads in Madeleine McCann disappearance .
Email from British police suggests Madeleine taken by pedophile ring .
Ring followed three-year-old girl before snatching her, reports claim . |
(CNN) -- British world champion Amir Khan retained his World Boxing Association (WBA) light-welterweight title on Saturday night with a clinical stopppage victory over challenger Paulie Malignaggi at Madison Square Garden, New York.
The 23-year-old Khan, who was making his big-fight debut on American soil, impressed throughtout with his speed and power before eventually stopping his opponent in the 11th round of the 12-round contest.
Khan, who was ahead on all three of the judges scorecards when the referee stopped the fight one minute and 25 seconds into the round, improves his record to 23-1, while Malignaggi -- who lost to Khan's compatriot Ricky Hatton in 2008 -- was slumping to the fourth defeat of his career.
There had been bad blood between both fighters and their respective camps in the lead-up to the contest, including a scuffle during the weigh-in, but the actual bout passed off without any incidents of that nature.
Former Olympic silver medallist Khan told ESPN: "I'm making 140lb easy, I feel strong.
"I'm not leaving 140lb until I unify the title. Until I'm number one I'm not going to leave this division."
"We stuck to the game plan, we knew Paulie is a very awkward fighter, he's a great boxer, great at moving.
"We had to break him down slowly, we didn't want to run in there trying to knock him out because we would have got caught with shots. I knew in the last few rounds I was hurting him and all I had to do was put the pressure on him." | [
"What did the fight mark for Khan?",
"In which round did Khan win?",
"What round did the fight end on?",
"Which boxer retained his title?",
"At what age did Khan win?",
"What title did Amir Khan retain?",
"Where did the fight take place?",
"What does Amir Khan retain?"
] | [
[
"big-fight debut on American soil,"
],
[
"11th"
],
[
"11th"
],
[
"Amir Khan"
],
[
"23-year-old"
],
[
"World Boxing Association (WBA) light-welterweight"
],
[
"Madison Square Garden, New York."
],
[
"title"
]
] | British world champion Amir Khan retains his WBA light-welterweight title .
The 23-year-old Khan stops American Paulie Malignaggi in the 11th round .
The Madison Square Garden fight marked Khan's big-fight debut on American soil . |
(CNN) -- British-based mining giant Rio Tinto announced plans to cut 14,000 jobs on Wednesday, just weeks after a planned buyout by rival BHP Billiton collapsed.
Rio Tinto has nearly $39 billion in corporate debt.
Rio Tinto made the announcement as part of a plan to cut its nearly $39 billion in corporate debt by an estimated $10 billion by the end of 2009. The company issued a gloomy forecast in October.
"Since that time, demand conditions have worsened further, and as a result the group's priorities have reoriented around conserving cash flow and reducing near-term borrowings," it said in a statement announcing the cuts.
The layoffs would include 5,500 direct employees and 8,500 contract jobs, the elimination of which would save about $1.2 billion a year, the company said. The layoffs would cost $400 million in severance packages, however.
BHP withdrew from its planned buyout in late November, citing a high level of debt the combined company would be required to service in "difficult" economic conditions and concerns about whether it would be able to sell off units Rio Tinto already had targeted for divestment.
Rio Tinto said it would consider selling off other elements of the company in an effort to raise more cash, but disclosed no details. | [
"What did BHP withdraw from?",
"Amount of money the layoffs would save?",
"How much would layoffs save?",
"What did BHP do?",
"What did Rio Tinto announce?",
"What would the cost of severance packages be?",
"What company might lay people off?",
"What did Rio Tinto do ?",
"Who was going to buy BHP, or vice versa?",
"BHP withdrew from what?"
] | [
[
"planned buyout"
],
[
"about $1.2 billion a year,"
],
[
"$1.2 billion a year,"
],
[
"withdrew from its planned buyout in late November,"
],
[
"plans to cut 14,000 jobs"
],
[
"$400 million"
],
[
"Rio Tinto"
],
[
"announced plans to cut 14,000 jobs"
],
[
"Rio Tinto"
],
[
"its planned buyout"
]
] | Rio Tinto announces cuts, citing worsening demand conditions .
BHP withdrew from planned buyout last month .
Layoffs would save $1.2 billion a year but cost $400 million in severance packages . |
(CNN) -- Britons, Germans and other tourists on the Spanish island of Mallorca "can feel safe because they aren't targets of the ETA terrorist band," which recently bombed the popular resort, Spain's interior minister said Tuesday. Police cordon off the route leading to the location of the blasts in Palma de Mallorca. "People should feel safe because security forces are on top of this," Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba told a nationally-televised news conference in Madrid. Rubalcaba's comments followed the Sunday explosions on Mallorca of what he said were four small ETA bombs that caused no injuries, and two weeks after an ETA car bomb killed two Civil Guard officers on the same Mediterranean island. But Rubalcaba said police aren't sure if the ETA militants behind the bombings remain in hiding on the island or have left, and he warned repeatedly that the Basque separatist group could attack again. "We are on maximum alert in Mallorca and the rest of Spain," Rubalcaba said. "ETA, when it can, attacks, so you can't rule out that they won't attack again. We try to prevent them from doing so." Watch background behind ETA's decades-long struggle » The island's regional government told CNN on Monday that since the bombings, there have been no "significant" tourist cancellations. Tens of thousands of Britons and Germans are vacationing on Mallorca, as is Spain's King Juan Carlos and the royal family. ETA is blamed for more than 800 deaths in its long fight for Basque independence. Police initially attributed three small bombs on Sunday to ETA, which is listed as a terrorist group by Spain, the United States and the European Union. But Tuesday, Rubalcaba confirmed that police believe a fourth bomb also was ETA's work. Some local authorities initially thought it might have been just an accidental gas explosion. Three of the bombs exploded in the restrooms of restaurants and a bar in the main city, Palma de Mallorca, and the other was placed in the restroom of an underground commercial area beneath a main square. Rubalcaba revealed that at least one of the bombs was in a male lavatory; previously it was reported they were all in women's restrooms. Rubalcaba said one of the three warning calls on Sunday preceding the attacks came from near Bordeaux, France --- ETA's traditional rear-guard base. The warning calls, he added, provided only scant details about the bombs' locations to police. The four small bombs were activated by timers, and one of them was hidden in a bar that had been closed since Friday. Rubalcaba reiterated the government's position that "these attacks don't do anything but strengthen our determination. Those who placed the bombs will spend long years in jail and recent experience says they will." ETA has been battered over the past 16 months by arrests of four suspected top ETA military chiefs and dozens of militants. Hours before Sunday's bombs, ETA claimed responsibility for a series of bombings across Spain in June and July: the one that killed two Civil Guard officers, another that killed a police officer, and another that heavily damaged a Civil Guard barracks, slightly wounded dozens, including children. In a statement released to the Basque newspaper Gara, ETA said those attacks were in retaliation for the Socialist government's crackdown on its ranks. The group said, "What ETA has been looking for during long decades is a negotiated political solution." But Rubalcaba recently ruled out a resumption of negotiations that his government tried without success in 2006 during an ETA cease-fire. Spanish media last week cited numerous politicians and analysts who suggested that ETA's recent spate of violence might be trying to force the government back to the negotiating table. | [
"Who does Spanish officials say the ETA is not targeting?",
"When did the bombs detonate?",
"how many were killed?",
"how many bombs?",
"How many bombs detonated?",
"where were they killed?",
"Where did two civilian guards get killed?",
"What detonated on Sunday?",
"How many guards were killed?"
] | [
[
"tourists"
],
[
"Sunday"
],
[
"two"
],
[
"four"
],
[
"four small ETA"
],
[
"Mallorca"
],
[
"Palma de Mallorca."
],
[
"four small ETA bombs"
],
[
"two"
]
] | Spanish officials say ETA not targeting tourists on island of Mallorca .
Four bombs detonated on Sunday with no injuries .
Two Civil Guard officers killed on Mallorca two weeks earlier . |
(CNN) -- Brooke Shields is upset with a tabloid reporter over an incident involving the actress' elderly mother. Brooke Shields moved her mother to a different residence after last week's incident, Shields' lawyer says. Shields accused a reporter and photographer from the National Enquirer of taking her 75-year-old mother -- Teri Shields, who suffers from dementia -- out of a New Jersey nursing home last week, People magazine reported. It was "reprehensible and disgusting," Shields told People. The reporter, "looking for a tabloid story," signed her mother out of a senior living facility in Old Tappan, New Jersey, by falsely claiming to be her friend, Shields said. Watch why Shields is upset » The National Enquirer said the reporter has known Teri Shields for a decade. "Teri asked the reporter to take her out to lunch and run some errands," the tabloid said. "The freelance reporter then got permission from the facility to do so. ... At no point did the facility, which had given its permission for the outing, contend that there had been any wrongdoing." Old Tappan police told People they are investigating. Brooke Shields' lawyer, Gerald Lefcourt, said the actress has not filed charges, but was exploring her options. Shields moved her mother to another facility, Lefcourt said. CNN's Marc Balinsky contributed to this report. | [
"who's mom is out of a nursing home",
"What did shields ask to do?",
"What is Shield's age",
"What did people magazine report?",
"Who is investigating?"
] | [
[
"Brooke Shields"
],
[
"take her out"
],
[
"75-year-old"
],
[
"Shields accused a reporter and photographer from the National Enquirer of taking her 75-year-old mother -- Teri Shields, who suffers from dementia -- out of a New Jersey nursing home last week,"
],
[
"Old Tappan police"
]
] | Reporter takes Brooke Shields' mom out of nursing home, People magazine reports .
Reporter, with National Enquirer, claims to have known Teri Shields for years .
Teri Shields, 75, asked reporter to take her to lunch, National Enquirer says .
Police in New Jersey community investigating, People reports . |
(CNN) -- Bruce Windsor is known as many things: church deacon, soccer coach, father of four. But facing potential financial problems, he's now known as something else: suspected bank robber. Bruce Windsor listens Friday as a judge tells him he faces kidnapping and robbery charges. Police say the 43-year-old owner of a real estate company walked into the Carolina First Bank in Greenville, South Carolina, late Thursday with a mask and a handgun. In court documents filed Friday, police said he forced two bank employees into an office at gunpoint and demanded money. Police arrived minutes later with the suspect still inside, touching off a tense 90-minute standoff before he released the hostages and surrendered. His actions were "out of character" for a man who has never been in trouble with the law before, friends and relatives said. His tearful sister, defending him as he stood before a judge, said, "He must have just snapped under the pressure." In his initial appearance for a bond hearing, Windsor was in an orange jail jumpsuit, shackled and with his hands cuffed. In a quiet voice, he answered "yes, sir" as the judge explained the charges to him: two counts of kidnapping, one count of robbery and two counts of pointing firearms at a person, charges that could carry more than 30 years in prison if convicted. A police detective told the judge Windsor said he had been experiencing financial problems. But police spokesman Cpl. Jason Rampey told CNN they could not yet say for certain whether money problems were the motive for the alleged robbery. His attorney said in court Windsor had been married for 16 years and was the father of four children. Reports say the oldest is 11. Attorney Sidney Mitchell told the judge he was "a model citizen up until yesterday,' and we've obviously got a lot of talking to do with him," Rampey said. The judge allowed his family to stand with him during the court appearance. His sister clutched his arm, crying through most of the brief hearing. His wife stood behind him, appearing to rub his back. His pastor at Brushy Creek Baptist Church, where Windsor is a deacon, stood at his side. His sister told the judge Windsor coaches one of his children's soccer teams and picks them up every day from school. "He would never, ever hurt his family," she said in a halting voice. Sobbing, she said, "I can't imagine the desperation that must have caused this." The incident, she said, "doesn't even register." Windsor then spoke up, saying, "I've never stolen anything in my life." But the judge reminded the court "this is a very serious incident," setting the bail at just over $1.5 million. On Thursday, SWAT officers surrounded the Carolina First bank as the suspect allegedly made the hostages move with him at gunpoint inside until he surrendered. Bank owner Art Seaver, who nervously watched the standoff unfold at the scene, met with his employees before they reopened Friday morning for a "time of reflection and a time of healing." Asked if everything was back to normal, he told CNN affiliate WSPA, "No. What is normal?" Two different images of Windsor unfolded the day after the incident. The man his pastor called "one of the best fathers I know, anywhere" and the man court documents said "forced the victims to move with him at gunpoint during the attempted robbery. The victims were held by the accuser against their will for over an hour." Rampey said Greenville's crisis negotiating team just happened to be training on Thursday for hostage scenario when the call came in for the real thing. As SWAT officers took up positions outside, negotiators talked to the suspect, who then allowed the hostages to go. SWAT officers said in court documents they "challenged the subject at gunpoint" before he lay down on the ground and surrendered. No shots were fired and no one was injured. | [
"who owned real estate company?",
"what age is the suspect",
"who had no criminal history?",
"what did the police say",
"who robed first bank?",
"When was the robbery?",
"What did the robbery result in?"
] | [
[
"Bruce"
],
[
"43-year-old"
],
[
"Windsor"
],
[
"the 43-year-old owner of a real estate company walked into the Carolina First Bank in Greenville, South Carolina, late Thursday with a mask and a handgun."
],
[
"Windsor"
],
[
"late Thursday"
],
[
"kidnapping"
]
] | Police say man robbed a Carolina First Bank in Greenville, South Carolina, Thursday .
Suspect, Bruce Windsor, 43, owns a real estate company and is a church deacon .
He had no criminal history but was facing financial difficulties, detective testifies .
Robbery resulted in a tense standoff with two bank employees held hostage . |
(CNN) -- Bruno Senna has signed for Formula One constructor Williams 18 years after his uncle, former three-time world champion Ayrton, died driving for the team.
The Brazilian will partner Pastor Maldonado when the 2012 F1 season gets underway in Australia on March 18, replacing veteran compatriot Rubens Barrichello.
Bruno's uncle Ayrton is one of the greatest drivers the sport has seen, winning drivers' championship crowns in 1988, 1990 and 1991 before he died in a crash at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994. It was only his third race for Williams.
Williams' cars have carried his name ever since the tragedy at the Imola racing circuit, and Bruno, who made his debut for HRT in 2010, says he is excited to follow in his uncle's footsteps.
Ferrari's Alonso slams F1 testing rules
"It will be very interesting to drive for a team that my uncle has driven for, particularly as quite a few of the people here actually worked with Ayrton," the 28-year-old told Williams' website.
"Hopefully we can bring back some memories and create some great new ones too. I also want to get some good results in return for the support my country has given me to help get me to this position today.
"I am very proud to be Brazilian and more motivated than ever to demonstrate what I can do. Ever since I first sat in a go-kart I never wanted to do anything else."
Team principal Frank Williams, who was in charge of Williams when Ayrton Senna died, said he was looking forward to seeing Bruno compete at the highest level.
The driver struggled with HRT in the team's debut season, then moved to Renault as a reserve driver before replacing Nick Heidfeld for the final eight races of 2011, but scored points in just one of his eight races as he finished ninth at the Italian Grand Prix.
"The circumstances of Bruno's two seasons in Formula One have not given him an ideal opportunity to deliver consistently so it was essential that we spent as much time with him as possible to understand and evaluate him as a driver," he said.
"We have done this both on track and in our simulator and he has proven quick, technically insightful and above all capable of learning and applying his learning quickly and consistently. Now we are looking forward to seeing that talent in our race car."
Senna's deal with Williams could spell the end of Barrichello's Formula One career as the 39-year-old is now without a team with the new season two months away.
He said on his official Twitter account: "I won't be driving the Williams car this year. I wish my friend @BSenna all the best..the future is wide open."
HRT is the only team with a seat available, having yet to confirm a race partner for Pedro de la Rosa. | [
"Who joins Formula One constructor Williams?",
"Who will be Bruno's partner?",
"Who has joined Williams?",
"Who will partner Pastor Maldonado when Forumula One season begins?",
"who is Bruno Senna?",
"Who is the nephew of three-time world champion Ayrton?",
"When was Ayrton Senna killed?"
] | [
[
"Senna"
],
[
"Pastor Maldonado"
],
[
"Senna"
],
[
"Senna"
],
[
"driver"
],
[
"Senna"
],
[
"1994."
]
] | Bruno Senna joins Formula One constructor Williams for the 2012 season .
Senna is nephew of three-time world champion Ayrton, who died 18 years ago .
Ayrton was driving for Williams when he was killed in San Marino in 1994 .
Bruno will partner Pastor Maldonado when new Formula One season begins . |
(CNN) -- Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich remain on course for a unique treble of trophies after crushing Werder Bremen 4-0 in the German Cup final on Saturday.
Bayern will now travel to Madrid for next weekend's Champions League final against Inter Milan in confident mood, after this impressive victory over their Bundesliga rivals.
The result never looked in doubt once Arjen Robben gave Louis van Gaal's side the lead in the 35th minute.
German international defender Per Mertesacker handled the ball in the penalty area and Dutch winger Robben made no mistake with the spot-kick.
Ivica Olic doubled Bayern's advantage seven minutes after the interval when poking home following a corner.
And the match was over as a contest in the 63rd minute when a superb counter-attack saw Mark van Bommel play the ball through for Frenchman Franck Ribery to slide his shot coolly past goalkeeper Tim Wiese.
Werder's dismal afternoon was made even worse when former Bayern player Torsten Frings was sent offlate in the second-half after collecting two yellow cards.
The icing on Bayern's cake was provided by Bastian Schweinsteiger, who fired past Wiese after chesting down Phillipp Lahm's lofted pass. | [
"What does Bayern have the chance to do?",
"What happened on Saturday?",
"What was the score between Bayern Munich and Werder Bremer?",
"What does the victory mean?",
"Who now have the chance to seal a unique treble?",
"Who won the German Cup final on Saturday?",
"Who win 4-0 the German Cup Final?",
"What team will Bayern play against next Saturday?"
] | [
[
"remain on course for a unique treble of trophies"
],
[
"the German Cup final"
],
[
"4-0"
],
[
"Bayern will now travel to Madrid for next weekend's Champions League final against Inter Milan in confident mood,"
],
[
"Bayern Munich"
],
[
"Bayern Munich"
],
[
"Bayern Munich"
],
[
"Inter Milan"
]
] | Bayern Munich crush Werder Bremen 4-0 to win the German Cup final on Saturday .
The victory means Bayern add the cup to their Bundesliga title success last week .
Bayern now have the chance to seal a unique treble against Inter Milan in Madrid next Saturday . |
(CNN) -- By many eyewitness accounts, when US Airways flight 1549 crashed into the Hudson River, it looked like a completely normal landing -- except it was in the water.
iReporters captured the plane's crash-landing and rescue operations
"It looked like a perfectly smooth landing, nothing out of the ordinary," said Lou Romansky, who was stuck in traffic and saw the plane go down. "No unusual noises, no flames, no nothing. It was very graceful; [I] saw the nose go up."
Josefina Echevarria happened to be standing near the window of her Manhattan office, and reports seeing a similar scene. "I saw an airplane landing in the middle of the water, but very calm," she said.
"It wasn't a nose dive," added Joe Harrington, who also saw the crash out his window. "It looked like it was a landing."
The plane, which carried more than 150 passengers and was bound for Charlotte, North Carolina, went down Thursday afternoon shortly after taking off from LaGuardia Airport. Officials say everyone on board apparently got off the plane alive. Some passengers were being treated for hypothermia and other minor injuries.
And according to many iReporters, who described the situation to CNN as it unfolded, the rescue operation looked as smooth as the landing -- but, of course, just as scary. They say ferries arrived first on the scene, followed quickly by emergency boats and helicopters.
"Immediately there were ferries on the scene," said Harrington. "Almost instantaneous. I watch these ferries all day -- they don't normally go this fast." Police boats and helicopters arrived shortly after, he said.
Julie Pukelis also saw the ferries arrive.
"It seemed very quick. ... Ferry boats out there within minutes," she said. "I think it was a great team effort." iReport.com: "We watched the plane drifting slowly down the water"
"[The rescue] looked pretty well-organized from what I could see," said Jim Davidson, who lives two blocks from the Hudson River. "It wasn't chaos -- a lot of times when things like this happen, people are running around or yelling." iReport.com: A panorama of the rescue
Daniel Leal described the scene as the rescue operation continued into the evening. "I'm seeing flashing lights on the water from the many rescue vehicles -- tug boats, ferries, helicopters. ...There seems to be even more emergency crews in the water and hovering above than an hour ago," he said. iReport.com: Watching the rescue
iReporters said the plane began to sink shortly after landing until workers used ropes to secure it.
