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jacksonville , florida -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- four people were killed and several injured after an explosion wednesday at a chemical plant sent a thick plume of smoke over a section of jacksonville , authorities said . a thick plume of smoke rises wednesday at a chemical plant in jacksonville , florida . `` literally , it 's a hellish inferno . there is no other way to describe it , '' said fire department spokesman tom francis . fourteen people were hospitalized after the blast at the t2 lab on faye road , in an industrial area on the waterfront in north jacksonville , francis said . officials initially ordered an evacuation of nearby businesses , but by 4 p.m. the order had been lifted after tests of the air found no toxicity , francis said . firefighters were still battling hot spots , and the effort will be going on for `` quite some time , '' he said . see an i-report account about the blast ''<doc-sep>six of those injured were transported to shands hospital in jacksonville , hospital spokeswoman kelly brockmeier said . a shands official said the hospital incident command system had been activated -- something done to put the staff in high alert in anticipation of trauma patients . a woman who answered the t2 lab 's 24-hour facility emergency phone said the plant manufactures ecotane , a gasoline additive that reduces tailpipe emissions , according to the laboratory 's web site . see a map of the site of the explosion '' the billowing black smoke could be seen from the city 's downtown , said florida times-union reporter bridget murphy . murphy said she talked to several workers as they walked out of the area , and they were `` shaken to the core . '' `` they described a hissing noise and then a sound wave , '' she said . antonio padrigan was trying to get in touch with his son , who works in a plant in the area , but was having no luck reaching him on his cell phone . `` he was shook up when he called me , but i ca n't get through to him anymore , '' padrigan said . `` i do n't know if he 's in the hospital or what . ''<doc-sep>cnn i-reporters jonathan payne and his son calvin , 16 , shot pictures of the explosion . they felt the blast shake their home , about 15 minutes away , and went to see what was going on . carlton higginbotham , 63 , was working at home on townsend boulevard in jacksonville when a loud boom shook his house , he said . `` it was a gunshot-type explosion ; it was n't a rumble , '' he said . higginbotham , an insurance salesman , and his neighbor ran outside and noticed thick smoke billowing from the other side of the st. johns river , which separates his neighborhood from the site of the blast . `` the cloud that came out of it was white , some would say mushroom-shaped , '' higginbotham said . `` it was followed by dark , dark smoke . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . published : . 10:13 est , 13 june 2013 . | . updated : . 17:00 est , 13 june 2013 . one is reported dead and 73 confirmed injured after an explosion at a louisiana chemical plant started a massive blaze . louisiana state police say there was an explosion at a plant in the town of geismar and footage showed thick , black smoke pouring from a huge fire at the facility . the fire broke out thursday morning around 8:30 am at the williams olefins plant about 20 miles from louisiana capital baton rouge . scroll down for video .<doc-sep>explosion : a fire started by an explosion broke out at a louisiana chemical plant thursday morning and injured 64 , some critically . one was reported dead . louisiana 's health department said 73 people were treated at hospitals for injuries ranging from minor to critical following the explosion . the cause is not yet known , but witnesses told wvla that a fireball rose 300 feet into the air and the ground shook at neighboring plants . in a press conference , state police capt. doug cain confirmed one victim was pulled from the facility dead . several burn victims were treated at the scene and at a triage unit set up at nearby iberville high school . the company said the blast happened at 8:37 a.m. at the plant in an industrial area of geismar , a mississippi river community about 20 miles southeast of baton rouge . by 10:30 am , police had blocked off area surface roads and highways . victims : officials said at least injured at the petrochemical plant explosion at 8:30 thursday morning . the fire was out by 11am . cain said all of the plant 's more than 300 workers had been accounted for by thursday afternoon . at a roadblock several miles away from . the plant , where family members waited anxiously to hear about loved .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a plume of thick smoke rose over a louisiana chemical plant thursday after an explosion and fire that left at least one person dead and forced authorities to ask people as far as 2 miles away to stay inside to avoid exposure to potentially toxic fumes . zachary green , 29 , of hammond was killed in the blast , the louisiana state police said . a dramatic image provided to cnn affiliate wafb by a plant worker who did not want to be identified showed workers running from a towering orange column of flame ripping through part of the plant . at least 75 people were injured in the blast , said christina stephens , a spokeswoman with the louisiana department of health . `` generally they were people who came in with burns , cardiac issues and blunt trauma , '' she said . aside from a controlled burn at the williams geismar plant , the fire was out , louisiana state police trooper jaren sandifer told cnn . firefighters and a hazardous materials team were evaluating the situation , ascension parish sheriff jeffrey wiley told reporters . `` we think we have a stable situation , '' he said . ireport : video shot just after the explosion . as gov. bobby jindal traveled to the area to meet with emergency workers , authorities lifted the shelter-in-place order for nearby residents early thursday afternoon . four nearby chemical plants remained under a similar order , ascension parish spokesman lester kenyon told cnn . at least one person died , sandifer said . three people were hospitalized in critical condition , according to information provided by hospitals who reported receiving patients from the blast -- baton rouge general hospital , our lady of the lake regional medical center and st. elizabeth hospital . one person was in serious condition , 12 were in fair condition and one was in good condition , according to the hospitals . about 600 people were at the plant when the explosion occurred , sandifer told cnn . it was unclear what caused the blast , he said . the plant produces about 1.3 billion pounds of ethylene and 90 million pounds of polymer-grade propylene each year , according to the company 's website . the explosion in louisiana comes two months after a deadly fertilizer plant explosion in west , texas , on april 17 . in that incident , 15 people died and a significant portion of the town was damaged by the explosion . see also : cause of texas explosion `` undetermined '' cnn 's joe sutton contributed to this story .<doc-sep>geismar , louisiana -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a second man has died as a result of thursday 's explosion at a louisiana chemical plant , the louisiana state police said friday . scott thrower , 47 , of st. amant , died at a baton rouge hospital after suffering burns in the blast at the williams plant in geismar , state police trooper jared sandifer said . the thursday morning explosion killed one other worker and injured more than 100 others in what company ceo alan armstrong characterized friday as `` a terrible and unprecedented tragedy and an extremely difficult time for all of us . '' before thrower 's death was announced , the company said six people -- two employees and four contractors -- still were hospitalized friday . their conditions were n't available . the explosion at the plant , which williams says produces about 1.3 billion pounds of ethylene and 90 million pounds of polymer-grade propylene each year , sent a plume of thick smoke into the air and initially forced authorities to ask people nearby to stay inside to avoid exposure to potentially toxic fumes . investigators still were waiting for the plant to be safe enough to investigate the blast 's cause , officials said friday . armstrong told reporters friday that the incident was tough to take .

<t> new : fire department spokesman : 14 have been taken to area hospitals . </t> <t> firefighters still fighting hot spots wednesday afternoon , official says . </t> <t> `` it 's a hellish inferno , '' he tells reporters . </t>

four dead in chemical plant explosion , officials say<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the tennessee supreme court on wednesday refused to modify or overturn a lower court 's ruling allowing mary winkler , convicted of killing her minister husband , visitation rights with the couple 's three daughters . holding baby brianna , mary winkler stands next to matthew . in the foreground are mary alice and patricia . charles and diane winkler , parents of slain minister matthew winkler , had asked the court to intervene and either revoke mary winkler 's visitation rights or allow them to proceed only under supervision of a counselor . the children -- patricia , mary alice and brianna -- have been living with their grandparents since their mother was arrested last year . winkler has not seen the children in 15 months , said kay farese turner , her attorney . she said her client was `` absolutely elated about the news and believes this will be her best christmas ever . '' turner said she believes the visit may come before christmas . a jury convicted winkler earlier this year of voluntary manslaughter in the shotgun death of matthew winkler -- not the first-degree murder conviction prosecutors had wanted . she said the slaying came after years of abuse , including physical violence and being forced to dress `` slutty '' for undesirable sex acts . winkler received a three-year sentence , but a judge required her to serve only 210 days , gave her credit for the five months she had already served and allowed her to serve the remaining 60 days in a mental health facility . she was released in august . at the time of their father 's death in march 2006 , patricia was 8 , mary alice was 6 and brianna was 1 . charles and diane winkler have moved to terminate mary winkler 's rights and have filed a $ 2 million wrongful death suit against her for their son 's slaying . the termination issue has not been decided in court . turner said the court may want to determine what , if any , bond winkler has with her children before making a decision .<doc-sep>attempts by cnn to contact attorneys for the winklers were not immediately successful wednesday . in september , a lower court granted winkler visitation with her daughters pending the outcome of the custody battle . the court specified the visits be supervised by a guardian ad litem appointed to represent the children 's interests and supervised by members of the couple winkler is living with or by her sister . a subsequent appeal by the grandparents was denied , leading to their supreme court appeal . the winklers said if their former daughter-in-law got visitation with the children at all , it should be under the supervision of a professional counselor . at a september hearing , according to court documents , they said the children `` exhibit fear and confusion '' toward their mother `` and her role in their father 's death . '' one expert , in testimony , quoted patricia as saying her mother had killed her father and , `` i do n't know if she will kill me . i want to ask her if she would do that to me . it scares me , kind of ; if she did , well , i guess i would see my father . '' the winklers also said that after telephone calls with their mother , the children experienced `` urination accidents , sleeping problems , graphic nightmares and sleepwalking . '' they said the lower court erred by failing to appoint the guardian ad litem until after the september hearing . turner , however , said she believes terminating winkler 's parental rights would not be in the children 's best interest . `` she has a faith rarely seen , and she loves those children , '' turner said . after matthew winkler 's death , winkler fled with the girls to the alabama coast , where she was arrested . she said during a september appearance on the `` oprah winfrey show '' that she never expected to get away with killing her husband , but that she fled to be with her daughters and `` have some good times . '' e-mail to a friend . cnn 's rusty dornin contributed to this report .<doc-sep>qatada was once described as osama bin laden 's right-hand man in europe and even the judges in the court of appeal admit he is regarded as a ` very dangerous ' man . the british government is to secure fresh assurances from jordan in an attempt to finally kick hate cleric abu qatada out of the country . deputy prime minister nick clegg today revealed ministers will work ` flat out ' to deport the radical preacher after the government lost its latest court challenge to have him removed . appeal court judges yesterday rejected a . plea from the uk government to eject qatada , despite accepting that he . is ` very dangerous ' . speaking on his weekly radio phone-in mr clegg said : ` no one wants this guy to stay here . ' but his comments appeared at odds with justice secretary chris grayling who last night blamed lib dem refusal to change human rights laws for the failure to give the terror suspect the boot . mr grayling said : ` labour and the liberal democrats ' refusal to contemplate big changes to human rights law is inexplicable given problems like this . ' i am bitterly unhappy that we have to wait until the next general election to sort this out . ' the court of appeal ruled that while qatada 's deportation was ` long overdue ' , his risk to the public was not ` a relevant consideration ' under human rights laws . the judges yesterday upheld an earlier verdict that sending the hate preacher to face a terror trial in jordan would not be fair .<doc-sep>krekar 's lawyer , brynjar meling , appealed the decision and asked that it be suspended pending review . krekar has been living under risk of deportation since 2003 after norwegian authorities ordered him to be expelled , claiming he posed a threat to national security . while norway 's court system has upheld the ruling , norwegian law bars him from being deported to iraq , where he risks the death penalty . while krekar acknowledges having co-founded ansar al-islam , he insists he has not led the group since 2002 . the preacher and the group ansar al-islam figure on united nations and u.s. lists of terrorist groups or individuals .<doc-sep>by . snejana farberov . killer : a california appeals court has upheld the life sentence for john riccardi convicted 20 years ago of murdering two women , including dave navarro 's mother . a california appeals court has upheld the life sentence for a man who killed the mother of rock guitarist dave navarro and her friend three decades ago . the 2nd district court of appeal upheld john riccardi 's prison term thursday after rejecting his attorney 's request to overturn his sentence and dismiss the case . riccardi was convicted of killing his estranged girlfriend , connie navarro , and sue jory in 1983 at a west los angeles condominium . navarro 's son , dave , played with the red hot chili peppers and jane 's addiction . he was only 15 years old when his mother was murdered . riccardi originally was sentenced to death for the murders , but the california supreme court overturned the sentence two years ago after a prospective juror was wrongly dismissed for expressing conflicting views on the death penalty . the convicted killer was re-sentenced last year to life without parole . on march 3 , 1983 , constance ` connie ' navarro 's ex-boyfriend john riccardi forced his way into her home in west los angeles and killed her and her friend sue jory .<doc-sep>by . martin robinson . published : . 04:40 est , 12 september 2013 . | . updated : . 07:08 est , 12 september 2013 . hate preacher abu hamza 's most trusted lieutenant can not be kicked out of britain because being sent to america to face terror charges would breach his human rights , it emerged today . european judges have ruled that terror suspect and broadmoor patient haroon aswat can not be deported because it would be bad for his mental health . aswat , who claims to be a schizophrenic , . is wanted by the u.s. authorities for plotting to set up a jihadi . training camp in bly , oregon . the european court of human rights has upheld its decision not to allow the extremist to leave the uk for america after a home office appeal failed .

<t> mary winkler convicted earlier this year of shooting her husband to death . </t> <t> winkler served time and was released ; the couple had three children . </t> <t> the children live with their grandparents , who oppose visitation . </t> <t> winkler has not seen her children in 15 months . </t>

preacher 's killer 's right to visit kids upheld<T>

lahore , pakistan -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- two pakistani television networks that transmit from dubai in united arab emirates were ordered off the air friday at the request of pakistani president pervez musharraf , officials from the networks said . pakistan 's president , gen. pervez musharraf , has been under pressure to lift a state of emergency . geo-tv and ary digital offer a variety of programming , including news , entertainment , sports and music . both networks had been banned from pakistan 's cable television system -- along with other networks , including cnn and bbc -- since musharraf declared a state of emergency on november 3 . this latest action prevents the two pakistani networks from broadcasting worldwide via satellite . `` this was basically our window to the world , geo president imran aslan said . `` in pakistan , we 've been shut down since the 3rd . ''<doc-sep>the action was not wholly unexpected , but surprising nevertheless , aslan said . `` we uplink from dubai , never having had a license to uplink from pakistan , '' he said . `` dubai is a media city which seemed to be a haven and a sanctuary . '' aslan said network officials have been in discussions with pakistani government officials and `` it seemed very obvious that they were going to do this . we were ready for it to a certain extent . '' `` eventually they decided to put their feet on the pipe , as it were . '' the government has made numerous demands of the network , although none of them official , aslan said . `` it 's done through intermediaries , '' he said . '' -lsb- dulling -rsb- down the content , not having certain anchors , some of the hosts of our programs and talk shows . ''<doc-sep>musharraf 's emergency order put several restrictions on the media , preventing journalists from expressing opinions prejudicial to `` the ideology ... or integrity of pakistan . '' journalists are also restricted from covering suicide bombings and militant activity and could face three-year jail terms if they `` ridicule '' members of the government or armed forces . almost a dozen journalists have been arrested . musharraf has denied that his restrictions bar criticism , saying they only ask for responsibility in reporting . but last week , pakistan expelled three print journalists for using language in an editorial that a pakistani official called offensive to musharraf . the editorial criticized musharraf and the united states and britain for continuing to support him .<doc-sep>while many pakistani journalists have protested the restrictions , some smaller television channels have complied with the government 's restrictions . geo and ary have refused . `` it seems most of the other channels have kowtowed in order to survive , '' aslan said . musharraf has said the emergency order improves stability and will foster peaceful parliamentary elections , which he has said he would like to see take place before january 9 . the exact date will be set by pakistan 's election commission . opposition leaders have accused musharraf of declaring emergency rule to keep his hold on power and avoid an expected court ruling that would have nullified his election victory in october . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>for some , that 's enough to substitute for the full array that cable offers . especially when paired with ... rabbit ears ! ok , so maybe the antenna you 'd go out and buy today would n't bear much of a resemblance to the twin-pronged , set-top gadgetry many of us remember from our childhoods -lrb- tinfoil wrapped round the tips optional -rrb- . but with a digital antenna , you get the major networks -lrb- abc , cbs , nbc and fox -rrb- , pbs and other local stations in a lot better quality than you used to get . put that together with the streaming options and you 're starting to build yourself back up . however ... the drawbacks . despite all the digital options , there are some things that you just ca n't replace when you pull the plug on cable . if you fall back on watching only broadcast networks , for example , your picture quality may suffer . also , none of the above-mentioned apps stream tv shows as they are airing . on hulu , many shows are n't available until 24 hours after they air . in the age of plot spoilers online and on social media , that 's risky . and it gets worse . fox and abc have chosen to wait eight days before letting non-subscribers watch new shows . it 's even tougher to keep up with your premium cable favorites . hbo made news in april by announcing it would make some old shows like `` the sopranos '' and `` the wire '' available on amazon . but a three-year delay means `` girls '' or `` game of thrones '' fans are still out of luck . as are those fans hoping to watch ... the big game . ask non-cable subscribers about the holes in their new tv setup and many bring up live sports . while many cable networks stream via their websites and mobile apps , most , like watchespn , require a cable subscription to access them . if you enjoy hitting your local sports bar , this may not be such a big deal . if you 're more inclined to kick back and watch sports at home -lrb- particularly if you follow a team outside the city where you live -rrb- it 's tough . in the end , the cable-vs . - digital debate appears set to continue for a while , much like many other situations in which emerging technology has collided awkwardly with entrenched institutions . but , for better or for worse , the supreme court on wednesday did n't help the digital side 's cause .<doc-sep>iraq pulls plug on ` misleading ' tv networks . no one immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks , nor was it clear whether they were related . but the fighting has prompted fears among iraqi leaders and international powers that the tensions between sunnis and shiites could escalate and bring a return of the full-blown sectarian war that raged last decade . since the overthrow of saddam hussein 's government last decade , sunni arabs have been politically marginalized and shiites , who represent a majority of iraqis , have emerged with more power .<doc-sep>`` we are sympathetic to any player who finds themselves in this position . and we will help any player who is willing to come forward and we hope zulqarnain haider decides to do so . '' pakistani journalist azhar javaid told cnn that he had talked to haider and said that the player `` was a little confused . '' `` it is my understanding that he 's regretting his decision to come to london from dubai in this manner , '' said javaid , the uk correspondent for pakistan dunya tv . `` he wants to go back to pakistan . there is tremendous pressure from his family and also pakistani people over there . i think he has been misguided by some people and he took this decision in this manner . '' javaid said he had also talked to pakistan 's london high commission , which said haider had no case to apply for asylum . `` he 's not a very big player -- he 's just a wicket-keeper and he 's struggling for his position , '' added javaid . `` he has the pressure that kamran akmal might come back . '' south africa won monday 's match in dubai by 57 runs and completed a 3-2 series win over pakistan .<doc-sep>highly-organised criminal network with each individual filling a . specific role . ` all criminal networks have a head . and we very much believe we have now apprehended our mr big as part of . this operation . we believe this has put a major dent in this network 's . ability to commit cyber-crime in this country . we believe this was a . top-tier criminal network . ' similarities : last week a gang allegedly attempted to plug a discreet gizmo into a santander computer to spy on its contents . he said his officers were working with banks to stop further thefts . barclays has been able to recover a . ` significant amount ' of the money stolen in the swiss cottage operation . by tracing the accounts into which the cash was moved . a . ` big mixture of nerdiness and having some nerves ' would be needed to . try to pull off this type of fraud , according to internet security . expert graham cluley . since . part of the crime involves walking into a branch and attaching the .

<t> new : geo-tv president : `` it seemed very obvious that they were going to do this '' </t> <t> order comes on the request of pakistani president pervez musharraf . </t> <t> geo-tv and ary digital offer varied programming , including news . </t> <t> both networks transmit from the united arab emirates . </t>

dubai agrees to pull plug on pakistani tv networks<T>

dallas , texas -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- if you turn to the bible -- isaiah chapter 35 , verse 8 -- you will see a passage that in part says , `` a highway shall be there , and a road , and it shall be called the highway of holiness . '' churchgoers in six states have held prayer sessions along the side of interstate 35 . now , is it possible that this `` highway '' mentioned in chapter 35 is actually interstate 35 that runs through six u.s. states , from southern texas to northern minnesota ? some christians have faith that is indeed the case . it was with that interesting belief in mind that we decided to head to texas , the southernmost state in the i-35 corridor , to do a story about a prayer campaign called `` light the highway . '' churchgoers in all six states recently finished 35 days of praying alongside interstate 35 , but the prayers are still continuing .<doc-sep>some of the faithful believe that in order to fulfill the prophecy of i-35 being the `` holy '' highway , it needs some intensive prayer first . so we watched as about 25 fervent and enthusiastic christians prayed on the the interstate 's shoulder in dallas . they chanted loudly and vibrantly , making many people in the neighborhood wonder what was going on . they prayed that adult businesses along the corridor would `` see the light '' and perhaps close down . they prayed for safety and freedom from crime for people who lived along the interstate . they prayed that all americans would accept jesus into their lives . watch believers offer prayers '' the woman who came up with the concept of `` light the highway '' is a texas minister named cindy jacobs . she says she ca n't be sure interstate 35 really is what is mentioned in the bible but says she received a revelation to start this campaign after `` once again reading isaiah , chapter 35 . ''<doc-sep>jacobs also points out that perhaps there is a link between the area near this highway and tragedies that have happened in history , such as the bridge collapse on i-35 in minneapolis last august and the assassination of jfk 44 years ago near i-35 in dallas . that 's why prayer certainly ca n't hurt , she adds . now , it 's only fair to say most people , the religious and the non-religious alike , do n't buy any of this , but none more than the owners of some of the adult businesses along i-35 . at an adult go-go club , the owner tells us he resents people trying to impose their will on others . and he says his club holds fundraisers , food drives and toy drives to help the community . but on the side of the road , the prayerful are n't going to change their minds . holy highways and nude clubs , they believe , are not a combination god has in mind . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>dean kamen , inventor : we believe the world needs a slingshot to take care of its goliath of a problem : bad water . tuchman : he says the machine can turn contaminated water like this dirty river water into clean drinking water by boiling , distilling and vaporizing it . kamen : in goes the bad , and as you can see , out comes the good . that is pure water . tuchman : the machine is smaller than some other water purifying systems , making it more portable . kamen : it 's ideally suited to go to places in the developing world . tuchman : kamen says it requires very little electricity and maintenance to function . but until he finds partners and distributors to keep costs down , slingshots wo n't be available to the people who need them most . kamen : we 've got to find better strategies to deal with this incredibly unique and valuable resource called water , that we 've all come to take for granted , but we 'll not be able to do that in the future . tuchman : gary tuchman , cnn . -lrb- end video -rrb- . before we go . azuz : before we leave you today , we 've got a story about something that 's pretty darn fast . usian bolt may be the quickest person on the planet , but he 's got nothing on sarah . the cheetah charged into the record books yesterday as the world 's fastest land mammal . she made the 100-meter dash in 6.16 seconds . then she went out and shaved some more time off in her second attempt . now for reference , sprinter usain bolt did it in 9.58 seconds . so , cheetah wins . think you could outrun her ? you 're welcome to give it a shot . goodbye . azuz : but you 've got to make sure that she does n't break any rules . after all , she 's a cheetah . okay , we know a lot of you probably saw that coming , but you just ca n't miss the opportunity to make a cheetah pun . it 's where we cross the finish line for today , but we 'll be back tomorrow to close out the week . we look forward to seeing you then . for cnn student news , i 'm carl azuz .<doc-sep>bunarto says , `` some things that happen in our lives , sometimes we just do n't understand what god really intends . '' that does n't mean they lose faith . according to the pastor , `` we just put our trust -- everything , completely -- in his will . because he 's going to bring everything -lrb- that is -rrb- the best in our life . '' cnn 's gary tuchman reported from surabaya , as did cnn 's dominique van heerden . greg botelho wrote this story from atlanta .<doc-sep>rome , italy -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- `` the devil tempts everyone -- people in politics , in economics , in sport . and naturally , he tempts , above all , the religious leaders , so you should n't be surprised if the devil tempts those in the vatican . that 's his job . '' father gabriele amorth is n't speaking metaphorically when he says that . the 85-year-old priest means people can be tempted and literally possessed by satan . `` it 's not my opinion : i 'm saying that if you believe in the gospels , you believe in the existence of the devil , in the devil 's power to possess people , '' he said in an interview with cnn . the faithful believe `` that there are people possessed by the devil , and ... in the power of exorcism to liberate from the devil , '' he said .<doc-sep>skiers and snowboarders in scotland were rewarded with heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures at the weekend , tempting thousands of snowsports fans to head for the hills - literally . and with fresh snow on the way , scottish resorts are expecting a rush of skiers hitting the slopes . but while conditions were described as ` excellent ' over the weekend , the rush to get to the highlands caused chaos on the roads , with many motorists leaving their cars parked on the roadside . as many resorts in europe struggle with poor weather , dumploads of snow in scotland created ideal skiing and snowboarding conditions at the weekend . police were called to deal with gridlocked traffic on the a82 - the main road linking fort william and glasgow - after abandoned cars left the road impassable in places , while the icy conditions meant other roads were closed entirely . an accident - which killed one pedestrian - left one of the main roads to the scottish ski centre at glenshee closed for most of sunday , and another access road to the resort was impassable due to heavy snow and ice . it was a similar situation at the lecht ski centre , prompting police to ask both resorts to evacuate and close early over fears for safety . temperatures in some parts of scotland plunged to -15 c tonight , making it the coldest night of the year so far . but while conditions on the slopes were described as ` excellent ' , the rush to get to the highlands caused chaos on the roads , with many motorists leaving their cars parked on the roadside . the big chill is expected to last until thursday , causing the met office to issue a yellow ` be aware ' warning for snow and ice .

<t> some see connection between the bible and interstate 35 . </t> <t> believers pray by the side of the highway , which runs through six states . </t> <t> i-35 runs from southern texas to northern minnesota . </t>

tuchman : hitting the road -lrb- literally -rrb- with some faithful<T>

washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a day after new jersey banned executions , newly released figures show that capital punishment dropped this year to a 13-year low . the supreme court will hold oral arguments january 7 about the constitutionality of lethal injection protocols . forty-two people have been put to death this year , according to the death penalty information center -lrb- dpic -rrb- , a washington-based group that opposes the practice . that figure is down 57 percent from what it was in 1999 , when 98 inmates were executed . next year 's figures are expected to drop further . the supreme court is to hold oral arguments january 7 about whether lethal injection protocols in 36 of the 37 states with the death penalty are constitutional . see how the rates have dropped '' the justices placed a moratorium on executions in late september , when they decided to review a kentucky case about whether the three-drug lethal `` cocktail '' of chemicals represents `` cruel and unusual punishment , '' since it may cause excruciating pain to inmates unable to express discomfort . stays of executions have been issued in several states until the larger constitutional issues are addressed . if the high court finds the procedures unconstitutional , it could take years before death-penalty states would meet legal standards necessary to resume lethal injection . and even if the method is declared acceptable , it would be months before new execution dates could be set .<doc-sep>ten states carried out executions this year . outside the south , arizona , south dakota , indiana , and ohio together subjected six men to lethal injection . learn about states ' death penalty policies and statistics '' texas continues to lead the nation , with 62 percent of executions nationwide this year . overall , 86 percent this year were in the south . no more executions are scheduled this year . `` the death penalty has been in a period of decline for many years , '' said richard dieter , executive director of dpic . `` two thousand seven will be known as the year executions came to a temporary halt and as the year of concrete legislation reconsidering the death penalty . '' death penalty supporters acknowledge that states outside the south have been reluctant to impose the punishment , even in the face of rising big-city crime rates .<doc-sep>`` i think the main problem is that the death penalty is not being imposed often enough in those urban jurisdictions , '' said kent scheidegger of the sacramento-based criminal justice legal foundation . `` i think people of the cities are not getting the quality of justice that people elsewhere receive . i think we need to build support for the death penalty and need to impose it more regularly where it is warranted . '' new jersey 's legislature voted last week to outlaw the death penalty -- the first state to do so in 42 years -- and gov. jon corzine signed the measure into law monday . at the same time , he commuted the sentences of the eight men on the state 's death row . the move was largely symbolic , since no executions have occurred there since 1963 . similar bills in nebraska , new mexico and montana failed this year in the legislature . state lawmakers in maryland , colorado , north carolina , tennessee and california are also considering abolishing the death penalty , but no bills have been introduced . the supreme court on january 4 will decide whether to review an appeal from louisiana inmate patrick kennedy , sentenced to death in 2003 for raping his 8-year-old stepdaughter . the state 's high court upheld the punishment as appropriate . the justices in 1976 banned capital punishment for rape , but 19 years later , louisiana passed a law allowing execution for the sexual violation of a child under 12 . state lawmakers distinguished the earlier high court case as pertaining only to `` adult women . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>amnesty international secretary general salil shetty said the `` regression '' seen in some countries last year was disappointing -- but that it did not change the overall trend . `` in many parts of the world , executions are becoming a thing of the past . only one in 10 countries in the world carries out executions , '' he said . `` their leaders should ask themselves why they are still applying a cruel and inhumane punishment that the rest of the world is leaving behind . '' there is no evidence that the death penalty works as a special deterrent against crime , shetty said . `` the real reason for the death penalty 's use can often be found elsewhere . in 2012 , we were once again very concerned to see countries executing for what appeared to be political purposes -- either as a populist measure , or as an outright tool of repression . '' texas leads executions . in the united states , the number of executions and death sentences remained steady compared with 2011 , but the number of states carrying out capital punishment continues to drop , according to the death penalty information center .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a shortage of lethal injection chemicals has contributed to declining use of capital punishment in the united states with a new report on thursday noting only 39 executions this year . it is only the second time in the past two decades the annual number of inmates put to death has dropped below 40 . the total represents a 10 percent reduction from last year . no further executions are scheduled in 2013 . `` twenty years ago , use of the death penalty was increasing . now it is declining by almost every measure , '' said richard dieter , executive director of the death penalty information center , and the author of the report . `` the recurrent problems of the death penalty have made its application rare , isolated , and often delayed for decades . more states will likely reconsider the wisdom of retaining this expensive and ineffectual practice . '' the nonprofit organization provides accurate figures and a range of analysis , but opposes use of the death penalty . lethal injection in nine states . while the annual number of executions and death sentences continues to drop nationally overall , it remains a legally and socially acceptable form of justice for aggravated murder in 32 states . but just nine states conducted lethal injections this year , and two -- texas with 16 and florida with 7 -- accounted for nearly 60 percent of the total . texas is among the active death-penalty states scrambling to find new lethal injection protocols after european-based manufacturers banned u.s. prisons from using their drugs in executions . among them is danish-based lundbeck , which manufactures pentobarbital , the most commonly used -- either as a single drug , or in combination with others -- to execute prisoners . new drug combinations . states have been forced to try new drug combinations or go to loosely regulated compounding pharmacies that manufacturer variations of the drugs banned by the larger companies , according to an investigation last month by cnn 's deborah feyerick . a pending lawsuit against texas filed by several death row inmates and their supporters alleges the state corrections department falsified a prescription for pentobarbital using an alias . until recently , most states relied on a three-drug `` cocktail , '' but many jurisdictions now use a single dose or a two-drug combination . various state and federal courts have postponed some planned executions until issues surrounding the new protocols are resolved . every execution this year relied on pentobarbital , except in florida , which used midazolam hydrochloride -- a drug applied for the first time in human lethal injections . and missouri was prepared to inject a single dose of the anesthetic propofol for its two recent executions , until gov. jay nixon halted its application . the european union had threatened to limit export of the widely used drug for other purposes if the state had proceeded . the two inmates were separately put to death in recent weeks using pentobarbital instead . first woman executed .<doc-sep>defunct texas youth commission , a military-style juvenile boot camp . where doyle was sent , was n't capable of delivering adequate . rehabilitation . the boot camp model designed to ` break behavior ' is now . prohibited after abuses were exposed . she . argued that it was unlikely that doyle would be sentenced to death if . he were on trial today , but prosecutors argued that doyle had struggled . with discipline for years . the u.s. supreme court rejected a . last-day appeal to block doyle 's execution . he was the fourth person . executed in the state this year and the 512th in texas since the death . penalty was reinstated . texas , which has executed more people than any other state since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976 , obtained a fresh batch of its execution drug , pentobarbital , the department of criminal justice said this month , without revealing the source . on thursday , a state judge ordered texas to release the name of its new drug supplier and the state attorney general 's office said it would appeal the ruling . other u.s. states have been struggling to obtain the drugs after pharmaceutical firms , mostly in europe , imposed sales bans because they object to having medications used in lethal injections . oklahoma has had to postpone two executions planned for this month because it could not find drugs . alabama said this week it has run out of one of the main drugs it uses , stalling 16 executions . texas plans to execute five more inmates before the end of may - around the same number as every other state combined , according to the death penalty information center . but overall , executions have been on the decline in texas , after hitting a peak of 40 in 2000 . since 2010 , texas has averaged about 15 executions a year , reuters reported . the drop is due to the high costs of prosecutions and the availability of a sentence of life without parole . in recent years , there have been 10 or less . ` we are now very selective in what we choose to go after as death penalty cases , instead of deciding that every single murder that we try will be a capital case , ' susan reed , the district attorney in san antonio and a death penalty supporter , told reuters .<doc-sep>virtual `` killing sprees '' in iran and iraq led to a spike in the number of executions globally last year , according to amnesty international , at odds with a steady decline in the use of the death penalty around the world over the last two decades . executions by beheading , electrocution , firing squad , hanging and lethal injection rose by almost 15 percent in 2013 on the previous year , the organization said in its latest report on the death penalty released thursday . china executed more people than any other country last year . although chinese authorities treat official execution statistics as a state secret , amnesty international estimates thousands are killed under the death penalty every year , more than the rest of the world combined . excluding china , executions rose to at least 778 last year , up from 682 in 2012 . iran came in second , with at least 369 put to death by the state , followed by iraq -lrb- 169 -rrb- , saudi arabia -lrb- 79 -rrb- , and the united states -lrb- 39 -rrb- . the united states was the only country in the americas that performed executions , although use of the death penalty declined last year , to 39 executions from 43 in 2012 . texas accounted for more than 40 percent of all american executions . in total , 22 countries practiced capital punishment last year , one more than in 2012 . four of those countries -- indonesia , kuwait , nigeria and vietnam -- resumed executions after a hiatus . amnesty international could not confirm if executions took place in countries in conflict , but said it `` can not be excluded '' that executions took place in syria and egypt .

<t> death penalty information center : 42 people have been put to death this year . </t> <t> that 's down 57 percent from 1999 level , when 98 inmates were executed . </t> <t> figure partly due to states questioning the constitutionality of lethal injection . </t> <t> texas leads the nation in executions this year , according to dpic . </t>

executions drop in '07 as states rethink death penalty<T>

caracas , venezuela -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the price of sin rose monday in venezuela where president hugo chavez is on a campaign to make venezuelans cut back on drinking and smoking . `` everyone 's shocked , '' said leonora marino , owner of bodegon marino in valencia , venezuela , west of caracas . on monday evening , she was still changing the prices in her store as her customers looked on and complained , she told a reporter . alcohol is now 10 percent more expensive ; cigarettes are 20 percent pricier . `` really , it 's difficult to buy at these prices , '' she said , then joked , `` they say they 're going to stop eating so that they can continue drinking . '' the venezuelan government is placing a higher tax on alcohol and cigarettes in an effort to cut consumption and prevent what it views as the social , economic and moral consequences of drinking and smoking , said jose vielma mora , superintendent of seniat , the government body that oversees the collection of taxes . taxes on whiskey , brandy , cognac and other drinks that do n't come from cane sugar have been raised $ 1.79 -lrb- 3,838 bolivares -rrb- per liter , the government-run bolivarian news agency said . `` it 's unfair because , in the end , the consumer is the one who pays , '' said fernando fernandez , a liquor exporter . chavez has described whiskey as a drink for rich people , not for revolutionaries . `` we can not be spending the international reserves of this country on whiskey , '' he said . the moves represent the first steps toward transforming each venezuelan into what chavez calls `` the new man . '' chavez has cited the life of revolutionary socialist icon ernesto `` che '' guevara as an example of how to lead a more pure life .<doc-sep>in april , chavez told a graduating class of medical students in caracas , venezuela , that the level of consumption of alcohol in the country represents a threat to public health and ought to make residents feel ashamed , according to an abn report . `` the vice causes much harm , not only to individuals , but to the collective health of the nation , '' said chavez , who said the dangers result in an increase in car wrecks and domestic violence . for his part , he has said he drinks too much coffee . also effective monday , stores near schools , churches and cultural centers will not be granted licenses to sell alcohol . taxes on cigarette imports have also increased , from 50 percent to 70 percent of the total price . on the street , some people said they do n't understand the motivations for the increase , but predicted their consumption would not change . `` the venezuelan is not going to stop drinking or smoking , '' said one person . chavez also plans to increase taxes on luxury items such as hummers , which are imported privately and at great expense . there is no hummer dealership in the country . higher oil prices in recent years have translated into higher consumption in petroleum-rich venezuela . last year , car sales increased by about 70 percent , according to the cia world factbook . but chavez , who was in cuba on monday visiting communist leader fidel castro , said he wants to focus less on material goals for venezuela 's 27 million people , 38 percent of whom live in poverty . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's flor santamaria contributed to this story .<doc-sep>venezuela is not a poor country . it 's the thirteenth largest producer of oil in the world and an important producer of minerals . but jennifer mccoy , director of the americas program at the carter center in atlanta says the country is paying for the centralization of the government and a socialist agenda pushed by president chavez . `` his goal that he has stated is to deepen the revolution , to deepen and expand socialism and to show , i think , the country his vision of his socialist experiment , '' mccoy said . jorge roig , vice president of fedecamaras , a venezuelan association that pulls together businesses , including many producers of basic goods , blames the new government price caps and regulations for the shortages . `` people are doing panic buying . with these price caps , people are buying more than they need because they know many factories are not going to be able to produce their products . production has gone down because there are price caps , production is not cost-effective and we have these conditions that discourage investment , '' roig said . it 's not just ordinary people who are worried about the situation . under government guidelines published last month , producers of basic products , including foreign companies , must now register with government regulators and disclose how they produce , distribute and market their products , a move that has caused great concern among domestic and international companies operating in venezuela .<doc-sep>price disappeared about two weeks ago after telling his friends he had lost `` a large sum of money through his trading activities , '' the complaint said . the complaint quoted a letter purportedly written by price in june to acquaintances and business associates . price indicated he planned to commit suicide off the florida coast by `` jumping off a ferry boat , '' the complaint said . but federal investigators , including the fbi , believe price , who owns property in venezuela and guatemala , may be on the run . fbi special agent michael howard said in the complaint that investigators believe price `` may own a boat that would be large enough to travel to venezuela from florida . '' price was last seen in key west , florida , in mid-june , and `` despite a recent search by the -lrb- u.s. -rrb- coast guard , price 's body has not been recovered , '' the complaint said . prosecutors say airline records indicate price had returned to the united states from a trip to venezuela on june 2 .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- fierce political rhetoric in venezuela took a sharp turn wednesday with a warning from vice president nicolas maduro , who told throngs of supporters that opponents were plotting to murder him . `` we are denouncing this because we have strong evidence , '' maduro said at a large rally marking the 1958 fall of venezuela 's dictatorship . `` so do n't get surprised with the actions we will take in the next few hours and the next few days . '' it 's unclear what actions he was referring to , but the venezuelan vice president said he was committed to cracking down on `` criminals who have infiltrated the country '' that allegedly plan to kill him and diosdado cabello , the head of venezuela 's national assembly . maduro 's comments came as venezuela 's opposition was also rallying in caracas on a day that has important political significance in the south american country , the anniversary of the end of marcos perez jimenez 's dictatorship . president hugo chavez has spoken at past january 23 events , but the venezuelan leader remains in cuba and has not made any public appearances for more than six weeks since he underwent cancer surgery there . his long absence has fueled growing speculation about his health and political future . chavez ally : ailing president undergoing physical therapy .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- venezuela on tuesday rejected a number of recommendations made by u.n. member countries as part of a human rights evaluation by the world body . of 148 recommendations made in the universal periodic review by the u.n. human rights council in geneva , switzerland , venezuela accepted 95 of them , and is considering 15 more . but it rejected 38 recommendations that touched on judicial independence , freedom of the press and protection of nongovernmental organizations . venezuela 's vice minister of foreign affairs , temir porras ponce de leon , said that the country rejected these recommendations because they were not legitimate . the recommendation process `` saw people who came here to disguise as recommendations what are in fact groundless statements , '' he said , labeling the rejected suggestions `` disrespectful and interfering comments . '' among the recommendations offered by other countries and rejected by venezuela were : .

<t> venezuelan government hikes taxes on alcohol and cigarettes monday . </t> <t> ten percent price increase on alcohol and 20 percent increase on cigarettes . </t> <t> stores near schools , churches and cultural centers can not sell alcohol . </t> <t> chavez plans to increase taxes on luxury goods , including hummers . </t>

the price of vice increases in venezuela<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- nasser al ansari is the ceo of qatari diar , a state-owned real estate investment company . famous for its purchase of london 's chelsea barracks , qatari diar was established in 2004 by the qatar investment authority , to support qatar 's growing economy and to co-ordinate the country 's real estate development priorities . it is now valued at $ 1 billion with 18 projects underway . al ansari is a graduate from the university of miami and was responsible for high profile projects such as new doha international airport and the promotion of private sector investment through public sector privatization . before being appointed as ceo of qatari diar , al ansari was at the office of the first deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs as technical advisor . he joins us on mme to talk about the vision for qatar , how qatari diar fits into it and its investments outside gulf in morocco , sudan , syria , egypt and europe .<doc-sep>with oil prices hitting $ 88 this week , john defterios begins by asking nasser al ansari about the differences he sees now compared to the 1970s when oil prices were also high . any lessons learned ? nasser al ansari : i believe so . in the 1970s , local government here did not deal in a very sophisticated way with this wealth . but now we are fortunate with a high level of education and the reformations in government policies in this region . we now understand how to utilize this wealth and economical growth . jd : i do n't think most people know that you sit on one of the largest natural gas fields in the world and will likely be the largest exporter by 2010 . this must give you great cushion to expand the qatari diar model . na : although we have this and we are fortunate with this , qatar has adopted a policy to diversify its portfolio from its natural resources to other investment opportunities and one of them is qatari diar . we are investing a lot in real estate , not just in qatar but worldwide .<doc-sep>jd : in fact very close in the neighborhood as well . it 's almost foreign policy strategy to invest in the poorer countries in the region . is this to help the neighborhood develop alongside qatar ? na : i think with the knowledge and know-how that we have gained in this area of expertise , we would like to export it to other countries to help their economical reformations ; to try to create business opportunities for their local businessmen and to create job opportunities for the people in that particular country . jd : it 's quite a radical departure say from the international monetary fund or world bank giving loans or grants for development . this is turning the world upside down in your region , it is not ? na : yes , i would like to assure you at qatari diar we are not in the business of lending .<doc-sep>jd : you want a hard return . na : we want return but we always think of the people when we are investing in these countries . i mean we want to make sure that the investment we are making is there for the long-term . qatari diar has a policy : it 's a long-term policy not short-term . jd : give me some insight on why qatari diar feels as comfortable in london with chelsea barracks as in cuba , for example , with some of the projects you 're undertaking . what makes you think you can pull that off ? na : i think with the expertise that we have and with the strength that we have , we would like to showcase the strength of the people of qatar and we want to pull the flag of the state of qatar even across the atlantic and we are determined to do so . we are a small country but with big ideas . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>by . beth stebner . published : . 18:58 est , 13 march 2013 . | . updated : . 19:01 est , 13 march 2013 . a five-organ transplant patient has miraculously given birth to a healthy baby , making her the first reported case in the world . the new mother , fatema al ansari , gave birth to a girl , alkadi alhayal , two weeks ago in miami and has been looked over by hospital staff . six years ago , al ansari , then 19 , was living in qatar and was diagnosed with a blood clot to a major vein to the intestine , causing extreme organ failure . scroll down for video . miracle mother : fatema al ansari of qatar , a five-organ transplant recipient , places her baby alkadi alhayal in a stroller following a news conference at jackson memorial hospital today . proud parents : the mother looks on as dr salih yasin , second from left , adjusts the clothing of her baby , held by her husband khalifa alhayal , right ; dr yasin gave ivf treatments to her . the woman had always wanted a family , and the news of her condition came as a crushing blow . al ansari who was two months pregnant at the time , was forced to terminate the fetus in order to save her life because of her mesenteric thrombosis . also in 2007 , she received a life-saving organ transplant surgery at jackson memorial hospital in miami , and was given a new stomach , large and small intestine , pancreas , and liver . though it was high-risk , she then decided she still wanted to pursue having a family . she knew going into it that a pregnancy could cause an adverse reaction to her transplanted organs . her ob-gyn , dr salih yasin , told cbs miami that she helped al ansari get pregnant through in-vitro fertilisation . ` that she is healthy enough to consider having babies is a miracle by itself , ' he said . survivor : the new mother had her stomach , pancreas , liver , and large and small intestines taken out and replaced in 2007 . though al ansari faced some complications during pregnancy , doctors say that she will be able to have more children . al ansari , now 26 , said at a news conference : ` she is a gift from god and a miracle , ' according to cbs miami . she will remain in the florida city for another week for doctors to monitor her and her baby . then , she and her husband and new baby will head back to their home in qatar . ` it 's the best feeling in the world to be a mother , ' she said at a news conference today . doctors at the hospital said there is no other reported case of a five-organ transplant patient giving birth in the world .<doc-sep>-- january 15 , 2010 : abu ayman , an egyptian militant who is believed to have spent time in afghanistan . -- march 14 , 2010 : jamil nasser abdullah al-ambari , believed to be the leader of al qaeda in southern abyan province . -- july 14 , 2011 : hadi mohammad ali , militant commander in abyan province . -- august 1 , 2011 : naser al-shadadi , leading al qaeda militant . -- september 30 , 2011 : anwar al-awlaki , radical yemeni-american cleric . -- september 30 , 2011 : samir khan , founder of aqap 's english-language magazine inspire . -- october 14 , 2011 : ibrahim al-bana , aqap 's media chief . -- december 23 , 2011 : abdulrahman al-wuhayshi , brother of aqap leader nasser al-wuhayshi . -- march 9 , 2012 : abdulwahhab al-homaiqani , local aqap leader in bayda province . -- march 13 , 2012 : nasser al-zafari , local aqap leader in bayda province . -- april 22 , 2012 : mohammed al-umda , fourth most-wanted al qaeda militant in yemen , who was convicted in 2005 of an attack on the limburg oil tanker in 2002 . -- may 6 , 2012 : fahd al-quso , who was on the fbi 's most-wanted list for his role in the 2000 bombing of the uss cole . -- may 10 , 2012 : `` jallad , '' who was in charge of armaments for aqap fighters .<doc-sep>u.s. and allied airstrikes in iraq and syria are changing the battlefield below . the pentagon sees progress , even if it 's a slog . but there may be unintended consequences of the air campaign -- in a way that will give the west yet another headache . the two most powerful islamist groups in syria -- the islamic state in iraq and syria -lrb- isis -rrb- and al qaeda affiliate jabhat al-nusra -- have spent much of the last year killing each other . but in an interview with cnn , a senior al-nusra commander says the two groups now have a common enemy : the `` crusaders ' coalition . '' abu al-muthana al-ansari , an al-nusra commander in aleppo , said in a skype interview : `` we ca n't fight on the crusaders ' side against a muslim . allah said in the koran that ` those who support them become one of them . ' '' two groups , whose bitter split was a windfall for other rebel groups and for the west , may be making up . al-nusra leader abu muhammad al-julani -- in a rare public declaration -- has described the airstrikes as an assault on islam , and warned the western public : `` this is what will take the battle to the heart of your land , for the muslims will not stand as spectators watching their sons bombed and killed in their lands , while you stay safe in your lands . '' were isis and al-nusra to call a truce or even unite under one banner in the face of u.s. bombardment , the balance of power among rebel groups in syria would change radically . a militant islamist coalition would likely overwhelm more moderate rebel groups -- and pose a greater threat to the regime of syrian president bashar al-assad . against a background of mistrust and brutality , a formal isis-al-nusra alliance does not seem on the table -- but if al-ansari is correct , more `` local understandings '' against syrian regime forces are likely . asked about a recent statement by isis that it would soon extend its presence in southern syria -lrb- the northern provinces of raqqa and deir ez-zor are its strongholds -rrb- , al-ansari welcomed the declaration . `` we support any group that raises the flag of allah and his prophet and fights the infidel alawites , and there is coordination in al-qalamoun -lsb- an area on the syria-lebanon border -rsb- , '' he said . qalamoun has seen heavy clashes between islamist rebel groups and syrian regime militia , supported by the lebanese shiite militia hezbollah . reports from the area sunday spoke of high casualties as al-nusra and isis joined forces against hezbollah . `` there is mutual understanding between us and the brothers in the islamic state not to fight each other and fight the infidel -lsb- al-assad -rsb- regime , '' al-ansari added . isis appears to have reciprocated . it says it has released from jails in raqqa many of the al-nusra commanders and fighters it captured during fighting between the groups . anger over strikes on al-nusra . u.s. officials said the targets in the first strikes on syria last month included buildings west of aleppo belonging to a group called khorasan , an offshoot of al-nusra focused on attacking the west . but at least one senior al-nusra commander , abu yousuf al turki , was reported killed in those strikes in the town of kfar deryan . documents later found in the rubble by jenan moussa , a respected reporter for dubai-based network al aan , suggest that an elite group inside al-nusra known as the wolf unit had been hit . moussa posted photographs of documents with the names of 13 foreign fighters who belonged to the wolf unit , including al turki . cnn can not verify the documents . but al-ansari suggested there was no difference between `` the brothers in khorasan '' and al-nusra , saying `` they are not a separate organization . everyone in al-nusra in syria follows the al qaeda organization . '' whatever debate there may be over the name of the unit targeted , and who was killed , the strikes appear to have hardened the resolve of al-nusra . in his audio message , released five days after the u.s. strikes , al-julani said : `` do not let the west and america take advantage of the injustice of the islamic state upon you ... those who are unable to repulse the islamic state or others , then let them do so without being a partner with the crusader alliance . '' in other words : however bad isis are , do n't take sides with the west . al-julani stopped short of holding out an olive branch to isis . the only way al-nusra could formally join isis is by pledging allegiance to isis leader abu bakr al-baghdadi , thereby declaring its own extinction . al-nusra leaders will also be aware that if western strikes severely degrade isis , al-nusra could fill the void .<doc-sep>but back in the 1960s , most young arab men aspired to a secular modernity . they wanted to be engineers or doctors or lawyers -- and they admired , like nasser did , american culture . i lived in cairo 's upscale suburban community of maadi , about eight miles south of the city on the eastern bank of the nile river . i am startled to realize now that another resident of maadi was the young ayman al-zawahiri . in 1965 , the future doctor and no. 2 leader of al qaeda was attending maadi 's state-run secondary school . he was exactly my age . and like me , al-zawahiri used to watch hollywood films on an outdoor screen at the maadi sports club . al-zawahiri once aspired to a career in public health . his ambitions were the same as most young arab men in the nasser era . even then he was a practicing muslim . and his religious sensibilities did not become politically radicalized until after nasser ordered the execution of the muslim brotherhood 's leader , sayyid qutb , in 1966 . but i would argue that al-zawahiri and other young men would never have taken the road to jihadist terror had it not been for the june 1967 war . sadik al-azm , the yale-educated , syrian philosopher , described nasser 's defeat in the june war as a `` lightning bolt '' and a `` shock '' to the arab ethos . nasser 's humiliation spelled the defeat of the idea of a secular path to arab modernity . nasser 's once powerful notion that the arabic-speaking peoples of the middle east could unite under the banner of a progressive arab nationalist movement was now discredited .

<t> nasser al ansari is ceo of qatari diar , qatar 's state-owned investment group . </t> <t> its global projects are part of nation 's attempt to diversify investment portfolio . </t> <t> investment also aims to bring expertise and jobs to neighboring countries . </t>

face time with nasser al ansari<T>

new york -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- obesity is the no. 1 health crisis in the united states , and the nation could be at risk without immediate action , former president clinton said at cnn 's first fit nation summit . cnn 's dr. sanjay gupta and former president clinton lead the discussion at the first fit nation summit . `` we need to do something about it for our children , and for our country , because something like this could easily collapse our nation if we do n't act now , '' clinton said . clinton and cnn 's chief medical correspondent , dr. sanjay gupta , gathered with experts from across the country wednesday to explore solutions to america 's obesity crisis . two-thirds of adult americans are overweight or obese ; the same is true for one-third of u.s. children , according to the centers for disease control and prevention . obesity carries increased risk of myriad health problems , including hypertension , diabetes , heart disease and arthritis . gupta , clinton and a panel of experts addressed such proposed solutions as healthy school lunches , elimination of trans fats , the need for healthier food in urban communities and the importance of supporting community-based efforts to fight obesity . watch gupta explain the solutions proposed at the fit nation summit ''<doc-sep>clinton , who 's been tackling the obesity issue over the past few years with his alliance for a healthier generation , stressed the need to help educate people about the importance of a healthy diet and exercising together . motivating americans , especially kids , wo n't be easy , clinton said . `` they need to be handled with care . kids need to know it 's important , but -lsb- fitness -rsb- ca n't be boring , '' he said . `` there 's no shame , there 's no embarrassment . we have to let them know it 's all good , but you have to do it . '' michael jacobson , director of the center for science in the public interest and a strong advocate against trans fats in foods , stressed that the food and drug administration should ban trans fats altogether and stop leaving it up to local and state governments . trans fats , at one time , thought to be good fat substitutes , over the years have been shown to raise ldl or bad cholesterol in people and lower their hdl , or good cholesterol . `` they 're just not good for our health , jacobson said . however , dr. robert eckel , former president of the american heart association , warned , `` although we support the removal of trans fats , our biggest concern is what they 'll be replaced with . we need to think about that , because there will be a substitute . '' the panel took questions from an audience of 150 people -- mostly obesity experts or those who work in industries that deal with obesity .<doc-sep>gupta was inspired to launch fit nation , an ongoing , multiplatform , grass-roots initiative against obesity . over the past three years , gupta and the cnn medical unit have crisscrossed the country , asking americans to take charge of their weight by exercising more and eating healthier . this year , gupta traveled from michigan to california asking the public to pledge to add 1 million hours to their collective lives by getting off the couch and exercising . since he began the tour in april , the campaign has surpassed its goal , with exercise pledges close to four times that amount . gupta said he hopes that legislators and administrators who can make a difference in policy and perhaps change attitudes about obesity will hear the solutions discussed at the summit . `` i '' ve covered a lot of stories on obesity , '' gupta said . `` there 's a battle going on , and we need to win the battle . i 've talked to people out there and many are just blasé . `` this is our opportunity to make them care . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>are you in copenhagen ? share your images . u.s. secretary of state hillary clinton said tuesday that washington is ready to do its part to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions , but other countries must play their part as well . `` nearly all of the growth in emissions in the next 20 years will come from the developing world , '' clinton wrote in an opinion piece for the international herald tribune . `` without their participation and commitment , a solution is impossible . ''<doc-sep>a bmi between 18.5 and 24.9 indicates a normal weight ; a bmi between 25 and 29.9 indicates a person is overweight ; and a bmi of 30 or above indicates obesity . there are always exceptions to any rule , but when it comes to predicting obesity-related health risks , bmi is among the strongest predictors , regardless of what critics say . memphis , most obese u.s. city , moving from fat to fit . even when compared with other measures such as waist circumference , waist-to-height-ratio , percent body fat , fat mass index or fat-free mass index , the science shows that bmi is just as good at predicting obesity-related health risks .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- mississippi has kept its u.s. heavyweight title for a fifth straight year , among both adults and children . adult obesity rates went up in 23 states in the past year , a survey shows . the percentage of adults classified as obese went up in 23 states , but mississippi , with 32.5 percent , stayed atop the latest annual rankings by the robert wood johnson foundation and the trust for america 's health . the same survey put the state 's adult obesity rate at 31.7 percent in 2008 . in addition , 44.4 percent of mississippi children ages 10 to 17 are classified as overweight or obese , the study found . doctors have linked obesity to increased risks of a variety of conditions , including diabetes , hypertension , arthritis and heart disease . wednesday 's study found the current u.s. economic slump could worsen the problem by putting more nutritious food out of the reach of struggling families . see a map of obesity in the u.s. ''<doc-sep>statistics show that the prevalence of obesity in the uk has tripled in the past 25 years but the fact it is now so common does not make it satisfactory or healthy . it may seem unfair to criticise what is essentially a very common problem , but day-to-day as a gp i deal with the medical consequences of patients who are overweight . obesity makes a woman four times as likely to suffer with high blood pressure and three times as likely to suffer a heart attack . according to the department of health , obesity costs the nhs a staggering # 5.1 billion a year . i am really concerned by this trend of supposedly empowering women by what has become known as the ` body acceptance movement ' which embraces the notion that fat is fine . while fat may be fine cosmetically , it is not fine for your health . body shape has been hijacked solely as a fashion issue , and as ammunition in the war of cool versus uncool . thus it is perceived as cruel and ` size-ist ' to attack those who are fat . i strongly condemn bullying , whether it be for personal appearance or any other reason , but what worries me is that the real health risks of obesity are being glossed over in an effort not to offend anyone . yet , at the same time , we are running around in circles trying to find the obesity solution in the food and fitness industries , as well as the pharmaceutical and medical fields . while we readily criticise and ban smoking , junk food is still an acceptable vice and overeating is rapidly becoming the biggest eating disorder in the country . indeed , compulsive overeating has recently been recognised in medical literature as a disorder in its own right .

<t> experts gather at cnn 's first fit nation summit to propose obesity solutions . </t> <t> former president clinton : without obesity solution , nation risks `` collapse '' </t> <t> motivating youngsters , removing shame , embarrassment called key . </t> <t> experts : removing trans fats , finding healthy replacements also critical . </t>

clinton : u.s. risks ` collapse ' without obesity solution<T>

durban , south africa -- india 's yuvraj singh smashed six sixes in one over as england crashed out of cricket 's world twenty20 tournament in south africa on wednesday . yuvraj singh smashes his sixth successive six off england fast bowler stuart broad . paul collingwood 's side were eliminated at the super eights stage after south africa earlier beat new zealand by six wickets in durban . england then lost by 18 runs to the singh-inspired indians , who kept their semifinal hopes alive ahead of thursday 's must-win clash with the hosts . singh reached the fastest 50 in twenty20 history , needing just 12 deliveries , as india made 218-4 . the left-hander 's six consecutive sixes in the 19th over bowled by stuart broad made him the first player to do so in twenty20 matches and just the fourth in all senior cricket . south africa 's herschelle gibbs performed the feat at the 50-over world cup in the west indies earlier this year , while sir garfield sobers and ravi shastri achieved it in first-class matches .<doc-sep>singh 's innings ended on 58 -- from 16 balls -- when he hit a full-toss from andrew flintoff to captain collingwood at long-on from the penultimate delivery of the final over , in which he also cleared the boundary ropes once . virender sehwag top-scored with 68 off 52 balls , putting on 136 for the first wicket with gautam gambhir , who hit 58 off 41 deliveries . broad ended with the embarrassing figures of 0-60 off his four overs , while fellow seamer chris tremlett took 2-45 . in reply , england battled gamely but could only post 200-6 in their 20 overs . opener vikram solanki top-scored with 43 off 31 balls , and kevin pietersen hit 39 off 23 deliveries , but no-one could match the fireworks provided by singh . left-arm seamer irfan pathan claimed figures of 3-37 off four overs , while rudra pratap singh took 2-28 .<doc-sep>if india can beat south africa , it would create a three-way tie and require net run-rates to decide the two teams going through . the proteas have two wins from two group e outings after beating new zealand , who have completed their super eights fixtures with two victories and a defeat . south africa restricted the black caps to 153-8 from their 20 overs on wednesday , then reached the target with five deliveries to spare as justin kemp made an unbeaten 89 . kemp was named man of the match after smashing a six off the otherwise economical mark gillespie for the winning runs . he belted six sixes and six fours in his 56-ball innings , having come to the crease in the fourth over with south africa reeling at 17-2 . kemp added 28 in four overs with gibbs -lrb- 19 -rrb- before putting on another 65 in eight overs with mark boucher .<doc-sep>boucher departed for 23 , caught by wicketkeeper brendon mccullum off gillespie , who ended with figures of 2-11 off 3.1 overs . the experienced shaun pollock then joined kemp , and struck one six in his unbeaten 16 off 11 deliveries to help guide the proteas to their second victory . the in-form craig mcmillan top-scored for the kiwis , hitting an unbeaten 48 off only 25 balls to follow up his blistering 57 in tuesday 's five-run win against england . mccullum had put on 68 for the first wicket with lou vincent , scoring 38 before becoming the first of morne morkel 's four victims . morkel , who ended with figures of 4-17 off four overs , then removed ross taylor -lrb- 1 -rrb- two runs later and later bowled the dangerous jacob oram for a quickfire 15 . he had shane bond caught by boucher , and then almost became the first twenty20 bowler to claim five wickets when his penultimate delivery -- which clean bowled gillespie -- was declared a no-ball by umpire billy doctrove . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>a chris gayle masterclass led the west indies to a four-wicket win in the first of three twenty20 internationals against south africa . rilee rossouw 's half-century helped south africa to 165 for four in cape town but it proved insufficient as gayle hammered 77 off 31 balls , with eight sixes and five fours . marlon samuels added 41 and though south africa took it to the last over , the tourists ' victory with four balls to spare was comfortable . chris gayle hit 77 off 31 balls , including eight sixes and five fours , in the west indies ' clash with south africa . the remarkable gayle salutes the crowd after reaching his 50 in cape town . morne van wyk pulled the third ball of the match , sheldon cottrell 's leg-side half-tracker , for six but south africa took only nine from the first two overs . reeza hendricks was trapped plumb lbw by cottrell 's yorker for 12 and van wyk -lrb- 17 -rrb- edged jason holder to chris gayle at slip to leave south africa 33 for two . faf du plessis hit three fours off holder in the eighth over and a four and a six off ashley nurse in the ninth . he then hit andre russell for six and four to move to 38 from 19 balls - only to sky the next straight to mid-off where darren sammy took the catch . the hundred came up in 13 overs and cottrell dropped rossouw at short fine leg before having david miller -lrb- 24 -rrb- caught at deep cover by dwayne bravo . rossouw exacted full punishment by reaching 51 from 40 balls and farhaan behardien added 18 from 12 . cottrell -lrb- two for 33 -rrb- and the economical holder -lrb- one for 20 -rrb- were the pick of the bowlers . gayle sparked the windies ' response with sixes from successive kagiso rabada deliveries , the second a monstrous blast over wide long-on . south africa bowler imran tahir celebrates taking the wicket of dwayne smith on friday . francois du plessis plays a shot off jason holder during the twenty20 match . south africa 's rilee roussow plays a shot off of a dwayne bravo delivery . he added another off kyle abbott and hit the unfortunate rabada for 14 in three balls to move to 33 from 12 balls , having run just a single . dwayne smith got in on the act with back-to-back fours , the first bringing up the 50 partnership in 27 balls . four , six , four and four from successive wayne parnell deliveries took gayle to 53 from 17 balls - the joint-second fastest half-century in t20 internationals , beaten only by yuvraj singh 's 12-ball assault on england in 2007 which included six sixes from one stuart broad over . smith -lrb- 20 -rrb- was dismissed lbw by imran tahir 's first ball , though replays suggested a touch of glove . rabada was warmly applauded after returning with a dot ball against gayle , who then hit back-to-back sixes off tahir before being caught behind off an ill-advised reverse sweep . marlon samuels and bravo kept the run rate ticking until the latter was deceived by parnell 's slower ball and chipped to midwicket , with samuels then bizarrely giving a pad-bat catch to backward point off tahir . russell and ramdin holed out to long leg but kieron pollard finished the job with a boundary .<doc-sep>big hitter : ian bell 's 167 against india took him past 7,000 test runs . england finally clear the rope . bell passed 7,000 with a straight six off ravindra jadeja . it was the first of six sixes england hit during the afternoon -- with bell and debutant jos buttler launching three each -- and the first six they had managed all series . india , by contrast , managed seven sixes in the first two tests . ali knocked out by another bouncer . fast bowlers will have taken note of moeen ali 's latest dismissal , caught at second slip after toe-ending an attempted pull off bhuvneshwar kumar . slowly does it ! moeen ali has fallen to a fast bowler for the third time in this series against india . it 's the third time in the series moeen has been undone by the bouncer , after turning his back at both trent bridge and lord 's , and spooning catches off his glove . lady luck has smiled on batsmen .<doc-sep>over and out : harry gurney is bowled by mohammed shami to wrap up the england innings . it was ridiculously easy for india , with only the paucity of england 's total stopping shikhar dhawn reaching his hundred , too . as it was he smashed a six off harry gurney to finish things off and leave himself three short of his landmark . as for england , surely they must reconsider their approach to one-day cricket ? ` we do n't need to change our approach we just need to get better , ' added cook , who insisted he wanted to remain as one-day captain . ` i 've captained for three-and-a-half years with the goal of trying to win the world cup in australia . i know that sounds far-fetched but there 's a lot of good players in our changing room and if we improve we 've got a chance . we have to believe that . ' it is fast becoming , with just a dead rubber at headingley on friday to come in this series , an even bigger challenge for cook than turning round test cricket . feeling down : steven finn on the floor as india pile on the runs . the joy of six : indian fans celebrate a maximum by rahane -lrb- left -rrb- in the easy win . hitting out : shikhar dhawan pulls the ball to the boundary in his innings of 97 not out . none came , but many more boundaries did . both india openers reached their 50s with sixes , rahane first - sweeping moeen - and then dhawan hoisting anderson high over long on . they were still greedy for more , rahane racing to a 96-ball hundred containing nine fours and four sixes and dhawan finally putting england out of their misery with his fourth six to finish the rout . with every blow , the cheers and jeers in the crowd rose another notch . as in nottingham , though , it was with bat rather than ball that england had once again put themselves in an impossible position .<doc-sep>by . david kent . aaron finch stole the show from the great and good of cricket 's recent past as his unbeaten 181 carried mcc to a seven-wicket victory over the rest of the world in the lord 's bicentenary celebration . australia batsman finch , currently yorkshire 's overseas professional , clubbed 23 fours and six sixes in 145 balls to outshine the likes of sachin tendulkar , brian lara , rahul dravid and adam gilchrist . mcc , owners of the home of cricket , cruised past row 's 293 for seven with 25 deliveries remaining when finch thrashed fellow centurion yuvraj singh for six . brilliant : finch stole the show with a superb display at lord 's . top man : the australian celebrates reaching his centruy in the bicentenary match . legends : sachin tendulkar -lrb- l -rrb- leads an mcc side against shane warne 's rest of the world . thumbs up : kevin pietersen -lrb- r -rrb- acknowledges the crowd during lord 's 200th birthday celebrations . in a spin : tendulkar and warne toss a coin before rest of the world xi started in bat at lord 's . big hitter : aaron finch of australia hit 181 not out to help clinch the game for the mcc . controversy : sky were forced to apologise after andrew strauss -lrb- l -rrb- was overheard making ` inappropriate comments ' about kevin pietersen . benchmark : mcc 's captaintendulkar -lrb- l -rrb- and teammate daniel vettori warm up . birthday celebrations : kevin pietersen and tammin iqbal -lrb- l -rrb- and daniel vettori take the game in good spirits . casualty : brett lee apologises to shane warne after striking him with a delivery that broke his hand . pat on the back : sachin tendulkar with arron finch after dismissing yuvraj singh . behind the lens : adam gilchrist of rest of the world walks out to bat wearing head camera . leather and willow : opening batsman gilchrist hits a shot before being dismissed by ajmal for 29 . on shaky ground : tendulkar congratulates peter siddle -lrb- r -rrb- of and yuvraj singh -lrb- c -rrb- . big hitter ! rest of the world 's yovraj singh scored 132 before being bowled by tendulkar . god of cricket : tendulkar of mcc looks on as his side fields during the bi-centenary game at lord 's . short-lived : pietersen was dismissed by an amjal doorsa as the rest of the world struggled against mcc .