"A few minutes [after the crash] it started sinking in the water," said Echevarria. "Five minutes later the airplane was completely sunk. You can only see the tail of the plane."
Lisa Speransky, who also watched the situation from her office window, says workers appeared to tether the plane to boats to prevent it sinking. Watch how iReporters helped cover the story »
"They must have gotten a rope around the plane at some point, because they were turning it around and dragging it towards New Jersey," she wrote in an email. After passengers were evacuated, workers eventually tethered the plane to a pier on the Hudson River. iReport.com: "You could see people standing on the wing"
The crash brought up memories of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks for several iReporters as they saw the crash and its aftermath. Officials emphasize the crash had absolutely no terrorist connection and say it was likely a bird strike.
"I really thought it was a terrorist attack," said Romansky. He lives in New Jersey but was in Manhattan when the plane went down, and said his first thought after seeing the plane go down was to get back home, thinking that the state's border might be closed in case of terrorism. iReport.com: "I saw the plane coming down"
Matt Moore, who | [
"What arrived straight away?",
"What did the eyewitnesses say?",
"What was well organised?",
"Where did the plane land in the water?",
"What did the landing look like?"
] | [
[
"ferries"
],
[
"looked like a completely normal landing"
],
[
"\"[The rescue]"
],
[
"Hudson River,"
],
[
"normal"
]
] | Eyewitnesses say the water landing looked like a regular plane landing .
Rescue operation "looked pretty well-organized," says iReporter Jim Davidson .
iReporter Joe Harrington: Ferries and rescue boats arrived "almost instantaneously"
iReport.com: Did you see the crash landing, or were you on the plane? |
(CNN) -- By most accounts, the showdown was pretty brutal. Many declared Jon Stewart, right, the victor in his face-to-face with Jim Cramer on "The Daily Show." Many watching Thursday night's "Daily Show" on Comedy Central felt that comedian-turned-media-critic Jon Stewart held bombastic financial guru and CNBC "Mad Money" host Jim Cramer's feet to the fire. And Cramer flinched. Stewart, known for his zany, satirical take on the news, was serious as he took Cramer's network to task for what Stewart viewed as their "cheerleading" of corporations at the heart of the nation's current economic crisis. And despite the title of his financial show, Cramer came off as less mad and more apologetic. Watch Stewart vs. Cramer » "If it was a prize fight, they would have stopped it," said Howard Kurtz, the "Washington Post" media critic and host of CNN's "Reliable Sources." "I was stunned that Jim Cramer kind of did a rope-a-dope strategy and didn't really defend himself against Jon Stewart's assault." Kurtz is very familiar with the style of both men. He has appeared on "The Daily Show" and is the author of "The Fortune Tellers: Inside Wall Street's Game of Money, Media and Manipulation," in which Cramer is featured. Kurtz said Stewart "made clear at the outset that he wasn't going for laughs" and displayed very much the same passion for holding the media accountable as he did when he appeared on, and denounced, CNN's "Crossfire." Watch the debate on "Reliable Sources" "When I went on [Stewart's] show last year, he was so wound up in ripping the media that he went on for another 10 minutes, knowing full well that we were out of time," Kurtz said. "Stewart, as funny as he can be, is a very trenchant media critic who cares passionately about this stuff, and we saw that Thursday night." iReporter David Seaman of New York said he was surprised at the vigor with which Stewart "attacked Cramer's credibility." Check out David's iReport The public wants answers as to how the country got into such financial distress, and viewers really want someone to answer for the mess, Seaman said. "People want to see a lot of the financial gurus on a shish kabob, being skewered," Seaman said. "It's really important to hold people accountable, and as we saw last night, Jon Stewart is a bit of a wild card, so if you aren't living up to expectations, he may call you out." David Brancaccio, host and senior editor of "Now on PBS," commended Cramer for his bravery in going on the show, though he said he was surprised that the brilliant founder of TheStreet.com seemed ill-prepared for Stewart's very thoughtful questioning. Brancaccio, the former host of American Public Media's "Marketplace" radio program, echoed the comments of many in that he found the exchange visibly uncomfortable for the usually showman-like Cramer. "You have the comedian as journalist, and you have the financial journalist as clown, in that on his show, Cramer's goofing around and plays the clown," Brancaccio said. "What a role reversal." Brancaccio said Stewart's show has emerged as an important vehicle for media criticism. Thursday night's show marked an important moment in journalism, especially financial reporting, Brancaccio said. "It's really important that tough questions are asked, because when tough questions aren't asked, we end up with Enron," he said. "It's interesting that the tough questions came from Jon Stewart, brilliant comedian that he is." Brancaccio thinks the episode may serve as a cautionary tale for those in the media who don't do their due diligence. White House approves of smackdown "I don't think any financial journalist wants to be in Cramer's position," | [
"Who did John Stewart interview on \"The Daily Show\"?",
"where was the debate?",
"who's credibility was attacked?",
"who is seen as victor?",
"What did Stewart attack?",
"What is Jim Cramer's profession?"
] | [
[
"Jim Cramer"
],
[
"Thursday night's \"Daily Show\" on Comedy Central"
],
[
"Jim Cramer"
],
[
"Jon Stewart,"
],
[
"\"attacked Cramer's credibility.\""
],
[
"CNBC \"Mad Money\" host"
]
] | Critics and viewers see Stewart as victor after interview with "Mad Money" host .
Pair squared off in an uncomfortable debate on "The Daily Show"
iReporter: Surprised at how Stewart "attacked Cramer's credibility"
Howard Kurtz: "Important moment for holding financial journalists accountable" |
(CNN) -- By now, early adopters of the iPhone 4S, which has sold more than 4 million units since debuting on Friday, have no doubt taken Siri for a spin.
The voice-activated "personal assistant" is a talkative tool that helps schedule appointments, send and receive messages and perform any number of other routine tasks.
But for iPhone owners presented with the sci-fi dream of a computer that talks back in a robotic female voice, the temptation to test the app's more random -- and existential -- sides has been pretty overwhelming, too.
The Internet, always up for a chuckle, has noticed. Blog posts, tweets and even whole websites are popping up to share what happens when users start testing the boundaries of the app by peppering Siri with off-the-wall questions.
The findings? Siri can be a sometimes sassy, sometimes snide companion. And she's at least as fond of an inside joke as she is of reading you your e-mails.
One key hub for all things Siri is S**t That Siri Says, a Tumblr blog on which people post their odd question-and-answer exchanges with the app. Among some of its more creative entries:
Q: Beam me up.
A: OK. Stand still.
Q: Am I fat?
A: I prefer not to say.
Q: What are you wearing?
A: You have the wrong personal assistant, Clint.
Siri is clearly ready to drop a pop culture reference or two, as well as do a serviceable version of the Abbott and Costello "Who's On First?" routine. This awareness and sense of humor has already earned her some fans.
"I'm not sure who's responsible for these hilarious responses: Apple engineers or maybe a bunch of Hollywood joke writers. But I dearly love stumbling onto them," wrote New York Times tech columnist David Pogue. "If you ask me, the technology world would be a lot better off if there were more humor everywhere."
Wired's Brian X. Chen wrote one of the more popular Siri posts after playing with a review model. He gave the app high marks after it not only offered to call a cab when he said he was drunk (and not drunk-dial his ex-girlfriend) but also gave directions to mental-health facilities when he told it (presumably jokingly) that he wanted to kill himself.
"It's kind of like having the unpaid intern of my dreams at my beck and call, organizing my life for me," Chen wrote. "I think Siri on the iPhone is a life changer, and this is only the beginning."
You can program the app to say your name in responses, or if you'd prefer to admire Siri from afar, there's already a Facebook page and a handful of Siri-inspired Twitter feeds. (The official feed for the app appears to have gone inactive last August, however, a few months after Apple bought Siri).
Siri wasn't actually ready to protest when the "Will It Blend" guys dropped an iPhone 4S into a blender. Like its predecessor, the phone was torn to shreds, but the "scientists" couldn't resist throwing some fake Siri audio onto the YouTube video, which has more than a half-million views.
"Would you like to not blend the iPhone instead?" fake Siri says. "You are making a terrible error."
And there's more than one "Easter egg" for some of the more popular questions. Asking the meaning of life, professing your love or quoting lines from "2001: A Space Odyssey" -- the sci-fi classic in which astronauts must combat HAL, an artificial intelligence with a deceptively soothing, robotic voice -- all produce multiple responses from Siri.
We threw what we hoped would be some fairly random questions at Siri to see what we got . It's more fun when you ascribe emotion to Siri's computer-generated, female voice. It also makes it easy to hear | [
"Siri offers what response to certain questions?",
"What is the voice activated app called?",
"Siri is the voice-activated personal assistant app on which product?"
] | [
[
"sassy, sometimes snide"
],
[
"Siri"
],
[
"iPhone 4S,"
]
] | Siri is the voice-activated personal assistant app on the new iPhone 4S .
Besides performing routine functions, Siri offers humorous responses to certain questions .
"What is the meaning of life?" produces several different answers .
Siri also is ready for "2001" and "Star Trek"-related questions . |
(CNN) -- CNN Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour has broadcast from some of the world's most challenging locations. Here, we bring together links to her documentaries and exclusive web-only footage. Generation Islam (2009) Christiane gives viewers a look inside the battle for the hearts and minds of youth in the Muslim world and travels to two of the places where the fight is most intense -- Afghanistan and Gaza. - Generation Islam - Video: The would-be suicide bomber Buddha's Warriors (2008) Christiane meets the Dalai Lama and spends time with his flock for CNN's 2008 special, "Buddha's Warriors," where she explores how people whose religion commits them to love, kindness and non-violence confront severe political oppression. - Behind the scenes: Buddha's Warriors - Interview with the Dalai Lama: On China | A moment of karma | On reincarnation Notes from North Korea (2008) Christiane travels to North Korea as the New York Philharmonic Orchestra makes a historic visit to one of the world's most closed societies. She examines the tense standoff with the U.S. over nuclear weapons and provides a rare look inside a notorious, top-secret nuclear facility. - Notes from North Korea: Part 1 | Part 2 - Yongbyon tour: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 - Behind the scenes: Amanpour's notes Scream Bloody Murder (2008) Christiane reports from the world's killing fields, where genocide has raged as the world watched -- and traces the personal accounts of those who tried to stop the slaughter. - Scream Bloody Murder God's Warriors (2007) Christiane travelled to eight countries over eight months to examine the impact of the rise of religious fundamentalism as a powerful political force in three faiths: Judaism, Islam and Christianity. - God's Warriors - Video: Rev. Jerry Falwell's final interview Revolutionary Journey (2000) Christiane, who left Iran at the start of the Islamic Revolution, returns to the country of her birth for an inside look at a country that after years of conservative Islamic rule, voted to keep President Khatami in office and his democratic reform efforts alive. - Revolutionary Journey: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | [
"Where can you see her documentaries and web footage?",
"Where does Christiane return to in \"Revolutionary Journey?\""
] | [
[
"CNN"
],
[
"the country of her birth"
]
] | CNN Chief International Correspondent, Christiane Amanpour presents "Amanpour."
See her award-winning documentaries and exclusive web footage here .
In "Scream Bloody Murder" Christiane reports from the world's killing fields .
"Revolutionary Journey" sees Christiane return to Iran to explore her birth country . |
(CNN) -- CNN explores Beijing's underground music scene and the bands making the rest of the world sit up and listen. | [
"What has helped create a vibrant underground scene?"
] | [
[
"music"
]
] | Buyi is one of the bands breaking through the Beijing music scene .
In the last ten years the number of garage bands in China has exploded .
The internet and social software has helped create a vibrant underground scene . |
(CNN) -- CNN has learned from two senior Democratic sources that former President Bill Clinton will attend the Senate Democrats' weekly luncheon Tuesday to address the caucus about health care. A notice obtained by CNN went out to Senate Democrats saying, "All Senators should be aware that former President Clinton will be making a presentation on Health Care at tomorrow's caucus lunch. Senator Reid has requested that all Democratic Senators attend." A constant refrain from Democratic leaders is that wavering Democrats must heed what they say is a lesson of the Clinton administration: fail to pass a health care reform bill, and congressional Democrats will suffer on Election Day. With this visit at a critical time for health care in the Senate, the former president will be able to deliver that message in person. Democrats in the House of Representatives approved a health care bill over the weekend. If the Senate passes a bill, a congressional conference committee will need to merge the House and Senate proposals into a consensus version requiring final approval from each chamber before moving to President Obama's desk to be signed into law. The House bill is more expansive -- and hence more expensive -- than the Senate Finance Committee bill. The House bill, projected to guarantee coverage for 96 percent of Americans, will cost more than $1 trillion over the next 10 years, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. CNN's Dana Bash, Brianna Keilar,Ted Barrett and Alan Silverleib contributed to this report. | [
"When does the luncheon take place?",
"What event will Clinton be attending?",
"Who will attend Senate Democrat's weekly luncheon?",
"Who passed health care bill over the weekend?"
] | [
[
"Tuesday"
],
[
"Senate Democrats' weekly luncheon"
],
[
"Bill Clinton"
],
[
"Democrats in the House of Representatives"
]
] | Clinton will attend Senate Democrats' weekly luncheon Tuesday, sources tell CNN .
Clinton will push message that failure to pass health bill will have election consequences .
House of Representatives passed health care bill over the weekend . |
(CNN) -- CNN is monitoring tweets and other messages from people in Haiti and reports from those who said they have been in touch with friends and family. CNN has not been able to able to verify this material.
What people on the ground in Haiti are saying on Twitter:
"Felt that, loud and clear. We're in Cap Haitien. House (really the whole world) shook for about 30 seconds" -- From Twitter user firesideint (Luke Renner) at 5:20 p.m. ET
Watch Luke's interview with a Haitian student after quake
"this s***is still shaking ! major earthquake in haiti !" -- From Twitter user fredodupouxat 5:20 p.m. ET
"Just experienced a MAJOR earthquake here in Port au Prince - walls were falling down. - we are ALL fine - pray for those in the slums" -- From Twitter user troylivesay in Port-au-Prince, Haiti at 5:24 p.m. ET
"words on the streets part of Hotel Montana Fell , exagone is cracked. houses in canape vert fell down #haiti #eq" -- From Twitter user fredodupoux in Haiti at 6:05 p.m. ET
See CNN's Twitter list of feeds pertaining to quake
"In touch again with my friend, a new aftershock just happen, lot of emotions... #Haiti #HaitiQuake" -- From Twitter user InternetHaiti in Port-au-Prince, Haiti at 6:15 p.m. ET
"Phones and internet are mostly out - we don't have either at home - radio says the Palace fell down and buildings fell down all along Delmas" -- From Twitter user troylivesay in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, at 7:28 p.m. ET
"I can't imagine the devastation this has caused to such an overly stressed city - I think it will be suffering for quite some time" -- From Twitter user troylivesay in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, at 7:31 p.m. ET
iReport.com: Are you there? Send photos, stories
"If anyone in Haiti is reading this, please go out and help in the streets, it's very ug;y out there if you haven't seen it #haiti" --From Twitter user fredodupoux in Haiti at 8:04 p.m. ET
"In our area mostly exterior walls fallen - people afraid to re-enter their homes..." -- From Twitter user troylivesay in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, at 8:20 p.m. ET
"Tipap made it home from Carrefour - saw many dead bodies and injured along the way - said most buidings w/more than one story are down" -- From Twitter user troylivesay in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, at 8:22 p.m. ET
"I'm hearing singing and praying from from the carrefour feuilles area.. My prayers go out to the folks there" -- From Twitter user RAMhaiti in Haiti at 9:26 p.m. ET
"just saw a picture of the palace..it is destroyed" -- From Twitter user RAMhaiti in Haiti at 10:05 p.m. ET
"I'm told things aren't good at [Hotel] Montana.. an 8 story building behind me is rubble" --From Twitter user RAMhaiti in Haiti at 10:20 p.m. ET
CNN story commentors describing scene
"its crazy. we can here people wailing and crying. we know a lot of big buildings have fallen. we watched the mountain above the orphanage split. i have never experienced anything like this before. all of the nannies and kids are sitting out in the middle of our compound. a neighbor has already come over for medical help. i don't have words to express." -- Commentor relating details from sister-in-law in Jacmel, Haiti on the south coast at the Hands and Feet Mission/Children's Village.
"Just got news that one of nannies,Francines school in Jacmel fell. She is injured but prayfor her. Many of her classmates are dead! She is at her moms house next door tonight. We also heardthat thehospital in Petionville (PAP) also collasped." -- Commentor Drex Stuart of the Hands & Feet Mission in Jacmel, Haiti.
"My brother and I were able to speak to our mother right before the communication went down. The house | [
"What happened in Haiti?",
"What is CNN doing?",
"What destroyed the palace?"
] | [
[
"earthquake"
],
[
"monitoring tweets and other messages from people in Haiti and reports from those who"
],
[
"major earthquake"
]
] | NEW: Tweets: "an 8 story building behind me is rubble," "the palace..it is destroyed"
Mom "described total destruction around her" to family, CNN commentor writes .
Tweet: "many dead bodies and injured," collapsed buildings in Haiti .
CNN monitoring message, tweets after quake in Haiti; messages have not been vetted . |
(CNN) -- CNN is taking an in-depth look at contemporary Russia as part of the "Eye on Russia" series. We asked you to share your photos of Russia and tell us about your experiences in the country, and photos and stories poured in of beautiful places and ordinary places, and of hopes for Russia's future in the 21st century. Anna Glubokina, 27, jumped at the opportunity to send photos of her country. A business analyst in Moscow, she has traveled through Russia and collected photos along the way. Murray Gillis took this image of an ice sculpture during a trip to Gubkinsky, Russia. "I think that Russia is like a mountain river: fast, dangerous and beautiful," Glubokina said. "You will never know what is waiting for you in the future. But I love Russia very much. I will never be bored here. I know that tourists like Russia, because of its astonishing churches and palaces, because of Kremlin and Red Square, because of its great scenery." Many of those who sent us photos were originally from other countries, like Justin Goney, originally from Urbana, Ohio. He now lives in Helsinki, Finland, but spent 14 months teaching English in Moscow. At the small Soviet-style grocery store where he sometimes shopped, he would tell the store clerk what he would like to purchase, rather than get the items himself. The 26-year old said he thinks there are more tourists in Russia now than there would have been during Soviet times. He said he has very vivid memories of what it was like seeing the country on TV as a child. "I guess that's sort of a defining element of who I am is growing up during the Reagan presidency and seeing the end of the Cold War on TV," Goney said. Arturo Fortun, originally from Bolivia, has lived in Russia for six years. He said the Russian people will take time to become accustomed to democracy. He said life is different there, but after a time, your impressions may change. "It's like a constant adventure," he said. "You cannot take anything for granted." Volker Kleensang, of Hamburg, Germany, frequently visits Kaliningrad, Russia, a former German territory that lies between Poland, Lithuania and the Baltic Sea. Physically separated from the rest of Russia, Kaliningrad has a different character than other parts of the country, Kleensang said. "Many people from Kaliningrad, they still use the old German name. For me it's a sign that they say, 'We are Russian, but we are more and more European-oriented than the people from Moscow or St. Petersburg.'" Craig Dillon of Queenstown, New Zealand, visited the country after winning a contest through a New Zealand vodka company. He said he had a choice of taking an $8,000 prize or a trip to Moscow, and out of curiosity, he took the latter. It was his first trip out of the region, and he said it was a "major eye opener" to see the gap between the rich and poor: "Fast cars power past a begging woman on the streets of Moscow." On a more mundane note, he visited a Russian McDonald's and found that the food was much the same as anywhere else. The only thing he noticed about edible items was that the water had a slightly different taste. E-mail to a friend | [
"What is part of a CNN series looking at contemporary Russia?",
"What is the name of the series?",
"What is the purpose of the CNN series?",
"What did CNN.com ask readers to share?",
"Who asked readers to share their photos?",
"Who is asked to share photos and views of Russia?",
"What country is the subject of the series?"
] | [
[
"\"Eye on Russia\""
],
[
"\"Eye on Russia\""
],
[
"taking an in-depth look at contemporary Russia"
],
[
"photos of Russia"
],
[
"CNN"
],
[
"you"
],
[
"contemporary Russia"
]
] | Eye on Russia is part of a CNN series looking at contemporary Russia .
CNN.com asked readers to share their photos, views of Russia . |
(CNN) -- CNN picked the brains of the Plastiki's crew members before they set off on the voyage. From the importance of the mission to a pint of Cornish cider, skipper Jo Royle tells CNN about her hopes and fears, how she plans to get through the voyage, and what she looks forward to most at the end of it.
CNN: What did you want to be when you were young?
Royle: I wanted to engineer a way to spend as much time on or by the ocean as possible.
CNN: What's the one characteristic that has led you to where you are today?
Royle: Thriving off the feeling of living just outside my comfort zone.
CNN: Who inspires you?
Royle: Everybody!
CNN: What's the most important lesson you've learned about yourself from the Plastiki project?
Royle: Put your energy into your beliefs, think outside the box and it will happen.
CNN: What's your biggest hope for the expedition?
Royle: To communicate to as many people as possible that our oceans are our umbilical cord to life, without healthy oceans we are not healthy, no matter where we are in the world we are directly connected to the ocean.
CNN: At what point would you define the Plastiki a success?
Royle: The Plastiki is already a success, it has proven that we need to think about the way we consume, the way we manufacture products, how we need to think about a products end life before it is created. Most importantly it has proven that no one is as smart as everyone; the Plastiki is a success because she has created a platform for many incredible minds to collaborate and engage in conversations on how we can ensure we leave this world in a better condition than we found it for our future generations. At the moment this feels like a tough ambition, but an exciting one!
CNN: What are your favorite sea creatures?
Royle: Jellyfish, as we know so little about them, but their increasing population is a direct indication of the health of our oceans. Dolphins, as they are our true companions when sailing across oceans. Seals, as they look so lazy and fat, but if you get on the wrong side of them they certainly show you who's boss.
CNN: When is the last time you personally used a plastic bottle?
Royle: I'm not sure, but we still get guests aboard the Plastiki who leave plastic water bottles behind! Have you tried to spend just one week without consuming anything plastic? I have, and it was impossible, I had to steal my flat mate's toothpaste when I ran out!
CNN: What do you most value about nature?
Royle: The way she makes your life feel like such a speck in the grand scale of things, your little worries feel so insignificant, the way she can make us feel like a visitor, but has her welcoming arms wide open. If we listen and open up she naturally teaches us how to live a sustainable, healthy life. She is always boss, we can choose to respect that, and live our lives as a caretaker, or not, but in the end she will always be here.
CNN: What's the one creature comfort you'll miss most when you're at sea?
Royle: Cycling my bike through the countryside. My buddies and a good pint of Cornish cider!
CNN: Name 3 books you will bring with you on the expedition.
Royle: I will be researching my Masters dissertation on populations displaced because of human influenced climate change, so lots of journals. If anyone has anything on this topic please send it to me! I'll be taking Sylvia Earle's latest book, which I am currently reading, but not finding the time to finish. I also might take a copy of Jim Dodge's "Stone Junction".
CNN: If you had to choose a theme song for the expedition, what would it be?
Royle: "Plastikians" by Jerry Zeiger (written just | [
"What did CNN ask?",
"Who is the captain of the voyage?",
"What will she do for her MA research?",
"Who asked crew members?"
] | [
[
"you want to be when you were young?"
],
[
"Jo Royle"
],
[
"Masters dissertation on populations displaced because of human influenced climate change,"
],
[
"CNN"
]
] | CNN asked crew members about hopes and fears for the voyage .
Skipper Jo Royle looking forward to communicating message of the mission .
Will take journals for her MA research; believes mission is already a success . |
(CNN) -- CNN wants to hear from viewers in both English and Russian for its weeklong focus on modern Russia. CNN Moscow Correspondent at Star City, the Russian cosmonaut training facility. Reflecting on Dmitry Medvedev's first year as president, and looking ahead to President Obama's first trip to the Kremlin in July, CNN delves beyond politics to profile the many facets of this vast land through an ambitious bi-lingual audience initiative and a wide-ranging week of programming. The audience initiative -- CNN's first with a Russian-language component -- complements an energetic mix of live reporting and interviews, feature and documentary programming, and cultural despatches running the gamut of sports to space travel, fashion to music, business to farming, as CNN travels the length of the country to bring viewers the Russia of today. CNN wants to hear from both Russian residents and worldwide viewers, in English or in Russian, what they think about Russia's role in the international community. Send us your comments via Sound Off below. or send your videos and pictures via iReport or to youtube.com/CNN. The best will be posted online to be read and watched by CNN.com Youtube audiences around the world, while English language contributions have the additional opportunity to feature on air in CNN's programming output. "Russia is making its voice heard far beyond its borders at a time when the global community has never been more interdependent," said Mike McCarthy, CNN International's vice president of coverage and feature programming. "We want our compelling interviews and reports to stand alongside the very best in audience commentary to provide a really lively insight into what contemporary Russia looks like at a time when its impact is being felt not just in politics but in a diverse array of other fields. We're also excited to offer an online outlet for the first time for Russian language audience feedback as well." The week of programming kicks off with a special travelogue documentary Eye on Russia: Moving Forward where CNN's Moscow-based Senior International Correspondent Matthew Chance rides the train from the Arctic north of Murmansk down to the southern climes of Sochi by way of St Petersburg and Moscow, to offer a diverse range of reports. He visits a Russian farm to look at the country's ambitions to be an agricultural superpower, checks out the Star City astronaut training center, meets with seven-foot boxing world champion-turned-movie star Nikolai Valuev and talks along the way with entrepreneurs and environmentalists working to make the city of Sochi home to green Olympics in 2014. CNN also catches up with famous faces like NHL hockey star Alexander Ovechkin, Russian Vogue editor in chief Aliona Doletskaya, A list model Natalia Vodianova, acclaimed conductor Valery Gergiev, the "Russian Madonna" singer Valeriya, and London-based Russian art collector Nonna Materkova to bring together an eclectic mix of Russians who have made it on the world stage. Additionally, there are reports on Russian communities around the world that have sprung up in places as different as Ashdod, Israel and Brighton Beach, New York. CNN is also live every night from a range of iconic Moscow locations as Chance gives his topical insights into a country increasingly at the center of international headlines, to complement a range of interviews with top Russian CEOs and industry leaders airing throughout CNN's prime time evening programming. From St Basil's Cathedral, the Kremlin, Christ the Saviour Cathedral and Manej Square, Chance gives us the latest on what makes the Russia of today, from domestic and foreign policy, to business, to culture. The Eye on series has travelled around the world visiting France, Russia, India, South Korea, China, South Africa, Brazil, Beirut and Poland. | [
"where does the correspondent go",
"Who rides the train from artic to black sea?",
"Who features in the series?",
"A correspondent rides a train between which two points",
"Which news channel launches week long programming?",
"Which tv station is launching a week long series on modern russis",
"Name to people who are said to feature in the series"
] | [
[
"at Star City, the Russian cosmonaut training facility."
],
[
"Senior International Correspondent Matthew Chance"
],
[
"Matthew Chance"
],
[
"the Arctic north of Murmansk down to the southern climes of Sochi"
],
[
"CNN"
],
[
"CNN"
],
[
"Nikolai Valuev"
]
] | CNN launches week-long series of special programming on modern Russia .
Moscow Correspondent Matthew Chance rides train from Arctic to Black Sea .
Series also features hockey star Alexander Ovechkin, conductor Valery Gergiev .
Tell CNN what you think about Russia's role in the international community . |
(CNN) -- CNN's Larry King talked with former President Bill Clinton on Tuesday night at the William Jefferson Clinton Center in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Bill Clinton talked politics and more with CNN's Larry King on Tuesday night.
In a wide-ranging interview, King talked with Clinton about the stimulus bill, the auto bailout, President Barack Obama's BlackBerry, Chelsea Clinton's future, Sarah Palin and more.
The following transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity:
Larry King: The stimulus bill passed today [Tuesday]. The president signed it in Denver. Is it going to work?
Bill Clinton: I think it will do what it's designed to do. And I think it's important that the American people understand what it's designed to do.
It's supposed to do three things.
Number one, put money in people's pockets who are in trouble now -- extended unemployment benefits, the modest tax cuts, increase in food stamps. That will help grocery stores and other businesses and keep Americans who are good, honest, hardworking people afloat. Watch Larry King's interview with Bill Clinton »
The second thing it's supposed to do is give a chunk of money to state and local governments, primarily for education and health. That is designed to make sure that they don't have to either have big tax increases or lay a million people off. Either one, in this economy, would be bad.
The third thing it will do is to create jobs through existing road and bridge contracts, through rail improvements, through modernization and especially through clean energy and energy efficiency.
So I think that given how fast it had to be done and the compromises that had to be made, it's quite a good bill. And I think it will do what it's designed to do.
King: John McCain and others on the other side of the ledger are saying that he didn't come forward enough to the Republicans, he didn't make them part of this Easter basket.
Clinton: Well, I disagree with that. I think the only way he could have gotten a lot of them to vote for him would be to accept their economic theory. Their economic theory is why we're in this mess in the first place.
King: Do you resent it when the Bush people say that this problem started with you, it started in your administration?
Clinton: Well, they don't have much evidence for that. I always answer, does anyone seriously believe if the team I had in place had been in place for the last eight years that this would have happened? And the answer to that is no. We had a much more vigorous regulatory environment with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We were watching these derivatives. I do think we should have done more on derivatives.
King: Before we move on to other things, should taxpayers be bailing out the automakers?
Clinton: We don't owe it to them. We should only do it if it's in our interests. I believe it's in our interests ...
King: We keep hearing about Obama's BlackBerry -- he's got a special BlackBerry now that doesn't have to be recorded into the White House. Do you have the number?
Clinton: No. No.
King: Would you like the number?
Clinton: I know that in the world that exists today, if you're hyper-busy, you need them. Hillary lives on hers.
King: Do you have one?
Clinton: I don't. I like being able to concentrate on what I'm doing one thing at a time, you know. And I think if I had one, I'm so hyper and always trying to do three things at once, I'd be worse than he is or worse than she is. So I don't have one.
King: What's Chelsea going to be? Is she interested in government?
Clinton: Yes, she's interested in government. She cares about public health. She | [
"Who interviewed Clinton?",
"What is the name of the tv host?",
"What is the name of the person being interviewed?",
"who is bill clinton"
] | [
[
"Larry King"
],
[
"Larry King"
],
[
"Bill Clinton"
],
[
"former President"
]
] | Bill Clinton talks in wide-ranging interview with CNN's Larry King .
Republican economic theories created current economic crisis, Clinton says .
Clinton on Obama: 'I always had a great respect for his abilities'
No, Clinton doesn't have access to Obama's BlackBerry . |
(CNN) -- CNN.com reader Kristy O'Connor took a prenatal yoga class with Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams and says she was "in awe of his devotion and attention to Michelle." Reader Dena Michnowih says she came across Ledger in Brooklyn, New York, teaching his young daughter Matilda her right from her left, and was enchanted. Heath Ledger is pictured with crew of the 2005 film "Lords of Dogtown" and members of the Zephyr skating team. CNN.com asked readers to share their memories of Ledger, who was found dead in a New York apartment Tuesday, January 22. Famous for his roles in the films, "The Patriot" and "Lords of Dogtown," Ledger was widely acclaimed for his portrayal of the homosexual cowboy Ennis del Mar in 2005's "Brokeback Mountain." CNN.com readers describe meeting Ledger in person, and call him humble and kind. Below are a selection of their responses, some of which have been edited for length and clarity. Donal Logue, actor, of Los Angeles, California I met Heath eight years ago while working on "The Patriot." He became a star while we were sequestered away in a small town in South Carolina based on the strength of the dailies going back to Los Angeles. Heath was a fantastically kind and sweet young man. He surrounded himself with his friends from Australia and never forgot any of us he ever worked with. I last saw him in Australia when he called my name on a Melbourne street and introduced me to Michelle, his (then) pregnant [girlfriend]. I have great memories of going for runs with him or watching a bootleg copy of a Parker and Stone's musical called "Cannibal! The Musical of the Donner Party Tragedy." Heath must have been in a place of great pain and sadness to be split from his wife and child. He was sensitive and unfairly victimized in his native country by the unfortunate Australian custom called the "tall poppy syndrome" in which an Australian, the second he or she achieves global success, is immediately and arbitrarily accused of losing all of their humanity. Not true. He was a sweet person, and less importantly, an unbelievably talented actor. Maybe the best of his generation. Dan Bova of Larchmont, New York Once when I was driving in Brooklyn, I got a flat tire. As I was jacking up my car, this deep voice from behind me said, "Need a hand?" It was Heath Ledger. I couldn't believe it. He helped jack up my car and change the tire. He was really good with tools! R. of Perth, Western Australia I grew up with Heath around the speedway racing circuit. I remember the night he was a little boy and his Dad was racing speed cars at Claremont Speedway (my dad was in the race, too). His dad was coming 3rd then in the final corner, the two lead cars spun out and Heath's dad Kim took the lead and won the State Title race. Heath was standing a couple of rows in front of me with his mum and sister and they were all so excited, jumping up and down and cheering. He was about as happy as a little boy could be watching his dad become a champion. I remember that night because in the years that followed, I saw his parents marriage break up and it was like there was this moment in his childhood of pure joy that I witnessed. Later Heath would pit crew for Graham Jones, and I crewed for my dad and brother. Heath and I were both the youngest on our crews so that meant our job was to take the fiberglass bonnets over to the hoses and wash the mud off after each race really dirty work but he managed to stay cleaner than the rest of us. Crystal Davis of Toronto, Ontario I met Heath in L.A. at a mall a year or so ago. I was staring at him working up the nerve to ask for an autograph. He saw me, started laughing and walked towards me. He said I was white as an "egg" and asked if he could | [
"Who was good with tools?",
"What was he really good with?",
"Who met Heath Ledger?",
"Who helped Don Bova change a tire?",
"What should you share?"
] | [
[
"Heath Ledger."
],
[
"tools!"
],
[
"Donal Logue,"
],
[
"Heath Ledger."
],
[
"memories of Ledger,"
]
] | I-Reporters share tales of meeting Heath Ledger in person .
"He was really good with tools," says Don Bova; Ledger helped him change a tire .
I-Report: Share your photos, memories of actor Heath Ledger . |
(CNN) -- 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 (all you need to tell a cab is felfela Wist el balad or Haram street). Best for breakfast. Felfela is a good place to taste such Egyptian staples as shorbat ads (lentil soup), tasty with a squeeze of lemon; taamiya (the local version of falafel); and ful (stewed fava beans served in a variety of ways). 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 | [
"What can you take a ride on?",
"What can you ride at the Pyramids?",
"What is a must see?",
"Where the sultan eat?",
"What is the Sultan Hassan Mosque?"
] | [
[
"Feluccas"
],
[
"Camel"
],
[
"Sultan Hassan Mosque"
],
[
"Abu El Sid"
],
[
"Considered one of the masterpieces of Mamluk architecture."
]
] | 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 . |
(CNN) -- Cal Ripken Jr. will always be known for his consecutive games played streak, but it may surprise many people that just two years into his big-league career, he already was planning for life after baseball. Cal Ripken Jr. is introduced to the crowd at the 2002 All-Star Game in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. While many of the athletes who took to the playing fields of major league baseball this season only are focused on the game, Ripken began saving and planning for retirement long before his career neared its end. "When I joined the Orioles [in 1982], the team was transitioning," said Ripken, who will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in July. "I saw guys who were 34, 35, 36 years old -- still young guys -- about to get out of the game, and I wondered what will they do now? "It got me thinking about what I would want to do when I got out of the game. Most people don't realize how fast the time goes, but I turned those questions on myself." Though he quickly points out that he didn't dwell on those questions, Ripken admits it got him thinking, and eventually planning, so that when retirement came in 2001, the shift from baseball to business was easy. "From the outside, I'm sure it looked like a smooth transition just by virtue of the fact that I had another thing to go into," he said. "I had prepared for what was next." These days, five seasons after retiring from a 21-year career he spent with the Baltimore Orioles, Ripken is a businessman, team owner, radio-show host and author. He also will be a baseball analyst for TBS, which like CNN.com is owned by Time Warner. Ripken jumped full time into his company, Ripken Baseball, without taking any break, lessening the emotional jolt of retirement. "I didn't give myself the luxury of taking a month off [after the baseball season]," he said. "I think I would have opened myself up to regret, thinking about the past. I had to get a minor league baseball team in that stadium. I just put my head down and started working." Ripken's first post-baseball venture was developing a youth ballpark in his hometown of Aberdeen, Maryland, financed in part by a $75,000 gift from the Major League Baseball Players Association. It was presented to him the night he broke Lou Gehrig's record for consecutive games played. Ripken was a "rookie" for the second time in his life, this time in business. "I was learning all over again, learning what was important," he said. "The off-season never went by so fast. I had meetings, phone calls, plans and long days in the office. "By the time I looked up, [the Orioles] were at spring training. I didn't think, 'They left without me,' which is what I thought I would do." Ripken's latest project is a business principles book called "Get in the Game: 8 Elements of Perseverance That Make the Difference," co-authored by Donald T. Phillips. The book, available April 10, was born out a speech Ripken gave about the "secrets" of his success. Writing it turned out to be an emotional journey, he said. "I got to reflect on what my parents had taught me, the values and principles, right and wrong," Ripken said. "It's good to be in touch with those things." The fact is, whether in baseball or business, Ripken rarely strays from the principles he learned from his late father, Cal Sr., a former player and manager. The book is filled with anecdotes from on and off the field. Now 46, Ripken is president and CEO of Ripken Baseball, and his brother, Bill, a former teammate, is executive vice president. The company owns minor league teams in Aberdeen and in | [
"What does the former shortstop have lined up?",
"What does Ripken do now?",
"What is Ripkin's brother's name?"
] | [
[
"Ripken's latest project is a business principles book called \"Get in the Game: 8 Elements of Perseverance That Make the Difference,\""
],
[
"is a businessman, team owner, radio-show host and author."
],
[
"Bill,"
]
] | Ripken played in 2,632 consecutive MLB games .
Now runs baseball organization with brother Bill .
Former shortstop has written several books, hosts radio show . |
(CNN) -- California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed a bill commemorating Harvey Milk, the first openly gay politician elected to public office in the state, a spokesman for the governor said Monday. Stuart Milk, nephew of Harvey Milk, sits next to a photo of the gay rights activist in March. "He really saw this signing as a way to honor the gay community in California," spokesman Aaron McLear told CNN in a telephone interview. Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar bill last year, saying he believed Milk should be recognized at the local level. But since then, "Milk has become much more of a symbol of the gay community," McLear said, citing the eponymous movie starring Sean Penn, Milk's posthumous receipt of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and his induction into the California Hall of Fame. Milk served briefly as San Francisco's supervisor before he and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated in 1978 by Dan White, a city supervisor who had recently resigned but wanted his job back. Under the measure, the governor each year would proclaim May 22 -- Milk's birthday -- as a day of significance across the state. The bill was one of 704 signed Sunday -- most of them near the midnight deadline -- by Schwarzenegger, said spokesman Aaron McLear. The legislation passed the state Senate in May and the state Assembly last month. The legislation has been divisive, with the governor's office receiving more than 100,000 phone calls and e-mails, most of them in opposition, spokeswoman Andrea McCarthy said last month. But she added that most of the Twitter posts the governor received were in favor of the bill. Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar bill last year, saying he believed Milk should be recognized at the local level. Milk was a "unique" historical figure who led a civil rights movement and then was "assassinated in his public office for being who he was," State Sen. Mark Leno, a Democrat, told CNN last month. The day of significance would not close schools or state offices, according to its text. However, Randy Thomasson, the president of SaveCalifornia.com, said the bill was vague and could allow for a number of things at schools, including gay pride parades or "mock gay weddings." "Harvey Milk was a terrible role model for children," said Thomasson, whose organization opposed the bill. "The reality is Harvey Milk is a hero to so many people and a great role model," said Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California, the group that backed the bill introduced by Leno. "It's very appropriate that the state he worked in and passed the first gay rights bill in the country should honor him." He said the bill marks the first time any state has officially honored an openly gay person. Leno said that claims that the bill would lead to schools holding gay-pride parades and similar activities were "hyperbole." The bill "mandates nothing," he said, although it "affords an educational opportunity." President Obama posthumously honored Milk with a Presidential Medal of Freedom this year, and Sean Penn portrayed him in the 2008 film "Milk," for which he received an Oscar for best actor. | [
"Who was the first openly gay California politician?",
"Who does the bill commemorate",
"Harvey Milk was a supervisor of which city?",
"What year was Mayor George Moscone assassinated?",
"how many emails did Arnold receive",
"What day would governor proclaim as a day of significance?",
"Which date was proclaim a day of significance across state?",
"When were they killed",
"Who was the first openly gay politician elected in California?"