<t> yuvraj singh becomes first player to hit six sixes in an over in twenty20 game . </t> <t> singh hits 58 in 16 deliveries as india beat england by 18 runs in durban . </t> <t> england already eliminated from world twenty20 after south africa beat nz . </t>

singh stuns england with six sixes<T>

jacksonville , florida -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- eduardo gonzalez , a petty officer second class with the u.s. navy , is about to be deployed overseas for a third time . making his deployment even tougher is the fact his wife may not be around when he comes back . mildred and eduardo gonzalez worry about what would happen to their family if she is deported . his wife faces deportation to guatemala -- her home country that she has n't seen since 1989 . he also does n't know what would happen to his young son , eduardo jr. , if that happens . `` i like being in uniform and serving my country , but if she goes back i 'm going to have to give it all up and just get out and take care of my son and get a job , '' he said . `` defending the country that 's trying to kick my family out is a thought that always runs through my mind . '' gonzalez , who works on helicopters that bring cargo , supplies and military personnel in and out of iraq , testified before a house judiciary committee panel last month , detailing his situation and urging officials to consider some sort of policy to deal with cases like his , where military members ' families could be deported while they 're defending their country overseas . watch `` they 're tearing families apart '' '' `` i want to serve my country 100 percent . but with this issue in the back of my mind , i feel i ca n't do that , '' he testified on september 6 . the u.s. military does not have a policy to deal with such cases . each is handled case-by-case , not by the military , but by immigration authorities . the government does n't have numbers on how many military members are in predicaments similar to gonzalez 's . immigration officials also said marrying a u.s. citizen does not mean the spouse is automatically entitled to u.s. citizenship or permanent legal status . lt. col. margaret stock , a member of the u.s. army reserves who teaches immigration law at the u.s. military academy at west point , new york , said she believes there should be an overall policy dealing with the potential deportation of family members of active duty military members . `` you got to understand . when you 're in a combat zone , you need to be focusing all of your energies on fighting the enemy . you ca n't be worried that your loved ones back home could be shipped off to a foreign country where you 're never going to see them again , '' she said . stock also said the government is conflicted about how to treat such cases . on the one hand , the government is supposed to be providing military families with assistance , housing and other forms of benefits while their spouses are overseas . on the other hand , the same government is trying to deport the very same people . `` what 's happening right now is , because of the dysfunction and complexity of our immigration laws , we 've got people fighting overseas who are facing the impossible situation of having family members facing deportation back home , '' she said . in gonzalez 's case , his wife , mildred , came to the united states with her mother in 1989 when she was 5 years old . they were granted political asylum because of their status as war refugees from guatemala . in september 2000 , mildred 's mother applied for legalization and included her daughter in that application . her mother was granted legal status in july 2004 , according to gonzalez . however , six weeks earlier , gonzalez and mildred got married , canceling mildred 's ability to apply for legal status through her mother because she was no longer an unmarried daughter under the age of 21 . as a result , her legal status still remains in jeopardy . a judge in june granted her a one-year extension to remain in the united states . if her legal status does not change by june 8 , 2008 , she will have 60 days to voluntarily leave the country or face deportation . that 's just fine , according to mark krikorian , the executive director of the center for immigration studies , which lobbies for tougher laws on illegal immigration . `` what you 're talking about is amnesty for illegal immigrants who have a relative in the armed forces , and that 's just outrageous , '' he said . `` what we 're talking about here is letting lawbreakers get away with their actions just because they have a relative in the military . ... there 's no justification for that kind of policy . '' gonzalez said that type of response is unjustified . `` i 'm trying to make his country better -- my country better -- and it should be her country too . '' gonzalez himself entered the country legally , crossing the mexican border with his family when he was about 10 . he joined the navy as a so-called `` green-card sailor '' and became a u.s. citizen in july 2005 . the military does accept some immigrants who are n't u.s. citizens . `` i understand the laws have to be followed and guidelines and a system must be maintained , but on the other token , there are times when the situation is just out of their reach , '' gonzalez said . his wife , mildred , added , `` we did n't come here to break the law . we just want to feel safe and have a home just like everybody else . '' u.s. army sgt. emmanuel woko , a member of the army 's 2nd brigade , 1st infantry division who faces his third tour in iraq , understands just how gonzalez and his family feel . his wife and children could be sent back to nigeria . `` my heart is bleeding on the thought that my wife could be deported back to nigeria while i am deployed in iraq , '' he said . `` i am extremely distressed and distracted by the thought . '' that 's a sentiment echoed by gonzalez : `` we are not asking for anything . we are just asking for our families to stay with us . '' e-mail to a friend . cnn 's gregg canes contributed to this report .<doc-sep>deployed dad : the sailor is not allowed to appear by skype or phone , and in custody cases , being absent in court could have a huge effect on the outcome . plan : benita-lynn -lrb- right -rrb- says they have no choice . she 's going to fly back to michigan with kaylee to be in court monday with the possibility the ex-wife will get temporary custody and the sailor wo n't be there to say goodbye . she has a point : he 's protecting the rights of others , but who 's protecting his rights ? benita-lynn said . sailor hindes is not even allowed to appear by skype or phone . there is even a suggestion that his being absent in court could effect on the outcome . hindes is not only facing the possibility of losing custody of his daughter , but also the chance to say goodbye , benita-lynn caoile hindes said to abc news . ` i 'm just trying my best to keep everything together , ' she said . ` it 's just hard . ' kaylee is in washington state with matthew hindes ¿ current wife , benita-lynn hines , while he is deployed . benita-lynn says they have no choice . she 's going to fly back to michigan with kaylee to be in court monday with the possibility the ex-wife will get temporary custody and the sailor wo n't be there to say goodbye . the right choice : it 's hoped that the judge in the case will ensure that kaylee is allowed to live with her stepmother .<doc-sep>hernandez garcia has been living in the u.s. illegally since 1999 , when he traveled from chihuahua with his wife and infant daughter on tourist visas . a father-of-two has been living in a denver church basement for the past six months as he battles to avoid deportation to his native mexico . arturo hernandez garcia , 42 , left his wife and two children and moved into the basement of the first unitarian society of denver in october after officials decided to deport him . the church was able to provide sanctuary because u.s. immigration enforcement officials have a policy of not pursuing ` enforcement actions ' in churches and schools . hernandez garcia has been living in the u.s. illegally since 1999 , when he traveled from chihuahua with his wife and infant daughter on tourist visas , and they stayed . he settled in denver where he and his brother co-own a tile-laying business with six employees . in that time his wife also give birth to another daughter and his girls are now 9 and 15 . but a disagreement on a construction site in 2010 lead to assault changes being brought against him , reports newsweek . hernandez garcia was eventually acquitted of the charges , but they resulted in him showing up on the immigration and customs enforcement 's radar and since then he has been fighting deportation proceedings . after yet another unsuccessful appeal to immigration authorities in august , ice decided to deport him on october 21 , 2014 , the same day he took sanctuary in the first unitarian society of denver 's church . arturo hernandez garcia , 42 , left his wife and two children and moved into the sanctuary of the first unitarian society of denver in october 2014 after officials decided to deport him . before his fight with ice , he and his wife had applied for legal permanent resident visas in 2005 through his father-in-law , who is a u.s. citizen , but because of a backlog it could be 2025 before they receive a decision . though confined to the church , hernandez garcia says he keeps busy . he has painted the walls in the church offices . his family , friends and supporters frequently visit , he says . and when alone , he has a television and radio to keep him company . with help from the american friends service committee and legal counsel , garcia is also trying to get his case re-opened . ' i do n't have a criminal record , i have more than ten years -lsb- in the united states -rsb- , i have kids , ' said garcia . ' i think i have a good case . but the courts say no . ' as of may , garcia could ; under dap , all parents of legal citizen children born on or before november 20 , 2014 are eligible . since october hernandez garcia has been living in the first unitarian church where he has painted the walls and watched tv to keep him company . hernandez garcia hopes his ordeal will help spotlight the legal challenges immigrants continue to face across the country . but getting approved will take months , and garcia is worried that he could be removed from his family and deported in the meantime . on december 2 , garcia 's wife , ana , as well as their two daughters , traveled to washington , d.c. to try to halt his deportation . while there , they met with two officials from the department of homeland security and members of the colorado congressional delegation . representatives diana degette , jared polis and ed perlmutter all signed on to a request for ` stay of removal ' for garcia , and the day after the family returned to denver , garcia 's attorney sent in the paperwork to re-open his case . he has yet to hear back . hernandez garcia says he will claim sanctuary until he knows he will not be deported , he says . he hopes his ordeal will help spotlight the legal challenges immigrants continue to face across the country . on december 2 , garcia 's wife , ana , as well as their two daughters , traveled to washington , d.c. to try to halt his deportation .<doc-sep>bacliff , texas -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- sitting on their front porch in this houston suburb , edmond demiraj and his family seem the picture of a contented family . but the department of justice now wants to upend the family : threatening to deport his wife and 19-year-old son back to their native albania , even though he says federal prosecutors a decade ago promised him help and a green card in exchange for edmond 's promised testimony in a human smuggling case against a fellow albanian immigrant . for the demiraj family , they believe it will mean great harm , even death , for those deported . a decade ago , edmond demiraj -lrb- pronounced : dem-ear-eye -rrb- was himself an illegal immigrant . he told cnn he had walked across the u.s. border from mexico to brownsville , texas without any paperwork . he found work as a painter , he says , with a fellow albanian named bill bedini . not long afterwards , the justice department indicted bedini , accusing him and others of running a human smuggling ring , bringing illegal aliens from mexico into the united states . demiraj was named in the original indictment but charges against him were later dropped . attorneys for the justice department based in houston wanted demiraj to testify against bedini . in exchange , demiraj told cnn that prosecutors promised him and his family protection and promised him a green card , which would lead to citizenship . the offer , he says , was verbal and not on paper . `` i 'm ready to work for the u.s. government , whatever they need from me , '' demiraj told cnn . but bedini entered a plea of not guilty , was granted bail and soon fled to albania , according to the u.s. marshal 's office in houston . federal prosecutors did n't need demiraj 's testimony and handed him over to immigration officials , who quickly deported him as well . within a few weeks back in his native albania , demiraj says , bedini attacked him and tried to kill him . `` i was on my knees and he pointed the gun straight at me , '' demiraj told cnn . `` he shot me . '' demiraj says it was only luck that saved him . neighbors , he said , heard the gunshot and came to his assistance . bedini fled , leaving demiraj with a bullet wound in his side and stomach . demiraj also says bedini forced three nieces into prostitution in italy but they were eventually rescued . demiraj returned once again to the united states , again he says entering illegally at brownsville . this time , immigration agents apprehended him and he says he spent seven months in an immigration jail before being allowed to remain in the united states on temporary status . that was six years ago . almost ever since his return to the united states , he says , federal prosecutors have tried to deport his wife , rodina and son , rediol , back to albania . his two other smaller children were born in texas and are legal residents . `` what do you think will happen to your wife and son if they back to albania , ? '' demiraj was asked . `` oh , they 're going to be killed . they are going to be killed , '' he replied . one federal prosecutor agreed , saying in an appellate court argument that `` there is a possibility that mrs. demiraj will be persecuted '' if she returns to albania . still , she added , `` she -lrb- mrs. demiraj -rrb- has n't met her legal burden when it comes to asylum . '' even despite the dangers for rodina demiraj , the justice department is pursuing deportation . the original assistant u.s. attorney who offered edmond demiraj a green card and , according to him , protection will not comment to cnn . she is marina garcia marmojelo , now nominated by president barack obama to be a federal judge . the only official comment to cnn from justice is this : `` the department is not aware of any promises of physical protection ever made to mr. demiraj or his family . notwithstanding this fact , we have been -lrb- in -rrb- active discussions with counsel for the demiraj family for some time . '' demiraj 's lawyers are outraged . `` this is just a shameful display of how the u.s. government will use people who they need to keep us safe and then cavalierly discard them when they are no longer of use to them , '' said josh rosenkranz , a new york city attorney whose firm is now representing the family . edmond demiraj says he will never let his wife and son return to albania . `` i do n't know what i am going to do , '' he told cnn . `` but i am not going to let them go . '' watch anderson cooper 360 ° weeknights 10pm et . for the latest from ac360 ° click here .<doc-sep>`` he mentioned it to me and a couple other family members , '' she said of the harassment , and said he had first told her about it sometime last year . `` he was frustrated by it , '' she said . she said she had advised him to speak to someone of higher rank , but said she was n't sure if he had done so . `` he went to serve and protect , but he did n't get the protection , '' she said . brown said thursday that he had no information on claims of harassment . asked whether she believed her nephew was killed because of race and sexual orientation , she said , `` in my heart , i do . '' she added , `` it was like an execution-style killing , and nobody does that unless you have that kind of hatred in your heart . '' the navy has one sailor in custody who `` has been linked to the commission of this crime through both physical evidence and his own statement , '' brown said . watch brown talk about the killing as a random act '' he did not identify the sailor , who has not been charged with wrongdoing . it is unclear if the sailor served with provost in the same unit . a second sailor whom authorities initially questioned has since been released , brown said .

<t> sailor 's wife could be deported while he 's overseas . </t> <t> sailor : `` defending the country that 's trying to kick my family out '' is tough . </t> <t> u.s. military does n't have overall policy to handle such situations . </t> <t> wife : `` we just want to feel safe and have a home just like everybody else '' </t>

u.s. sailor : do n't deport my wife<T>

moscow , russia -- zenit saint petersburg have clinched their first russian title in the post-soviet union era with a hard-fought 1-0 victory at ramenskoye on sunday . zenit captain anatoly timoshuk kisses the russian premier league trophy after their victory at ramenskoye . the win means zenit finish top of the table with 61 points , two points ahead of second-placed spartak moscow , who beat city rivals dynamo 2-1 . cksa moscow finished third on 53 points .<doc-sep>zenit went ahead in the 15th minute when radek sirl 's shot from the edge of the box deflected off a ramenskoye defender and beat goalkeeper antonin kinski . after the interval , the hosts poured forward seeking an equalizer and created several chances -- but zenit held firm to secure their first championship since 1984 and make a hero out of dutch coach dick advocaat .<doc-sep>nine-times champions spartak took the lead midway through the first-half . russian international striker roman pavyuchenko netted the opening goal in the 24th minute with a powerful shot from the edge of the six-yard box after a mix - up in the dynamo defence .<doc-sep>brazilian striker soares welliton made it 2-0 seven minutes after halftime , heading home pavlyuchenko 's precise cross . dynamo reduced the arrears in the 71st minute , when spartak midfielder radoslav kovac scored an own goal . meanwhile , rostov and krasnodar were relegated fronm the premier league . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>russian club zenit st petersburg joined europe 's biggest spending clubs of the summer transfer window after splashing out a reported $ 101m to sign brazilian striker hulk and belgian midfielder axel witsel from portuguese clubs porto and benfica . the 26-year-old hulk , who played for brazil during the 2012 olympics , joined zenit on a five-year contract in a transfer deal worth $ 50.7 m , while the 23-year-old witsel signed for a similar fee and length of contract . those two signings pushed zenit 's spending to over $ 132m for the 2012/2013 season just behind english premier league club chelsea -lrb- $ 140m -rrb- and french side paris st germain -lrb- $ 206m -rrb- . fair play ? football clubs seek to beat financial offside trap . hulk , whose full name is givanildo vieira de souza , joined porto in 2008 from tokyo verdy after scoring 54 goals in 103 league matches for the japanese club . following his move to portugal , the brazilian won three league titles with porto , the portuguese cup and super cup as well as the europa league title . `` this is another important victory , another important step in my life , '' hulk , who has played 14 times for brazil , told the zenit website .<doc-sep>`` but i have to say that i ` m thankful to porto for the opportunity to open doors for me in russia . i was very happy in portugal . `` i want to be happy in zenit , and in russia too . i want to work in that direction : to get victories and win many titles , just like it was in porto . '' hulk added : `` at first i wanted to play as number 12 , but i was told that this number belongs to the club 's fans . a friend of mine recommended that i take number 29 . he told me that 's a special number . '' capped 30 times by belgium , witsel joined benfica from standard liege , where he made his professional debut at the age of 17 . both players have been signed in time to play for zenit in the champions league , with the russian club drawn in the same group as malaga , ac milan and anderlecht . zenit are currently top of the russian league with 16 points from seven matches . meanwhile fenerbahce have completed the â # 8m signing of raul meireles from chelsea on a four-year contract .<doc-sep>ajax/roma vs manchester city/schalke . chelsea/zenit vs atletico madrid vs arsenal . benfica/liverpool vs shakhtar/olympiacos . anderlecht/barcelona vs real madrid/porto . semi-final draw . barcelona/anderlecht/real madrid/porto vs benfica/liverpool/shakhtar / olympiacos . man city/schalke/ajax / roma vs chelsea/zenit/atletico / arsenal . the uefa youth league trophy in front of a screen showing the 16 teams left in the competition . liverpool 's jerome sinclair celebrates scoring in their europa league matchday six win over basle . dominic solanke celebrates scoring for chelsea in their youth league win over sporting lisbon . arsenal 's stephy mavididi celebrates scoring in their youth league win over galatasaray on matchday six . city advanced through the group phase with a 100 per cent record , a set of results that included a 6-0 thrashing of bayern munich , and they now take on the german side that finished second to chelsea in group g . the blues finished on level points with schalke , the side who eliminated them last season , and now have home advantage in the last 16 against russian side zenit . arsenal , who came second to anderlecht in their group , face a tricky looking trip to madrid to take on atletico . liverpool , who qualified for the knockout phase thanks to a dramatic win over basle on the final matchday , travel to portugal to take on benfica .<doc-sep>newcastle 's returning french winger hatem ben arfa had the best chance of the match but saw his effort saved while anzhi 's cameroon striker samuel eto'o looked dangerous for the home side . italian outfit lazio took a firm grip of their clash with vfb stuttgart thanks to a 2-0 victory in germany . lazio , riding high in serie a , have a formidable lead to protect back in rome next week after goals from ederson and ogenyi onazi . a late goal from pierre webo put turkish club fenerbahce in control of their tie against viktoria plzen of the czech republic . levante and russian club rubin kazan drew 0-0 in an ill tempered game in spain . cristian ansaldi got his marching orders first for the visitors before michel was dismissed two minutes later . fc basel beat russian side zenit st petersburg 2-0 in the first leg in switzerland . goals from marcelo diaz and alexander frei sealed the win while zenit had carlos luis neto sent off late on . an own goal from cedric carrasso handed benfica a 1-0 win over french side bordeaux in portugal .

<t> zenit saint petersburg clinch the russian premier league title on sunday . </t> <t> they secure the title ahead of spartak moscow after a 1-0 win at ramenskoye . </t> <t> the title success is zenit 's first since 1984 and the first in the post-soviet era . </t>

zenit celebrate russian title win<T>

atlanta , georgia -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- it is an irony of contemporary art-museum management : sometimes the museum that creates an exhibition does n't get to premiere it . in a treatment of a bridgeman art library photo , the high shows visitors jules arnout 's `` view of the grand gallery . '' this is the case this week , as atlanta 's high museum of art couples its public opening of a second year of louvre-fueled shows from paris , france , with an exhibition about influences on the impressionists . `` inspiring impressionism '' is organized by the denver art museum . it opened tuesday at the high , to run there through january 2008 . with the backing of northern trust , the show will then travel to denver february 23 to may 25 , 2008 , and then on to the seattle art museum from june 19 to september 21 , 2008 . why not start in denver ? that museum this fall is host to pieces seen in the first year of the three-year louvre atlanta series of exhibitions . like priceless dominos falling , these shows roll around the country and the world , globalization dictating galas , super-sensitive custom shipping companies probably among the biggest winners . see a gallery of images from ` inspiring impressionism ' at the high museum of art '' another unintended effect may be shadowing of one important outing by another . it should be interesting to learn whether showing `` inspiring impressionism '' at the high on the same time frame as the second year of louvre atlanta pays off . do all the boats in monet 's `` autumn on the seine , argenteuil '' float ? smart museum-goers will see it all . `` the louvre and the ancient world '' and the companion show `` the eye of josephine , '' after all , look at some of the oldest treasures in the louvre 's vast holdings . see a gallery of some of the highlights of the louvre atlanta shows ''<doc-sep>the fit is comfortable , in a way , the impressionist movement of the turn of the last century finding its main proponents in french artists . the emphasis here , however , is on what older works may have moved and motivated such artists as claude monet , pierre-auguste renoir and paul cézanne . one very distinctive connection from the louvre atlanta opener of last year is a section of this new show that looks at the tradition of modern-era artists learning by studying the work of masters at the louvre , bartolomé esteban murillo 's `` the beggar boy '' of around 1650 being one of the most-copied canvases in western art 's modern history . from the outset , visitors to `` inspiring impressionism '' are reminded of the louvre treasures all around them at the high : the impressionism show 's entry gallery is flanked by a handsome photographic treatment of louis jules arnout 's `` view of the grand gallery at the louvre '' from between 1850 and 1870 . in that original painting and color lithograph that followed , arnout captured the bustle of artists working and visitors promenading in the louvre 's chief exhibition space that runs along the seine in paris . in fact , even older-era echoes of this same concept are encountered on looking at louvre atlanta 's `` the tiber '' marble from the first century a.d. , you 're reminded that michelangelo himself was aware of that piece , influenced by it , presumably inspired by it . so a surprise symmetry takes shape at the high this fall , as visitors contemplate dialogues between museums -lrb- the louvre , the high , denver , seattle -rrb- , the viewers of art in europe and the united states , and the artists themselves in france , in the u.s. and elsewhere . high director michael shapiro calls these synchronicities `` visual evidence of connections . '' his colleagues timothy standring of denver and ann dumas of london , england , have held up their end of this conversational eyeful with timely contributions , glimpses of old world craft from titian and velasquez to fragonard and rubens -- and the `` moderns '' who saw beyond them to a new age of aesthetic debate . do n't miss some of the comments and writings of various artists , used as part of the display of the show at the high . degas may have said it most honestly : `` no art is less spontaneous than mine . what i do is the result of refection and the study of the old masters . '' joining northern trust corporation in funding the exhibition are the national endowment for the humanities , and support is also provided by an indemnity from the federal council on the arts and the humanities . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- they were a parisian group of artists that gave birth to the impressionism art movement , so it is perhaps fitting that one of their devotees records the french open with those broad brushstrokes . year after year , joel blanc makes the short pilgrimage from his paris studio to the stade roland garros for the tennis year 's second grand slam , aiming to encapsulate the tournament 's magic onto his canvas . in a style reminiscent of those impressionist forefathers , he brings to life in his paintings what he witnesses taking place in front of him on the famous red clay courts . `` when i begin the painting , i do n't know exactly what will happen but i know what i want to introduce in the beginning . after , it 's a story of life , '' he told cnn 's open court show . `` i know how it begins , but i do n't know how it finishes . '' a key principle of impressionism was to paint outdoors rather than inside a studio , so it 's a style tailor-made to blanc 's own way of working . it 's an approach that has won over tennis stars such as roger federer or rafael nadal -- both fans and owners of the frenchman 's paintings -- or television companies , who invite him to cover sporting events . making his first visit to depict the action on the main court of philippe chatrier in 2004 , blanc has returned every year since , attracted by both the stadium and the french open 's allure and charm . `` roland garros is my favorite place , '' says the 68-year-old . `` it 's very special , it 's near to my studio , i 'm like a neighbor . `` it 's like a fascination in paris , the time of roland garros in paris is very special so there is a real attraction , '' he says . `` i am very proud to be there . '' the painter had to wait some time , however , before that short pilgrimage from his studio could become a reality . in the same way that the original artists of the impressionism movement , established in paris in the 1870s , initially drew criticism for their apparent trivial approach to art , blanc had his own detractors -- his parents .<doc-sep>the wide range of works includes folk art , impressionism and modern art , and potential buyers can search through mediums , prices , subject and style . the online marketplace offers detailed information about the artist , work , provenance and exhibition history . traditionally , works like norman rockwell 's breaking home ties and andy warhol 's portraits would be auctioned off - but now amazon hopes to bring buyers to its website and change the way art is sold . while many galleries and artists will undoubtedly welcome the prominence the website will bring to them , some feel that online market place 's new venture cheapens the art and compromises its integrity . georgina adam of the financial times and the art newspaper said : ` it 's demeaning for a high end artist and also for those at the lower end , ' the bbc reported . ' a unique piece of art is more than just a product . it is a unique creation . ' i think the way it is sold in the amazon way devalues it . '<doc-sep>` classic impressionism performed really well tonight . ' record sale : studie fur improvisation 8 by wassily kandinsky reached $ 23m at auction . officials privately attributed the relatively high percentage of works that failed to sell - nearly one third - chiefly to a single collection whose owner was unwilling to lower the reserve prices in the days leading up to the sale . in all , six lots sold for more than $ 10million -lrb- # 6.2 million -rrb- each . other highlights included miro 's ` peinture -lrb- femme , journal , chien -rrb- , which went for $ 13.75 million -lrb- # 8.6 million -rrb- , and picasso 's ` buste de femme , ' and oil on canvas that at $ 13.1 million -lrb- # 8.2 million -rrb- was one of the few works to beat its pre-sale estimate comfortably . proceeds from the monet sale will benefit a private prep school in tarrytown , new york , which received the work in a bequest . high expectations : nature morte aux tulips by pablo picasso is expected to command a lot of attention . up for sale : andy warhol 's painting of the statue of liberty is up for auction in new york . on thursday , the world 's richest collectors will head two miles north-east across manhattan to sotheby 's impressionist and modern art sale . more than 60 lots there include nine works by picasso , led by paintings of his lover marie-therese walter .<doc-sep>the kunsthal museum 's alarm system went off shortly after 3 a.m. local time on a mid-october morning , alerting the exhibition hall 's private security detail . when security staffers arrived by car , they saw that the paintings were missing , rotterdam police spokesman roland ekkers said . the works belong to a private collection that is being shown for the first time to the public , according to a kunsthal statement . the triton collection has taken 20 years to assemble and includes more than 150 works of modern art from the `` late nineteenth century to the present day . '' it spans art movements from impressionism and expressionism to cubism and constructivism .

<t> `` inspiring impressionism '' looks at old masters , other influences on modern art . </t> <t> featured are works of monet , renoir , cézanne , cassatt , morisot . </t> <t> `` inspiring impressionism '' runs through january 31 , 2008 , at the high museum . </t> <t> denver art museum and seattle art museum get the show next . </t>

a high view of impressionism 's roots<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the man arrested for the videotaped rape of a toddler in las vegas , nevada , will make his initial appearance in court friday , a clark county , nevada , court official told cnn tuesday . authorities have not yet decided if chester arthur stiles will appear in person or via video link . the judge will set a date for the arraignment at that hearing . stiles , 37 , was taken into custody monday night after a henderson , nevada , police officer pulled over the white buick century he was driving . a former girlfriend of stiles ' said that , before the arrest , she lived in fear after going to police to identify the suspect after seeing enhanced photos from the videotape on the local news . `` i 've had my share of nightmares , '' elaine thomas told cnn 's nancy grace . thomas said she screamed when she recognized the photos on television and had no choice but to contact police about the man she had thought was a `` weapons enthusiast '' with only a minor criminal record . watch thomas say how she felt when she saw the photos '' `` how could i not tell them who that man was ? that little girl suffered unimaginable things , and i knew for a fact it was him , '' thomas said . the judge in the case will hold an administrative hearing wednesday , but stiles will not be present , clark county court spokesman michael sommermeyer said . stiles was already being sought on an unrelated 2004 charge of felony lewdness with a child under 14 , sommermeyer said , adding that authorities amended that earlier filing on october 4 to include 20 counts related to the videotaped rape , including sexual assault and attempted sexual assault . jerry t. donohue , the attorney for the girl 's mother , told cnn that the child on the videotape was younger than 3 when the abuse occurred .<doc-sep>henderson police officer mike dye said he pulled over stiles ' car monday night because it did not have a license plate and became suspicious when the driver gave him an expired california driver 's license with a photo that did not look like him . dye said he and another officer , mike gower , questioned stiles until he admitted his identity . `` he finally told us , ` hey , i 'm chester stiles . i 'm the guy you 're looking for , ' '' dye said . `` at that time , he said , ` i 'm sick of running . ' '' dye said stiles was calm and cooperative . stiles , a resident of pahrump , nevada , was turned over to las vegas metropolitan police and booked into the jail in clark county , where he had been sought in connection with the videotape , which shows a girl being sexually assaulted . the girl , who is now 7 , was found last month after a nationwide search . the tape was given to authorities by darren tuck , who told police he had found it in the desert five months before handing it over . because of the delay , during which tuck allegedly showed the tape to others , he faces charges of exhibiting pornography and possession of child pornography . he turned himself in to authorities in nye county , nevada , earlier this month . professionals have evaluated the girl in the videotape since she was found , and she appears to be `` healthy and fine and happy , '' her mother 's attorney said this month .<doc-sep>the mother had not known her daughter had ever been victimized and was apparently oblivious to efforts to find her until late last month , donohue said . `` a family friend called her and said , ` my god , you need to turn on the tv . i believe that is your daughter , ' '' donohue said . donohue said the mother recognized stiles , a former animal trainer . the alleged abuse most likely occurred while the mother -- a single woman working six days a week -- was at work , donohue said . another former girlfriend of stiles ' , tina allen , said this month she thinks she is the reason stiles came in contact with the girl and is `` mortified '' by the allegations against him . `` he said he 'd been in the navy and , you know , i was looking for a strong guy to represent to my sons what i thought they needed to be , '' allen said . allen said she took stiles to a crowded apartment where her son and daughter lived . also living in the apartment were a family friend and her daughter , the alleged assault victim . todd allen , tina allen 's son , said he recognized his old apartment from scenes in the video . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's ed payne contributed to this report .<doc-sep>the toddler was hauled before the court last friday as part of an investigation relating to an incident where residents in his neighborhood clashed with police . a police report alleged the suspects tried to murder officers by throwing stones at them during the raid . the report lodged a complaint against muhammad yassen 's whole family , which included his nine-month-old grandson . sub-inspector kashif ahmed was reportedly suspended for registering the case against the child . the child 's father said the group had been protesting against a shortage of electricity in their area , the times of india reported . nine-month-old pakistan toddler mohammad musa is held by his grandfather muhammad yasin after his court hearing today .<doc-sep>brave : little dominick andujar was said to have tried to save his sister from the rapist when he was stabbed . a six-year-old boy who was killed by an intruder high on marijuana had been trying to save his sister from the attacker , a court heard yesterday . dominick andujar was allegedly stabbed to death by osvaldo rivera , 31 , who was also accused of slashing the throat of the boy 's 12-year-old sister . rivera allegedly slashed the throat of the girl , who has also made an allegation of rape against him following the attack at their home in camden , new jersey , on sunday night . the girl , whose condition in hospital . has been upgraded from critical to stable , suffered a slashed windpipe . rivera , . who admitted in court to having smoked a ` wet ' combination of marijuana . and pcp before the killing , has yet to be charged with sexual assault . the alleged attack wept in court during an appearance on tuesday , where bail was set at $ 5m . during . an interrogation , rivera had asked : ` how bad did i hurt them ? ' assistant prosecutor christine shah said during the hearing . authorities have since interviewed .<doc-sep>by . joel christie . a troubled las vegas teen has been charged as an adult with first-degree murder after allegedly shooting his older brother during a heated discussion in front of their mother . police say clayton bronson , 18 , a dedicated churchgoer and volunteer , was trying to help his younger sibling turner bronson , 15 , get his life back on track when the teen produced a gun and shot him . turner made his first court appearance on friday after being charged with murder , looking exhausted after spending the last week in jail , the new york daily news reported . clayton was scheduled to graduate from sierra vista high school in three weeks and planned to attend the university of nevada , las vegas to study computer science and robotics . turner bronson ,15 , makes an initial appearance in clark county justice court on friday , may 30 , 2014 in las vegas . bronson , who turns 16 on sunday , will be tried as an adult on one murder charge in the shooting death of his brother , 18-year-old clayton .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- panicked as the fbi closed in friday morning , prince georges county executive jack johnson and his wife leslie raced to find a $ 100,000 check for an alleged kickback and flush it down the toilet . with agents knocking at the door , leslie johnson stuffed nearly $ 80,000 in her bra . the dramatic end to an alleged years-long kickback scheme is outlined in detail in an affidavit written by fbi investigator wendy munoz , whose team was monitoring wiretaps . johnson , who has served as the executive of prince georges county since 2002 , was taken into custody along with his wife . the johnsons made a first appearance in federal court late friday in greenbelt , maryland , just outside washington . they were both charged with tampering with evidence and destruction of records . u.s. attorney rod rosenstein stressed the investigation is continuing .

<t> new : suspect 's ex-girlfriend : `` i 've had my share of nightmares '' </t> <t> chester arthur stiles to make his initial court appearance friday . </t> <t> stiles , 37 , arrested following a routine traffic stop . </t> <t> suspect said `` i 'm chester stiles . ... i 'm sick of running , '' according to officer . </t>

alleged toddler rapist makes first court appearance friday<T>

glasgow , scotland -- scottish premier league leaders celtic suffered another setback in their bid for a third successive title after being held 1-1 by managerless hibernian on saturday . david murphy 's goals have earned hibernian four points against the auld firm this season . gordon strachan 's team head the table by three points from glasgow rivals rangers , who have three games in hand ahead of sunday 's trip to aberdeen . visiting hibernian , whose manager john collins surprisingly resigned on thursday citing a lack of financial backing from the edinburgh side 's board , took the lead in the 20th minute through left-back david murphy . the englishman played a one-two with abdessalam benjelloun before crashing a shot from the edge of the box past goalkeeper mark brown and in off the crossbar . murphy 's only other goal this season came in hibs ' 1-0 win at rangers on october 6 . brown did well to keep out merouane zemmama 's audacious shot from just inside the celtic half soon after , and also tipped over brian kerr 's looping header three minutes after half-time . substitute jiri jarosik rescued celtic from a first home spl defeat this season in the 78th minute after being teed up by jan vennegoor of hesselink , who then headed against the post with two minutes to play . hibernian held on despite having to play the final few minutes with 10 men , after benjelloun was stretchered off with their three substitutes already used . the victory lifted the visitors up into fifth place , while celtic have taken just six points from the last five games . strachan , who confirmed he is hoping to sign brazilian defender coelho next month , said : `` we need to cut out the silly mistakes because if you look at some of the goals we have let in away from home this season , they are silly mistakes . `` we could have definitely done something with every one of them . i 'm happy with the number of chance we 've made in the last few weeks , but unhappy with individual mistakes . `` it 's not been great to look at , and we need to cut it out . we have honest lads walking in to the dressing room and saying , ` that was my fault . ' `` i said to them , ` it 's very commendable lads but we ca n't keep doing this . ' there has been a lot going right for us , but one or two things going wrong . we have to deal with that , and then i will look forward to the rest of the season . '' third-placed motherwell missed the chance to move above rangers after being beaten 3-0 at home by falkirk , who climbed to ninth with two goals in the second half to michael higdon and then another from patrick clegg on 65 minutes . fourth-placed dundee united failed to take advantage , losing 2-1 at home to bottom club gretna -- whose only two wins this season have come against the tangerines . kenny deuchar put the visitors ahead in the 12th minute before striker noel hunt leveled on 29 , and nicky deverdics scored the eventual winner for the borders outfit three minutes before half-time . inverness caledonian thistle followed up last weekend 's shock 3-2 victory against celtic by also winning at hearts by the same scoreline . the visitors led through russell duncan after 22 minutes and john rankin made it 2-0 with a 53rd-minute penalty before christophe berra pulled one back on 62 and lithuanian striker andrius velicka leveled from the spot -lrb- 90 -rrb- . however , graham bayne scored a dramatic injury-time winner to lift caley into the top six . in saturday 's other game , second-bottom st mirren drew 0-0 at home to fellow strugglers kilmarnock to be left seven points ahead of gretna . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>kris commons remains a celtic player -- for the time being -- after an expected bid from bolton failed to materialise on monday night . neil lennon had hoped to use the proceeds from the # 1m sale of lee chung-yong to crystal palace to fund the move but with that transfer going to the wire there was insufficient time for him to test the resolve of his former club . kris commons could still leave the club in the summer with bolton manager neil lennon keen . lennon remains keen to be reunited with commons in the championship and will get his wish by agreeing a pre-contract agreement next week unless the player is granted the straight two-year deal he desires with celtic before then . the prospect of celtic moving for barry bannan floundered when he moved from palace to bolton on loan while speculation linking deila with a spectacular swoop for darren fletcher ended when he joined west brom . while armstrong and mackay-steven signed for celtic , former dundee united defender paul dixon , 28 , rejoined the tannadice club from huddersfield . but united failed in a bid to lure their former midfielder scott allan back from hibs .<doc-sep>that 's rubbish : ronnie deila 's new celtic assistant john collins insists he has no problem with scott brown . collins soon led hibs to the league cup and brown left for celtic in a # 4.4 million move in the summer , and the former scotland midfielder has no issues with the club captain . ' i worked with scott at hibs on the training pitch and he was a fantastic professional and an excellent player , ' collins said at celtic 's lennoxtown training ground .<doc-sep>` he ca n't do it until january so that 's not something to worry about just now , ' said the head coach , who only has untried 19-year-old goalkeeper kleton perntreou as back-up . meanwhile , on-loan celtic playmaker dylan mcgeouch insists hibs can use the visit of hearts to launch themselves back into title contention . mcgeouch helped stubbs ' side rack up a 4-0 victory at livingston on saturday that propelled them into the play-off slot for the first time since the opening week of the season . steve bruce is in need of goalkeepers with allan mcgregor and now steve harper injured . stubbs won scottish championship manager of the month , with hibernian in fourth place .<doc-sep>` sadly , because it 's too late , there is now a little bit of common sense being shown . ` it 's clear we do need rangers , hearts and hibs in the top-flight . ` gordon -lrb- strachan -rrb- is doing a fantastic job for the national team , but in the best interest of scottish football we need our big clubs in the top flight . ` with rangers being in the lower divisions there was clearly going to be no scope for an old firm game unless we drew each other in the cups . ` the majority of people , if we do draw each other , can actively look forward to an old firm game and i more than anyone can appreciate that . ` i have great pals who are celtic supporters as well . i 've had boys coming up to me in the street and they are dying for you to get back . celtic supporters , and rangers supporters obviously , who miss the intensity and excitement of that old firm game and the chase for the title . ' the absence of the fixture has also been felt financially . it was what drove the television deal as far as satellite broadcasters were concerned , as witnessed by the subsequent renegotiation . remarkably , the premiership is also without title sponsor for a second season . so , does mccoist feel those most vocal about demoting rangers in 2012 may now regret their stance ? kenny miller -lrb- left -rrb- celebrates with goalscorer lewis macleod as rangers beat st johnstone in the league cup . ` knowing the pig-headedness of some of the people involved , no they wo n't , ' he insisted . ` but let 's be honest , was it for the greater good of scottish football ? of course it was n't . absolutely was n't . ` but we are where we are and things have happened . there is no use in looking back the way because we ca n't change anything . ' the significance of the old firm being drawn together would clearly extend way beyond the hampden pitch -- just ask police scotland -- but ultimately it would be about the two biggest clubs in the country being reunited in a sporting contest .

<t> scottish league leaders celtic held 1-1 at home by managerless hibernian . </t> <t> celtic now lead by three points , having taken just six from last five games . </t> <t> second-placed rangers have three games in hand ahead of trip to aberdeen . </t>

hibs draw hampers celtic title bid<T>

washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- democratic presidential candidates on wednesday criticized president bush 's plan to withdraw roughly 30,000 troops from iraq by next summer , with sen. hillary clinton labeling it `` too little , too late . '' sen. hillary clinton listens as gen. david petraeus testifies before the senate armed services committee . in an open letter to bush , clinton said the troop withdrawal `` is simply too little , too late , and unacceptable to this congress , and to the american people who have made clear their strong desire to bring our troops home , and end this war . '' bush on thursday is expected to endorse the recommendations of gen. david petraeus that the troop levels in iraq be lowered to 130,000 by july , down from the `` surge '' level of 160,000 . `` as commander in chief , you have the authority and ability to greatly accelerate the redeployment of u.s. forces from iraq , and to bring so many more troops home so much faster , '' the new york democrat said . `` i strongly urge you to choose this course of action . '' in an interview wednesday with cnn , one of clinton 's chief rivals for the 2008 nomination , sen. barack obama of illinois , said the president is returning to an earlier , failed policy . `` we now are still in the same position as we essentially were in june 2006 , '' he said . `` we are in the same levels of violence ; we are at the same levels of dysfunctional when it comes to the government in iraq , and the american people at some point have a right to ask from their leadership in washington and from the president : when is enough enough ? '' watch '08 dems weigh in on war in iraq '' obama presented a new plan for iraq on wednesday afternoon in clinton , iowa . it calls for an immediate drawdown of combat operations at a pace of one or two brigades every month , to be completed by the end of next year , according to excerpts released before his speech . a brigade comprises between 3,000 and 5,000 soldiers . obama recommended a new constitutional convention for iraq , a new regional diplomatic effort and steps to confront the country 's humanitarian crisis . `` let me be clear : there is no military solution in iraq , and there never was . the best way to protect our security and to pressure iraq 's leaders to resolve their civil war is to immediately begin to remove our combat troops , '' obama said in his speech . presidential candidate john edwards , who has been pressing congressional democrats to take a more confrontational stance against president bush , called for an immediate withdrawal of 40,000 to 50,000 troops . in a prepared statement , edwards , a democrat from north carolina , said obama , clinton and republican sen. john warner of virginia , who recently called for a withdrawal to begin by christmas , have `` a moral responsibility to use every tool available to them , including a filibuster , to force the president to change course . '' edwards also called obama 's plan for troop withdrawal a copy of the president 's plan . `` sen. obama would withdraw only one to two combat brigades a month between now and the end of next year , '' said edwards , `` which for the next several months could essentially mimic the president 's own plans to withdraw 30,000 troops by next summer . '' in a statement , sen. christopher dodd , d-connecticut , said wednesday that it was useless to debate tactics when `` the underlying policy is a complete failure . '' `` i call on my colleagues to do what needs to be done to end our involvement in this civil war and help restore our national security by clearly and directly declaring that they will not support any iraq measure without a firm , enforceable deadline tied to funding for the completion of redeployment of troops from iraq , '' dodd said . democrats lack the votes in congress to force the president to bring the troops home and are seeking a compromise position . congressional democratic leaders are meeting with republican lawmakers , who want a change in war policy but are unwilling to cut funding or set a timeline for withdrawal . privately , congressional democrats concede that the next president probably will inherit at least a deployment of 100,000 troops in iraq . the democratic presidential candidates , particularly the five in congress , face pressure from liberal groups such as moveon.org demanding that they directly confront the president . obama said it was unlikely he would vote for any legislation that does not include a definite withdrawal deadline . `` you know , we are going to have to evaluate what 's available , but it appears clear to me that the president is not willing to compromise , short of congress forcing him to accept a shorter timetable , and , absent that , we are essentially engaging in a bunch of symbolic action there , '' obama told cnn . `` what we need is a clear message from the congress that it is time for us to change course , and it 's time for us to do that , '' he said . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's john king , dana bash , scott anderson and xuan thai contributed to this report .<doc-sep>`` some said that our drawdown would bring about more violence . well , they were wrong , '' biden said at a gathering of the veterans of foreign wars in indianapolis , indiana . iraqi officials , however , have noted a recent campaign of bombings and shootings in baghdad , where gunmen have attacked traffic police and checkpoints , killing iraqi troops . many iraqis have blamed the recent violence on the current political paralysis , in which quarreling parties have failed to form a government nearly six months after parliamentary elections . the iraqi government had been pushing to increase security ahead of the u.s. drawdown . biden stressed that the changing u.s. role in iraq should be not be viewed as american disengagement . he noted that the administration is largely following former president george w. bush 's plan for a `` long-term '' relationship with baghdad . civilian efforts to promote iraqi stability are ramping up , biden said . but obama is planning a speech on the situation in iraq after he returns to washington from vacation on august 29 , a senior administration source said sunday .<doc-sep>the prime minister said iraqi security forces have proven their ability to provide security across iraq `` which qualifies them to take over full security responsibilities from american forces . '' obama said friday he plans to withdraw most u.s. troops from iraq by the end of august 2010 . watch obama say `` our combat mission will end '' '' between 35,000 and 50,000 troops will remain to help execute a drawdown plan under which all u.s. forces will be out of iraq by december 31 , 2011 . that was a deadline set under an agreement the bush administration signed with the iraqi government last year . `` let me say this as plainly as i can : by august 31 , 2010 , our combat mission in iraq will end , '' obama said in a speech at the marine corps ' camp lejeune , north carolina .<doc-sep>president bush has frequently asked lawmakers -- and the american people -- to withhold judgment on his troop `` surge '' in iraq until the report comes out in september . watch bush criticize the iraqi government '' it is being closely watched on capitol hill , particularly by republicans nervous about the political fallout from an increasingly unpopular war . earlier this month , defense secretary robert gates said he would wait for the report before deciding when a drawdown of the 160,000 u.s. troops in iraq might begin . bush 's speeches wednesday and next week are the latest in a series of attempts by the white house to try to reframe the debate over iraq , as public support for the war continues to sag . a recent cnn/opinion research corporation poll found that almost two-thirds of americans -- 64 percent -- now oppose the iraq war , and 72 percent say that even if petraeus reports progress , it wo n't change their opinion .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- president barack obama will deliver his fourth state of the union address on tuesday , marking his seventh address to a joint session of congress . here are some highlights from past state of the union addresses : . 2012 : obama calls for lower corporate taxes and incentives to u.s. manufacturers to bring overseas jobs back to the u.s. . he challenges congress to act on comprehensive immigration reform and passage of the dream act . he announces he would open up 75 % of potential offshore oil and gas resources . he repeated his longstanding call for the wealthy to pay more in taxes , including a specific proposal for millionaires to have a tax rate of 30 % . the speech was attended by rep. gabrielle giffords , who was recovering from a gunshot wound . 2011 : obama calls for unity in his first state of the union after democrats lost control of the house in the previous year 's midterm elections . although rep. paul ryan gives the official republican response , rep. michele bachmann delivers a tea party response . 2010 : obama criticizes the supreme court for a recent campaign finance ruling that he said `` will open the floodgates for special interests , including foreign corporations , to spend without limit in our elections . '' justice samuel alito is seen on camera shaking his head at the comment and saying , `` not true . '' by the numbers : state of the union . 2009 : obama says he aims to halve the deficit by the end of his first term . he focuses on energy , health care and education . in a lighter moment , obama announces that vice president joe biden would head a `` tough , unprecedented oversight effort '' over the fiscal stimulus plan , `` because nobody messes with joe . '' 2008 : president george w. bush uses his final state of the union address to call for a quick shot in the arm for the economy in `` a period of uncertainty '' and touts progress in the war in iraq . the speech is in large part overshadowed by the presidential race , coming just eight days before the super tuesday primaries . democratic presidential hopefuls obama and hillary clinton attend the speech ; republican candidate john mccain does not . bush 's approval rating is in the low 30s . 2007 : bush addresses a joint session of congress for the first time in which democrats control both chambers , having won them in the previous year 's midterm elections . bush begins his speech by congratulating the first `` madam speaker '' of the house , nancy pelosi . he calls on congress to `` work together '' on a variety of fronts -- including balancing the budget and reforming social security , medicare and medicaid . he also appeals for patience with his recently announced plan to increase troop levels in iraq , despite opposition from many democrats and some members of his own party . bush also puts forth a wish list to extend health insurance coverage , reduce gasoline consumption by 20 % over 10 years , limit greenhouse gas emissions and create a temporary worker program to address illegal immigration . the president addresses iraq largely in the framework of a `` broader struggle '' against terrorism , evoking the september 11 , 2001 , terrorist attacks several times . 8 memorable state of the union moments .

<t> new : john edwards calls for immediate withdrawal of 40,000-50 ,000 troops . </t> <t> sen. hillary clinton says withdrawal of 30,000 troops by july `` too little , too late '' </t> <t> sen. barack obama calls for an immediate start to troop withdrawals . </t>

democratic hopefuls critical of bush drawdown plan for iraq<T>

buenos aires , argentina -- juan roman riquelme scored twice as argentina beat bolivia 3-0 to notch a third successive victory in the south american qualifiers for the 2010 world cup on saturday . juan roman riquelme celebrates after scoring his first goal in argentina 's win against bolivia . the midfielder followed up his brace of spectacular free-kicks in the opening 2-0 victory against chile to help put his country five points clear of second-placed brazil , who play peru in lima on sunday . riquelme again shrugged off his lack of club action with villarreal , where he has fallen out with the spanish side 's management , to net twice in the second spell after sergio aguero gave the home side a first-half lead . the 19-year-old scored his first goal at international level five minutes before the interval after starting in a three-man attack with carlos tevez and lionel messi . he headed home after martin demichelis nodded a cross from manchester united striker tevez back across goal .<doc-sep>riquelme added the second 11 minutes after the break with a dipping free-kick which beat carlos arias from 25 yards , having been superbly denied by the keeper 's one-handed effort shortly beforehand . and he finished off the scoring in the 73rd minute with a cool sidefoot finish after being set up by messi to cap off a match in which captain javier zanetti made a record-breaking 116th appearance for argentina . argentina next travel to colombia on tuesday , when winless bolivia have an away clash with venezuela . in other south american qualifiers , colombia beat venezuela 1-0 , and paraguay routed ecuador 5-1 . ecuador coach luis fernando suarez , a colombian , quit after his team 's loss saying : `` i have taken the irrevocable decision to resign . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>legendary argentina playmaker juan roman riquelme has decided to retire from football at the age of 36 . riquelme ended his career with argentine club argentinos juniors after also playing for the likes of villarreal , barcelona and boca juniors . he was linked with a move to the united states but speaking to sportscentre , riquelme quashed the speculation by announcing his retirement from the game . juan roman riquelme -lrb- centre -rrb- played 51 times for argentina and scored 17 goals for his country . riquelme pictured celebrating boca juniors ' argentina 's league championship , one of five that he won . riquelme waves to supporters as he leaves the pitch during a substitution in a game for boca juniors .<doc-sep>juan roman riquelme has retired from football at the age of 36 . riquelme , pictured with carlos tevez -lrb- l -rrb- and lionel messi , was named argentina player of the year four times . the argentina playmaker will be remembered in europe for his time with barcelona . football 's latest generation of players was also affected by the midfielder 's retirement , with chelsea 's eden hazard posting a message on twitter that said : ` juan roman riquelme thank you for everything ' .<doc-sep>atletico madrid manager diego simeone hailed ` extraordinary ' juan roman riquelme following the argentina playmaker 's retirement from football . the 36-year-old enjoyed a successful career in south america and europe , collecting numerous trophies and individual awards while playing for clubs including barcelona , villarreal and boca juniors before finishing his career at argentinos juniors . simeone , who played with riquelme for the argentina national team , reflected on his team-mate 's career as a supporter rather than a fellow professional by saying : ` riquelme , i wish him well . ` he gave a lot to football , he built an extraordinary career . as a fan , i thank you for all the nights you gave us . '<doc-sep>' i have decided to no longer play football , ' riquelme , who played 51 times for argentina , said . ' i enjoyed football to the maximum . i hope the people have enjoyed it alongside me . i tried to have a good time . ' i tried to give everything i could to fans of boca , argentina , villarreal and barcelona , in the youth teams and the full team . ` from now on my football life ends and a new life starts . let 's see what it holds . ' riquelme 's career saw him win three copa libertadores in as many spells with boca and he was also named argentina 's player of the year four times between 2000-2011 .

<t> argentina beat bolivia 3-0 in south american qualifier for 2010 world cup . </t> <t> juan roman riquelme nets twice as argentina win third successive match . </t> <t> ecuador coach luis fernando suarez quits after 5-1 loss against paraguay . </t>

riquelme 's double lifts argentina<T>

washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- some democrats appear to be wavering on a highly contentious house resolution labeling turkey 's treatment of armenians in world war i as genocide . a kc-135 tanker lands at incirlik air base in southern turkey in 2003 . turkey , a longtime u.s. ally and nato partner , was incensed by the resolution calling the killing of armenians by ottoman turks genocide and threatened to block access to incirlik air base after the resolution passed a house committee vote . the base , in southern turkey near syria , is a major resupply center for u.s. operations in iraq and elsewhere in the mideast and asia . the pentagon is preparing to set up new supply routes for troops in iraq if turkey cuts off u.s. access to the strategically important incirlik , military officials said tuesday . ankara acknowledges the killings of armenians during world war i but vehemently objects to the `` genocide '' label .<doc-sep>the house foreign affairs committee last week adopted the nonbinding resolution . house speaker nancy pelosi said she would bring the measure to a vote of the full house sometime next month . but the bush administration urged congress to drop the issue , and some leading democrats urged pelosi not to bring it to the floor . majority leader steny hoyer signaled tuesday that the vote might be put off . `` i said i thought we would bring this up prior to us leaving here , '' said hoyer of maryland . `` i have not changed on that , although i would be less than candid to say that there are a number of people who are revisiting their own positions . we will have to determine where everybody is . '' democratic rep. ike skelton , the chairman of the house armed services committee , announced his opposition to the resolution last week . and democratic reps. alcee hastings of florida and john tanner of tennessee , both members of the u.s. house delegation to nato , urged pelosi to reconsider in a letter released tuesday . `` more than half of the cargo flown into iraq and afghanistan comes through incirlik air base , and this base would be a key component of any plans for redeployment of our troops in the future , '' they wrote .<doc-sep>lt. gen. carter ham , the director of operations for the joint chiefs of staff , said pentagon planners are looking at `` a broad range of options '' to keep food , fuel and ammunition flowing to u.s. troops in iraq if turkey blocks incirlik . `` we 're confident that we 'll find ways to do that , '' ham told reporters at the pentagon . `` there 's likely to be some increased cost and some other implications for that , and obviously we 'd prefer to maintain the access that we have . '' defense secretary robert gates echoed lawmakers ' concerns last week . `` about 70 percent of all air cargo going into iraq goes through turkey . ... about a third of the fuel that they consume goes through turkey or comes from turkey , '' gates said . he also said that 95 percent of the mine-resistant ambush-protective vehicles , or mraps , being deployed in iraq are flown through turkey . the vehicles are built to withstand roadside bombs . see incirlik 's key location '' the u.s. military issued a `` warning order '' a few days ago to ensure that alternative air crews , planes , fuel and routes are lined up if turkey stops or restricts u.s. access to incirlik , a source said .<doc-sep>jordan and kuwait are among the alternatives the united states is considering . some fear pursuit of the resolution would also embolden the turks to attack kurdish rebels in northern iraq which could further complicate iraqi stability , u.s. officials said . incirlik offers 10,000 - and 9,000-foot runways and 57 hardened aircraft shelters , according globalsecurity.org , a source of background information about military issues . globalsecurity said incirlik has become a hub for cargo shipments to iraq , taking over for rhein-main air base in germany because it is closer to iraq , reducing the strain on troops and aircraft . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's barbara starr and deirdre walsh contributed to this report .<doc-sep>the house foreign affairs committee last week adopted the nonbinding resolution . house speaker nancy pelosi said she would bring the measure to a vote of the full house sometime next month . but the bush administration urged congress to drop the issue , and some leading democrats urged pelosi not to bring it to the floor . majority leader steny hoyer signaled tuesday that the vote might be put off . `` i said i thought we would bring this up prior to us leaving here , '' said hoyer of maryland . `` i have not changed on that , although i would be less than candid to say that there are a number of people who are revisiting their own positions . we will have to determine where everybody is . '' democratic rep. ike skelton , the chairman of the house armed services committee , announced his opposition to the resolution last week . and democratic reps. alcee hastings of florida and john tanner of tennessee , both members of the u.s. house delegation to nato , urged pelosi to reconsider in a letter released tuesday . `` more than half of the cargo flown into iraq and afghanistan comes through incirlik air base , and this base would be a key component of any plans for redeployment of our troops in the future , '' they wrote .<doc-sep>but house democratic leaders said earlier if the foreign affairs committee passed the resolution , they intended to bring it to the house floor . the resolution 's sponsor , rep. adam schiff , d-california , said the measure already had 226 co-sponsors , more than enough votes to pass `` and the most support an armenian genocide resolution has ever received . '' the resolution calls on the president `` to ensure that the foreign policy of the united states reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights , ethnic cleansing and genocide documented in the united states record relating to the armenian genocide , and for other purposes . '' a similar resolution passed the committee by a 40-7 vote two years ago , but it never reached the full house floor . house republican leader john boehner , noting the critical military and strategic alliance with turkey , said bringing the resolution to the floor would be `` totally irresponsible . '' `` let the historians decide what happened 90 years ago , '' boehner said in a written statement . house speaker nancy pelosi and majority leader steny hoyer met with turkish officials in pelosi 's office wednesday morning . hoyer said he and pelosi informed the officials that they support the resolution . hoyer said he told officials that while he considers turkey a strong ally , `` this was about another government at another time . '' `` i believe that our government 's position is clear -- that genocide was perpetrated against the armenian people approximately 90 years ago and during the course of the first world war . and i believe that remembering that , noting that , is important so that we not paper over or allow the ahmadinejads of the next decade or decades to deny a fact , '' hoyer said . the term genocide is defined in dictionary.com as `` the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national , racial , political , or cultural group . '' but the description is hotly disputed in turkey , the predominantly muslim , but modern and secular , pro-western ally of the united states . turks argue that all peoples -- armenians and turks -- suffered during the warfare . but armenians maintain there was an organized genocide by the ottoman turkish authorities , and have been campaigning across the world for official recognition of the genocide . the resolution arrives at a particularly sensitive juncture in u.s.-turkish relations . the united states has urged turkey not to send its troops over the border into northern iraq to fight kurdish separatist rebels , who have launched some cross-border attacks against turkish targets . observers of u.s.-turkish relations have argued the house resolution could make turkey less inclined to use restraint in dealing with its longstanding problems with the kurdistan workers party . `` the united states has a compelling historical and moral reason to recognize the armenian genocide , which cost a million and a half people their lives , '' schiff said . `` but we also have a powerful contemporary reason as well . how can we take effective action against the genocide in darfur if we lack the will to condemn genocide whenever and wherever it occurs ? '' e-mail to a friend . cnn 's deirdre walsh , elise labott and joe sterling contributed to this report .<doc-sep>in march , turkey temporarily withdrew its ambassador to washington in protest , after the house foreign affairs committee narrowly voted in favor of a nonbinding resolution recognizing the armenian genocide . the resolution was subsequently blocked from reaching a vote on the floor of the house of representatives . american officials worry that turkish anger over the genocide resolution could impact us use of the incirlik airbase in southern . turkey , which is a vital logistical hub for troops moving to and from afghanistan . the turkish government has expressed concern in recent days , over reports that outgoing house speaker nancy pelosi may try to bring an armenian genocide resolution to vote in the final days of the current lame-duck congress .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- with tensions rising between the united states and turkey over a resolution that labels the world war i-era massacre of armenians by turkish forces `` genocide , '' many are asking why the house is debating the resolution now . rep. tom lantos says passage of the genocide resolution would help restore america 's moral authority . the house foreign affairs committee voted 27-21 wednesday to approve the nonbinding resolution , which declares that the deportation of nearly 2 million armenians from the ottoman empire between 1915 and 1923 -- resulting in the deaths of 1.5 million -- was `` systematic '' and `` deliberate , '' amounting to `` genocide . '' the democratic leadership has not scheduled a final vote . administration officials have lobbied against the resolution , saying good u.s-turkish relations are vital to u.s. forces in iraq . the pentagon says 70 percent of the military 's cargo heading into iraq either flies into or over turkey .

<t> new : majority leader says a number of dems are `` revisiting their own positions '' </t> <t> turkey is upset about world war i `` genocide '' resolution in congress . </t> <t> house resolution calls killing of armenians `` genocide '' </t> <t> incirlik air base is key point for u.s. military supply of iraq mission . </t>

hoyer : dems ` revisiting positions ' on ` genocide ' resolution<T>

united nations -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the united nations is calling on nato to do more to stop the afghan opium trade after a new survey showed how the drug dominates afghanistan 's economy . afghan villagers tend to opium poppies in taliban-controlled helmand province in april 2007 . the report from the u.n. 's office on drugs and crime shows the export value of this year 's poppy harvest stood at around $ 4 billion , a 29 per cent increase over 2006 . despite afghan security forces ' efforts to curb the trade , 660 tons of heroin and morphine were trafficked out of the country in 2007 , the report said . opium is derived from poppies , and the data on cultivation was collected by examining satellite images and by assessments on the ground . the report said opium has accounted for more than half of afghanistan 's gross domestic product in 2007 . investorwords.com defines gdp as the total market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period of time , usually a calendar year . according to the u.n. survey , about a quarter of the earnings from opium go to farmers . the rest goes to district officials who collect taxes on the crop , to drug traffickers and to the insurgents and warlords who control the trade . antonio maria costa , executive director of the u.n. office on drugs and crime , urged nato to take a more active role in countering the spread of the drug trade , which has increased dramatically since the american-led invasion to remove the hard-line islamist government of the taliban in october 2001 . `` since drugs are funding the insurgency , nato has a self-interest in supporting afghan forces in destroying drug labs , markets and convoys , '' costa said in a written statement to coincide with the release of the survey . `` destroy the drug trade and you cut off the taliban 's main funding source . '' james appathurai , a nato spokesman , said coalition forces were equally concerned by the rapid growth in the narcotics trade . `` we share the u.n. 's concerns , '' appathurai told cnn . `` drugs not only poison people , but they poison economies and governments , and it is in everyone 's interest to stop this proliferation . '' he said nato forces were providing assistance to afghan police through training and transport but he said there were no plans to deploy coalition troops to intervene directly . `` the issue of whether we can do more is certainly a live discussion for nato , but at the moment this is a matter for the afghan government , '' appathurai said . farming of opium poppies has been almost eradicated in the north and west of the country , appathurai said . however , he said , in the lawless southern provinces and especially in the taliban stronghold of helmand , poppy production was going on largely unchecked . according to the report , u.n. observers have noticed a proliferation of heroin labs in neighboring countries and along trafficking routes . costa said the labs are dependent on precursor chemicals , like acetic anhydride , that must be smuggled into the region . he called for tighter controls in chemical-producing countries and stronger intelligence-sharing between afghanistan and its neighbors . `` drug trafficking is a transnational threat , and therefore national initiatives have their limitations , '' the u.n. drug chief said . appathurai said the most effective way to curb the drug trade was tackling the insurgency head-on . he also said it was important to provide alternative work for poor afghan farmers to encourage them to give up opium production . `` you can not have eradication in isolation . if we do n't give them the support to produce alternative crops , then by wiping out their opium fields , you are only creating enemies for the future , '' he said . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>united nations -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the united nations is calling on nato to do more to stop the afghan opium trade after a new survey showed how the drug dominates afghanistan 's economy . afghan villagers tend to opium poppies in taliban-controlled helmand province in april 2007 . the report from the u.n. 's office on drugs and crime shows the export value of this year 's poppy harvest stood at around $ 4 billion , a 29 per cent increase over 2006 . despite afghan security forces ' efforts to curb the trade , 660 tons of heroin and morphine were trafficked out of the country in 2007 , the report said . opium is derived from poppies , and the data on cultivation was collected by examining satellite images and by assessments on the ground . the report said opium has accounted for more than half of afghanistan 's gross domestic product in 2007 . investorwords.com defines gdp as the total market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period of time , usually a calendar year . according to the u.n. survey , about a quarter of the earnings from opium go to farmers . the rest goes to district officials who collect taxes on the crop , to drug traffickers and to the insurgents and warlords who control the trade . antonio maria costa , executive director of the u.n. office on drugs and crime , urged nato to take a more active role in countering the spread of the drug trade , which has increased dramatically since the american-led invasion to remove the hard-line islamist government of the taliban in october 2001 . `` since drugs are funding the insurgency , nato has a self-interest in supporting afghan forces in destroying drug labs , markets and convoys , '' costa said in a written statement to coincide with the release of the survey . `` destroy the drug trade and you cut off the taliban 's main funding source . '' james appathurai , a nato spokesman , said coalition forces were equally concerned by the rapid growth in the narcotics trade . `` we share the u.n. 's concerns , '' appathurai told cnn . `` drugs not only poison people , but they poison economies and governments , and it is in everyone 's interest to stop this proliferation . ''<doc-sep>kabul , afghanistan -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- troops with the nato-led force in afghanistan have seized more than 6,000 pounds of illegal drugs , the force said . troops found more than 5,300 pounds of processed opium , more than 1,000 pounds of wet opium paste , approximately 50 pounds of heroin , and multiple firearms with ammunition were found in the truck , the nato-led international security assistance force said . authorities arrested two people and destroyed most of the drugs , though they kept some narcotics to analyze . the confiscation took place wednesday in southern afghanistan -- in the maiwand district of kandahar province -- after troops stopped a `` suspicious '' truck . afghan opium kills 100,000 people a year worldwide -- more than any other drug -- and the opiate heroin kills five times as many people in nato countries each year than the total number of nato troops killed in combat in afghanistan , a recent u.n. report said . about 15 million people around the world use heroin , opium or morphine , fueling a $ 65 billion market for the drug and also fueling terrorism and insurgencies . the taliban raised $ 450 million to $ 600 million over the past four years by `` taxing '' opium farmers and traffickers , antonio maria costa , head of the u.n. office on drugs and crime , said in a report last autumn . not all the money is going into the pockets of rebels or drug dealers , though . some afghan officials are making money off the trade as well , he said .<doc-sep>he said nato forces were providing assistance to afghan police through training and transport but he said there were no plans to deploy coalition troops to intervene directly . `` the issue of whether we can do more is certainly a live discussion for nato , but at the moment this is a matter for the afghan government , '' appathurai said . farming of opium poppies has been almost eradicated in the north and west of the country , appathurai said . however , he said , in the lawless southern provinces and especially in the taliban stronghold of helmand , poppy production was going on largely unchecked . according to the report , u.n. observers have noticed a proliferation of heroin labs in neighboring countries and along trafficking routes . costa said the labs are dependent on precursor chemicals , like acetic anhydride , that must be smuggled into the region . he called for tighter controls in chemical-producing countries and stronger intelligence-sharing between afghanistan and its neighbors . `` drug trafficking is a transnational threat , and therefore national initiatives have their limitations , '' the u.n. drug chief said . appathurai said the most effective way to curb the drug trade was tackling the insurgency head-on . he also said it was important to provide alternative work for poor afghan farmers to encourage them to give up opium production . `` you can not have eradication in isolation . if we do n't give them the support to produce alternative crops , then by wiping out their opium fields , you are only creating enemies for the future , '' he said . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- afghan opium kills 100,000 people every year worldwide -- more than any other drug -- and the opiate heroin kills five times as many people in nato countries each year than the eight-year total of nato troops killed in afghan combat , the united nations said wednesday . an afghan police officer digs up a field of opium poppies in april . about 15 million people around the world use heroin , opium or morphine , fueling a $ 65 billion market for the drug and also fueling terrorism and insurgencies : the taliban raised $ 450 million to $ 600 million over the past four years by `` taxing '' opium farmers and traffickers , antonio maria costa , head of the u.n. office on drugs and crime , said in a report . not all the money is going into the pockets of rebels or drug dealers ; some afghan officials are making money off the trade as well , he said . `` the afghan drug economy generates several hundred million dollars per year into evil hands : some with black turbans , some with white collars , '' costa said . the latter reference is `` to officials in the afghan administration , federal government of kabul or the provinces or the army or the police , '' costa told cnn 's christiane amanpour . watch costa talk about the problems '' and the problem is spreading , he added . drug money is funding insurgencies in central asia , which has huge energy reserves , costa said . `` the silk route , turned into a heroin route , is carving out a path of death and violence through one of the world 's most strategic yet volatile regions , '' he said . authorities are seizing too little heroin , intercepting only about 20 percent of opiate traffic around the world , according to the u.n. report , `` addiction , crime and insurgency : the transnational threat of afghan opium . '' it comes on the heels of a u.n. warning last month that two years ' worth of opium is effectively `` missing , '' probably stockpiled by the taliban and criminal gangs . more than 12,000 tons of opium , which can be consumed as a narcotic itself or turned into heroin , is unaccounted for , the united nations estimated in september . it is not clear who has it or why , but the united nations speculates that criminals could be holding it as a hedge against falling prices or that insurgents or terrorists could be stockpiling it to fund attacks . the latest report claims to be the first systematic attempt to track where afghan opium ends up . see how afghan heroin reaches europe and the west '' europe and russia together consume just under half of the heroin coming out of afghanistan , the united nations concluded , and iran is by far the single largest consumer of afghan opium . afghanistan is also probably supplying an increasing share of the heroin in china -- perhaps as much as a quarter , the report said . afghanistan is by far the world 's largest producer of opium , although laos , myanmar and latin america produce small quantities , it said . the united nations found that afghanistan may be supplying more heroin to the united states and canada than had been suspected .

<t> study finds opium makes up half of afghanistan 's gross domestic product . </t> <t> agency pushes nato forces to attack skyrocketing problem aggressively . </t> <t> drugs funds insurgency ; poppy trade unchecked in taliban strongholds . </t> <t> u.n. drug chief advocates providing income alternative for poppy farmers . </t>

u.n. urges nato to stop afghan opium trade<T>

mexico city , mexico -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- heavy rains and flooding have forced hundreds of thousands of people from homes in southern mexico 's state of tabasco over the past four days , with nearly as many trapped by the rising waters , state officials said thursday . officials say about 300,000 people are still trapped by the worst flooding in the region for 50 years . the grijalva river pushed over its banks through the state capital of villahermosa on thursday , forcing government workers to evacuate and leaving up to 80 percent of the city flooded , gov. andres granier 's office told cnn . about 700,000 people have seen their homes flooded , with about 300,000 of those still trapped there , granier 's office reported .<doc-sep>one death had been blamed on the floods , which followed weeks of heavy rain in the largely swampy state . tabasco borders guatemala to the south and the gulf of mexico to the north . the associated press reported that thousands of people clung to rooftops , huddled inside waterlogged homes or hunkered down in shelters in an attempt to survive the worst flooding the region has seen in 50 years . weather forecasters predicted more rain in the coming days . the flooding was not related to tropical storm noel , which was pounding the caribbean .<doc-sep>the grijalva river , one of two large waterways ringing villahermosa , has risen 6.5 feet -lrb- 2 meters -rrb- above its `` critical '' level and gushed into the city 's center , according to ap . authorities said some of the rivers were continuing to rise . president felipe calderon visited the area on wednesday and promised the federal government 's full support . non-governmental organizations throughout the country asked people to donate non-perishable goods or cash , ap said . e-mail to a friend . copyright 2007 cnn . all rights reserved.this material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten , or redistributed . associated press contributed to this report .<doc-sep>mexico city , mexico -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- heavy flooding in central mexico in the past week has killed at least 33 people and left thousands homeless , the government said monday . schools remained closed in five cities in mexico 's michoacan state , where the flooding has killed at least 22 people and left more than 3,500 residents homeless , the state government said on its web site . another 83 people still were missing monday in michoacan , a state in western coastal mexico that has been beset by drug violence in the past few years . a mudslide saturday killed at least 11 people near the small town of temascaltepec , in neighboring mexico state .<doc-sep>residents in somerset are bracing themselves for another round of catastrophic flooding after the area 's main river rose to a dangerous level , amid warnings of a ` conveyor belt ' of winter storms . heavy rain has caused the river parrett at burrowbridge , near bridgwater , to rise by a staggering two metres , leaving it just one metre away from bursting its banks . the perilously-high levels caused the water to spill over into dozens of gardens , just 11 months since the last major flooding incident in somerset . it comes less than two weeks after the environment agency finished dredging two of the area 's rivers in an attempt to prevent future flooding . scroll down for video . the rivers in the area , including the river parrett -lrb- pictured -rrb- , rose by a staggering two metres , amid further warnings of localised flooding . the high levels come just six months after the heaviest january rainfall in 250 years forced thousands to flee their homes . the high levels of the main river caused water to spill over into houses and gardens in the area , threatening a repeat of january 's disaster . a car drives through flood water in oath , somerset , as the area braces itself for more catastrophic flooding and days of heavy rainfall . dredging has been taking place since march , as part of a # 5.8 million plan to clear a five-mile stretch of the tone and parrett rivers , in a bid to increase their capacity and reduce the risk of them overflowing during periods of heavy rainfall . the project was started after the heaviest january rainfall for 250 years flooded the somerset levels , forcing thousands of people to flee their homes . but residents were sand-bagging their homes , after forecasters warned heavy rain and fierce winds of up to 70mph could batter the uk - especially the south west . forecasters have warned that a spiralling 3,000-mile diameter weather front , which brought downpours to the uk this morning , will continue to sweep in from the atlantic , bringing wet weather misery and gale-force winds until at least sunday . the bleak-looking forecast has led to severe weather warnings being put in place across large parts of britain , with the south west of england , south wales and parts of ireland expected to suffer the worst .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- heavy rains left thousands stranded in eastern australia on saturday as authorities warned of more flooding and urged several communities to flee to higher ground . about 16,500 people are isolated because of flooding in new south wales , with evacuation orders in place for several communities , the new south wales emergency services said . in the neighboring state of queensland , authorities issued flood warnings for three towns , surat , roma and mitchell , and warned residents living downstream of rivers to move to higher ground . residents of the southwestern queensland town of charleville are hoping that its protective levees will hold back the rising waters . emergency officials ordered evacuations early saturday as they warned that the river was expected to top the levee banks within 12 hours . food and medical supplies have been flown to isolated communities elsewhere in queensland . in new south wales , officials issued natural disaster declarations for several areas . flood waters have started to recede around north moree after five days of major flooding , the new south wales emergency services said , but many of the town 's streets remain closed .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . last updated at 12:17 am on 24th june 2011 . residents of minot , north dakota , fled their homes in panic today as devastating floods from the overflowing souris river left entire neighbourhoods under water . more than 11,000 residents , almost a quarter of the population , have already been forced to flee as waters continue to rise towards historic levels - the biggest floods in the region in four decades . and there were fresh fears today as minot is also home to minuteman iii nuclear missile silos - which are situated directly in the flood 's . path . soldiers and emergency workers piled sandbags and pumps at the sites today in a bid to protect the silos from flooding . last night curt zimbelman , mayor of the town of 41,000 , said : ` we could have a really catastrophic type of event here . we will - there is no doubt about it anymore . i think people have to understand if you were on the edge before you may not be on the edge now . ' scroll down for video . devastating : north dakota is experiencing the worst flooding in four decades as thousands flee in terror . flooding : water flows from lake darling into the souris river about fifteen miles north of minot , north dakota , today . resistance : crews reinforce an earthen levee along the souris river today in minot . the river is expected to rise significantly , creating more havoc for the town . the warning was followed by an . announcement saying : ` all residents must evacuate , zones 1 through 9 , ' prompting the last of nearly 11,000 minot residents to leave their homes . for a second time in a month . robyn whitlow , 27 , who was helping . some residents move the last of their belongings , burst into tears when . the sirens sounded just before 1pm . ' i feel so bad for everybody , ' said mrs whitlow , a minot resident who lives outside the evacuation zone . the souris river , which loops down from canada through north central north dakota , has been bloated by heavy spring snowmelt and rain on both sides of the border . the resulting deluge is expected to dwarf a historic flood of 1969 , when the souris reached 1,555.4 ft above sea level , the associated press reports . the river is expected to hit nearly 1,563 ft this weekend - eventually topping the historical record of 1,558 feet set in 1881 . mr zimbelman warned on wednesday morning that the river would top the levees earlier than expected and said residents still moving their belongings from the evacuation zone should ` do their last-minute thing and be prepared to move quickly . ' safety : residents use a boat to check on their homes in big lake , missouri as thousands flee the area . sandbags : soldiers with the national guard work on a temporary levee in minot , north dakota , on wednesday . the national weather service in bismarck also issued a flash-flood warning along the souris river from burlington through minot and logan to sawyer .

<t> one dead as hundreds of thousands flee rising floodwaters . </t> <t> about 80 percent of the city of villahermosa is under water . </t> <t> tabasco and chiapas states hardest hit . </t> <t> authorities say 700,000 affected and 300,000 still trapped by flooding . </t>

thousands flee flooding in mexico<T>

madrid , spain -- david nalbandian battled back to stun world no. 1 roger federer with a 1-6 6-3 6-3 victory in the final of the madrid masters on sunday . david nalbandian celebrates after upsetting roger federer in the madrid masters final . the argentine , ranked 25th in the world , repeated his 2005 upset win over the swiss star in that year 's season-ending masters cup -- also an indoor event . defending champion federer , playing in his first tournament since winning the u.s. open six weeks ago , made 38 unforced errors . nalbandian became only the third player -- and the second this year after novak djokovic in montreal in august -- to beat the world 's top-three players en route to winning a title .<doc-sep>german legend boris becker was the first to perform the feat 13 years ago . nalbandian ousted second-ranked rafael nadal in the quarterfinals and then serbian djokovic in saturday 's semis . the 25-year-old , who lost in the madrid final in 2004 , claimed his first triumph on the atp tour since may , 2006 , on clay in portugal . he spent a year without a coach , but has revived his career since teaming up with hernan gumy .<doc-sep>`` i 'm extremely contented to beat the world number one , '' nalbandian said . `` roger and i have a long history and i think that influenced the match . `` it was an extremely hard first set . but i tightened the teeth and i began to play more strongly . things came out fine , i played incredible , and that of course that helps . '' federer added : `` he served well , i was quite surprised with how well he served . `` he came back strong and played well in the end . `` he was a better player all in all . i was struggling after the first set to play aggressively , for some reason . he played tough and did n't miss any more . i could n't play way i wanted to . it was a pity , he played a great tournament . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- switzerland have been knocked out of the davis cup by the u.s. after roger federer and stanislas wawrinka lost their doubles match against mike bryan and mardy fish in fribourg on saturday . the swiss pairing went down 4-6 6-3 6-3 6-3 to hand the u.s. an unassailable 3-0 lead which sees jim courier 's team progress to april 's quarterfinals where they will face either france or canada . `` it feels great to win . i know what it 's like to lose and that 's not good . you always want to play with mike , he 's one of the best doubles players ever , '' fish said , afp reported . isner stuns federer . despite the loss , federer remained upbeat about switzerland 's future fortunes in the davis cup . `` it was a tight match . maybe our level dropped a tiny bit , just a game in each set made the difference . i enjoy being with the guys . we will take it tie by tie . it 's not a setback , or a step forward , it 's nothing like that , '' federer said , afp reported . defending champions spain have also reached the last eight for the sixth successive year after securing an unbeatable 3-0 lead over kazakhstan in oviedo . marcel granollers and marc lopez defeated evgeny korolev and yuriy schukin 6-2 , 6-3 , 6-1 to book a quarterfinal match-up against either austria or russia .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- argentina 's david nalbandian and eduardo schwank kept argentina 's davis cup dreams alive after they thrashed spain 's feliciano lopez and fernando verdasco in the doubles rubber 6-4 6-2 6-3 in seville on saturday . trailing 2-0 after friday 's singles matches , argentina had to win saturday 's only rubber to stop spain from claiming their fifth win in the competition . fighting ferrer give spain commanding lead . nalbandian and schwank never looked in any trouble throughout the match , breaking in the fifth game of the first set before racing into a 4-0 lead in the second .<doc-sep>federer must get past germany 's tobias kamke to earn a potentially tricky second round clash with argentina 's david nalbandian . big-hitters juan martin del potro of argentina or czech tomas berdych could also provide federer with tough obstacles in his section of the draw . murray , out of sorts and struggling with injury is drawn to face home hope richard gasquet of france , who beat him at last week 's italian open . the women 's draw has pitted second seed maria sharapova and old rival serena williams in the same quarter and a possible quarterfinal clash .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- roger federer is through to a tenth consecutive australian open semifinal after beating france 's jo-wilfried tsonga in five sets at the rod laver arena on wednesday . the world no. 2 fought off a gutsy challenge from the seventh seed to eventually prevail 7-6 4-6 7-6 3-6 6-3 in three hours 34 minutes to set up a clash with britain 's andy murray on friday . sloane stephens stuns serena williams . `` it was a tough close for sure but whole match was tough , '' federer said . `` you never know what jo is going to come up with ... i feel a bit lucky to come through , but i felt i played some great tennis and it was a pleasure to play against jo tonight because he played great too . ''

<t> david nalbandian won madrid masters after beating top seed roger federer . </t> <t> the argentine triumphed 1-6 6-3 6-3 against the swiss defending champion . </t> <t> he became third man to beat world 's three top players en route to a title . </t>

nalbandian stuns federer in spain<T>

johannesburg , south africa -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- reggae legend lucky dube , one of south africa 's most famous musicians , was killed in an attempted car-jacking as he dropped his children off at a relative 's house , his record label said friday . reggae star lucky dube was much loved by his fellow south africans . dube , 43 , was killed in johannesburg around 8 p.m. local time thursday after someone tried to steal his car , gallo record company said in a statement . police said he was shot . the statement said dube attempted to escape but died almost instantly from his wounds . dube was much loved by his fellow south africans , and his death cast a shadow over festivities ahead of south africa 's highly-anticipated appearance in the rugby world cup final with england this weekend . news of his death was the headline in many friday newspapers , knocking the world cup off the front pages for the first time in days . callers to talk radio stations suggested the springboks wear black armbands in remembrance of dube when they take to the field saturday in paris . gallo records called the death `` senseless and random , '' and it was not clear whether dube 's attackers knew who he was . south africa is one of the most dangerous societies in the world . figures from the south african police service show that from april 2006 to march 2007 , more than 19,000 south africans were murdered , more than 52,600 people were raped , and nearly 13,600 people were carjacked . `` it 's very sad , '' said mark sutherland , london bureau chief for billboard magazine . `` he 's a big loss to the south african music business . -lrb- he was -rrb- one of their most successful artists and certainly one of their leading reggae artists . ''<doc-sep>sutherland said dube was an extremely respected musician who toured extensively around the world . dube had just returned from a tour of the united states that stretched from california to new york . his record company said dube leaves `` a great void '' in the music industry after a 25-year career . dube recorded 22 albums in zulu , english and afrikaans . born outside johannesburg in 1964 , dube was named `` lucky '' by his mother because he was the first child to be born after several failed pregnancies . dube started singing in 1982 , joining a band playing mbaqanga , or traditional zulu music . it was only later that he began recording reggae tracks as a solo singer , but the genre was to dominate and define the remainder of his career . ivor haarburger , the chief exectutive of gallo music group , said he was deeply saddened by the loss . `` lucky was not just an extraordinary artist , he was a personal friend , '' haarburger said . `` it 's so sad to lose such a great friend and so tragically . '' dube is survived by his wife , zanele , and his seven children : bongi , nonkululeko , thokozani , laura , siyanda , philani and three-month old melokuhle . e-mail to a friend . cnn correspondent robin curnow contributed to this report .<doc-sep>johannesburg , south africa -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- reggae legend lucky dube , one of south africa 's most famous musicians , was killed in an attempted car-jacking as he dropped his children off at a relative 's house , his record label said friday . reggae star lucky dube was much loved by his fellow south africans . dube , 43 , was killed in johannesburg around 8 p.m. local time thursday after someone tried to steal his car , gallo record company said in a statement . police said he was shot . the statement said dube attempted to escape but died almost instantly from his wounds . dube was much loved by his fellow south africans , and his death cast a shadow over festivities ahead of south africa 's highly-anticipated appearance in the rugby world cup final with england this weekend . news of his death was the headline in many friday newspapers , knocking the world cup off the front pages for the first time in days . callers to talk radio stations suggested the springboks wear black armbands in remembrance of dube when they take to the field saturday in paris .<doc-sep>has caught more than 30 crime suspects in his three-year career to date . including a car-jacker , a robber who stole a cabbie 's takings and . torched his taxi and , just two weeks ago , a man wanted over an armed . security van raid . he was . also in the thick of 2011 's summer riots , helping bring order to the . region 's streets , and has helped keep order at several english defence . league protests . meanwhile nina has only been operational for a matter of months but has already caught a suspected burglar . damian . added : ` recently nina led lindsay to a burglary suspect who tried to . evade capture by hiding on a flat roof 25ft up and she 's proved . rock-solid during the edl violence in july where she stood her ground in . the face of aggression and missiles . '<doc-sep>johannesburg , south africa -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- reggae legend lucky dube was remembered wednesday as a music icon whose death last week in a carjacking robbed south africa of one of its brightest stars . reggae star lucky dube was much loved by his fellow south africans . about a thousand people packed a memorial service for dube held at johannesburg 's bassline jazz club . another thousand watched the service on large screens outside . `` it 's a sad moment in my life , '' said one fan outside the music venue . `` to many people , he inspired and uplifted their lives . ''<doc-sep>by . helen pow . published : . 12:11 est , 3 january 2013 . | . updated : . 13:01 est , 3 january 2013 . exposed : a scorned ex-lover of reggae artist sean paul , pictured , has written a tell-all book . a scorned ex-lover of grammy award-winning reggae artist sean paul has exposed the star 's alleged ` severe erection problems ' in a tell-all book , as she sues him for $ 80 million . swede , susanne persson , who brags in court documents of having long ` barbie hair ' and an ` e-cup bra ' size , claims paul ` bribed jamaican police ' to have her deported from the country in june 2010 - something which drove her to attempt suicide .

<t> south african reggae legend lucky dube killed in attempted hijacking . </t> <t> dube , 43 , killed thursday in johannesburg after hijacker tried to steal his car . </t> <t> death casts shadow over south africa 's preparations for rugby world cup final . </t>

car jacker kills reggae star<T>

london , england -- milan goalkeeper dida has been cleared to play in next month 's champions league match at shakhtar donetsk after partially winning his appeal to uefa against a two-match ban . dida has had one game of his two-match ban suspended for a year following an appeal to uefa . brazilian dida was also fined 60,000 swiss francs by european football 's ruling body following an incident involving a supporter during the champions clash against celtic in scotland on october 3 . the 34-year-old brazilian was initially banned for two games for his theatrics following a celtic fan 's encroachment onto the pitch during the 2-1 defeat at celtic park . `` following monday 's appeals hearing , dida is suspended for two matches , but one of the matches will now be deferred for a probationary period of one year , '' said a stement on uefa 's web site . dida sits out the home tie against shakhtar on wednesday after an inquiry based on article 5 , paragraph 1 of the uefa disciplinary regulations -lrb- principles of conduct -rrb- , under which `` member associations , clubs , as well as their players , officials and members , shall conduct themselves according to the principles of loyalty , integrity and sportsmanship '' . however , dida will only serve the second match of his ban if he commits a similar offense -- a theatrical over-reaction -- during the next 12 months , freeing him for the trip to ukraine . uefa said that their appeals body `` took note that dida expressed his sincere regrets as regards his conduct during the match . '' ac milan vice-president adriano galliani was satisfied with uefa 's decision . `` i believe it is fair -- i was against the two-game suspension but one seems ok . `` dida has made a mistake but his error did not hinder anyone , not celtic , nor any player , '' said galliani . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>uefa 's control and disciplinary body found celtic guilty of charges of `` lack of organisation and improper conduct of supporters '' , while dida was found to have breached uefa 's `` principles of loyalty , integrity and sportsmanship '' . milan have pledged to appeal against the punishment , which as it stands means he will miss the club 's champions league games against shakhtar donetsk . `` it 's a suspension that is absolutely excessive , '' said milan lawyer leandro cantamessa . `` it seems to us a very , very unbalanced sentence . it turns dida into the protagonist of the incident , whereas the protagonist was someone else , and that 's not right from a logical point of view . '' celtic acted swiftly to punish the 27-year-old supporter , who turned himself in and has since admitted a breach of the peace in court and will be sentenced next month . the club banned the fan for life from all their matches , home and away . celtic chief executive peter lawwell said : `` as a club we feel this penalty is proportionate to the incident in question and a fair outcome . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>brown , who has been passed fit for scotland 's euro 2008 qualifier against italy , said straight after the benfica match : `` he obviously tried to do me as hard as possible . '' it is the second time that uefa has had to intervene following an incident involving celtic this season . ac milan keeper dida was handed a two-match ban , subsequently reduced to one on appeal , after collapsing theatrically when a fan of the scottish club invaded the pitch and lightly slapped the brazilian in the face . celtic were fined $ 50,000 and barred the supporter for life . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>toulon full-back delon armitage has had his 12-week ban for using abusive language reduced to eight on appeal . armitage was found to have directed a foul-mouthed tirade at leicester supporters in the aftermath of toulon 's 25-21 champions cup defeat at welford road on december 7 . a european club rugby statement read : ` an independent appeal committee has today upheld an appeal by delon armitage against the 12-week suspension imposed on him for misconduct . ' toulon 's delon armitage -lrb- left -rrb- has had this 12-week ban reduced to eight weeks following an appeal .<doc-sep>dida and her older sister , claire , survived after the killers launched a grenade . `` she was sleeping in front of me , and her blood was all over over me , and they thought we were both dead . that night she took me to walk , '' dida says . days later on the dangerous journey , dida and claire were apprehended by a group and thrown into a pit of dead bodies . `` a certain day many killers came and the leaders took me and my sister and then they opened a big hole and threw us in . i was asking please forgive us . '' dida says she asked claire whether they were actually dead . the two survived because a friend of dida 's sister paid someone to pull them out . `` someone came and opened up and removed my sister and tried to remove me but because there were many dead they said , ` we leave her here . ' '' dida 's sister saved her life when she offered to take her place . but they could not save everyone . `` the sad thing is that they closed the pit , and they left the other man inside , and he was still alive , '' dida says . this is just a small part of dida 's complicated story . when i asked her how she endured such tragedy and is able to cope today , she says , `` i think it 's an obligation . i have to do something good for my country . ... i ask myself why did i stay , why not my younger sister , why not my brother , and i say maybe god has something that he wants me to do . '' dida is doing plenty these days , including theater , teaching and voice-over work . she is most proud of her performances that draw attention to the problem of violence against girls and says it contributes to her healing . `` there is no paradise on earth . what happened in rwanda can happen anywhere , '' dida says . but dida also is somewhat of an ambassador for her country . `` rwanda is not only about genocide . i think rwanda is about something else , '' she says . `` i think many people when they hear rwanda they link it with genocide , but after 18 years , rwanda is at a certain point . ... we have our culture , we have our history , we have many things . `` we have a developing country . it 's a tourist country . ... it is our history but we also want people to know that rwanda is not all about genocide ; rwanda is something else . ''

<t> milan goalkeeper dida is partially successful against two-match uefa ban . </t> <t> dida misses wednesday 's home champions league tie against shakhtar . </t> <t> second game of ban suspended for one year freeing him for return in ukraine . </t>

dida suspension reduced on appeal<T>

kiev , ukraine -- serbian central defender nemanja vidic has convinced manchester united manager sir alex ferguson that he should play in tuesday 's champions league clash away to dynamo kiev . vidic clashes with roma goalkeeper gianluca curci during the uefa champions league group f match . the former spartak moscow player sat out saturday 's 4-1 victory at aston villa after suffering concussion during the premier league win over wigan immediately before the international break . however , he has made a good recovery and will now partner rio ferdinand in the heart of the united defense . injury-plagued french striker louis saha definitely misses the tie with a long-term knee problem and fellow casualties gary neville and owen hargreaves also stayed behind . england striker wayne rooney , who scored twice against villa and was also on target in england 's euro 2008 defeat against russia in moscow last week , will partner carlos tevez in attack .<doc-sep>a third successive victory after 1-0 wins against sporting lisbon and roma would virtually guarantee united a place in the knock-out stage . united flew to kiev a day earlier than normal , taking their own chefs and dieticians with them . `` the travel is always the biggest worry in these situations , '' said ferguson . `` ukraine is further away than most other journeys around europe . '' senegal defender pape diakhate , guinea forward ismael bangoura and ukraine midfielder taras mykhalyk are expected to return for dynamo , but former tottenham forward serhiy rebrov is an absentee . dynamo warmed up for tuesday night with a 1-0 win over strugglers zakarpattia on saturday in the ukrainian championship .<doc-sep>but kiev are bottom of group f after losing their first two games -- 2-0 at roma and 2-1 at home to sporting . glasgow rangers are without jean-claude darcheville and brahim hemdani for their formidable home clash against barcelona on tuesday . darcheville is still struggling with a hamstring problem while hemdani misses the group e tie in glasgow with a groin problem that kept him out of the weekend 's 3-0 win against celtic . uefa cup favorites bayern munich will probably have to do without midfielder franck ribery for their group game against red star belgrade on thursday . the french international hurt his thigh in saturday 's 2-1 win at bochum that saw bayern extend their lead at the top of the bundesliga . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>on the run : several clubs are interested in vidic 's services on a free transfer . all fine : david moyes has given vidic his blessing and can do nothing to stop other clubs approaching him . details of galatasary 's offer emerged last month following talks with the turkish club , who are using uk-based agent muzzi ozcan to broker the deal . galatasary manager roberto mancini has already confirmed his interest in vidic and the club have already made an initial proposal of # 3million , including up to # 415,000 worth of bonuses , per season after tax . given the interest in vidic , galatasary may need to improve upon the original offer to land the defender next season , with ozcan - who was at the centre of the turkish club 's plan to land john terry last season - still working on the deal . interested : roberto mancini is a fan of vidic and will look to bring him to galatasaray .<doc-sep>by . chris wheeler . follow @@ chriswheelerdm . blood smeared across his face from his nose to his left ear , it was a fitting image to mark nemanja vidic 's last game for manchester united . this is one warrior who was always likely to go out on his shield . the flailing arm from southampton 's rickie lambert was far from the first time vidic has taken one for the team , nor will it be the last as he changes colours and heads for inter milan after more than eight years at old trafford . in a country known for tough defenders , italy is about to inherit one of the toughest . brave : vidic fittingly bowed out with a bloodied nose after united 's draw at southampton . united have had their fair share of them down the years : think gordon mcqueen , kevin moran , steve bruce and jaap stam . the serbian has raised the bar even higher . ` he puts his head where people are scared to put their feet , ' said teammate robin van persie after vidic played his last game at old trafford . ` that 's nemanja . he wants to die for the cause , in a good way . he is very brave , a great player and he 's won everything at manchester united . ' from the moment vidic arrived for # 7million in the 2006 january transfer window , the first signing of the glazer era , it was clear that united had found themselves a true leader -- someone who had captained red star belgrade to the serbian title at a young age before enhancing his fearsome reputation at spartak moscow . flying high : vidic chipped in with more than his fair share of goals for united over the years . there were childhood tales of growing up in uzice , a town one hundred miles from belgrade that was targeted for american and nato bombing raids . united fans embraced the legend , even though heir tribute song to vidic might not be the most politically correct in english football . back then : vidic joined united in january 2006 , signed by sir alex ferguson .<doc-sep>by . david kent . nemanja vidic was given a rousing send-off by manchester united as he said goodbye to the club he 's served for eight years , claiming his heart will always be at old trafford . the central defender was handed a present by sir bobby charlton before ryan giggs ' side played hull city on tuesday night . and even though the 32-year-old started on the bench at old trafford , he did get a run out in his final home game for the reds . scroll down for video . all smiles : nemanja vidic was given a present by sir bobby charlton at old trafford on tuesday night . saying goodbye : the central defender is leaving at the end of the season for pastures new at inter milan . surprise : vidic started on the bench against hull city but came on after an injury to phil jones .<doc-sep>by . mike dawes . javier hernández has been urged to join former manchester united team-mate nemanja vidic at inter milan . new united boss louis van gaal has made it clear hernández is n't in his plans , so much so that the dutchman did n't even want to take the mexican on tour to the us , although he subsequently had to back-pedal and include the forward in the party that travelled to los angeles . the mexican would be a good signing for the milan giants according to vidic , who joined inter in the summer after eight seasons at old trafford . video scroll down to watch javier hernandez scoring against spain with sweet solo strike . hernandez cut a glum figure as he sat on the sidelines watching united face la galaxy . hernandez does n't look to be part of louis van gaal 's plans at old trafford . ` these things are up to clubs , ' vidic told reporters . ` obviously , chicharito will be a good signing for every club and we 'd be glad to have him . ` now we have to focus on this group to get the europa league qualification . it 's not the champions league but it 's a very nice competition with a lot of good european teams . ' nemanja vidic trains with his new team-mates after leaving old trafford this summer . diego simeone is keen on taking hernandez to atletico madrid . however , inter look to have a major rival for the 260-year-old 's signature in atletico madrid . reports in spain suggest diego simeone has urged atlético director of football josé luis pérez caminero to further bolster his squad 's attacking options by bringing in a strike partner for mario mandzukic , and it is understood that hernandez is the chosen one .

<t> nemanja vidic plays in man united 's champions league tie at dynamo kiev . </t> <t> serbian defender sat out 4-1 win at aston villa with after-effects of concussion . </t> <t> united started group campaign with wins against sporting lisbon and roma . </t>

vidic given all-clear to face kiev<T>

-lrb- realsimple.com -rrb- -- why shoes are called `` pumps '' and other strange-but-true stories behind the clothes and accessories you know and love . so , how did the trend for pointed-toe shoes start ? manolo who ? long before they ever made an appearance on the tv show `` sex and the city , '' pointed shoes were favored by polish nobles , who introduced the fashion to england on a diplomatic visit in the 1300s . the shoes , dubbed `` crackowes '' or `` poulaines '' -- after kraków , poland -- were so long that a chain running from the toe to the knee was often required to keep them from dragging . in 1363 the english attempted to rein in the look by law , assigning shoe spans to social classes . commoners could sport footwear with toes of up to six inches , while those in the royal ranks were allowed a full two feet in length . who invented the sports bra ? in 1977 university of vermont student lisa lindahl was running 30 miles a week -- and her bra was n't holding up . with the help of two classmates , lindahl sewed together two jock straps and -- presto ! -- the sports bra was born . the coeds founded the company jogbra a year later , garnering eternal gratitude from exercise-loving women everywhere . almost 40,000 sports bras are now sold annually . real simple : best bras for every figure . is there a real mary jane behind mary jane shoes ? not quite : the most widely held theory is that the single-strapped footwear was named for a character in `` buster brown , '' a children 's comic strip that was popular in the early 1900s . mary jane was either buster brown 's sweetheart or sister , depending on which source you consult . what 's the connection between shakespeare and raincoats ? gabardine , a water-repellent fabric invented by burberry , got its first mention from shakespeare . the bard used the word in the merchant of venice to refer to a coarse cloak worn as protection from storms . during world war i , british officers on the front lines kept warm and dry in a uniform coat made of the material -- the original burberry trench . who was the first person known to have pierced ears ? no one knows who originated the style , but there 's evidence that as early as 2500 b.c. sumerian women wore pierced earrings -- gold half-moon hoops . and guys tired of defending their diamond studs can rest easy : men have been wearing earrings since ancient egypt , where the jewelry was introduced in 1500 b.c. real simple : best way to clean jewelry . what was the inspiration for lilly pulitzer 's colorful printed dresses ? bored palm beach socialite lilly pulitzer opened a juice stand in 1959 to pass the time , but she found one drawback : the citrus concoctions discolored her clothes . she instructed her dressmaker to create a uniform that would camouflage the bright stains , and the `` lilly '' design -- sleeveless cotton shifts in vibrant prints -- was born . the style was an instant hit with customers , who soon began placing more orders for dresses than juice . how did pumps , stilettos , and sneakers get their names ? the term pump first popped up in 1550 in england , where male servants sported the style . it is said that the noise they made while wearing the loose-fitting shoes resembled the sound of a water pump . the word sneaker entered the language in the 1870s ; the rubber soles made the shoes quiet and therefore `` sneaky . '' the modern usage of stiletto , a renaissance-era italian word for an assassin 's narrow-bladed knife , made its debut in 1953 . the word turned out to be especially appropriate , because the shoes ' pointy heels were murder on wooden floors . when did folks start toting around umbrellas ? for thousands of years , in such places as egypt , china , japan , mesopotamia , and india , umbrellas were used exclusively to shade the heads of dignitaries from the broiling sun . -lrb- when it rained , the well-to-do stayed dry in covered carriages and sedan chairs . -rrb- . umbrellas were n't employed in inclement weather until the late 17th and early 18th centuries . and another hundred years passed before advances in manufacturing made them lightweight , portable , and available to average joes . have bikinis always been so popular ? hardly ! named for the nuclear-testing site bikini atoll , the suits first appeared in 1946 , but american women thought them immodest . not until the 1960s were they accepted , possibly helped by the hit song `` itsy bitsy teenie weenie yellow polka dot bikini . '' were french cuffs really created for the battlefield ? it is said that the cuffs were designed to be used as handkerchiefs in combat . but , in fact , french royalty invented the style in the 1500s , when flowing sleeves were the rage ; nobles would tie their sleeves back with fasteners . amusingly , the competitive english tried to take credit for the fashion , which to this day they refer to only as `` double cuffs . '' have women always carried purses ? once upon a time , ladies stored their essentials in a little waist sack tied under their clothing -lrb- sort of an early ancestor of the fanny pack -rrb- and accessible through slits in their skirts . around 1800 , thinner , silkier fabrics and slimmer cuts came into vogue , and women could no longer hide the bulging sacks around their midsections . the solution ? they began carrying their belongings in small pocketbooks instead . why is underwear nicknamed `` drawers '' ? in the 16th century , drawers became a common term for both men 's and women 's underpants . made of linen , the items were no-frills and looked more or less interchangeable -lrb- this being well before victoria ever had a secret ; decorative lace trim started appearing on the garments only in the middle of the 19th century -rrb- . most likely , underwear earned this distinctly unsexy epithet because it describes the way that people put on their unmentionables -- drawing them up and over the lower part of the body . real simple : get your lingerie in order e-mail to a friend . get a free trial issue of real simple - click here ! copyright 2007 time inc. . all rights reserved .<doc-sep>the collection is given a festival feel with beading , tassels , feathers and raffia , jazzing up flatforms , box bags and knotted headbands . swimwear is key to the collection and comes in a 50s silhouette with push up bras and high-waisted briefs , which the brand says aim to enhance an hourglass figure . the menswear , meanwhile , takes inspiration from athleticism and 80 's artwork this summer . boho vibes : with cool tropical prints and raffia totes , the range is perfect for summer holidays and festivals alike -lrb- dress , # 13 , bag , # 9 , earrings , # 1 -rrb- . cover up : there 's plenty of flattering swimsuits and boucle jackets with clashing colours - tipped to be big this season -lrb- jacket , # 15 , swimsuit , # 13 , earrings , # 1 , rings from # 1.50 -rrb- .<doc-sep>tv show undercover boss has caused outrage among viewers after it featured a sports bar where the ceo fired a bartender for refusing to wear just her bikini top on camera and gave a waitress a ` work incentive ' of free implants . sunday night 's episode focused on bikinis sports bar and grill , an establishment which prides itself on waitresses and bartenders who dress in bikini tops , jean shorts and cowboy boots and is a trademarked ` breastaurant ' . ceo doug guller disguised himself to go undercover at one restaurant of his chain which has several locations in texas , oklahoma and north carolina . guller has said that his restaurant focuses on four things - booze , food , sports and sex - and boasted that makes it ` recession-proof ' . scroll down for video . bikinis sports bar and grill ceo doug guller -lrb- left in disguise -rrb- appeared on reality show undercover bosses on sunday night where he assessed the work of his waitresses and bartenders who also must wear bikinis and jean shorts on the job -lrb- right -rrb- . waitress gracie , 23 , won her boss 's approval and was offered free breast implants if she keeps up the good work and enthusiastic attitude for six months .<doc-sep>the mother-of-two showed off her décolletage in a plunging navy jumpsuit , and a waisted bow meant her trim tummy was on full display . unlikely : the racy designs would certainly be a departure from the duchess 's usual conservative style - and since she 's pregnant with her second child , she 'll have to wait a few months to try them on . she accessorized her look with a silver drop necklace , small stud earrings , stacked bracelets and pointed black heels . the pop star mingled with the stunning models who were clad in her racy designs that featured high-waisted knickerbockers , sheer babydoll nightgowns , romantic red camisoles and chic bras .<doc-sep>- by the 2000 's , bikinis became a multi-million pound business annually . and . unlike some ` enhancing ' underwear -lrb- think granny-like beige control . pants -rrb- the bikinis come in fun , fashionable fabrics and designs to keep . you looking fashionable on the sands . the . green bikini top , # 26 , has a polka dot design with gathered sides and a . self tie halter neck and is underwired for additional support . it can be paired with either dotted full cut bikini bottoms with a frilly trimmed waistband or bottoms with self tie fastenings sides , both # 12 . sasha nagalingam , senior swimwear buyer for debenhams says , ` this bikini gets big results -- no surgery required . ` the best thing is women can choose how big or small they want the look to be , meaning there 's an easy way to get any level of cleavage on the beach . ` with over 20 pieces in the range , there 's enough to last women more than a two week holiday in the sun , meaning they can feel confident and happy to bare their beach bods the entire break . ` we see a huge percentage of our a-c cup bras sold have enhancing elements to them , so there was a clear opportunity to offer our swim customers something that makes them feel and look great on the beach as well as in the bedroom . '

<t> polish diplomats brought pointed shoes to britain in 1300s . </t> <t> a female runner sewed two jock straps together for first sports bra . </t> <t> men wore earrings in egypt in 1500s . </t>

truth of earrings , bikinis and sports bras<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- federal emergency management agency officials know the agency 's performance in the california wildfires will be watched closely for comparisons to its failures in hurricane katrina . a volunteer distributes donated food and supplies to evacueestuesday at san diego 's qualcomm stadium . fema director david paulison promised on tuesday `` a different type of response than the federal government put together for katrina . '' paulison said katrina `` was a wake-up call '' and that `` this is a new fema . '' president bush signed a federal disaster declaration wednesday , freeing up federal funds for families affected by the wildfires in seven counties in southern california . `` i will continue to make sure that our efforts are coordinated , that we are responding to the needs of people , but most importantly i want the people in southern california to know that americans all across this land care deeply about them , '' he said . the action follows an emergency declaration by bush on tuesday morning for the counties of los angeles , orange , riverside , san bernardino , san diego , santa barbara , and ventura . he said he 's `` looking forward '' to his visit to the region on thursday . according to a statement from the white house , the federal disaster declaration will allow for federal aid that `` can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs , low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses , and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster . '' fema and other relief and rescue services face significantly different challenges in the fire zone than they did on the gulf coast in 2005 . for example , the fires are n't covering every square foot of the region , as katrina did . the devastation in california is intense but not universal . during and immediately after katrina , the destruction was so complete that relief personnel and supplies -- even the u.s. army -- could not get within miles of the disaster 's epicenter , new orleans ' lower ninth ward , for several days . by contrast , roads in southern california have remained open for residents to get out and help to get in without delay . residents there are generally more affluent and are able to use their own vehicles to escape , whereas many of katrina 's victims were poor and had no means of transportation . victims in california are not stranded on rooftops without food or drinkable water , but are able travel the relatively short distances to safe places . one of those safe places is san diego 's qualcomm stadium , which is not endangered by the fires . fema and other relief agencies are able to stage supplies and meet victims ' needs in an organized way . new orleans ' superdome , on the other hand , sitting in the center of the disaster zone , was severely damaged by hurricane winds and threatened by rising water . what had been a shelter devolved into a trap . katrina also wiped out the gulf coast 's communications infrastructure , crippling the coordination of relief efforts -- even for the military . homeland security secretary michael chertoff acknowledged tuesday that the government 's response machinery had benefited from the katrina experience . `` i think there 's no question that -lsb- there were -rsb- a couple of the lessons from katrina which we have put into effect here , '' chertoff said . `` first of all , planning and preparation in advance for these kinds of challenges , so that we have worked together and planned together with the defense department and with state authorities well in advance of the crisis . that 's been a big help here , '' chertoff said . `` second , we have really flooded the zone as quickly as possible by staging assets to deal both with the firefighting issue and with the response issue , '' chertoff said . chertoff said federal officials began discussing over the weekend the need to have fema ready , `` and as we saw the evacuation issue becoming more prominent , and the number of people seeking shelter becoming more prominent , we sprang into action yesterday . `` so we 've been monitoring the situation continuously . the president 's been on top of it . we 've been on top of it . and we 're going to continue to stay ahead of this as far as we can . '' chertoff said tuesday that he had n't waited for the paperwork to be signed before staging assistance . `` we have been moving cots , blankets , other supplies into the area of san diego so that we can handle any necessity for additional sheltering capacity , '' he said . `` we 've also moved air assets to be poised to take flight when we do have the opportunity to deal with the fire , once the winds begin to die down . '' people left homeless by the fires can already go online to apply for federal help at www.fema.gov , paulison said . watch paulison discuss the `` new fema '' '' he denied suggestions similar to those made in the aftermath of katrina that the federal response was hampered because national guard equipment was in short supply because of the iraq war . `` i just have n't seen that , '' he said . the u.s. military has sent aircraft to help fight the fires , including 11 defense department helicopters equipped with water buckets and six c-130 aircraft able to drop water and flame retardant . more than 17,000 national guardsmen have been made available ; 550 marines were ready for deployment from camp pendleton , north of san diego ; and 12 defense department firefighting teams , were engaged . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>new orleans , louisiana -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- fema gave away about $ 85 million in household goods meant for hurricane katrina victims , a cnn investigation has found . these items , stored by fema , were meant for katrina victims but were given to state and federal agencies . the material , from basic kitchen goods to sleeping necessities , sat in warehouses for two years before the federal emergency management agency 's giveaway to federal and state agencies this year . james mcintyre , fema 's acting press secretary , said that fema was spending more than $ 1 million a year to store the material and that another agency wanted the warehouses torn down , so `` we needed to vacate them . '' `` upon review of our assets and our need to continue to store them , we determined that they were excess to fema 's needs ; therefore , they are being excessed from fema 's inventory , '' mcintyre wrote in an e-mail . he declined a request for an on-camera interview , telling cnn the giveaway was `` not news . '' photos from one of the facilities in fort worth , texas , show pallet after pallet of cots , cleansers , first-aid kits , coffee makers , camp stoves and other items stacked to the ceiling . watch dismay over `` out of touch '' fema '' fema said some of the items were donations from companies after katrina , but most were purchased in the field as `` starter kits '' for people living in trailers provided by the agency . and even though the stocks were offered to state agencies after fema decided to get rid of them , one of the states that passed was louisiana .<doc-sep>seven years after a disastrous response to hurricane katrina , the federal emergency management agency is winning praise for how it 's dealing with superstorm sandy . `` this is the all-new fema , and the leadership is very , very good , very focused , '' said dr. irwin redlener , a pediatrician and director of the national center for disaster preparedness at columbia university 's mailman school of public health . `` they 're doing an excellent job . '' score one for fema 's attempts to come back from its infamous failure after katrina struck the gulf coast in august 2005 . but the post-sandy reviews for fema are n't all moonlight and roses . as secretary of homeland security janet napolitano -- whose department oversees fema -- is expected to visit the region friday , many survivors in hard-hit places are angry . more than three days after the storm , they 're mad about the lack of electricity , lack of information and the lack of gasoline to run generators . what 's going on , said fema administrator craig fugate , is part of a priority system . search-and-rescue operations take priority over providing assistance , and searches are still going on , fugate told cnn 's erin burnett on thursday night . assistance for survivors `` is being made , '' he said , `` but we have n't reached everybody . until we do , we 're not stopping . '' however , fema has `` been starting to get emergency fuels in for the generators and for the responders , '' fugate added . in 2005 , fema 's slow and disengaged response was a major embarrassment for the george w. bush administration , particularly when top officials admitted they were unaware of thousands of people stranded at a convention center in new orleans without food and water , days after the storm hit . to be fair , the two storms were very different . katrina hit louisiana with much more force , and the population of the northeast u.s. eclipses katrina 's target area . after katrina , a senate investigation found that fema was shorthanded , failed to commit enough people to prepare for the oncoming storm , did n't have enough supplies in position and had poor communication with state and local authorities . its director at the time , michael brown , had little emergency management experience before being named to the agency 's top job in 2003 . by contrast , fugate came to washington after eight years as emergency management director in florida , where he dealt with several hurricanes . one of the post-katrina reforms passed by congress was to require that fema administrator have an experienced chief , said bruce lockwood , an officer with the u.s. council of the international association of emergency managers . `` it could n't be just a political appointee , '' lockwood said . `` it had to be somebody who had a practitioner background in emergency management or public safety field . it had to be somebody who knew what they were doing before they got into that position . '' even in the highly charged political environment days before the u.s. elections , fema has won plaudits from governors of both parties . new jersey 's chris christie -- a republican whose state bore the brunt of the storm -- told cbs news on tuesday that `` cooperation has been great with fema here on the ground , '' while delaware 's jack markell -- a democrat -- told cnn that people in his state have been `` really , really impressed by the response of fema . '' ` leaning forward ' the agency is now aimed at `` leaning forward , '' moving supplies like food , water , generators , blankets and cots into an expected disaster zone ahead of time , said lockwood , the deputy emergency management director in new hartford , connecticut . `` before , they would have to wait for a call from a state before they started moving material , '' he said . they still need a request from a state to distribute those supplies , but `` they have things on the ready in a very immediate location . '' in new york , for example , fema has publicized assistance , including rental payments for those whose homes are uninhabitable . individuals can apply for grants for home repairs and to meet disaster-related needs . money also is available for construction of a home . fema set up online pages for connecticut , new york and new jersey storm victims . but not everyone is happy with the sandy response by governments . staten island borough president james molinaro said thursday that residents did not receive timely information on how to get food , shelter and tools for putting their lives back together . `` there was no one there to answer these questions , '' molinaro said . `` i need answers , and the people need answers . '' on friday , napolitano is expected to visit staten island with fema deputy administrator richard serino to meet with state and local officials about response and recovery . ten buses stocked with needed goods were transported to the island thursday , and fema has promised to have a team working with molinaro on the ground friday , he said . the 2,200 people fema says it has poured into dealing with sandy are about as many as it had on its entire payroll at the time of katrina . the agency also has improved ties with its state and local counterparts as well as other arms of the federal government , said redlener , the columbia university disaster preparedness center director . in addition , fugate `` has been able to attract staff back into the agency , and they have a very competent midlevel management layer to help organize efforts , '' redlener said . `` they 're still probably underfunded , but their staffing is much , much better , '' he said . fema 's current budget is about $ 7 billion . for sandy , the agency said nine task forces were supporting local search-and-rescue operations . fema mobile units are providing logistics support for response efforts . `` community relations teams are on the ground in the hardest-hit areas of the mid-atlantic going door-to-door to inform disaster survivors about available services and resources and to gather situational awareness , '' fema said in a statement issued wednesday . lessons learned . by comparison , at the time of katrina , fema had manpower and planning problems and confusion about the roles of officials in responding to disasters , according to a 2006 report by the department of homeland security 's inspector general . the report said that with the destruction of communications infrastructure , it took fema officials about three days after katrina 's landfall to grasp the magnitude of the hurricane 's destruction . the report cited shortcomings with delivering housing and being prepared to conduct a massive search-and-rescue function . the katrina report , which made 38 recommendations , said fema needed to improve the tracking of supplies . the experts said it appears that lessons have been learned . lockwood said fugate 's philosophy has been that fema `` is not the team -- they are part of the team . '' `` that 's one of the biggest things that has come out post-katrina , '' he said . `` there is a cooperative relationship now between local , state and federal agencies to meet the need and fill the gaps . '' fema 's recent performance also won high marks from a former chief , james lee witt , who led the agency during the clinton administration . `` i think the most important thing that fema has already done is to have people in the emergency operation centers , and the prestaged equipment , and following whatever resources the states are going to need to start the process of recovery , '' witt told cnn 's `` starting point . '' sandy hit the new jersey coastline monday night with 80 mph winds at its center , but it spread destruction across a broad swath of the eastern united states . the storm smashed beach resorts on the jersey shore and flooded manhattan subway tunnels , felled trees as far south as north carolina , dumped heavy snow on the highlands of west virginia and sent debris flying through the streets of toronto .<doc-sep>new orleans , louisiana -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- fema gave away about $ 85 million in household goods meant for hurricane katrina victims , a cnn investigation has found . these items , stored by fema , were meant for katrina victims but were given to state and federal agencies . the material , from basic kitchen goods to sleeping necessities , sat in warehouses for two years before the federal emergency management agency 's giveaway to federal and state agencies this year . james mcintyre , fema 's acting press secretary , said that fema was spending more than $ 1 million a year to store the material and that another agency wanted the warehouses torn down , so `` we needed to vacate them . '' `` upon review of our assets and our need to continue to store them , we determined that they were excess to fema 's needs ; therefore , they are being excessed from fema 's inventory , '' mcintyre wrote in an e-mail . he declined a request for an on-camera interview , telling cnn the giveaway was `` not news . '' photos from one of the facilities in fort worth , texas , show pallet after pallet of cots , cleansers , first-aid kits , coffee makers , camp stoves and other items stacked to the ceiling . watch dismay over `` out of touch '' fema '' fema said some of the items were donations from companies after katrina , but most were purchased in the field as `` starter kits '' for people living in trailers provided by the agency . and even though the stocks were offered to state agencies after fema decided to get rid of them , one of the states that passed was louisiana . martha kegel , the head of a new orleans nonprofit agency that helps find homes for those still displaced by the storm , said she was shocked to learn about the existence of the goods and the government giveaway . `` these are exactly the items that we are desperately seeking donations of right now : basic kitchen household supplies , '' said kegel , executive director of unity of greater new orleans . `` these are the very things that we are seeking right now . fema , in fact , refers homeless clients to us to house them . how can we house them if we do n't have basic supplies ? '' watch the great fema giveaway ''<doc-sep>boulder , colorado -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the media have begun to make comparisons between hurricane katrina and the earthquake in haiti . and in some ways , the two events are comparable . like katrina , the earthquake has produced effects of catastrophic proportions . both events rank among the largest catastrophes ever experienced in the western hemisphere . they both have resulted in large loss of life and immense human suffering and make the coordination of emergency resources extremely difficult . ordinary citizens are left to fend for themselves in the wreckage . and as we saw in katrina and see now in haiti , residents of disaster-stricken areas are the true first responders . the aftermath of such catastrophes brings more prolonged suffering and massive recovery challenges . people pay attention as the media cover them , but they turn their attention elsewhere when the cameras leave , even though many of the real challenges that victims and affected regions face emerge later . like the gulf region , haiti will struggle for years and perhaps decades to rebuild and recover . but there , the comparisons end . to get an idea of the distinction between the two events , imagine that all of the u.s. west of the mississippi were to be destroyed or extensively damaged by some immense catastrophe in one minute , with absolutely no warning . that is the situation haiti faces . as horrific as it was , katrina was a region-wide catastrophe , not a national one . damage was enormous in the gulf region , but the resources of the larger nation remained intact and available for mobilization , even though aid was slow in coming .

<t> fema does n't face utter devastation as in gulf coast in 2005 . </t> <t> victims can escape in own vehicles on open roads . </t> <t> communications infrastructure remains intact . </t> <t> agencies learn from hurricane katrina mistakes . </t>

fema faces wildfire , katrina comparisons<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- brendon pelser said he saw pure terror in the faces of his fellow passengers after an engine fell from a wing as it took off from cape town , south africa , wednesday . men were sweating profusely , women were crying . `` there was fear on their faces , '' pelser said . `` everyone started panicking . '' but the pilot of nationwide airlines ' boeing 737 flight ce723 was able to fly long enough to dump fuel and make an emergency landing at cape town international airport . including crew , 100 hundred people were on the plane that departed at 3:50 p.m. on an hourlong flight to johannesburg , south africa . no one was injured . the jet had only been in the air about 10 minutes before the engine fell .<doc-sep>`` we heard something crash and bang , the plane veering left and right . a person on the right side said the engine was missing -- had broken clean off , '' said pelser . watch pelser describe how the flight crew told passengers to `` prepare for the worst '' '' `` they flew us in very slowly . we were all prepared for the worst . we went into the fetal position , head between the legs , '' he said . `` then we hit the runway . '' `` i did kind of pray . i did n't want to die . i 'm not really ready to die , '' the 33-year-old said . an object had been sucked into the engine as the nose wheel lifted from the ground and officials are trying to identify it . the engine-to-wing supporting structure is designed to release an engine `` when extreme forces are applied , '' to prevent structural damage to the wing , nationwide said on its web site . the airline described the incident as a `` catastrophic engine failure . ''<doc-sep>as the nose wheel lifted from the ground , `` the captain heard a loud noise immediately followed by a yaw of the aircraft -lrb- sideways slippage -rrb- to the right , '' the airline said in a news release . the flight instruments showed the no. 2 engine on the right side had failed , it said . pelser said he spent the night in cape town , then flew back to johannesburg where he lives , on the same airline . nationwide said the engine had undergone a major overhaul in march 2005 at `` an approved federal aviation authority facility in the u.s.a. '' and had flown only 3,806 hours since then . `` these engines typically achieve 10,000 hours between major overhauls , '' nationwide airlines ' press release stated . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>the mcminnville police department said the plane hit the garage and ended up inside the dwelling at on 22nd street northwest , in mcminville . a photograph of the property shows a large hole in the roof and the garage door is buckled . the crash is being investigated by the national transportation safety board and the federal aviation administration . it 's not clear whether yochelson was an experienced pilot or whether the plane malfunctioned , resulting in it falling from the sky . plane : the single-engine plane was a lancair 0-235 , similar to that pictured , and was registered to yochelson . the single-engine plane was a lancair 0-235 , and was registered to yochelson . the aircraft is classified as experimental , according to the yamhill county news-register . the newspaper reported the unnamed woman and her pets were uninjured . she told the paper she was sitting about three feet away from the impact site . streets in the area were closed off after the incident . mcminnville is located in oregon 's wine country , about 40 miles from portland .<doc-sep>all aboard were shaken but safe . aircraft makes emergency landing in rome . `` everybody was just sort of hugging each other and hugging the pilots and stuff , '' the passenger said . `` i think the pilots did an exceptional job . i think they were in shock . '' national transportation safety board investigators inspected the plane , which was moved to an empty lot near wailea , as they try to determine why its engine failed . hawaii news now contacted mokulele airlines for a comment but did not receive a response . passenger lands plane after pilot falls ill .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- an american airlines plane made an emergency landing tuesday night in orlando after the crew noticed a crack in the cockpit windshield . american airlines flight 160 , with 150 passengers and six crew members , took off from miami and was headed to boston , said airline spokeswoman andrea huguely . the boeing 757 had reached cruising altitude when the crew noticed a crack on the exterior window of the double-paned cockpit windshield , huguely said . the size of the crack , or the cause , was not immediately known . the pilot declared an emergency , and the plane landed in orlando . emergency landing after part of plane flies off . southwest plane returns to nashville after striking birds . plane blows engine , loses power . cnn 's chuck johnston contributed to this report .<doc-sep>by . michael zennie . last updated at 6:37 am on 18th january 2012 . the pilot of the plane that severely injured lauren scruggs said he tried to warn her before she walked into the propeller , costing the model her left hand and her left eye . curt richmond revealed to air safety officials that he put his arm up and yelled at the 23-year-old as she tried to walk in front of the plane december 3 at aero county airport in mckinney , texas . mr richmond , who has not spoken publicly about the accident , said the plane 's engine was still running and he told the young woman to walk behind the plane and out of harm 's way . warning : curt richmond , the pilot right , , said he tried to warn lauren , left . debut : lauren scruggs made her first debut outside her texas hospital this week after mistakenly walking into a spinning propeller early last december . mr richmond put down his arm and turned away from lauren when he thought she had turned to walk away from the spinning propeller , according to a report from the national transportation safety board . but it 's unclear whether lauren heard his warning over the roar of the engine . moments later , someone on the ground screamed ` stop ! stop ! ' and mr richmond saw lauren laying on the tarmac . he immediately cut the engine . investigators say she walked into the whirling propeller blades on the front of the plane after a 30-minute plane ride to look at christmas lights from the sky . statement : mr richmond has not spoken publicly about the accident but revealed the story to investigators . lauren had been riding in an aviat a1-b husky -lrb- like the one pictured -rrb- when the accident occurred . mr richmond had left the engine running while new passengers filed into the small plane as he prepared another trip to the skies . the ntsb did not find fault with the pilot for the accident but at least one aviation expert said mr richmond is ultimately responsible . ` the bottom line is , he should have shut the engine down , ' air safety investigator denny kelly told msnbc.com . ` the bottom line is , he made a mistake . ' website : lauren is thought to have written a heart-felt message of gratitude on her lolo website . lauren , who has been recovering in . hospital since the accident , wrote on the lolo magazine website for the . first time earlier this month . she said : ' i do n't know how to thank each one of . you , properly , for so much love during this difficult incident in my .

<t> nationwide airlines pilot dumped fuel until he landed plane wednesday . </t> <t> an object was sucked into the engine as the nose wheel lifted from the ground . </t> <t> 100 , including crew , were on the plane ; no one was injured . </t> <t> plane passenger : `` everyone started panicking '' </t>

terror in the sky : engine falls off plane , pilot flies to safety<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the late chris benoit idolized the dynamite kid , who was half of a professional wrestling team famous in the 1980s for spectacular high-flying , acrobatic moves . chris benoit strangled his wife and suffocated his son before hanging himself in june . the dynamite kid and his partner , davey boy smith , were known as the british bulldogs . they were quick , agile and muscular , and in 1986 they won the world wrestling federation tag team championship . young benoit dreamed of wrestling like the dynamite kid , whose real name is tom billington . at the beginning of his career , benoit adopted the dynamite nickname and copied his idol 's signature moves . in june , benoit murdered his wife and young son before hanging himself . investigators found testosterone , painkillers and anti-anxiety drugs in chris benoit 's body , georgia 's chief medical examiner said a month later . when asked about benoit 's double murder-suicide , billington told cnn , `` it can make you aggressive , the steroids . but personally i would n't , you know , kill no bleeding kid , or wife either . '' billington now lives in a public housing apartment outside manchester , england . he has lost the use of his legs . a pin sticks out from one of his toes . billington blames his wrestling life for doing this to him -- wrestling and the fact that he ignored doctors who told him to stop the punishment to his body . and from the steroids , he said . billington told cnn that the steroids came from doctors , from friends , even from steroids meant for horses . he took them all , took a terrible pounding in the ring , and like his partner -lrb- who died at age 39 in 2002 -rrb- , began taking extensive amounts of painkillers . benoit 's death has refocused a media spotlight on the organization for which he wrestled , now known as world wrestling entertainment , and the man who has ruled wrestling for years , chairman of the board vince mcmahon . mcmahon , appearing with linda mcmahon , his wife and wwe ceo , told cnn : `` nothing from the wwe , under any set of circumstances had anything to do with chris benoit murdering his family . how did we know chris benoit would turn into a monster . '' read a full transcript of the mcmahons interview . vince mcmahon defended the organization , saying its drug-testing policy was not just for show . `` our policy stacks up just as well as anyone else 's in sport , although again emphasizing we are entertainment , and no one in entertainment , no one has this kind of wellness policy , '' mcmahon said . critics say mcmahon pushes his stars and non-stars , works them too many nights per year and has encouraged the large physiques prevalent in modern wrestling . they say mcmahon only looks at his employees as commodities , pawns in a huge business .<doc-sep>his businesses are quite successful . about 16 million people a week tune into wwe tv shows . two of their cable programs -- `` raw '' and `` friday night smackdown '' -- are weekly ratings giants . pay-per-view specials generate an average of $ 100 million per year . when asked about the high number of former wrestlers who had died before they turned 50 years old , vince mcmahon said each person in the wwe bore responsibility for their own lives -- especially outside the arena . `` if someone passes through our organization , it is not our responsibility for someone 's personal activities , '' he said . he also said there is n't `` any organization in the world , be it entertainment or be it sport , that can tell you that they are totally drug-free . '' watch as a wwe wrestler says the perception of steroid use is wrong '' the mcmahons said the wwe is taking steps toward improving its oversight of its athletes . since the newest wwe drug screening program began in february 2006 , more than 30 of the organization 's wrestlers have been suspended , including two since cnn 's interview with the mcmahons . david black -- who helped the nfl develop its drug program and now runs tests for the wwe -- says twice that number have tested positive and been given a warning . but dr. gary wadler , a world-renowned expert in the study of drugs and athletes , says the wwe is not doing enough . `` it certainly falls far , far short of where it needs to be , '' he said . `` and there is a gold standard , and i measure all these sporting and entertainment activities against this gold standard . and -lsb- the wwe is -rsb- miles apart . '' wadler , a longtime critic of mcmahon , was referring to the u.s. anti-doping agency in colorado springs , colorado . u.s. athletes training for the olympics are randomly tested and , if caught just once , face a two-year suspension from competition . if caught a second time , they can be banned for life . black 's programs test wrestlers four times a year . the first is a `` baseline '' test , according to the wwe . black then tests for `` nonmedical '' uses , meaning that if an athlete has a prescription , he is cleared . `` it 's just a loophole that in my mind guts the entire program , '' said travis tygart , who heads the u.s. anti-doping agency . mcmahon denies that his wrestlers are pushed to use steroids . he says the average wrestler is lighter than in recent years . watch one of the new wwe stars talk about being `` straight edge '' '' `` there 's an expression in our business , that here is where you make your money . it 's your face , it 's what you do with it , '' he said . `` it 's your personality , it 's what you do with it . it 's your delivery , your elocution . it 's storyline , it 's things , all those things that are theatrical as well as athletic in the ring . '' e-mail to a friend . cnn 's drew griffin contributed to this report .<doc-sep>`` the only thing we can ascertain is that this level of testosterone indicates that he had been using testosterone at least in some reasonably short period of time before he died , '' he said . `` it could be an indication he was being treated for testicular insufficiency . '' the investigators found no other drugs , including steroids , in benoit 's body . the investigation into the benoits ' deaths led to speculation that the wrestler may have been injecting steroids and had experienced what is called '' ` roid rage , '' leading him to kill his wife and son . an official who is part of the investigation told cnn last month that benoit 's name was on receipts that indicated he had purchased shipments of anabolic steroids and human growth hormones from signature pharmacy . the orlando , florida , facility is at the center of a nationwide investigation into the sale of illegal steroids . phil astin , benoit 's personal doctor , has been indicted by a grand jury on seven charges of improperly dispensing and distributing painkillers and other drugs . astin has been released on $ 125,000 bond and is under house arrest . although benoit 's name was not mentioned in astin 's indictment , his arrest stemmed from the investigation into the benoits ' deaths .<doc-sep>atlanta , georgia -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- investigators found testosterone , painkillers and anti-anxiety drugs in the body of professional wrestler chris benoit , who killed his wife and son last month before hanging himself in his atlanta home , a medical examiner said tuesday . investigators found steroids in the body of pro wrestler chris benoit , who killed his family in june . dr. kris sperry , georgia 's chief medical examiner , said the body of benoit 's wife , nancy , also contained painkillers and anti-anxiety drugs . sperry said it 's likely the benoits ' 7-year-old son , daniel , was sedated at the time he was murdered , because a high level of the anti-anxiety drug xanax was found in the boy 's system . xanax is not normally prescribed for children , sperry said . chris benoit 's body contained an `` elevated '' level of testosterone and therapeutic levels of xanax and the painkiller hydrocodone , sperry said . but , he said , the level of testosterone revealed nothing conclusive about the wrestler 's state of mind before his death . `` there 's no reliable scientific data that says elevated levels of testosterone lead to psychotic rage , '' sperry said .<doc-sep>for many , hollywood actors and bodybuilders among them , anabolic steroids have become a regular part of life . but with side-effects that range from excess body hair to liver damage , using them can result in serious health issues as well as bigger muscles - as the stars of a new documentary fronted by former reality tv star jodie marsh prove . among the performance-enhancing drug users to feature on jodie marsh on ... steroids , is former barmaid candice armstrong , 28 , from walthamstow in london , whose steroid abuse has effectively turned her into a man . scroll down for video . candice -lrb- left -rrb- before she started taking anabolic steroids , which led to her developing facial hair , acne , and various other male characteristics , including a one-inch penis . candice -lrb- right -rrb- as she is now . irreversible : candice armstrong 's steroid abuse has left her with male characteristics such as facial hair . insults : candice is the target of comments on the street because of her looks and has to wear men 's clothes . once a slender , pretty blonde , candice is now a hulking brunette with muscles that would n't look out of place on arnold schwarzenegger and body hair that sprouts from her back , chest and upper lip . candice had no intention of becoming so masculine when she began taking the drug , but says that it 's too late for her to stop . ` no , it was n't my plan , ' she tells marsh in a scene from the documentary . ` you could argue . that when i wanted big arms and broad shoulders , a bigger back and small . hips , that that was a masculine look but i did n't consciously decide i . want to change from a woman into a man . ' the side effects have been severe . along with excess body hair and acne , her clitoris has swelled so much , it has become a mini penis . ` that has gone significantly bigger , yes , ' she reveals . ` about an . inch -lsb- long -rsb- and it 's shaped like a little penis . it looks like a little penis , . you can roll back the foreskin ... ' her breasts have also suffered and now hang lifeless from her hugely overdeveloped pectoral muscles . dangerous : her steroid use means candice is at risk of heart problems and even liver failure . surprisingly , candice is sanguine . ` they 've gone empty and they 're not particularly nice but i 'm cool with that - they were never my best feature anyway . ' what 's more , she has no intention of putting an end to her steroid use . ' i think it would do more harm than .<doc-sep>by . mail online reporter . legendary professional wrestler jake ` the snake ' roberts is in intensive care at a las vegas hospital after being collapsing on a flight as his body struggled against a reported ` double pneumonia ' infection . friend and fellow former pro-wrestler diamond dallas page tweeted that the wwe hall of famer was out of a coma but far from stable . ` jake is now conscious but still fading in and out , ' he wrote . ` please keep the prayers coming . ' former wwe star jake ` the snake ' roberts is in intensive care at a las vegas hospital after being collapsing on a flight as his body struggled against a reported ` double pneumonia ' infection .