] | [
[
"Harvey Milk,"
],
[
"Harvey Milk,"
],
[
"San Francisco's"
],
[
"1978"
],
[
"100,000"
],
[
"May 22"
],
[
"May 22"
],
[
"in 1978"
],
[
"Harvey Milk,"
]
] | Bill commemorates Harvey Milk, the first openly gay politician elected in California .
Each year, governor would proclaim May 22 as day of significance across state .
Milk, a San Francisco supervisor, and Mayor George Moscone assassinated in 1978 .
Schwarzenegger got more than 100,000 e-mails, phone calls about bill . |
(CNN) -- California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a new bill into law Sunday that will fine paparazzi for taking photos that invade a celebrity's right to privacy. The law also targets media outlets who purchase the photos. Singer Britney Spears' run-ins with paparazzi took center stage a few years ago when she took an umbrella to a photographer's SUV. Throngs of photographers often jockey to get the perfect shot of a celebrity, but that doesn't mean it's welcomed. Britney Spears famously had enough one night, taking an umbrella to a photographer's SUV. In 1998, Schwarzenegger himself had his car swarmed by paparazzi while he was picking up his child from school. Jennifer Aniston received $550,000 and an apology from a photographer who used a high-powered telephoto lens to shoot her in the backyard wearing only panties. Watch how stars impact paparazzi » While paparazzi may get a bad rap for their methods, celebrity columnist Ben Widdicombe said things are not always what they seem. "A lot of times the shot you see in the magazine is actually orchestrated by the celebrity themselves," said celebrity columnist Ben Widdicombe. "Celebrities like Britney Spears, for example, are infamous in the industry for letting their assistants tell the paparazzi when they'll be leaving the gates." Celebrity photos can be big business, especially when it comes to major milestones. Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher reportedly pocketed $3 million from OK for their 2005 union. Eva Longoria and Tony Parker received $2 million from OK for photos of their lavish Paris, France, wedding. Expectant celebrities can also rake in big bucks. People magazine reportedly paid $14 million for the first pictures of the Brad Pitt-Angelina Jolie twins. The new California law makes it a crime to take and sell unauthorized photos of celebrities in "personal or familial activity." Violators face fines up to $50,000. The anti-paparazzi amendment takes effect in January. | [
"What do some celebrity columnists claim?",
"What can paparazzi now be sued for?",
"columnist claims some photos are planned in advance by celebrities",
"Where can paparazzi be sued for taking unauthorized photos?",
"who use photos could also be subject to fines",
"Who else could be subject to fines for celebrity photos?"
] | [
[
"things are not always"
],
[
"taking photos that invade a celebrity's right to privacy."
],
[
"\"personal or familial activity.\""
],
[
"California law makes it a crime to take and sell"
],
[
"media outlets"
],
[
"paparazzi"
]
] | Under new California law, paparazzi can be sued for taking unauthorized photos .
Media outlets who use photos could also be subject to fines .
Celebrity columnist claims some photos are planned in advance by celebrities . |
(CNN) -- California corrections officials released a startling new prison mug shot of Grammy-winning music legend Phil Spector, convicted last month of second-degree murder and serving 19 years to life in prison. Phil Spector's prison mug shot, taken June 5, shows him without a hairpiece. Spector, 69, is being held at North Kern State Prison, where he is being evaluated before receiving a permanent prison assignment, corrections spokesman Gordon Hinkle said. The process could take up to 70 days. The mug shot, which shows a bald-pated Spector, was taken on June 5 as part of the routine intake process. California prison inmates are not permitted to wear wigs under Title 15, Article 5, Section 3062 of the state's prison regulations, which addresses inmate hygiene. Corrections officials also are concerned that wigs can be used to hide contraband. A judge in Los Angeles sentenced Spector last month to the maximum sentence for second-degree murder in the February 2003 shooting death of actress Lana Clarkson. Spector, 69, won't be eligible for parole until he is 88 years old. Clarkson, 40, was found dead, slumped in a chair in the foyer of Spector's Alhambra mansion with a gunshot wound through the roof of her mouth. View a timeline of the case » Spector's retrial began in October and ended in April. It took jurors 30 hours to convict him. His first murder trial in 2007 ended in a mistrial when the jury deadlocked 10 to 2 in favor of conviction after 15 days of deliberations. Clarkson starred in the 1985 B-movie "Barbarian Queen" and appeared in many other films, including "Deathstalker," "Blind Date," "Scarface," "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" and the spoof "Amazon Women on the Moon." She was working as a VIP hostess at Hollywood's House of Blues at the time of her death. At both trials, Spector's attorneys argued Clarkson was depressed over a recent breakup and her flagging Hollywood career. They said she grabbed a .38-caliber pistol and killed herself while at Spector's home. But prosecution witnesses painted Spector as a gun-toting menace. Five women took the stand and testified he threatened them with firearms. His driver testified he heard a loud noise and saw Spector leave the home, pistol in hand, saying, "I think I killed somebody." Spector's professional trademark was the "Wall of Sound," the layering of instrumental tracks and percussion that underpinned a string of hits on his Philles label, named for Spector and his business partner, Lester Sill, in the early 1960s. CNN's Alan Duke contributed to this story. | [
"On what date was the released photo taken",
"what is the photo",
"In what year did the death of Lana Clarkson occur",
"With which crime was the music producer found guilty of",
"what was the reason for the murder"
] | [
[
"June 5,"
],
[
"Phil Spector's prison mug shot,"
],
[
"2003"
],
[
"second-degree murder"
],
[
"depressed"
]
] | NEW: Newly released photo taken at state prison intake center on June 5 .
Music producer serving 19 years to life for 2003 slaying of Lana Clarkson .
Actress was found shot dead in foyer of Spector's California mansion .
Jury deadlocked at first trial, Spector convicted of second-degree murder at retrial . |
(CNN) -- California voters on Tuesday appear to have approved Proposition 8, a measure banning same-sex marriage in the state. CNN legal analyst Sunny Hostin says the U.S. Supreme Court may have to rule on the issue of same-sex marriage. California's secretary of state late Tuesday released semi-official results showing Proposition 8 had passed 52.5 percent to 47.5 percent. CNN has not officially called the result one way or the other. On Wednesday protesters took to the streets of Los Angeles to voice their opposition to the potential ban. And there are at least three legal challenges to it now pending in court. Kiran Chetry of CNN's "American Morning" spoke Thursday with the program's legal analyst, Sunny Hostin, about the issue. Chetry: California's attorney general says that the constitutional amendment is not retroactive, and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom says he will continue to marry people until someone sues him to stop. So what does Prop 8 mean first of all to people who want to get married in the state of California? Hostin: Well, we already know in Los Angeles they are no longer issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. So in Los Angeles, it's a no go. In San Francisco, as you mentioned, the mayor is saying, "We're still going to be doing it." So for people that aren't married yet, it's really legal limbo. Chetry: All right. And what about people who from the time that they allowed same-sex marriage, this was in May until November, some 18,000 couples decided they were going to do it. What happens to them? Is their marriage still valid? Hostin: It's still valid right now. But really they are also in a legal limbo. The bottom line it's all over the place. The law is really unclear here. Last night, I was poring over these legal papers. I was also discussing this with a lot of law professors, a lot of different lawyers, and everyone is all over the place. Some folks said, you know, the bottom line is when you look at the language of Proposition 8, it is very clear that it was meant to be retroactive and that means that all the marriages will be invalidated. Then another law professor that I spoke to said that is absolutely fundamentally ridiculous. The bottom line is this is a fundamental right that was given to couples and this is a right that is not going to be given away. I think we're going to see a lot of litigation here, Kiran, and the bottom line is everyone is in a legal, legal limbo. Chetry: It's very interesting the grounds for which they are challenging. At least in one of these lawsuits they said that it was a constitutional revision rather than an amendment. And that means it would need two-thirds approval of the House in the legislature. So do we think it could go to the state house in California as well as being fought in the courts? Hostin: I really think this is going to be a legal issue. I think this is going to go before the California Supreme Court. And we already know as you mentioned that there are three cases pending before the California Supreme Court. And what is interesting to note is that it's the very same court that allowed these marriages in the first place. And so, my guess is that that court is going to weigh in, probably reinstitute the right to marry for same-sex couples and then that's going to be likely based on the U.S. Constitution and our Supreme Court is going to weigh in. What is I think extremely interesting here is that we now know that we have a president-elect, Obama. He's going to get the opportunity likely to appoint Supreme Court justices. So we don't even know which type of court or the makeup of the court that will hear this. But I think the Supreme Court will likely weigh in on this issue. Chetry: This was such a hot button issue in | [
"How many chhallenges have been filed against the ban?",
"What percentage was the vote in favor?",
"Will this issue go to the Supreme Court?",
"About how many courts have been filed against it?",
"What CNN said about it?"
] | [
[
"at least three"
],
[
"52.5"
],
[
"may have"
],
[
"three"
],
[
"U.S. Supreme Court may have to rule on the issue of same-sex marriage."
]
] | California voters appear to have approved a ban on same-sex marriage .
At least three court challenges have been filed against ban .
CNN legal analyst says opinions on ban's legality are "all over the place"
Analyst says U.S. Supreme Court will likely be called upon to decide issue . |
(CNN) -- California's Silicon Valley has long dominated the internet industry. The world's largest dotcom companies operate from the valley, it attracts the industry's brightest minds and countless innovative ideas are generated out of the area. So, can Europe make headway in this ever-expanding industry?
Ilja Laurs, founder of Getjar -- the world's largest app store -- says there are labor, cultural and bureaucratic factors that make it very difficult for Europe to compete with Silicon Valley.
Laurs argues the talent pool across the continent for specialist services in Europe is too small. "While there are certain pockets of good people for particular niches, you maybe only able to find a hundred people in those specific areas."
That compares to the thousands available in Silicon Valley, putting Europe at a competitive disadvantage.
European startup enterprises face the same regulations that are applied to large corporations, Laurs says, putting an unfair burden on smaller companies.
Laurs says governments need to decide whether encouraging high-tech communities is something they want to focus on. He believes changes must be made to labor laws and capital gains tax for small organizations to be viable.
"The same set of rules that governs big corporations can be very damaging to small startups which operate in a very different environment," he says.
Cultural differences can also make it difficult for Europe to compete, Laurs says. He points to America's strong work ethic as an example, saying it gives Silicon Valley an edge. Facebook, for example, is not "working nine to five," he says. In Europe, by comparison, some government regulations dictate six weeks of vacation time.
He believes Europeans value other aspects of life, such as family, above work. "Americans are proud if they work and spend a hundred hours a week in the office. I'm not saying that it's good or bad, it's just the way it is and that's very incompatible with innovation."
But ultimately, Laurs says, innovation is "about trial and error." | [
"Who is the founder?",
"who is hit with the same regulations as large corporations?",
"what are the important factors?",
"What are the factors?",
"who is founder of Getjar ?"
] | [
[
"Ilja Laurs,"
],
[
"European startup enterprises"
],
[
"labor, cultural and bureaucratic"
],
[
"labor, cultural and bureaucratic"
],
[
"Ilja Laurs,"
]
] | Getjar founder Ilja Laurs says there are factors which make it difficult for Europe to compete .
He points to red tape, labor markets and cultural differences as important factors .
Laurs says startups are hit with the same regulations as large corporations . |
(CNN) -- California's Supreme Court said Wednesday that it will hear the appeal of a challenge to Proposition 8, a voter-approved measure outlawing same-sex marriage.
California's voter-approved measure banning same-sex marriage has sparked protests throughout the state.
In a written statement, the court said it will not block the implementation or enforcement of the law in the meantime.
Proposition 8 passed with about 52.5 percent of the vote, making California one of several states to ban same-sex marriage in the November 4 elections.
But unlike the other states, California had already been issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples since May, after a state Supreme Court ruling legalized the unions.
The American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal and the National Center for Lesbian Rights filed legal challenges to the vote, asking the high court to rule the ballot-initiative process was "improperly used" to strip away a right protected by the state constitution. iReport.com: Share your view on same-sex marriage
The court said arguments in the case could be heard as early as March.
In its May 15 ruling legalizing same-sex marriage in California, the justices seemed to signal that a ballot initiative like Proposition 8 might not be enough to change the underlying constitutional issues of the case in the court's eyes.
The ruling said the right to marry is among a set of basic human rights "so integral to an individual's liberty and personal autonomy that they may not be eliminated or abrogated by the legislature or by the electorate through the statutory initiative process."
In the hours after the proposition's apparent passage, thousands of protesters took to the streets of Los Angeles and other cities across California in protest.
Observances in support of same-sex marriage were held in cities across the country Saturday. | [
"what is proposition 8",
"Who legalised same-sex marriage on May 15?",
"did the court say anything",
"who legalized it"
] | [
[
"a voter-approved measure outlawing same-sex marriage."
],
[
"California"
],
[
"said it will not block the implementation or enforcement of the law in the meantime."
],
[
"state Supreme Court"
]
] | Three groups file challenge to Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage .
Groups say ballot initiative "improperly used" to strip away state constitutional right .
Court says it will not interfere with enforcement of the law before it hears appeal .
State Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in May 15 ruling . |
(CNN) -- Call it a self-fulfilling prophecy: An estimated three-fourths of gas stations in the Nashville, Tennessee, area ran dry Friday, victim of an apparent rumor that the city was running out of gas.
"Everybody has just gone nuts," said Mike Williams, executive director of the Tennessee Petroleum Council.
He said he has no idea about the origin of a rumor that there was going to be no gas in Nashville. One reporter called him, saying she had heard that Nashville would be without gas within the hour, he said.
Hearing the rumor, drivers rushed to fill their cars and trucks.
CNN called 13 Nashville gas stations at random. Only two reported having gas, and one said it was almost out. The stations said they were being told they would not get more until Monday or Tuesday. iReport.com: Nashville residents desperate for fuel
Katie Givens Kime, visiting from Atlanta, Georgia, was trying to fill up her tank for the trip home when she ran into trouble -- when she was already low on gas.
"We panicked and looked online," she said. "And holy cow, there is no gas in the city. ... It has definitely gripped the city, for sure."
One store clerk told her there was no way she could get gas to go back home, she said.
Williams said some drivers were following gas trucks to see where they were headed, and lines at some stations were a mile long. Fuel was continuing to enter the city, however, as pipelines were working and barges were coming in.
He likened it to Southerners rushing out to stock up on bread and milk when they hear it might snow. As stations began running low, the situation snowballed, he said.
One station reported selling as much gas Friday as it usually does in a weekend, Williams said.
The phenomenon seemed to be isolated to the Nashville area, he said. iReport.com: Is there a gas panic in your area?
Givens Kime said she found a station online that still had gas and waited more than an hour to pump it.
"People were freaked out," she said. A "renegade bunch" of men helped direct traffic to and from the pumps, even taking drivers' cash inside for them. She described people filling cans and other containers as well as cars.
She said that the station was not engaging in price gouging but that "emotions were running very high" among drivers.
CNN's Gary Bender contributed to this report. | [
"What did residents do?",
"Where did the rumor in the story take place?",
"What city was the problem located at?",
"What did residents do when they hit the gas stations?",
"How long are people waiting for gas?",
"What was the rumor in the story?",
"What is the wait time people were willing to do to fill up containers, etc?",
"Who is rumored to be running out of gas?",
"Who panicked about gas?",
"What commodity was hard to find in this story?"
] | [
[
"desperate for fuel"
],
[
"Nashville,"
],
[
"Nashville,"
],
[
"rushed to fill their cars and trucks."
],
[
"more than an hour"
],
[
"going to be no gas in Nashville."
],
[
"more than an hour"
],
[
"Nashville,"
],
[
"Katie Givens Kime,"
],
[
"gas."
]
] | Nobody knows origin of rumor that Nashville was running out of gas .
Of 13 Nashville gas stations called at random, only two said they had gas .
Residents panicked and hit gas stations to fuel up .
People were filling up containers, cans, with some waiting an hour for gas . |
(CNN) -- Calling capital punishment in California an "empty promise," the father of murdered teen Chelsea King said he supported a deal to take death off the table for his daughter's killer in order to bring closure to the community.
"We stand here because of a despicable evil act committed against our beautiful daughter, Chelsea, committed against our family and committed against our community," Brent King said in a news conference Friday. "While our unequivocal first choice is the death penalty, we acknowledge that in California that penalty has become an empty promise."
San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis said the family's blessing contributed to a plea deal with registered sex offender John Gardner III in Chelsea's death and two other cases.
Gardner, 31, pleaded guilty Friday to the murder of King, the murder of Amber Dubois, and assault with intent to commit rape of a third person.
King, 17, was last seen alive leaving Poway High School in suburban San Diego on February 25. Her car, with her cell phone inside, was found at Rancho Bernardo Community Park, where she was known to run on the trails. Her disappearance sparked a massive search that ended a few days later with the discovery of her remains in the park. Dubois, 14, disappeared in February 2009 while walking to school in Escondido. She was considered a missing person for more than a year, until her remains were found in March.
Prosecutors revealed in court Friday that Gardner led authorities to Dubois' body in exchange for assurances that it would not be used against him in court.
In exchange for his guilty pleas, Gardner is to be sentenced to two consecutive terms of life without the possibility of parole. He also waived his right to appeals, ensuring that he will die in prison, Dumanis said at the news conference.
Superior Court Judge David Danielsen accepted the plea and scheduled sentencing for June 1. A gag order is in place until then.
The surprise change of plea came during a hearing Friday, after prosecutors charged him with murder with a special circumstance of rape for Dubois's death.
Gardner was facing the death penalty on one charge of murder with a special circumstance of rape for King's death.
Dressed in dark blue jailhouse garb, his wrists chained, Gardner nervously responded "yes" several times to the judge's questioning of whether he understood his rights and was entering his plea willingly. He cast his gaze downward as the judge read brief descriptions of how he raped and murdered Dubois and King. Gardner made no statement.
According to court documents, on February 13, 2009, Gardner abducted Dubois and brought her to a remote area of Pala, where he raped and stabbed her, and buried her in a shallow grave.
Gardner admitted to attacking King while she was running and dragging her to a remote area, the documents said. He raped and strangled her, and also buried her body in a shallow grave.
Gardner also admitted to attacking another female on December 27, 2009, while she was running.
In a news conference after Friday's hearing, Dubois' father, Moe, expressed gratitude over the case's resolution.
"As you can imagine, this turn of events in the case came as a surprise to all of us when we were informed about the details yesterday," he said. "As a parent I am thankful [for] the work put forth by the district attorney's office and the defense team in coming forth with a resolution in the case and allowing us to have justice and closure for Amber's case."
Without the plea deal, Dumanis said her office did not have enough evidence to charge Gardner in the death of Dubois.
Her remains were not found until Gardner led authorities to her body, three days after he was charged in King's death, Dumanis said.
"The only promise made to him in exchange for this information was that we could not use it against him in court. This was a somber decision," the district attorney said in a press conference after Friday's hearing, | [
"What did Gardner admit to?",
"What did Chelsea Kings dad say?",
"Who did Gardner admit to raping and murdering?",
"Plea deal for Gardner includes what?"
] | [
[
"the murder of King, the murder of Amber Dubois, and assault with intent to commit rape of a third person."
],
[
"he supported a deal to take death off the table for his daughter's killer in order to bring closure to the community."
],
[
"Chelsea"
],
[
"is to be sentenced to two consecutive terms of life without the possibility of parole. He also waived his right to appeals, ensuring that he will die in prison,"
]
] | John Albert Gardner III admits to raping, murdering Chelsea King, Amber Dubois .
Plea deal sparing Gardner the death penalty also includes attack on jogger in December .
Without plea, not enough evidence to charge Gardner in Dubois' death, prosecutor says .
Chelsea King's dad says he wanted to avoid agony of trial, bring closure to Dubois family . |
(CNN) -- Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to redeploy some troops away from the site of a border temple at the center of a tense military standoff in its second week. Thai soldiers take a rest near the Preah Vihear temple in Preah Vihear province. The decision came after the two sides met to resolve the impasse. Government officials from both nations plan to meet again to decide how many troops will remain at the site of the Preah Vihear temple, the Thai News Agency reported Monday. At a later meeting, the two sides plan to discuss how to tackle the thorny issue at the center of the ongoing dispute -- the question of whether land around the temple belongs to Thailand or Cambodia. The 11th century temple sits atop a cliff on Cambodian soil but has its most accessible entrance on the Thai side. The two countries differ on whether some territory around the temple forms part of Thailand or Cambodia. The decision to redeploy troops took place after a Monday meeting in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Last week, an eight-hour meeting between Thai and Cambodian officials ended with both sides agreeing on only one point: that troops each country has amassed at the site of the temple will not fire on each other. The International Court of Justice awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962. Thailand claims, however, that the 1.8 square mile (4.6 sq. km) area around it was never fully demarcated. Thailand says the dispute arose from the fact that the Cambodian government used a map drawn during the French occupation of Cambodia -- a map that places the temple and surrounding area in Cambodian territory. This month, the United Nations approved Cambodia's application to have the temple listed as a World Heritage Site -- a place the U.N. says has outstanding universal value. The decision re-ignited tensions, with some in Thailand fearing it will make it difficult for their country to lay claim to disputed land around the temple. Opposition parties in Thailand used the issue to attack the government, which initially backed the heritage listing. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has been in power since 1985, portrayed the U.N. recognition as a national triumph in the run-up to the general elections. Analysts believe that the nationalist sentiments stirred up by the military standoff helped Hun Sen's ruling party win enough seats in Sunday's parliamentary elections so that it can form a government without the need for a coalition. The current flare-up began July 15, when Cambodian guards briefly detained three Thais who crossed into the area. Once they were let go, the three refused to leave the territory. Cambodia claims Thailand sent troops to retrieve the trio and gradually built up their numbers. Thailand denies that, saying its troops are deployed in Thai territory. | [
"What will the two sides discuss?",
"What does Cambodia claim?",
"When did flare-up begin?",
"What did Cambodia claim?",
"What are Cambodia and Thailand planning to discuss?",
"Who was detained by the guards?"
] | [
[
"how to tackle the thorny issue at the center of the ongoing dispute"
],
[
"Thailand sent troops to retrieve the trio and gradually built up their numbers."
],
[
"July 15,"
],
[
"Thailand sent troops to retrieve the trio and gradually built up their numbers."
],
[
"tackle the thorny issue at the center of the ongoing dispute"
],
[
"three Thais"
]
] | Cambodia, Thailand to redeploy some troops away from the site of a border temple .
Two sides plan to discuss issue of who the land around the temple belongs to .
Flare-up began when Cambodian guards detained three Thais who entered area .
Cambodia claims Thailand sent troops to retrieve the trio and built up their numbers . |
(CNN) -- Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o will be seeking to win a record fourth African Player of the Year award after being named in the final shortlist of five for the 2009 title.
The Inter Milan player will be up against 2006 winner Didier Drogba and the Chelsea forward's Ivory Coast teammate Yaya Toure, Ghana midfielder Michael Essien and Seydou Keita of Mali.
Last season Eto'o helped Spanish and European champions Barcelona to an unprecedented treble of titles, along with his former clubmates Toure and Keita.
The Inter Milan player also helped Cameroon to qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa, having missed out on the 2006 tournament in Germany.
The 28-year-old previously won the award in 2003, 2004 and 2005, joining George Weah and Abedi Pele as the only players to have triumphed three times.
Drogba and his clubmate Essien both also helped their countries to qualify for the World Cup finals, and won the English FA Cup with Chelsea as well as finishing third in the Premier League.
Essien has finished in the top three every year since 2005, being runner-up to Frederic Kanoute in 2007.
Last year, when he was hampered by injuries, was the only time that Drogba has not figured in the top three since 2003.
Keita is the nephew of former winner Salif Keita. The award ceremony will take place on February 25 in Dakar, Senegal, a month after the African Cup of Nations takes place in Angola. | [
"who is on a shortlist?",
"Who else is in the running?",
"African Player award may go to?",
"which club was he playing in?",
"who is he against?",
"Who is he up against?"
] | [
[
"Samuel Eto'o"
],
[
"Yaya Toure,"
],
[
"Samuel Eto'o"
],
[
"Inter Milan"
],
[
"Didier Drogba and the Chelsea forward's Ivory Coast teammate Yaya Toure, Ghana midfielder Michael Essien and Seydou Keita of Mali."
],
[
"Didier Drogba"
]
] | Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o in contention to win record fourth African Player of Year award .
Inter Milan player named in shortlist of five after his heroics with former club Barcelona .
He is up against former teammates Yaya Toure and Seydou Keita .
Ghana midfielder Michael Essien and 2006 winner Didier Drogba also in the running . |
(CNN) -- Cameroon's high rate of teenage pregnancy is being blamed for driving mothers to use harmful traditions on their daughters -- including the unspeakable practice of breast ironing.
Some mothers "iron" their daughters' breasts with a hot pestle to make them less desirable to men. It's a practice that's meant to stop them getting pregnant at a young age, but it leaves many girls physically and emotionally scarred.
A study in 2006 found nearly one in four Cameroonian girls have been affected. But a new generation of Cameroonian women are on a mission to eradicate the practice.
Among them is Georgette Taku. She believes better sex education is the key to reducing teenage pregnancy and changing attitudes to breast ironing.
"What is killing the Cameroonian girl in society is that mothers don't communicate with their daughters, they don't talk," said Taku.
Taku works for the Association of Aunties, a national network that promotes sexual dialogue. It was her own pregnancy and the birth of her son that pushed her into a life of activism.
"They (mothers) only resort to some actions, some practices to try to help the girl," said Taku. "It's better to talk to your daughter -- that's why we teach the mothers even things like puberty."
"The mothers are ignorant, they don't know how to approach their daughters," she added.
With the help of sponsors, the association produces television and print campaigns urging Cameroonian girls to find their voice and confront their mothers.
Malawi's 'Florence Nightingale' saving babies and mothers
Workshops are also held to educate women about reproductive health. The idea is that when they graduate they'll become trusted sources of information for other Cameroonian girls.
One workshop participant, Terisia, became pregnant aged 15. Her mother ironed her breasts when she was just nine years old.
Terisia believes she might not have become pregnant so young if her mother had talked to her about sex instead.
"The advice could have worked better than pressing the breasts," Terisia said. "Sitting with the child, giving the child advice, telling her to prevent sexual intercourse, or if you want to have (sex) you should protect yourself."
But like other mothers, Terisia's mother Grace says she ironed her daughter's breasts to stop boys looking at her.
"If you ask mothers who are doing breast ironing on their daughters, they will tell you that, 'no I'm doing it because I want to help her, I want to protect her from men,'" said Taku.
Among those working for the Association of Aunties is a former victim of breast ironing who says she regrets not speaking out about what was happening to her.
Cathy Aba now hopes to save other girls by confronting mothers about the effects of their actions.
"It's not easy to approach mothers who are involved in the practice of breast ironing," she said. "They consider it a cultural practice. 'My grandmother did it to me,' they tell us."
The 23-year-old still has painful scars, 14 years after her breasts were ironed. Her doctor says surgery is no longer an option.
"When you finally pass the message to them, they finally accept and decide to never do it again," Aba added.
The campaign group says former victims like Aba really drive home its message.
"Our victims help us a lot because they talk to mothers; they make the mothers understand that they suffered from this practice," Taku said.
"Even though they had the breasts ironed they grew up ignorant when it came to pregnancy, HIV and other sexual diseases because the mothers were not talking with them." | [
"What do some mothers say?",
"What is harming their daughters?",
"Who is campaigning to end the practice?",
"What is widespread in Cameroon?",
"Who is educating women?",
"who is educating about sexual health?"
] | [
[
"'no I'm doing it because I want to help her, I want to protect her from men,'\""
],
[
"breast ironing."
],
[
"new generation of Cameroonian women"
],
[
"breast ironing."
],
[
"Georgette Taku."
],
[
"Georgette Taku."
]
] | Breast ironing widespread in Cameroon, says study .
The Association of Aunties is educating women about sexual health .
Former victims are among those campaigning for the practice to be eradicated .
Some mothers say they don't know they are harming their daughters . |
(CNN) -- Campus police at the University of South Florida were questioning two men in connection with back-to-back incidents on the school campus Monday. Police take a man into custody at the University of South Florida after receiving reports of a person with a bomb. Investigators were questioning one man following a report of an armed intruder, USF police Lt. Meg Ross said. And a second man was also being questioned following a report of a man carrying a large hunting knife and a puppy, she said. USF police asked the Tampa police's bomb team to respond to the campus regarding a backpack belonging to man in the first incident, said Ross. No one was hurt, she said, and no shots were fired. "We have someone we think may have been involved," Ross told CNN, "but we have to investigate fully." "We have not looked in his backpack," she added. "We have the bomb squad on their way to look at that." Police received a report that a person armed with a bomb and a gun was in the area of the university's library. Authorities later received a report of a subject on a bus in the area of the university's Parking and Transportation Services, Ross said. "We checked the area at the library, did not locate him, but then received a subsequent report of a subject on a bus," she said. The campus stayed on lockdown after police received a report almost immediately after taking the first man into custody of a man wearing a black tank top and a cowboy hat, carrying a knife and a black puppy. "We're questioning him," Ross said. "We do not believe he is related to the first incident with the backpack." Text messages were sent out to 13,000 employees and 45,000 students to warn them after the first incident, and emergency sirens on campus also were activated, officials said. But Ross said that the campus had been given the all-clear, except for the shuttle-bus area -- where the first subject was taken into custody -- while Tampa Police examined the backpack. CNN's Rich Phillips contributed to this report. | [
"in which university did the incident take place?",
"The USF police said what about the incident",
"how many men were questioned?",
"What was reported at the University of Florida"
] | [
[
"of South Florida"
],
[
"Investigators were questioning one man following a report of an armed intruder,"
],
[
"two"
],
[
"reports of a person with a bomb."
]
] | Campus police question 2 men after incidents on school campus Monday .
Report of armed intruder on the University of South Florida campus in Tampa, Florida .
Police received a report of person armed with bomb, gun near the library .
USF police say no one was hurt, no shots were fired . |
(CNN) -- Canada's House of Commons voted Thursday to extend the country's military mission in Afghanistan until 2011, with the stipulation that NATO send reinforcements to the volatile Kandahar province. Canadian soldiers walk along a track at the Kandahar Air Base in Afghanistan last month. Most of Canada's 2,500 troops in Afghanistan are in Kandahar as part of the NATO-led mission to stabilize the war-torn country. Their presence has sparked controversy in Canada, with the Bloc Quebecois and the New Democratic Party calling for an immediate troop withdrawal. Supporters of the mission argued that Canadians have made progress in providing schools, health care and clean water for thousands of Afghans. They said the improving conditions would be impossible without troops ensuring a secure environment for aid workers and local residents. "The military needs to be there," said Harold Albrecht, a conservative member of Parliament. "The military provides the civil order we would expect from police here." The Canadian mission in Afghanistan was to end next February. It has claimed the lives of 80 soldiers and a diplomat, according to The Associated Press. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has endorsed a panel's recommendation to keep troops in place only if another NATO nation dispatches additional troops to Kandahar. Canada wants a minimum of 1,000 reinforcements, The Globe and Mail reported. Thursday's motion, passed with a 198-77 vote, brought Harper's Conservative party and the opposition Liberals together on the issue. Other parties, however, noted that the cost of maintaining a troop presence in Afghanistan has not been disclosed to Parliament or the public. "We must provide clarity to the Canadian people," said Nathan Cullen of the New Democratic Party. "We believe it to be wrong for our country." E-mail to a friend | [
"What is the stipulation?",
"When are troops to stay until?",
"Where are most of Canada's troops?",
"Where are most of Canada's 2,500 troops in Afghanistan?",
"When will the Canadian mission end?",
"What year are troops supposed to stay until?",
"Who is to stay until 2011?",
"What was to end next February?",
"When is the Canadian mission in Afghanistan set to end?",
"What is the stipulation that allows the troops to stay until 2011?",
"Where are most of Canada's 2,500 troops?",
"Where are most of Canada's troops in Afghanistan located?",
"On what condition will troops stay until 2011?",
"When is the Canadian mission in Afghanistan to end?",
"Where are most of Canada's 2,500 troops located?",
"When is the Canadian mission in Afghanistan supposed to end?"
] | [
[
"NATO send reinforcements to the volatile Kandahar province."
],
[
"2011,"
],
[
"Kandahar"
],
[
"Kandahar"
],
[
"2011,"
],
[
"2011,"
],
[
"country's military"
],
[
"The Canadian mission in Afghanistan"
],
[
"2011,"
],
[
"the volatile Kandahar province."
],
[
"Kandahar"
],
[
"Kandahar"
],
[
"NATO send reinforcements to the volatile Kandahar province."
],
[
"2011,"
],
[
"Kandahar"
],
[
"2011,"
]
] | Troops to stay until 2011, with the stipulation that NATO contribute more forces .
Most of Canada's 2,500 troops in Afghanistan are in Kandahar province .
The Canadian mission in Afghanistan was to end next February .
Critics say the cost has not been disclosed to Parliament or the public . |
(CNN) -- Canadian researchers say they have discovered the smallest known North American dinosaur, a carnivore that roamed areas of the continent 75 million years ago and weighed less than most modern-day house cats.
Researchers say Hesperonychus, whose name means "western claw," was about 1.6 feet tall.
Hesperonychus elizabethae, a 4.4-pound (2-kilogram) creature with razor-like claws, ran through the swamps and forests of southeastern Alberta, Canada, during the late Cretaceous period, the researchers said.
The diminutive dinosaur likely hunted insects, small mammals and other prey, perhaps even baby dinosaurs, said Nick Longrich, a paleontology research associate in the University of Calgary's Department of Biological Sciences.
"It's basically a predator of small things," Longrich said.
Longrich co-wrote a paper on the dinosaur with University of Alberta paleontologist Philip Currie. The paper appeared in Monday's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The researchers said the clawed dinosaur was slight, ran on two legs and had dagger-like teeth. It had an enlarged sickle-shaped claw on its second toe, the researchers said.
Although fossilized remains of Hesperonychus were collected in 1982, they remained unstudied until Longrich came across them in the University of Alberta's collection in 2007, the university said. Because of their size, some of the fossilized parts had been thought to be from juveniles.
Longrich said he suspected the claws had come from another, smaller adult species, but said finding a fossilized pelvis in which the hip bones were fused -- which happens only once an animal is fully grown -- convinced him.
"The claws were kind of a bread-crumb trail that we followed along," until finding the well-preserved pelvis, Longrich said.
Longrich and Currie determined that Hesperonychus, whose name means "western claw," stood about 1.6 feet (50 centimeters) high.
Albertonykus borealis, a 2.5-foot-long insectivore, had been previously thought to be the smallest North American dinosaur.
Longrich came across the dinosaur's bones in storage at the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller and decided to analyze them, Canadian Broadcasting Company reported in September. A dinosaur smaller than Hesperonychus has been found in China, Longrich said.
He said he found searching through museums' storage more productive in the short term than working in the field.
"People collect stuff so much more quickly than they can process," he said.
CNN's Taylor Gandossy contributed to this report. | [
"When were the remains discovered?",
"how much did the carnivore weigh?",
"Where did it live in Alberta?",
"when were remains discovered?",
"where did the carnivore live?",
"What type of carnivore lived 75 million years ago?",
"what was discovered"
] | [
[
"1982,"
],
[
"4.4-pound (2-kilogram)"
],
[
"Canada,"
],
[
"1982,"
],
[
"the swamps and forests of southeastern Alberta, Canada,"
],
[
"Hesperonychus,"
],
[
"the smallest known North American dinosaur,"
]
] | Hesperonychus elizabethae, a 4.4-pound carnivore, lived 75 million years ago .
Remains discovered in '82; scientist began studying them in 2007 .
Canadian researchers say it ran through swamps and forests in Alberta . |
(CNN) -- Canadian ski resort gondola cars that were left dangling and swaying with terrified skiers inside failed because ice buildup snapped a supporting tower, the resort said Thursday. One gondola car is suspended above an icy creek at a ski resort near Whistler, British Columbia. In a rare occurrence called ice-jacking, water seeped into the lower section of the lift tower and turned to ice Tuesday at Whistler Blackcomb resort, 177 kilometers (110 miles) north of Vancouver, a resort official said in a press release Thursday. The lift hangs from a tower that is spliced into two parts. Extremely cold temperatures caused the ice buildup that exerted 800 tons of pressure between the two parts that hold the tower together, causing them to rupture, according to Whistler Blackcomb. The section of the lift affected by the accident had 15 cars going up the mountain and 15 coming down at the time, but they weren't carrying a lot of passengers, according to Doug Forseth, senior vice president of the resort. He said 53 passengers had been rescued from the stranded cars. No skiers at the Whistler, British Columbia, resort were seriously injured. "The towers are not normally designed to allow for any water penetration and so this failure is a very unusual situation," said Warren Sparks, senior vice president of Doppelmayr Canada, the engineering firm that investigated the accident. They are trying to figure out what caused the water to pool. He said independent structural engineers are examining the tower from Vancouver-based CVMM Consulting Engineers. "The evidence so far indicates a sudden rupture rather than a fatigue failure over an extended period," Sparks said. At least two gondola cars broke away and hit the ground, both from relatively low heights near the tower that split, and caused the system's heavy cable line to slacken, according to Tyler Noble, a reporter for CNNRadio affiliate CKNW in Vancouver. "One hit a bus stop and the other hit a house," Noble said Wednesday. "Another one was suspended over a creek, but everyone is out of that car." The broken Excaliber Gondola was not operating Thursday. Whistler engineers checked eight similar towers across the two mountains of the resort. All passed those inspections, and are open Thursday, the release said. The British Columbia Authority says it does not expect to rescind operating permits on any lifts at the resort, other than the Excaliber Gondola. Jeff Colburn, general manager of Silver Mountain Resort in Kellogg, Idaho, said a lift tower at his resort was similarly damaged by ice in December 2006. The damage was discovered in the morning before the slopes opened, so no one was endangered, he said. The damaged tower was replaced in about three weeks, Colburn said, and the resort's business was not significantly disrupted. "We check our towers in the summer now, and we also check before we open up for ski season as well just to make sure they don't have any water in them, and we've worked with the manufacturers," he said. Holes have been drilled in the bases of towers so that water can drain out, Colburn said. CNN's Ashley Fantz and Jim Kavanagh contributed to this report. | [
"What hit the ground?",
"Where did the lift fall?",
"What caused the lift to fail?",
"What caused the rupture?",
"Where did the gondola go?",
"What caused the lift to fall?"
] | [
[
"two gondola cars"
],
[
"at a ski resort near Whistler, British Columbia."
],
[
"ice buildup snapped a supporting tower,"
],
[
"the ice buildup that exerted 800 tons of pressure between the two parts that hold the tower together,"
],
[
"broke away and hit the ground,"
],
[
"the ice buildup that exerted 800 tons of pressure between the two parts that hold the tower together, causing them"
]
] | "Ice-jacking" caused a lift at a Canadian ski resort to fail, Whistler resort says .
Water in supporting tower caused it to rupture .
Two gondola cars broke away and hit the ground, one dangled over frozen creek .
Lift tower at Idaho resort suffered similar damage in December 2006 . |
(CNN) -- Capt. Chesley Sullenberger, the hero pilot who safely landed a full passenger jet in the Hudson River, was once again honored with cheers and applause Tuesday during a ceremony for him hosted by the governor of his home state. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger gives hero pilot Chesley Sullenberger a flag and license plate. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, first lady Maria Shriver and other dignitaries greeted Sullenberger at the state Capitol rotunda in Sacramento. Taking a break from difficult negotiations over a troubled state budget, the governor presented Sullenberger with a jacket with the state seal, a California state flag that had flown over the state Capitol, a proclamation and a "California Hero" license plate. "Today is a very important day," Schwarzenegger said. "There are legislators upstairs that are negotiating and working on a budget -- [we] need a great hero in a state capitol." The Sullenberger family lives in Danville, California. Sullenberger's response was understated -- as it has been at other ceremonies, including a New York City Hall event when he was given the key to the city by Mayor Michael Bloomberg. "On behalf of the other four crew members of Flight 1549 and also on behalf of the many thousands of aviation professionals whose daily devotion to duty keeps air travel safe, I gratefully accept this recognition," he said. Sullenberger and his crew safely landed the damaged airplane, believed to have hit a flock of birds, in the Hudson on January 15. All 155 passengers aboard the US Airways flight survived. CNN's Scott Thompson contributed to this report. | [
"which is the name of the pilot?",
"Who does the California governor honor?",
"Who was honored?",
"who is the governor of California?",
"What did Schwarzenegger say about Sullenberger?",
"Who safely landed flight 1549?",
"What is the opinion of the governor of california?",
"Who accepted recognition on behalf of crew members?"