<t> vince mcmahon : wwe has one of best drug-testing programs . </t> <t> wrestling boss tells cnn that individuals bear responsibility for actions . </t> <t> critics say wwe penalties for drug use are not harsh enough . </t> <t> wrestlers still can get drugs if they have prescriptions from doctors . </t>

former star blames health issues on steroids , lifestyle of wrestler<T>

-lrb- mental floss -rrb- -- everyone goes through a rebellious phase . and , if you 're lucky , you 'll be able to look back on those years and laugh . if you 're less lucky , you spent those years on a reality show , so for the rest of time , millions of strangers can look back on them and laugh instead . in modern times , cats frolic among the ruins of ancient rome . but , hey , it could be worse . you could be responsible for the fall of western civilization , just like justa grata honoria , the roman princess whose wild ways and -lrb- literally -rrb- naked ambition set off a chain reaction that culminated in the destruction of the roman empire . barely regal . smart , conniving , and ruthless , honoria possessed all the attributes befitting a roman emperor , except for that pesky y chromosome . as a young girl , she watched as her dimwitted six-year-old brother , valentinian iii , was crowned emperor of the western roman empire , while she was set aside to await a suitable marriage . hardly content to lead a quiet and chaste life , honoria rebelled with aplomb , sleeping her way through the royal court while still in her teens . although her after-hours habits caused quite the scandal , they failed to satiate her need for attention and power , so honoria set her eyes on the throne . employing her ample charms , she seduced her brother 's royal chamberlain , eugenius , and together , they plotted to murder valentinian and seize power .<doc-sep>but , alas , their scheme was soon exposed . eugenius was executed , and honoria was sent to a convent in constantinople . life as a nun was a fate worse than death for honoria , but even that could n't quell her ambition . she spent her years at the nunnery plotting one escape attempt after another . finally , out of sheer desperation , she turned to sources outside the empire . her savior would have to be powerful enough to defy valentinian and risk open war with rome . only one man fit that description : attila , king of the huns . attila the hubby . honoria got the barbarian 's attention with a mutually beneficial proposal : if attila would rescue her , she would marry him , and he would get half of the western empire as her dowry . of course , honoria was in no position to rightfully offer any portion of the roman empire . but she was betting that after marrying her , attila would conquer the whole empire , and she 'd become queen to boot . attila had secretly been planning a move against rome for years , and honoria 's letter gave him the perfect opportunity to strike . wasting no time , he told valentinian that he planned to marry honoria , and demanded the dowry he 'd been promised . naturally , valentinian refused , and attila used his status as a `` wronged husband '' to invade roman territory in 451 c.e. . the hun armies quickly swept through the empire , destroying everything in their path , and eventually they arrived in rome . like all the other cities before it , rome would also have been annihilated were it not for the famine and disease that devastated the huns during the invasion .<doc-sep>rome survived attila 's assault with the unlikely help of another nomadic enemy tribe , the visigoths , but the western empire never recovered . within a generation , the armies of the goths , franks , and huns had overrun the area . the princess bride . ultimately , honoria became neither roman empress nor a hun queen . attila never rescued her , and she was eventually sent back to rome and left to her brother 's justice . not wanting to cause a scandal by having her executed , and unwilling to send her back into exile where she could scheme again , valentinian settled on a suitable third option . after years of struggle , honoria finally suffered the fate she had been dreading all along : she was married off to an elderly roman senator , and the rest of her life went unrecorded by history . e-mail to a friend . for more mental_floss articles , visit mentalfloss.com . entire contents of this article copyright , mental floss llc . all rights reserved .<doc-sep>by . david mccormack . published : . 17:28 est , 18 july 2013 . | . updated : . 05:05 est , 19 july 2013 . philadelphia may be known as the city of brotherly love , but it 's a different kind of love that a scheming mom has posted an ad for in the ` casual encounters ' section of the local craigslist personals . the advert was placed on july 16 with the provocative title of ` sugar baby for my son ' and the mom goes on to explain that she is looking for a young woman , under 19 years old , willing to turn her boy into a man . there is no proof that the plea is real , however . the upfront mom - who does n't give her name or say what her son is called - explains that her 18-year-old son is a senior in high school and will be going away to harvard in the fall . a scheming mom has posted an ad on craigslist looking for a young woman to help turn her harvard-bound son from a wallflower into a stud before his heads off to college later this year -lrb- stock images -rrb- .<doc-sep>by . freya noble . the danish royals enjoyed a fun-filled family outing at the weekend , as they took a visit to legoland in billund , denmark . australian-born crown princess of denmark mary and her husband crown prince frederik spent the day strolling in the sunshine on what looked to be a stunning summers day . their children prince christian , princess isabella , prince vincent and princess josephine were all in tow , clearly ecstatic to be visiting the amusement park . crown princess of denmark mary and the danish royal family enjoyed a day out in the stunning summer sunshine at the weekend . princess mary looked elegant in a cap-sleeved black lace dress which fell to just above the knee . the frock featured an empire waistline with the skirt falling loosely below that .<doc-sep>palace in istanbul , turkey , that she would have lived in with her husband . had the ottoman empire not been overthrown by mustafa kemal ataturk in . 1923 . eviction : this is the three-story property on lexington avenue that was sold for $ 10.1 million in 2011 and is at the center of the rent-control fight between princess zeynep and avi dishi . matters reached a head in january 2012 , during a visit to a sick relative in turkey , dishi served her an eviction notice according to the new york times . he claims that upon purchasing the property , which has a restaurant on the ground floor , he was given only one lease which dated from 1977 that has expired to become a month-to-month occupancy . therefore , he claims he is well within his rights to ask the afghan princess to leave the rent-controlled home . however , zeynep 's lawyer , who she retains at the cost of thousands of dollars a month discovered a crucial detail on the eviction notice . it was addressed to ` e. osman and g. osman ' , or more to the point , the would-be sultan 's first wife , gulda , who passed away in 1985 . ` you ca n't evict a dead person , ' maddy tarnofsky , zeynep 's lawyer , said to the new york times . however , a court decided to deny tarnofsky 's motion to dismiss the eviction notice and the case is now in limbo , with princess zeynep having to provide death and marriage certificates to prove her occupancy of the apartment with her husband since 1991 . modesty : imperial highness prince sultan ertugrul osman v with his wife , princess zeyneb attend the ahmet ertegun memorial service on march 2 , 2007 in new york city . speaking to the new york times , zeynep also complained about the state of disrepair that dishi has let the apartment fall into . under the prior landlord the number of violations in the two-story home stood at 72 and now have topped out at 201 . new york city 's department of housing preservation and development has had to spend $ 49,000 fixing up the apartment since 2005 , replacing banisters , fixing radiators and boilers . the city has billed dishi for the repairs . grandfather : abdul hamid ii -lrb- 1842-1918 -rrb- , last sultan of turkey , c1880 . called the great assassin , he was a despotic ruler who was deposed and exiled in 1909 .<doc-sep>scheming to deny robert cohen 's only living child out of his . inheritance . the elder . cohen , who died last year aged 86 after a 13-year battle with . parkinson 's built hudson news into a retail empire starting with a . newark , new jersey news stand . after his death last year he left the company to his son james , who then sold it and collected $ 600million from the deal . miss . perelman is the daughter of former new york daily news gossip columnist . claudia cohen , james cohen 's sister , who died in 2007 leaving her child . a $ 60million fortune . meanwhile , . her father , ron perelman , is worth an estimated $ 12billion , made . through leveraged buyouts of companies and his stake in revlon . cosmetics . heiresses : miss perelman with her late mother , gossip columnist claudia cohen , in 2005 . she claims that her mother 's brother schemed to exclude her from her grandfather 's will as he suffered from parkinson 's . benjamin clarke , . for james cohen , told the court that his client 's media mogul father . was ` not the kind of person you told what to do , ' the new york daily news reported . ` robert . cohen was the kind of person who told you what to do , ' the lawyer said , .

<t> justa grata honoria plotted to kill her emperor of roman empire . </t> <t> when first plot failed , she offered to marry attila the hun . </t> <t> he failed to annihilate rome , or marry her . </t> <t> she then suffered the fate she dreaded . </t>

scheming princess behind empire 's fall<T>

atlanta , georgia -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- i was 14 at the time . lebanon 's civil war was in full flood . one afternoon the shells began raining down on our neighborhood in beirut . a lebanese woman and her son run through west beirut in 1989 during fighting between rival forces . we ran from school screaming . forget the book bags , classmates , homework . just run . out of breath , my knees giving way , it seemed to take forever to reach our local shelter -- a dark humid room at the back of our apartment block . the memory of that terrifying afternoon receded -- until recently . after more than a decade of relative peace and reconstruction , the bombings and assassinations have returned to beirut . every time i hear of a new explosion , i think of a frightened child sitting in darkness . in 1988 , i watched the last throes of lebanon 's civil war firsthand -- and like millions of lebanese , sad , frustrated and often fearful . see a timeline of lebanon 's recent history '' now i watch from another continent , but i find those same emotions resurfacing . the conspiracies , the car bombs , the threatening rhetoric and political deadlock are eerily familiar . the actors are like shadows from a long gone past . they are grayer perhaps -- those who have avoided assassination . but the cast in lebanon 's tragedy has changed little in two decades . then , as now , a presidential election is the setting , and the struggle where religion and clan play the main roles threatens to set lebanon back 20 years . see bios of lebanon 's major players '' in 1988 , the president 's term was coming to an end and the warring factions were unable to agree on a new candidate . militias prevented parliament members from reaching the assembly building . compromise was nowhere in sight . the west had abandoned lebanon to the manipulation of its neighbors . syria had its choice for president ; israel had its own allies -- a foil for growing muslim radicalism . the country was awash with weapons . in his last act as president , amin gemayel named fellow christian and army chief michel aoun as prime minister . at a stroke , he shattered the convention that a muslim hold that position . muslims refused to serve in the cabinet and the country ended up with two governments . aoun famously declared : `` i am prime minister and six ministers in one . '' aoun 's `` war of liberation '' against syria turned into defeat . then , he turned on fellow christians of the lebanese forces in the `` war of elimination . '' when that failed , the syrians drove aoun to take refuge at the french embassy . in august 1990 , i came to cnn as a world report panelist . i tried to explain lebanon 's chaos , the bewildering array of factions and the horrors of civil war for ordinary civilians . i had seen people killed in front of me ; children orphaned in seconds , parents burying their infants in oversize white coffins . so when i was offered the opportunity to stay at cnn , i gratefully accepted the chance to escape the anarchy . but almost as i left , the civil war was being laid to rest . the various factions had fought each other to a standstill ; arab governments , supported by the west , helped negotiate a new constitutional framework overseen by syrian influence . peace came to lebanon , but it would be five years before i returned . in 1995 , i went back and was stunned . i kept looking around for checkpoints manned by militants . i could n't believe that i could go anywhere without being harassed or kidnapped by one faction or another . no longer did identity -- christian , muslim or druze -- define where lebanese could go . people mixed freely in chic coffee shops and smoked the hubble-bubble , laughing at the same jokes . it was as if lebanon 's divisions had been wiped away by some magic eraser . downtown beirut , once rocked by explosions and pitted with bullet holes , was rocking to lebanese pop music . the dusty sandbags had given way to boutiques carrying the latest european fashions and deluxe hotels . lovers had returned to beirut 's corniche , overlooking the mediterranean , for romantic strolls at sunset . but the agreement that ended the civil war was more a truce than a real settlement -- and was overseen by a `` pax syriana . '' as anti-syrian sentiment grew , so did political tensions . on valentine 's day 2005 , the corniche was once again rocked by an explosion . former prime minister rafik hariri was killed . the symbolism left me speechless . on the day of love , lebanon was thrown back into its most hateful history . it had been widely expected that hariri would run for office again and demand the withdrawal of syrian troops . suspicion fell on damascus , which vehemently denied involvement . on march 14 , martyrs ' square became a human sea of demonstrators : muslims , druze and christians alike , demanding the `` truth . '' but hariri 's death also exposed the fault lines that had broken lebanon a generation previously . even after it withdrew its troops , syria still had allies in lebanon . one was hezbollah , accused of the suicide attacks that had killed scores of u.s. marines in beirut more than 20 years previously . another was gen. michel aoun ; now back from exile , the same michel aoun who had defied syria in 1989 , but who now made common cause with hezbollah against his fellow christians . earlier this year i visited martyrs ' square . the spirit of the cedar revolution had evaporated . the place looked like a morgue . anti-government hezbollah squatters had brought life there to a standstill . as i passed through , business owners stood silent in the sun and shook their heads at me in despair . i wondered if they sensed my disappointment , my pain at watching beirut bleed again . lebanon 's political actors now find themselves re-enacting scenes from the final act of the civil war 19 years ago . once again , the term of the president is approaching its end ; there is no agreement on his successor . suspicion and fear are the political currency of the day . and the questions haunts me : will the country 's brief renaissance that so amazed me in 1995 be snuffed out by the old curse of sectarian rivalries ? e-mail to a friend . cnn 's joe sterling , david ariosto , saad abedine and tracy doueiry contributed to this report .<doc-sep>khadija and her brother amjad are from aleppo , which has suffered some of the heaviest bombardments during the bloodbath in syria . cnn correspondent mohammed jamjoon recalled how the children were determined to have fun , despite the freezing conditions . `` clinging to any remnant of childhood abandon they could , they decided to build a snowman , '' he said . `` this photo was taken on the same site where christian got the picture of the boy and the snowman . `` it 's very moving : you want to give , but you feel helpless . you 're the outsider with the big camera , but they just want to explain their situation , '' he recalled . `` and every conversation finishes with the same sentence : i want to go home . '' that 's not going to happen soon . the child refugees in lebanon are unlikely to see their homeland again before reaching adulthood . lebanon has absorbed the highest number of syria 's refugees . the u.n. predicts there will be more than 1.5 million in the country by the end of 2013 . lebanon 's population is only 4.2 million . this syrian boy launched into a snowball fight in arsal on monday . mohammed jamjoom said : `` we watched at least six boys play and enjoy themselves while aid was being distributed . '' syrians would go to any lengths to reach lebanon , jamjoom said . that 's despite the horrific conditions they found when they arrived . he recalled the scene as he and cameraman chris jackson accompanied medics and aid workers as they immunized children aged five and under on a previous visit to a camp in the bekaa valley .<doc-sep>in the film lecter questions a young fbi trainee clarice starling about her childhood traumas , in a scene which is eerily reminiscent of harris 's depiction of his encounter with dr salazar . jodie foster as clarice starling , harris 's detective whose terrifying encoutner with hannibal lecter in the film silence of the lambs was inspired by a real-life doctor . the first film adapted from harris 's novels was manhunter , which was based on red dragon and featured brian cox as lecter . hopkins reprised the role however in 2001 's hannibal , where lecter became the main character of the film . he also played lecter in a second adaptation of red dragon in 2002 . the character was chosen as the number one movie villain by the american film institute in 2003 .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . published : . 13:51 est , 10 january 2013 . | . updated : . 14:22 est , 10 january 2013 . inspiring : peter deal 's victim came forward after hearing former england rugby star brian moore , pictured , talk about his own childhood abuse . a former boxing coach was jailed today for raping and abusing a schoolboy 40 years ago , after the victim was prompted to break decades of silence by former england rugby star brian moore 's disclosures that he was sexually abused as a child . peter deal , 74 , was jailed for five years at inner london crown court after previously pleading guilty to seven charges , ranging from buggery to indecent assault , between 1969 and 1973 . the court heard his victim , now 54 , had not told anyone about the abuse he endured from the age of 10 to 13 until he heard a radio interview with former harlequins player moore , nicknamed pitbull , about the abuse he endured at the hands of one of his teachers . in his autobiography beware of the . dog , moore , now 50 , said the abuse began when he and three other boys , . aged nine and 10 , were lured into a tent and sexually abused by a . teacher while on a field trip in yorkshire . he . said the childhood traumas made him ferociously competitive on the . rugby field and contributed to the breakdown of two marriages . today .<doc-sep>an estimated five million australian adults continue to be affected by childhood abuse . the australian government could save between $ 6.8 billion and $ 9.1 billion a year by effectively responding to child abuse , a new report has found . commissioned by adults surviving child abuse -lrb- asca -rrb- , a national organisation which works to assist adults who have been scarred by childhood traumas , the study was completed by pegasus economics to highlight the financial costs of dealing with the long-term impacts of child abuse experienced by about five million adults across the country . it found that if the government invested in timely and comprehensive interventions for children who experience sexual , emotional and physical abuse , it could avoid spending millions of dollars on dealing with the destructive coping mechanisms developed by victims later down the track . ` early life trauma and abuse affect the developing brain and have many possible impacts on daily adult life , ' the report states . ` these include the coping strategies children adopt ... -lsb- which -rsb- may still be used in adult life . perpetuated when the underlying trauma is not resolved , these coping strategies are associated with health risks in adulthood . ' strategies can include alcohol abuse , drug abuse , eating disorders , overeating and smoking and can also see adults have ` encounters with the criminal justice system ' .

<t> cnn 's octavia nasr : will lebanon 's brief renaissance be snuffed out ? </t> <t> nasr says lebanon 's key power players have n't changed since 1980s . </t> <t> nasr : current struggle threatens to set lebanon back 20 years . </t>

childhood traumas resurface as lebanon bleeds again<T>

barcelona , england -- ronaldinho has been recalled to the barcelona squad for tuesday 's champions league match against rangers in glasgow . ronaldinho was dropped from the barcelona squad on saturday for returning late from international duty .<doc-sep>the brazilian was omitted from the squad that lost 3-1 to villarreal on saturday after returning late from international duty , but he has been named in an 18-man party for the trip to scotland . barca will be without deco for that match though , after the portuguese suffered a thigh injury against villarreal that will keep him sidelined for around five weeks .<doc-sep>also missing are samuel eto'o , yaya toure , gianluca zambrotta , edmilson and rafael marquez as the catalans travel to scotland in a battle between the two sides with 100 per cent records in group e.<doc-sep>barcelona squad : valdes , jorquera ; puyol , thuram , sylvinho , oleguer , abidal , milito ; iniesta , ronaldinho , messi , xavi , giovani , crosas ; henry , ezquerro , gudjohnsen , bojan . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- ronaldinho 's participation in this summer 's world cup finals now appears in serious doubt after the ac milan playmaker was not named in brazil coach carlos dunga 's 22-man squad for next month 's friendly international against ireland in london . the 29-year-old former barcelona star has been in outstanding form for the italian giants this season -- but he has still not done enough to force his way into dunga 's thinking for the match at arsenal 's emirates stadium . ronaldinho is not the only high-profile player not selected for the match , with chelsea central defender alex also left out of the squad .<doc-sep>are saints going to build a team that could avoid relegation ? after having the heart of their side ripped out by liverpool and manchester united , there is simply not enough time for new manager ronald koeman to find the six or seven players needed to fully limit the damage . the signings of italian target-man grazianno pelle and serbian midfielder dusan tadic are a start , but it is hard to see how any club could service such a brutal dismantling of their squad and hope to survive in the top flight . difficult task : can ronald koeman keep southampton up after they sold five of their best players . qpr . will brazilian glamour-boy ronaldinho give rangers the edge over the other relegation contenders ? harry redknapp is never short of a big-name transfer target , or two . but ronaldinho ? according to reports , the 34-year-old is looking for a new club after his contract at atletico mineiro was terminated . it has been suggested ronaldinho would be keen to link up with compatriot julio cesar at rangers . all well and good , except the keeper is likely to be on his way if a del can be done over his wages . ronaldinho , apparently , sees himself playing on for another eight years . the former barcelona legend could do a job for newly-promoted rangers , but redknapp is not fool enough to place ranges ' survival hopes on his shoulders . london bound : could harry redknapp pull off another coup and snag former barcelona star ronaldinho ? burnley . will clarets ' boss sean dyche finally land west brom defender craig dawson in time for the inevitable relegation battle ? the baggies have rejected a third bid from burnley for the former england under 21 international . dyche has made the 24-year-old one of his top targets as he tried to build a squad capable of staying in the premier league , but will need to up his last offer of just over # 2m . burnley , not surprisingly , are tipped by many to stop straight back into the championship . dyche was happy a squad which romped to automatic promotion last season , but he does not appear to have done enough business this summer to keep the clarets in the top flight . it could all go very wrong , very quickly . baggies : can burnley finally sign west brom defender craig dawson as dyche looks to strengthen defence . click here to start picking your fantasy football team now ! there 's # 60,000 in prizes including # 1,000 up for grabs every week ...<doc-sep>madrid , spain -- barcelona 's brazil forward ronaldinho was granted dual nationality by spain on monday , the primera liga club said . brazilian striker ronaldinho leaves gava magistrates court in spain after being granted dual nationality . the move frees up a place for another non-european union player in frank rijkaard 's squad . mexican forward giovani dos santos is set to take up the vacant slot alongside cameroon international samuel eto'o and ivory coast midfielder yaya toure in the non-eu berths permitted under spanish football federation -lrb- rfef -rrb- rules . however , dos santos is also expected to be granted dual nationality this week . barcelona opened up their primera liga campaign with a goalless draw away to racing santander on sunday . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>by . john drayton . having not been selected in luiz felipe scolari 's brazil squad for the world cup , ronaldinho has come up with another way of making some money from this summer 's tournament . the former barcelona forward has decided to rent out his house in rio de janeiro for a hefty # 9,120 per night , giving fans a unique opportunity to stay at the home of a brazilian legend . ronaldinho took to twitter to confirm that his five bedroom property is available to rent via airbnb.com during this summer 's tournament . moving out : ronaldinho is renting out his house in rio after being left out of brazil 's world cup squad . home sweet home : ronaldinho is charging over # 9,000 per night for his five bedroom house . memories : a painting of ronaldinho during his ac milan days hangs on the wall of the living room . comfy : people have the chance to sleep in the brazilian star 's bed . chill out : the 34-year-old 's house also features a zen room for relaxation . the atletico mineiro star wrote : ` this is for anyone who is in doubt that i will rent my house on airbnb ! enjoy #casar10 ' ronaldinho 's property , which also includes six bathrooms , is in a gated community in rio 's barra da tijuca area . anyone with deep enough pockets to afford a night at the home of the 34-year-old will also have access to a sauna , a barbeue , a cellar and a beer fridge . ronaldinho-inspired art fills the house , including paintings of the ex-paris saint-germain forward playing for his national team and ac milan . a deposit of just over # 600 is required to rent the house and smoking is only allowed outside , but a ` service team ' will be made available to guests . snapped : ronaldinho posted this image of pictures being taken of his home on twitter . ready to entertain : the huge dining room can seat up to 10 guests at a time . water features : ronaldinho 's house comes with a swimming pool and sauna . colourful character : the atletico mineiro forward has a number of paintings of himself .

<t> ronaldinho is recalled to barca squad to face rangers in champions league . </t> <t> the brazilian was dropped from the squad that lost to villarreal on saturday . </t> <t> midfielder deco will be out of action for five weeks after suffering a thigh injury . </t>

ronaldinho back in barcelona squad<T>

london , england -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- football dignitaries gathered in sheffield , northern england , on wednesday to kick off the 150th birthday celebrations of sheffield fc -- the sport 's oldest club . fifa chief blatter was among those in sheffield to kick off the 150th birthday celebrations of football 's oldest club . guests of honor at a service at sheffield cathedral included sepp blatter , president of football world governing body fifa , and massimo moratti , president of italian giants inter milan who are scheduled to play a friendly against sheffield fc next month . other guests attending a dinner in the club 's honor included real madrid president ramon calderon and england and manchester united legend bobby charlton . pele -- widely recognized as the greatest footballer ever to play the game -- is also due in town next month to attend sheffield fc 's clash with inter . blatter was unveiling a bust of the club 's co-founder william prest -- one of two cricket fans who founded sheffield fc , then known simply as sheffield club , on october 24 , 1857 after deciding they needed a new sport to keep them active during the winter . many more football clubs soon sprung up and by 1862 there were said to be 15 in and around the sheffield area . the football association -- which codified the basic rules of the modern game -- was established in london the following year . sheffield fc was instrumental in developing set rules for the game . the club studied existing rules and laid down a code of laws , which formed the foundation of the first commonly-accepted set of rules for the sport , according to the sheffield fc web site . the team was also responsible for several innovations in the game -- including heading , which was unheard of until 1875 , when sheffield traveled to london for a game . according to the team 's web site , the sight of the sheffield players using their foreheads in addition to their feet reduced the london crowd to hysterics . other innovations attributed to the team include the solid crossbar on the goal , corner kicks , free kicks for fouls , and playing a match under floodlights . despite its celebrated place in the history of the world 's most popular sport , sheffield fc has never played at a professional level . the club currently competes in the unibond league 's first division south , seven divisions beneath the english premier league . the city of sheffield has two professional clubs -- united and wednesday -- who both currently play in english football 's second tier , the coca-cola championship . sheffield fc 's proudest achievement on the pitch came in 1904 when the team beat ealing 3-1 to win the fa amateur cup in front of 6,000 people . but 100 years later in 2004 , blatter presented sheffield fc with fifa 's `` order of merit '' -- an honor previously awarded only to the nine-time european champions real madrid . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>in the rough and tumble of football more than a century and a half ago , the 40 players involved in each game were allowed to push over their opponents and even punch the ball to score . now a group of four schools will tomorrow play a tournament by the 1858 rules at the world 's oldest football ground - sandygate road of non-league team hallam fc in sheffield , south yorkshire . the unusual games will be played as closely to the historic sheffield rules as possible under modern health and safety laws , and will be officiated by former premier league referee uriah rennie , 53 . early days : this is a 1857 photograph of sheffield football club , the world 's oldest football team . a group of four schools in south yorkshire will tomorrow play a tournament by the rules written around the same time . host stadium : a group of four schools will tomorrow play a tournament by the 1858 rules at the world 's oldest football ground - sandygate road of non-league team hallam fc in sheffield , south yorkshire . it is believed to be the first time . that the rules - which prohibit scoring directly from free kicks - will . be used in a match since the football association was founded in 1863 , . reported the independent . the . handwritten rulebook - auctioned off by the world 's oldest football . club sheffield fc for almost # 900,000 in 2011 - features 11 rules that . include players having to wear red or blue flannel caps . back . then players competed in 20-a-side matches which could last from one to . three hours , and could catch the ball provided it had not touched the . ground or been thrown from the touchline . the . game , which was originally derived from rugby , was very different to . the 21st century sport but formed the basis of the football association . rulebook which was published five years later in 1863 . the sheffield rules were put together . with help from earlier regulations - in particular those used by cambridge . university and other public schools , who were the first people to play . the game . in charge : the unusual games will be played as closely to the historic sheffield rules as possible under modern health and safety laws , and will be officiated by former premier league referee uriah rennie -lrb- pictured -rrb- . modern game : it 's debatable how well the top footballers of today such as chelsea midfielder frank lampard -lrb- pictured right playing for england against brazil earlier this month -rrb- would have fared with the old rules . it was the sheffield fc set which were influential in the rapid development of football over the next four decades , and the majority of modern football clubs were founded between 1858 and 1900 . ` it 's been a real eye-opener learning the original rules to referee this competition ' uriah rennie , referee . historian michael wood told the independent he wanted to use the experience of the matches tomorrow to understand why football evolved so fast after the original rules were put in place . he said : ` we are always told that football is the great sport of the industrial age . i would love to learn why the game developed so rapidly into the major spectator sport we know today . ' the teams in tomorrow 's tournament will play an adapted version of the rules , with 30-minute games of eight or 12-a-side - and will not be allowed to deliberately push their opponents . rennie will be wearing victorian clothing - including a top hat - to officiate the games , and told the independent it has ` been a real eye-opener learning the original rules to referee this competition ' . sheffield fc still exist and currently play in the northern premier league division one south . hallam fc are also an active non-league side and play in the northern counties east league division one . original : the only known surviving copy of the printed rules , regulations & laws of the sheffield football club .<doc-sep>ryan , from aston in sheffield , collapsed while playing as a winger for swallownest miners welfare reserves last weekend . the match , at the city 's norton playing fields , was against sheffield medics fc which consists of doctors and trainee medics . when ryan fell his team-mates thought it was a seizure but the medics instantly recognised it as a heart attack and took it in turns to give him cpr . the football team who helped save ryan zon . the opposition players were a team of doctors and trainee medics - who , along with two other doctors who happened to be nearby , gave him cpr until an ambulance arrived . ryan zon -lrb- second left -rrb- pictured here a few years ago . he collapsed like professional fabrice muamba in the middle of a game , in front of horrified team mates and spectators . two doctors playing rugby nearby joined in until the ambulance arrived . the prognosis for ryan is good although he will have to give up football . muamba was also forced to retire . it means ryan will have to stop coaching disabled children with rotherham united during the school holidays , which he did last summer . mrs zon added : ` he could have played football or cricket professionally , but he will never kick a ball again . i know he will struggle with that , but we just have to be thankful he is still alive . ' the family are calling for all football clubs to have defibrillators -- which give the heart a potentially life-saving electric shock -- on hand . ryan 's team manager dixie nightingale , 52 , said : ` people saw it live on tv when fabrice muamba had a heart attack -- and to see it happen in front of your own eyes to one of your own players was shocking . ' iain ruddick , secretary of sheffield medics fc , added : ` everyone in the club is delighted there was a happy ending . our players went into doctor mode and did the cpr taught from day one at medical school . '<doc-sep>by . simon jones . sheffield wednesday have announced that azerbaijani businessman hafiz mammadov has completed his takeover of the club . mammadov -- who also owns french club lens and fc baku in his homeland -- sealed his deal to buy the hillsborough club today . the new owner will replace chairman milan mandaric in charge of the club and immediately stated his desire to return them to the premier league for the first time since 1999-00 . new owner : hafiz mammadov -lrb- left -rrb- with prince albert ii and monaco president dmitry rybolovlev , has bought sheffield wednesday . sold : milan mandaric bought wednesday for # 1 in december 2010 . ' i am immensely pleased and proud to . have agreed a deal to buy this wonderful club , ' mammadov told . wednesday 's official website .<doc-sep>new york city fc will oppose any move from manchester city to keep frank lampard at the etihad stadium for longer than his agreed loan spell . lampard has been a hit at city since his loan from their sister club in the mls started recently , scoring once against chelsea and twice in the capital one cup rout of sheffield wednesday . the 36-year-old 's impressive form has prompted suggestions that he may prove useful to city boss manuel pellegrini beyond the length of his current loan spell that is due to end in january . frank lampard is scheduled to return to parent club new york city fc from manchester city in january . city boss manuel pellegrini has been impressed with lampard and hopes he stays at the etihad for longer . the midfielder scored against his old club chelsea on sunday , and has found his stride at city . lampard also scored twice in the 7-0 capital one cup win against sheffield wednesday at the etihad . pellegrini has not ruled out the possibility of lampard staying but sources in america stressed on thursday that new york city fc expect their marquee signing to be in the states for pre-season training in the new year after building a marketing strategy around him and selling tickets due to his transfer . while there is no suggestion that city and the mls franchise it established last year are pulling in opposite directions , it would appear that city fans will have to make do with just five months of the former england star .

<t> fifa president sepp blatter among guests marking sheffield fc 's 150 years . </t> <t> english side sheffield fc recognized as the oldest football club in the world . </t> <t> club is one of two to win fifa 's order of merit -- the other is real madrid . </t>

oldest club sheffield fc turns 150<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- at one point in jared hutchins ' young life , the beatles were a big problem . the rallies , which draw mostly teens , are one part concert , one part christian revival . `` i had to stop listening to them for a while , '' said hutchins , who lives in cumming , georgia , and plays the piano , guitar and harmonica . he said the group 's world view `` had a negative effect on me , '' and made him irritable and angry . `` god owns my life , not the beatles , '' he said simply . although hutchins said he enjoys a wide range of music -- from pink floyd and arcade fire to christian bands such as hillsong united -- he said he has to be careful of what music he listens to , for the same reason he temporarily turned off the beatles . hutchins , a 16-year-old graced with poise and thoughtfulness , is one of many teenagers who say that some part of popular culture , with its ubiquitous references to sex , drugs and violence , has harmed him . last year , hutchins and his christian youth group attended an acquire the fire rally in atlanta , georgia , he said . acquire the fire -- regional rallies held across the country -- and battlecry -- the larger rallies held this year in only three cities -- are the products of the evangelical christian organization teen mania . go behind-the-scenes with cnn 's christiane amanpour at a battlecry event '' one part concert , one part christian revival , the rallies seek to `` stage a reverse revolution '' against secular popular culture . they have the pull of headlining rock concerts , drawing thousands of people regardless of the region of the country , the month of year or the day of the week . the audiences are nearly always predominantly teenagers and young adults . from 2006 to 2007 , a total of 127,830 people attended the 34 acquire the fire rallies , and 71,414 people attended the three battlecry events held in san francisco , california ; detroit , michigan ; and bristow , virginia , according to teen mania . watch flags , fireworks and teens at rally .<doc-sep>for hutchins , who said he struggled in his early adolescence to fit in and be cool before having a personal experience with god about four years ago , the organization 's message is exactly right . `` we do n't have to be branded by the culture , we are branded by god , '' he said . `` be who god created you to be . '' but the glossy , glamorous appeal of popular culture too often obscures that path to god , teen mania followers say . and so , ron luce , the 46-year-old founder of the organization , has waged a modern-day crusade against `` purveyors of popular culture , '' whom he has condemned as `` the enemy . '' more than two decades old , teen mania estimates it has reached more than 2 million teens with its message `` of living completely for christ . '' the organization is sprawling . in addition to its live stadium rallies , there are battlecry shirts and hats , mobile screen savers , books and a television program . there are international mission trips -- hutchins attended one in tijuana , mexico , this summer . there is even a teen mania internship , a one-year program called the honor academy , based in lindale , texas . in the live events , luce couples the earnest appeal of a young father with a preacher 's ability to mobilize a crowd . he weaves disturbing statistics about teenagers amid his gospel . today 's teenagers are in crisis , he says .<doc-sep>`` we 're fighting for those who do n't know they have a voice , that are being manipulated by our pop culture indulging in things that , really , they 're not mature enough to be thinking about yet , '' luce told cnn . `` kids are hurting , '' he said . and of those who he feels inflict these moral wounds , luce said , `` we call them terrorists , virtue terrorists , that are destroying our kids . '' `` they 're raping virgin teenage america on the sidewalk , and everybody 's walking by and acting like everything 's ok . and it 's just not ok . '' to some , luce 's rhetoric is off-putting , hateful and divisive . opponents point to his views on homosexuality -- not `` in god 's plan '' -- and abortion -- the `` ending of a precious life '' -- and say luce is imposing conservative values on vulnerable teenagers . explore americans ' views on religion . it is this criticism that luce and his followers confronted head-on in march at battlecry san francisco . there , in arguably the most liberal city in the united states , protesters , armed with megaphones and poster board signs , rallied against battlecry on the steps of city hall as the christian teenagers circled and prayed in a demonstration of their own . `` ron luce is a liar ! '' one protester shouted . `` let me hear you say christian fascist , '' another yelled .<doc-sep>luce and the youths , some as young as 11 , also raised their voices . `` god , i ask that as we do this battlecry , lord , that you would reveal yourself to the teenagers , god , here , god , '' mindy peterson , shouted . peterson is a member of teen mania 's honor academy . afterward , peterson railed against what she said was the protesters ' mischaracterization of battlecry . `` these people think that our war is against other people . they think that our war is against man . and our war is n't . our war 's against ... the pain in teenagers ' hearts , like depression , alcoholism . those things that -- that are , like , tearing our teenagers apart , '' she said . while much milder in his terms , hutchins agrees . `` we 're a generation that is kind of troubled , '' he said . luce wants to `` rescue the hearts of our generation , '' he added . and of the critics ' contention that the rallies , the organization , the message is neo-conservatism wrapped in biblical verse ? hutchins smiles , nods patiently . `` i do n't go because i have a political agenda , '' he said , adding that his friends do n't , either . `` mostly , what we 're concerned with is jesus . '' e-mail to a friend . cnn 's christiane amanpour , julie o'neill and taylor gandossy contributed to this report .<doc-sep>`` station wagons became the vogue in the 1950s in response to the needs of boomers ' parents . those mutated into ` vans ' to accommodate ` yuppie ' boomers in their thirties and forties and then into ` suvs ' for boomers as empty nesters , many going through ` mid-life crisis , ' '' macunovich wrote in a 2000 paper , `` the baby boomers . '' in this way , boomers essentially created the idea of pop culture and fed its symbiotic relationship with mass marketing and consumerism , said gary west , a consultant who runs the website mrpopculture.com , a digest of the weekly zeitgeist back to 1950 . `` the buying power of that generation set pop culture in motion . if you look back into the '50s , you can see where teen buying power got bigger and bigger and created pop culture : younger-skewing movies and television , rock and roll , pop rock , what we call soul music , '' he said . `` the baby boomers really started the pop culture trend and it had to do with buying power , and as we 've grown into the work force , we 've kept creating those trends . who were the first to buy records , then cds , then computers ? '' despite bill gates and steve jobs , the boomers ca n't take all the credit for the advent of the internet age , but they 've been fast learners of how to leverage its benefits . university of oklahoma history professor and history channel resident historian steve gillon , who wrote the book `` boomer nation , '' said technology will continue to play a big role in boomers ' retirement years . `` people with specific skills will use the internet to take advantage of the breakup of hierarchies in the economy and remain involved in their fields , be it through consulting or using social media to find professional communities or networking groups , '' gillon said . `` many boomers have a desire to stay involved and connected ; they 're not going to give in to the dictates of age and accept the older model . they 're going to find ways to stay socially , intellectually and physically active . ''<doc-sep>it is one of 10 planned demolitions in the region , which has become a stronghold for the marginalised religion . christians blasted the move as a ` barbaric campaign ' by communist leaders to suppress their culture . churchgoers accused the communist party of trying to quash christianity , with 10 more demolitions planned . controversy : state media claims the landmark was approved but it was built four times the permitted size .<doc-sep>it seems that when some arab states fail , hostilities against christians rise . of the top 50 nations documented for their persecution of christians , 41 are muslim majority or have sizeable muslim populations , such as ethiopia and kenya . it 's important to note that islamic extremists are the culprits within their borders . other countries , especially communist ones like north korea , china , and vietnam , are intolerant of christians ; churches are banned or forced underground , and in north korea , exposed christians can be immediately executed . nothing integral to the fabric of these societies makes them intrinsically anti-christian . something as simple as overthrowing the north korean regime could possibly end persecution there -- just as the fall of communist soviet union saw religious persecution come to a quick close in nations like russia , which if anything is experiencing a christian orthodox revival . opinion : christians face abuse around the globe . the reason islamic radicals persecute christians can be traced to culture and politics , but also to extreme interpretations of islamic religious texts that are used to justify that persecution .<doc-sep>a new billboard campaign featuring images of pregnant boys has been launched in chicago with the intended aim of reducing teen pregnancy rates in the city . the chicago department of public health has said it choose the unusual images because it wanted to impress upon young males that teen pregnancy is not just the girl 's responsibility . the ad campaign has been rolled out this week in the city and suburbs , on transit buses , trains and billboards . a new billboard campaign featuring images of pregnant boys has been launched in chicago with the intended aim of reducing teen pregnancy rates in the city . the ad campaign has been rolled out this week in chicago and suburbs , on transit buses , trains and billboards . they have been placed close to local high schools where the teen pregnancy rate has recently increased , reports myfoxchicago . a similar campaign ran in milwaukee last year and has been credited with helping to reduce teen pregnancy rates there . earlier this year a new teen pregnancy prevention ad from new york 's human resources administration -lrb- hra -rrb- came under attack for using ` slut-shaming ' insults to deter unwanted pregnancy . the campaign , which launched on march 3 in bus shelters and subway stations , featured pictures of toddlers next to messages that read : ` honestly , mom ... chances are he . wo n't stay with you ' and ` i 'm twice as likely not . to graduate high school because you had me as a teen . ' a similar campaign ran in milwaukee last year and has been credited with helping to reduce teen pregnancy rates . those ads were accused of using threats and ridicule to ` promote . the difficulties of teen pregnancy , ' instead of offering assistance and eduction to address what the hra calls ` the real costs of teen pregnancy for teens and their children . ' new york city 's planned parenthood denounced the ads , saying they are not the answer . haydee morales , vice . president of education and training explained : ` the latest nyc ad campaign creates stigma , hostility , and negative . public opinions about teen pregnancy and parenthood rather than offering . alternative aspirations for young people . ` the city 's money would be better spent helping teens access . health care , birth control , and high-quality sexual and reproductive . health education , not on an ad campaign intended to create shock value ' an interactive component to the campaign also offered young people the choice to ` text `` notnow '' to 877877 for the real cost of teen pregnancy . ' helpful or harmful ? a new teen pregnancy prevention ad campaign from new york 's human resources administration has come under attack for using ` slut-shaming ' insults to deter unwanted pregnancy . once teens texted the number , they are faced with ` sobering facts about teen pregnancy , ' according to the campaign 's press release . different scenarios depicted how a teen mother would gain an excessive amount of weight , be ignored by the child 's father , and shunned by her parents . however the texts offer no information on how to avoid a pregnancy . ` the ad creates stigma , hostility , and negative . public opinions ... rather than offering . alternative aspirations for young people ' one text message received by mailonline . came from a hypothetical 16-year-old teen named anaya , who wrote : ` omg ! my bf louis and i got pregnant . he was going to take me to prom , now i . will look huge in my dress . should i go ? ' after responding ` yes , ' anaya replied : ` my bff called me a `` fat loser '' at prom . i was devastated . ' a later message added : ` ugh , now i have morning sickness during an exam ! should i throw up or finish the test ? ' the ads were accused of being judgmental and problematic , resulting in emotional anxiety and stress , rather than creating a productive discourse surrounding teen pregnancy . jezebel 's laura beck called the campaign a ` shortsighted outreach ' that will ` create a deeper chasm between the people who want . assistance , and the organizations that are ostensibly offering it . ' insulting or informative ? the campaign , which launched on march 3rd in nyc bus shelters and subway stations , features pictures of toddlers next to messages that have been accused of being ` hostile ' polarizing public opinion : the ads , which aim to ` promote the difficulties of teen pregnancy , ' are being accused of using threats and ridicule instead of offering assistance and eduction to address teen pregnancy . she wrote : ` way to attempt to make every teen mom/person with a teen mom feel like utter s ** t when they ride the subway , nyc ! ` shaming people is n't a pregnancy . prevention tool . education , assistance , and condoms are , but misguided . subway ads are n't . there are so many wonderful teen moms , and this is basically a middle finger to them . ` think of how it must feel for the . child of a teen mom who sees this poster . what message does that send . them ? `` better drop out now , because you 're doomed to fail , '' ' she added . the hra told mailonline that the purpose of the . campaign is to highlight the challenges facing teen parents - hurdles such as raising a child before they are emotionally ready . or financially secure . ` many teens may not be aware that having a . child before they finish school and get married means both that they . are more likely to live in poverty , and that their children will be less . likely to graduate from high school and avoid poverty in their own . lives , ' hra explained . ` eight in 10 teen parents do not marry each other in the first . year , and the parent without custody -lrb- usually the father -rrb- is required to . pay child support until the child is 21 . ' the backbone of the campaign may use factual messages to deliver a ` wake-up call ' , but the strong messages already appear to have backfired . waste of money ? new york city 's planned parenthood said : ` the latest campaign creates ... negative public opinions about teen pregnancy and parenthood rather than offering alternative aspirations for young people ' one . jezebel commenter wrote : ` speaking as the child of a teen mom , i can . also say there 's already a pretty awful sense of guilt that hits you . when you realize that you were unplanned and your birth completely . altered your mother 's life -lrb- and more often than not , negatively affected . the quality of her life -rrb- . so ... yeah . pretty crummy on a couple levels . here . ' there are also many successful . single teen parents who raise brilliant children , a fact not lost on their children . one commenter , who called the campaign a ` slut-shaming pile of garbage ' explained : ` my mum was 17 years old when she had me and i am extremely proud of how we both turned out . ` she may have been young and inexperienced , but the trade off was having a mum who had tons of energy , who was open minded , who gave me a fantastic education in pop culture ... i could talk to her about things that no one else i knew could mention to their parents . ' she continued : ' i would never recommend that someone chooses to be a teenaged mum - but i am who i am because of of my mother , and her age was a part of who she was when i was growing up . ' after mayor bloomberg and commissioner doar unveiled the campaign , mr doar explained in a statement : ` teens giving birth before they are . ready to provide emotional and financial support is not a good way to . raise children . ` we can not dictate how people . live their lives , and sometimes even the best plans do n't work out , but . we must encourage responsibility and send the right message , especially . to young people . '

<t> thousands of teens attend christian rallies each year . </t> <t> many of the rallies attempt to offer an alternative to secular popular culture . </t> <t> opponents say these impose conservative values on vulnerable teenagers . </t>

teen christians campaign against pop culture<T>

san diego , california -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- conditions that created what california gov. arnold schwarzenegger dubbed `` the perfect storm for fire '' eased wednesday , helping firefighters gain ground against devastating southern california wildfires . a plane drops fire retardant on the fourth day of a wildfire pushed by winds through pauma valley , california . winds that gusted as much as 101 mph on sunday dropped to about 30 mph wednesday evening . meanwhile , the dry santa ana winds that have fanned the flames , changed direction and began blowing inland from the pacific ocean , increasing the humidity and easing the burden on almost 8,900 firefighters in the area . but the destruction was taking its toll on the men and women on the front lines of the fires . `` it hurts us to have those homes lost . it hurts us to have those injuries . and it is frustrating for us to watch our community be devastated by this , '' said firefighter andy menshek . as conditions improved , officials allowed people to return to communities that had been off-limits because of intense flames and dense smoke . `` it was home , '' said mark davis , whose two-story rancho bernardo house burned to the ground . `` it was us . we had been there 28 years , and it had a lot of our flavor . '' the change in the weather also meant that firefighting aircraft -- grounded for most of the week by the winds -- could finally fly . california department of forestry and fire protection capt. scott mclean called the droning sound of aircraft the `` sound of joy . '' `` their drops are hitting their mark because the wind is not there , '' he said . the rate of burning had slowed significantly by wednesday . still , the fire damage increased to 434,543 acres , said gov. arnold schwarzenegger . watch schwarzenegger give a progress report ''<doc-sep>that amounted to 679 square miles , or about 10 times the size of washington , d.c. by wednesday evening , the largest fire -- the witch in northern san diego county -- was 10 percent contained . it burned about 196,000 acres before combining with the smaller poomacha blaze . seven fires among the 22 counted wednesday were contained . see where the fires are burning '' others , such as the buckweed fire in los angeles county , were as much as 94 percent contained . one large fire was a suspected arson . the fbi and the orange county fire authority are investigating the santiago fire that has burned more than 19,000 acres . all three of its points of origin have been declared crime scenes , said jim amornino , a spokesman for the orange county sheriff 's department . a $ 70,000 reward is being offered for any information leading to the arrest of those responsible for setting the fire . the blaze was about 50 percent contained after destroying 17 structures . watch the raging flames of the santiago fire '' the smaller rosa fire in riverside county , 70 percent contained at just over 400 acres , was also a probably arson , state officials said . as the fire danger eased , residents were allowed to return to several neighborhoods surrounding san diego : del mar highlands , encinitas , solana beach , carmel valley , chula vista and otay mesa . helicopters were back in the air over the lake arrowhead , california , area after all air activity had been suspended because of extremely smoky skies . in nearby running springs , cnn 's ted rowlands stood in the midst of charred , smoldering rubble strewn with potentially deadly power lines .<doc-sep>`` it will be a while before these people will come back . when they do come back , unfortunately they 'll have this pretty much to look at , '' he said wednesday . watch rowlands describe a major battle with the flames '' about 500 homes were lost in the mountainous region in san bernardino county east of los angeles . see photos of the fires '' `` yesterday we could n't be here , because just this little flame and smoldering pieces of wood would be thrown by the intense winds . ... now you can see the flames just basically burning themselves out , '' said rowlands . the fires have already destroyed 1,664 structures -- including 1,436 homes -- and they still threaten 25,000 more , schwarzenegger said wednesday . the blazes have killed three people and left 40 hurt , he said . the governor will fly over the area thursday with president bush , who signed a major disaster declaration wednesday . watch bush emphasize the need to be responsive '' it 'll speed federal dollars to people whose property losses are n't covered by insurance and will help local and state agencies pay for the emergency response . the cost of homes destroyed by the wildfires is likely to top $ 1 billion in san diego county alone , an emergency official said . federal help keeps arriving as officials promise a response based on lessons learned from hurricane katrina . people left homeless by the fires can go online to apply for federal help at fema.gov , he said . there were 76,000 people staying in the 42 shelters opened in san diego county wednesday morning , according to san diego emergency spokeswoman lynda pfieffer . qualcomm stadium -- home to the nfl 's san diego chargers -- housed 11,000 evacuees at the peak of the disaster , but that number dropped to 5,000 wednesday morning . watch how evacuees are being taken care of at the stadium '' e-mail to a friend . cnn 's kate bolduan contributed to this report .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- authorities expect to allow residents to begin re-entering some of their communities in fire-ravaged bastrop county , texas , this week as firefighters made some headway against the blaze at 50 % containment . four subdivisions will be reopened to evacuated residents monday , with additional openings set for tuesday and thursday , according to a press release from the county . despite the slight gains made by firefighters in bastrop , however , homes continue to burn in a dry spell unseen since 1895 . at least 1,554 homes have been torched so far in the nearly 180 wildfires that broke out over 170,686 acres last week , according to victoria koenig , a spokeswoman for the texas forest service . six people were unaccounted for sunday in bastrop county near austin where the most damaging blaze was burning . authorities are asking those who have not registered at evacuation centers to do so , and are also asking friends or family of those unaccounted for to check in if they know their whereabouts .<doc-sep>dallas -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- once fearing one of the worst days in the state 's history for battling wildfires , texas firefighters got the upper hand sunday on several blazes though others remained out of their control . the six new wildfires reported sunday , all in different counties , were relatively small and quickly brought under control , the texas forest service said in a statement . '' -lrb- firefighters were -rrb- pretty lucky today , '' said alan craft , a spokesman for the state 's lone star incident management team . the most damage -- to an unoccupied mobile home , horse trailer and another building -- occurred over an acre in newton county , but that fire was controlled . eleven structures were threatened and one camper was lost over 129 acres in angelina county , the state agency added . still , despite successes in squelching these blazes , authorities were fighting to manage 19 other , appreciably bigger blazes . this challenge , as well as the weather outlook , had prompted the forest service to state that `` conditions on sunday could shape up to be among the worst in texas history . '' gov. rick perry renewed a disaster proclamation in effect for all of texas ' 249 counties -- even though major fires are occurring in 13 of them -- to expedite assistance in case of new fires , his office said sunday in a statement . in addition to more than 750 personnel working with the texas forest service , the governor 's statement noted that two blackhawk helicopters with the texas military forces , bulldozers from the state transportation department and resources from 60 fire departments statewide were part of the effort . authorities in the lone star state have responded to 6,831 fires over 643,000 acres since wildfire season began . the biggest fire still not under control was continuing sunday in 71,000 acres in parts of stonewall , knox and king counties . air resources , bulldozers , fire engines and other tools and personnel were being used in that fight , the forest service said . another of the hardest slogs may be in presidio county , where none of the 60,000 imperiled acres was considered to be contained sunday . the forest service has deployed three air tankers , 60 firefighters , bulldozers and other equipment and personnel , in addition to a host of other state and local resources , focused on this blaze . already , 30 to 40 homes in fort davis have been lost due to this fire , according to the forest service .<doc-sep>the state firefighting agency went to peak staffing in the first week of april , instead of its usual start in mid-may . thousands . of additional firefighters may be needed in the future , brown said , . adding that california is on the ` front lines ' of climate change that is . making its weather hotter . all evacuation . orders were lifted sunday as ocean breezes and lower temperatures over . the weekend allowed firefighters to get the upper hand on the remaining . fires . they included a 4-square-mile blaze that started in the suburb of . san marcos and three brush fires at camp pendleton . unusually . high temperatures , low humidity and gusty winds set conditions last . week for the string of wildfires that broke out in san diego county , . causing more than $ 20 million in damage . unusually high temperatures , low humidity and gusty winds set conditions last week for the string of wildfires . the .<doc-sep>far from being self-indulgent , wallowing in the past can leave you feeling happier about the future . individuals who are nostalgic about their earlier lives also have a more positive outlook over the years to come , a study has found . the findings suggest that recalling happy memories improves your sense of wellbeing . americans tend to focus on visual details , such as the colour of the decorations or the presents given . ` nostalgia raises self-esteem , which in turn heightens optimism , ' said study co-author dr tim wildschut , from the university of southampton . ` memories of the past can help to maintain current feelings of self-worth and can contribute to a brighter outlook on the future .

<t> local and federal officials probe suspected arson , offer $ 70,000 reward . </t> <t> wind speeds drop , humidity increases after santa ana winds change direction . </t> <t> president bush signs major disaster declaration for southern california . </t> <t> home losses will likely top $ 1 billion in san diego county , official says . </t>

outlook improves as firefighters make headway in wildfires<T>

orange county , california -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- one of the larger fires in southern california was deliberately started by someone with apparent knowledge of arson , a fire official said thursday . firefighter luke perisin sets a backfire wednesday against the santiago fire in live oak canyon , california . the santiago fire in orange county was started in two places along a little-traveled road , according to chief chip prather of the county 's fire authority . the fire , which has burned more than 25,000 acres , was started in brush just off santiago canyon road , not close to homes . it spread rapidly , indicating the arsonist had some knowledge of winds and other factors . `` it is a confirmed arson . there was evidence found at the scene . that is the purpose of our early declaration of it being an arson-caused fire , '' prather said . he would not describe the evidence . watch how the evidence points to arson '' prather said officials originally thought the fire had three points of origin instead of two .<doc-sep>the santiago fire 's points of origin are considered crime scenes , said jim amornino , a spokesman for the orange county sheriff 's department . the reward for information leading to an arrest has increased to $ 250,000 -- $ 50,000 each from the governor 's office , the u.s. agency of alcohol , tobacco , firearms and explosives , and the fbi , prather said . kfi radio has chipped in another $ 100,000 , the sheriff 's department said . the state established a toll-free arson tip line at 800-540-7085 . gov. arnold schwarzenegger said anyone convicted of arson would be dealt with harshly . if a suspect is to be found , `` it 's going to be by a clue from the public , '' said county sheriff mike corona . about 1,100 firefighters were working on controlling the santiago fire , which has destroyed at least 22 structures , according to orange county fire battalion chief kris concepcion . the california department of forestry and fire protection said the fire was only 30 percent contained thursday morning after being 50 percent contained the day before . watch the santiago flames rage '' the motive of the santiago fire 's arsonist was a mystery to concepcion .<doc-sep>`` that 's the part that i really ca n't figure out , to tell you the truth , '' he told cnn . `` that individual knew on sunday when this fire started that we had , really , the perfect storm , if you will . we had the heavy santa ana winds , we had the low relative humidities , we had the high temperatures . `` and then for someone to even think about doing something as reprehensible as starting a fire where they knew the fire would grow as rapidly as it would -- traveling about three , 3 1/2 miles in about an hour -- is just really absolutely unconscionable , '' he said . the smaller rosa fire in riverside county , 100 percent contained at 411 acres thursday morning , was also probably arson , state officials said . meanwhile , los angeles fire department investigators are looking into whether a man who was arrested on suspicion of arson in the san fernando valley may have had a role in any of the ongoing blazes , an l.a. police spokeswoman said . catalino pineda , 41 , was arrested wednesday , officer kate lopez told cnn . witnesses told police they saw him lighting a fire on a hillside in the west hills area of san fernando -- northwest of los angeles -- then walking away , lopez said . pineda was already on probation for `` making excessive false emergency reports '' to police at the time of the arrest , lopez said . his bail has been set at $ 75,000 , she said .<doc-sep>the fire he allegedly set was brought under control , but now authorities want to find out if he had any role in the other wildfires . in san bernardino county , john alfred rund , 48 , was arrested tuesday evening and charged with setting a small fire along a rural roadside near victorville . rund was to be arraigned thursday morning in victorville . he was being held in lieu of $ 750,000 bail . the county 's district attorney 's office on thursday also filed arson charges against anthony riperti , 47 , of redlands . a statement from the office did not say when or where riperti is accused of setting a fire . he is being held on $ 250,000 bail and will be arraigned later thursday . the san diego county sheriff 's department also arrested an adult and a juvenile accused by an anonymous tipster of starting a fire in vista in the northern part of the county . in a written statement , the sheriff 's department identified the adult as gorgonio nava . the vista fire department extinguished the blaze before it grew out of control , the statement said . investigators have determined that the grass valley fire in san bernardino county was not caused by arson , and a preliminary investigation into the cause of the 10,152-acre slide fire seems to indicate arson was not a factor , sheriff 's spokeswoman cindy beaver said . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>a mysterious fire has gutted the $ 90 million mansion built by five-and-dime creator f w woolworth . one of the east coast 's most elaborate estates , the marble-pillared abode was constructed in 1916 - after the family 's first property was mysteriously burned down . ever since , it has been plagued by rumors of paranormal activity as people claim to hear the cries of woolworth 's daughter , who committed suicide in 1917 , from the forever-locked marie antoinette room . on wednesday , flames ripped through the 16-acre glen cove estate , leaving the current owners with millions of dollars worth of damage . scroll down for video . burned down : the blaze erupted on wednesday at the mansion on long island built by five-and-dime store founder f.w. woolworth . former glory : this is what the 16-acre glen cove estate looked like before flames spread through a wing of the 1916 structure . the blaze erupted shortly before 11am in a first-floor bedroom , officials said . flames quickly spread through a wing of the 25,000-square-foot 1916 structure while the owners were out . one firefighter was hospitalized suffering from carbon monoxide-related side effects after 150 officers from 10 different departments responded to the call . the groundskeeper , a part-time firefighter , alerted the fire service after seeing smoke billowing from the house while plowing snow , the wall street journal reported . james hickman , supervisor of the nassau county fire marshal investigations unit said the damage will be expensive .<doc-sep>mr . randeniya said he was satisfied after preliminary investigations that . the cause of the fire was the lantern caught on the site 's own cctv . cameras . the blaze sparked . calls for chinese lanterns to be banned , with senior liberal democrat mp . tim farron saying they were ` immensely dangerous ' . the mp , who has been campaigning for . some time against their use because of farmers ' concerns in his cumbrian . constituency about the impact on crops and livestock , said it had taken . a major incident in an urban area to bring home the dangers of the . lanterns . aerial photo of the fire at the 13-acre jayplas recycling site , which suffered the biggest fire that the west midlands fire service has ever tackled . preliminary investigations blame that the cause of the fire on the lantern caught on the site 's own cctv cameras . the blaze sparked calls for chinese lanterns to be banned , with mps branding them as ` immensely dangerous ' he added it was ` extremely lucky ' that no one was killed . yesterday , labour west bromwich mp tom watson said the lanterns were ` just not safe ' , and also called for a ban . mr randeniya said the chief fire . officers ' association -lrb- cfoa -rrb- - of which he is president - previously .<doc-sep>after three straight days of gusty winds and temperatures in the 90s , temperatures wednesday were about 20 degrees cooler . ` we 've been patient through those red flag conditions . today we 're going to be aggressive , ' said bill hahnenberg , who is leading the fight against the 65,738-acre fire west of fort collins . conditions were also better in central colorado near lake george , where the blaze is more than 20 percent contained , despite the meteor warning . a fire that broke out tuesday in northwestern colorado spread to about 3 square miles , or 2,000 acres , forcing some evacuations in a subdivision , but residents were able to return that night . moffat county sheriff tim jantz said the fire is believed to have started from a cigarette thrown from a vehicle . a huge smoke plume rises from the high park fire which emergency workers say could take weeks to contain . the wind-driven wildfire has already forced hundreds of people to flee for their lives . the largest colorado blaze west of fort collins is only 55 per cent contained according to authorities and has destroyed at least 189 homes . the largest colorado blaze west of fort collins was 55 percent contained and has destroyed at least 189 homes since it was sparked by lightning june 9 . hahnenberg said it could be weeks or even months before it 's finally controlled . in arizona , dense smoke from a wildfire near payson prompted a health watch in the phoenix area . residents were asked to avoid using gas-powered lawn mowers and to limit driving or carpool . meanwhile , a 385-acre fire near sequoia national park in california was 70 percent contained , kern county fire officials said wednesday . two hundred firefighters are battling the blaze on the northwest side of lake isabella and 200 more are on their way , said forest service spokeswoman cindy thill . a firefighter 's boot sits on a table for donations to the red cross outside a colorado bar . a plume of smoke from the massive blaze is pictured rising in this satellite image . emergency workers tackling the blaze say it could be weeks before it is fully put out . about 160 structures , including homes and cabins near the park , were evacuated , but area residents were allowed back in their homes at 6 p.m. wednesday . no structures have burned and no injuries have been reported , thill said . residents in san diego county , meanwhile , have been allowed to home near a 995-acre fire . full containment was expected wednesday night or thursday morning . in wyoming , nearly 300 firefighters are battling a wildfire burning in remote and mountainous area of the medicine bow national forest that has burned about 4 square miles since sunday . an 800-acre wildfire that began tuesday in wyoming and crossed over into colorado is 90 percent contained . trees are shown engulfed in flames in colorado 's high park fire that has already devastated a huge area of forest . a fire crew watches as the little bear fire burns in the lincoln national forest near ruidoso , new mexico . rescuers fear that the fire could blaze for up to a month before it is brought under control . firefighters have resorted to using helicopters to attempt to put out the blaze . in new mexico , a fire that has destroyed 242 homes and businesses in southern new mexico was 60 percent contained . a fire in the gila wilderness , the largest in state history , is at 463 square miles and is 80 percent contained . in arizona , the wildfire causing haze in phoenix made a rapid run to the east , spreading under twin transmission lines that send power to the state 's major metropolitan areas . firefighters were reinforcing containment lines to the north wednesday to keep the blaze from reaching two small communities about three miles away . it 's 8,100 acres , up from 3,700 on tuesday . in nevada , an 18-square-mile wildfire north of ely was 37 percent contained . in hawaii , the largest wildfire of the season has scorched at least 5,200 acres on the big island . two separate fires have been burning there since monday . one came dangerously close to a hospital and forced the closure of its emergency room . a 6-acre fire in maui that damaged three homes was contained late tuesday .<doc-sep>as of saturday , texas forest service personnel were responding to at least 14,758 acres of new fires -- five of them major -- that broke out during the day . a blend of potent winds , dense growth of flammable material and low humidity have made this a challenging season for firefighters in the state , with 195 texas counties banning any burning in a bid to prevent more blazes . the biggest of the new fires saturday was in jack county , where more than 150 homes were threatened and ultimately saved in the town of bryson , according to the forest service . that 7,500-acre fire was 40 % contained as of 11 a.m. sunday . a 1,440-acre fire in trinity county burning in mostly pine forest 20 miles northwest of livingston and 800 acres that imperiled 40 homes in tyler county some 10 miles northeast of kountze were both 50 % contained . two blackhawk helicopters , from the national guard , were called in to assist with the latter blaze , the texas forest service said . some 1,850 acres in cisco were threatened by a new 1,400-acre fire in eastland county that was 75 % contained , and forces had batted down an even higher percentage of the 2,000-acre blaze burning in young county , six miles northeast of graham . all these blazes paled in size to several others elsewhere in texas . the biggest this season has been the so-called rockhouse fire that spanned more than 182,000 acres in presidio and jeff davis counties . that blaze , which destroyed 23 homes and two businesses , is 70 % contained . in coke county , north of san angelo , crews had only managed to contain 10 % of 130,000 acres of what 's being called the wildcat fire . the texas forest service said late sunday afternoon that this blaze was moving north and northwest , making it a threat to the county seat of robert lee and its 1,171 residents . new resources were brought in this weekend to fight this fire , with the state agency saying crews planned to approach it from the south . another major wildfire centered in cooper mountain ranch -- spanning 152,000 acres in kent , stonewall and fisher counties -- was half-contained as of sunday morning , with shifting winds the previous day pushing the flames toward camp springs . cnn 's stephanie gallman contributed to this report .

<t> santiago fire deliberately started in two places , official says . </t> <t> santiago fire grows to 25,000 acres . </t> <t> l.a. authorities investigate man arrested for suspected arson . </t> <t> blaze has destroyed 22 structures . </t>

fire chief : 25,000-acre blaze was set<T>

san diego , california -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- firefighters in southern california are facing wind-whipped walls of flame from 15 wildfires that have scorched more than 400,000 acres and forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes . firefighters battle the witch fire tuesday in the del dios area of escondido , california . the blazes have killed one person and injured at least 70 more . firefighters were aided by resources from mexico , the state and federal governments and even inmates from california 's prisons . san diego fire department battalion chief bruce cartelli described scenes of `` utter devastation '' with hundreds of homes lost and `` many hundreds '' of others damaged . `` it 's probably the worst significant event in my career of 36 years , '' he said . `` it will not end ... until it reaches the ocean or the winds turn around , '' cartelli said . meteorologists suggested that santa ana winds , which have fueled the wildfires with some gusts approaching 100 mph , could die down wednesday afternoon . `` we are still facing some very serious fires , '' homeland security secretary michael chertoff said after an aerial tour of the affected area . `` the weather has made it very difficult for the air assets to get up and fight the fires . ... if the weather cooperates , maybe we can turn the tide tomorrow . '' officials have evacuated nearly 350,000 homes in san diego county alone , where the worst of the fires are blazing . using u.s. census bureau numbers from the 2000 census , that could mean as many as 950,000 were affected by the fires . watch evacuees shaken , firefighters battling '' in san diego county , at least half a million residents had been ordered to find refuge in shelters , schools and stadiums as fires pushed into new areas . among the evacuees as more than 4,000 military personnel from several bases in the area . with the winds pushing them across the area , the fires spread quickly , forcing some residents to flee in the middle of the night . `` my wife woke me up like 12 o'clock , screaming and yelling that the flames were coming down , '' said johnny villanueva of spring valley , who fled with his wife and daughter to san diego 's qualcomm stadium , which is serving as a shelter to more than 12,000 evacuees . `` we just loaded up the car really quick and came down here ... slept in our vehicles . '' his wife , elizabeth , added , `` i saw on the mountain on fire , and said , ` oh my god , my family . ... let 's go . '' with qualcomm stadium being used by the evacuees , the san diego chargers planned to practice at the arizona cardinals ' stadium in glendale for next weekend 's game .<doc-sep>lake arrowhead resident michelle dresser , who owns a business and was chased from her home by a wildfire last year , said she was waiting until the last minute to leave . she spent the night in her store , partly to help customers and neighbors . `` it is crazy . we are surrounded by fire on both sides , '' she said . asked by cnn where she would go , she replied , `` i have to find someplace to accept two dogs , two cats and a turtle . '' watch people staying with pets at refuge '' animals are allowed in qualcomm stadium , a nearby field and del mar fairgrounds and racetrack . president bush is scheduled to visit the area on thursday , the white house said . chertoff arrived in san diego tuesday afternoon for a `` first-hand look '' at the devastation . `` i wanted to see for myself , first of all , how the shelter situation is in san diego , what the fires look like up close , '' chertoff told cnn . the secretary said that the federal response to the wildfires is `` phenomenally better '' than the response to hurricane katrina in 2005 , `` because we have been preparing and planning and training together for the last 2 1/2 years . '' `` unlike in katrina ... we have now built the process ... and we 've rehearsed it , so when we take the field , the team already knows what we need to do , '' he said . see photos of the fires '' and the scene at qualcomm stadium on tuesday did seem to live up to chertoff 's expectations as volunteers cheerily handed out chairs , food and water . thirty-four firefighters have been injured , authorities said . gov. arnold schwarzenegger said he was `` heartbroken '' after touring the lake arrowhead area , where the grass valley and slide fires have burned 5,000 acres and destroyed more than 200 homes . `` this is a tragedy , what is happening in california , '' he told reporters . the combination of dry terrain , searing heat and hammering winds had created `` the perfect storm for fire , '' the governor said . schwarzenegger said about 7,000 firefighters were battling the blazes , including 2,300 inmates from california 's department of corrections and rehabilitation . san diego mayor jerry sanders said the mayor of tijuana , mexico , had sent four fire engines and their crews to help out , and the governor of baja california had offered help . chertoff said cots , blankets , water and other supplies have been moved where they are needed , and more are coming . the federal emergency management agency delivered 25,000 cots to qualcomm early tuesday . at least 150 national guard members are assigned to provide security at the stadium . see where the fires are burning ''<doc-sep>of san diego county 's 10 major fires , the witch fire in the north , which has grown to 200,000 acres , is the priority because of its significant threat to structures , said ron lane , the county 's director of emergency services . the harris fire had burned more than 70,000 acres by mid-morning . in northern los angeles county , the ranch , buckweed , and magic fires have charred more than 93,000 acres and fire officials fear they could merge . `` we want to keep these fires as small as we can , '' said capt. barry parker of the ventura county fire department . the 54,500-acre ranch fire was only two miles away from the 1,200-acre magic fire . the blazes are straddling the l.a.-ventura county line . asked if he had enough resources , parker said , `` we truly do n't . '' `` we 're using a limited amount of resources to go in and fight these fires , '' he said . `` we 've got about 600 people on the ranch fire ; we normally would have about 1,500 . `` so we have to be absolutely surgical in how we plan and how we tactically use our fire equipment because we just simply do n't have enough fire engines in the state of california to battle these blazes . '' in san diego county , a utility spokesman said a 500,000-volt transmission line was damaged when the harris fire expanded , and it will be out of service until at least wednesday . other transmission lines have been destroyed . sanders said mexico 's federal electrical commission was providing power to the area 's grid to help make up for the losses . california also received extensive offers of manpower and equipment from the military . a total of 550 marines were ready for deployment from camp pendleton , north of san diego , and 67 defense department employees -- 12 firefighting teams -- already were engaged . eleven defense department helicopters equipped with water buckets and more than 17,000 national guardsmen were available , along with six c-130 aircraft able to drop water and flame retardant on the flames . but aerial attacks on the fires have been limited by the fierce santa ana winds . the red cross and other groups also were in the wings . they and some other groups were waiting for the flames to die down before bringing in their volunteers . the red cross has set up 11 shelters in the area and housed 3,000 people monday night . more were expected tuesday . a firefighter at rancho bernardo in san diego county showed distress . `` every one of us out here feels like these homes are our own . we know what it 's like to see people 's faces when they 've lost everything . it 's devastating to see so much of this all at once . '' e-mail to a friend . cnn 's thelma gutierrez and dan simon contributed to this report .<doc-sep>by . helen collis and jessica jerreat . published : . 19:10 est , 8 august 2013 . | . updated : . 19:36 est , 8 august 2013 . the wildfires spreading through southern california have left a victim with head-to-toe burns , injured four firefighters and forced 1,500 residents to flee from their riverside county homes today . as 40mph winds fanned the flames , cal fire described the blaze as ` burning uncontrolled ' . it has already destroyed 15 homes and burned 10,000 acres west of palm springs . the unnamed victim with full body burns was taken to a specialist burns center . cal fire riverside chief john hawkins told nbc the person ` tragically was very badly burned ' . a firefighter is also being treated for smoke inhalation.scroll down for video : . battling the blaze : a helicopter drops gallons of water over cabazon in california as wildfires spread . creeping closer : thick plumes of smoke and flames can be seen close to a highway . inferno : a firefighter tries to tackle a blaze in the rugged southern californian mountains . as the wildfires burned across california , a child was killed and a woman believed to the mother was missing after heavy thunderstorms hit south-central missouri yesterday . the region has already seen rainfall . saturate the land , so when heavy thunderstorms hit early yesterday , the . already saturated areas flooded . in california , evacuation orders have been put in place in several areas since the blaze , known as silver fire , began yesterday afternoon . three national forests have also been affected by wildfires , according to cal fire . some residents and sheriff 's deputies were trapped for a brief period of time , and were forced to take shelter , as the fire cut off escape routes , according to the los angeles times . at least 1,000 firefighters are trying to tackle the blaze , which started at 2pm yesterday . the wildfires were so intense that ash was reported to be falling 25 miles away in palm springs , according to nbc news . fighting the flames : at least 1,000 emergency workers are trying to stop the wildfires . exhausting work : fire crews have been trying to halt the fire since wednesday . glow : the blaze lit up the hills in twin pines as fire crews worked through the night . air rescue : pilots fly low over the twin pines and release fire retardant . ` the smoke is so thick here in palm springs , the ashes are coming down like snow , and the air quality is really bad , ' michelle renee robinson-scruggs wrote on nbc la 's facebook page . the fire near banning , which has . devoured nine square miles , injured two firefighters yesterday who both . needed hospital treatment . lucas spelman , . spokesman for the california department of forestry and fire protection , . said about a dozen buildings were damaged or destroyed , but could not . say how many were homes . footage from tv news helicopters and photos from the scene showed several houses in flames . they . include the twin pines home of dave clark , who was pictured talking on . his cellphone with the home fully engulfed in flames behind him . battle : two firefighters -lrb- not pictured -rrb- were injured in the battle to bring the raging wildfire in southern california , near banning , under control . the rage engulfed homes in the twin pines road area , california , pictured , yesterday . blocked : meanwhile , in mid-missouri , the interstate 44 near jerome , pictured , was closed after torrential stormy downpours fell on already saturated land . devastation : many buildings in the poppet flats area , pictured , were destroyed yesterday by the ravaging wildfire , about 90 miles east of los angeles . the blaze , known as silver fire , roared through the area along highway 243 between banning and idyllwild , california . the fire broke out shortly after 2pm near a back-country road south of banning , about 90miles -lrb- 145km -rrb- outside los angeles in riverside county , and within hours had blackened more than 5,000 acres , california department of forestry and fire protection spokesman daniel berlandt said .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- southern california residents and recovery crews continued their cleanup efforts saturday , two days after powerful winds downed power lines , damaged structures and caused other devastation . `` from what we have been told , this was probably the worst windstorm to hit this particular area in over a decade , '' said bob spencer , a spokesman for the los angeles county department of public works . while the weather was good saturday , with clear skies and high temperatures in the 60s , that did n't mean the headaches were over . residents still faced the prospect of new wildfires breaking out and spreading -- as evidenced by the red-flag warning in effect through sunday morning in los angeles and ventura counties . the national weather service issued the warning -- which means that conditions are favorable for fire to grow rapidly if it ignites -- through sunday morning due to gusty northeast winds and low relative humidity .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . published : . 01:09 est , 26 june 2013 . | . updated : . 01:10 est , 26 june 2013 . it may look harmless but the tiny bark beetle , roughly the size of a grain of rice , has been blamed for causing mass devastation in the colorado wildfires . the winged pine beetles have killed off millions of acres of woodland , creating wide stretches of tinder-dry dead trees to feed the fires . more than 75,000 acres have already been scorched in southwest colorado , forcing 600 people to be moved from their homes in what is considered the worst fire to have hit rio grande national forest . tiny danger : bark beetles , such as the red turpentine , kill off pine trees and create ideal wildfire conditions . despite about 900 firefighters trying to halt the fire , it is unlikely that it will be contained until there is rain and a drop in temperature . scientists say that mild winters are partly to blame for the infestation of beetles , and the subsequent wildfires . ` the culprit here is the unusual weather . conditions , which might become the new norm with climate change , ' jesse logan , a retired u.s. forest service researcher , told nbc news . after months of drought and a mild winter , the temperature has not dropped enough to kill off the insects , which has created conditions favorable to beetles and wildfires . the wildfires and beetle .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- this is n't supposed to be happening . not now , anyway . nine confirmed wildfires have already burned nearly 9,200 acres in san diego county . southern california is no stranger to wildfires , but this many fires this early is a shocker . `` this is may , '' carlsbad police capt. paul mendes said . `` this is unbelievable . '' wildfires are n't typically a problem in california until the summer or maybe even the fall , when things get even hotter and drier . so what gives ? the short answer is : a crippling drought and record high temperatures . in other words , it 's bone dry and brutally hot . add to that gusty winds -- and you have a potent mix .

<t> no end `` until it reaches the ocean or the winds turn around , '' official says . </t> <t> nearly 350,000 homes in san diego county evacuated ; 70 people injured . </t> <t> flames have charred 700,000 acres , more than 1,000 homes . </t> <t> not `` enough fire engines in the state of california , '' ventura county official says . </t>

wildfires creating ` utter devastation ' in southern california<T>

san diego , california -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- favorable weather and firefighter reinforcements helped ease the fire danger in parts of southern california thursday , but the human toll from the disaster was still coming to light . a firefighter watches the harris fire . four bodies were found in a canyon in the path of the blaze thursday . the number of deaths attributed directly to the fires grew to seven thursday , after the charred bodies of four people believed to be illegal immigrants were found in a canyon east of san diego . seven other deaths are labeled as fire-related : three elderly people died during evacuations , and four others died after being evacuated . improving conditions allowed more people to come home thursday , but new evacuations were ordered in areas where the unrelenting flames marched on . where residents could return , they often found ash and rubble in place of their homes . `` we see pictures from online and on tv , but it 's just , it 's much different when you see it up front , '' said louela binlac in front of what remained of her rancho bernardo home . `` the most important thing is that our family is still together , everybody is safe , and eventually we will rebuild again , '' she said . `` those things you can replace . we are just all grateful that everybody is safe . '' rancho bernardo resident marilyn wood said it was `` really scary '' to come back to the pile of ashes she once called home . her voice breaking , wood vowed to rebuild and recounted how she and her husband , gordon , fled early monday with only minutes to spare . see photos of the fires '' '' -lrb- our house -rrb- was burning as we were leaving , '' she said . president bush got a firsthand look at the aftermath of the devastating fires thursday -- 10 still burning across seven counties . he promised federal help for those affected by the fires . watch bush tour the damage ''<doc-sep>`` we 're not going to forget you in washington , d.c. , '' the president said after touring the area by air and visiting rancho bernardo with california gov. arnold schwarzenegger . watch a report on bush as ` comforter-in-chief ' '' bush signed a federal disaster declaration wednesday , freeing money to help residents rent temporary homes and repair damaged homes and businesses and to help local and state agencies pay for the emergency response . the cost of homes destroyed by the wildfires is likely to top $ 1 billion in san diego county alone , an emergency official said . people left homeless by the fires can apply online for federal help at fema.gov , said federal emergency management agency director david paulison . watch a tour of fema 's command center '' almost 9,000 firefighters battled the blazes , augmented by reinforcements from dozens of states across the country . twenty-three fires have scorched 472,478 acres -lrb- 738 square miles -rrb- , an area roughly three-quarters of the size of rhode island . see where the fires are still burning '' along with homes and businesses , the flames have destroyed roughly one-third of san diego county 's lucrative avocado crop , along with other croplands , greenhouses and nurseries . a change in the winds -- from a ferocious 100 mph on sunday to an almost manageable 10 mph on thursday -- brought welcome relief and allowed a full-bore aerial assault on the fires . reinforcements from across the country arrived to aid the exhausted firefighters , officials said . while the fires still threatened some 25,000 homes , the burn rate in the region -- a measure made up of factors like wind speed , humidity and available fuel -- was significantly lower thursday , a spokeswoman at the california department of forestry and protection said . residents of several communities , including the city of san diego , were allowed to return home wednesday and thursday , but more evacuations were ordered -- the latest covering the communities of lake henshaw and mesa grande and the la jolla indian reservation in san diego county .<doc-sep>with the shifting fires , some shelters closed as others opened closer to danger . in san diego , mayor jerry sanders announced that qualcomm stadium -- the home of nfl 's chargers that held 11,000 evacuees at the height of the fires but dropped to 750 wednesday night -- would close to evacuees . `` as we transition from a large-scale emergency evacuation center into the recovery process , we have begun assisting all evacuees to find more suitable shelter and housing , '' sanders said . `` toward that end , qualcomm will close as an emergency shelter at noon tomorrow -lsb- friday -rsb- . '' meanwhile , arson investigations were under way in orange and riverside counties in connection with some of the wildfires . watch how arson investigators look for clues '' the orange county sheriff 's department announced a $ 250,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the 23,000-acre santiago fire , local officials said . watch the raging flames of the santiago fire '' `` for someone to even think about doing something as reprehensible as starting a fire , where they knew that the fire would grow as rapidly as it would , traveling about three , 3 1/2 miles in about an hour , is just , is really absolutely unconscionable , '' orange county battalion chief kris concepcion said on cnn 's `` american morning . '' the fbi and the atf are assisting orange county authorities with the investigation . in addition , the california department of forestry and fire protection considers the rosa fire in riverside county an arson case . that fire burned more than 400 acres before being fully contained . in other arson investigations , two men have been arrested in san bernardino county , one in san fernando and an adult and a juvenile in san diego county . none are believed connected with the major fires burning in the area . e-mail to a friend . copyright 2007 cnn . all rights reserved.this material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten , or redistributed . associated press contributed to this report .<doc-sep>san diego , california -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- conditions that created what california gov. arnold schwarzenegger dubbed `` the perfect storm for fire '' eased wednesday , helping firefighters gain ground against devastating southern california wildfires . a plane drops fire retardant on the fourth day of a wildfire pushed by winds through pauma valley , california . winds that gusted as much as 101 mph on sunday dropped to about 30 mph wednesday evening . meanwhile , the dry santa ana winds that have fanned the flames , changed direction and began blowing inland from the pacific ocean , increasing the humidity and easing the burden on almost 8,900 firefighters in the area . but the destruction was taking its toll on the men and women on the front lines of the fires . `` it hurts us to have those homes lost . it hurts us to have those injuries . and it is frustrating for us to watch our community be devastated by this , '' said firefighter andy menshek . as conditions improved , officials allowed people to return to communities that had been off-limits because of intense flames and dense smoke . `` it was home , '' said mark davis , whose two-story rancho bernardo house burned to the ground . `` it was us . we had been there 28 years , and it had a lot of our flavor . '' the change in the weather also meant that firefighting aircraft -- grounded for most of the week by the winds -- could finally fly . california department of forestry and fire protection capt. scott mclean called the droning sound of aircraft the `` sound of joy . '' `` their drops are hitting their mark because the wind is not there , '' he said . the rate of burning had slowed significantly by wednesday . still , the fire damage increased to 434,543 acres , said gov. arnold schwarzenegger . watch schwarzenegger give a progress report ''<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a california jury wednesday recommended the death penalty after convicting a man on murder and arson charges in the deaths of five u.s. forest service firefighters who died in a 2006 blaze outside los angeles . smoke rises over a flag flying at half-staff for fallen firefighters october 27 , 2006 , in banning , california . raymond lee oyler of beaumont , california , was convicted on five counts of first-degree murder , including two special circumstances -- that the murders were committed during an arson and that multiple murders were committed -- making him eligible for the death penalty . oyler was also convicted of 11 counts of arson and 10 counts of use of an incendiary device in those arsons .<doc-sep>fire safety education and training in bangladesh . ` as part of this effort , we partnered . with several independent organizations to develop and roll out fire . safety training tools for factory management and workers . continued . engagement is critical to ensure that reliable , proactive measures are . in place to reduce the chance of factory fires . ' according to reports , the death toll . is still rising . by sunday morning , firefighters had recovered 100 . bodies , fire department operations director maj. mohammad mahbub said , though the death toll could rise as crews search the charred debris . another further 12 people who had suffered injuries after jumping from the building to escape the fire later died at hospitals . the cause of the blaze was not immediately clear . mr mahbub said the fire broke out on the ground floor , which is used as a warehouse , and spread quickly to the upper floors . ` the factory had three staircases , . and all of them were down through the ground floor , ' he said . ` so the . workers could not come out when the fire engulfed the building . tough task : a firefighter tries to control the fire at a garment factory in savar , outskirts of dhaka . tragic : firefighters try to control a fire in a garment factory in savar , on the outskirts of dhaka . ` had there been at least one emergency exit through outside the factory , the casualties would have been much lower . ' mr mahbub said firefighters recovered 69 bodies from the second floor of the factory alone . he said most of the victims had been trapped inside the factory with no emergency exits leading outside the building . many workers who had taken shelter on . the roof of the factory were rescued , but firefighters were unable to . save those who were trapped within . army . soldiers and paramilitary border guards were deployed to help police . keep the situation under control as thousands of onlookers and anxious . relatives of the factory workers gathered at the scene , mahbub said . he would not say how many people were still missing . the . bangladesh garment manufacturers and exporters association , the apex . body of the garment sector , said the association would stand by the . victims ' families . hoping and praying : colleagues stand beside asma , a garment worker , who was injured in the devastating fire .<doc-sep>` so . yeah , it 's tough , it 's tough to have this kind of operation , ' he . continued . ` and i reacted , obviously , in a way that anybody does with . respect to , you know , young children and civilians . but war is tough . ' on sunday , the first major ground battle in two weeks of israel-hamas fighting killed 65 palestinians and 13 israeli soldiers and forced thousands of terrified palestinian civilians to flee their neighborhood , reportedly used to launch rockets at israel and now devastated by the fighting . air strikes : previously , israel launched only air strikes against hamas militants in gaza . israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu said the offensive would continue ` as long as necessary ' to end attacks from gaza on israeli civilians . but hamas seems defiant , international cease-fire efforts are stalled , and international criticism is becoming more vocal as the death toll among palestinian civilians rises . u.n. chief ban ki-moon called israel 's latest incursion ` atrocious , ' and said it must do far more to protect civilians .

<t> new : qualcomm stadium to close as an emergency shelter at noon friday . </t> <t> charred bodies of three men and a woman found near san diego . </t> <t> more than half of southern california fires are fully contained . </t> <t> bush to fire victims : we 're not going to forget you in washington . </t>

firefighters gain ground in california , but death toll rises<T>

khartoum , sudan -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a sudanese court found a british teacher guilty of insulting religion and sentenced her to 15 days in prison thursday for allowing a teddy bear to be named `` mohammed , '' british authorities and her lawyer reported . an undated amateur photo of gillian gibbons , who has been found guilty of insulting religion . gillian gibbons also faces deportation from sudan after her prison term , her lawyer told cnn . he said that he was `` very disappointed '' with the verdict and that gibbons planned to appeal . gibbons was not convicted of two other charges brought against her -- inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs , her lawyer said . gibbons , 54 , was arrested sunday after she asked her class of 7-year-olds in khartoum to name the stuffed animal as part of a school project , the british foreign office said . she had faced charges under article 125 of sudan 's constitution , the law relating to insulting religion and inciting hatred . although there is no ban in the quran on images of allah or the prophet mohammed , islam 's founder , likenesses are considered highly offensive by muslims . watch latest developments in the case . '' appearing somber and dazed , gibbons arrived at the central courthouse in khartoum for her closed hearing early thursday . a staff member from the british embassy in khartoum and defense lawyers attended the hearing with her .<doc-sep>the courthouse was heavily guarded by police , who kept journalists -- and , for a while , even one of her attorneys -- away . gibbons could have faced a sentence of 40 lashes , a fine , or a jail term of up to a year , according to the foreign office , which expressed britain 's dissatisfaction with the verdict . `` we are extremely disappointed that the charges against gillian gibbons were not dismissed , '' foreign secretary david miliband said in a statement issued shortly after the verdict was announced . `` as i said this morning , our clear view is that this is an innocent misunderstanding by a dedicated teacher . our priority now is to ensure ms. gibbons ' welfare , and we will continue to provide consular assistance to her . i have called in the sudanese ambassador , omer siddig , this evening to explain the decision and discuss next steps . '' watch a report on reactions to the verdict '' the foreign office said gibbons would be given credit for the four days since her arrest , meaning that the she has 11 days remaining on her sentence . earlier , miliband had met with siddig , who was summoned to the foreign office in london . `` i explained to him that we were very concerned by the case . we believe that this was an innocent misunderstanding , '' miliband said in a statement released thursday after the meeting . `` the sudanese ambassador undertook to ensure our concerns were relayed to khartoum at the highest level . he also said he would reflect back to khartoum the real respect for the islamic religion in this country , '' the statement added .<doc-sep>on the first floor of the courthouse , around 25 police linked arms and forced journalists and british officials away from the court entrance . police detained some journalists , and confiscated a camera belonging to a freelance cnn cameraman . four vans filled with riot police were waiting outside the courthouse , but there were no signs of street disturbances or protests . staff from gibbons ' school , including robert boulos , the head of unity high school , were present . the staff members refused to comment on their colleague 's predicament . on wednesday , boulos said he was `` horrified '' when he found out that the complaint about the naming of the bear came from a member of his own staff -- not from a parent , as originally thought . defense counsel later confirmed that the complaint came from sarah khawad , a secretary at the school . gibbons has been working at the school -- popular with wealthy sudanese and expatriates -- since august , after leaving her position as deputy head teacher at a primary school in liverpool , england , this summer , boulos said . he said gibbons asked the children to pick their favorite name for the new class mascot , which she was using to aid lessons about animals and their habitats . e-mail to a friend . journalist andrew heavens contributed to this report . copyright 2007 cnn . all rights reserved.this material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten , or redistributed . associated press contributed to this report .<doc-sep>khartoum , sudan -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- in an effort to shut down khartoum 's unity high school , a disgruntled former employee alerted sudanese officials that a british teacher had allowed her class to name a teddy bear `` mohammed , '' a british source and sudanese presidential palace source told time magazine 's sam dealey . an undated amateur photo shows gillian gibbons , who was jailed for allowing children to name a teddy bear `` mohammed '' . gillian gibbons , 54 , was convicted last week of insulting religion and sentenced to 15 days in jail and deportation . sudan 's president omar al-bashir pardoned her from her prison sentence on monday and she later left on a flight for england . the two sources said sarah khawad was fired as the school 's secretary in november after an employment spat and threatened to shut down the school . the sources said khawad did not appear to have a vendetta against gibbons , but hoped that by bringing the teddy bear incident to the education minister 's attention , he would close down the school for anti-islamic teachings . watch time magazine 's sam dealey 's report on the pardon '' the private school was shut down after the controversy came to light last week . it is unclear if it will reopen .<doc-sep>khartoum , sudan -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- in an effort to shut down khartoum 's unity high school , a disgruntled former employee alerted sudanese officials that a british teacher had allowed her class to name a teddy bear `` mohammed , '' a british source and sudanese presidential palace source told time magazine 's sam dealey . an undated amateur photo shows gillian gibbons , who was jailed for allowing children to name a teddy bear `` mohammed '' . gillian gibbons , 54 , was convicted last week of insulting religion and sentenced to 15 days in jail and deportation . sudan 's president omar al-bashir pardoned her from her prison sentence on monday and she later left on a flight for england . the two sources said sarah khawad was fired as the school 's secretary in november after an employment spat and threatened to shut down the school . the sources said khawad did not appear to have a vendetta against gibbons , but hoped that by bringing the teddy bear incident to the education minister 's attention , he would close down the school for anti-islamic teachings . watch time magazine 's sam dealey 's report on the pardon '' the private school was shut down after the controversy came to light last week . it is unclear if it will reopen .<doc-sep>khartoum , sudan -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a british teacher arrested in sudan after allowing her class to name a teddy bear `` mohammed '' has been charged by authorities with offending religion , british officials say . an undated amateur photo of gillian gibbons . gillian gibbons , 54 , is being held by police in the capital khartoum after she asked her class of seven-year-olds to come up with a name for the toy as part of a school project , robert boulos , the head of unity high school told cnn . it is expected that she will appear in court thursday , sudan state media reported . a british foreign office spokeswoman said gibbons had been charged under article 125 of sudan 's constitution , the law relating to insulting religion and inciting hatred . the spokeswoman said the sudanese ambassador had been summoned to the offices of the british foreign secretary david miliband to discuss the case . gibbons was arrested under the country 's islamic sharia law after parents of some of her students complained to police . hear about the charges against gibbons '' under country 's law , the offense is punishable with 40 lashes , a jail term of up to a year or a fine . khalid mubarak , the media counselor at the sudan embassy in london , said the judicial process was taking its course but added that even if gibbons was found guilty `` the question of punishment is a long way off . ''<doc-sep>khartoum , sudan -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- hundreds of angry protesters , some waving ceremonial swords from trucks equipped with loud speakers , gathered friday outside the presidential palace to denounce a teacher whose class named a teddy bear `` mohammed '' -- some calling for her execution . an undated amateur photo of gillian gibbons , who has been found guilty of insulting religion . the protesters , which witnesses said numbered close to 1,000 , swore to fight in the name of their prophet . gillian gibbons , 54 , was given 15 days in jail late thursday after she was convicted of insulting religion . she was cleared of charges of inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs , her lawyer , ali ajeb , said . ajeb said they planned to appeal the sentence , which begins from the date she was detained , nov. 25 . including friday , she has 10 more days in jail . british foreign secretary david miliband said he was `` extremely disappointed '' that the charges were not dismissed . meanwhile senior british lawmakers were en route to khartoum to try to secure gibbons ' early release . the two members of the house of lords were set to arrive in khartoum about 5 a.m. saturday -lrb- 9 p.m. friday et -rrb- , time magazine reporter sam dealey told cnn , citing british and sudanese sources . they will meet with government ministers and sudanese president omar al-bashir , he said . sources close to the british government and the republican palace in sudan say it is expected that a deal will be reached , and gibbons will be released , dealey said . visas for the two , he said , were granted `` in record time ... by sudanese standards . '' friday 's demonstrations began as worshippers spilled out of mosques in the capital after friday prayers . they marched to the palace , which is on the same street as unity high school , where gibbons taught grade school students . those who named the bear were 7 years old . a heavy police presence was maintained outside the school , but no demonstrators were there . watch men brandish knives , shout '' armed with swords and sticks , the protesters shouted : `` by soul , by blood , i will fight for the prophet mohammad . '' western journalists who attempted to talk to the protesters were ushered away by men in plain clothes . gibbons is being held in a women 's prison in the omdurman district of khartoum , and she will be deported at the end of her prison term , british consular officials told cnn . british embassy staff said they were giving the teacher -- from the northern british city of liverpool -- full consular assistance . in leaflets distributed earlier this week by muslim groups , the protesters promised a `` popular release of anger '' at friday 's protests . the leaflets condemned gibbons as an `` infidel '' and accused her of `` the pollution of children 's mentality '' by her actions . omer mohammed ahmed siddig , the sudanese ambassador to britain , was summoned for a second time to meet with the british foreign secretary late thursday after the court 's ruling . miliband also spoke to the sudanese acting foreign minister for 15 minutes on the telephone during the meeting , the british foreign office said . `` our priority now is to ensure ms. gibbons ' welfare and we will continue to provide consular assistance to her , '' miliband said in a statement . the foreign office said there would be further talks with the sudanese government friday . gibbons was arrested sunday after she asked her class to name the stuffed animal as part of a school project , the foreign office said . she had faced charges under article 125 of sudan 's constitution , the law relating to insulting religion and inciting hatred . she could have received a sentence of 40 lashes , a fine or jail term of up to a year , according to the foreign office . british newspapers condemned gibbons ' conviction , with the daily telegraph calling for the recall of the british ambassador from khartoum and sanctions against the heads of the sudanese government . watch a report on reactions to the verdict '' in an editorial , the tabloid newspaper , the sun , said gibbons ' jailing was a `` grotesque insult to islam '' and called gibbons `` an innocent abroad . '' four vans filled with riot police were waiting outside the courthouse at thursday 's hearing , but there were no disturbances . staff from gibbons ' school , including director robert boulos , were present . defense counsel later confirmed that the complaint against gibbons came from sarah khawad , a secretary at the school . gibbons has been working at the school , popular with wealthy sudanese and expatriates , since august , after leaving her position as deputy head teacher at a primary school in liverpool this summer , boulos said . he said gibbons asked the children to pick their favorite name for the new class mascot , which she was using to aid lessons about animals and their habitats . e-mail to a friend .

<t> british teacher in sudan found guilty of insulting religion . </t> <t> gillian gibbons , 54 , arrested after her class named teddy bear `` mohammed '' </t> <t> gibbons was not convicted of two other charges brought against her . </t> <t> uk consular staff , gibbons ' defense team initially refused access to the court . </t>

` teddy bear ' teacher gets 15-day prison term in sudan<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- if you thought it was difficult managing your own money in 2007 , consider the pressure of the task when you 're dealing with $ 1.8 trillion of client assets . sallie krawcheck has made fortune 's list of the world 's most powerful women every year since 2002 . that 's what sallie krawcheck does as chairman and chief executive of citi global wealth management . she joined the banking industry as a research analyst , but quickly rose through the ranks , gaining a reputation for honesty and integrity along the way . dubbed the `` mrs clean '' of wall street , ms krawcheck was credited with restoring investors ' faith in analyst reports while head of retail brokerage firm smith barney . she joined citigroup in 2002 , and spent some time as chief financial officer before taking up her current role in march 2007 . sallie krawcheck has been a regular entrant on fortune 's list of the world 's most powerful women in business -- in 2007 , she made number 12 . john defterios caught up with ms krawcheck in dubai . he asked her for her views on the movement of capital outside the g8 -lrb- canada , france , germany , italy , japan , russia , the united kingdom and the united states -rrb- . sallie krawcheck -lrb- sk -rrb- : i think what 's happening right now , it 's fascinating because in the united states and in developed europe we 're having a liquidity crunch -- someone might argue a liquidity crisis . and in fact , we are awash with liquidity in the middle east and in asia as well , so there 's really a bifurcation that 's occurring in the world . and if you think about , oil does n't even have to stay at the 90-plus dollar level it is ; even at levels in the 70 's , 60 's , 50 's , 40 's , a tremendous amount of liquidity is being generated in these markets which is really being put back into the market . yes , the investments are going up globally , but the governments here really are investing back in the infrastructure and the economies of this region . and so over time , you 're really going to see ... i think continue to see ... a shift in economic activity on a relative basis from the more developed economies here to the middle east as well as to asia . john defterios -lrb- jd -rrb- : it 's coming almost as a perfect storm ; we have a sub prime crisis , a 20 percent fall in the dollar in the last two years . in this window of time , is there a danger that the financial capitals build outside of wall street and it undermines its role ? -lrb- sk -rrb- : i think there is no doubt that new york is losing its status as a financial capital of the world . if you think about some years ago , if you think about the internet bubble for example , where it was new york and california was n't it ? and you look at a whole range of reasons for it , and the sub prime crisis perhaps , the decline of the dollar perhaps . but you have overlapping regulators in the united states , you have very high taxes in the united states , you have a very litigious environment in the united states , and you have the emerging markets coming up , so capital is being raised outside of the united states . these things , some of which are negative for the united states , some of which are positive for the other regions , is accelerating a shift that was underway from new york , to london , to hong kong , to singapore , and potentially to dubai as well . -lrb- jd -rrb- : some of the wealth funds are now on the radar of both wall street and capitol hill in washington . you ca n't have your cake and eat it too . you ca n't say i want some of that liquidity but i only want part of that liquidity . what is the result of that do you think ? can you over-regulate the sovereign funds ? -lrb- sk -rrb- : oh , i think you can over-regulate the sovereign funds . i think the same question can be asked of the private equity funds and the hedge funds as well ; where in a lot of countries the regulators have been struggling with the issue of ` here are very important drivers of global markets and global liquidity ' . and the concern is if , gee these are going to be important going forward , we want to have these involved in our economy and our markets , but if we regulate this alone that money will skitter away to another market -- to a market outside the united states or europe for example . -lrb- jd -rrb- : it 's fascinating because if you look at qatar or egypt or shanghai , the stock markets have almost had like a one way path ; there 's been some correction here in the middle east . but what are we likely to see here , stair steps up the ladder with some corrections along the way , or an implosion because of the rapid gains ? -lrb- sk -rrb- : i think you 've got to separate the idea of what 's going on in the real economies and what 's going on in the market places . they move together , but sometimes they separate , they diverge , and they can diverge for a long period of time . if you look at economic growth potential of the middle east , of asia , of latin america , we feel very bullish about this . and i was making the point earlier today , china has been growing at 11 or 12 percent , not for one year or two years , but literally for 30 years . for 30 years it 's been growing at that kind of rate and really can continue as far as the eye can see . so , say the same thing for the middle east , the growth even at a lower oil price can be significant , but can be high single digit or double digit for some foreseeable period going forward . -lrb- jd -rrb- : is wall street , or for that matter , london or any other financial center ready for a woman -- for example in your case , 1.4 trillion dollars of assets ... -lrb- sk -rrb- : 1.8 thank you ... -lrb- jd -rrb- : ... to run one of the major money center banks of the world ? i 'm sure you 're feeling this pressure even though you 're young by international standards . are we ready for a woman to take over a money center bank ? -lrb- sk -rrb- : well it looks like the united states may be ready for a woman to take over as president . so i think if we 're ready to potentially have a woman run the country , i think we are getting ready as a country , to potentially have a woman run a money center bank . now , you know , the board would n't ask and i would n't accept , but if you look across wall street , there are a few women who are putting themselves in positions to be successors the next time there are ceo 's who move along , and i think it 's a very exciting development for the industry and for the country . have your say . email us at mme@cnn.com, or send an i-report . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>by . steve nolan . published : . 09:02 est , 7 june 2013 . | . updated : . 11:28 est , 7 june 2013 . forced out : sallie krawcheck quit her role as head of the wealth management division of bank of america in september 2011 after a restructuring programme eliminated her role . the business executive once dubbed ` the most powerful woman on wall street ' has said that she was ` grateful ' when she was forced out of her role at the world 's largest wealth management company . sallie krawcheck , once described as ` the last honest analyst ' , quit her role as president of the wealth management unit at bank of america in 2011 when her role was eliminated as part of a restructuring programme . but rather than harbouring any feelings of resentment towards her former employer , ms krawcheck says that her departure from the company made her realise how important she actually was . ms krawcheck was reportedly paid $ 6million by the company when she left . according to the huffington post , she told the audience at a conference on women in business yesterday : ' i got grateful when i got fired . ' i said `` how many people get to get fired and it 's on the front page of the wall street journal ? ' following . her firing , several stories appeared claiming that ms krawcheck was a .<doc-sep>huge loss to wall street and lamenting the low glass ceiling for women . in the finance industry . her . focus now is to help other women reach similar positions of prominence . after recently become an investor at 85 broads - an organisation which . helps women further their business careers . she also claimed that wall street . companies need to allow employees to have a healthier work-life balance . before the industry can become more diverse . ms . krawcheck said : ` we went into the downturn with the financial services . companies white , male and middle-aged and we left with them whiter and . more middle-aged . ' important : sallie krawcheck , the former president of the global wealth & investment management division of bank of america , is grateful that she was forced out of the company in 2011 . expert : ms krawcheck is pictured speaking at a conference on women in business back in april . 1987 : ms krawcheck takes her first job on wall street for salomon brothers but leaves after three years to go back to studying .<doc-sep>familiar face : tattooed model and dj sallie axl was the second to enter the big brother house . getting lucky : sallie with the only way is essex star tom pearce in april . the pair had obviously met up at the dstrkt nightclub and were spotted all over each other as they left the venue in the early hours . then then hopped into a taxi together , presumably to get to know each other better . making her debut on the new series of the channel 5 reality show on thursday night , the bisexual model showed off plenty of her figure and tattoos in her skimpy outfit as she made her way into the house . in fact , sallie 's outfit choice quickly earned her the nickname ` sideboob sallie ' among viewers who tweeted their shock at the revealing nature of the ensemble . not exactly demure : the dj showed off her tattoo sleeves and a whole lot of side boob in skimpy ensemble . what do you think of this year 's big brother contestants ? sallie boasted she had slept with over 70 girls , but describes them as ` head f**k s ' . she also claims to have slept with various celebrities , including footballers ... and presumably tom . she is currently single , having ended her last relationship after discovering her ` weirdo ' boyfriend going through her phone .<doc-sep>while at sanford bernstein , she gained a reputation for her honesty and integrity and was even dubbed by fortune magazine as the ` last honest analyst ' . she peaked at number six in forbes magazine 's list of the world 's 100 most powerful women back in 2006 . she also won the fortune magazine most powerful woman in business award every year between 2002 and 2009 . ms krawcheck gained a reputation as an ` honest analyst ' at sanford c. bernstein . where she worked her way up to chief executive before she moved on to . citigroup . devoted to her job : ms krawcheck has previously spoken candidly about her lack of regret at not staying at home with her children and sometimes working 90 hour weeks . but she left the company in 2008 when she reportedly had a fall out with then-citigroup ceo vikram pandit . she moved on to bank of america in 2009 after the company had acquired merrill lynch . ms krawcheck has previously spoken . candidly about her lack of regret at not staying at home with her . children and sometimes working 90 hour weeks . it was reported when she left bank of america that she had few ties to any of the powerful cliques within the bank . her position was scrapped by chief executive brian moynihan as part of restructuring that he called ` de-layering ' . highly regarded : ms krawcheck was once dubbed the most powerful woman in wall street .

<t> mme speaks with sallie krawcheck , boss of citi global wealth management . </t> <t> ranked by fortune magazine as world 's 12th most powerful woman in 2007 . </t> <t> manages client assets worth $ 1.8 trillion , formerly bank 's cfo . </t> <t> tells mme : `` we 're very bullish '' on economic potential of the middle east . </t>

face time with sallie krawcheck<T>

editor 's note : ann curley is the assignment manager for the cnn medical news unit . she has been a type i diabetic for 40 years . this is her story of life with diabetes . ann curley uses a pump attached to a catheter in her body to monitor glucose levels and administer insulin . -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- when i was 7 years old , my mom took me to the doctor because i had lost a lot of weight , despite a voracious appetite . my family had just moved from the san francisco bay area to pasadena , california , and this visit to the doctor 's office was my introduction to a man who would come to have a huge impact on my life . his name was dr. robert deputy , and he was the pediatrician who diagnosed me with diabetes . he spoke to me directly , rather than to my mother , and he asked me questions : did i feel thirsty ? did i need to urinate during the night ? the answer to both questions was yes . he asked for a urine sample and the result was immediate . dr. deputy told me and my mother that my body was n't processing sugar properly . i had diabetes . that is how my 40-year journey with diabetes began . i was checked into a hospital to learn how to test my urine for sugar , give myself injections of insulin , follow a diabetic diet and control my diabetes . i spent several days in the hospital learning how to manage my disease , and then they sent me home . dr. deputy would call our house each afternoon to check on me and see how i was doing . much to my parents ' chagrin -- and to my delight -- he wanted me to be self sufficient and responsible for monitoring myself . i refused to let my parents give me injections or test my urine . this demand for self sufficiency turned out to be one of my best life lessons , and not just for managing my diabetes . while some diabetics may feel their disease is a burden , i feel that being diagnosed with diabetes was a blessing in disguise . it forced our family to eat healthily , and it taught me about good nutrition -- something i practice every day . i know carbohydrate counts in most foods , and i understand dietary concepts that most people do n't even care about . being active is also a way to burn off high blood sugar , so when my urine tested positive for glucose , my older sister robin was in charge of exercising me . we had countless jump-rope contests , bike rides and roller-skating excursions , keeping me and my three sisters active and fit . and i felt like a little mad scientist , using a test tube with drops of water , urine and fizzy tablets to see if there was sugar in my urine . fortunately , over time , technology improved . first , test strips were developed that could be dipped in urine to reveal whether sugar was present in it . but the truth is , testing urine for sugar was a primitive method . by the time sugar gets into the urine , it 's a signal that the body does n't have enough insulin to process sugar . and the urine test did n't give an actual number for the amount of sugar in the urine . it simply gave a color reading that corresponded with a range of how much sugar was present in the urine . inaccurate was really an understatement when you talk about urine testing . home blood glucose testing kits became available in the early 1980s , and they were a huge move toward precise control and management of diabetes . with the kit , the diabetic uses a device to poke a finger and produce a drop of blood . the blood is placed on a test strip that fits into a device that produces a reading of the blood glucose within seconds . while i initially balked at the idea of pricking my finger several times a day , now i ca n't imagine not doing it in order to monitor what my blood sugar is doing . the 1980s also saw the advent of the insulin pump . this device is the size of a pager and contains a reservoir filled with insulin . the reservoir connects to a tube that infuses the insulin into the body with a tiny plastic shunt . so rather than taking multiple injections to mimic the body 's insulin patterns , the pump drips insulin into the body to keep blood sugars constant , then gives extra amounts with meals . another life-altering development in diabetes , which i have discovered in the last year , is the continuous glucose monitor , or cgm . this is a small device inserted into the tissue -- usually the abdomen , hip or leg -- and it has a tiny sensor that reads the glucose level of the body 's fluids . the data is transmitted to a receiver , and patients can see a constant reading of their blood sugar levels . i have participated in clinical trials for three different cgm devices , and i found them all to be quite accurate . some sensors transmit data directly to an insulin pump , so you can use the reading to adjust and fine-tune the amount of insulin being pumped into the body . the patient still has to test his or her blood sugar to confirm the sensor is properly calibrated , but it 's amazing to be able to see constant readings and graphs of what your blood sugar is doing and better manage blood sugars . cgm technology is a step toward the ultimate goal of controlling type i diabetes using what 's called a `` closed loop system . '' this means diabetics someday will be able to wear a pump that gathers data from a sensor so precise that the pump can be programmed to act on its own and make adjustments all by itself . the current systems are `` open looped , '' meaning the diabetic controls when the doses are given . the goal is to eventually create a pump that is more like a robotic delivery system , and all the patient has to do is wear it . once that technology is perfected , this type of device would be implanted , which would be the next best thing to not having diabetes . i mentioned to my sister robin that i had tracked down dr. deputy for this article . she told me something i did n't know when i was 7 . forty years ago , before the advent of all of the cool diabetes technology such as insulin pumps , continuous glucose monitors and blood sugar testing , parents were given a fairly grim prediction for how their child would fare . dr. deputy told my parents that i would probably only live to the age of 20 or 30 , which apparently -- but not surprisingly -- had the whole family freaked out . i spoke with dr. deputy , who recently retired from his pediatric practice , and he seemed to remember me . when i asked him about his dismal prognosis for my survival , he said sadly , `` at that time , that was what we told parents back then . ... everything changes with time -- diabetes , leukemia -- technology has changed with the pump and the equipment . '' i think he was relieved that his prognosis was wrong . i know that i certainly am . in fact , i am hoping to live another 40 years ! e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>by . anna hodgekiss . published : . 12:23 est , 14 december 2012 . | . updated : . 15:28 est , 14 december 2012 . life expectancy around the world has soared , but we are now living with health problems that cause us years of pain , disability and mental distress . this ` devastating irony ' , as researchers describe it , is one of the key findings of a landmark study assessing the global health in the history of medicine . from 1990 to 2010 , life expectancy continued to increase in most parts of the world . the average age of death rose from 59 to 70 , with women outliving men by about five years . the map below highlights the average life expectancy by area , with scandinavia and australia having the oldest populations . world life expectancy map . the map shows the average life expectancy for men around the world in 2009 . the overall global life expectancy has risen from 59 in 1990 , to 70 today . however , as the population has aged , the number of years that people live with chronic diseases and disabilities , such as back pain , diabetes , arthritis and depression , has also risen . today 's major health problems now are diseases and conditions that do n't kill , but make us ill . we now live longer with more health problems that cause pain , impair mobility , and prevent us seeing , hearing and thinking clearly .<doc-sep>by . emma innes . dr max pemberton says he would rather have hiv than type 2 diabetes . the thought of hiv strikes fear into the hearts of many people . in contrast , type 2 diabetes is rapidly becoming normalised and many people see it as a mere inconvenience , or even an inevitable part of ageing . but now , one doctor has claimed he would rather have hiv than type 2 diabetes . writing in the spectator , dr max pemberton said : ` as a doctor i can tell you that , medically speaking , i 'd rather have hiv than diabetes . ` while this might sound shocking or surprising , the facts speak for themselves : the prognosis for those with type 2 diabetes is much worse than for those with hiv . ' dr pemberton goes on to explain that it is now very rare for someone to die of hiv in the uk and that , in fact , people with the virus have a very similar life expectancy to people who are hiv-negative . he says that , assuming patients take their medication , they experience very few problems as a result of being hiv-positive .<doc-sep>by . lizzie parry for mailonline . drinking more than three cups of coffee a day can double a person 's risk of developing diabetes , italian scientists have warned . drinking more than three cups of coffee a day can double a person 's risk of developing diabetes , researchers have today warned . regularly drinking coffee can increase the risk of prediabetes - the early stage of type two diabetes - in those adults who metabolise caffeine slowly and suffer hypertension , scientists have found . the italian team studied 1,180 patients aged between 18 and 45 , who suffered stage one hypertension - high blood pressure - but not diabetes . they found of the coffee drinkers , 87 per cent drank one to three cups a day , while 13 per cent drank more . the study found 42 per cent of participants were fast metabolisers of caffeine and 58 per cent were slow . over the course of six years , scientists diagnosed prediabetes in 24 per cent of patients . moderate coffee drinkers were found to have a 34 per cent increased risk of developing prediabetes and heavy caffeine addicts faced a 50 per cent heightened risk . yet the risk of prediabetes linked with coffee intake was increased only in slow caffeine metabolisers . dr lucio mos , from san daniele cardiology hospital in udine , north east italy said : ` lifestyle factors are very important for the prognosis of young people with hypertension .<doc-sep>australian men now have the third highest life expectancy in the world , according to a new report published by the world health organisation . that does n't necessarily give blokes bragging rights over australian women - with women still outliving their male counterparts by an average four-point-one years . but one leading australian researcher has warned that planned cuts to health funding could spell an end to australia 's life expectancy rates . third highest life expectancy : australian men born in 2012 are expected to live until the age of 80.5 years , placing them just below iceland and switzerland on the rankings . the figures , which show increased life expectancy across the world , are for children born in 2012 . iceland tops the table at 81.2 years for men , while japanese women are expected to live the longest at 87 years . for people in richer countries , fewer people dying from heart disease and stroke before their 60th birthday can be credited for longer life expectancy rates . in poorer countries , the increase can be credited to fewer children dying before their fifth birthday . iceland - 81.2 switzerland - 80.7 australia - 80.5 israel - 80.2 singapore - 80.2 new zealand - 80.2 italy - 80.2 japan - 80sweden - 80luxembourg - 79.7 . japan - 87spain - 85.1 switzerland - 85.1 singapore - 85.1 italy - 85france - 84.9 australia - 84.6 republic of korea - 84.6 luxembourg - 84.1 * portugal/new zealand - 84 .

<t> cnn medical unit assignment manager ann curley is a type i diabetic . </t> <t> she learned she had diabetes when she was 7 years old . </t> <t> testing progressed from fizzy tablets in urine to continuous glucose monitors . </t> <t> with changes in technology have come improvements in prognoses . </t>

life with diabetes : outliving the prognosis<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- venezuelan president hugo chavez said wednesday he is cutting all ties with colombia as long as alvaro uribe remains its president . colombian president alvaro uribe withdrew his support for the venezuelan leader 's mediation efforts with the farc . `` i say before the world , while president uribe is president of colombia , i will not have any type of relation with him or with the government of colombia , '' chavez said in an address broadcast on national television . `` i ca n't , i ca n't , i ca n't . ''<doc-sep>chavez noted that uribe had asked him to help secure the release of hundreds of hostages being held by the leftist rebel group armed revolutionary front of colombia -lrb- farc -rrb- and the national liberation army -lrb- eln -rrb- . `` i went with my heart in my hand , and i was ready , '' chavez told a group of supporters in the southwestern state of tachira . `` i was prepared to go to the most dangerous forest in the country to help . '' but last thursday , uribe ended chavez 's participation , citing his direct communication with uribe 's top general , a move that uribe said broke protocol .<doc-sep>`` when we were at the point of succeeding , uribe comes and , without telling me anything , he did n't even call me on the phone or send me an emissary , just sent me a letter saying he was ending my mission , '' chavez said . `` that was a kick . '' without being specific , chavez accused uribe of having lied . `` that 's real ugly , '' he said . chavez also accused uribe of having bowed to pressure from washington `` to get rid of chavez . '' but the firebrand venezuelan president , who has called u.s. president george w. bush `` the devil , '' said his arms are open to the colombian people . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>colombia has specifically named londono as a guerrilla that lives in venezuela . he is believed to cross the border between the two countries freely , isacson said . how strongly venezuela goes after londono could be an indicator of how deep these new ties are . nonetheless , even talk of cooperation is a world away from the atmosphere two years ago . in november 2009 , chavez ordered his military to begin preparations for a war with colombia , warning of a conspiracy between colombia and the united states to attack venezuela . colombia called the announcement a `` war threat , '' and venezuela retorted by calling colombia 's response `` hypocritical '' and `` immoral . '' eight months later , venezuela broke off all diplomatic relations with colombia . so when santos and chavez decided to be friends , `` most of the region let out a huge sigh of relief because of it , '' isacson said . but from his perspective , the relationship is `` fragile , and it remains fragile , '' he said . the friendship between the two leaders also speaks to the pragmatism of each , said michael shifter , president of the inter-american dialogue . unlike uribe , santos has aspirations to be a regional leader , and cordial relations with venezuela make it possible for colombia to become less isolated from other south american countries , he said . also , by cooperating with chavez , there is probably the expectation of more progress against the farc , shifter said .<doc-sep>uribe is a two-term president who has received high approval ratings for his tough stand against farc guerrillas , who have been waging war against the government for decades . colombia has accused chavez of supporting the rebels , and chavez has said colombian officials and right-wing paramilitary units have plotted his assassination . security analysts say farc guerrillas operate mostly in colombia but have carried out extortion , kidnappings and other activities in venezuela , panama and ecuador . farc is said to traffic in cocaine to finance its insurgency . colombia has also accused another neighbor , ecuador , of giving refuge to rebels . in 2008 , colombia carried out a raid in ecuadorian territory that resulted in the killing of a top farc leader . thursday was not the first time chavez cut off diplomatic ties with colombia . a year ago , chavez `` froze '' the nations ' relationship over colombian accusations that venezuelan weapons had made it into the hands of rebels . colombia said it had evidence that shoulder-fired anti-tank weapons recovered from farc guerrillas were of venezuelan origin . venezuela denied the allegations and said the rebels may have stolen the weapons from a venezuelan base .<doc-sep>`` we have been tough on terrorism and we will be even tougher now , '' santos said at a victory celebration in june . venezuela broke off diplomatic ties with colombia last month after colombian officials said they had photographic evidence of guerrilla camps in venezuela . but on friday , chavez said he hoped to offer more details about relations with colombia in the coming days , according to state media . `` we are very optimistic . we must move forward , '' chavez said , according to the state-run agencia venezolana de noticias .<doc-sep>colombia says it has photographic evidence of camps belonging to the revolutionary armed forces of colombia -- known by its spanish abbreviation , farc -- in venezuela . colombia made its case before the organization of american states earlier this month and asked for international observers to be allowed into venezuela to verify the presence of the guerrilla group . venezuela denied the accusations , and in response broke off diplomatic ties with colombia . on friday , chavez told vtv that the colombian government 's accusations `` have become a threat against our sovereignty , -lsb- against -rsb- our people and against the revolution . ''

<t> chavez says uribe had asked him to help secure the release of hostages . </t> <t> uribe cited chavez 's direct communication with uribe 's top general as breach . </t> <t> chavez accuses uribe of lying . </t> <t> chavez says his arms are open to the colombian people . </t>

chavez cuts all ties with colombia<T>

cardiff , wales -- former wales and british lions center ray gravell has died of a suspected heart attack aged 56 , the welsh rugby union -lrb- wru -rrb- has announced . gravell won 23 caps for wales and played on the lions tour of south africa in 1980 . gravell had been on holiday with his family in the spanish mediterranean island of mallorca at the time . a wru statement praised gravell as being `` a man who epitomized the passion , flair and dignity of his beloved welsh nation . '' gravell made his debut for wales against france in 1975 , three years after helping his club side llanelli to their famous win over the touring all blacks . in all he made 23 appearances for what was then a dominant wales side , winning grand slams in 1976 and 1978 , and played all four tests on the lions ' tour of south africa in 1980 . after retiring as a player in 1985 , gravell became president of llanelli rfc and the llanelli scarlets . he also pursued a career as an actor and a respected rugby broadcaster . earlier this year , gravell had his right leg amputated below the knee following complications linked with his diabetes but he had been recovering well . wru chief executive roger lewis said : `` we are all in total shock because ray was so full of life even through the difficult health problems he suffered recently . `` he was a wonderful ambassador for rugby and for wales and a great example of how the game can bring out the best in a man . `` as a player , he always gave a huge amount of respect to his opponents but never gave an inch of ground to anyone he faced on the field of play . `` it is a measure of the man that he forged rugby friendships which lasted long after his playing days up until the present day . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>parker 's employment was terminated after she failed a hospital-ordered drug test , said leslie teegarden , spokeswoman for rose medical center . the tests were ordered after co-workers reported `` suspicious behavior , '' teegarden said thursday . rose medical center contacted about 4,700 patients who may have been exposed to the virus , according to a statement on the center 's web site . of those patients , 3,540 have been tested thus far , teegarden said . she said the hospital plans to use tamper-resistant , pre-filled fentanyl syringes to prevent intentional contaminations . parker also worked at northern westchester hospital in new york and audubon ambulatory surgical center in colorado springs , colorado . prosecutors have not charged her with any crimes related to her employment at the other two facilities . about 1,200 patients may have been exposed between may 4 and july 1 of this year , when parker worked at audubon , according to the center 's web site . as of last week , 545 of audobon 's former patients had been tested for the virus , according to the colorado department of public health and environment . one patient tested positive for hepatitis c , but that infection could not be linked to parker , according to the department 's web site . nearly 1,000 patients had been tested as of thursday , said audubon spokeswoman amy triandiflou . details about what parker may have done to expose audubon patients to the virus are still sketchy , triandiflou said . more than 2,700 patients could have been exposed at northern westchester hospital , according to the hospital 's web site . the site did not indicate whether any infections had been detected . there is no vaccine for hepatitis c . if parker is convicted and if any one of the former patients suffers serious bodily injury because of her actions , she could face a maximum of 20 years in federal prison , prosecutors said . if she is convicted and if any one of the former patients dies as a result of the infection , she could be sentenced to life in prison , according to prosecutors . cnn 's jim spellman contributed to this report .<doc-sep>just saying hi ? at zoos , lions may be provoked by children more often than adults just because they 're lower to the ground . tasty : lions like to bite their prey around the neck or head . because of how most zoos are constructed -- children 's heads tend to be right at the lion 's eye level . attempting to explain why there are a number of videos of lions ` playing ' with children , craig packer of the lion research center at the university of minnesota notes that while ` some of the lions look quite playful in their attempts ... sometimes the animals will spend several minutes playing with wildebeest calves or gazelle fawns before finally chomping them . ' he added that ` predators generally treat calves/fawns/babies differently from adults because they are such easy prey ; there 's no real chance of escape , so what 's the hurry ? '<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- south africa lock bakkies botha will miss the final test against the british and irish lions in johannesburg on saturday after failing in his appeal against a two-week ban . bakkies botha will be eligible to return for the start of the springboks ' tri-nations campaign . the 29-year-old was cited for a dangerous charge which left lions prop adam jones with a dislocated shoulder . jones was forced off shortly after halftime during last saturday 's second test in pretoria , in which the springboks fought back to snatch a 28-25 victory and clinch a 2-0 series triumph . the incident ended jones ' tour , while lions center brian o'driscoll also went home early after suffering concussion in the same match . beginner 's guide to the lions . the south african management decided to appeal as they felt botha had legally been trying to clear out a ruck .<doc-sep>a california family has won a $ 2.5 million settlement from the federal government after their daughter was killed by a drunk congressional aide they claimed was on the job the night he took the wheel while intoxicated . mallory dies , 27 , was struck and killed in december 2013 by raymond morua , a 32-year-old former aide to santa barbara democratic rep. lois capps . dies ' parents sued for wrongful death and claimed capps ' office hired iraq war vet morua despite his two prior dui arrests , a hit-and-run and an embezzlement conviction . wrongful death : raymond morua was drunk following a party he purportedly attended while ` on the clock ' as a congressional aide when he struck and killed 27-year-old mallory dies in december 2013 before fleeing the scene . denial : rep. capps also denied that morua was working for her the night he got drunk at a part before killing dies . but the dies family attorney -lrb- dies ' father matt is pictured left -rrb- argued he was . the federal government quietly settled with the family for $ 2.5 million in november . the federal government quietly settled in november , thereby avoiding a trial without admitting liability for dies ' death , reports keyt . her parents , matt and raeona dies , initially named morua , capps , and the u.s. government in its filing . however , the federal government assumed liability for capps as its employee and removed her from the amended court filing .

<t> former wales and british lions center ray gravell has died aged 56 . </t> <t> he was on holiday with his family in mallorca . </t> <t> after retiring he worked as an actor and broadcaster . </t>

former lions center gravell dies<T>

madrid , spain -- atletico madrid recovered from their painful recent defeat by barcelona to crush european rivals real zaragoza 4-0 in the primera liga on sunday . luis garcia celebrates his first atletico madrid goal in their superb 4-0 victory over real zaragoza . luis garcia 's first goal for the club , a double from argentine maxi rodriguez and a diego forlan strike clinched a comfortable win as atletico moved up to sixth in the table . it was also sweet revenge for atletico as zaragoza beat them home and away last season to beat them to sixth place and the final uefa cup spot . atletico went ahead in the 10th minute when forlan picked out a precise pass for garcia who made no mistake with a calm side-footed finish .<doc-sep>forlan then got on the scoresheet himself with a first-time lob on 34 minutes for his third goal of the season , before rodriguez stole the show with two more goals . getafe registered their first win of the season with a 2-0 victory over murcia . substitute kepa , who was later sent off , opened the scoring in the 54th minute and francisco casero added a second five minutes later to clinch the points . elsewhere last season 's second division champions valladolid continue to struggle in the top flight , crashing to a 2-1 defeat against athletic bilbao . artiz aduriz scored twice for bilbao after eight and 31 minutes to leave valladolid second from bottom with promoted levante , who have a meagre one point , propping up the table . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>alberto costa 's 52nd minute strike brought the home side level before fabio coentrao and angel di maria were sent off . jose mourinho 's side will play malaga or league leader barcelona in the next round . in the night 's other tie , sevilla cruised past nine-man real zaragoza 4-0 thanks to two goals from alvaro negredo . ronaldo inspires real madrid . zaragoza lost defender jose fernandez to a straight red card after 26 minutes before fran gonzalez followed him down the tunnel 40 minutes later . spain striker negredo fired his side ahead after 36 minutes before ivan rakitic doubled sevilla 's advantage . negredo netted his second from the spot before manu del moral completed the rout to set up a last-four clash with either atletico madrid or fierce rival real betis . in italy , as roma claimed a 2-1 win over inter milan in the first leg of its coppa italia semifinal . alessandro florenzi headed home ivan peris ' cross on 13 minutes with mattia destro adding a second . inter pulled goal back just before the break when rodrido palacio latched on to esteban cambiasso 's free-kick and fired into the net . swansea star helps the homeless .<doc-sep>if the case is accepted to court then herrera could be called to give evidence in spain or he could request special dispensation to do so in england . former zaragoza captain gabi , now at atletico madrid , has said ` i was doing what the club told me . ' former zaragoza coach and current japan manager javier aguirre is also said to have received money .<doc-sep>manchester united midfielder ander herrera will have to travel to spain to give evidence in a match-fixing trial . herrera is one of 28 players who will be summoned to appear in court in valencia in 2015 as the investigation into a match he played in may 2011 is heard . his then-manager javier aguirre , who is currently coaching the japanese national team , and atletico madrid captain gabi are among those who will give evidence . ander herrera -lrb- 2nd left -rrb- , in action in the reserves on tuesday as he continues his recovery from injury . herrera , in action for zaragoza against barcelona star lionel messi , is set to appear in court next year . herrera , celebrating scoring against qpr , has n't played for the first team since the end of october . zaragoza needed to win their last game of the 2010-11 season to stay up and beat levante 2-1 away from home with herrera playing 72 minutes before being substituted . herrera was on the verge of a move to athletic bilbao when the game was played and moved shortly after the season ended . there were suspicions over the game before it was even played with deportivo president augusto lendoiro -lrb- whose team ended up going down -rrb- hinting at foul play from then zaragoza president agapito iglesias . iglesias remains at the centre of the anticorruption investigation and will also be called to give evidence . the spaniard started well at manchester united but has been an unused substitute in recent matches .<doc-sep>manchester united midfielder ander herrera was among a host of footballing figures named by spain 's anti-corruption prosecutor on monday in an alleged case of matchfixing involving a la liga game in the 2010-11 season . the united midfielder was mentioned alongside other prominent names such as atletico madrid captain gabi and japan coach javier aguirre . spain 's anti-corruption prosecutor filed its case in a valencia court following a probe into real zaragoza 's 2-1 win at levante on the final day of the campaign , which meant zaragoza avoided relegation . video scroll down to see ander herrera in a predatory display of skill . ander herrera -lrb- centre -rrb- takes the ball past steven gerrard -lrb- left -rrb- in manchester united 's win against liverpool . japan coach javier aguirre was manager of real zaragoza for their game against levante . mexican aguirre was coach of zaragoza at the time , while spaniards herrera and gabi were both playing for the club .