] | [
[
"Chesley Sullenberger,"
],
[
"Chesley Sullenberger"
],
[
"Chesley Sullenberger,"
],
[
"Arnold Schwarzenegger"
],
[
"[we] need a great hero in a state capitol.\""
],
[
"Chesley Sullenberger,"
],
[
"\"Today is a very important day,\""
],
[
"Chesley Sullenberger,"
]
] | California governor honors U.S. Airways pilot Capt. Chesley Sullenberger .
Schwarzenegger: "We need a great hero" in state legislature like Sullenberger .
Sullenberger safely landed flight 1549 in the Hudson River in New York .
Sullenberger accepts recognition on behalf of crew members, others . |
(CNN) -- Capt. Richard Phillips, whose capture and dramatic rescue in the pirate-infested waters off the coast of Africa last week captivated the nation, returned home to Vermont on Friday.
Capt. Richard Phillips says, "I'm not the hero. The military is the hero. Thank them."
Phillips landed shortly after 4:30 p.m. at Burlington International Airport. He was met by family members, who climbed the steps of his plane to greet him.
He then strolled across the tarmac with his family, his arm wrapped around his daughter, Mariah, who wiped away tears.
"I just want to thank you for your prayers and support of my family while I was gone," Phillips said after landing in Vermont. "I'm just a bit part. I'm a seaman like all the other seamen out there." Watch Phillips' happy homecoming »
Close-up camera shots of Phillips on Friday showed what appeared to be rope burns on his forearms, presumably from being tied by the pirates.
Phillips spoke for a short time and mostly thanked the military for saving him.
"I'm not the hero," he said. "The military is the hero. Thank them." Watch Phillips thank military, Maersk »
He offered no details of what happened to him during his time as a hostage besides calling it "indescribable." He also took the time to thank crew members on his ship.
"We did it. I told you it wasn't going to be 'if'; it was going to be 'when,' " he said. "We did what we were trained to do. We're just seamen. [We] do the best with what we've got, and my crew did an excellent job, and I'm so proud of them that they're all home and they're with their loved ones." Watch how crews train for pirate attacks »
He had just completed an 18-hour flight out of Mombasa, Kenya, on a jet owned by Maersk.
Family members said they planned to spend some quality time together later Friday at their home in Underhill, Vermont -- Phillips' mother-in-law was making brownies and his best friend planned to bring over chicken pot pie and Phillips' favorite beer, they said.
Phillips offered himself as a hostage last week, when four pirates boarded his U.S.-flagged ship, the Maersk Alabama. The pirates held him aboard a lifeboat for several days in a standoff against the U.S. Navy.
Navy sharpshooters shot and killed three pirates, freeing Phillips. The other pirate had been taken into custody.
The captain's wife, Andrea, also spoke at his homecoming, calling it "one of the happiest moments of our lives." She said she was extremely proud of his bravery, but also acknowledged the captain would say he was just doing his job.
"I have always been proud to call myself an American," Andrea Phillips said. "Today, I'm even prouder. To everyone who has been involved in this that made this day possible, I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. Through this past week, having Richard back safe was all that my family and I ever wanted. Now our prayers have been answered, and we have a lot of people to thank."
The 53-year-old Vermont native was praised Thursday by engineer John Cronan, one of the 19 other crew members.
"He went above and beyond the call to ensure our safety," Cronan told CNN's "Larry King Live." "I can't thank that man enough. He is the reason I'm here tonight." Watch Cronan tell King about the experience »
Asked whether she wants to see Cronan continue working as a merchant mariner, Cronan's fiancee said it was up to him.
"John and I have an agreement," said Heather Giardinelli, who works as a pharmaceutical marketing researcher. "He doesn't tell me how to do my job, and I won't tell him | [
"What number of days did Phillips spend as hostage?",
"Who is Richard Phillips?",
"Where is Somalia?",
"what say Capt. Richard Phillips?",
"What did the wife want?"
] | [
[
"several"
],
[
"53-year-old Vermont native"
],
[
"coast of Africa"
],
[
"\"I'm not the hero. The military is the hero. Thank them.\""
],
[
"to say thank you from the bottom of my heart."
]
] | Capt. Richard Phillips: "I'm a seaman like all the other seamen out there"
Wife: "Having Richard back safe was all that my family and I ever wanted"
Phillips spent five days as hostage after Somali pirates assaulted ship .
Maersk crew member: "I can't thank that man enough" |
(CNN) -- Capt. Tadeusz Wrona still has trouble sleeping. The night after executing a spectacular belly landing in Poland, the veteran pilot tossed and turned until 4 a.m.
The phone kept ringing, he told Polish media, and he kept reliving the chilling moments when his crew and passengers came close to a disaster.
Now basking in his nation's adoration and fielding countless interview requests, Wrona is resting even less, he said with a weary smile.
Wrona, who has worked for LOT Polish Airlines for 20 years, was at the controls of a Boeing 767 en route from Newark, New Jersey, to Warsaw on Tuesday when he realized there was a problem with the landing gear.
When the second attempt to open it failed, he knew that everyone on board -- 220 passengers and 11 crew -- was in danger.
"I've maybe flown this plane 500 times, and the landing gear deployed every time," Wrona said during a news conference in Warsaw on Wednesday. "I never had any trouble flying Boeing."
Aware of comparisons to the 2009 "Miracle on the Hudson," when Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger landed a plane in New York's Hudson River after a flock of geese damaged both of the aircraft's engines, Wrona pointed out that his situation was less dire.
Both of his engines were working fine and there was time to prepare.
After notifying Warsaw's airport that there might be an emergency landing, the crew had time to perform checks and various functions, Wrona said. They circled the city to burn off excess fuel.
While the crew reviewed the procedure in the cockpit, the flight attendants prepared the cabin, instructing passengers that they would have to evacuate as soon as the plane stopped on the ground.
The autopilot helped the crew guide the plane until about two minutes before landing, Wrona said. That's when he took manual control.
"We rested the plane on three points: two engines plus the rear portion of the fuselage," Wrona said. "We tried to do it delicately, and we were successful."
There was less noise during the belly landing than a normal touch down, which shocked Wrona. It was just quiet, he recalled.
Wrona, who has been dubbed the Polish version of Sullenberger, was praised by the original "miracle" pilot.
"The captain and the crew obviously did a great job," Sullenberger told CNN. "It definitely requires skill to do this well, and from all reports and from watching the video, it looked like it was done very, very well."
But for Wrona, there were still tense moments ahead.
"When the plane stopped on the runway, I wasn't sure whether everyone was safe, because smoke appeared," he recalled. (Wind had blown the smoke caused by the friction of the landing toward the cockpit.)
"I finally felt full relief only when the purser reported that the cabin was empty."
Everyone got out safe and unhurt.
Like Sullenberger, Wrona is now grappling with sudden fame and the gratitude of hundreds of families. He's a Facebook star, with several fan pages established in his honor. One page has more than 33,000 followers leaving messages of praise and adulation.
But Wrona insists it's too much to call him a national hero.
"I am convinced that all of us who work for LOT would do the exact same thing, and it would end in the same way, because we train for such situations on simulators," he said.
Wrona is fully prepared to return to his duties as pilot, he said. In fact, his schedule -- prepared before the incident -- has him flying to Hanoi, Vietnam, on Saturday. He's not sure whether the commission investigating the emergency landing will let him go.
Wrona's wife and two adult children beamed when they were interviewed by Polish media on Thursday.
Marzena Wrona found out about her husband's troubled flight on television while the plane was still circling Warsaw and raced to the airport to watch | [
"who is says he's flown the Boeing 767 about 500 times ?",
"Who is a national hero?",
"What did he do?",
"What Tadeusz Wrona said?",
"Who is acclaimed as a \"national hero\"?",
"Who has worked for LOT Polish Airlines for 20 years?",
"Who does he work for?"
] | [
[
"Tadeusz Wrona"
],
[
"Tadeusz Wrona"
],
[
"took manual control."
],
[
"\"I've maybe flown this plane 500 times, and the landing gear deployed every time,\""
],
[
"Tadeusz Wrona"
],
[
"Tadeusz Wrona"
],
[
"LOT Polish Airlines"
]
] | Pilot who executed a textbook belly landing in Poland is being hailed as national hero .
Tadeusz Wrona has worked for LOT Polish Airlines for 20 years .
"I finally felt full relief only when the purser reported that the cabin was empty," he says .
Wrona says he's flown the Boeing 767 about 500 times and never had any trouble . |
(CNN) -- Captain Graeme Smith ground out a potentially match-winning century to put South Africa on top in the third cricket Test against England at Newlands on Tuesday. The left-hander was unbeaten on 162 at stumps on the third day, having added a record 230 for the second wicket with Hashim Amla (95) as the home side reached 312-2 in Cape Town's intense heat. England struggled from the outset, losing two wickets in the day's opening over and added just 32 runs to their overnight total of 241-7. That gave the Proteas a first-innings lead of 18 runs, and it looked like the home side might also find batting difficult when makeshift opener Ashwell Prince continued his miserable series, falling leg before wicket to spinner Graeme Swann for 15. But Smith and Amla set about the English attack, who gained no profit from a controversial incident when seamer Chris Broad stood on the ball with his studded boots before lunch when it was still relatively new. Smith survived a series of close calls and decision referrals as the duo set a new Test highest mark for the second wicket at the venue. The opener thought he was out soon after reaching his 19th century in the five-day format, but England wicketkeeper Matt Prior admitted that the edge off seamer Graham Onions had not carried. Amla finally fell to a bat-pad catch by Alistair Cook off Swann, falling five runs short of his eighth Test ton as he hit 14 boundaries off 156 deliveries. First-innings centurion Jacques Kallis was unbeaten on 20 at stumps, with Smith having plundered 22 boundaries in his 243 balls at the crease. Earlier, Morne Morkel (5-75) took two wickets in two balls to put England on the back foot, with Swann caught at slip by Smith for five from a fierce rising delivery and James Anderson following in identical fashion. Prior, who was 52 overnight, hit out to get England close to parity before dragging a short ball from Dale Steyn (4-74) onto his wicket to be last out for 76. England coach Andy Flower said Wednesday's morning session would prove vital for his side, who lead 1-0 after winning the second Test. "We have got to attack with the new ball. We have seen wickets fall early on all the days so far. We have definitely got to attack early," the former Zimbabwe international player said. "The first two days produced very difficult batting conditions, today was easier. We don't know what sort of conditions are going to arrive tomorrow. If it plays as easy as it has today, we have got a chance." | [
"Who is South Africa's captain?",
"Who scores a potentially match winning unbeaten 162?",
"What score did Smith and Hashim Amla score for a record?",
"Who scored 162?",
"How much did Smith add for the second wicket?",
"What was the hosts' score?",
"How many were England bowled out for, a first innings deficit of 18 runs?"
] | [
[
"Graeme Smith"
],
[
"Graeme Smith"
],
[
"230"
],
[
"Graeme Smith"
],
[
"230"
],
[
"312-2"
],
[
"241-7."
]
] | South Africa captain Graeme Smith scores potentially match-winning unbeaten 162 .
Hosts reach 312-2 at stumps on third day of third Test against England at Newlands .
Smith adds 230 for second wicket with Hashim Amla (95), a record for the Cape Town venue .
England were earlier bowled out for 273, a first-innings deficit of 18 runs . |
(CNN) -- Carl Edwards, one of NASCAR's elite, makes a living traveling at speeds upwards of 200 mph and is on the road more than 200 days a year. So when he wants to slow down, he heads to his hometown of Columbia, Missouri.
NASCAR driver Carl Edwards grew up in Columbia, Missouri.
He grew up in Columbia and couldn't wait to get out of town, but after living in North Carolina for three years, he was ready to come back.
"I realized after being away, there just aren't many places cooler than this," Edwards said. "So I moved back, and now I live here and I'm really proud to live here."
He competes in both the Nationwide Series and the Sprint Cup Series for NASCAR. He won a Busch Series Cup in 2007, finished last year's Sprint Cup Series in second, and is fiercely fighting for Sprint Cup honors this year.
Edwards has recovered from a frightening crash-ending to his last race in Talladega, Alabama, and is looking forward to racing in Richmond, Virginia, this week, hoping for his first trip of the season to victory lane. His fans are eagerly awaiting that trademark victory back flip. But through all of the excitement and acclaim, Edwards remains grounded and true to his Missouri roots.
He took CNN home with him to Columbia -- which is between Kansas City and St. Louis -- to share some of his favorite spots.
The day started at Rock Bridge State Park, 2,273 acres of natural beauty and serenity that is hard to believe is only 10 minutes from the bustling center of this college town.
"This park is one of Columbia's best secrets. It's a beautiful place to come mountain biking, hiking. There's a cave that runs under this ground that goes for over 50 miles."
The park boasts 15 miles of trails and endless possibilities for adventure, from hiking and biking to canoeing and even cave exploration.
When Edwards gets the need for speed at home, he opts for two wheels instead of four. He grabs his bicycle and heads to the Katy Trail, just up the road from Rock Bridge Park.
"This used to be an old railroad, and now it's a state park. It's 10 feet wide, it's over 200 miles long, and all of this is open to the public."
Edwards also showed us one of his favorite trail features: a beautiful giant bur oak tree simply referred to by Missouri natives as "the big bur oak." Edwards says it's one of the oldest in the state and thinks that it is one of the coolest spots along the trail.
All that exercise and fresh air can certainly rev up an appetite, and Edwards has two favorite places to cure that. For what he calls the best burger in the world, he heads to Booches Billiard Hall, one of his high school hangouts.
"We used to come here in high school when we probably should have been in school. We'd shoot pool, eat booch burgers and just have a good time," he said.
We were greeted by one of the owners, Charlie Kurry, who poked a little fun at Edwards' trademark backflip celebration.
"The only thing flipping in here is the burgers," Kurry said. Booches has been in operation in Columbia since 1884.
Next up is Shakespeare's Pizza, which has been serving slices in Columbia for more than 35 years.
"They can make you anything you want. They've got whole wheat crust if you're into the health stuff like I am. And it's so good, they even catered my wedding."
These are just some of the hidden gems of Carl Edwards' Columbia, but this town has much more to offer.
There are museums, festivals and parades, and the University of Missouri has provided a lot of athletic excitement with its football and basketball teams over the past few years. It's a perfect weekend getaway from its larger surrounding cities. And if you | [
"What is name of the place with the best burger?",
"What sport is Edwards in?",
"Which state does Edwards talk about his favorite spots?",
"Where is the best burger?"
] | [
[
"Booches Billiard Hall,"
],
[
"NASCAR"
],
[
"Columbia"
],
[
"Booches Billiard Hall,"
]
] | NASCAR driver Carl Edwards shares his favorite spots in Columbia, Missouri .
He's a fan of Rock Bridge State Park, only 10 minutes from the center of town .
Edwards also frequents Booches Billiard Hall for the "best burger in the world" |
(CNN) -- Carlos Tevez will face disciplinary action from Manchester City after the Argentina striker's apparent refusal to come on as a substitute during a European Champions League match with Bayern Munich.
City said in a statement on Wednesday that Tevez, 27, had a case to answer in relation to "breach of contract", having conducted an investigation into the events which occurred during the club's 2-0 defeat at the Allianz Arena on September 27.
The former club captain was suspended by City following the incident, but the statement also confirmed Tevez was expected to return to training with manager Roberto Mancini's team on Thursday.
Tevez strike is sad for soccer
"The club has now reached a stage in its investigation where it has concluded that there is a case for Carlos Tevez to answer of alleged breaches of contract," read the statement on City's official website.
"Accordingly, the club has informed him that he will face disciplinary proceedings and the hearing will be convened shortly. Carlos will be required to report to Roberto Mancini for training on Thursday."
British newspaper The Guardian reported every player and coach interviewed during City's investigation refused to back-up Tevez's claims that the events in Munich were the result of a "misunderstanding" between himself and Italian coach Mancini.
The publication goes on to claim Tevez will be hit with a six-week fine, which could be as much as $2.3 million dollars given the former Corinthians star's alleged $392,000-per-week wages.
The multi-million dollar figure would represent the largest sanction ever handed to a footballer in Britain.
Tevez denied he had refused to take to the pitch against Bayern, saying in his own statement following the match with the German outfit: "I wish to state that I never refused to play.
"There was some confusion on the bench and I believe my position may have been misunderstood. Going forward I am ready to play when required and to fulfil my obligations."
Tevez suspended by Manchester City
One-time West Ham forward Tevez has been consistently linked with a move away from City over the past 12 months, after handing in a transfer request in December 2010.
The former Boca Juniors players also saw a move back to Corinthians fall through in July, with the Brazilian outfit claiming there was insufficient time to complete the deal before the close of the transfer window.
Tevez is yet to score for City this season having been their top marksman last campaign with 20 English Premier League goals.
The Citziens return to domestic action this weekend, with Aston Villa visiting the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. | [
"What is he accused of doing?",
"Where is he from?",
"What is the man's name?",
"Who allegedly refused to come on?",
"Who has a case to answer?"
] | [
[
"apparent refusal to come on as a substitute during a European Champions League match with Bayern Munich."
],
[
"Argentina"
],
[
"Tevez"
],
[
"Tevez"
],
[
"Tevez,"
]
] | Manchester City say Carlos Tevez has a case to answer of breach of contract .
Tevez allegedly refused to come on as a substitute during match with Bayern Munich .
The Argentina striker could be hit with a record fine for a footballer in Britain . |
(CNN) -- Carly Fiorina, the former Hewlett-Packard CEO turned top John McCain aide, said she doesn't think Sarah Palin is qualified to run a major corporation. For that matter, Fiorina said, McCain, Obama and Biden aren't capable of that kind of job either.
Ex-Hewlett-Packard CEO and McCain adviser Carly Fiorina said Sarah Palin could not run a major company.
The Republican presidential candidate has been trying to portray himself as someone who can fix the country's economic woes. But that is a far different task than running a Fortune 500 corporation, Fiorina told MSNBC Tuesday.
Democratic candidate Barack Obama's camp immediately circulated copies of her words -- which didn't exactly paint their candidate in a soft light, either.
"Well, I don't think John McCain could run a major corporation, I don't think Barack Obama could run a major corporation, I don't think Joe Biden could run a major corporation," Fiorina said.
"It is a fallacy to suggest that the country is like a company. So, of course, to run a business, you have to have a lifetime of experience in business, but that's not what Sarah Palin, John McCain, Joe Biden or Barack Obama are doing."
Fiorina was president of Hewlett-Packard until her high-profile ousting in 2006 after the company's unfavorable performance.
"If John McCain's top economic adviser doesn't think he can run a corporation, how on Earth can he run the largest economy in the world in the midst of a financial crisis?" said Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor. "Apparently, even the people who run his campaign agree that the economy is an issue John McCain doesn't understand as well as he should." Watch Fiorina says Palin isn't ready for big business »
Fiorina made similar comments earlier Thursday to a St. Louis, Missouri, radio station. She was asked if she thinks Palin is qualified to run a company like Hewlett-Packard.
"No, I don't," Fiorina answered. "But that's not what she's running for. Running a corporation is a different set of things." | [
"Fiorina is the adviser to who?",
"Who told MSNBC John McCain isn't ready to run a corporation?",
"Fiorina, former CEO of Hewlett-Packard is now adviser to who?",
"Fiorina was the CEO of which company?",
"What company was Carly Fiorina the CEO of?",
"Who is not ready to be CEO's according to Fiorina?"