<t> atletico madrid bounce back to form with a superb 4-0 victory over zaragoza . </t> <t> maxi rodriguez scores twice with luis garcia and diego forlan also on target . </t> <t> getafe registered their first win of the season with a 2-0 victory over murcia . </t>

four-star atletico hammer zaragoza<T>

columbia , south carolina -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- democratic sen. barack obama kicked off a series of local outreach gospel concerts friday in charleston , south carolina , that unexpectedly came back to bite his campaign . democratic presidential hopeful barack obama is competing for the black vote with hillary clinton . the concerts were meant to boost black voters ' support for his presidential nominee bid -- the kind of events that would normally fly under the national radar . the ensuing controversy highlighted that obama 's desire to unite disparate voting blocs -- especially religious voters -- under his umbrella of `` change '' is not without some serious pitfalls . when the campaign announced the lineups for the three-city `` embrace the change ! '' gospel tour last week , one name stood out to gay bloggers : donnie mcclurkin . the grammy-award winning singer is on record as saying homosexuality is a choice , and that he was `` once involved with those desires and those thoughts '' but was able to get past them through prayer . to say the least , neither of those arguments is very popular in the gay , lesbian , bisexual and transgender community .<doc-sep>john aravosis , a prominent gay blogger and co-founder of the web site americablog , led the charge against the obama campaign , writing that the illinois democrat was `` sucking up to anti-gay bigots '' and `` giving them a stage . '' when the story bubbled up into the mainstream media , it took the obama campaign by surprise . obama 's efforts in the palmetto state have overwhelmingly targeted african-american churchgoers in a bid to win over black voters in south carolina from rival sen. hillary clinton . the campaign has vigorously promoted the candidate 's faith , launching `` 40 days of faith and family '' in september , which used bible study groups to tap into the black electorate . campaigners have run three radio ads , one of which called obama a `` christian family man , '' that aired on gospel stations across the state . earlier this month , obama spoke at an evangelical church in the traditionally conservative city of greenville , where he demonstrated a casual familiarity with christian vocabulary , telling the crowd , to much applause , that `` i am confident that we can create a kingdom right here on earth . '' after that appearance , the obama campaign told cnn that republicans no longer had a choke hold on issues of faith and values .<doc-sep>`` i think that what you 're seeing is a breaking down of the sharp divisions that existed maybe during the '90s , '' obama said . `` at least in politics , the perception was that the democrats were fearful of talking about faith , and on the other hand you had the republicans who had a particular brand of faith that oftentimes seemed intolerant or pushed people away . '' but on tuesday , obama was forced to confront the uncomfortable truth that some christians and gays are a little more than just strange bedfellows , especially among blacks . obama issued a statement saying , `` i strongly disagree with reverend -lsb- donnie -rsb- mcclurkin 's views and will continue to fight for these rights as president of the united states , '' and argued that it is important to confront homophobia among religious african americans . a september poll of african americans in south carolina by winthrop university and etv showed that 62 percent of those surveyed said that `` sex between two adults of the same sex '' is `` strongly unacceptable . '' obama held a conference call wednesday with joe solomonese , president of the human rights campaign , and announced that the rev. andy sidden , an openly gay south carolina pastor , will appear at the same event as mcclurkin on sunday in columbia . solomonese was not completely assuaged .<doc-sep>`` i spoke with senator barack obama today and expressed to him our community 's disappointment for his decision to continue to remain associated with reverend mcclurkin , an anti-gay preacher who states the need to ` break the curse of homosexuality , ' '' he said in a statement . `` there is no gospel in donnie mcclurkin 's message for gay , lesbian , bisexual and transgender people and their allies . that 's a message that certainly does n't belong on any presidential candidate 's stage . '' the state newspaper in columbia reported friday that obama organized a conference call thursday night with gay and lesbian leaders . after the call , the south carolina gay and lesbian pride movement announced it will hold a protest vigil outside sunday 's concert in columbia . privately , obama aides say they believe obama is a candidate of real , transformational change , and that uproars like the mcclurkin controversy are necessary speed bumps on the road to bringing people with opposing viewpoints together to air their differences . will obama 's refusal to kick mcclurkin off the concert bill hurt him ? like many political squabbles , despite the national story , it depends how much the controversy resonates with voters in those crucial early states : iowa , new hampshire , nevada and south carolina . and in south carolina , where african americans make up about half of democratic primary-goers , voters might not have a problem with mcclurkin at all . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>by . alex ward . published : . 12:00 est , 8 november 2012 . | . updated : . 03:15 est , 9 november 2012 . fears are growing that giant asian hornets are headed for britain by 2014 as the killer insects sting a man to death in france . a 54-year-old married father-of-three died in the village of coron on monday after disrupting a hornet 's nest while pruning a hedge . the species , vespa velutina , is four times the size of our native honeybees and has decimated the bee population in france . deadly pest : this asian hornet species has decimated the bee population in france , even killing a 54-year-old man after he disrupted a hornets nest , and it is predicted to reach britain by 2014 . the dark invaders with yellow feet are thought to have arrive in south west france in a delivery of chinese pottery from the far east in late 2004 .<doc-sep>the provincial government of shaanxi has warned residents to wear long sleeves when outdoors and not to attempt to drive the swarms away or remove the hives . japan is familiar with asian giant hornet stings , too . about 30 to 50 deaths are reported each year in japan from such attacks , according to japanese studies . most of the deaths are due to allergies to the venom , makino said . the giant hornets are also destructive to western honeybees . research in japan suggests that tens of thousands of honeybee hives are damaged by the giant hornets each year . how to protect yourself . people run into trouble when these hornets form a nest : a basketball-shaped nest that looks like it 's made of gray paper , sometimes under an eave , schmidt said . if you disturb one of these , or happen to whack a tree that has a nest in it , the hornets may respond as if they 're under attack . humans can get themselves in danger by reacting poorly to these large hornets . if you see a nest or a hive , just avoid it , schmidt says . if one of them buzzes around you , do n't panic . `` do n't flap or scream or freak out , '' he advised . `` just calmly walk away . '' one victim told local media this month that `` the more you run , the more they want to chase you . '' some victims described being chased about 200 meters -lrb- 656 feet -rrb- by a swarm . an area of research that has n't been explored is how many people get stung by these hornets while taking down a nest in order to use the larvae as fish bait , or even to eat . the larvae do not have venom , schmidt explained . but in general , people should not tamper with these nests . as powerful as their sting can be , it is highly unlikely that these hornets would travel all the way to the united states to find a new home , schmidt said , or in the united kingdom for that matter . to go to western europe , they 'd have to cross some `` nasty deserts '' to which they are not adapted . as deadly as live adult giant hornets can be , some people do n't shy away from them altogether . there is a sports drink in japan called vaam that incorporates amino acids derived from hornets . in taiwan , where the giant hornet is known as the `` tiger head , '' the insect is sometimes used in alcoholic drinks , starr said , the idea being that `` the essence of this great big strong hornet will go out into the booze , and when you drink it , you 'll become strong . '' that 's one way to get a buzz .<doc-sep>by . lucy crossley . larger than a five pence piece , this huge hornet invaded a family home and took ten minutes to die after it was sprayed with poison . the huge insect , which measured 2.5 inches , was feared to be a potentially lethal asian hornet , which are feared to be heading to britain from france . it flew into the kitchen of rebecca smith 's home in baldwins gate , staffordshire , and even after her partner michael elwell doused it in fly spray it continued to tear around the couple 's home before it finally died ten minutes later . insect : larger than a five pence piece , this insect was feared to be a ` killer ' asian hornet . it invaded a family home and took ten minutes to die after it was sprayed with poison . experts at the department for environment , food and rural affairs -lrb- defra -rrb- 's national bee unit have confirmed that the insect is not an asian hornet , and was in fact a native european hornet . nevertheless , the couple and mr elwell 's children hannah ,16 , and 12-year-old jake , are desperately searching for a potential nest in their garden , and say they are nervous of entering rooms in their home should they come across another insect . asian hornets have already been spotted in france and could find their way to the uk via freighter , or even by flying across the channel . the insects are smaller than british hornets , and have been blamed for the deaths of six people in france who died from anaphylactic shock after being stung . native : experts at the department for environment , food and rural affairs -lrb- defra -rrb- 's national bee unit have confirmed that the insect is not an asian hornet , and was in fact a native european hornet . pal : ms smith 's friend carl barnett , pictured , said he had seen plenty of hornets and wasps - but none this big .<doc-sep>suspect sample can be sent to the national bee unit laboratory for examination if possible . defra advises using a suitable sturdy container -lrb- cardboard rather than plastic -rrb- and providing as much detail as possible about the hornet and where it was found , along with digital photographs to help with identification . ` monitoring for their arrival in britain is strongly encouraged throughout the uk , but especially in areas where likelihood of arrival is considered to be highest , the south and south-east of england , ' defra said . ` beekeepers and other members of the public should consider hanging hornet traps but remember that it is very important that damage to native wasps , hornets and any other insects is kept to an absolute minimum . ` spring trapping works . information from beekeepers in france , who are having to control hornet numbers , show that in areas where traps are deployed in springtime , nest numbers are reduced by up to 90 per cent . ` in the event that asian hornets become established here , springtime trapping will thus be a very useful management tool . '

<t> obama holding concerts to win over african-american christians in s. carolina . </t> <t> but lineup offends homosexuals , angered by appearance of anti-gay singer . </t> <t> obama disavows preacher-singer 's views , asks gay pastor to appear too . </t>

obama 's gospel concerts raise hornet 's nest of a dilemma<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the owner of a north carolina beach house where seven college students died in a weekend fire said monday that his family 's `` lives were just changed forever '' by the tragedy . chip auman said his 18-year-old daughter survived the fire but was hospitalized and in stable condition because of complications from smoke inhalation . `` the thought of losing a child is unimaginable to me , and as a father my heart goes out to the families that lost a loved one in this situation , '' he said . auman said the situation was `` hard to fathom . '' `` there 's just no words to describe what we 've been going through , '' he said , asking for prayers for survivors and the families of those who died . `` we 're numb , we 're confused , we 're heartbroken . '' two college campuses mourned monday . six university of south carolina students and a clemson university student died in the fire early sunday morning in ocean isle beach , north carolina . six other south carolina students were able to get out of the house in time . the six were treated and released from nearby brunswick community hospital , but auman 's daughter was hospitalized again in hartsville , south carolina . authorities from the state bureau of investigation and the federal bureau of alcohol , tobacco , firearms and explosives are leading the investigation into the cause of the fire . ocean isle beach mayor debbie smith said the house was `` engulfed '' in flames when the fire department arrived on the scene , about five minutes after being notified . the flames shot into the sky and ultimately left little more than portions of the framing .<doc-sep>fire officials do not believe foul play was involved . watch a neighbor 's video , fears of fast-burning fire '' dennis a. pruitt , the vice president for student affairs for the university of south carolina , said investigators have said it would be tuesday or wednesday before the identities of the victims are confirmed publicly . it could be as much as a month until investigators know the cause of the fire , pruitt said . the university did not cancel classes on monday , but pruitt said arrangements had been made for those who need to go home or stay out of class at the 28,000-student campus . pruitt said meetings had been held sunday with members of delta delta delta sorority and sigma alpha epsilon fraternity . the south carolina students were affiliated with those houses , he said , although he stressed that the weekend was not an official greek function . he also said counselors and ministers were available to help students deal with the loss of their classmates . the university president , dr. andrew sorenson , contacted the families of those who died in the fire to express the condolences and support of the university community . jay laura , student president of the usc chapter of sigma alpha epsilon , said the campus would pull together after the tragedy . `` if any place can come together to help in the healing process and the aftermath of an event like this , it is south carolina , '' laura said at a monday afternoon press conference . fire survivor tripp wylie , a 20-year-old south carolina sophomore , said he jumped out of a third-story window into a canal to escape the flames and was unable to get back in to help his friends .<doc-sep>`` i could see a buddy of mine off to the left who had gotten out . he was just yelling at me to jump and stuff , '' wylie told cnn affiliate wyff . `` the smoke was pouring out , could n't really breathe , so i had to make a quick decision . -lsb- i -rsb- just kind of leaned out the window and luckily i jumped far enough to make it into the canal . '' neighbors flocked to see the fire as firefighters battled and ultimately got the blaze under control . see the scenes of devastation '' george smith , who lives across the street from the house , said he heard sirens between 6:30 and 7 a.m. and went outside to see `` the whole sky lit up . '' `` the whole house was completely engulfed in flames , up to about 20 feet , '' he said . `` i have never seen -lsb- a fire -rsb- move so fast . '' george smith said the house 's occupants were `` partying in there yesterday and into the night . '' after about 10:30 p.m. saturday they quieted down , he said . linda sing said she was walking her dog when she saw the fiery destruction . she noted that firefighters had saved an adjacent house by spraying it down with water . `` we knew there were people in there , but we hoped and prayed they 'd gotten out , '' sing said . `` this is the worst thing i 've ever seen . we 've had hurricanes , but this is worse . '' ocean isle beach is a popular resort destination along north carolina 's southern coast . the year-round population of the 7-mile-long island is about 425 , but it swells to about 25,000 during the summer season , according to the town 's web site . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the owner of a north carolina beach house where seven college students died in a weekend fire said monday that his family 's `` lives were just changed forever '' by the tragedy . chip auman said his 18-year-old daughter survived the fire but was hospitalized and in stable condition because of complications from smoke inhalation . `` the thought of losing a child is unimaginable to me , and as a father my heart goes out to the families that lost a loved one in this situation , '' he said . auman said the situation was `` hard to fathom . '' `` there 's just no words to describe what we 've been going through , '' he said , asking for prayers for survivors and the families of those who died . `` we 're numb , we 're confused , we 're heartbroken . '' two college campuses mourned monday . six university of south carolina students and a clemson university student died in the fire early sunday morning in ocean isle beach , north carolina . six other south carolina students were able to get out of the house in time . the six were treated and released from nearby brunswick community hospital , but auman 's daughter was hospitalized again in hartsville , south carolina . authorities from the state bureau of investigation and the federal bureau of alcohol , tobacco , firearms and explosives are leading the investigation into the cause of the fire . ocean isle beach mayor debbie smith said the house was `` engulfed '' in flames when the fire department arrived on the scene , about five minutes after being notified . the flames shot into the sky and ultimately left little more than portions of the framing . fire officials do not believe foul play was involved . watch a neighbor 's video , fears of fast-burning fire '' dennis a. pruitt , the vice president for student affairs for the university of south carolina , said investigators have said it would be tuesday or wednesday before the identities of the victims are confirmed publicly . it could be as much as a month until investigators know the cause of the fire , pruitt said . the university did not cancel classes on monday , but pruitt said arrangements had been made for those who need to go home or stay out of class at the 28,000-student campus . pruitt said meetings had been held sunday with members of delta delta delta sorority and sigma alpha epsilon fraternity . the south carolina students were affiliated with those houses , he said , although he stressed that the weekend was not an official greek function . he also said counselors and ministers were available to help students deal with the loss of their classmates . the university president , dr. andrew sorenson , contacted the families of those who died in the fire to express the condolences and support of the university community . jay laura , student president of the usc chapter of sigma alpha epsilon , said the campus would pull together after the tragedy . `` if any place can come together to help in the healing process and the aftermath of an event like this , it is south carolina , '' laura said at a monday afternoon press conference . fire survivor tripp wylie , a 20-year-old south carolina sophomore , said he jumped out of a third-story window into a canal to escape the flames and was unable to get back in to help his friends . `` i could see a buddy of mine off to the left who had gotten out . he was just yelling at me to jump and stuff , '' wylie told cnn affiliate wyff . `` the smoke was pouring out , could n't really breathe , so i had to make a quick decision . -lsb- i -rsb- just kind of leaned out the window and luckily i jumped far enough to make it into the canal . '' neighbors flocked to see the fire as firefighters battled and ultimately got the blaze under control . see the scenes of devastation '' george smith , who lives across the street from the house , said he heard sirens between 6:30 and 7 a.m. and went outside to see `` the whole sky lit up . '' `` the whole house was completely engulfed in flames , up to about 20 feet , '' he said . `` i have never seen -lsb- a fire -rsb- move so fast . '' george smith said the house 's occupants were `` partying in there yesterday and into the night . '' after about 10:30 p.m. saturday they quieted down , he said . linda sing said she was walking her dog when she saw the fiery destruction . she noted that firefighters had saved an adjacent house by spraying it down with water . `` we knew there were people in there , but we hoped and prayed they 'd gotten out , '' sing said . `` this is the worst thing i 've ever seen . we 've had hurricanes , but this is worse . '' ocean isle beach is a popular resort destination along north carolina 's southern coast . the year-round population of the 7-mile-long island is about 425 , but it swells to about 25,000 during the summer season , according to the town 's web site . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- three of the college students killed in a house fire sunday at a north carolina beach house graduated from the same greenville , south carolina , high school , according to local reports . one friend described emily yelton as `` the definition of life . '' emily yelton , travis cale and justin anderson attended j.l. mann high school in greenville , the state newspaper in columbia , south carolina , reported . also killed in the sunday morning fire in ocean isle beach , north carolina , were lauren mahon , of simpsonville , south carolina ; cassidy pendley , 18 , of charleston , south carolina ; william rhea , 18 , of florence , south carolina ; and allison walden , 19 , of chagrin falls , ohio , according to reports in the state . six others managed to escape . watch student tell of escape '' yelton and cale , 20 , were boyfriend and girlfriend , the paper said , though he attended the university of south carolina and she went to clemson university and was the only victim who did not attend south carolina . watch how clemson campus mourns '' speaking outside the burned house sunday , brayden wynn told the state about cale , his best friend . `` all the girls loved his curls , '' the paper quoted him as saying . `` we would go on the beach and use all our pickup lines on the ladies . '' cale was a baseball player and yelton a high school cheerleader , friends told the state . yelton 's high school friend shannon mcdaniel described yelton as `` the definition of life , '' the paper reported . `` she was nice to everyone and always happy . '' mcdaniel told the state that yelton had brought her into a circle of friends that included cale and anderson when she moved to greenville in 2004 . anderson 's brother , stephen anderson , told the wilmington star-news that justin had gone to the beach house to do what loved , hang out with friends and watch college football . south carolina had played the univesity of tennessee on tv saturday night . `` i 'm sure they were -lrb- watching the game -rrb- , '' the star-news quoted stephen anderson as saying . the owner of the beach house said monday that his family 's `` lives were just changed forever '' by the tragedy . chip auman said his 18-year-old daughter survived the fire but was hospitalized and in stable condition because of complications from smoke inhalation . `` the thought of losing a child is unimaginable to me , and as a father my heart goes out to the families that lost a loved one in this situation , '' he said . auman said the situation was `` hard to fathom . '' `` there 's just no words to describe what we 've been going through , '' he said , asking for prayers for survivors and the families of those who died . `` we 're numb , we 're confused , we 're heartbroken . '' six other south carolina students were able to get out of the house in time . the six were treated and released from nearby brunswick community hospital , but auman 's daughter was hospitalized again in hartsville , south carolina . authorities from the state bureau of investigation and the federal bureau of alcohol , tobacco , firearms and explosives are leading the investigation into the cause of the fire . ocean isle beach mayor debbie smith said the house was `` engulfed '' in flames when the fire department arrived on the scene , about five minutes after being notified . the flames shot into the sky and ultimately left little more than portions of the framing . see the scenes of devastation '' fire officials do not believe foul play was involved . the six south carolina students were affiliated with the delta delta delta sorority and sigma alpha epsilon fraternity , said dennis a. pruitt , the vice president for student affairs for the school , although he stressed that the weekend was not an official greek function . jay laura , student president of the usc chapter of sigma alpha epsilon , said the campus would pull together after the tragedy . `` if any place can come together to help in the healing process and the aftermath of an event like this , it is south carolina , '' laura said at a monday afternoon press conference . terry walden , father of allison , told the plain dealer in cleveland that the sorority kinship kept his daughter at south carolina after she considered a transfer to the university of kentucky to be with her boyfriend . she had moved into the sorority house for her sophomore year , he told the paper . mahon had recently become a delta delta delta pledge , her high school friend , amanda palacio , told the state . `` she was one of those people who could meet people easily , '' the state quoted palacio as saying . `` she met a lot of girls she grew to love . it 's sad she 'll never get an opportunity to get to know them better . '' pendley followed her older sister in pledging tri-delt , the state reported . `` she always laughed . there was never a down time with her , '' friend rodney otadoy told the state of pendley , who was a cheerleader , soccer player and homecoming queen . watch how boyfriend says pendley made him better '' andrew rhea , 19 , escaped from the burning house but lost his brother william in the flames . `` sometimes they got in arguments , but they were each other 's best friends , '' their cousin trey floyd told the state . fire survivor tripp wylie , a 20-year-old south carolina sophomore , said he jumped out of a third-story window into a canal to escape the flames and was unable to get back in to help his friends . `` i could see a buddy of mine off to the left who had gotten out . he was just yelling at me to jump and stuff , '' wylie told cnn affiliate wyff . `` the smoke was pouring out , could n't really breathe , so i had to make a quick decision . -lsb- i -rsb- just kind of leaned out the window and luckily i jumped far enough to make it into the canal . `` ocean isle beach is a popular resort destination along north carolina 's southern coast . the year-round population of the 7-mile-long island is about 425 , but it swells to about 25,000 during the summer season , according to the town 's web site . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- six of the seven college students killed in a massive house fire sunday morning in ocean isle beach , north carolina , attended the university of south carolina , a university official said sunday . `` this is a very sad day for the university of south carolina family , '' dennis a. pruitt , the vice president for student affairs , told reporters . the seventh fatality is believed to be a clemson university student , he said . the six survivors -- who were treated and released from brunswick community hospital -- are also usc students , he said . pruitt said the bodies were being sent to chapel hill , north carolina , for identification . watch home video showing the house in flames '' `` it is difficult to ascertain exactly who was in the house and who was not , '' pruitt said , explaining that several area houses were filled with college students visiting for the weekend . newspaper deliveryman tim burns was aghast when he first saw the inferno early sunday morning . he tried to approach the door but the flames were too intense , he told the associated press . `` when i was going up to the entryway , you could hear the windows above me explode , '' burns said . `` when i knew the flames had taken over , i do n't think i 've ever felt as helpless in my life . '' the usc students were affiliated with the delta delta delta sorority and the sigma alpha epsilon fraternity , pruitt said , although he stressed that the weekend was not an official greek function . `` it just so happens , as on many university campuses , that certain sororities and certain fraternities hang around together , '' he said . one person described as `` unaccounted for '' was later confirmed dead , ocean isle beach mayor debbie smith told cnn . `` we suffered a terrible tragedy at ocean isle this morning , '' smith said in a news conference . `` nothing like this has ever happened at ocean isle beach , and we hope it never will again . '' she said officials had not yet contacted all the victims ' families , and that they were not yet releasing their names . the mayor said one of the 13 people in the house was related to the house 's owner . smith said the house was fully `` engulfed '' in flames around 7 a.m. when the fire department arrived on the scene , about five minutes after the fire department was notified . she said the house had working smoke detectors , ap reported . officials are investigating the cause of the fire , smith said . `` we ran down the street to get away , '' nick cain told the ap . the university of north carolina student was staying at a house about 100 feet away . some of his friends had met several people staying at the house that burned down . `` the ash and the smoke were coming down on us . we were just trying to get away , '' cain told the ap . ocean isle beach is a popular resort destination along the southern coast of north carolina . the 7-mile-long island 's year-round population is about 425 , while the summer season population is about 25,000 , according to the town 's web site . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>cnnu campus correspondent brandon gates is a junior at university of south carolina . cnnu is a feature that provides student perspectives on news and trends from colleges across the united states . the views expressed in this article are not necessarily those of cnn , its affiliates or the schools where the campus correspondents are based . some of the students killed were affiliated with the delta delta delta sorority , whose house is pictured above . columbia , south carolina -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- at the university of south carolina , the campus is quiet , but students were still heading to their classes after six students were killed in a beach house fire during the weekend . the school is planning a short ceremony monday evening to honor the six students who were killed sunday morning in ocean isle beach , north carolina . a seventh person killed is believed to be a student at clemson university . their identities had not yet been released monday afternoon . the usc students were affiliated with the delta delta delta sorority and the sigma alpha epsilon fraternity .

<t> `` heartbroken '' house owner 's daughter among six survivors hospitalized . </t> <t> one survivor jumped out of a third-story window into a canal to escape . </t> <t> university of south carolina mourns deaths of six students . </t>

beach house owner ` numb , confused ' after fire kills 7 students<T>

washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- state department officials should serve where they are needed -- even in war-torn iraq , u.s. secretary of state condoleezza rice said friday . u.s. secretary of state condoleezza rice says that `` people need to serve where they are needed . '' rice was responding to foreign service officers ' objections to the possibility of `` directed assignments '' in iraq . the issue has caused an uproar in the state department , resulting in a contentious town hall-style meeting wednesday . the new directives would be needed if enough qualified foreign service officers do n't step forward to fill open positions at the u.s. embassy in baghdad . if the state department enforces directed assignments , it will be the first time since the vietnam war era . one official called the order to serve in iraq `` a potential death sentence '' during the town meeting . the state department already has begun notifying about 200 people considered prime candidates . those chosen will be given 10 days to respond , according to last week 's announcement . unless they have a valid medical reason to refuse , those who decline could face dismissal , it said . wednesday 's heated meeting was replayed on an internal state department television channel in washington several times and talked about widely . some at the hourlong meeting questioned why they were not told of the policy change directly , learning about it instead from news organizations last week . watch the diplomats exchange angry words '' `` i just have no respect for the whole process because you 've demonstrated a lack of respect for your own colleagues , '' said foreign service officer jack croddy . `` thank you for that comment . it 's full of inaccuracies , but that 's ok , '' harry thomas jr. , director general of the foreign service , shot back . others pointed out the risks of such assignments , considering the dangers of a war zone , lack of security and regular rocket attacks on u.s. personnel . rice , who did not attend the meeting , tried to calm things down friday by underscoring the state department 's attempts to do `` everything that we can to try and protect our diplomats . ''<doc-sep>however , she said , `` this is one of the highest priority tasks of the united states , and we 're going to meet our obligations . '' speaking to reporters en route to turkey and the mideast , she said , `` i do n't know if we will have direct assignments or not , but we are one foreign service , and people need to serve where they are needed . '' the secretary sent out a cable to state department employees worldwide encouraging them to serve in iraq . `` this year -lsb- u.s. ambassador ryan crocker -rsb- has identified the need for additional positions to more effectively accomplish our mission in iraq , '' rice said in the cable . rice said she has decided to go forward with the identification of officers to serve , `` should it prove necessary to direct assignments . '' `` should others step forward , as some already have , we will fill these new jobs as we have before -- with volunteers . however , regardless of how the jobs may be filled , they must be filled , '' she said . rice earlier said reports that the state department was finding it hard to coax foreign service employees into iraq `` could n't be further from the truth . '' the assignments are new positions . fifteen people have stepped forward to volunteer for iraq service since the new policy was announced october 26 , department spokesman sean mccormack said . mccormack rejected comments by rep. duncan hunter , r-california , that state department employees are `` nervous nellies '' and that wounded u.s. military veterans should be asked to fill the iraq vacancies . mccormack said until now the state department has been successful in filling jobs in iraq with volunteers . since 2003 , more than 1,500 personnel have volunteered to go to iraq , he said . but with the expansion of the staff in iraq this year , 58 spots were left open . `` they are serving in dangerous and challenging places , '' he said . `` we have a lot of brave people who are stepping up to the plate in anbar and basra and baghdad and kabul and a lot of other places that are not necessarily in the headlines . '' state department employees have been killed in iraq , but mccormack could not say how many . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's zain verjee and charley keyes contributed to this report .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- i was living in syria when the statues of saddam hussein in neighboring iraq came toppling down . saddam , who had arrogantly had his name inscribed on bricks at the ancient city of babylon , did not expect his rule to end so abruptly , so humiliatingly . and at the university of damascus , students told me that they expected syrian president bashar al-assad to fall soon , too . they were not alone . with 250,000 u.s. troops amassed in iraq in 2003 , george w. bush 's white house had contemplated rolling american tanks into the syrian capital . the middle east was to be reshaped in the image of american democracy . but events in iraq , afghanistan , and north korea distracted the pentagon , and the `` democratic domino theory '' did not come to pass . ten years after iraq , did the war give birth to the arab spring ? yes , the iraq war had indirect connections to the arab uprisings that swept the middle east and northern africa in 2011 . for one , the fall of saddam must have psychologically empowered arab opposition activists who saw that a ba ` thist dictator and his sons could be removed from power . full coverage : the iraq war , 10 years on . but it is a mistake to suggest that arabs across the region were directly inspired by the fall of saddam -- if that were true , they would have risen a decade ago . why wait until 2011 ? the answer is that other , more direct developments led to the ongoing arab revolutions . first , in the immediate aftermath of the september 11 , 2001 atrocities , arab governments used the ensuing `` war on terror '' to quell domestic dissent . when opposition islamist parties questioned the legitimacy of arab dictators , they were portrayed as al qaeda sympathizers to the west , and their imprisonment in cairo or riyadh or tripoli did n't raise international eyebrows .<doc-sep>the islamic state has created its own police force in iraq with patrol cars , uniforms and even a jail as they continue to terrorise the country . the force has been set up in iraq 's north-west nineveh province and according to a well-known militant islamist website , their aims are to ` implement the orders of the religious judiciary . ' pictures seem to show armed members of the newly created force dressed in black clothing with the logo of the ` islamic police nineveh state ' printed on the arm . scroll down for video . islamic state group policeman armed with guns stand guard outside the front of an isis police station in iraq 's nineveh province . islamic state officers , dressed in black with the logo of the ` islamic police nineveh state ' printed on the arm monitor traffic levels in northern iraq . the isis police officers appear to be driving freshly painted police cars , with a well-known militant islamist website saying their aims are to ` implement the orders of the religious judiciary ' residents in nineveh told have spoken of how the police 's main duty appears to be to detain people they consider opposed to their cause . the ` officers ' also appear in freshly painted police cars and one photo showed militiamen on a riverboat . another picture appeared to show them standing guard outside a police station , although it is not clear when the police force was set up . the website also adds that the force would ` maintain order and arrest culprits and the corrupt ' and say they would be different from other state police forces , which they have described as ' a tool to suppress dissent . ' residents in nineveh told have spoken of how the police 's main duty appears to be to detain people they consider opposed to their cause .<doc-sep>the judgment also included a 1 million riyal fine , which is equal to about $ 267,000 . despite repeated attempts , cnn was unable to reach saudi arabia 's justice ministry for comment . badawi , a respected rights activist in saudi arabia , first got into legal hot water with the saudi government after starting a liberal website and forum where users could discuss religion . his trial , guilty verdict , sentence and imprisonment has caused immense outrage among international rights groups like human rights watch and amnesty international , who accused saudi authorities of cracking down on activism and attempting to quell dissent in the ultraconservative nation .<doc-sep>nearly 1,000 homes every month are now being sold for more than # 1million . figures reveal that around 30 houses a day are changing hands for seven figure sums -- up two-thirds on a year ago . interest : the letters have received a lot of interest but were forced to remove the listing to quell the number of abusive phone calls from people berating the price and size of the north london property . the islington flat was advertised to potential tenants as ` fully self-contained ' . it claims to have an en-suite bathroom - not pictured - and access to a shared roof terrace . despite being ` within walking distance ' of london hotspots such as angel and king 's cross , property hunters could get a five-bedroom house for the same price just a mile away . though still marketing the property , relocate me has been forced to take down their listing from rightmove.co.uk in a bid to quell the deluge of ` abusive ' phone calls berating the price and size as ` unreasonable ' . a member of staff , who would not be named , said : ` we just had to take it down . people have been calling up swearing and saying bad things . ` we have taken it down until we can get better marketing images or refurbish . ` it is small but it is good value for money . nowadays , people living in london have to just go for what they can afford , and this is in a good location . '

<t> condoleezza rice responds to foreign service officers ' objections on iraq duty . </t> <t> `` directed assignments '' will be enforced if enough officers do n't volunteer in iraq . </t> <t> rice : department doing `` everything that we can to try and protect our diplomats '' </t> <t> one official calls order to serve in iraq `` a potential death sentence '' </t>

rice tries to quell staff dissent over forced duty in iraq<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the commander of the nuclear-powered submarine uss hampton has been relieved of his command amid an inquiry into misconduct by crew members , the u.s. navy said friday . the uss hampton appears in an undated photograph . cmdr. michael b. portland lost his post `` due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command , '' the navy said in a statement . cmdr. william j. houston will replace portland . the crew neither maintained inspection records nor conducted the required inspection of chemical levels associated with the cooling system of the ship 's nuclear reactor , navy officials said . the crew then went back and falsified existing records to make it appear the work had been done .<doc-sep>`` there is not , and never was , any danger to the crew or the public , '' the navy said . portland 's demotion brings to 10 the number of people relieved of duty on the submarine in the wake of the misconduct probe . six personnel have been punished for forging inspection records for the cooling system , the navy officials said monday . those six -- one officer and five enlisted personnel -- received a `` nonjudicial punishment '' after other navy personnel discovered their actions , the officials said . the navy said friday that one officer and two enlisted crew members have been temporarily reassigned to submarine squadron 11 . portland also will be temporarily reassigned to that squadron .<doc-sep>the misconduct was discovered september 17 but not made public until after completion of an initial inquiry . a fact-finding investigation is under way , and further action against navy crew members is possible , a navy official said . the hampton remains in port in san diego , california . in all , the $ 900 million vessel 's crew includes 13 officers and 116 enlisted personnel . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>by . associated press . published : . 10:21 est , 10 october 2013 . | . updated : . 11:08 est , 10 october 2013 . the deputy commander of u.s. nuclear forces , vice adm. tim giardina , was relieved of duty yesterday amid a military investigation of allegations that he used counterfeit chips at an iowa casino . the move is exceedingly rare and perhaps unprecedented in the history of u.s. strategic command , which is responsible for all american nuclear warfighting forces , including nuclear-armed submarines , bombers and land-based missiles . the navy 's top spokesman , rear adm. john kirby , said giardina , who had held the job since december 2011 , is being reassigned to the navy staff pending the outcome of the probe by the naval criminal investigative service . vice adm. tim giardina , was notified wednesday that he has been relieved of duty . the gambling matter originated as a local law enforcement investigation in iowa in june . as a consequence of being removed from his post at strategic command , giardina falls in rank to two-star admiral . he had been suspended by gen. robert kehler , the top commander at strategic command , on sept. 3 , although that move was not disclosed publicly until sept. 28 . after his suspension giardina remained at strategic command but was not allowed to perform duties that required use of his security clearance . the decision to take the next step , to relieve him of duty , was made on oct. 3 , one official said . that required approval by president barack obama , two defense officials said .<doc-sep>valentin savitsky , the captain of b59 , . was convinced the nuclear war had already started . he demanded that the . submariners launch their torpedo to save some of russia 's pride . the programme on channel 5 revealed how in . any normal circumstances savitsky 's orders would have been followed , . and world war three would have been unleashed . ` close friend ' : ryurik ketov , commander of sub b-4 , said arkhipov was ` cool-headed ' and ` in control ' memories : viktor mikhailov , junior navigator on sub b-59 , said they had a ` special weapon ' on board , which was not even referred to as a ` nuclear weapon ' ryurik ketov , commander of another sub , sub b-4 , . said : ` vasili arkhipov was a submariner and a close friend of mine . he . was a family friend . he stood out for being cool-headed . he was in . control . ' ` one of the russian admirals told the submariners : `` it would have been better if you 'd gone down with your ship '' . extraordinary ' thomas blanton , historian . savitsky had n't counted on . arkhipov . as commander of the fleet , arkhipov had the last veto . and . although his men were against him , he insisted that they must not fire - . and instead surrender . it was a humiliating move - but one . that saved the world . the soviet submariners were forced to return to . their native russia , where they were given the opposite of a hero 's . welcome . historian thomas blanton told the sun : . ` what heroism , what duty , they fulfilled to go halfway across the world . and come back , and survive . covert mission : in a game of high stakes cat and mouse it was n't long before the russian 's were spotted . proud : arkopov 's widow olga said : ' i was proud and i am proud of my husband , always ' ` but in fact , one of the russian . admirals told the submariners ; `` it would have been better if you 'd gone . down with your ship . '' extraordinary . ' ` vasili arkhipov was a submariner and a close friend of mine . he was a family friend . he stood out for being cool-headed . he was in control ' ryurik ketov , commander of sub b-4 . four decades passed before the story of what . really happened on the b59 sub was discovered . it was after arkipov . had died in 1998 from radiation poisoning . but to his widow olga , he was . always a hero . she said : ` he knew that it was . madness to fire the nuclear torpedo . in cuba , in honour of the 40th . anniversary of the crisis , people gathered . ` they said that the person who . prevented a nuclear war was the russian submariner vasili arkhipov . i . was proud and i am proud of my husband always . '<doc-sep>defense secretary chuck hagel is ordering an independent review of the nation 's nuclear force following revelations of misconduct involving officers , the pentagon said on thursday . top leaders of the force plan to meet with hagel in coming weeks , defense department spokesman rear adm. john kirby said . the action follows a recent disclosure that nearly three dozen air force officers at a nuclear missile base in montana were involved in cheating on a proficiency test . that followed a decision by senior military officials to discipline a general with nuclear oversight responsibilities whose personal misbehavior involving alcohol and women on an overseas trip got him into hot water . kirby said `` clearly , we 've got some issues here , '' but added the pentagon remains confident the u.s. nuclear arsenal is secure . earlier this month , the u.s. air force announced 34 officers with the 341st missile wing were implicated in the cheating scandal after a drug possession probe that involved two of those officers . sixteen officers were ultimately found to have actually cheated on the monthly proficiency exam while the rest knew the answers had been shared with others and did not report the violation , the pentagon said . all those disciplined in the investigation are no longer certified to conduct nuclear operations . there are approximately 190 officers overseeing readiness of nuclear weapons systems in montana , meaning the scandal has touched nearly 20 % of that force . other scandals include october 's news that air force maj. gen. michael carey , who oversaw nuclear weapons , was relieved of his duties after he boozed , fraternized with `` hot women '' and disrespected his hosts during an official visit to russia , air force officials said . there was no indication carey 's behavior compromised sensitive nuclear information or went beyond drinking , dancing and fraternizing with the women , officials said . also in october , navy vice adm. tim giardina , who also oversaw nuclear weapons forces , was formally relieved of his duties as deputy chief of u.s. strategic command , according to rear adm. john kirby , the navy 's chief of information . a military official said his demotion was connected to allegations that he used counterfeit gambling chips at an iowa casino . in august , the same missile unit at malmstrom linked to the test cheating scandal failed a safety and security inspection `` after making tactical-level errors -- not related to command and control of nuclear weapons , '' the air force global strike command said . the 341st missile wing operates about 150 of the 450 minuteman iii nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles in the u.s. force , according to an air force statement . a failed inspection does not mean that the safety of the nation 's nuclear arsenal is at risk , global strike commander lt. gen. jim kowalski said in august . and in april , an air force commander stripped 17 of his officers in minot , north dakota , of their authority to control and launch nuclear missiles after they did poorly in an inspection . they were ordered to undergo 60 to 90 days of intensive refresher training on how to do their jobs .<doc-sep>04:26 est , 24 april 2012 . lost his post : commander andy coles was returning to his cabin when hums astute headed into a sandbank . the commander of the royal navy 's newest nuclear-powered submarine was taking a shower minutes before it ran aground , an official inquiry has concluded . the 24-page report says commander andy coles was spotted returning to his cabin as hms astute , the uk 's most advanced hunter-killer sub , headed into a sandbank . the embarrassing detail is included in the inquiry which found that a catalogue of errors contributed to the beaching of the # 1billion submarine off the west coast of scotland on october 22 , 2010 .

<t> navy says it has lost confidence in officer 's ability to command . </t> <t> crew members on sub disciplined for faking inspection records , navy says . </t> <t> ten people have been relieved of duty ; six received `` nonjudicial punishment '' </t>

nuclear sub commander loses job amid misconduct probe<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a bus hopped a highway median and crashed into a pickup truck before being broadsided by an 18-wheeler , arkansas police said , killing the pickup driver and two bus riders . two passengers were found dead inside the bus , said arkansas state police . forty people were hurt in sunday night 's crash , which shut down a 13-mile stretch of interstate-40 east of forrest city , arkansas , said state police spokesman bill sadler .<doc-sep>the bus was westbound en route from chicago , illinois , to dallas , texas . the driver of the pickup truck -- identified as 30-year-old danny okurily of hot springs , arkansas -- died at the scene of the accident , sadler said . bus driver felix tapia , 28 , of brownsville , texas , and tractor-trailer driver david rice , 45 , of mars hill , north carolina , suffered minor injuries , according to the associated press . two passengers were also found dead inside the bus , he said . their names were not released because authorities have not yet notified relatives , sadler said .<doc-sep>several dozen injured passengers were taken to hospitals in forrest city , memphis and west memphis , said police . the bus , which listed 44 passengers on its manifest , was owned and operated by the tornado bus line , which is based in dallas , texas , sadler said .<doc-sep>the crash happened just after 10 p.m. ct about 10 miles east of forrest city and about 40 miles west of memphis , tennessee , sadler said . e-mail to a friend . copyright 2007 cnn . all rights reserved.this material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten , or redistributed . associated press contributed to this report .<doc-sep>he also said there was `` no link '' between the crash and the mediating role played by algeria and his own country in the ongoing conflict in northern mali between government forces , backed up by french troops , and islamist militants . he said the three countries must work hand in hand to clarify the situation and support the families of the victims . air algerie 's crash came less than 24 hours after a twin-engine plane crashed while attempting to land wednesday in taiwan 's penghu islands , killing 48 of the 58 people on board , and a week after malaysia airlines flight 17 was downed in ukraine , killing all 298 people on board . air algerie , algeria 's national airline , flies to 28 countries . until this week , the deadliest incident in the airline 's history occurred in march 2003 when a domestic flight crashed after takeoff , killing 102 people on board . one person survived . the md-83 is part of the mcdonnell douglas md-80 family of twin-engine , single-aisle jets . opinion : despite plane crashes , it 's safe to fly . taiwan plane crash kills 48 and injures 10 . what to know about commercial passenger plane crashes .<doc-sep>it 's unclear what led to tuesday 's crash , conway said , adding that the federal aviation administration and the national transportation safety board will investigate . `` it saddens me more than you can know . all three of these crew members were personal friends of mine , '' he said . hospital wing serves hospitals in tennessee , arkansas and mississippi , transporting about 150 patients a month , the company 's website says . le bonheur children 's hospital staff members go on about 400 helicopter flights a year , pershad said . medical helicopter crashes after taking patient to hospital . medical helicopter crash kills 1 .<doc-sep>lome , togo -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- forty-eight people , including 15 burkina faso nationals and a nigerian , died tuesday after a bus crash in togo , officials in the west african nation said . fifteen others were severely injured . the accident happened before dawn 108 miles -lrb- 175 kilometers -rrb- north of lome as a bus carrying passengers to lome collided with a truck , according to a government statement read on state tv tuesday evening . a minibus was also involved in the crash . survivors said the driver of the full-size bus mistook the truck for a motorbike because the truck had only one headlight . togo president faure gnassingbe expressed his compassion to the families of the bereaved and dispatched a couple of ministers to the scene . about 300 people have died in road accidents in togo since january , officials said . more than 3,000 people lost their lives and more than 37,000 were injured on the west african nation 's roads in the past four years , with a record 753 people killed in 2012 . causes include the bad state of roads , vehicles that have mostly secondhand engines , speed , failure to use seat belts or wear helmets , and driving without license . road accidents have become a major cause of disabilities in togo in the past two decades , health officials say . bus crash kills 36 in mexico . fiery crash kills 35 in pakistan after oil truck hits two buses .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the church bus involved in a deadly three-vehicle collision in eastern tennessee was carrying a group of seniors on their way back home from a religious conference . the group was called `` young at heart , '' said rick cruz , the pastor of the front street baptist in north carolina . they were returning home from the 17th annual fall jubilee conference in gatlinburg after three days of preaching and singing . `` we do know that there were several that went on to be with the lord , '' cruz told his congregants wednesday night . indiana bus crash kills pastor , pregnant wife , chaperone on teen trip . authorities are expected to release more information thursday . but this is what they know so far : .

<t> bus driver , tractor-trailer trucker injured in 3-vehicle crash , ap reports . </t> <t> bus crossed median , hit pickup truck , then 18-wheeler , killing 3 . </t> <t> all lanes of i-40 closed for 13 miles east of forrest city , arkansas . </t> <t> driver of the pickup truck and two bus passengers killed , police say . </t>

arkansas bus crash kills three , injures 40<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- it was two years late and billions of dollars over budget , but this week the singapore airline-owned a380 completed its maiden passenger journey between singapore and sydney . making history : the first double bed on a commercial jet . on board were nearly 500 passengers who had bid thousands of dollars for the historical experience . this was a turning point in aviation history as airbus ' superjumbo became the world 's largest aircraft . and the time had finally come for it to receive some admiration . singapore airlines ' ceo , chew choon seng named the jetliner the `` queen of the skies '' . tom enders , ceo of airbus said he would like to celebrate his 25th wedding anniversary on one of its double beds . and cnn 's richard quest , who was on board the maiden flight , said there was `` nothing quite like it '' . the luxury on board , he said , sets a new standard for air travel . it 's the quietest large passenger jet ever built -lrb- inside and out -rrb- , it has a low fuel-burn to reduce fuel use and emissions , it can carry 40 percent more passengers than other large aircraft and in greater comfort . but the feature that has attracted greatest interest on the singapore airlines a380 is its '' beyond first class '' cabins . behind the sliding doors of the singapore airlines suites , the well-heeled can luxuriate in a private cabin designed by leading french yacht designer , jean-jacques coste . there 's a wide leather seat and alongside that , a standalone bed . this is two meters long with givenchy duvets and cushions . and for couples traveling , the beds on the middle two suites can be converted into double beds . from bed or chair , travelers can catch a movie on a 23-inch widescreen lcd . laptops can be plugged into an in-seat power supply and business travelers with just a thumb drive can plug this into a usb ports and access a suite of office tools on singapore airlines ' in-flight entertainment system . celebrity chefs including britain 's gordon ramsay and georges blanc were behind the first class menu that can be eaten off givenchy tableware . unlike other airlines , that have considered offering casinos , gyms and showers on their future a380s , singapore airlines has opted instead for a configuration that , whilst offering luxury , also makes money . as chew choon seng , ceo of singapore airlines reminded reporters last week , the first boeing 747s soon ditched the lounges and bars on the upper decks in favor of seats that could generate cash . behind the 12 luxury suites there are 399 economy seats , ranked 10-abreast on the upper and lower decks , as well as 60 business class seats that are the biggest yet at 87 centimeters wide . singapore airlines has ordered 19 superjumbos for an estimated price tag of $ 5.7 billion . the second is due to arrive next february with further deliveries later in 2008 . tickets for the a380 's first return commercial flight between singapore and sydney were sold at auction on ebay . one passenger paid $ 100,000 for the experience , with the majority paying between $ 1,500 and $ 5,000 . the $ 1.4 million raised has gone to charities in singapore , sydney and a global humanitarian organization . from sunday 28 october , singapore airlines will commence its scheduled service between singapore and sydney on one of the three daily flights in each direction . the jetliner to be delivered next spring will be used on one of the three daily flights between singapore and london 's heathrow airport . it 's been a long road to this point for airbus , but the journey is by no means over . the airline has a tough delivery schedule ahead to fulfil its 185 orders to 15 customers -lrb- see figures below -rrb- . next year it plans to deliver 13 , a further 25 in 2009 and 45 in 2010 . tom enders , airbus ' ceo does n't underestimate the scale of challenge ahead . `` this is not a piece of cake , '' he told cnn , `` but we have learned our lessons and we are very confident today that we can deliver to our customers . '' it has n't just been airbus that has been frantically preparing for the a380 launch . airports around the world have had to make changes to runways and gates , as well as buy in new vehicles that can tow the giant aircraft and lift high enough to its upper decks . seventy airports are now ready , airbus has said . singapore 's changi airport , home to the singapore airlines a380 fleet , was the first , and when its new terminal 3 opens early next year , 19 gates across the three terminals will be a380-ready with aerobridge access to both decks . heathrow 's new terminal 5 will be able to handle four a380s at one time . british airways , the terminal 's sole occupant , recently confirmed an order for 12 superjumbos and it now wants baa to upgrade a satellite building to be built next to terminal 5 to accommodate them . as willie walsh , ba 's ceo told cnn , `` we want to make sure that development is built with the a380 in mind . '' but whether the arrival of the a380 sets a standard for future air travel is still undecided . as cnn 's richard quest points out , while these giant airplanes may be suitable for getting large numbers of people between key destinations quickly , demand could be even higher for the medium-size jets such as boeing 's up-coming 787 dreamliner . as richard quest says , `` there 's no doubt the a380 will sell , but it is going to take a long time to reach the 420 sales which is the amount airbus needs to make money . '' but those worries , he adds , are for another day . thursday was a day for celebration . some key figures . orders . total : 185 orders -lrb- 165 firm orders -rrb- 15 customers . emirates : 47 qantas : 20 singapore airlines : 19 lufthansa : 15 air france : 12 british airways : 12 ilfc : 10 emirates : 8 virgin atlantic : 6 thai airways : 6 malaysia airlines : 6 qatar : 5 kingfisher : 5 korean air : 5 china southern : 5 etihad : 4 . delivery schedule . 1 in 2007 13 in 2008 25 in 2009 45 in 2010 . the aircraft . wingspan : 79.8 meters -lrb- 747 - 64.4 meters -rrb- length : 73 meters or seven london buses in a row -lrb- 747 - 70.7 meters -rrb- height : 24.1 meters -lrb- 747 - 19.4 meters -rrb- internal cabin width : 6.58 meters -lrb- 747 - 6.1 meters -rrb- seats : 555 -lrb- 747 - 416 -rrb- flight range : 15,000 kilometers -lrb- 747 - 13,450 kilometers -rrb- wiring : 500 kilometers . ideal routes . sin-lhr dxb-lhr syd-lax cdg-nrt jfk-nrt . ticket sales for maiden passenger trip between singapore and sydney top ticket price : us$ 100,380 the bargain : us$ 560 for a single economy seat e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>it does this by creating a ` curtain of air ' which descends softly from the top to the bottom of the cabin from where it is re-filtered and re-circulated . british airways is the first airline in europe to operate both the airbus a380 and the rival boeing 787 dreamliner . interior : daily mail transport editor ray massey took a look behind the scenes of the british airway airbus a380 earlier this month at london heathrow airport . classy : british airways stewardess susie rainsley in the british airways airbus a380 , as ba became the first uk airline to take delivery of the massive superjumbo . at the controls : captain mike blythe sits in the cockpit of british airways ' new airbus a380 , after landing at london heathrow airport on july 4 . the double-decker superjumbo plane can theoretically carry up to 800 people -- provided all the passengers are squeezed into narrow economy-sized seats . but british airways ' new a380s is making do with just 469 passengers across four classes of cabin classes -- with first and business class passengers paying a hefty premium for the privilege . the a380 's first superjumbo long-haul return flight from london to los angeles , california , is on september 24 , priced from # 621 in economy to # 2,550 in business and # 3,799 in first .<doc-sep>tucked away towards the rear of the a380 's upper deck is a spacious inflight lounge and bar , which has been described as ' a sanctuary in the sky ' passengers are also treated to remotely controlled adjustable lighting and electrically operated window blinds , in addition to a fold-out dining table for two people . each seat converts to a fully flat 2.2 metre-long bed , while each passenger gets their own wardrobe , with pockets containing slippers , pyjamas and a giorgio armani and christian dior amenity kit . qatar 's airbus a380 is the world 's largest airliner , and can seat as many as 525 passengers in total across a three-class cabin layout . the aircraft has been configured to seat 517 passengers on twin decks - eight in first class , 48 in business , and 461 in economy . it has a range of up to 8,500 nautical miles . fares for the first class roundtrip between london and doha are 5,000 euros -lrb- # 3,936 -rrb- . the a380 features 48cm personal hd video screens with 3.8 in touchscreen controllers in it first class cabins . qatar says the lounge not only ` offers passengers an escape from the typical airplane environment ' but has been designed to exude the feel of a private ` executive club ' the state-owned flag carrier of qatar has ordered ten of the planes and they will be available on its doha-london heathrow and doha to paris routes , starting on october 10th . qatar airways is vying with other gulf airlines to showcase innovative features and comforts on board . abu dhabi 's etihad is also due to start a380 services soon , joining the largest a380 customer emirates of dubai . qatar airways took delivery of its first a380 last month in hamburg , germany . the firm had initially hoped to take delivery of the plane on may 30th and start the london service in mid-june , but suspended delivery of the first three aircraft over what it described as problems with the workmanship in the cabin . fares for a first class roundtrip between london and doha on qatar airways a380 are 5,000 euros -lrb- # 3,936 -rrb- . both first class and business class guests are offered an on-demand , á la carte menu which includes caviar and desserts from luxury french bakery , laduree .<doc-sep>hours of airtime start to exacerbate the problem . scrutiny : airbus ' new a380 superjumbo has come under fire again , after singapore airlines had to shut down an engine and return a flight to singapore yesterday . first class travel : inside the a380 's first class cabins . it is the latest safety incident to hit the world 's biggest passenger plane , which cost a staggering # 250million each . stretching out : there are just fourteen berths in the first class section of each a380 . the plane can seat up to 853 passengers . * if all seats are in economy class configuration . an airbus spokesman told mailonline : ` we are not commenting on individual sites and areas . ` everyone in the company is absolutely focussed on resolving the issue . ` we are all one airbus and the issue involves many parts of our global organisation . ` the issue is related to the material being used combined with the way parts are assembled on that specific area of the aircraft . ' the a380 made by airbus , a unit of . european aeronautic defence & space co. , was hailed as the next . generation of planes which would save the longhaul flight industry . it was designed to carry around 800 passengers more efficiently a cheaper than any aircraft ever before .<doc-sep>it ends as the four-engine plane takes to the skies for the first time . qatar airways ' a380 has been configured to seat 517 passengers on twin decks -lrb- eight in first class , 48 in business , and 461 in economy -rrb- . almost there : the airbus a380 is towed out of the hangar after being assembled . ready to fly : the three-and-a-half minute video ends as the plane departs on its inaugural test flight .

<t> singapore airlines a380 superjumbo completes historic maiden flight . </t> <t> luxury first class cabins have separate leather seats and double beds . </t> <t> one passenger paid $ 100,000 for the first singapore to sydney trip . </t>

first passengers celebrate a380<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the company owns the venetian resort hotel casino and the sands expo and convention center in las vegas , nevada and the sands macau in the people 's republic of china 's special administrative region of macau , as well as venetian macau limited , a developer of additional multiple casino hotel resort properties in macau . the first phase of the venetian casino resort opened in may 1999 , which originally consisted of 3,036 suites though the number of suites was reduced over time to 3,014 based on renovations and remodeling . since it 's opening , the property has received recognition as revolutionizing the las vegas hotel industry , and has been honored with architectural and other awards naming it as one the finest hotels in the world . in 2003 , the venetian added the 1,013-suite venezia tower -- giving the venetian 4,027 suites , 18 world-class restaurants , and a retail mall with canals , gondolas and singing gondoliers .<doc-sep>in may 2004 , las vegas sands opened the sands macau , located on china 's southeastern coast . the sands macau includes approximately 163,000 square feet of gaming facilities , luxury suites , specialty restaurants and an international vip club . in december 2004 , in one of the year 's most anticipated initial public offerings , dr. and mr. adelson rang the opening bell at the new york stock exchange and with it shares of las vegas sands corp. began trading . the price of the sands stock rose 61 percent on its opening day , becoming the largest opening day of any american-based initial public offering in the last two years . the venetian casino resort is one of the most productive properties on the strip , having an occupancy rate of 98.3 % and an average daily room rate of $ 219 during the nine months ended september 30 , 2004 . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>madrid , spain -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- spain 's capital may not be causing shivers to monaco 's famed monte carlo casino just yet , but madrid hopes to muscle in on europe 's appetite for gambling . the first phase of a controversial , multi-billion dollar casino and hotel complex that spaniards are calling `` eurovegas '' is scheduled to open in 2017 in the madrid suburb of alcorcon , about eight miles southwest of the city center . a top executive from las vegas sands corporation -- founded and run by american billionaire political activist sheldon adelson -- unveiled the exact location of its large complex during a news conference on friday . the new resort could bring tens of thousands of new jobs to recession-gripped spain as it lures travelers hungry for a taste of vegas in europe . opponents say the vegas-style resort would create only low-skilled and low-paying jobs -- not the development model needed to put spain get back on its feet economically . they also have concerns that the resort would attract organized crime . at friday 's packed news conference , las vegas sands chief operating officer michael leven said he 's confident of securing financing for the first phase of the project , which would cost approximately $ 9 billion and include 12,000 hotel rooms .<doc-sep>the mastermind behind the scheme is 79-year-old american tycoon , sheldon adelson , and his company las vegas sands corp. . las vegas sands operates casinos and entertainment complexes in several locations around the world , including las vegas , macau and singapore . michael leven , las vegas sands ceo , said the group will cover 35 percent of the equity investment and assured madrid authorities that funding to complete the rest of the project would be found . it was not clear where the remaining 65 percent will come from . european sin city : the enormous complex on the outskirts of madrid -lrb- pictured -rrb- is expected to create 260,000 jobs and provide a much-needed boost to the spanish economy . tycoon : billionaire casino owner sheldon adelson and his las vegas sands corp company are behind the spanish project . mr leven said spanish banks would be among the investors , but he did not reveal which .<doc-sep>madrid -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the las vegas sands corp. finally made it official : madrid will be the site of its next multibillion dollar casino and hotel complex and not barcelona , which just hours before the announcement said it would build its own , smaller gambling resort . `` barcelona is an outstanding tourism destination and choosing madrid over barcelona was not an easy selection , '' las vegas sands chairman and ceo sheldon adelson said in statement late friday in las vegas . spaniards have dubbed the project `` eurovegas '' and news media have focused almost daily headlines on the fierce competition between madrid , the nation 's capital , and barcelona , the second-largest city , to win the project . the battle came amid the nation 's deep economic crisis , with an unemployment rate of more than 24 % overall and more than 50 % for spanish youth . the las vegas sands project promised to generate up to 250,000 jobs , reports say . plans indicate the project would be an approximately 18 billion euros -lrb- $ 22 billion -rrb- development with 12 hotels including 36,000 rooms , six casinos and three golf courses to be built over a decade . but las vegas sands corp. would provide only up to 35 % of the equity , and the company said the final size of the project , its specific location in madrid and financing options still need to be determined . spain is in the process of receiving up to a 100-billion euro bailout from european authorities for some of the country 's weakest banks , which ran up huge debts when the decade-long property boom crashed . even at the healthiest banks here , credit is still tight . critics of the gambling complex say it 's the wrong kind of development model for a country trying to pull out of recession . the hotel and casino jobs , critics say , would be mainly low-skilled and low paying , besides attracting organized crime to spain , which is already one of the world 's top tourist destinations . earlier friday , the catalan regional government , whose capital is barcelona , announced its own gambling resort , called barcelona world , to be built near the city around an existing amusement park . barcelona world would be a 4.5 billion euros -lrb- $ 5.7 billion -rrb- investment , with six hotels and six casinos , enough to generate 20,000 jobs , about a fourth of the investment of eurovegas in madrid . weeks ago , las vegas sands indicated it would say in early september whether it had chosen madrid or barcelona for the project . a madrid opposition politician tuesday got a jump on his adversaries in the madrid regional government and the las vegas sands corp. announcing that he was certain the casino resort would come to madrid . that set off several days of official denials and no comments . on thursday , catalan officials in barcelona revealed that their offer to host the las vegas sands project expired on august 31 . and it came down to friday , with catalan officials first , and hours later the las vegas sands corp. , announcing their gambling resorts for barcelona and madrid , respectively . adelson , a major donor to the republican party , has built las vegas sands corp. into a leading global developer of gambling , entertainment and convention resorts . the company has the venetian and the palazzo gambling resorts on the las vegas strip , and has expanded into asian markets , with the marina bay sands resort in singapore . on macao , through its majority-owned subsidiary sands china ltd. , it has the venetian macao and sands macao properties .<doc-sep>in a statement tuesday , las vegas sands noted its cooperation with the probe was recognised by the government . prosecutors said that in return the attorney 's office will not seek an indictment against the casino operator . the deal , which was finalised late on monday , also brings the government 's criminal investigation to a close . however , it requires las vegas sands to boost its efforts to monitor suspicious financial transactions for the next two years . las vegas sands corp , which owns the . venetian and palazzo resorts in las vegas , as well as similar resorts in . singapore and macau , is owned by high-profile republican donor sheldon . adelson .

<t> the company owns three major casino complexes , in las vegas and macau . </t> <t> venetian casino resort opened in 1999 , originally consisted of 3,036 suites . </t> <t> in may 2004 , las vegas sands opened the sands macau . </t>

las vegas sands corporation facts<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- if someone had asked kelly pless to describe herself three years ago , the word `` fit '' would have never crossed her mind . kelly pless weighed 220 pounds at her heaviest . she lost 95 pounds through diet and exercise . for most of her adult life , the 31-year-old graduate student from sunny isles beach , florida , has struggled with her weight . she started gaining as a teenager and by the time she graduated from high school , she was carrying 215 pounds on her 5 ' 2 '' frame . prom , she says , was a nightmare . `` i had to go to three different stores to buy a dress , '' pless said . `` i had to buy the biggest , also the ugliest , prom dress the store had because it was the only one that would fit . '' after high school , she lost 50 pounds . but because she had n't done it in a healthy way , her weight crept back up to 220 pounds . at 28 , she started having trouble breathing and doctors told her the weight was to blame . she reached her breaking point . `` i remember being heavy and feeling like being fit just was n't something i could be , '' said pless . `` i remember feeling like even if i tried , it was n't something my body was capable of . '' despite her doubts , pless decided to do something . fortunately she did n't have to look far for inspiration . see before and after weight loss photos from cnn.com i-reporters '' `` my manager at the kennedy space center ran marathons , and he was the same age as my father , '' she said . because her own father had diabetes and was in poor health , he seemed much older , she said . over the next three to four months , she began walking , without any real goal or expectation . pless believed that if she just focused on eating less and moving more , everything would fall into place . `` at first , it was hard to start exercising because i was worried people would make fun of me , '' pless said . `` but then i just told myself , if that 's the worst that could happen ... i just got out there and did n't care . '' eventually , she started to run or `` shuffle '' as she jokingly recalls . she also adopted an `` eat to live '' philosophy and satisfied her cravings for sweets by eating lots of fruit . `` i changed how i felt about food and what it meant to me , '' said pless , who occasionally indulges in a bite of birthday cake or a piece of chocolate . `` one of the first things i cut out was cakes and cookies . that was my weak spot . after a few months of cutting those things out , i focused more on portion control , '' said pless . `` i pretty much eat when i 'm hungry and do n't eat when i 'm not and really try to pay attention to when those times are . make sure i 'm not eating out of boredom or -lsb- at -rsb- social events , i try to make sure i 'm not overeating , just because everyone else is . '' kelly pless shares her weight loss secrets '' pless pays close attention to societal pressure , which she believes is the reason many people overeat . restaurant servings are about three times bigger than a normal portion size , she says . she makes sure she does n't overeat when dining out simply because the food is there . `` what 's hard is to change how you feel about foods that you love or that are n't necessarily good for you , or actually change how you look at food . that was the hardest part for me . '' instead of giving in to the temptation or convenience of calorie-laden or fatty foods such as cheeseburgers from the drive-through , pless asks herself , `` what do i really want to eat ? or , what does my body really want right now ? '' all of the hard work and determination paid off . pless has lost 95 pounds and kept it off for 1 1/2 years . as a result , she says , she 's healthier and more confident . she 's also set a new professional goal -- to pursue a doctorate in food and exercise psychology -- so she can help others who are battling obesity and eating disorders . '' -lsb- the -rsb- negative side to weight loss is that people treat people differently . being fat was a good filter -- i 'm automatically treated better by people because i 'm thinner . society is so hard on people who are overweight or obese , '' said pless . `` now , those people think i 'm funnier or smarter . '' pless runs about 40 miles a week while she trains for two marathons she plans to run this winter . the first is in november in las vegas , nevada , and the second is in miami , florida , in january . forty pounds ago , the first thing she wanted to do once she lost the weight was to have a tummy tuck to remove all of the loose skin . but now , she said she ca n't imagine taking the break from running that recovering from surgery would require . `` running has become a constant for me and does so much more for me than maintain my weight , which is now about 125 pounds , '' said pless . if her past is any indication of her future success , pless will certainly cross the finish line . i-report : have you lost weight ? share your story , tips and photos e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>in henryville , a school bus hurtled into a restaurant . the walls of stephanie decker 's home crashed down . as she scrambled to protect her sons , the wreckage broke seven of her ribs and severed both of her legs . woman loses legs in tornado while saving kids . winds scattered lori lynch 's most treasured possessions . a woman found her high school diploma in cincinnati -- more than 100 miles away , cnn affiliate wave reported . the ef-3 tornado that struck the small town of west liberty , kentucky , packed winds of 140 mph and stuck to the earth for 95 miles -- 60 miles in kentucky and 35 miles into west virginia . the twister left normally tranquil west liberty looking like `` a war zone , '' kentucky gov. steve beshear told reporters sunday . national guard troops helped the town comb through debris while authorities investigated storm fatalities .<doc-sep>satisfaction in the latest survey were northern and first capital . connect which both had figures of 76 per cent . the highest-scoring . company was first hull trains with 95 per cent . unhappy : overall satisfaction on individual routes around the uk varied between 62 and 95 per cent . earlier this month the office of rail regulation revealed that millions of passengers are being failed by delayed and cancelled trains because network rail missed all of its punctuality targets across england and wales . passenger . focus chief executive anthony smith said : ` passengers faced variable . performance in the early part of 2013 . there continues to be a wide gap . between the better and weaker performing services - satisfaction with . individual operators ranges from 76 per cent to 95 per cent . ' he added : ` value for money by route is even more striking , with satisfaction levels ranging from 17 per cent to 76 per cent . mr . smith added : ` passengers are now the main overall funder of great . britain 's railway , so it is vital that their key needs are met . ` given . that performance is the key factor that underpins most passengers ' general view of the railway , train companies and network rail must keep . striving to get more trains on time . ' passenger . focus said rail users had faced performance issues caused by poor . weather , track and signalling problems , suicides and congestion on the . network but that it was ` day to day ' performance that was giving cause . for concern . it added that on a positive note , cable theft has become much rarer following crackdowns . overall satisfaction by individual routes within train companies ' areas varied between 62 per cent and 95 per cent . on . value for money , the proportion of passengers satisfied with value for .<doc-sep>mr harding said that his uniformed runners , whose speed varies between 3mph and 8mph , would have an edge over the capital 's ubiquitous bicycle couriers . he said : ` we 're able to do long-distance delivery much faster with public transport . bikes ca n't go on trains . ' some routes , like london 's rotherhithe tunnel , are inaccessible to cyclists . mr harding described his joggers as mainly contract workers - anything from students to semi-professional soccer players - and suggested that they would leave feats of endurance to the olympians . ` they generally run somewhere between five or six miles a day , ' he said of his crew . ` obviously we do n't want them running half marathons every day . '<doc-sep>you may drop pounds initially , but then find your weight stagnates . the 37-year-old has learnt this from her own experience . when training for marathons and ultra marathons , she spent hours pushing herself to run long distances but did n't lose any weight . she thought the answer was to put even more time-consuming miles in - which eventually led to illness and injury - and she still did n't have the body she wanted . she says : ` i 've never been obese but i certainly had some stubborn . extra pounds i just could n't seem to shift . and for a fitness writer , . that is not a good a look . ' but now julia has a healthy lean and toned physique without an inch of fat , and she says it 's all thanks to high intensity exercise and pumping iron . hold it : core stability moves like this one help julia get her flat stomach . join in : the personal trainer has recorded her workouts so clients can follow the routine . she said : ` when i . switched from long steady exercise to short , high-intensity sessions and . added more variety and strength training into my training mix , my body . changed . a lot . the fat came off , my energy levels soared and i became . healthier , stronger and fitter . ' now julia spends less time working out than she did when she was going for 50 mile runs but is in much better physical shape . her workouts - which she is sharing in a new online programme , extreme inferno , that begins next week - includes weight lifting , core stability exercises and short bursts of efforts which raise the heart rate .

<t> kelly pless started gaining as a teen and weighed 220 pounds at her heaviest . </t> <t> exercise and an `` eat to live '' eating philosophy helped her shed 95 pounds . </t> <t> pless started out walking but now runs 40 miles a week . </t> <t> she is training to run two marathons this winter . </t>

woman loses 95 pounds , trains for marathons<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- tens of thousands of congolese refugees fled camps tuesday in the democratic republic of congo as rebel troops attacked government forces in the area , the u.n. refugee agency said . refugees move along a road tuesday in mugunga , near goma , in the democratic republic of congo . a press release from the u.n. high commissioner for refugees said it did n't appear rebels had targeted the camps , but it reported some were looted after camp residents , classified as internally displaced persons , fled . roads to goma , about 10 miles from the camps , were crowded with refugees and local residents fleeing the fighting , the unhcr reported . torrential rain made the movement even more difficult .<doc-sep>`` the main road toward sake was crowded with people ; we had difficulties getting through , '' unhcr field safety adviser pierre nazroo was quoted as saying in the agency 's release . `` internally displaced people are moving from site to site , direction goma . '' unhcr spokesman ron redmond said , `` they have been living in extremely difficult conditions anyway . now they have nothing but what they can carry . '' redmond added , `` these are people in poor health ; they are soaking wet because of the torrential downpours . they need shelter , they need water , they need a lot of assistance so we 're going to have to move quickly to get that help to them because a lot of them are already in a weakened state . '' while the congolese government accused troops under rebel general laurent nkunda of staging the attack , a nkunda spokesman denied the allegation , according to a report from the integrated regional information networks , a u.n.-affiliated news service .<doc-sep>the spokesman , bwambale kakolele , said rwandan hutu rebels who also operate in the area were behind the attack , that report said . a spokesman for the u.n. military mission in the congo said it was uncertain which group attacked the congo army outpost near the village of kishangazi , according to the u.n.-affiliated news service . `` we think it could have been insurgents close to nkunda who attacked , but we can not rule out the -lsb- rwandan rebels -rsb- , '' spokesman col. pierre cherayron was quoted as saying . the unhcr identified the affected camps as mugunga i , mugunga ii , lac vert and bulengo , saying about 28,000 had abandoned the first three camps and about 2,000 had left bulengo .<doc-sep>the unhcr said 375,000 congolese in north kivu province have been forced from their homes in the past year . in the past two months alone , 160,000 have fled their homes amid the fighting between renegade troops and government forces , the agency said . north kivu is in eastern congo near the borders of rwanda and uganda . congolese president joseph kabila has tried to gain a cease-fire with the rebels in the area under nkunda , but fighting continues as hard-liners among the rebels and in the government have blocked reconciliation efforts , according to the international crisis group , an nongovernmental organization looking for solutions to conflicts . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- thousands of people who fled fighting in the eastern democratic republic of congo are crossing back into rebel-held territory because they say conditions at refugee camps are intolerable . a crowd of refugees gathers at the entrance to a usaid center near goma in the democratic republic of congo . with no food , water or sanitation in the camps , people have decided that it is worth the risk to return to their homes , even though rebels killed and raped many people just last week , residents told itn 's jonathan miller , who is near the city of goma . many of their villages have been looted and emptied of people by the rebels , they said . roads were filled with people returning to rebel-held territory , carrying their belongings on their heads or on their backs . however , others , fearful of fresh violence , continued to leave their homes , overwhelming aid centers . see photos of the refugee camps '' aid groups were expected to travel into the congo 's rebel-held territory on sunday to help tens of thousands of people displaced by the latest bout of rebel fighting .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- thousands of people who fled fighting in the eastern democratic republic of congo are crossing back into rebel-held territory because they say conditions at refugee camps are intolerable . a crowd of refugees gathers at the entrance to a usaid center near goma in the democratic republic of congo . with no food , water or sanitation in the camps , people have decided that it is worth the risk to return to their homes , even though rebels killed and raped many people just last week , residents told itn 's jonathan miller , who is near the city of goma . many of their villages have been looted and emptied of people by the rebels , they said . roads were filled with people returning to rebel-held territory , carrying their belongings on their heads or on their backs . however , others , fearful of fresh violence , continued to leave their homes , overwhelming aid centers . see photos of the refugee camps '' aid groups were expected to travel into the congo 's rebel-held territory on sunday to help tens of thousands of people displaced by the latest bout of rebel fighting . on saturday , aid groups delivered food and water to a refugee camp north of goma , traveling through a narrow `` humanitarian corridor '' the rebels established following a cease-fire with government forces that the rebels announced wednesday . british prime minister gordon brown said the international community can not allow congo to become `` another rwanda , '' where 800,000 died during a 1994 genocide . western diplomats shuttled between goma -- the scene of some of the worst fighting -- and kigali , in neighboring rwanda , to meet with leaders in order to get a peace process back on track . watch the diplomatic efforts ''<doc-sep>support to the armies of sudan and uganda despite claims both have been . involved in rape and looting . despite the controversy , the kony 2012 . video was this week appearing to achieve the group 's stated aim of . raising awareness about the warlord . the 50-year-old ugandan launched his . guerilla army in 1987 and claims to be fighting under god 's orders to . establish a society based on the bible 's ten commandments . his ruthless lra , which has no political aim , has led a campaign of fear throughout northern uganda and neighbouring countries . the organisation is believed to have . murdered tens of thousands of people , abducted at least 30,000 children . to work as sex slaves or soldiers and forced more than 1.5 million . people to flee their homes . the brutal campaign has forced . millions to live in fear and sees families in some areas abandoning . their rural homes at night to sleep in makeshift refugee camps .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- tens of thousands of congolese refugees fled camps tuesday in the democratic republic of congo as rebel troops attacked government forces in the area , the u.n. refugee agency said . refugees move along a road tuesday in mugunga , near goma , in the democratic republic of congo . a press release from the u.n. high commissioner for refugees said it did n't appear rebels had targeted the camps , but it reported some were looted after camp residents , classified as internally displaced persons , fled . roads to goma , about 10 miles from the camps , were crowded with refugees and local residents fleeing the fighting , the unhcr reported . torrential rain made the movement even more difficult . `` the main road toward sake was crowded with people ; we had difficulties getting through , '' unhcr field safety adviser pierre nazroo was quoted as saying in the agency 's release . `` internally displaced people are moving from site to site , direction goma . '' unhcr spokesman ron redmond said , `` they have been living in extremely difficult conditions anyway . now they have nothing but what they can carry . '' redmond added , `` these are people in poor health ; they are soaking wet because of the torrential downpours . they need shelter , they need water , they need a lot of assistance so we 're going to have to move quickly to get that help to them because a lot of them are already in a weakened state . '' while the congolese government accused troops under rebel general laurent nkunda of staging the attack , a nkunda spokesman denied the allegation , according to a report from the integrated regional information networks , a u.n.-affiliated news service . the spokesman , bwambale kakolele , said rwandan hutu rebels who also operate in the area were behind the attack , that report said . a spokesman for the u.n. military mission in the congo said it was uncertain which group attacked the congo army outpost near the village of kishangazi , according to the u.n.-affiliated news service . `` we think it could have been insurgents close to nkunda who attacked , but we can not rule out the -lsb- rwandan rebels -rsb- , '' spokesman col. pierre cherayron was quoted as saying . the unhcr identified the affected camps as mugunga i , mugunga ii , lac vert and bulengo , saying about 28,000 had abandoned the first three camps and about 2,000 had left bulengo . the unhcr said 375,000 congolese in north kivu province have been forced from their homes in the past year . in the past two months alone , 160,000 have fled their homes amid the fighting between renegade troops and government forces , the agency said . north kivu is in eastern congo near the borders of rwanda and uganda . congolese president joseph kabila has tried to gain a cease-fire with the rebels in the area under nkunda , but fighting continues as hard-liners among the rebels and in the government have blocked reconciliation efforts , according to the international crisis group , an nongovernmental organization looking for solutions to conflicts . e-mail to a friend .