] | [
[
"John McCain"
],
[
"Carly"
],
[
"John McCain"
],
[
"Hewlett-Packard"
],
[
"Hewlett-Packard"
],
[
"Sarah Palin"
]
] | Carly Fiorina also tells MSNBC John McCain isn't ready to run a corporation .
Fiorina was the CEO of Hewlett-Packard and is now a McCain adviser .
She also says Barack Obama, Joe Biden not ready to be CEOs . |
(CNN) -- Carly Smithson wants to make one thing clear: She is not the new lead singer of Evanescence. Former "American Idol" contestant Carly Smithson is the lead singer of the new band We Are The Fallen. There may be some confusion because the former "American Idol" contestant has joined forces with original Evanescence members Ben Moody, Rocky Gray and John LeCompt for the new band We Are The Fallen. The dark-haired Irish rocker made it to the top six during season seven of "American Idol" before being eliminated. Smithson said that since then, quite a few opportunities have come her way that were not a good fit. This new band, which also includes bassist Marty O'Brien, is perfect for her, Smithson said Guitar player LeCompt agrees. "I've said many times about Evanescence that we caught lightning in a bottle ... and I think we are doing it again," he said. "Carly is a good fit for the band because more than anything she is a brilliant, brilliant vocalist who is very down to earth and a humble person. She wants to do something where everyone is involved rather than being a posturing diva." Smithson recently spoke with CNN about why she is thankful to Moody's roommate, why the group gets along so well and how they want to collaborate with fans. CNN: You must be pretty psyched about this new band. Carly Smithson: I am. It's pretty awesome and everything I think we have all ever wanted. We all blend together and it's all about making business. CNN: With all of the opportunities that have come your way since "Idol," why go this route? Smithson: I had a lot of the wrong opportunities approach me. They were very flattering offers, but musically not on the same page with where I envisioned myself. As soon as Ben [Moody] came to me, he was actually someone that I had in mind, after coming off the "Idol" tour, to go and try and work with. He's worked on some music that I had a lot of respect for and really admired, but he was busy, oddly enough, working on this project. CNN: So how did you two connect? Smithson: He had never watched "American Idol" and he didn't know who I was. I am good friends with his roommate who recently moved in and I had met him briefly. My friend came and saw me live and then planted the seed in his head. She said, "You should really consider my friend for this band," and he said "Who is your friend?" She said, "You know, the girl you met down the basement," and an artist he has been working with played him a bunch of YouTube clips of me. We were hanging out at about one in the morning and he called my friend and said, "I just watched your friend. I should have done this a long time ago. Where is she, when can I meet her, I need to meet her right away." She said, "Well, actually we are out right now and we're going to be at the house in about 20 minutes." We came back to the house and we had a meeting which lasted until about 4 a.m. ... Obviously it was a decision I needed to make very fast because they were looking for a singer and people don't wait forever. I called my manager and it was a done deal pretty much the next day. CNN: Sounds like it was meant to be. Smithson: Everybody was very excited and thought it was the right direction to go. I'm happy that it happened in such an organic way. It's really weird, but as people we are all very alike. We all like the same jokes, watch the same TV shows and play the same music. It's great. CNN: Do you at all feel pressure because of the success that Evanescence had? Smithson: | [
"which is the name of the new band?",
"The group is made of members from what band?",
"Who finished sixth of season seven of \"American Idol\"?",
"What band is Carly Smithson lead singer of?",
"Who is lead singer of new band We Are The Fallen?",
"Who finished sixth of season seven?",
"for whom this formed the new band?"
] | [
[
"We Are The Fallen."
],
[
"Evanescence"
],
[
"Carly"
],
[
"We Are The Fallen."
],
[
"Carly Smithson"
],
[
"Carly Smithson"
],
[
"Carly Smithson"
]
] | "Idol" finalist Carly Smithson is lead singer of new band We Are The Fallen .
Group is made up of some former members of Evanescence .
Smithson finished sixth of season seven of "American Idol" |
(CNN) -- Caroline Kennedy, the 51-year-old daughter of President John F. Kennedy, has indicated her interest in filling the New York Senate seat being vacated by secretary of state designee Hillary Clinton. Caroline Kennedy has her eyes on the New York Senate seat. "I've talked to Caroline Kennedy and she's clearly interested," New York Sen. Chuck Schumer said at a news conference Monday afternoon. He indicated that 12 people were interested in the position. "She's interested in the position," New York Gov. David Paterson confirmed. But at the same time "she realizes it's not a campaign." Paterson, who will name Clinton's successor, noted that Kennedy had indicated a desire to "sit down and tell me what her qualifications are." The Rev. Al Sharpton also released a statement Monday indicating that he had received a call from Kennedy "who expressed to me her interest in [Clinton's] Senate seat." Kennedy's interest in the seat could mean the continuation of a family legacy in the Senate that began 56 years ago with the election of her father as the then-junior senator from Massachusetts. Background: The Kennendys in Politics » Her uncle Ted Kennedy has represented Massachusetts in the Senate since 1963, and her uncle Robert Kennedy served as New York's junior senator from 1965 until he was assassinated in 1968. "Remember, [Clinton's] seat in the Senate was once held by Robert Kennedy," said Bill Schneider, CNN's senior political analyst. "[Caroline Kennedy's] other uncle, Ted Kennedy, is ill right now. If Paterson appoints Caroline Kennedy to the Senate, it means there could be a Kennedy staying in the Senate for quite a long time." Watch Sen. Schumer on the possible candidates » CNN reported earlier this month that Caroline Kennedy had called Paterson to discuss the possibility of taking the seat. Paterson has the power to appoint a replacement, who will then face a special election in 2010 to fill out Clinton's term. Paterson confirmed to CNN last week that Kennedy had called and "asked a few questions" about the expected vacancy. One Democratic source close to the Kennedy family told CNN earlier this month Kennedy was "interested to say the least" in the Senate seat and had asked a tight circle of other family friends and political advisers for advice. Before this year, Kennedy generally limited her forays into the public sphere to nonpartisan activity, penning books on civil liberties and serving as the de facto guardian of her father's legacy. But in January, she backed a political candidate for the first time, announcing her endorsement of Obama during the Democratic primary season with an op-ed in The New York Times that drew days of the kind of media attention she has spent her life avoiding. "I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them," she wrote. "But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president -- not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans." "Apparently, she has acquired a taste for politics," Schneider noted. "She wants to be part of this new regime in America, clearly playing a key role in the Senate if she gets that appointment." Watch Bill Schneider's report » There are a slew of high-profile candidates for Clinton's Senate seat, including New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, whose last name carries some star power of its own New York, where his father was once governor. Kennedy's roots in New York also run deep. Her mother, Jacqueline Kennedy, relocated to New York after her husband's assassination in 1963, with children Caroline and John F. Kennedy Jr. Caroline Kennedy has also spent most of her life in the city, working there after graduating from Harvard, meeting her husband, Edwin Schlossberg, on the job at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and attending Columbia Law School there. Her most prominent public roles involved overseeing her father's presidential | [
"What is the name of the daughter?",
"What year will the special election be held?",
"What did she say about her interest?",
"Which former President is she related to?",
"What is the name of the Gov?",
"Who said Kennedy was interested in 12 candidates?"
] | [
[
"Caroline"
],
[
"2010"
],
[
"in filling the New York Senate seat"
],
[
"John F. Kennedy,"
],
[
"David Paterson"
],
[
"Chuck Schumer"
]
] | NEW: Sen. Schumer says Kennedy is "clearly interested," one of 12 candidates .
Kennedy's interest in the seat could mean the continuation of a family legacy .
Gov. David Paterson can appoint replacement who will face special election in 2010 .
Kennedy is the daughter of former President John F. Kennedy . |
(CNN) -- Caroline Kennedy, who spent most of her life looking to steer clear of the spotlight, is capping off a year of unusually public -- and political -- activity with interest in the Senate seat that would be vacated by Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton.
Caroline Kennedy could join her uncle Edward in the U.S. Senate.
And her interest in that seat could mean the continuation of a Kennedy legacy in the Senate that began 56 years ago with the election of her father, John F. Kennedy, as the junior senator from Massachusetts.
Her uncle Edward has represented Massachusetts in the Senate for more than four decades. Her uncle Robert served as junior senator from New York from 1965 until he was assassinated in 1968.
"Remember, [Clinton's] seat in the Senate was once held by Robert Kennedy," CNN Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider said Saturday. "Her other uncle, Ted Kennedy, is ill right now. If [New York Gov. David] Paterson appoints Caroline Kennedy to the Senate, it means there could be a Kennedy staying in the Senate for quite a long time."
Paterson confirmed to CNN Saturday that Caroline Kennedy called and "asked a few questions" but did not express interest in the seat.
"I am sure if she's interested, she'll call back, but I'm not going to rate any of the candidates or talk about prospective candidates. It just adds speculation to the speculation," Paterson said.
But one Democratic source close to the Kennedy family said Caroline Kennedy "is interested to say the least" about discussing the Senate vacancy. The source said Kennedy has asked a tight circle of family friends and political advisers for advice.
A second source, who has knowledge of Kennedy's conversation with Paterson, tells CNN that Kennedy reached out to inquire about the responsibilities and impact such a move would have if she were selected by the governor to fill the position.
A Senate appointment for Caroline Kennedy would mark a change for the woman who has rarely run into the glare of political attention.
"Apparently, she has acquired a taste for politics, having endorsed Barack Obama early this year," Schneider said. "She wants to be part of this new regime in America, clearly playing a key role in the Senate if she gets that appointment." Watch CNN's Bill Schneider discuss Caroline Kennedy's prospects »
Widely described as extraordinarily shy, self-deprecating and down-to-earth, Kennedy has tended to limit her forays into the public sphere to nonpartisan activity, penning books on civil liberties and serving as the de facto guardian of her father's legacy.
But in January, she backed a political candidate for the first time, announcing her endorsement of Obama during the Democratic primary season with an opinion piece in the New York Times that drew days of the kind of media attention she has spent her life avoiding.
"I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them," she wrote. "But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president -- not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans."
Kennedy willingly lingered in the spotlight, serving on Obama's vice presidential search team, speaking at the Democratic National Convention and stumping for him through the primary and general election seasons.
In a campaign ad that featured video images of her father followed by images of Obama, Kennedy said, "People always tell me how my father inspired them. I feel that same excitement now."
There are a slew of high-profile candidates for Clinton's Senate seat -- including Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, whose last name carries some star power of its own in the Empire State -- but their odds grew just a bit steeper when stacked against the wattage of a storied Democratic dynasty.
Robert Kennedy was elected to the Senate with few ties to his adopted home state, but his niece's New York roots run deep.
Jacqueline Kennedy relocated to New York City after her husband's assassination in 1963 | [
"Who expressed interest in Hillary's office?",
"Who was she inspired by this year?",
"Who expressed interest in Hillary Clinton's office?",
"What late president's daughter wants Clinton's job?",
"What inspiration did Obama offer her?",
"What did Kennedy have a history of avoiding?",
"What position did her uncle Robert hold?",
"Who expressed interest?",
"Who has a history of avoiding the spotlight?"
] | [
[
"Kennedy,"
],
[
"Barack Obama"
],
[
"Kennedy,"
],
[
"Caroline"
],
[
"\"I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them,\" she wrote. \"But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president -- not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans.\""
],
[
"media attention"
],
[
"served as junior senator from New York"
],
[
"Caroline"
],
[
"Caroline"
]
] | Late president's daughter has expressed interest in Hillary Clinton's office .
Move would put Kennedy in seat once filled by her uncle Robert .
Kennedy has a history of avoiding partisanship and spotlight .
She said this year she was inspired by Barack Obama . |
(CNN) -- Caroline Kennedy, who spent most of her life looking to steer clear of the spotlight, is capping off a year of unusually public -- and political -- activity with interest in the Senate seat that would be vacated by Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton.
Caroline Kennedy could join her uncle Edward in the United States Senate.
And her interest in that seat could mean the continuation of a Kennedy legacy in the Senate that began 56 years ago with the election of her father, John F. Kennedy, as the junior senator from Massachusetts.
Her uncle Edward has represented Massachusetts in the Senate for more than four decades. Her uncle Robert served as junior senator from New York from 1965 until he was assassinated in 1968.
"Remember, [Clinton's] seat in the Senate was once held by Robert Kennedy," CNN Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider said Saturday. "Her other uncle, Ted Kennedy, is ill right now. If [New York Gov. David] Paterson appoints Caroline Kennedy to the Senate, it means there could be a Kennedy staying in the Senate for quite a long time."
And a Senate appointment for Caroline Kennedy would mark a change for the woman who has rarely run into the glare of political attention.
"Apparently, she has acquired a taste for politics, having endorsed Barack Obama early this year," Schneider said. "She wants to be part of this new regime in America, clearly playing a key role in the Senate if she gets that appointment." Watch CNN's Bill Schnieder discuss Caroline Kennedy's prospects »
Widely described as extraordinarily shy, self-deprecating and down-to-earth, Kennedy has tended to limit her forays into the public sphere to nonpartisan activity, penning books on civil liberties and serving as the de facto guardian of her father's legacy.
But in January, she backed a political candidate for the first time, announcing her endorsement of Obama during the Democratic primary season with an opinion piece in the New York Times that drew days of the kind of media attention she has spent her life avoiding.
"I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them," she wrote. "But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president -- not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans."
Kennedy willingly lingered in the spotlight, serving on Obama's vice presidential search team, speaking at the Democratic National Convention and stumping for him through the primary and general election seasons.
In a campaign ad that featured video images of her father followed by images of Obama, Kennedy said, "People always tell me how my father inspired them. I feel that same excitement now."
There are a slew of high-profile candidates for Clinton's Senate seat -- including Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, whose last name carries some star power of its own in the Empire State -- but their odds grew just a bit steeper when stacked against the wattage of a storied Democratic dynasty.
Robert Kennedy was elected to the Senate with few ties to his adopted home state, but his niece's New York roots run deep.
Jacqueline Kennedy relocated to New York City after her husband's assassination in 1963, with children Caroline and John F. Kennedy Jr.
Caroline Kennedy has spent most of her life in the city, working there after graduating from Harvard, meeting her husband, Edwin Schlossberg, on the job at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and attending Columbia Law School there.
Her most prominent public roles to date involved overseeing her father's presidential library and presenting the annual Profiles in Courage Award.
She's also edited several books, from a volume of children's poetry and an updated edition of her father's book "Profiles in Courage" to a collection of patriotic verse ("A Patriot's Handbook: Songs, Poems, Stories, and Speeches Celebrating the Land We Love.")
Most of her leadership positions have been based in the arts: hosting the annual nationally televised Kennedy Center Honors in Washington and | [
"Who has expressed interest in Hillary Clintons office?",
"What did the Kennedy daughter say about Barack Obama?",
"What is the name of Kennedy's uncle?",
"What office did Hillary Clinton fill at this time?",
"Who has a history of avoiding the spotlight?",
"Who was she inspired by?",
"What does Kennedy have a history of avoiding?",
"Who once filled the seat?",
"Who was inspired by Barack Obama?"
] | [
[
"Caroline"
],
[
"\"But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president"
],
[
"Edward"
],
[
"Senate"
],
[
"Kennedy,"
],
[
"Obama"
],
[
"the spotlight,"
],
[
"Hillary Clinton."
],
[
"Caroline Kennedy"
]
] | Late president's daughter has expressed interest in Hillary Clinton's office .
Move would put Kennedy in seat once filled by her uncle Robert .
Kennedy has a history of avoiding partisanship and spotlight .
She said this year she was inspired by Barack Obama . |
(CNN) -- Caroline Wozniacki has earned a career-high world No. 2 tennis ranking after winning through to the final of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells in California.
The second-seeded Dane will move above the injured Dinara Safina and close the gap on No. 1 Serena Williams when the latest standings are released on Monday.
The 19-year-old will play former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic in the final of the Californian outdoor hardcourt tournament after defeating close friend Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2 6-3 on Friday night.
Wozniacki, who reached the U.S. Open final last year before losing to comeback queen Kim Clijsters, will be seeking her seventh title on the WTA Tour.
She dominated against fifth seed Radwanska, winning the first five games of the opening set and then taking the final four points off the Pole's serve in the match-clinching game.
"We know each other so well. We know each other's strengths and weaknesses," Wozniacki told the tournament's official Web site.
"Agnieszka is a great fighter. She doesn't give up. I knew that I had to fight till the last point to win this match.
"She actually owes me an ice cream. She thought we were going to play first match, and I said, 'No, we're going to play late, or 7:30.' Then we made a bet, as well, and I won, so at least I get an ice cream. But I have to buy dinner."
Wozniacki has lost all four previous encounters with sixth seed Jankovic, who defeated Australian eighth seed Samantha Stosur 6-2 6-4 earlier on Friday.
The Serbian, now ranked ninth, has reached the final at Indian Wells for the first time in nine appearances, and will be looking to emulate compatriots Ana Ivanovic and Novak Djokovic by clinching the title there.
"I thought the key to today's match was my return," Jankovic said. "Samantha has an unbelievable serve, one of the best serves in women's game, and I was able to return a lot of her first serves.
"I was putting a lot of pressure on her second serve. So I think that was the key, because I was able to break her quite a few times. And then it made everything easier for me."
Stosur, who knocked out defending champion in the fourth round, will break into the top-10 following her exploits this week.
"Today was a bit disappointing, but it's still my best result in a tournament like this. I think there's a lot to build on," she said. | [
"where will the final be played?",
"who did dane defeat?",
"Who defeated Samantha Stosur in the semifinals?",
"Where will Caroline Wozniacki and Jelena Jankovic play their final at?",
"Who will be moving up to No. 2 in the rankings?",
"who was a former number 1",
"who was the second seed",
"who beat stosur"
] | [
[
"Indian Wells in California."
],
[
"Agnieszka Radwanska"
],
[
"Jankovic,"
],
[
"Indian Wells in California."
],
[
"Caroline"
],
[
"Jelena Jankovic"
],
[
"Caroline"
],
[
"Jankovic,"
]
] | Second seed Caroline Wozniacki to play Jelena Jankovic in final at Indian Wells .
Dane will move up to No. 2 in world rankings after beating friend Agnieszka Radwanska .
She has lost all four previous encounters with former world No. 1 Jankovic .
Serbian sixth seed defeated Australia's Samantha Stosur in the semifinals . |
(CNN) -- Cars have Global Positioning System devices to pinpoint where drivers are when they get lost, so why can't GPS be used to locate the exact position of planes when the worst happens? There is currently no way to constantly track planes as they fly over oceans. It took search and rescue teams over 30 hours to locate the wreckage of the Air France plane that crashed in the Atlantic on Monday. It appears that the aircraft's onboard GPS system was little help to rescuers in the mission. Although details of Air France flight 447's fate remain uncertain, in some air accidents, this critical time could mean the difference between life and death for any survivors. Michel Roelandt, aviation expert for Eurocontrol, a European air navigation safety organization, told CNN that nearly all modern planes are fitted with GPS navigation systems. How sophisticated those the communications and navigation systems are is down to individual airlines when they fit out their planes, an Airbus spokesperson told CNN. On board GPS systems are primarily navigation tools for the crew, and do not currently enable a constant tracking of a jet by a ground crew at all times. Planes receive a position signal, but don't transmit that back. This is not a problem when a jet is flying over land or in coastal areas, as it is tracked by radar. Over oceans radar does not work as it relies on line-of-sight tracking from a ground station. On oceanic flights a flight crew will know its exact position via GPS, but it is not able to be tracked by air traffic control. It is left to someone in the cockpit to relay information via satellite communication to air traffic control or a ground station. "Airlines often have a contract with a private operator to provide their satellite communications. Some companies pay for it, some have free contracts," Roelandt said. Modern jets equipped with an Aircraft Communication, Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS), like the A330-200, are also able to send automatic digital signals. These are not instigated by the crew but report automatically on the plane's systems and relay information to a receiving station. In AF447's case that was Air France's head-quarters in France. According to an Airbus spokesperson, it is up to an airline to determine how much information is sent in a data signal; it may or may not include location details. Shortly before the AF447 disappeared, its automatic system initiated a four-minute exchange of messages to Air France's maintenance computers, indicating that "several pieces of aircraft equipment were at fault or had broken down," Air France CEO Pierre-Henri Gourgeon said on Monday. When the Air France Airbus A330-200's systems failed these messages would no longer have been able to be transmitted. They did relay the plane's location, but the plane continued flying for an unknown period of time, so the precise location where it went down could not be known. Once a plane loses its electronic system, the automatic data messages can no longer be sent, and in those circumstances no one on the flight deck would be able to transmit a message either. Aviation experts have stated that the idea of GPS tracking has not been part of any safety review within the aviation industry. The general consensus has been that a trained flight crew is on hand that always has the capability to be in contact with someone on the ground should an emergency arise. In the case of Air France Flight 447, it appears that the crew had no time to relay an emergency message. As well as searching for wreckage, a crashed plane can be found by pin-pointing the location of the in-flight black box recorder. Black box flight recorder devices contain flight deck data and crew voice recordings. When a plane has crashed black box recorders automatically emit a honing signal, located via radar. Emitting a regular ping for 30 days it can be picked up via radio waves, meaning there is a limit to the distance from the device search and rescue teams can be before they can pick up the signal. According | [
"What can't GPS on airliners do?",
"What can't help locate planes?",
"What does GPS on planes do"
] | [
[
"not currently enable a constant tracking of a jet by a ground crew at all times."