<t> new : congo rebels blame rwandan hutus for attack , report says . </t> <t> internally displaced congolese flee as rebels attack government troops . </t> <t> torrential rain makes refugee movement difficult . </t> <t> u.n. refugee agency : some 375,000 have been forced from homes in past year . </t>

tens of thousands flee congo refugee camps<T>

washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the illegal export of u.s. military technology to iran and china poses a growing threat , the justice department said thursday as it announced plans to combat the practice . iran is the only country still flying the f-14 tomcat .<doc-sep>the department said the united states will tighten monitoring of export licenses and increase export restrictions on technologies that could have both civilian and military applications and could pose a danger to u.s. national security in the hands of terrorists or potential enemies . `` china and iran pose particular u.s. export control concerns , '' the justice department said in a statement issued thursday . `` recent prosecutions have highlighted illegal exports of stealth missile technology , military aircraft components , naval warship data , night vision equipment , and other restricted technology destined for china or iran . ''<doc-sep>representatives of more than a half dozen federal agencies will jointly announce their plans at a justice department news conference thursday . officials plan to highlight two recent cases . in the past week a pittsburgh company , sparesglobal inc. , was sentenced for lying about an illegal export of products that can be used in nuclear reactions and in the nose cones of ballistic missiles . the products ended up in pakistan after being routed from the united arab emirates .<doc-sep>in utah , two men were charged last week with attempting to illegally export restricted components for f-4 and f-14 fighter jets . f-14 components are widely sought by iran , which is the only military in the world that still flies the jet . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's terry frieden contributed to this report .<doc-sep>hong kong -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- when shaun rein drives to shanghai 's pudong international airport , about 10 minutes outside the airfield , he begins to notice a line of cars -- including rolls royces and bentleys -- parked along the side of the highway . `` why ? it 's because these people , who can spend a million dollars on a car , do n't want to spend $ 2 on parking at the garage , '' said rein , managing director at china market research group . for chinese leaders , the nation 's newfound wealth represents a bumpy road as they try to steer the economy on a new path . the ruling communist party -lrb- ccp -rrb- continues meetings this week for the 18th party congress , where it is expected to select xi jinping and li keqiang to become the president and premier , respectively , of china for the next decade . hu warns of corruption as congress begins . one of the great challenges the new leadership faces is to move the economy -- currently driven by exports and investment -- toward a more sustainable course led by domestic consumer spending . while domestic consumption is rising , it still makes up just over one-third of the china 's total economy . american consumers , by comparison , power more than two-thirds of the u.s. economy . much has been made of china 's growing group of super rich which has spurred record sales for luxury goods makers such as chanel , louis vuitton and prada . the nation has an estimated one million people with a net worth of $ 1 million or more , and that is expected to grow 2.5 times in the next three years , rein said . but much of the hope of the rising domestic spending rests with china 's growing middle class . there are an estimated 350 million people in china 's middle class , which are households that earn between $ 6,000 and $ 15,000 , rein said . a government think tank predicted last week that by 2020 there will be 600 million chinese earning middle-class incomes .<doc-sep>defoe has worked with qpr manager harry redknapp -lrb- second right -rrb- at three different english clubs . it is understood defoe prefers a move to loftus road , where he would be reunited with harry redknapp - who he has worked with at west ham , portsmouth and tottenham . redknapp is keen to re-sign defoe , 32 , after failing in a bid to take him in the summer . but with owner tony fernandes keeping a tighter rein on the club 's finances , putting together a financial package could yet prove a stumbling block . toronto want to recoup as much of the # 6million they paid tottenham as possible , while defoe is on a lucrative # 60,000-per-week deal .<doc-sep>in its world economic outlook , the imf said that in light of weaker growth european governments should avoid extreme austerity measures such as spending cuts and tax increases . and healthier european countries whose . governments are facing lower interest rates ` should reconsider the . pace ' of their short-term budget cuts . imf managing director christine lagarde made a similar argument on monday during a speech in berlin . european banks , meanwhile , are cutting back on lending in order to boost their capital reserves , the fund said . that 's likely to hammer central and eastern european economies this year , which depend heavily on european bank loans . the cutbacks will also slow growth in many asian economies , the imf said , where european banks finance a big chunk of the region 's exports . still , the hit to china will be relatively modest - it is forecast to grow 8.2 per cent this year , down from the fund 's earlier projection of 9 per cent . u.s. policymakers should take steps to rein in the long-term costs of government health programs and social security , the federal public pension system , the imf said .<doc-sep>by . associated press . last updated at 5:05 pm on 8th january 2012 . iran has begun uranium enrichment at a new underground site well protected from possible airstrikes . the development was reported in a leading iranian newspaper today in another show of defiance against western pressure to rein in tehran 's nuclear program . another newspaper quoted a senior commander of the powerful revolutionary guard force as saying tehran 's leadership has decided to order the closure of the strait of hormuz , a strategic oil route , if the country 's petroleum exports are blocked . iranian president mahmoud ahmadinejad , centre , visits the natanz uranium enrichment facility about 322 kilometres south of tehran in 2008 . revolutionary guard ground forces also staged war games in eastern iran in an apparent display of resolve against u.s. forces just over the border in afghanistan . revolutionary guard deputy commander ali ashraf nouri told the khorasan - a daily newspaper : ` the supreme authorities have insisted that if enemies block the export of our oil , we wo n't allow a drop of oil to pass through the strait of hormuz . this is the strategy of the islamic republic in countering such threats . '

<t> illegal exports to iran , china an increasing problem , justice department says . </t> <t> pittsburgh company cited for export of products with nuclear applications . </t> <t> utah men charged with attempting to illegally export jet fighter parts . </t>

u.s. to keep tighter rein on military exports<T>

washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the confirmation of michael mukasey as attorney general was all but assured friday when two key democratic senators said they will vote in favor of the nominee despite questions about his views on `` waterboarding '' and the president 's power to order electronic surveillance . sens. dianne feinstein of california and charles schumer of new york announced they would support the retired federal judge from new york just hours after the chairman of the judiciary committee announced his opposition to the nominee . feinstein and schumer are members of the senate judiciary committee , which is scheduled to vote on the mukasey nomination tuesday . if all the republican members of the committee also vote for mukasey , which is expected , his nomination will go before the full senate . a leading democrat , speaking on condition of anonymity , said wednesday mukasey is likely to be confirmed if his nomination passes the judiciary committee . schumer had praised the nomination of mukasey as a consensus candidate when the president announced mukasey as his choice to replace former attorney general alberto gonzales . gonzales gave up the post in september . `` this is an extremely difficult decision , '' schumer said . `` when an administration so political , so out of touch with the realities of governing and so contemptuous of the rule of law is in charge , we are never left with an ideal choice . judge mukasey is not my ideal choice . however , judge mukasey , whose integrity and independence is respected even by those who oppose him , is far better than anyone could expect from this administration . '' a number of democratic senators , however , have said they will oppose mukasey because of questions about his views on the interrogation technique called `` waterboarding '' and the president 's power to order electronic surveillance . waterboarding involves restraining a suspect and using water to produce the sensation of drowning . mukasey told senators this week that he finds waterboarding `` repugnant , '' but he could not answer whether the technique amounts to torture . while saying `` serious questions have been raised about judge mukasey 's views on torture and on separation of powers , '' feinstein said she would support the nominee because the justice department needed fresh leadership . `` first and foremost , michael mukasey is not alberto gonzales . rather , he has forged an independent life path as a practitioner of the law and a federal judge in the southern district of new york . `` i believe that judge mukasey is the best we will get and voting him down would only perpetuate acting and recess appointments , allowing the administration to avoid the transparency that confirmation hearings provide and diminish effective oversight by congress . ''<doc-sep>just hours before feinstein and schumer announced their decisions , senate judiciary committee chairman sen. patrick leahy , d-vermont , announced he would vote against the mukasey nomination . watch sen. leahy explain why he ca n't support the mukasey nomination '' `` no american should need a classified briefing to determine whether waterboarding is torture , '' leahy said . `` waterboarding was used at least as long ago as the spanish inquisition . we prosecuted japanese war criminals for waterboarding after world war ii . `` i am eager to restore strong leadership and independence to the department of justice . i like michael mukasey . i wish that i could support his nomination . but i can not . america needs to be certain and confident of the bedrock principle -- deeply embedded in our laws and our values -- that no one , not even the president , is above the law . '' president bush demanded the senate confirm mukasey during a speech thursday at the heritage foundation , an influential conservative think tank . `` in a time of war , it 's vital for the president to have a full national security team in place , '' the president said . the president has equated asking mukasey about his opinion of waterboarding with asking him about the cia-run interrogation program , whose details are classified . bush said the program does not violate u.s. bans on torture , but added that mukasey `` does not want an uninformed opinion to be taken by our professional interrogators in the field as placing them in legal jeopardy . '' but leahy said `` judge mukasey was not asked to evaluate any secret ` facts and circumstances . ' '' `` he was asked whether waterboarding is illegal . our law makes torture illegal , and waterboarding is torture , and it is illegal . it is frankly not dependent on any , quote , ` relevant facts and circumstances of the technique 's past or proposed use , ' '' he said , quoting from mukasey 's response to senators on the question . sources with knowledge of the cia-run interrogation program have said agents are no longer using waterboarding . but those sources have said waterboarding was used in the interrogation of khalid shaikh mohammed , now facing trial before a military tribunal for planning al qaeda 's 2001 attacks on new york and washington . the practice was used by the spanish inquisition , cambodia 's khmer rouge and the world war ii japanese military , according to human rights watch . it is specifically banned in u.s. law governing the treatment of prisoners by the u.s. military . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's ted barrett contributed to this report .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- president bush on monday said he reluctantly accepted the resignation of attorney general alberto gonzales , whose `` good name was dragged through the mud for political reasons . '' alberto gonzales and his wife , rebecca , have lunch with president and laura bush at the bush ranch sunday . after months of standing by his top prosecutor and `` close friend , '' bush spoke briefly in texas to praise gonzales , saying the attorney general endured `` unfair treatment that has created harmful distraction at the justice department . '' bush said it 's `` sad that we live in a time when a talented and honorable person '' is impeded `` from doing important work . '' solicitor general paul clement will serve as acting attorney general , bush said , until a nominee has been confirmed by the senate . earlier in washington , gonzales announced his resignation , saying , `` i have lived the american dream . '' the first latino to helm the justice department said his `` worst days as attorney general have been better than my father 's best days . '' watch gonzales on his `` worst days '' as top prosecutor '' gonzales described public service as `` honorable and noble '' and thanked bush for his friendship . `` yesterday i met with president bush and informed him of my decision to conclude my government services as attorney general of the united states effective september 17 . '' neither bush nor gonzales took questions from reporters . some senior administration officials floated homeland security chief michael chertoff as a possible replacement , but others waved cnn away from chertoff , saying that his nomination could run into problems because of his role during hurricane katrina .<doc-sep>regardless , however , bush may ultimately have little trouble overcoming his sins with the conservative base , as the cnn/orc poll found republican primary voters taking a pragmatic stance on the party 's nominee . sixty-nine percent say they want a nominee that can beat the democratic candidate for president , even if that person does n't agree with them on every issue , while only 29 percent of gop primary voters are purists . and that makes bush the candidate to beat in a gop primary . out of all of the seven head-to-head gop match-ups with clinton tested , bush fares the best , trailing her by just 13 points . she takes 54 % support to his 41 % support . the survey was conducted by live interview among 1,011 adults nationwide from dec. 18-21 , with a subsample of 453 republicans and 469 democrats , via landline and cell phone . the overall sample has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a majority of americans consider waterboarding a form of torture , but some of those say it 's ok for the u.s. government to use the technique , according to a poll released tuesday . michael mukasey said waterboarding is repugnant , but he stopped short of saying it was torture . asked whether they think waterboarding is a form of torture , more than two-thirds of respondents , or 69 percent , said yes ; 29 percent said no . asked whether they think the u.s. government should be allowed to use the procedure to try to get information from suspected terrorists , 58 percent said no ; 40 percent said yes . in the procedure , water is used on restrained prisoners to make them feel like they are drowning . the practice became an issue during the recent confirmation hearings for attorney general nominee michael mukasey , who has refused to categorically reject the practice . mukasey told the senate judiciary committee last week that while he finds waterboarding personally `` repugnant , '' he could not answer `` hypothetical '' questions about whether the technique amounts to torture . senators ' reaction to mukasey 's statements on waterboarding and the president 's power to order warrantless electronic surveillance threw his nomination into doubt . but his confirmation was all but assured last week when two key democratic senators said they will vote in favor of mukasey despite the controversy . see which key senators support mukasey '' the committee is scheduled to take up the nomination tuesday . bush nominated mukasey to replace longtime ally alberto gonzales , who resigned in september . sources with knowledge of the cia-run interrogation program have said waterboarding is not currently being used in its interrogations . but those sources have said waterboarding was used in the interrogation of khalid sheikh mohammed , now facing trial before a military tribunal for planning al qaeda 's 2001 attacks on new york and washington . waterboarding was used during the spanish inquisition and by cambodia 's brutal khmer rouge regime and the world war ii japanese military , according to advocacy group human rights watch . the cnn/opinion research corp. telephone poll of 1,024 american adults was carried out over the weekend and had a sampling error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a gop-inspired effort to tinker with the electoral college machinery in california is raising alarm bells among democrats who fear it could doom the party 's chances of winning the white house in 2008 . a gop-led group submitted a proposal to state attorney general jerry brown that could sway the '08 presidential race . democrats have come to rely on california 's block of 55 electoral votes -- the largest haul available in any state -- as part of their arithmetic to win the presidency with a majority in the electoral college . a group called californians for equal representation has submitted a ballot initiative to state attorney general jerry brown that would change the current statewide winner-take-all system to a formula based on congressional districts . republicans say the idea is aimed at attracting presidential candidates to campaign in california , which they rarely do because the statewide vote traditionally leans democratic . opponents call the proposal an attempt to grab democratic votes . under the proposal , the winning candidate in each of the state 's 53 congressional districts would get one electoral vote , with two votes going to the statewide winner . supporters want to put the proposal on the ballot for next june 's state primary , which would put the change into effect for the 2008 election . do to so , supporters will have to collect about 434,000 petition signatures from registered voters by november 13 , according to the secretary of state 's office . in the 2006 election , californians elected 34 democrats and 19 republicans to the house . had the proposed system been in effect in 2004 , president bush would have captured 22 of california 's electoral votes . the extra electoral votes would have eliminated bush 's need to carry the pivotal state of ohio to win re-election . `` this would all but guarantee that the republican nominee would get 20 extra electoral college votes , which could certainly impact the outcome of the election , '' said allan hoffenblum , a republican strategist . and that is exactly what has democrats crying foul . `` the republicans are doing this in california because they want a chunk of our vote , '' said darry sragow , a democratic strategist . the ballot initiative was submitted by thomas hiltachk , a sacramento election lawyer who is also general counsel for republican gov. arnold schwarzenegger . the purpose of the change is to make california more relevant in presidential elections by forcing candidates to campaign in the state , according to the initiative . `` because this is a reliable democratic state , none of the presidential candidates -- republican or democrat -- ever shows up in california , '' hoffenblum said . on the other side of the divide , democrats argue that california should n't make such a change when the vast majority of other states still operate under a winner-take-all system . `` this is very fair if it 's universal around the country , '' sragow said . `` it is patently absurd it if only takes place in certain states . '' under the constitution , each state gets a number of electoral votes equal to its representation in congress , including both representatives and senators . currently , 48 states award all of their electoral votes to the candidate who wins the largest number of votes . two states -- nebraska and maine -- have adopted the system that is being proposed for california , assigning their electoral votes based on who wins individual congressional districts , with the statewide winner getting the two votes derived from senators . but this has not generated controversy because both states have just a handful of votes , and the results have never resulted in splitting them between candidates . ironically , while democrats are up in arms in california over the idea of changing the electoral college rules , their compatriots in republican-leaning north carolina have floated the idea of adopting the nebraska-maine system for their state . however , national democratic leaders have tried to discourage that effort , because of concerns it would be difficult to support such a change in north carolina , where it would help the party , while opposing it in california . the change also would help democrats much less in north carolina than it would hurt in california . in 2004 , the democratic presidential nominee , sen. john kerry , would have garnered three more votes in north carolina , while losing 22 in california . the disputed 2000 election , in which bush won the electoral vote while losing the popular vote , has generated a flurry of proposals to abolish or alter the electoral college , both at the federal and state level . in 2006 , colorado voters rejected a constitutional amendment that would have divided up the electoral vote pie in proportion to each candidates ' share of the popular vote . a group called national popular vote also is lobbying state legislatures to adopt a system where all of a state 's electoral votes would be pledged to the winner of the national popular vote -- an idea which , if adopted by states holding a majority of electoral votes , would ensure that the popular vote winner always became president . while national popular vote says its plan has been introduced in 47 states , maryland is the only one so far to pass it . and the change wo n't go into effect in maryland until it gains approval in enough states to ensure that the popular vote winner would take the white house . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's bill schneider contributed to this report .

<t> new : feinstein , schumer say they 'll vote for attorney general nominee . </t> <t> michael mukasey 's nomination now expected to pass judiciary committee . </t> <t> sen. patrick leahy says he will not vote to confirm michael mukasey . </t> <t> committee scheduled to vote on nomination on tuesday . </t>

bush attorney general nominee gets key democratic support<T>

atlanta , georgia -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- genarlow wilson , freed last week from a georgia prison , said he 's glad he rejected a plea deal from prosecutors , even if it would have sprung him from prison months earlier . genarlow wilson tells cnn on sunday that he will be more conservative and alert in the future . the 21-year-old , who served two years of a 10-year sentence for aggravated child molestation , said the prospect of being labeled a sex offender drove him to turn down the deal . he had to think about his 9-year-old sister and having a family of his own one day , he said sunday . `` it might 've been lesser time , but then again , i would have nowhere to go because i would have no home , '' wilson said during a cnn interview scheduled to air monday at 8 p.m. `` i would n't be able to stay with my mother because i have a little sister . you know , when you 're a sex offender you ca n't be around kids . basically , i ca n't even have kids myself , you know , so what is the point of life ? '' he asked . in 2005 , a jury found wilson guilty of aggravated child molestation for having oral sex with a 15-year-old girl at a 2003 new year 's eve party . wilson was 17 at the time of the party . watch wilson say why he rejected the plea deal '' the conviction carried a 10-year mandatory prison sentence and a sex offender designation . according to georgia attorney general thurbert baker , prosecutors in douglas county , georgia , offered wilson a plea deal that would have reduced his sentence , possibly to time served , and would have eventually removed the conviction and sex offender status from his record . defense attorney b.j. bernstein said in june that wilson rejected the deal because he did n't want to plead guilty to a felony with a 15-year sentence .<doc-sep>the state legislature last year amended the law under which wilson was convicted , making such sexual encounters misdemeanors . however , the legislature did not make the law retroactive , so it had no effect on wilson 's sentence . now 21 , wilson was released friday after the state supreme court ruled 4-3 that the young man 's sentence `` constitutes cruel and unusual punishment . '' wilson said sunday he feels no `` negative energy '' toward district attorney david mcdade , who fought efforts to have wilson 's sentence reduced . instead , wilson said , he is focused on the future and hopes to soon immerse himself in his college studies . he wants to major in sociology , he said , `` because i feel like i 've been living my major . '' the new genarlow wilson will be more conservative , more alert and more appreciative of the blessings bestowed upon him , he said . `` when it seems like you have everything , you know , you feel like you have no worries until it 's all gone , and i know what it feels like to be without and i do n't want to ever feel like that again , '' said the former honor student , football star and homecoming king . `` i do n't ever want to see the inside of a prison or a prison , period . '' though he called his sentence `` absurd , '' wilson said he understands that prosecutors `` were doing their job and they felt they were carrying out the law . '' wilson also said he knows what he did was foolish . `` i was young then . i did some idiotic things in my teen years , but you know , every average teen does , '' he said . `` i do n't think any of us made very wise decisions , but i do n't think that any of us can go back then and change what happened . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>atlanta , georgia -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- genarlow wilson , freed last week from a georgia prison , said he 's glad he rejected a plea deal from prosecutors , even if it would have sprung him from prison months earlier . genarlow wilson tells cnn on sunday that he will be more conservative and alert in the future . the 21-year-old , who served two years of a 10-year sentence for aggravated child molestation , said the prospect of being labeled a sex offender drove him to turn down the deal . he had to think about his 9-year-old sister and having a family of his own one day , he said sunday . `` it might 've been lesser time , but then again , i would have nowhere to go because i would have no home , '' wilson said during a cnn interview scheduled to air monday at 8 p.m. `` i would n't be able to stay with my mother because i have a little sister . you know , when you 're a sex offender you ca n't be around kids . basically , i ca n't even have kids myself , you know , so what is the point of life ? '' he asked . in 2005 , a jury found wilson guilty of aggravated child molestation for having oral sex with a 15-year-old girl at a 2003 new year 's eve party . wilson was 17 at the time of the party . watch wilson say why he rejected the plea deal '' the conviction carried a 10-year mandatory prison sentence and a sex offender designation . according to georgia attorney general thurbert baker , prosecutors in douglas county , georgia , offered wilson a plea deal that would have reduced his sentence , possibly to time served , and would have eventually removed the conviction and sex offender status from his record . defense attorney b.j. bernstein said in june that wilson rejected the deal because he did n't want to plead guilty to a felony with a 15-year sentence .<doc-sep>the state legislature last year amended the law under which wilson was convicted , making such sexual encounters misdemeanors . however , the legislature did not make the law retroactive , so it had no effect on wilson 's sentence . now 21 , wilson was released friday after the state supreme court ruled 4-3 that the young man 's sentence `` constitutes cruel and unusual punishment . '' wilson said sunday he feels no `` negative energy '' toward district attorney david mcdade , who fought efforts to have wilson 's sentence reduced . instead , wilson said , he is focused on the future and hopes to soon immerse himself in his college studies . he wants to major in sociology , he said , `` because i feel like i 've been living my major . '' the new genarlow wilson will be more conservative , more alert and more appreciative of the blessings bestowed upon him , he said . `` when it seems like you have everything , you know , you feel like you have no worries until it 's all gone , and i know what it feels like to be without and i do n't want to ever feel like that again , '' said the former honor student , football star and homecoming king . `` i do n't ever want to see the inside of a prison or a prison , period . '' though he called his sentence `` absurd , '' wilson said he understands that prosecutors `` were doing their job and they felt they were carrying out the law . '' wilson also said he knows what he did was foolish . `` i was young then . i did some idiotic things in my teen years , but you know , every average teen does , '' he said . `` i do n't think any of us made very wise decisions , but i do n't think that any of us can go back then and change what happened . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . published : . 15:57 est , 20 march 2013 . | . updated : . 16:35 est , 20 march 2013 . on his way : nancy gonzalez , who became pregnant with an inmate 's baby , has gone into labor . a 29-year-old prison guard who became pregnant during an affair with convicted cop-killer ronnell wilson has gone into labour , her lawyer has revealed . nancy gonzalez was excused from a court date in new york on wednesday because she is having contractions , her attorney anthony ricco told the court , the new york post reported . the former metropolitan detention center guard was charged with having unlawful sex with an inmate and later failed a drugs test , admitting she had taken cocaine to deal with the stress of her arrest . gonzales is facing 15 years in prison after being arrested on suspicion that she . had hatched a plot with ronnell wilson to help save his life . the convicted killer . allegedly impregnated gonzales to avoid the death penalty and had been so desperate to father a child . that he offered to confess to the murders of two detectives , according to his . former lawyer . attorney ephraim savitt said that in 2006 , his then-client . ronell wilson was poised to accept a plea deal as part of which he would accept . responsibility for the 2003 slayings of undercover detectives rodney andrews . and james nemorin and be sentenced to a life in prison . illegal liaison : gonzalez , left , was arrested after police say she had an illicit affair with convicted cop killer ronell wilson , right , and became pregnant with his baby to save him from execution . explanation : gonzalez allegedly said in a recorded phone conversation that she was ` vulnerable ' when she decided to start a relationship with wilson in a bid to give him some ` hope ' ` wilson advised me that he would take the life deal - as . long as he could have conjugal visits - because he was determined to leave this . earth with a child of his own , to give his wasted life some meaning , ' savitt . told the new york post . for wilson to be .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . published : . 12:09 est , 21 february 2013 . | . updated : . 12:09 est , 21 february 2013 . convicted nypd cop killer ronell wilson had a sex act done to him by his girlfriend with his mother and sister in the room , a source has revealed . the convicted cop killer who impregnated a female prison guard while incarcerated has more dirty secrets , it was revealed today . ronell wilson , who was convicted in 2006 of killing an undercover nypd detective , was pleasured from another girlfriend ahead of his incarceration while his mother and sister were in the visiting room , sources revealed . the source said that mother depetra wilson and vanessa warrick turned away while wilson was receiving the sex act , and that the salacious event was captured on prison surveillance camera . the source told the new york daily news that prosecutors considered using the footage against wilson in his case to try and get the death penalty . the feds were hoping to illustrate the 30-year-old man 's blatant disregard for authority and the fact that he posed a danger to himself and others while behind bars . wilson will be sentenced sometime this spring in brooklyn federal court . court papers show that former prison guard , nancy gonzalez , is eight-and-a-half months pregnant with their son , and faces 15 years in prison if convicted for having sex with wilson . the convicted killer impregnated a prison guard in an . alleged plot to avoid the death penalty had been so desperate to father a child . that he offered to confess to the murders of two detectives , according to his . former lawyer . illegal liaison : federal prison guard nancy gonzalez , left , was arrested after police say she had an illicit affair with convicted cop killer ronell wilson , right , and became pregnant with his baby to save him from execution . attorney ephraim savitt said that in 2006 , his then-client . ronell wilson was poised to accept a plea deal as part of which he would accept . responsibility for the 2003 slayings of undercover detectives rodney andrews . and james nemorin and be sentenced to a life in prison . ` wilson advised me that he would take the life deal -- as .

<t> genarlow wilson : accepting plea deal would have left him without a home . </t> <t> wilson , 21 , promises to be more conservative , alert and thankful in future . </t> <t> he plans to study sociology in college -- `` i feel like i 've been living my major '' </t> <t> wilson served two years in prison after consensual oral sex with teen girl . </t>

genarlow wilson : plea deal would have left me without a home<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- behind the state banquet and smiles from queen elizabeth and british prime minister gordon brown , king abdullah of saudi arabia 's visit to london this week caused a wave of dissent . the uk political elite boycotted events . demonstrators lined the mall . the uk foreign secretary pulled out of a meeting with his saudi counterpart to be with his new adopted son . and just days before he arrived , the saudi king accused british officials of ignoring information that could have averted the terror attacks in london on july 2005 . whether the politics of the event were a success is open to debate . but this was just part of the story . the saudis were also in town to cement a strong trading and business relationship that has developed between the two kingdoms over the last 20 years . saudi arabia is the uk 's largest trading partner in the middle east . and behind the usa , the uk is the second largest foreign investor in the kingdom . uk trade & investment has designated saudi arabia one of its 17 `` high growth markets '' along with uae and qatar in the region . as the nation diversifies its economy away from oil , commercial opportunities for uk thrive in a variety of sectors . saudi arabia is currently planning six privately-developed economic cities . the $ 26.6 billion king abdullah economic city -- the largest of these -- will create one million jobs and home to two million residents .<doc-sep>the aim , says the saudi arabian general investment authority , is to boost the economy by creating a pro-business environment , and attracting investors and fostering investment opportunities . the uk has , since the early 1990s , been one of the top five exporters to saudi arabia , behind usa , germany , china and japan . in 2007 , saudi arabian bank sabb predicts that uk exports to the kingdom will increase by more than 5.5 per cent to reach $ 2.8 billion . while the balance of trade continues to be favor of the british , saudi arabia 's exports to britain are also gaining ground and closing the trade gap . this year , exports to britain are expected to reach a record high of $ 2.1 billion , says sabb . and this is n't all about oil . in the 1980s , three quarters of saudi exports to the uk were from oil , but today the non-oil sector accounts for 59 percent of exports . products being shipped to the uk include machinery , transport equipment , plastics , non-metallic minerals and , despite the uk 's dominance in the sector , chemicals . according to sabb , there are also more than 150 saudi-british joint ventures underway with a value of around $ 15 billion .<doc-sep>as john sfakianakis , chief economist from sabb says , state visits such as this are important for bolstering trade talks , past and future . `` the biggest deal that will mark their relationship in trade is the purchase of 72 eurofighter typhoon jets that was sealed last week , '' says sfakianakis . the contract between the kingdom and the uk ministry of defence via bae is worth over almost $ 10 billion for the aircraft alone and a further $ 19 billion for the deployment , maintenance and training . this comes less than a year after the uk government decided to call off a serious fraud office investigation into defense contracts with saudi arabia . this probe related to the sale of weapons by bae systems to saudi arabia in the 1980s . bae has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and making payments to saudi royals to win business . but as sfakianakis points out , any political sensitivity surrounding the visit is unlikely to harm future trading relationships between the nations . `` the relationship is far deeper than that , '' he says . `` saudi arabia 's economy is booming and the opportunities businessmen see here are immense . everything else takes a subsidiary part in that . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>both white and his business partner , jesse pinkman , have action figure versions completed with gas masks , a duffel bag of cash , and a toy bag of crystal meth . for the tragically ignorant : the show follows the transformation of mild-mannered high school chemistry teacher walter white in ruthless drug kingpin heisenberg when a diagnosis of terminal cancer forces him to cook meth as a means to leave money behind for his family . both white and his business partner , jesse pinkman , have action figure versions completed with gas masks , a duffel bag of cash , and a toy bag of crystal meth . visit nbcnews.com for breaking news , world news , and news about the economy . ' i was very shocked and appalled , ' susan schrivjer told reporters about stumbling across the figures .<doc-sep>the last documentation of an interaction with jeremiah was in may 2013 , according to department of children and families spokesman alec loftus . in june , loftus said , the social worker was told that jeremiah had moved to florida to live with his grandmother , but did not follow up or verify that . the last visit to the home was in november , at which the social worker left behind a business card indicating it would be the department of children and families ' final visit , loftus said . on december 2 , jeremiah 's 8-year-old sister told counselors at her elementary school that her mother 's boyfriend , alberto sierra , 22 , had abused her , according to a police affidavit . after those statements , the girl and another brother were taken into protective custody , according to the affidavit . when police asked elsa oliver , 28 , where her third child , jeremiah , was , she told them he had moved to florida , a law enforcement source involved in the investigation told cnn at the time .<doc-sep>by . tom mctague , mailonline deputy political editor . nick clegg put domestic party troubles behind him today after touching down in new delhi for a three-day trade mission to india . the deputy prime minister followed in the footsteps of david cameron by donning traditional indian dress on a visit to a sikh temple in the city . it comes amid continuing poll woes for the lib dems with barely nine-months to go before the next election . mr clegg has also been warned that the party now has a ` women problem ' after clearing the peer lord rennard despite a string of accusations that he groped female activists . dynamic duo : nick clegg and energy secretary ed davey -lrb- right -rrb- at the bangla sahib gurudwara temple . feeling the heat : mr clegg mixes vegetables at a community kitchen during his visit to the sikh temple . mr clegg 's visit is the latest official trade mission to new delhi , amid a concerted drive by the coalition to drum up trade between britain and india . the deputy pm held talks with india 's recently-elected prime minister narendra modi . mr clegg wants to capitalise on the new indian government 's focus on re-energising economic growth -- and hopes to sign a number of multi-million pound business deals . over three days , the 40-strong delegation , which includes mr clegg 's new unpaid india business adviser lord dholakia , will meet counterparts in new delhi , mumbai and bangalore . senior government figures have made a series of trips to india since the coalition came to power in 2010 in an effort to create a new ` special relationship ' and strengthen trade with the emerging economic powerhouse .<doc-sep>a new management team has finally been appointed at silverstone , ending months of uncertainty behind the scenes . in october , richard phillips , ed brookes and david thompson were suspended on full pay from their positions as managing director , financial director and legal director respectively pending an undisclosed internal investigation . silverstone has plans to enlarge the business after appointing a new management team . it resulted in british racing drivers ' club -lrb- brdc -rrb- chairman john grant and director lawrence tomlinson taking up the role of joint-acting chief executive of silverstone circuits limited -lrb- scl -rrb- . the brdc made clear at the time the suspensions were coincidental to the plans of grant and lawrence into the restructuring of the silverstone business . the brdc has now appointed patrick allen as managing director given his experience in sales and marketing , supported by stuart pringle , who has taken on the new position of sporting director . securing future of the british f1 grand prix was pivotal to plans for famous track . pringle will oversee the event management and circuit operations side of the business . commenting on his vision for the circuit , allen said ` silverstone has great potential to become the ultimate entertainment venue , and with the support of the team i believe we can make it the place to go . ' i want our customers to know they can visit the circuit any weekend of the year and be guaranteed an amazing value-for-money experience , whether that is to watch motor racing , visit a music concert , enjoy a food festival or attend an exhibition . ' lewis hamilton celebrates winning the british grand prix at silverstone in july , last year . phillips , brookes and thomson have now left scl . commenting on their time at the helm , grant said : ` this executive team has overseen significant growth and diversification of silverstone 's business during its tenure , during which the wing was built and the future of the british f1 grand prix secured . ' i would like to thank them for their contributions to silverstone and wish them well for the future . ' â .

<t> saudi arabia is the uk 's largest trading partner in the middle east . </t> <t> britain is also the second largest foreign investor in the kingdom . </t> <t> the uk has been one of the top five exporters to saudi arabia since the 1990s . </t> <t> exports to britain are expected to reach a record high in the non-oil sector . </t>

the business behind the visit<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- nine people were killed and 19 injured after a tour bus carrying people on a ski trip left a highway and rolled over sunday night in southeastern utah , a highway patrol spokesman said . the seats of the bus that rolled over are exposed to the snow at the crash site in southeastern utah on monday . at least 50 people were on the arrow stage lines bus when it crashed on state highway 163 , about five miles north of mexican hat , at 7:30 p.m. -lrb- 9:30 p.m. et -rrb- , said utah highway patrol trooper cameron roden . troopers reported the road was wet but not icy , he said . the bus was traveling south from telluride , colorado , to phoenix , arizona , when it left the right side of the highway and rolled over , roden said . see where the crash occurred '' police said the bus lost control on a curve , ran off the road and rolled over several times , tumbling 41 feet down an embankment , according to the associated press . `` when the vehicle was overturning , the roof of the bus split open and multiple occupants of the vehicle were ejected , '' roden told the ap . watch how the crash left the bus a mangled hulk ''<doc-sep>rescue crews took the injured people to hospitals in utah , colorado and arizona , he said . the salt lake tribune reported that ambulances from utah , colorado , arizona and new mexico responded to the accident , and a helicopter from colorado could not fly to the crash site because of winter storms . four of the dead were male and five were female , the utah highway patrol said . most of the passengers were returning home from a weekend ski trip to telluride , he said . e-mail to a friend . cnn radio 's barbara hall contributed to this report . copyright 2008 cnn . all rights reserved.this material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten , or redistributed . associated press contributed to this report .<doc-sep>the death toll from a horrific tour bus crash has risen from five to nine after the vehicle slid off an icy interstate in oregon before tumbling over a steep embankment near an area known as deadman pass . police say the bus lost control along snow and ice-covered lanes on interstate 84 causing it to crash through a guardrail in eastern oregon around 10.30 am this morning injuring more than 20 others . the bus carrying about 40 people from las vegas to vancouver , b.c. fell about a few hundred feet before finally coming to a stop according to state police . emergency rescue : emergency workers rushed to a frightening wreckage that left nine people dead after their tour bus crashed in eastern oregon injuring 26 others on sunday morning . destination : oregon police say the tour bus was heading to vancouver from las vegas when it lost control on the slippery interstate . tragedy : by sunday evening the death toll from this grisly wreckage had risen from five to nine people with the bus driver among the 26 others injured . deadly slide : the tour bus careened through a guardrail along an icy oregon highway before falling several hundred feet down this steep embankment . all of the last ` viable victims ' have since been removed from the bus , according to pendleton fire chief gary woodson speaking to east oregonian . rescue workers were using ropes to help retrieve people from the crash scene . st. anthony hospital in pendleton treated . 26 people from the accident , including some who were treated and then . transported to other medical facilities , said hospital spokesman larry . blanc . the bus driver was among the survivors , but had not yet spoken to police because of the severity of the injuries the driver had suffered . lt. greg hastings said the bus crashed along the west end of the blue mountains , and west of an area called deadman pass . stretches of highway in the rural and agricultural area of east oregon tend to be icy in winter months . the bus slid down the hill and landed upright , with little or no debris visible around the crash site . escape : survivors were pulled up to the roadside by ropes before at least 26 of them transferred to a local hospital . crash scene : police say the bus lost control along snow and ice-covered lanes on interstate 84 nearly pendleton causing it to crash through a guardrail in eastern oregon around 10.30 am this morning . deadly conditions : the fatal crash was the second seen on interstate 84 pictured on sunday morning with a 69-year-old man killed in a rollover accident earlier in the day . i-84 is a major east-west highway through oregon that follows the columbia river gorge . umatilla county emergency manager jack remillard said the bus was owned by mi joo travel in vancouver , b.c. . a woman who answered the phone at a listing for the company confirmed with the associated press that it owned the bus and said it was on a tour of the western u.s. . she declined to give her name . a bus safety website run by the u.s. department of transportation said mi joo tour & travel has six buses , none of which have been involved in any accidents in at least the past two years . first responders : rescue personnel respond to the scene on i-84 , east of pendleton , where rope was used to help bring up survivors . dramatic fall : the green tour bus is just seen on the right after sliding down the embankment after its crash off the interstate . treacherous : the frozen winter conditions throughout the area made the roads incredibly slippery to drivers , with another fatal crash seen along the interstate earlier that morning . a spokesman for the american bus association said buses carry more than 700 million passengers a year in the united states . ` the industry as a whole is a very safe industry , ' said dan ronan of the washington , d.c.,-based group . ` there are only a handful of accidents every year . comparatively speaking , we 're the safest form of surface transportation . ' the bus crash was the second fatal . accident on i-84 in oregon on sunday morning due to icy conditions after . a 69-year-old man died in a rollover accident .<doc-sep>a british couple have been killed and their nine-year-old daughter critically injured while on holiday in india in a road crash which claimed five lives . the couple have been named this morning by indian media as rupesh nawarkhele , 38 , and kavita nawarkhele , 37 , of southampton , whose luxury bus overturned in the punjab . three students travelling in a car which collided with the tour bus were burned to death when their vehicle burst into flames . tragedy : rupesh nawarkhele , 38 , and kavita nawarkhele , 37 , of southampton , were killed and their daughter seriously injured when their luxury bus overturned in the punjab . the british family had gone to dharamshala to meet rupesh 's brother and were travelling to meet another relative in delhi when tragedy struck . fondly remembered : rupesh and kavita have been described by a family friend as ` wonderful parents ' fifteen others were injured in the incident on saturday . the british family had gone to dharamshala to meet rupesh 's brother and were travelling to meet another relative in delhi when tragedy struck . their nine-year-old daughter is critically injured and being treated in hospital near mohali .<doc-sep>it rises eight miles to a height of 6100 feet and has 21 switchbacks . the investigating magistrate in . grenoble , jean-yves coquillat , said : ` it 's probably a matter of braking . now the question is why and the investigation will be long . it will . take many months . ' the bus was a classic coaches . chartered service operated by uk coach operator tgm . french police will . interview staff and officials . they will also interview officials at . skibound , the british tour operator for whom many of the passengers worked . as ski instructors and holiday representatives . season worker : catrin , from wrexham , north wales , is pictured during her time at the french ski resort . fresh details of the crash began to emerge yesterday as survivors painted scenes of desperate panic . matthew beauchamp , 19 , described . leaping from the coach as it turned into an inferno and then being . airlifted to hospital . he needed 20 stitches to his hand and 14 to his . ankle . ` i 'm lucky ' , he told the evening . standard . ' i could have been injured a lot worse . for everyone to get . out alive except for the driver is amazing . mr beauchamp , from downend , bristol , was returning from six months working in a hotel in the alps during the ski season . ` the first ten minutes after the crash . were the worst because of not knowing who was accounted for . everyone . was looking around in panic to see who got out . ' his father david , 49 , said : ` he told . me that the coach driver was shouting out that the brakes had failed , . giving them time to brace themselves . ` matthew said the driver almost stood . up to make sure that everyone on the coach had heard , and that he . definitely took the decision to crash into the rock to avoid the coach . crashing through the barrier on the next hairpin bend . ` flames immediately took hold on impact , matthew was lucky that he was near the back . ' . a crane hoists the frame of the bus which crashed and burned on the road from l'alpe d'huez in the french alps.the driver was killed , and three people were severely injured . it has been revealed the doomed driver of the coach which crashed in the french alps tried desperately to warn his 50 passengers there was a problem moments before the horror smash . the relief driver and passengers on . wednesday gave statements to police before boarding a . specially-chartered plane from grenoble-isère airport to london gatwick . the coach crashed shortly after it departed from the ski resort of alpe d'huez on tuesday afternoon . doomed driver mr wrightson was praised for his ` remarkable courage ' after sacrificing himself to save his 52 passengers . survivor : matthew beauchamp , 19 , injured his hand when he escaped the burning coach . many of the survivors say he tried to . steer the vehicle , weighing 12 tonnes and towing a weight of three . tonnes , to safety after shouting that his brakes had failed . he managed to stop the bus from . plunging into a ravine , instead crashing into the side of cliff , killing . himself as the fuel tank at the front of the bus exploded and flames . tore through the vehicle .<doc-sep>los angeles -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a tour bus crash with a big rig and two vehicles in california early wednesday killed four people and injured nearly two dozen others near the arizona border , according to the california highway patrol . all four fatalities were passengers on the tour bus , which was carrying 25 people , cnn affiliate kcbs-tv said . a truck carrying metal pipes jackknifed around 2 a.m. wednesday on interstate 10 near blythe , sending the load across the highway and apparently into the opposite lane of traffic , where the tour bus was traveling , the station reported . `` the pipes subsequently caused some of the vehicles to crash into them in the eastbound lanes and it appears they could have rolled into westbound traffic which is where the bus was traveling , '' terri kasinga of caltrans told the tv station . the bus struck the pipes and then ran off the freeway by 40 to 50 feet , kcbs reported . it then fell down an embankment and landed on its side , the station said . no further details were available on the two vehicles involved in the crash .

<t> death toll rises to nine as tour bus runs off highway , rolls over . </t> <t> bus was carrying at least 50 people when it crashed in southeastern utah . </t> <t> bus was en route from telluride , colorado , to phoenix , arizona , after weekend ski trip . </t>

nine killed in ski tour bus crash<T>

london , england -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- banksy is britain 's most wanted artist -- his art sells for hundreds of thousands of dollars , but he continues to use public spaces as his main canvas , while all the time keeping his identity a secret . banksy 's latest piece in east london where a passer-by claims to have taken a photo of the artist . the guerilla artist has been spray painting his stencils around britain and further afield for over ten years . last week ten of his original pieces were sold at bonham 's auction house in london for over $ 1 million , while on the other side of the city tower hamlets council authority pledged to remove his graffiti from its streets . from his beginnings as a graffiti artist in bristol , england , banksy has become the darling of the art world for his subversive and satirical public art . depicting things such as riot police with smiley acid-house faces and camera-wielding rats , his work is now sold now by major art galleries .<doc-sep>lazarides gallery in london is one of the main dealers of his work and describes him as `` a media star ... but popular long before any of this high-profile activity -- simply because the people love his stuff . '' while he set out to lampoon the establishment , he has now been wholeheartedly embraced by it . fans include hollywood a-listers , including brad pitt and angelina jolie and christina aguilera who bought three of his prints in 2006 , including one of queen victoria sitting on a woman 's face . the recent sales of his work put him on a par with jean-michel basquiat as the best-selling street artist . he is feted by art dealers and artists , including damien hirst , but he regularly mocks the art world that is so enthralled by him with ingenious stunts such as hanging his own work in the tate gallery in london and the metropolitan museum of art in new york . it took the british museum eight days to discover the `` prehistoric '' rock painting of a man with a shopping trolley in the british museum banksy has hung on a wall .<doc-sep>there is often a political message with this work , too . he left an inflatable doll dressed as a guantanamo prisoner in disneyland and painted a hole with blue sky on the palestinian side of the west bank wall . despite the huge popularity and exposure of his work , banksy 's identity remains a mystery . as he operates on the fringes of the law with his guerilla art it makes sense , but also adds to his mystique . some things are know : he 's originally from bristol , is around 30 years old and called robert or robin banks , but it 's been reported that even his parents are thought to believe that he makes his living as a painter and decorator . he continues to divide opinion as to whether his work is vandalism or public art . veteran british art critic brian sewell called banksy , `` a complete clown , and what he does has absolutely nothing to do with art . ''<doc-sep>bristol city council has recognized the popularity and artistic merit of his work by protecting a number of pieces around the city . other local authorities do n't feel the same way . tower hamlets and hackney councils in london have pledged to remove his graffiti from their streets . his latest work painted on a wall in east london -- a man in overalls resting next to a giant flower drawn as a continuation from the double yellow lines on the road -- is thought to be the artist 's response . but this latest piece may also have revealed what the artist actually looks like . a passer-by took a photo of what is thought to be the artist at work . a spokesperson for banksy refused to confirm it was him , but did say it was definitely his work . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>the beaver 's face also had been chipped off . popular : banksy 's signature humour is at home on the streets of new york and his graffiti has attracted a swarm of attention . original : this was banksy 's ludlow street installation before it was damaged by vandals . the vandalism was signed ` math , ' likely the name of another graffiti artist . earlier this month , rival graffiti artist ` omar nyc ' spray-painted over a banksy piece in red hook , brooklyn . banksy 's work getting vandalised is no surprise ; other graffiti artists - often jealous of his notoriety - will deface his work , many in misguided attempt to make a name for themselves . one of his most recent imprints on the city is an image of the twin towers , painted on a tribeca wall in black paint and adorned with a bright orange flower . on tuesday , a man tweeted several photos along with the message declaring : ' i found banksy . ' turf : a graffiti artist called ` problem child ' says this banksy piece was done on ` his territory ' twitter user @djjonhenry posted four photographs online showing a group of men and two trucks used for banksy 's recent sirens of the lambs and waterfall mobile works of art . henry said the photographs were taken at a warehouse in the red hook area of brooklyn and that he approached the men after recognising the vehicles from banksy 's on-going month-long residency . the men refused to answer when henry . asked where banksy is , although he tweeted that he thought the man on . top of the truck might be him since as he was directing the others and . spoke with an english accent . the photographs were taken by twitter user @djjonhenry / twitter who believes that the man on top of the van could be banksy because he spoke with an english accent . after his rather provocative declaration to having found banksy , henry then backtracked on his claims after receiving a deluge of negative tweets from fans of the street artist who accused him of trying to jeopardize the remainder of banksy 's month-long show . although the artist has never confirmed his identity , his real name is believed to be robin gunningham and he is from bristol , england . previously photographs purporting to show banksy were taken in santa monica in 2011 and east london in 2007 . banksy , whose work has been painted on the sides of buildings around bristol , london and other cities , has always insisted he will never reveal his true identity .<doc-sep>the artist 's last high-profile project was a month-long street art `` residency '' in new york in october . is it a banksy ? uk street art image appears to show spies at work . banksy bids farewell to new york with balloons . bigger than banksy : polish street art goes large . interactive : banksy takes over nyc .<doc-sep>banksy 's latest creation in new york is an open-air gallery featuring two pieces on canvas hanging under the high line in chelsea . the pieces appear to be a collaboration between banksy and brazilian twins , os gemeos . banksy reportedly paid the owner of the space $ 50,000 to hang his two paintings under the overpass on west 24th between 10th and 11th avenues . under guard : banksy unveiled his latest artwork in the chelsea neighborhood of new york as part of ` better out than in ' best behavior : banksy 's guards imposed strict rules on crowds eager to view and photograph the works .<doc-sep>famous graffiti artist banksy has become so popular in new york that many locals are flocking to get tattoos inspired by his work as the artist 's residency in the big apple comes to an end . tattooist miykey kwasnik , 39 , from new york hardcore tattoo , manhattan , said he has been swamped with banksy requests during the artist 's month-long residency . the illusive graffiti artist , originally from bristol , has been posting photos of his new york city works every day for the last month . banksy boom : new yorkers are rushing to get banksy-inspired tattoos , including this image which appeared on a coney island wall , as the illusive artist finishes his month-long residency in the city . illusive art : banksy posted pictures of his works in new city every day of his month-long residency . popular requests include the robot spray painting a barcode which featured on a coney island wall , and an image of a cleaner wiping away quote ` what we do in life echoes in eternity ' from the movie gladiator , which has appeared in queens . the most popular are the timeless banksy images of a girl floating away on balloon and a soldier throwing flowers . during his new york residency , several of his pieces have been quickly defaced by other taggers or business owners . armed with banksy : both timeless artwork and ones created during banksy 's residency -lrb- such as this one -rrb- have inspired many new yorkers to get tattoos . inspiring ink : this artwork , with the quote ` we we do in life echoes in eternity ' from the movie gladiator , appeared on a wall in queens during banksy 's residency .

<t> british graphic artist 's identity remains a mystery despite huge popularity . </t> <t> feted by the art world and hollywood celebrities count among his collectors . </t> <t> despite popularity local authorities have removed his public works . </t>

newsmaker : banksy<T>

rome , italy -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the garbage crisis in naples encompasses the worst italian clichés , and in particular those of the southern part of this lovely peninsula : mismanagement , political interference , mafia profiteering and the ability of those responsible to deflect the attention and the blame elsewhere . naples has had problems in finding sites for municipal dumps -- now workers have stopped collecting trash . there is a popular saying here that roughly goes like this : everybody is competent enough -lrb- to find a solution -rrb- but nobody is responsible -lrb- for actually carrying it out -rrb- . in many parts of the world waste disposal is a business -- and usually it is a good business . garbage can be transformed into various sources of energy and then sold for a profit . in naples , garbage is also good business , but in the sense that millions , if not billions , of euros have been wasted -- and nobody really knows how .<doc-sep>the problem is as old and ugly as rotten trash . the region 's dumps reached full capacity more than a decade ago , and since then a state of emergency has been declared every year . eight different commissioners have been appointed , but they have all failed to solve the problem . state of emergency means government money : $ 1.8 billion -lrb- more than $ 2.5 billion -rrb- in emergency funds have been devolved to deal with the problem . it is still difficult to find out where or how that money has been spent . incinerators that were supposed to be built were never finished , either because the companies in charge of constructing them could not finish the job , or else because magistrates stopped the work , pending ongoing criminal investigations into alleged mafia involvement . one italian newspaper suggested that a good 20 % of the money went to pay for the salaries of those in charge of coming up with a solution to the problem . more worrying perhaps , is another suggestion : that the local mafia , known as the camorra , is taking advantage of the situation . as the crisis has worsened over the years , so the camorra 's profits , estimated now at around $ 1 billion -lrb- roughly $ 1.45 billion -rrb- , are alleged to have increased .<doc-sep>how does the local mafia make money ? the naples prosecutor in charge of environmental crimes says city government officials use the state of emergency to quickly award contracts which otherwise would have to be checked by complicated anti-racketeering legislation . once they receive the money , companies linked to the underworld dispose of the waste either in the open or , ironically , at regular city dumps , even if they are overflowing . the mafia clans have now managed to burrow their way so deeply into the system that every attempt to fix the problem has proved futile . but why are citizens protesting now ? well , the government wants to re-open a previously shut dump to dispose of 3,700 tons of waste which is laying in the streets of naples and surrounding areas . the problem is that when the site was closed years ago , locals were promised that a golf course would be built there . as a result , many residents invested savings to construct apartments and residences in the vicinity -- in some cases just a few yards away from the site . they are now waking up to a mountain of trash instead of 18 holes . a rotten deal indeed . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>naples , italy -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the italian prime minister plans to declare friday that the worst part of a garbage crisis in naples is over , even though a visit to one neighborhood found residents still living amid huge piles of trash . garbage has been piling up in the streets of naples since a municipal dump was closed on december 31 . prime minister silvio berlusconi is due to make the announcement after a cabinet meeting in naples , according to the national ansa news agency . he is expected to say that the first phase of his government 's response to the crisis -- the emergency phase -- is over . that first phase has involved cleaning up rotting garbage that has accumulated in the streets since the government closed one of two dumps in this southern italian city .<doc-sep>complicating the issue is the involvement of organized crime , which has long controlled the region 's waste business . the camorra , as the mafia is known in naples , controls both dumps and garbage trucks , making the problem enormously difficult for the government to solve . forty dumping sites have operated in the campania region over the past 30 years , but most have been closed for various reasons , including criminal investigations related to the camorra . residents ' protests , over-saturation , and lack of proper equipment were other factors . italian media have cited statistics saying that naples produces 1.6 million tons of garbage a year , and that the government has spent 1.8 billion euros -lrb- $ 2.7 billion -rrb- over the past 14 years to deal with the problem . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>rome , italy -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- italy 's prime minister held emergency meetings on monday to discuss the growing garbage problem in naples , where more than two weeks of closed dumps and uncollected garbage has led to mountains of trash across the city . collectors stopped picking up rubbish on december 21 , saying that dumps are full . the garbage problem has become so bad that neapolitan residents have started burning their waste , leading to noxious fumes permeating the air in the southern italian coastal city . on monday , the government called on the army to help with emergency trash collection for the second time in a year .<doc-sep>an italian restaurant owner also was attacked wednesday night after confronting masked men who were harassing british tourists eating in his restaurant , police said thursday . tempers already were running high in naples because tons of uncollected garbage is piling up , a result of landfills in the region being full . police said security for thursday 's match pitting liverpool against serie a side napoli is tighter than usual because of the garbage crisis . liverpool football club warned supporters traveling to italy for the europa league match to `` be careful , stick together and heed the safety advice printed on your ticket . ''

<t> rubbish is piling up on the streets of naples , with municipal dumps full . </t> <t> many commentators question the role of the local mafia in the award of contracts . </t> <t> more than $ 2.5 b in emergency funds has been spent on the problem over the years . </t> <t> one dump was going to be a golf course -- residents furious it is being re-opened . </t>

why naples is drowning in garbage<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- debra lafave , the former florida middle school teacher convicted of having sex with a student , violated her probation by hugging a young co-worker , a florida judge found thursday . debra lafave was arrested after talking with a teenager . she is not allowed to have contact with anyone under 18 . but the judge did not send lafave to jail , saying the violation was `` not willful and substantial . '' `` please do n't come back , '' he scolded .<doc-sep>dressed in a tailored , black pantsuit , lafave said she had `` innocent '' physical contact with a female co-worker she knew as under age 18 . watch lafave in the courtroom '' at the time , she and the 17-year-old hostess worked at danny boy 's , a small restaurant in the tampa , florida , area . lafave , 27 , pleaded guilty in november 2005 to having sex with a 14-year-old boy and was sentenced to three years under house arrest and seven years of probation . lafave was required to register as a sex offender and ordered not to have any contact with minors . a tracking device she carries as part of her probation went off in court , prompting the prosecutor to observe , `` i think she 's accounted for . ''<doc-sep>lafave acknowledged she was aware that hugs and other forms of physical contact -- as well as conversations about sex -- with minors violated terms of her probation . she referred to the sexually explicit conversations at work as just `` girl talk . '' lafave denied talking about her sex life with co-workers . `` i do n't speak that way about my personal life , '' she said . but she added that her co-workers spoke freely about sex in a `` small group setting . '' while other co-workers socialized outside work , lafave said , the 17-year-old was not included in those outings . asked why she hugged the young co-worker , lafave explained it was a small restaurant with a casual atmosphere where co-workers felt like family . the contact came , she said , `` out of my good nature , that 's the way it worked . ''<doc-sep>the contacts that led to thursday 's probation violation hearing first surfaced during two polygraph tests administered as part of lafave 's court-ordered supervision . she received a verbal reprimand a year ago , according to testimony . when the behavior continued , her probation officer asked a judge to find her in violation . she was ordered to quit the restaurant job and now works as a receptionist in her mother 's beauty shop . in the past , lafave has said she suffers from bipolar disorder and is receiving treatment . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>the 31-year-old woman , who is engaged and recently had twin sons , did not speak at thursday 's hearing . but her defense attorney , john fitzgibbons , earlier said that she had served a significant punishment and wants to return to some semblance of normalcy . `` she is a new mom with all the responsibilities that come with twin boys , so she hopes to finally put this matter behind her and move on with her life , '' fitzgibbons said , . at her original sentencing , lafave was required to register as a sex offender and ordered not to have any contact with minors . in january 2008 , a florida judge ruled that she violated her probation by hugging a young co-worker , a 17-year-old hostess at a small tampa-area restaurant named danny boy 's . but the judge did not send lafave to jail , saying the violation was `` not willful and substantial . '' at the time , lafave acknowledged she was aware that hugs and other forms of physical contact -- as well as conversations that included sex-related topics -- with a minor violated terms of her probation . she referred to the conversations that she admitted having at work as just `` girl talk . '' a court report said those conversations included a variety of topics not related to work , including `` personal life , boyfriend issues and sexual issues . ''<doc-sep>` pervert ' : james quigley , 34 , an english teacher in texas , has been charged with sexual assault and maintaining an improper relationship with his 16-year-old student who accused him of threatening her . a high school teacher from texas has been arrested for allegedly having sex with a 16-year-old female student and presenting her with a contract offering the girl a high grade in return for her silence . james quigley , 34 , was taken into custody last thursday after the victim 's parents called police to report that the richardson high school english teacher had been sending their daughter sexually explicit text messages and emails beginning last march . the teenager told police that quigley had threatened her , had sex with her on two occasions and then tried to talk her into signing a written contract stipulating that he would give her a good grade if she kept quiet about their relationship and stayed away from his wife , who also teaches at richardson high school . quigley has been charged with sexual assault and maintaining an improper relationship with a student . he is being held on $ 100,000 bond at the dallas county jail . according to a probable cause affidavit , the 16-year-old girl 's mother called police last week accusing james quigley of harassing her daughter with emails and text messages . the mother said that the english teacher repeatedly tried to invite her daughter to go to the movies with him and told her they could be ` friends with benefits . ' when interviewed by police , the teenage girl said that it all started last march when quigley , who was her english teacher , requested her email address so he could send her information about an essay she had to turn in . since then , the underage girl has been allegedly receiving messages from her married teacher telling her she was pretty and had a ` pretty neck . ' then in may or june of this year , quigley allegedly showed up outside the girl 's house with a ` hot dog for her dog . ' the affidavit states that when she went to answer the door , quigley hugged her , kissed her on the forehead and ` touched her butt . ' the girl told police that she found quigley parked in front of her house for no reason on multiple occasions , and that one time the 34-year-old educator confided in her that he thought of her while touching himself .<doc-sep>by . rachel quigley . published : . 07:54 est , 14 june 2013 . | . updated : . 07:55 est , 14 june 2013 . a brooklyn high school teacher escaped jail yesterday after she pleaded guilty to having sex with a 16-year-old student . erin sayar , 37 , lost her teaching license over the scandal as well as her marriage after her husband filed divorce papers in january and moved out of their park slope apartment . heavily-tattooed sayar was an english teacher at james madison high school . when the judge asked her yesterday if she had sex with teenager kevin eng she said yes . married mother : erin sayar , 37 , turned herself in last june and was charged with rape , criminal sex act , sexual misconduct , and sexual abuse . marriage over : erin sayar , left , is being divorced by husband jimmy lathrop , right , in the aftermath of last year 's scandal that she repeatedly slept with a student . ` they stated to me that they do n't want to see the defendant spend time . in jail , ' assistant district attorney serena horowitz said , implying . that eng no longer has hard feelings toward sayar . ` the complainant and his family are amenable to the offer , ' the new york post reports . sayar was arrested last may and charged with 50 counts of statutory rape and sexual abuse . authorities said that the 37-year-old . had both oral sex and intercourse with the teen at least eight times in .<doc-sep>by . steve nolan . published : . 09:44 est , 24 october 2012 . | . updated : . 10:22 est , 24 october 2012 . matthew mark kelsey pictured outside hull crown court where he was spared jail after bombarding a 13-year-old girl with sex texts . a piano teacher who bombarded a 13-year-old girl with sex texts has been spared jail after a plea from her parents for mercy . matthew mark kelsey , 24 , has been given a community order for sending explicit texts and e-mails to the girl after her mother made a tearful appeal for him to be spared prison .

<t> new : judge finds former teacher in violation of probation in student sex case . </t> <t> but judge spares debra lafave from jail , warns her `` do n't come back '' </t> <t> lafave 's probation forbids her to have contact with anyone under 18 . </t>

hugs , ` girl talk ' wo n't send sex scandal teacher to jail<T>

-lrb- mental floss -rrb- -- 1 . the hamburger -- louis ' lunch , new haven , connecticut . this burger did not come from louis ' so ketchup is ok . there are competing claims for the coveted `` inventor of the hamburger '' title , but according to louis ' lunch -lrb- and the library of congress , for that matter -rrb- , this small new haven restaurant takes the prize . the story goes something like this : one day in 1900 , a rushed businessman asked owner louis lassen for something quick that he could eat on the run . lassen cooked up a beef patty , put it between some bread , and sent the man on his way . pretty modest beginnings for arguably the most popular sandwich of all-time , huh ? if you visit louis ' today , you 'll find that not much has changed . the lassen family still owns and operates the restaurant , the burgers are still cooked in ancient gas stoves , and , just like then , there is absolutely no ketchup allowed . 2 . the fried twinkie -- the chipshop , brooklyn , new york . sometimes what counts is n't being the inventor , it 's being the innovator . take the fried twinkie , for example . the twinkie -- in all its indestructible glory -- has been around for ages , but when chipshop owner christopher sell had the brilliant idea to freeze the snack , dip it in batter , and deep-fry it , the twinkie took gluttony to new heights . even the new york times raved about how `` something magical '' happens when you taste the deep-fried twinkie 's `` luscious vanilla flavor . '' sell , who was trained in classical french cuisine , did n't start with the twinkie , though . in his native england , he fried up everything from m&m 's to mars bars . 3 . root beer float -- myers avenue red soda co. , cripple creek , colorado . if you thought what happened up on cripple creek only happened in song , you 're sorely mistaken . in august of 1893 , a failed gold-miner-turned-soda-company-owner named frank j. wisner was drinking a bottle of his myers avenue red root beer while looking up at cow mountain . just then , a full moon illuminated the snowcap on the otherwise black mountain , and wisner had a brilliant idea -- float a scoop of vanilla ice cream in a glass of his root beer . the new drink was christened the `` black cow '' and became an instant classic . today , of course , most of us call it a root beer float . 4 . corn dogs -- cozy dog drive in , springfield , illinois . in 1946 , ed waldmire , jr. , revolutionized the stick-meat world when he debuted the cozy dog -- the first corn dog on a stick . at first , he wanted to call his creation the `` crusty cur , '' but his wife convinced him to change the name to `` cozy dog . '' she felt people would n't want to eat something described as `` crusty . '' good call , mrs. waldmire . shortly after the cozy dog 's inception , the cozy dog drive in opened alongside old route 66 and has been serving up corn dogs ever since . 5 . the pizzeria -- lombardi 's , new york city , new york . pizza has existed in one form or another for a long time , but america got her first true pizzeria when gennaro lombardi opened up a small grocery store in new york city 's little italy . an employee named anthony `` totonno '' pero started selling pizzas out of the back , and in no time , lombardi 's was concentrating on its burgeoning pizza business instead of plain old groceries . in 1905 , the establishment was licensed as a pizzeria , and it 's stayed that way ever since . well , almost . the original restaurant closed in 1984 but reopened down the street 10 years later . on its 100th anniversary in 2005 , lombardi 's decided to offer its pizza for the same price it 'd been sold for in 1905 -- 5 cents a pie . needless to say , the line wrapped around the block . 6 . fat darrell -- r.u. hungry , new brunswick , new jersey . you may not know what the fat darrell is , but when you hear what it contains , you 'll understand why it 's truly a work of inspired genius . since 1979 , rutgers university has played host to a collection of mobile food vans collectively known as the `` grease trucks . '' originally , they served a sandwich called the fat cat , which contained two cheeseburger patties , french fries , lettuce , tomato , and onions . then one night in 1997 , a hungry -lrb- and broke -rrb- student named darrell w. butler convinced one of the vendors to put chicken fingers , mozzarella sticks , french fries , and marinara sauce on a sandwich . strangely , the concoction sounded so appetizing that the next 10 people in line ordered it , and the fat darrell became a mainstay at the grease trucks . hey , not any old sandwich gets to be named maxim magazine 's top `` meat hog '' sandwich . 7 . philly cheesesteak -- pat 's king of steaks , philadelphia , pennsylvania . philadelphia is known for many things -lrb- ben franklin , the liberty bell , and rocky , for starters -rrb- , but fine dining is not really its forte . that 's ok , though , because philly is the home of pat 's king of steaks , and pat 's king of steaks is where the philly cheesesteak was born . one day back in 1932 , hot dog stand owners pasquale -lrb- pat -rrb- and harry olivieri decided to change things up and make a steak sandwich with onions . a cab driver who ate at pat 's daily insisted on trying the new sandwich , and with the first bite declared , `` hey , forget ` bout those hot dogs , you should sell these ! '' cab drivers know fast food about as well as anyone , so the brothers did just what the cabbie suggested . in no time , the modest stand turned into the pat 's that exists today . controversy remains , however , over who 's responsible for putting the cheese in cheesesteak . pat 's claims it was the first to do so -lrb- in 1951 -rrb- , but across-the-street rival joe vento of geno 's steaks -lrb- opened 1966 -rrb- insists he added the finishing touches . 8 . onion rings -- pig stand , dallas , texas . according to most sources , the onion ring was invented when a careless cook at a pig stand location in dallas accidentally dropped an onion slice in some batter , then pulled it out and tossed it in the fryer for lack of a better destination . now , you 'd think inventing the onion ring would be enough for one restaurant chain , but not pig stand . the company also lays claim to opening america 's first drive-in , inventing texas toast , and being one of the first restaurants to advertise using neon signs . not bad for a little outfit from texas . 9 . derby pie -- melrose inn , prospect , kentucky . a kentucky favorite , derby pie is a chocolate and pecan tart with a pastry-dough crust -- and that 's about all we know about it . why ? because the recipe is jealously guarded by the kern family . melrose inn manager george kern created derby pie in the mid-1950s with help from his parents , walter and leaudra , and the dessert was such a hit that the family was soon baking the treat full-time . in fact , mrs. kern , being the crafty monopolist she was , copyrighted the name , and to this day , you can only get real `` derby-pie ® '' through kern 's kitchen , inc. . not only that , but a man from new england once handed leaudra a blank check for the recipe so that his daughter could make the pie at home . she refused.i e-mail to a friend . for more mental_floss articles , visit mentalfloss.com . entire contents of this article copyright , mental floss llc . all rights reserved .<doc-sep>there appears to be no end to the mass mourning for this snack cake so closely associated with our childhoods . it was as if the loss of twinkies was somehow going to erase our fondest childhood memories . but here 's my question : where were you when hostess needed you ? such as any day before they announced its closing . before friday , you could have easily bought twinkies , ding dongs , yodels , sno balls , suzy q 's or any other hostess treat . but you were n't there for them then . the company 's sales dropped , and with rising costs , hostess had to file for bankruptcy . not once , but twice : in 2004 and again in 2012 . hostess has lost $ 250 million over the last three years and is saddled with more than $ 850 million in debt . nope , you were n't there for them then . and neither was i . why ? because millions of us began to realize that junk food was not good for us . so in a desperate effort to live forever -- or at least a little longer -- many of us began to cut twinkies , and foods like it , out of our diets . true , twinkies offered a tasty treat , but it also offered other things , such as 300 calories per package of two , nine grams of fat and 37 other ingredients ranging from high fructose corn syrup to chemicals that i never heard of . and then there 's the even more insidious ding dong -- they 're even higher in fat and calories than twinkies at 368 calories a serving and a whopping 19.4 grams of fat , which represents 30 % of the total fat nutritionists recommend we consume in a day .<doc-sep>mouth-watering : denny 's fried cheese melt includes four fried mozzarella sticks and melted american cheese . cut above : morton 's porterhouse steak weighs 24oz before it 's cooked and comes in at 2,570 calories . the list was released by the center for science in the public interest -lrb- cspi -rrb- and features offerings from other restaurants , including denny 's , international house of pancakes and applebee 's . the group suggests a typical adult should limit calorie intake to 2,000 a day and keep saturated fat below 20g and sodium below 1,500 mg . but each serving of the xtreme eating awards winning menu items - mostly twists on the usual suspects of burgers , dessert and all things fried - nearly reaches or surpasses these guidelines . denny 's fried cheese melt is a grilled cheese sandwich with four fried mozzarella sticks inside . it amounts to 1,260 calories and 21g of saturated fat , not to mention 3,010 mg of sodium . applebee 's provolone stuffed meatballs with fettuccine has 1,520 calories and 43g of saturated fat . big eat : the cheesecake factory farmhouse cheeseburger is topped with grilled smoked pork belly . dessert : cold stone creamery 's pb&c shake , left , and cheesecake factory 's ultimate red velvet cheesecake .<doc-sep>add to that the contents of the burger - such as the one served up by five guys - and the funnel cake burger gives you an estimated total of 97 grams of fat and a whopping 1420 calories . but the greasiness does n't stop there . knocked out : the deep fried oreo burger was not chosen to appear at this year 's fair after a public vote . two other burgers made the official fair menu after a public vote . the parmesan crusted burger is a twice fried patty coated with a potato chip and parmesan-romano cheese mixture melted over the top . the third , the jalapeno crusted burger , is a similar creation , but with a corn chip , jalapeno and mexican cheese mix , plus guacamole , salsa and sour cream . another strong contender , the deep-fried oreo burger , was cut during the public vote . the burger consisted of a beef patty that , after being grilled , is slathered in oreo cookie batter and deep fried . bacon and other toppings are then added , and it is served on a regular hamburger bun . also cut the holiday express burger - featuring thanksgiving dressing , sweet potato fries and a cranberry orange marmalade sauce - and the burger of the gods , which had brie cheese , bacon and a maple cinnamon apple compote .<doc-sep>20:52 est , 14 march 2013 . pubs in london have begun to serve horse meat burgers - and found them to be a huge hit with customers . one pub said demand is so high that it is selling more than 100 in a week . the scandal of horse being labelled as beef has actually helped increase demand for the meat . the lord nelson in southwark introduced the dish a fortnight ago , while the three compasses in hackney began grilling 100 per cent horse meat burgers earlier this week . the three compasses serves the patties with black pepper mayonnaise , onion , lettuce , pickles , emmental cheese , ketchup and a fried egg . chelsea davies of the lord nelson enjoys the horse meat burger . it was introduced a fortnight ago .