],
[
"GPS"
],
[
"primarily navigation tools for the crew,"
]
] | GPS on airliners can't help locate planes, as they receive but don't send signals .
Pilots know their position over an ocean but don't automatically share that data .
Both the U.S. and Europe are implementing GPS-based air traffic control systems . |
(CNN) -- Celebrity chef Bobby Chinn has tried his hand at a number of things. Chinn's face for television: Picking up his Asian TV Award in 2007. English boarding school taught him that food could be an awful experience; Wall Street taught him that creativity was more important than money and a stint as a stand-up comedian taught him that you can't always get it right. Half Chinese, half Egyptian, Chinn's grandmothers were his first introduction to the variety and pleasure that food can bring. While his palate was subdued by the meals he was given at school in England when he was a boy, his meandering route to becoming a chef came some time after attaining a degree in Finance and Economics. Moving to New York after graduating he worked on Wall Street. "You didn't produce anything at the end of a day and you didn't breathe fresh air, you didn't know what the weather was like outside because you were on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. It's like the dungeon of capitalism where time and money met," he told CNN's Talk Asia. Chinn escaped "the dungeon" after a year and a half to the sunny climes of California, but it wasn't to laze around. An addiction to high-octane and challenging environments saw Chinn explore the possibility of being a stand-up comic. "I was always afraid to talk in front of the class and now I am trying to make them laugh" he told CNN. "One day you are really funny and then you go to another gig the same night and nobody laughs and then at the same time you are living a life of poverty. When you are bombing as a comic I don't think there can be a worse life." While finding out the hard way how funny, or not, he was, Chinn was working front-of-house in restaurants, nurturing his love of food. His break came when Hubert Keller from San Francisco restaurant Fleur de Lys took him on as a volunteer in his kitchen. "He gave me a job and after one week he said 'OK, you can stay.' And then when you work with one really great chef, then I think you can work anywhere," he said. After also training with chefs in France, Chinn made his own mark on the culinary world when he opened his first restaurant in Vietnam in 1995, and at first found the going tough. "Supplies were not consistent, the language barrier, the taste barrier, the hygiene barriers. Those are very taxing on a person like me with very little patience." A high-energy chef and now a TV celebrity who presents "World Café Asia" -- he won an Asian Television Award in 2007 -- Chinn is aware that being flavor of the month on TV is transitory. "It is just a machine that feeds on people like me and then spits me out when my time is done. You just have to go with the flow." | [
"What is Chinn's cookery show called?",
"Where did he work before becoming a chef?",
"What nationalities was Chinn?",
"What was the name of his own cookery show?",
"Who has published cook books and has his own cookery show called World Cafe Asia?",
"Who made their name as a chef in Vietnam?",
"Who was half Chinese and half Egyptian and made his name as a chef in Vietnam?",
"What was Chinn's occupation in Vietnam?",
"Who worked on Wall Street and as a stand up comic before becoming a chef?"
] | [
[
"\"World Café Asia\""
],
[
"worked on Wall Street."
],
[
"Half Chinese, half Egyptian,"
],
[
"\"World Café Asia\""
],
[
"Bobby Chinn"
],
[
"Bobby Chinn"
],
[
"Bobby Chinn"
],
[
"chef"
],
[
"Bobby Chinn"
]
] | Half Chinese, half Egyptian, Chinn made his name as a chef in Vietnam .
Worked on Wall Street and as a stand-up comic before becoming a chef .
Has published cook books and has own cookery show called 'World Cafe Asia' |
(CNN) -- Cell phone technology is helping developing nations prepare for disease threats such as a new strain of swine flu, an outbreak of measles or the increased spread of HIV. Workers in Kenya use EpiSurveyor for the first time nationwide during this year's children's health week. Kenya proved it in 2007, when the East African nation suffered its first case of the polio virus in more than 20 years, said Yusuf Ajack Ibrahim, a health care worker at the Kenyan Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation. As thousands of Somalis fled to Kenya to avoid violence in their homeland, the exodus sparked a serious health crisis, Ibrahim said. "One case of confirmed wild polio virus put at risk the lives of 100,000 children," he said. Kenyan health officials determined that they needed a way to quickly survey and assess the situation and initiate a massive immunization campaign. The solution was on the Internet, where they found a free, open-source application designed for personal digital assistants, called EpiSurveyor. Open-source software is posted online for anyone to use and alter to suit their needs. Downloading the software to cell phones enabled officials to gather data directly from the site of the outbreak and send it electronically back to headquarters for faster analysis. This cuts down on the time officials have to spend collecting paper surveys and analyzing them individually before they can begin treating people. "The information gave us useful feedback not only on the affected area but on the neighboring ones as well and helped us put plans and measures in place to stop the spread of the virus," Ibrahim added. Physician and epidemiologist Dr. Joel Selanikio predicts that within a year, health officials will be using the technology to track other threats in developing nations, such as the recent Mexican swine flu outbreak. Selanikio invented EpiSurveyor in 2003, after he and American Red Cross technologist Rose Donna began searching for a more efficient way to gather data on immerging diseases. They started a nonprofit organization, DataDyne, aiming to use mobile devices to efficiently and immediately gather public health information. "Collecting data on paper and then taking two years to enter the data is a tremendous drain and barrier to good public health," said Selanikio, who teaches pediatrics at Washington's Georgetown University Hospital. Mobile devices such as PDAs or handheld computers have been used for field studies since the late 1990s, but electronic survey methods have traditionally been expensive, labor-intensive and challenging to implement on a global scale. Many global health institutions are now encouraging the use of advanced methodologies such as smart phones and open-source software as the next generation of data transmission, said Dr. Ramesh Krishnamurthy, an informatics scientist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. EpiSurveyor frees health care workers from hiring programmers to create electronic surveys. Data gatherers can customize their questionnaires online, download the questionnaires onto a cell phone that has Internet capability, poll patients and do direct analysis, all through a touch pad on a cell phone. Ibrahim credits the technology with saving Zambians who were threatened by a frightening outbreak of measles in 2007. The government didn't know that vaccine supplies were low, he said. Using EpiSurveyor, health care workers discovered that 60 percent of their vaccine stockpiles in remote areas were missing. They mobilized a response within three weeks, he said. "Imagine if we have an outbreak of measles and the information is relayed to us three months after the outbreak. By the time we respond, lives would have been lost, but if we can get the information in a day or half a day, we an mount a quick response," Ibrahim said. "By being able to relay the information at an appropriate time, that -- in and of itself -- is life-saving," he added. Fans point out that EpiSurveyor's success hinges on ready access to technology already in place. "There are 4 billion mobile phones in the world; 2.2 billion of those are in the developing world," said Claire Thwaites, who heads a partnership between the United Nations Foundation and the Vodafone Foundation, which funded | [
"Who stopped the spread of Polio?",
"what did they stop in kenya",
"More than half of world's cell phones are where ?",
"where are more than half the worlds cell phones",
"What countries health care worker: Relaying information at appropriate time is life-saving ?",
"where is the software"
] | [
[
"EpiSurveyor."
],
[
"the spread of the virus,\""
],
[
"in the developing world,\""
],
[
"those are in the developing world,\""
],
[
"Kenya"
],
[
"online"
]
] | Disease-control software in cell phones is touted as boon to global public health .
More than half of world's cell phones are in developing countries .
Health workers in Kenya stopped spread of polio in '07 using EpiSurveyor .
Kenyan health care worker: Relaying information at appropriate time is life-saving . |
(CNN) -- Champions League newcomers Manchester City are still waiting for their first win in the competition as a double from Mario Gomez gave in-form Bayern Munich a 2-0 Group A victory at the Allianz Arena.
Bayern went into the match on the back of nine successive victories and they always looked dangerous in the first half, with Bastian Schweinsteiger volleying over the crossbar from close range in the 36th minute.
However, the home side took the lead just two minutes later when goalkeeper Joe Hart did superbly to keep out shots from Frank Ribery and Thomas Mueller, but Gomez was on hand to stab home from three meters out.
And the same player added a second goal on the stroke of half-time when Daniel Van Buyten's header was wonderfully saved by Hart, only for Gomez to be on hand again from close range.
City could find no response after the break, and a bad night for them was made worse when manager Roberto Mancini later confirmed that former captain Carlos Tevez refused to come onto the pitch in the second half after being named only as a substitute.
An angry Mancini told reporters: "I asked him to go on and help the team. We have 11 players -- maybe he was disappointed because he didn't play from the start. If I have my way he will be out of the club."
The result leaves Bayern top of the table with a maximum six points from their two games, with Napoli second on four points after the Italian side beat Villarreal 2-0 in Naples.
They opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Marek Hamsik chested down Ezequiel Lavezzi's cross at the back post, before firing home with his left foot.
And Edinson Cavani added a second from the penalty spot just three minutes later after Lavezzi was fouled by Gonzalo Rodriguez in the area.
Big-spending City, who are joint top of the English Premier League with five wins and a draw from their six games so far, are back in third with just a single point following their opening home draw against Napoli, while Spanish side Villarreal are bottom of the group without a point, or a goal, so far.
Meanwhile, 2010 champions Inter Milan made it two wins out of two under new coach Claudio Ranieri with a thrilling 3-2 Group B victory at CSKA Moscow.
Ranieri replaced Gian Piero Gasperini last week, and began his San Siro tenure with a 3-1 Serie A win at Bologna over the weekend.
And Inter showed they had got their shock opening 1-0 defeat by Trabzonspor out of their system, by repelling a CSKA fightback to secure their first victory in the tournament.
Brazilian defender Lucio fired Inter ahead from the edge of the box after just six minutes and the Italian side doubled their lead midway through the half, when Giampaolo Pazzini netted from close range after fine work from Yuto Nagatomo.
However, the Russian side pulled a goal back on the stroke of half-time with a well-placed Alan Dzagoev free-kick and Brazilian Vagner Love levelled with 13 minutes remaining with a low drive.
But, just a minute later, Mauro Zarate converted from Esteban Cambiasso's pass to give Inter a vital victory.
The other group match saw Trabzonspor and Lille share a 1-1 draw in Turkey.
Moussa Sow opened the scoring for the French side when he converted Eden Hazard's pass from a tight angle, but the home side earned a draw in the 75th minute when Gustavo Colman scored from the penalty spot after Mathieu Debuchy handled in the area.
The result sees Trabzonspor top the group with four points, ahead of Inter on three, Lille on two and CSKA Moscow on a single point.
Premier League leaders Manchester United needed a last-gasp Ashley Young goal to rescue a 3-3 Group C draw at home to Swiss side Basel, in a thrilling match that saw United squander a comfortable two-goal lead.
United took a 16th minute lead when Danny Welbeck, in for the injured Wayne Rooney, was left unmarked in the area to score off the post, and the young England | [
"Who scored for Bayern",
"what group was it",
"What group are Manchester city in",
"Who refused to come onto the pitch",
"What was the final score in Basel game?",
"What team did defeat Manchester City in group A?",
"How many points does Bayern Munich have now?",
"What was the score"
] | [
[
"Mario Gomez"
],
[
"A"
],
[
"A"
],
[
"Carlos Tevez"
],
[
"3-3"
],
[
"Bayern Munich"
],
[
"six"
],
[
"2-0"
]
] | Bayern Munich defeat Manchester City 2-0 in Champions League Group A .
Mario Gomez scores twice for Bayern who have a maximum six points from two games .
Former City captain Carlos Tevez refuses to come onto the pitch as a second half substitute .
Manchester United score a last-gasp equalizer to earn a 3-3 home draw with Basel . |
(CNN) -- Changes to social studies curricula introduced by conservative members of the Texas State Board of Education were approved Friday after months of ideologically driven debate.
Three separate votes on amended guidelines for elementary-, middle- and high-school curricula each resulted in 9-5 splits along party lines in favor of the new standards, known as Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. New standards for the high school economics course passed 14-0.
Debate over the guidelines has drawn scrutiny since conservative members of the board introduced the changes in 2009 in what they considered an effort to bring "balance" to the curriculum.
"What we have is the history profession, the experts, seem to have a left-wing tilt, so what we were doing is trying to restore some balance to the standards," board member Don McLeroy said in March.
Among the approved amendments, according to the Texas Education Agency: discussions of the "solvency of long term entitlements, such as Social Security and Medicare"; and an examination of why "the Founding Fathers protected religious freedom in America and guaranteed its free exercise by saying that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, and compare and contrast this to the phrase 'separation of church and state.' "
The board also voted "to add a direct reference to the election of President Barack H. Obama" and to require students to become familiar with the political philosophies of Thomas Jefferson.
What is taught in Texas often is taught in other states because publishers typically tailor textbooks for Texas, one of the largest buyers of textbooks in the country.
However, digital publishing has diminished the state's influence on textbooks nationally and that curriculum is always going to be decided at the local level, Education Secretary Arne Duncan said.
"Whatever Texas decides, I do not think there will be large ripple effects around the country," he said before Friday's votes. "Textbook companies today have a real ability to customize textbooks and whatever the Texas board decides, I don't think that's going to impact education in other parts of the country." | [
"What changes is the Texas board voting on?",
"what do Conservatives on Texas board vote for ?",
"what does U.S. education secretary say ?",
"What state's textbook requirements often make it into those of other states?"
] | [
[
"social studies curricula"
],
[
"amended guidelines"
],
[
"digital publishing has diminished the state's influence"
],
[
"Texas"
]
] | Conservatives on Texas board vote on changes to "balance" curriculum .
Texas textbook requirements often make it into those of other states .
U.S. education secretary says there won't be large "ripple effect" |
(CNN) -- Changing winter conditions are causing Scotland's wild Soay sheep to get smaller, according to a study that suggests climate change can trump natural selection. Can't see me now: Climate change could be shrinking Soay sheep in Scotland. The authors of the study published in "Science" believe that it highlights how wide-ranging the effects of global climate change can be, adding further complexity to the changes we might expect to see in animal populations in future. "It's only in the last few years that we've realized that evolution can influence species' physical traits as quickly as ecological changes can. This study addresses one of the major goals of population biology, namely to untangle the ways in which evolutionary and environmental changes influence a species' traits," said Andrew Sugden, deputy and international managing editor at Science. The researchers analyzed body-weight measurements and life-history data for the female members of a population of Soay sheep. The sheep live on the island of Hirta in the St. Kilda archipelago of Scotland and have been studied closely since 1985. They selected body size because it is a heritable trait, and because the sheep have, on average, been decreasing in size for the last 25 years. According to the findings lambs are not growing as quickly as they once did as winters have become shorter so do not need to put on as much as weight in the first months of life to survive. The results suggest that the decrease is primarily an ecological response to environmental variation over the last 25 years. Evolutionary change, the report says, has contributed relatively little. "Sheep are getting smaller. Well, at least the wild Soay sheep living on a remote Scottish island are. But according to classic evolutionary theory, they should have been getting bigger, because larger sheep tend to be more likely to survive and reproduce than smaller ones, and offspring tend to resemble their parents," said study author Tim Coulson of Imperial College London. "Our findings have solved a paradox that has tormented biologists for years -- why predictions did not match observation. Biologists have realized that ecological and evolutionary processes are intricately intertwined, and they now have a way of dissecting out the contribution of each. Unfortunately it is too early to tell whether a warming world will lead to pocket-sized sheep," said Coulson. | [
"Where are the wild sheep from?",
"What was study in 1985?",
"What did Scotland suggests?",
"What can override the natural selection?",
"What did the authors reported?",
"For how long have the sheep been studied?",
"what overrides natural selection?",
"When did the study start?",
"What was the study about?",
"what is making sheep smaller?",
"What can override natural selection?",
"What can climate change override?",
"The sheep were closely studied since when?",
"what sheep has been closely studied?",
"Where did the study take place?"
] | [
[
"Scotland's"
],
[
"Climate change could be shrinking Soay sheep in Scotland."
],
[
"climate change can trump natural selection."
],
[
"climate change"
],
[
"how wide-ranging the effects of global climate change can be,"
],
[
"since 1985."
],
[
"climate change"
],
[
"1985."
],
[
"climate change can trump natural selection."
],
[
"Changing"
],
[
"climate change"
],
[
"trump natural selection."
],
[
"1985."
],
[
"Scotland's wild Soay"
],
[
"St. Kilda archipelago of Scotland"
]
] | Study of wild sheep in Scotland suggests climate change making them smaller .
Authors of report suggest that climate change can override natural selection .
Wild Soay sheep in remote Outer Hebrides closely studied since 1985 . |
(CNN) -- Charges of bribery against former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney and Halliburton by Nigeria's anti-corruption police may be dropped after an agreement to pay a $250 million fine.
"Discussions focus on the possibility of a plea bargain arrangement," said Femi Babafemi, a spokesman for Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
"Allowing the company and former officials to pay heavy fines in lieu of prosecution ... they would pay $120 million as fines and $130 million from bad money stored in Switzerland from the original deal -- so $250 million in total."
This month, the commission charged Cheney -- who ran Halliburton in the 1990s -- and nine others with "conspiracy and distribution of gratification to public officials."
The investigation is part of a long-running case involving Halliburton and a subsidiary firm, Kellogg, Brown and Root, over alleged bribes paid to Nigerian officials to secure $6 billion worth of contracts for a liquefied natural gas project in the Niger Delta.
The bribes are said to have amounted to $180 million between 1994 and 2004.
The firm pleaded guilty to foreign bribery charges in the United States last year and paid a $402 million criminal fine, the U.S. Justice Department said. KBR and Halliburton also paid $177 million to settle civil complaints related to the bribery, the Justice Department said.
Investigations in Nigeria, however, have been ongoing, and there are allegations that the bribes went all the way to the top, to aides, officials and possibly then-President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Many observers in Nigeria regard the move as a publicity stunt by the commission ahead of national elections in April and as a symbolic effort to display resolve against government corruption.
The agency has had limited success in getting successful prosecutions and hasn't charged any high-profile people since its top commissioner was removed from the body in 2007.
Cheney's atttorney has said that there is no reason to suspect that his client is guilty.
"This matter involves the activities of an international four-company joint venture (which included KBR, then a subsidiary of Halliburton) well over a decade ago," Terrence O'Connell said.
"The Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission investigated that joint venture extensively and found no suggestion of any impropriety by Dick Cheney in his role of CEO of Halliburton."
The latest discussions on reaching a settlement ended this weekend in London, Babafemi said.
The arrangement is now waiting for Nigeria's Minister of of Justice to officially agree to the deal, a decision that is expected by the end of the week. | [
"Where is Halliburton from?",
"How much was Halliburton fined, when pleading guilty to bribery charges in U.S. last year?",
"Which Energy firm?",
"How much was the, alleged, bribe?",
"Allegations were made of bribes to which officials?",
"What favors were the bribes in return for?",
"Who was the Vice President that was charged?",
"Who pleaded guilty to bribery charges?",
"What amount is the payment of the plea deal?"
] | [
[
"Nigeria's"
],
[
"$250 million"
],
[
"Halliburton"
],
[
"$180 million"
],
[
"Nigerian"
],
[
"gas project"
],
[
"Dick Cheney"
],
[
"Kellogg, Brown and Root,"
],
[
"$250 million"
]
] | Energy firm, former vice president charged with bribery .
They may agree to plea deal requiring payment of $250 million, Nigerian official says .
Case involves allegations of bribes to Nigerian officials for natural gas project .
Halliburton pleaded guilty to bribery charges in U.S. last year . |
Subsets and Splits