<t> famous american foods created across united states . </t> <t> connecticut diner claims creation of the hamburger . </t> <t> onion rings were courtesy of cook at pig stand in texas . </t> <t> fat darrell came from `` grease trucks '' at rutgers university . </t>

where burgers , fried twinkies and fat darrells began<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- president bush blasted the democratic-controlled congress on tuesday for having `` the worst record in 20 years . '' `` congress is not getting its work done , '' bush said , flanked by members of the republican house leadership . `` the house of representatives has wasted valuable time on a constant stream of investigations , and the senate has wasted valuable time on an endless series of failed votes to pull our troops out of iraq . '' bush criticized congress for not being able to send `` a single appropriations bill '' to him . `` they have n't seen a bill they could not solve without shoving a tax hike into it , '' he said . democrats quickly fired back . jim manley , senior aide to senate majority leader harry reid , said , `` taking advice from president bush about fiscal responsibility and getting things done for the american people is like taking hunting lessons from dick cheney . neither is a very good idea . '' rep. rahm emanuel , d-illinois , issued a statement saying , `` president bush 's rally this morning reminds us that congressional republicans remain ready and willing to rubber-stamp the bush agenda : no to children 's health care ; no to a new direction in iraq ; and no to investing in america 's future . the white house and congressional republicans want to continue the status quo . '' bush said the senate was `` wasting valuable time '' by taking up the children 's health insurance bill , which he had earlier vetoed . watch bush describe what he thinks congress is doing wrong ''<doc-sep>house majority leader steny hoyer , d-maryland , issued a statement calling bush `` the biggest obstacle '' to extending health coverage to `` 10 million low-income , working-class american children . '' hoyer said gop house leaders need to `` stop posing for pictures , and sit down with democrats and republicans in congress who are working together to extend coverage to our children . '' the state children 's health insurance program measure passed in the house last week would expand the program by nearly $ 35 billion over five years , the same as the measure bush vetoed on october 3 . bush had proposed adding $ 5 billion to the program , and said the version he vetoed would have encouraged families to leave the private insurance market for the federally funded , state-run program . democratic leaders said the new version addresses republican objections by tightening restrictions on illegal immigrants receiving schip benefits ; capping the income levels of families that qualify for the program ; and preventing adults from receiving benefits . the program currently covers about 6 million children whose parents earn too much to qualify for medicaid , the federal health insurance program for the poor , but who ca n't afford private insurance . democrats want to extend the program to another 4 million , paying for it with a 61-cent-per-pack increase in the federal tax on cigarettes . bush said congress knows the current version of the children 's health bill `` does not have a chance , '' to get enough votes to override another veto .<doc-sep>hoyer accused bush of breaking a promise he made in 2004 to extend coverage under the schip program . `` now , congress must do what the president said he would do , '' he said in his statement . the senate could vote on the bill as early as tuesday . bush also threatened to veto a `` three-bill pileup . '' `` there are now reports that congressional leaders may be considering combining the veterans and department of defense appropriations bills , and then add a bloated labor , health and education spending bill to both of them , '' he said . `` congress should pass each bill one at a time in a fiscally responsible manner , '' he said . bush also urged congress to send him a `` clean defense appropriations bill and a war supplemental bill . ''<doc-sep>`` they ought to get me a bill that funds among other things bullets and body armor , '' he said . bush also criticized congress for trying to `` hold hostage '' funding for troops . `` it would be irresponsible to not give our troops the resources they need to get their job done because congress was unable to get its job done , '' he said . hoyer 's release said bush 's comments on appropriations bills and fiscal responsibility `` ring hollow . '' `` the fact is , this administration has pursued the most fiscally irresponsible policies in american history , turning record surpluses into record deficits and adding more than $ 3 trillion to the national debt , '' he said . `` democrats are the party of fiscal responsibility today because we believe our government must pay for the things it purchases and not force our children to pay our bills . the fight over 2008 appropriations bills is not a fight over spending . it is a fight over priorities . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- be bold ! think big ! barack obama wants to do just that . an $ 800 billion economic stimulus plan . three million jobs . health care reform . a restructured automobile industry . obama 's popularity with voters will win him influence with political opponents . obama won the biggest democratic majority for president in 44 years . his party made big gains in congress . democrats now have a majority of nearly 60 percent in both the house and senate . president obama 's got a mandate . and a majority . what 's to stop him ? just this : the u.s. system of government . it is set up to make it difficult to get things done . the constitution was written 222 years ago by men who did n't trust government . they had just waged a revolution against a king . to the founders of the american republic , strong government meant despotism . so they set up a system with an elaborate separation of powers . the idea was to ensure weak government . the dirty little secret of american government is that it was designed not to work very well . as president after president has discovered , there are innumerable ways opponents can stop measures from getting passed , even if the president 's party holds a majority in congress . the senate has its own rule that 's not in the constitution requiring a super-majority of 60 senate votes to control the agenda . a minority of 41 senators can `` filibuster '' a measure and prevent it from coming up for a vote . how many votes will republicans have in the senate ? 41 or 42 , depending on the outcome in minnesota where ballots are still being counted . presidents often have problems holding their own party together . that 's because members of congress are elected by local constituencies and they are expected to represent local interests . american politicians are independent political entrepreneurs . they are not foot-soldiers of a party . when bill clinton first became president , he had a solid democratic majority in congress . but he could not get his health care reform plan passed . after an intense advertising campaign by opponents , many americans were worried that the clintons were planning a government takeover of the health care system . the clinton plan failed , and within two years , democrats lost their majority in congress . one-party control did n't work any better for george w. bush . bush had trouble getting what he wanted -- notably , immigration reform -- from a republican congress . republicans lost their majority in congress in 2006 . but here 's another dirty little secret of american government : it often does work . very well in fact .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- president barack obama has made it clear to congress that if they will not work with him he will work around them . before the state of the union address , the president announced that he was increasing the minimum wage for workers under federal contract to $ 10.10 an hour . during the state of the union , `` wherever and whenever i can take steps without legislation to expand opportunity for more american families , that 's what i 'm going to do . '' republicans predictably complained . some warned that the president was embracing an unconstitutional set of tools that would violate the laws of the land . `` we do n't have a monarchy in this country , '' warned rep. steve scalise , r-louisiana , `` there 's an executive branch and the legislative branch , and the president has to work with congress to get things done . '' though obama has been far more timid in using executive power than president george w. bush , many in the gop suddenly have a legal problem with presidents going their own way . most experts agree that what the president has done is squarely within the prerogatives accorded to presidents . there is a long history of presidents using executive power ever since the founding of the nation . the power of the office grew enormously over the course of the 20th century and presidents became increasingly comfortable using mechanisms such as signing statements and executive orders to achieve their goals . in december 1980 , president jimmy carter used an executive order to protect 56 million acres of alaskan wilderness from mining and logging . president ronald reagan used executive power to weaken federal agencies that were responsible for policies he opposed . president bill clinton used an executive order in 1995 to prevent the federal government from entering into contracts with companies that hired strike-breakers . in 2001 , bush enraged many democrats when he restricted public access to the papers of former presidents . he also overturned many environmental regulations that clinton had put into place . environmentalists complained . following the revelation of how many signing statements -- attachments to a bill in which a president can express concerns about sections that he believes to be unconstitutional -- bush had used , rep. dianne feinstein , d-california , explained that what the president was saying is `` congress , what you do is n't really important ; i 'm going to do what i want to do . '' sen. john cornyn , r-texas , defended bush , stating , `` it is precedented and it 's not new . '' obama has lagged behind most presidents in making full use of his office . the average for number of executive orders for presidents since 1900 is 44 per year . obama has averaged 37 executive orders -- less than republican presidents dwight eisenhower , richard nixon , gerald ford , ronald reagan and george h.w. bush . but just because the president can take executive action , is it a good idea to do so ? there are good reasons that democrats should be leery about using presidential power to achieve their ends .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- house speaker nancy pelosi called president bush `` a total failure '' on thursday , among the california democrat 's harshest assessments to date of the president . house speaker nancy pelosi says `` i disapprove of congress ' performance in terms of ending the war . '' `` god bless him , bless his heart , president of the united states -- a total failure , losing all credibility with the american people on the economy , on the war , on energy , you name the subject , '' pelosi told cnn 's wolf blitzer in an exclusive interview . the comments came two days after the president sharply criticized congress over what he described as relative inaction over the course of the legislative term . at the white house on wednesday , bush noted that there were only 26 legislative days left in the fiscal year and said congress would need to pass a spending bill every other day to `` get their fundamental job done . '' `` this is not a record to be proud of , and i think the american people deserve better , '' bush said . watch pelosi respond to criticism of congress from the president '' in the interview , pelosi said the president was in no position to criticize congress and brushed aside the criticisms as `` something to talk about because he has no ideas . '' `` for him to be challenging congress when we are trying to sweep up after his mess over and over and over again -- at the end of the day , congress will have passed its responsibility to pass legislation , '' she said . ireport.com : why is n't impeachment on the table ? but pelosi 's comments come as a new gallup poll registers the lowest level of congressional approval among americans in the polling organization 's 30-year history of conducting that survey . that poll showed that its approval rating had reached an anemic 14 percent , while more than 70 percent of those polled said they disapproved of the job congress is doing . the house speaker said she does n't consider those numbers a negative referendum on the democrats in charge , saying she thinks they stem largely from congress ' failure to end the war in iraq . `` everything i see says this is about ending the war -- ' i disapprove of congress ' performance in terms of ending the war , ' '' she said . `` in the house , we , of course , have over and over , five or six times , sent to the senate legislation for a time certain to reduce our deployment in iraq and bring our troops home safely , honorably and soon . we have n't been able to get it past the senate or the president of the united states . ireport.com : why have n't democrats done more ? `` so , on the basis of that , count me among the 70-some percent , '' she continued . `` but that is one measure . the other measure that i 'm more interested in is the one that talks about what is their view of democrats . and the generic , who do you prefer to run the country on all of these issues ? we 're in double digits in any poll that you can take . '' republican national committee spokesman alex conant derided pelosi 's comments as `` the sort of partisan politics that democrats once decried and promised to change . ''<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- president barack obama has sent a letter to congress requesting a resolution that will grant him authority to use military force against isis . in an effort to placate opponents of military intervention in both parties , the administration has hedged the request by including language that restricts `` enduring offensive ground forces '' and limits any intervention to three years . he sent a letter with the request promising congress that he would not authorize `` long-term , large scale ground combat operations '' as occurred in iraq or afghanistan . with that language , he then does ask for authorization to use ground troops . there is no reason not to take obama at his word with what would be the first authorization for the use of force since 2002 when president george w. bush requested this to conduct strikes against iraq . obama has usually been hesitant to use large-scale force unless it is absolutely necessary to protect the nation 's interest , and he has shown a clear preference for other methods of combatting terrorism -- from the use of targeted drone air wars to diplomatic initiatives . obama , who came into office railing against bush 's use of wars in afghanistan and iraq , both of which he has drawn down , is not eager to jump into another major conflict . yet the history of these kinds of resolutions should give congress pause . for a start , lawmakers will have to be extraordinarily vigilant in how they word the resolution and make very clear the kind of limits that they want to impose , and to live by . the reality is that even when presidents have promised to use limited force , the nature of foreign conflict has a logic of its own . pressure can escalate to support intervention . within the united states , the dynamics of politics can drive both parties toward a more hawkish stand , relying on the most liberal interpretation of the war powers that had formally been granted . `` what does it mean , '' asked sen. dick durbin , d-illinois , about the term `` enduring offensive ground operations ? how long , how big is ` enduring ' ? ` offensive ' , what 's ` offensive ' when it comes to the department of defense ? '' we have seen this dynamic repeatedly in recent american history . most famously , we saw lyndon johnson approach congress in august 1964 to request a resolution authorizing the use of force in response to alleged communist attacks against u.s. navy ships in the gulf of tonkin . back then , johnson sent word to members , through sen. william fulbright of arkansas , that he only wanted power to deal with this specific incident . fulbright told fellow senators that if johnson wanted to do anything bigger he would return to capitol hill to request their support . that 's not how the war unfolded . just as harry truman had seen with the conflict in korea , johnson kept steadily escalating the military presence in a conflict that would consume his presidency . and while there were a number of legislators who stood up against the war , warning that it was a mistake and threatening to use budgetary power to stop the president , the conflict proved extraordinarily difficult to control . indeed , far more legislators gave their support to the operation once it had started . proponents of the war in both parties did a good job of isolating opponents of the war as dangerous , unpatriotic radicals who were not willing to support the fight against communism . the strength of the vietcong and the north vietnamese army , meanwhile , constantly created pressure to intensify the conflict . the same dynamics were at work even when presidents did exercise restraint . in 1991 , president george h.w. bush asked for support to employ force to remove saddam hussein 's iraqi forces from kuwait . in that case , in the short term , the elder bush lived up to his word and ended the mission once it was complete . the problem was that the dynamics of the region created ongoing pressure for military intervention . once the united states had formally announced that hussein was a threat , it was difficult to ignore the continued provocations , and when hussein continued to violate u.n. resolutions , there was ongoing pressure to employ force . the continued presence of troops in the region after operation desert storm , meanwhile , triggered intense animosity that helped fuel the creation and spread of al qaeda . after 9/11 , president george w. bush sought war power to combat the forces that had been responsible for the horrendous attacks . initially , this was the focus . but that quickly escalated . first congress passed a resolution in 2001 granting bush sweeping wartime powers , a resolution that obama 's current request would leave in place even if many critics have argued that it has been used far too liberally . in 2002 , bush built on this to seek a resolution using force against iraq . similarly congressional-approved counterterrorism surveillance programs would be used in the same fashion . while it 's not always the case , wars can often get bigger and bigger -- so-called mission creep . if congress is not extraordinarily careful with how it crafts the resolution , initial authority can quickly become the basis for ongoing , large-scale and prolonged intervention -- far beyond what legislators originally intended . all this means that when the president sends such a request to congress , legislators in both parties should take seriously their responsibility to ensure that the language is as tight as possible and that their intentions are clear . they should also use this moment to revisit the 2001 authorization . and once they have done all this ? that 's when the toughest part begins . because that is when congress will have to live by its initial word and push back against any efforts to expand the mission in ways that go beyond the scope of the authorization . that will be much easier said than done .

<t> bush : senate `` wasting valuable time '' with children 's health insurance bill . </t> <t> congress `` holding hostage '' funds for troops , bush says . </t> <t> bush accuses congress of gridlock , failing to promote anyone 's agenda . </t> <t> democrats fire back , saying bush 's words `` ring hollow '' </t>

bush : congress is not getting its work done<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a man named as a suspect in the fatal shooting of a philadelphia , pennsylvania , police officer last week was captured at a shelter in miami , florida , on tuesday , philadelphia police commissioner sylvester johnson said at a news conference . miami police chief john timoney said he had been alerted by philadelphia police that the suspect , john lewis , had taken a miami-bound bus from philadelphia . acting on information from miami rescue mission , officers went to a homeless shelter where they found lewis , `` who was pretty easy to spot as he 's 6 feet , 270 pounds , '' timoney said . he was apprehended `` unarmed and without incident , '' the miami chief said . timoney said it did n't appear that anyone in miami was helping lewis , according to cnn affiliate wpvi .<doc-sep>miami police officer gil gonzalez said lewis `` had a bible and was praying when we went to get him . he had a look of guilt , a look of shock . '' philadelphia mayor john f. street said people at the shelter recognized lewis from televised photos of the suspect . lewis is suspected in the october 31 shooting of philadelphia police officer chuck cassidy . cassidy was shot in the head when he inadvertently walked into a robbery in progress at a dunkin' donuts . he died the next day . investigators told wpvi that lewis was spotted on security video boarding a bus to miami on saturday night .<doc-sep>cassidy was one of three philadelphia police officers shot in a four-day period last week . mariano santiago was shot in the shoulder late last tuesday as he approached a vehicle . he is in fair condition . officer sandra vanhinkle was shot early last sunday and is out of the hospital and doing well , police say . former co-workers of lewis who spoke to wpvi said they were surprised by the allegations against him .<doc-sep>`` he was so nice , '' kiani clark told the station . `` he was really nice . he did n't seem like the type that would hurt a fly . '' the associated press reported that lewis had been arrested in 2005 on drug charges , which were withdrawn after he completed a treatment program . he was arrested again in june on drug charges , and that case is still pending , the ap reported . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's aurore ankarcrona contributed to this report . copyright 2007 cnn . all rights reserved.this material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten , or redistributed . associated press contributed to this report .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . police say that a suspect has been arrested after shooting two high school students in philadelphia this afternoon . the suspect has not been identified but is believed to be male and he was arrested outside of his house . the shooting inside the gym was caught on video tape which helped police apprehend the suspect just over an hour after the incident at delaware valley charter school . scroll down to video . scene : the shooting took place inside the gym at delaware valley charter high school in northern philadelphia and the two victims were teenage students but are both said to be in stable condition . ` there is a video and according to the video there were roughly 7 kids in there - it was n't a gym class some where shooting hoops , ' police commissioner charles ramsey said to cbs philadelphia . for the first hour after the shooting , police were searching for the suspect as he was able to flee the scene but they used the video tape to identify the suspect .<doc-sep>his angered parents said he was a ` straight a student ' and police believe that school security misinformed them about the boy , reports nbc . the other suspect , a 16-year-old male , was questioned at philadelphia police 's northwest detective division and is thought to have been a co-conspirator in the shooting . he was not charged at this time . the shooting took place friday at around 3.20 pm in the gym of delaware valley charter high school in philadelphia . ` there is a video and according to the video there were roughly 7 kids in there - it was n't a gym class some where shooting hoops , ' police commissioner charles ramsey said to cbs philadelphia . for the first hour after the shooting , police were searching for the suspect as he was able to flee the scene but they used the video tape to try and identify the suspect . authorities say a male student , 17 , and a female student , 19 , were shot in the arm . the students were taken to albert einstein medical center in stable condition . the girl was released but the boy is still in the hospital . arrested : police commissioner charles ramsey reported that a 15 year old male suspect was arrested at his house about an hour after shooting but that he was not involved in any way . caught : the suspect , who has so far only been identified as a male , was caught by police as he was either entering or leaving his home on this block in philadelphia about an hour after the shooting . police inspector joe sullivan tells kyw-tv it 's unclear whether the shots were fired from inside or outside the school . a spokesman for the school district has n't responded to a call seeking comment . yesterday 's incident in the logan neighborhood in philadelphia is the second school shooting of the new year as two students were injured by a fellow student in new mexico . a shotgun was used in the tuesday shooting roswell shooting but the make of weapon from yesterday has not been released . police say the school already has security and metal detectors .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . published : . 15:07 est , 18 january 2014 . | . updated : . 15:15 est , 18 january 2014 . police say that a 17-year-old male suspect has turned himself in today after shooting two high school students in philadelphia yesterday . the teen is charged with two counts of aggravated assault and other related offenses . police obtained a warrant for his home at the 7400 block of rugby street where he was questioned and eventually tuned himself over to law enforcement at around 1 p.m. two other teenage suspects were questioned but neither of them were charged . police say the shooting may have been an accident , reports cbs . scroll down for video . scene : the shooting took place inside the gym at delaware valley charter high school in northern philadelphia and the two victims were teenage students but are both said to be in stable condition . police obtained a warrant for the suspect who turned himself in at the 7400 block of rugby street . the first suspect police questioned was a 15-year-old male that matched a description provided by school security . the authorities took him into custody immediately following the shooting but later realized that he was not involved .<doc-sep>authorities say a male student and a female student were shot , both of whom are 15-years-old . each student was shot in an arm and are said to be in stable condition . arrested : police commissioner charles ramsey reported that a 15 year old male suspect was arrested at his house about an hour after shooting but that he was not involved in any way . caught : the suspect , who has so far only been identified as a male , was caught by police as he was either entering or leaving his home on this block in philadelphia about an hour after the shooting . the students have been taken to a hospital near the school . police inspector joe sullivan tells kyw-tv it 's unclear whether the shots were fired from inside or outside the school . a spokesman for the school district has n't responded to a call seeking comment . today 's incident in the logan neighborhood in philadelphia is the second school shooting of the new year as two students were injured by a fellow student in new mexico . a shotgun was used in the tuesday shooting roswell shooting but the make of weapon from today has not been released .

<t> tip leads police to john lewis at homeless shelter in miami . </t> <t> lewis is suspected in fatal shooting of philadelphia ofc . charles cassidy . </t> <t> cassidy walked in on doughnut shop robbery last week and was shot , police say . </t> <t> philadelphia police alerted miami counterparts that lewis was headed that way . </t>

suspect in philadelphia police shooting found in miami<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the crew members of a north korean freighter regained control of their ship from pirates who hijacked the vessel off somalia , but not without a deadly fight , the u.s. navy reported tuesday . the uss james e. williams ordered pirates to give up their weapons , the navy says . when the battle aboard the dai hong dan was over , two pirates were dead and five were captured , the navy said . three wounded crew members from the cargo ship were being treated aboard the guided-missile destroyer uss james e. williams . the captured pirates were being held aboard the north korean vessel , the navy said . the bandits had seized the ship 's bridge , while the crew kept control of the steering gear and engines , the navy said . the koreans moved against the attackers after the williams -- responding to reports of the hijacking -- ordered the pirates to give up their weapons , according to the navy . when the crew members stormed the bridge , the deadly battle began . after the crew regained control , navy sailors boarded the dai hong dan to help with the injured . north korea and the united states have no diplomatic relations . watch why the u.s. helped the north koreans '' the incident took place about 70 miles northeast of the somali capital , mogadishu , the navy said . it is the second incident of piracy reported in recent days . a second u.s. navy destroyer was searching waters off somalia for pirates who hijacked a japanese-owned ship , military officials said . over the weekend , gunmen aboard two skiffs hijacked the panamanian-flagged golden nori off the socotra archipelago near the horn of africa , said andrew mwangura , a spokesman for the kenyan-based seafarers ' assistance program . the guided-missile destroyer uss arleigh burke has been pursuing the pirates after entering somali waters with the permission of the troubled transitional government in mogadishu , u.s. officials said monday . in recent years , warships have stayed outside the 12-mile limit when chasing pirates . two military officials familiar with the details confirmed the ongoing operation .<doc-sep>the navy 's pursuit of the pirates began sunday night when the golden nori radioed for help . the burke 's sister ship , the uss porter , opened fire and sank the pirate skiffs tied to the golden nori 's stern before the burke took over shadowing the hijacked vessel . when the shots were fired , it was not known the ship was filled with highly flammable benzene . u.s. military officials indicate there is a great deal of concern about the cargo because it is so sensitive . benzene , which u.s. authorities have declared a known human carcinogen , is used as a solvent and to make plastics and synthetic fabrics . four other ships in the region remain in pirate hands , the navy said . u.s. and nato warships have been patrolling off the horn of africa for years in an effort to crack down on piracy off somalia , where a u.n.-backed transitional government is struggling to restore order after 15 years of near-anarchy . see how piracy is worse than 2006 '' on monday , the head of the transitional government resigned as his administration -- backed by ethiopian troops -- battled insurgents from the islamic movement that seized control of mogadishu in 2006 . hospital officials reported 30 dead in three days of clashes on the city 's south side . in june , the ship uss carter hall fired warning shots in an attempt to stop a hijacked danish cargo ship off somalia , but the american vessel turned away when the pirated ship entered somali waters . in may , a u.s. navy advisory warned merchant ships to stay at least 200 miles off the somali coast . but the u.s. maritime administration said pirates sometimes issue false distress calls to lure ships closer to shore . see the warning area '' the pirates often are armed with automatic rifles and shoulder-fired rockets , according to a recent warning from the agency . `` to date , vessels that increase speed and take evasive maneuvers avoid boarding , while those that slow down are boarded , taken to the somali coastline and released after successful ransom payment , often after protracted negotiations of as much as 11 weeks , '' the warning advised . the agency issued a new warning to sailors in the gulf of aden , between somalia and yemen , after sunday 's hijacking . e-mail to a friend . cnn correspondents barbara starr at the pentagon and christian purefoy in nairobi contributed to this report .<doc-sep>berlin , germany -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a german cruise liner said tuesday it plans to fly its passengers over the gulf of aden , instead of sailing them through , out of fear of pirate attacks in the region . u.s. navy image of pirates operating off coast of somalia in october this year . hapag-lloyd cruises said all 246 passengers and most of the crew aboard the ms columbus , currently at the start of an around-the-world cruise , will disembark at an undisclosed port , then fly to dubai to continue their journey . the company called the move a precautionary measure . pirate attacks in the waters off somalia have shot up this year , with pirates staging increasingly bolder attacks on ever-bigger targets . so far this year , pirates have attacked almost 100 vessels off somalia 's coast and successfully hijacked nearly 40 , according to the international maritime bureau . freight and cargo ships , cruise liners , and private yachts have all come under attack . in many hijackings , pirates take the crew and passengers hostage while they demand a ransom .<doc-sep>`` we were aware of the incident yesterday , '' a state department official said . `` the situation was successfully deescalated by the ship 's crew and the iranian crew . '' the united states , iran and other nations have been intent on repelling pirates operating in the gulf of aden and other bodies of water . pirate attacks down off somalia , up off nigeria .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the battle for control of the u.s.-flagged maersk alabama began with a bold move by some of the crew to jump the pirates , crew members say . the crew of the maersk alabama exchange some words with media after the ship docked in mombasa , kenya . a scuffle ensued , and one of the sailors stabbed a pirate in the hand in the battle to retake the container ship , one of the sailors told cnn . snippets of information are starting to emerge about how the alabama 's crew managed to retake the ship after it was hijacked by pirates wednesday about 350 miles off the coast of somalia in the indian ocean . the alabama docked saturday night in mombasa , kenya . its captain , richard phillips , is being held by pirates in the ship 's lifeboat in the indian ocean . crew members smiled broadly as they stood on the ship 's deck under the watchful eyes of security teams . although they were kept away from the media , cnn 's stan grant got close enough to ask them what happened after the pirates climbed aboard the ship . a crew member said he recalled being awakened around 7 a.m. as the hijacking began . view a timeline of the attack and its aftermath '' `` i was scared , '' grant quoted the man as saying . some of the crew managed to hide in a secure part of the alabama as the pirates stormed the ship , the sailor said . as the men described the clash , a crew member pointed to one shipmate and said , `` this guy is a hero . he and the chief engineer , they took down the pirate . ... he led him down there to the engine room and then they jumped him . '' the shipmate added that he stabbed the pirate in the hand and tied him up . another crew member shouted , `` captain phillips is a hero . '' the father of first mate shane murphy on saturday offered thanks for the `` tremendous outpouring '' of support his family has received from the public and government officials , including u.s. sens. ted kennedy and john kerry . capt. joseph murphy told reporters the safe arrival of his son in kenya is `` the best easter present . '' joseph murphy , an instructor at the massachusetts maritime academy , said he had spoken to his son but that he did n't have details on the standoff .-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the battle for control of the u.s.-flagged maersk alabama began with a bold move by some of the crew to jump the pirates , crew members say . the crew of the maersk alabama exchange some words with media after the ship docked in mombasa , kenya . a scuffle ensued , and one of the sailors stabbed a pirate in the hand in the battle to retake the container ship , one of the sailors told cnn . snippets of information are starting to emerge about how the alabama 's crew managed to retake the ship after it was hijacked by pirates wednesday about 350 miles off the coast of somalia in the indian ocean . the alabama docked saturday night in mombasa , kenya . its captain , richard phillips , is being held by pirates in the ship 's lifeboat in the indian ocean . crew members smiled broadly as they stood on the ship 's deck under the watchful eyes of security teams . although they were kept away from the media , cnn 's stan grant got close enough to ask them what happened after the pirates climbed aboard the ship . a crew member said he recalled being awakened around 7 a.m. as the hijacking began . view a timeline of the attack and its aftermath '' `` i was scared , '' grant quoted the man as saying . some of the crew managed to hide in a secure part of the alabama as the pirates stormed the ship , the sailor said . as the men described the clash , a crew member pointed to one shipmate and said , `` this guy is a hero . he and the chief engineer , they took down the pirate . ... he led him down there to the engine room and then they jumped him . '' the shipmate added that he stabbed the pirate in the hand and tied him up . another crew member shouted , `` captain phillips is a hero . '' the father of first mate shane murphy on saturday offered thanks for the `` tremendous outpouring '' of support his family has received from the public and government officials , including u.s. sens. ted kennedy and john kerry . capt. joseph murphy told reporters the safe arrival of his son in kenya is `` the best easter present . '' joseph murphy , an instructor at the massachusetts maritime academy , said he had spoken to his son but that he did n't have details on the standoff .

<t> north korean crew recaptures hijacked vessel . </t> <t> navy says two pirates killed , five captured ; three from crew injured . </t> <t> uss arleigh burke enters somali territorial waters to pursue other pirates . </t> <t> pirates aboard hijacked golden nori carrying highly flammable benzene . </t>

crew wins deadly pirate battle off somalia<T>

chebarkul , russia -lrb- reuters -rrb- -- president vladimir putin said on friday security threats had forced russia to revive the soviet-era practice of sending bomber aircraft on regular patrols beyond its borders . a russian strategic bomber flies over an airfield outside moscow during an air show . putin said 14 strategic bombers had taken off simultaneously from airfields across russia in the early hours of friday on long-range missions . `` we have decided to restore flights by russian strategic aviation on a permanent basis , '' putin told reporters after inspecting joint military exercises with china and four central asian states in russia 's ural mountains . `` today , august 17 at 00:00 hours , 14 strategic bombers took to the air from seven airfields across the country , along with support and refueling aircraft ... from today such patrols will be carried out on a regular basis . `` we hope our partners will treat this with understanding . ''<doc-sep>at u.s. president george w. bush 's texas ranch , white house spokesman gordon johndroe said he did not believe the flights posed a threat to the united states . `` militaries around the world engage in a variety of activities , so this is not entirely surprising , '' he said . but the sorties are likely to add to western concern about russia 's growing assertiveness . that trend has prompted some u.s. policymakers to draw parallels with the cold war . putin caused a stir this year by saying russian missiles would once again be aimed at targets in europe if washington persisted with plans to build a missile defense shield in eastern europe . russian diplomats have clashed with the united states and european governments on issues such as kosovo , energy , and moscow 's treatment of its ex-soviet neighbors . western military leaders have said this year that russian flights near their airspace were becoming more frequent after a long quiet period .<doc-sep>one western defense official called the flights `` a little bit of chest-pounding , trying to let people know russia is back in the game '' . putin said that when russia had cut its flights in 1992 , other military powers had not reciprocated . `` flights by other countries ' strategic aircraft continue and this creates certain problems for ensuring the security of the russian federation , '' putin said . that appeared to be a swipe at the u.s. and nato , whose strategic bombers have continued to fly long-range missions . as putin spoke to reporters and television cameras , four russian military helicopters appeared and hovered in the background while russian tanks trundled behind him , even though the exercises had ended long before .<doc-sep>during the cold war , russian long-range bombers , which can carry strategic nuclear weapons , played elaborate games of cat-and-mouse with western air forces . earlier this month russian air force generals said bomber crews had flown near the pacific island of guam , where the u.s. military has a base , and `` exchanged smiles '' with u.s. pilots scrambled to track them . the pentagon said the russian aircraft had not come close enough to u.s. ships to prompt american aircraft to react . in july , two russian tu-95 `` bear '' bombers made unusually long sorties over the north sea , leading norway and britain to scramble fighter jets to follow them . russia 's air force said later it was a routine flight . e-mail to a friend . copyright 2007 reuters . all rights reserved.this material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten , or redistributed .<doc-sep>admiral vladimir vysotsky said in february . armed : the sierra 2-class submarine was armed with anti-submarine missiles and torpedoes -lrb- file picture -rrb- . ' a russian agi and an ssn in the same geographic area as one of the . largest u.s. ballistic missile submarine bases -- kings bay -- is reminiscent . of cold war activities of the soviet navy tracking the movements of our . ssbn 's , ' said another u.s. official . ssbn is the designation for . ballistic missile submarines . russia 's . navy carried out hundreds of submarine patrols during the cold war to . maintain first-and-second-strike nuclear capabilities . even when the soviet union was in decline in 1984 it still conducted 230 submarine patrols . today it conducts fewer than 10 a year . ` as . was their primary mission during the cold war , russian ssns . -lsb- nuclear attack submarines -rsb- would likely be trying to track u.s. nuclear . missile submarines deploying from kings bay , georgia , and to monitor . u.s. naval deployments from norfolk , virginia , ' richard fisher , military . analyst with the international assessment and strategy center , wore in . an email . a russian attack sub was discovered near the u.s. coastline but defense officials said it posed no threat . officials said the submarine was probably conducting anti-submarine warfare efforts against u.s. ballistic and cruise missile submarines at kings bay , georgia . fisher added that russia is currently building new attack submarines to rival the u.s. 's los angeles-class vessels . in recent months there 's been series of examples of russia flexing its military strength near u.s. soil . last summer saw the transit of two bear-h strategic bombers near the alaska . air defense zone during russian strategic bomber war games in arctic . then in an likely fourth of july political message , on independence day a russian bear-h flew . the closest to the u.s. west coast that a russian strategic bomber had . flown since the cold war when such flights were routine . in both cases u.s. and canadian interceptor jets met the russian bombers . but u.s. officials dismissed both incidents as the obama administration seeks to establish closer ties to moscow . russia bombers have also been detected near norway 's airspace with a bear h bomber spotted on sept. 11 and 12 shadowed by nato jet fighters . 55 russian bombers have been detected near norway 's territory in 2012 , a sharp increase from the early 2000s .<doc-sep>russia 's long-range bombers will range from the arctic ocean to the caribbean and the gulf of mexico on regular patrol missions , the military said wednesday , a show of muscle reflecting tensions with the west over ukraine . a statement from defense minister sergei shoigu 's statement comes as nato has reported a spike in russian military flights over the black , baltic and north seas as well as the atlantic ocean . it reflects moscow 's increasingly tough posture amid tensions with the west over ukraine and its role in the conflict in syria . shoigu said russian long-range bombers will conduct flights along russian borders and over the arctic ocean . he added that ` in the current situation we have to maintain military presence in the western atlantic and eastern pacific , as well as the caribbean and the gulf of mexico . ' saber rattling : russia 's defense minister sergei shoigu says the military will conduct regular long-range bomber patrols , ranging from the arctic ocean to the caribbean and the gulf of mexico -lrb- file : russian military tu-95 bombers over international airspace -rrb- . he said that the increasing pace and duration of flights would require stronger maintenance efforts . russian nuclear-capable strategic bombers were making regular patrols across the atlantic and the pacific oceans during the cold war , but the post-soviet money crunch forced the military to cut back . col. steve warren , a pentagon spokesman , declined to call this a russian provocation . he said the russians have a right , like any other nation , to operate in international airspace and in international waters . gearing up ? sergei shoigu 's statement comes as nato has reported a spike in russian military flights over the black , baltic and north seas as well as the atlantic ocean . it reflects moscow 's increasingly tough posture amid tensions with the west over ukraine . here , russian air force strategic bombers , tu-95 , fly in formation over red square . the important thing , warren said , is for such exercises to be carried out safely and in accordance with international standards . ian kearns , director of the european leadership network , a london-based think tank , said the bomber patrols are part of kremlin 's efforts to make the russian military ` more visible and more assertive in its actions ' . the new bomber flights ` are n't necessarily presaging a threat , ' kearns said . `` they are just part of a general ramping-up of activities . '' but , he added , ` the more instances you have of nato and russian forces coming close together , the more chance there is of having something bad happening , even if it 's not intentional . '<doc-sep>london , england -- new photos released this week show british air force jets shadowing russian bombers over the north atlantic ocean in scenes that echo the cold war and highlight moscow 's growing assertiveness . a british royal air force typhoon f2 fighter plane -lrb- left -rrb- encounters a russian bear-h bomber over the atlantic . the images from britain 's ministry of defence show an encounter outside british airspace last friday between the royal air force 's -lrb- raf -rrb- new typhoon f2 aircraft and one of several russian bear-h bombers . the incident comes as moscow seeks to raise its military profile . the encounter happened on the same day that vladimir putin , president of russia , announced it was to resume the soviet-era practice of continuous long-range bomber patrols on a permanent basis . the move is regarded by analysts as one of several signs of growing russian assertiveness .<doc-sep>insurgent leader doku umarov has urged militants to use ` maximum force ' to prevent the games from going ahead . russia drove separatists from power in chechnya in a war that boosted the popularity of putin , a former kgb officer . russia 's president lays flowers at the site of an explosion on a trolley bus in volgograd . grief : a man mourns near portraits of the victims of the suicide bombings at volgograd 's main railway station . but . the insurgency that spread across the north caucasus region in the . aftermath of that conflict has persisted despite putin 's repeated , . strongly worded pledges to eliminate the militants whose attacks have . cast a shadow over his rule . as . prime minister in 1999 , he vowed to ` wipe them out in the s *** house ' and in 2010 , after female suicide bombers killed 40 people on the moscow . metro , he ordered police to find their masters and ` scrape them from . the bottom of the sewers ' . less than a year later , in january 2011 , a bomber from the north caucasus killed 37 people at a busy moscow airport . the . rail station bombing in volgograd was the deadliest attack outside the . north caucasus since then , killing 18 people . citing unnamed sources , . interfax said the suspected attacker was an ethnic russian convert to . islam who moved to dagestan where he joined militants early in 2012 . investigators said they believed a male suicide bomber was also responsible for monday 's morning rush-hour blast . volgograd . - formerly stalingrad - is a city of a million and a transport hub for . an area of southern russia that includes the north caucasus . a . car bomb killed a prosecutor 's assistant in dagestan on tuesday and two . people were killed in a bomb blast there late on monday , authorities . said . a policeman patrols inside a restricted area as women walk past in central volgograd .

<t> russia to send bomber aircraft on long-range flights on a permanent basis . </t> <t> president vladimir putin said the move was in response to security threats . </t> <t> the white house says the flights do not pose a threat to the united states . </t>

russia restores bomber patrols<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- authorities in azerbaijan recently uncovered a radical islamic terror plot against the u.s. embassy in the capital , baku , prompting the facility to close its doors to the public monday , azerbaijan and u.s. officials told cnn . the bibi heybat mosque , just outside the capital baku . as a precaution , britain also shut its embassy in baku to the public on monday `` following security concerns nearby , '' britain 's foreign office said . the terror plot was unraveled after a weekend raid outside baku that netted several suspected members of the radical group , two u.s. officials who asked not to be identified and a spokesman for azerbaijan 's national security ministry told cnn .<doc-sep>u.s. state department spokesman sean mccormack stressed that the details `` are still unfolding , '' and the threat `` may or may not be '' linked to the saturday raid . `` there were some specific and credible threat information concerning the embassy and plans by militants to in some way do harm to individuals in and around the u.s. embassy there , '' mccormack said , noting that no specific individuals were targeted . several days ago , an azerbaijani army officer who had connections to a radical islamic group seized four assault rifles , a machine gun and 20 hand grenades from his military unit and hid them in the outskirts of baku , the ministry spokesman and u.s. officials said . government security forces tracked down the group and arrested several members during a sweep on saturday in the village of mastaga , about 20 miles -lrb- 32 km -rrb- northeast of baku , the spokesman said .<doc-sep>one suspected member of the militant group resisted arrest and was killed in the sweep , the spokesman said . several others are still at large , he added . he said the terror plot also targeted azerbaijani government buildings . the u.s. embassy in baku issued a warden message warning americans in azerbaijan to take precautions . `` while there is no information at this time that other american or western interests in azerbaijan are being targeted , the u.s. embassy encourages americans to maintain a high level of vigilance and take appropriate steps to bolster their own personal security , '' it said .<doc-sep>azerbaijan is a former soviet republic that borders the caspian sea , and lies just north of iran . mccormack said u.s. authorities are working closely with their counterparts in baku and will determine when normal embassy operations will resume . he said he expects the embassy to limit its operations on tuesday , as well . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's igor malakhov in moscow , zain verjee in washington and roger clark in london contributed to this report .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- authorities in azerbaijan recently uncovered a radical islamic terror plot against the u.s. embassy in the capital , baku , prompting the facility to close its doors to the public monday , azerbaijan and u.s. officials told cnn . the bibi heybat mosque , just outside the capital baku . as a precaution , britain also shut its embassy in baku to the public on monday `` following security concerns nearby , '' britain 's foreign office said . the terror plot was unraveled after a weekend raid outside baku that netted several suspected members of the radical group , two u.s. officials who asked not to be identified and a spokesman for azerbaijan 's national security ministry told cnn . u.s. state department spokesman sean mccormack stressed that the details `` are still unfolding , '' and the threat `` may or may not be '' linked to the saturday raid . `` there were some specific and credible threat information concerning the embassy and plans by militants to in some way do harm to individuals in and around the u.s. embassy there , '' mccormack said , noting that no specific individuals were targeted . several days ago , an azerbaijani army officer who had connections to a radical islamic group seized four assault rifles , a machine gun and 20 hand grenades from his military unit and hid them in the outskirts of baku , the ministry spokesman and u.s. officials said . government security forces tracked down the group and arrested several members during a sweep on saturday in the village of mastaga , about 20 miles -lrb- 32 km -rrb- northeast of baku , the spokesman said . one suspected member of the militant group resisted arrest and was killed in the sweep , the spokesman said . several others are still at large , he added . he said the terror plot also targeted azerbaijani government buildings . the u.s. embassy in baku issued a warden message warning americans in azerbaijan to take precautions . `` while there is no information at this time that other american or western interests in azerbaijan are being targeted , the u.s. embassy encourages americans to maintain a high level of vigilance and take appropriate steps to bolster their own personal security , '' it said . azerbaijan is a former soviet republic that borders the caspian sea , and lies just north of iran . mccormack said u.s. authorities are working closely with their counterparts in baku and will determine when normal embassy operations will resume . he said he expects the embassy to limit its operations on tuesday , as well . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's igor malakhov in moscow , zain verjee in washington and roger clark in london contributed to this report .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- yemen is embarking on a major initiative in its war on terror and plans to build four new branches for the country 's elite counterterrorism units next year , a spokesman for the country 's american embassy said on saturday . mohammed albasha said the branches will be located in four different locations -- mareb , shabwa , abyan and hadramawt . hadramawt , albasha said , will have the largest contingent of counterterror units . `` this is the next phase in the war on terrorism - we are bringing the fight to al qaeda . '' yemen has been locked in a struggle with al qaeda in the arabian peninsula , or aqap , the offshoot of the al qaeda terror network based in yemen . it grabbed the attention of the west with the attempted bombing of a northwest airlines trans-atlantic flight as it landed in detroit , michigan , on christmas day in 2009 . the anti-terror campaign has also come under increased international scrutiny since authorities in late october uncovered a cargo plane bomb plot targeting western interests . aqap claimed responsibility for the scheme , which involved shipping explosives disguised as printer toner cartridges on u.s.-bound cargo planes .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . updated : . 17:02 est , 30 may 2013 . an iranian national from texas who admitted that he plotted to kill saudi arabia 's ambassador to the u.s. by bombing a washington restaurant was sentenced thursday to 25 years in prison . manssor arbabsiar , a u.s. citizen who was born in iran , pleaded guilty in october to two conspiracy charges and a murder-for-hire count . he admitted he was directed by iranian military officials to go to mexico on multiple occasions in 2011 to arrange the assassination attempt , which never occurred . scroll down for video . punished : manssor arbabsiar -lrb- left -rrb- was handed a 25-year prison sentence for plotting to murder saudi ambassador adel al-jubeir -lrb- right -rrb- . the 58-year-old arbabsiar , who had . worked in real estate and automobile sales since moving to the united . states in 1977 , approached someone he thought was a member of the . mexican narco-terror group , los zetas , for help with an attack . the man turned out to be an informant for u.s. drug agents , who began recording their conversations . ` what i did was wrong , ' arbabsiar . said in court thursday . ` i take responsibility for it . ... my mind . sometimes is not in a good place . ' prosecutors said arbabsiar told the . confidential government source that killing innocent bystanders , . including u.s. senators who the source suggested would likely be at the . restaurant , was ` no big deal . ' the government said arbabsiar told . law enforcement officials after his arrest that he had demanded at least . $ 1million for his involvement in the plot . he was also given $ 25,000 by the quds . force , a branch of the iranian islamic revolutionary guard corps that . in 2007 was designated by the u.s. treasury department as a supporter of . the taliban and terrorist organizations . defense lawyers argued for no more . than a 10-year sentence , saying arbabsiar 's crimes were undeniably . serious but also ` the result of a severe mental breakdown caused by a . longstanding , untreated bipolar disorder , and that he had no previous . involvement in terrorism or international intrigue . ' sentencing : in this courtroom sketch , manssor arbabsiar , center , stands with his attorneys in manhattan federal court , where the judge sentenced the former used car salesman from texas to 25 years in prison . in his own words : arbabsiar read a statement before learning his fate , accepting responsibility for his actions and telling the court that sometimes his mind is ` not in a good place ' in this drawing , assistant u.s. attorney glen kopp , standing , addresses the court , during the sentencing hearing for arbabsiar , seated center , who admitted that he plotted to kill saudi arabia 's ambassador . arbabsiar entered a guilty plea last october , admitting that he plotted to assassinate the saudi ambassador . he was described by u.s. attorney preet bharara at the time as ` the extended murderous hand of his co-conspirators , officials . of the iranian military based in iran , who plotted to kill the saudi . ambassador in the united states and were willing to kill as many . bystanders as necessary to do so . ' attorney general eric holder cited the efforts of law enforcement and . intelligence agencies in disrupting ' a deadly plot approved by members . of the iranian military to assassinate a sitting foreign ambassador on . u.s. soil . ' arbabsiar entered the plea to two . conspiracy charges and a murder-for-hire count in u.s. district court in . manhattan . when the plot was uncovered last september , president barack obama 's administration accused agents of the iranian government of being involved . bharara said arbabsiar ` was in telephone contact with his iranian confederates while he brokered an audacious plot . ' arbabsiar , pictured in this courtroom sketch in manhattan criminal court , faces up to 25 years in prison . at the plea , arbabsiar confirmed that officials in the iranian military were involved in the plot . arbabsiar admitted that he was directed . by iranian military officials to go to mexico on multiple occasions from . the spring to the fall last year to arrange the assassination . arbabsiar , who lived in corpus christie , texas , for more than a decade , said he went to mexico last year to meet a man named junior , ` who turned out to be an fbi agent . ' he said that he and others had agreed to arrange the kidnapping of the ambassador , adel al-jubeir , but junior said it would be easier to kill the ambassador . arbabsiar has been held without bail since he was arrested sept. 29 , 2011 , at john f. kennedy international airport . the government said in a news release . that arbabsiar had described to the drug enforcement administration source how his cousin in iran , a . ` big general ' in the iranian military , had requested that arbabsiar . find someone to carry out the ambassador 's assassination . it said arbabsiar rejected as ` no big . deal ' the dea 's worries about bystanders in a restaurant bombing , . including the possibility that u.s. senators who dine there could be . killed . watched : the terror plot involved bombing the saudi embassy in washington d.c. , seen here , after assassinating the ambassador . the saudi embassy is located next to the watergate complex in washington dc . authorities have said they secretly recorded conversations between arbabsiar and an informant with the drug enforcement administration after arbabsiar approached the informant in mexico and asked his knowledge of explosives for a plot to blow up the saudi embassy in washington . they said arbabsiar later offered $ 1.5 million for the death of the ambassador . arbabsiar admitted in october that he eventually made a $ 100,000 down payment wired from an overseas account through a manhattan bank . after his arrest , arbabsiar confessed . that he was recruited , funded and directed by men he believed were . senior officials in iran 's qods force , a branch of the iranian islamic . revolutionary guard corps that in 2007 was designated by the u.s. treasury department as a supporter of the taliban and terrorist . organizations , the government said . suspect : alleged terror plotter manssor arbabsiar 's home in round rock , texas . arbabsiar told the court that he only understood about half of what he read out in court in english . it said he claimed that he met several . times in iran with gholam shakuri , a co-conspirator and iran-based . member of the qods force , and another senior qods force official . after . his arrest , arbabsiar made phone calls at the direction of law . enforcement to shakuri in iran and shakuri confirmed that arbabsiar . should move forward with the ambassador plot , the government said . iran formally complained to the u.s. in october 2011 over the claims that the iranian government was involved in the plot to kill adel al-jubeir . the u.s. received a diplomatic note expressing displeasure with the charges . the complaint called on the u.s. to apologize publicly to iran for the ` material and moral damages ' caused by ` this baseless accusation . ' it added that the accusations violated . ` international rules and regulations ' but that deception has become ' a . permanent part of statecraft in the u.s. ' the note was delivered through the . swiss embassy in tehran , which represents u.s. interests in iran since . the two countries do n't have diplomatic relations .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . last updated at 6:59 am on 21st october 2011 . iran 's intelligence chief said on thursday there are holes in the u.s. allegations that iranian agents plotted to kill the saudi ambassador to the united states , and dismissed the american claims as a ` foolish plot ' nobody will believe . two men , including an alleged member of iran 's special foreign actions unit known as the quds force , have been charged in new york federal court with conspiring to kill the saudi diplomat , adel al-jubeir . tehran has strongly denied any link to the alleged plot , and president mahmoud ahmadinejad has accused washington of using the case to divert attention from its economic woes and the occupy wall street protest movement . plot : manssor arbabsiar -lrb- left -rrb- is accused of a terror plot to murder saudi ambassador adel al-jubeir -lrb- right -rrb- . on thursday , iran 's intelligence . minister , heidar moslehi , dismissed the american allegations , saying no . professional intelligence agency would issue orders to an agent in a . foreign country over the phone or transfer money to drug cartels through . a new york bank . ` when you probe the allegations from . an intelligence perspective , you find major contradictions and . shortcomings and you ca n't believe a government like the u.s. ... has . ended up in a situation where it designs a foolish plot , ' he said on . state tv . the iranian government has denied any . connection to manssor arbabsiar , the man arrested in the alleged plot , . and derided the claims , saying u.s. officials have offered no proof . ` which court of law can accept such absurd claims as evidence ? ' moslehi asked . detained : arbabsiar appearing before judge michael dolinger and united states assistant us attorney glen kopp during his arraignment in new york . appearance : these court sketches show magistrate . judge michael dolinger -lrb- left -rrb- presiding over the arraignment of manssor . arbabsiar -lrb- right -rrb- at manhattan federal court . arbabsiar is a 56-year-old naturalized . u.s. citizen who also had an iranian passport . in may 2011 , the . criminal complaint says , he approached someone he believed to be a . member of the vicious mexican narco-terror group , los zetas , for help . with an attack on al-jubeir . the man he approached turned out to be an . informant for u.s. drug agents , it says . the u.s. government charges that . arbabsiar had been told by his cousin abdul reza shahlai , a high-ranking . member of the quds force , to recruit a drug trafficker because drug . gangs have a reputation for assassinations . moslehi said arbabsiar , based on the . u.s. judge 's bill , made a telephone call to the alleged quds force . member from an fbi office after his arrest and the americans ' claim they . eavesdropped the conversation . suspect : alleged terror plotter manssor arbabsiar 's home in round rock , texas . accused : the home of terror plot suspect manssor arbabsiar in round rock , texas . ` what intelligence agency or officer . will direct an agent stationed in a rival 's territory by telephone ? or . orders an assassination on the phone ? or assigns the restaurant - the . venue of the planned assassination - and bargains over the price on the . phone ? ' he asked . moslehi said even the weakest . intelligence agencies in the world would n't hire a man with arbabsiar . background let alone assign him to an operation on u.s. soil . the intelligence minister alleged . instead that arbabsiar , who acquired u.s. citizenship eight months ago , . likely agreed to cooperate with american intelligence agencies in return . for his residency permit . moslehi said iran does n't need to resort to such terror plots and that tehran would not benefit from killing a saudi diplomat . target : the plot would have also attacked the israel embassy , pictured here , in washington d.c. watched : the terror plot involved bombing the saudi embassy in washington d.c. , seen here , after assassinating the ambassador . moslehi claimed that iran 's security . services have notched successes in an ongoing intelligence battle with . the u.s. , and said washington now wants to tarnish iran 's image by . attributing a ` clumsy ' plot to tehran . he cited iran 's success in the arrest . last year of abdulmalik rigi , leader of the sunni militant group . jundallah . jundallah , which has claimed responsibility for bombings that . have killed dozens in recent years , was behind an insurgency in iran 's . southeast near the border with pakistan . rigi was arrested alive by iran 's . intelligence agents when he was flying over the persian gulf en route . from dubai to kyrgyzstan . he was later tried and executed . may 24 : arbabsiar first meets someone posing as an associate of a drug trafficking cartel in mexico , who was actually a u.s. drug enforcement administration informant codenamed cs-1 . arbabsiar asked about the informant 's knowledge of explosives and explained he was interested in attacking a saudi embassy . june 2 : arbabsiar returned to mexico and held more meetings with the informant in late june and early july . he allegedly said his associates in iran had discussed a number of ` violent missions ' including the murder of the saudi ambassador to washington , adel al-jubeir . july 14 : arbabsiar meets cs-1 again , they discuss plot details - how four men and a payment of $ 1.5 million are needed . july 17 : the pair meet again in mexico . cs-1 says one member of his gang has already carried out surveillance on the ambassador and they allegedly discussed bombing a restaurant in the united states where the ambassador frequently dined . august 1 and 9 : arbabsiar makes two overseas wire transfers ` totalling approximately $ 100,000 ' september 28 : arbabsiar flies to mexico , is refused entry and is sent back to jfk . september 29 : arrested at jfk by federal agents . october 4-5 : arbabsiar , who has been in u.s. custody since his arrest , made phone calls which were monitored by u.s. law enforcement agents to shakuri , described as a member of the quds force , a branch of the iranian islamic revolutionary guard corps . he is believed to be based in iran . shakuri allegedly confirmed to arbabsiar the plot should move forward as quickly as possible , stating : ` just do it quickly , it 's late '

<t> authorities uncover a radical islamic terror plot against the u.s. embassy in baku . </t> <t> the united states has reduced its embassy 's operations . </t> <t> britain also shut its embassy in baku to the public on monday . </t>

u.s. embassy terror plot uncovered<T>

-lrb- instyle -rrb- -- it all boils down to this . it does n't really matter all that much what hot , nubile french maverick has set the fashion world on fire . or which milanese visionary has a new fabric technique discovered during a life-changing trip to angkor wat that 's sure to bring back sixties minimalism with a twist . or that so-and-so has signed a deal to develop boutique spa hotels around the globe in former monasteries . because , in the end , he 's ralph lauren , and we 're not . ralph lauren has his eye on china and japan . for four decades no other designer has had a greater impact , not only on the way american men and women dress but also on the way they imagine , seek and indulge in the good life , than the former tie salesman from the bronx . `` those ties were handmade , by the way , '' recalls lauren . `` back then , ties , even designer ones , did n't sell for more than $ 5 apiece . mine were $ 12 to $ 15 . such luxury in something so simple was revolutionary . '' and ironic . because while no other designer logo exemplifies aspiration in the home of the free and the brave like the mallet-wielding guy on the pony , lauren originally named his company polo because `` it was the sport of kings . it was glamorous , sexy and international . '' see his designs ''<doc-sep>in the beginning a few people questioned if it was named after marco polo -- but today the fact that virtually none of lauren 's millions of devoted customers has ever even seen a polo match is immaterial . lauren instinctively caught something that was in the air before any of his competitors had a chance to grab it -- the desire , not just to be a success but to look like one before you 'd even achieved your goal . what 's more , lauren made it look as easy as fred astaire dancing down a staircase . `` what matters the most to me are clothes that are consistent and accessible , '' says the designer . `` when i look at the people i 've admired over the years , the ultimate stars , like frank sinatra , cary grant and astaire , the ones who last the longest are the ones whose style has a consistency , whose naturalness is part of their excitement . and when you think of the blur of all the brands that are out there , the ones you believe in and the ones you remember , like chanel and armani , are the ones that stand for something . fashion is about establishing an image that consumers can adapt to their own individuality . and it 's an image that can change , that can evolve . it does n't reinvent itself every two years . '' however , with a media that is insatiable for the new , the now and the next , being steadfast does n't always make for good copy .<doc-sep>`` the spotlight is always going to search for the newcomer , '' lauren admits . `` and that 's fine . but the key to longevity is to keep doing what you do better than anyone else . we work real hard at that . it 's about getting your message out to the consumer . it 's about getting their trust , but also getting them excited , again and again . my clothes -- the clothes we make for the runway -- are n't concepts . they go into stores . our stores . thankfully , we have lots of them , '' says lauren . `` what i rely on is people walking into my store saying , ' i want your clothes . ' '' well , if all of lauren 's customers shouted that together , he would go deaf faster than he could pull on one of his classic pullovers . lauren 's effortless luxury is all over the red carpet , on ski slopes and boats , at wimbledon and elsewhere . it furnishes living rooms and graces dinner tables . it 's on the bed , in the bed and under the bed -- and now sits on coffee tables , thanks to the tome ralph lauren -lrb- rizzoli -rrb- , celebrating his 40-years-and-growing career . but far from giving his customary over-the-head wave and riding off into his colorado-ranch sunset , the designer is going even more global .<doc-sep>`` americans have a real inferiority about their own style . we 've brought sportswear to the world , and yet we have a long way to go . '' already in milan , london , paris and moscow , lauren has more stores planned for china , japan ... oh , everywhere . `` there are n't enough americans out there , '' he says . who better to start with than ralph ? just as long as he does n't let on that most of us still ca n't play a lick of polo . e-mail to a friend . get a free trial issue of instyle - click here ! copyright © 2007 time inc. . all rights reserved .<doc-sep>shop ralph lauren 's current collection at neiman marcus . buy now . `` ralph is the god , '' kanye west claimed recently , ceding his self-proclaimed holy title to the famed designer . and we do have to admire ralph lauren 's ability to sell not just clothing , but the american dream . lauren 's latest collection relied on his minimal , straight forward tailoring and fall 2015 threw in a bit of extra navajo flair with detailing such as beading and fringe . our favorite part of the show was this sweeping shearling number , which unfortunately wo n't be available until fall ... and just thinking about it 's accompanying price tag makes us cringe . you can shop the designer 's current collection with a click to the right to neiman marcus or we 've compiled an excellent edit of more affordable shearling options below . pair yours with heathery shades of brown and cream to really get that ralph lauren look . cascade faux shearling coat at alloy apparel -lrb- now $ 99.99 -rrb- . buy now .<doc-sep>double denim is back ! ralph lauren has just unveiled its polo ralph lauren spring 2015 collection and there 's two denim on denim looks . lauren , whose label is undergoing major global expansion , said his collection of sleek and modern silhouettes is targetted at a ` very sophisticated guy with a point of view who wants chic suits and sportswear . ' ` this is a man 's wardrobe , ' he said of his double and single-breasted suits paired with high-collar shirts . ` the look is simple , beautiful and easy to wear . and it 's stimulating the clothing business . ' back to haunt them : britney spears and justin timberlake demonstrate how not to do double denim back in 2001 - but were they just foreseeing the future of fashion ? here 's how to do it : kim kardashian , left , and miranda kerr prove that you can pull off double denim and still look stylish . a-list fans : kelly brook , left , and eva mendes have recently been seen out trialling the double denim trend .<doc-sep>by . bianca london for mailonline . justin timberlake and britney spears ' matchy-matchy double denim look may have gone down as one of the biggest fashion faux pas in history but it seems that the style shocker is coming back to haunt us next season . ralph lauren has just unveiled its purple label and polo ralph lauren spring 2015 collections and there 's not one , but two double-denim suits - in fact , one includes a waistcoat , making it a triple denim ensemble . the menswear range includes a washed-out denim jacket and matching rolled-up boyfriend jeans , as well as the more sharply-cut dark denim suit with matching denim waistcoat . dapper : . lauren says his range is targeted at a ` very sophisticated guy with a . point of view who wants chic suits and sportswear '<doc-sep>ralph lauren has agreed to destroy a range of its athletic shoes , after popular footwear brand converse filed a lawsuit against the company claiming that the designs were a direct copy of its iconic chuck taylor all star sneakers . last october , converse inc. filed trademark infringement lawsuits against 31 companies , including ralph lauren , alleging that it competitors had knocked off the sneaker 's mid sole stripe and rubber toe cap . but , according to women 's wear daily converse has now reached an out of court settlement with ralph lauren corp , which stipulates that the rival brand must scrap all of its copycat sneakers within the next 30 days . scarily similar : converse inc. filed a lawsuit against 31 companies last october , including ralph lauren corp. , for allegedly copying the design of its iconic chuck taylor all star sneaker . all american : ralph lauren 's -lrb- pictured -rrb- company was accused of knocking off the converse sneaker 's mid sole stripe and rubber toe cap . coveted copies : the two companies have reached a settlement agreement , which stipulates that ralph lauren has 30 days to scrap the 36 different style of sneakers converse had named in its complaint . the two companies have filed a joint motion to end the case pending before the us international trade commission .

<t> ralph lauren began as tie salesman from the bronx . </t> <t> first design : wide ties when others were narrow . </t> <t> has designed high fashion for four decades . </t> <t> goal : glamorous clothing that is `` consistent and accessible '' </t>

that look of ralph lauren<T>

los angeles , california -- one of the bigger difficulties any first-time buyer faces is purchasing a car that does n't scream `` first-time '' to friends , relatives and co-workers , or indeed to the buyer each time they step into an ill-chosen purchase . a `` shark '' that races down roads . to break from the boring econobox , here are some of the more sculpted and stylish cars available for about $ 20,000 that will hold their looks for a long time and give a little bit of joy to a first-time owner . hyundai tiburon . if you did n't know already , tiburon means `` shark '' in spanish , and it 's not hard to see how hyundai 's sporty coupe can stalk the unwary first-time buyer and snare them quickly . like an instantly recognizable dorsal fin , the tiburon in its third incarnation is perhaps the purest low-slung sportster that wo n't bust a first-time buyer 's wallet , though it may chew a hole in the seat of their pants as they 're pushed back into those tight-hugging bucket seats . the startling hyundai-designed looks boast a touch of italian styling uncommon for its bracket . mazda mazdaspeed3 .<doc-sep>a bona-fide pocket rocket , any first-time buyer can put a fair distance between themselves and the pack in the mazdaspeed3 , part of the asian carmaker 's strategy to wrestle performance compact coupe sales from european carmakers . this one is n't overbearingly dripped in trim or wings , but do n't let any youngster tell you it does n't have what it takes to make their peers jealous . the mazdaspeed3 will storm from standing to a mile a minute in under six seconds and is said to hit 155 mph . its secret is torque negation in the low gears -- and perhaps its 263 horses under the hood . another hidden gem is its seven-speaker bose stereo . pontiac g5 gt coupe . much like the fantastic chevy cobalt ss , its younger sister pontiac g5 gt boasts highly sprung motoring at a price that appeals to the first-time buyer 's wallet . the g5 gt has been tweaked just slightly from its sister ss -- like the difference between ashlee and jessica simpson -- boasting a less horizontal grille and more sculpted valance . both are reasonably stylish from the back and side and both leaving plenty room for aftermarket add-ons . a new grille entirely , like a phantom , may just be what you need to set it off against the crowd . the gt 's inline-four 2.4-liter 173-hp engine -- 25hp over the base -- drives the front wheels to hit 0-60 mph in 7.5 seconds . gas mileage is good and customer satisfaction ratings are off the hook . ford mustang v6 .<doc-sep>a revamped chassis is the key to why ford 's mustang has become an outstanding product at a price that 's hard to beat . a tweak to the iconic lines for last year included a smaller back window and a longer , craggier front end . some might of course call us heretics for picking a v6 over the famous eight-cylinder included in the gt package but , to be honest , the v6 performs admirably , pushes out 210hp and emits a low-down growl that sounds wonderful . and it 's still a mustang . civic coupe . a civic hatch was my second car -lrb- after a very short-lived vw rabbit -rrb- . the coupe tested earlier this year brought back fond memories of the civic 's surprisingly roomy front cabin , its enjoyable handling and maneuverability , first-class economy and its sporty elongated hood and swooping back end . standard features include a 350-watt premium sound system , a touch-screen satellite-navigation system whose screen flips to reveal the cd player , and a slot for a computer memory card . it 's also got a funky dash that spectrally lights at night -- what fun . scion xb .<doc-sep>on the heels of its 2004 release , toyota 's hipster scion brand has remodeled its boxy wonder this year , this time boasting more than a design nod to its parent company 's fj cruiser . wide rear pillars , wraparound headlights and bumper define the second-generation variant , which comes dripping with gadgetry inside , as well as leaving plenty of room for after-market customization . this one turns heads while allowing you to pack five adults in relative comfort . other notable features include a central console that fits in a dvd player alongside a backlit gps sat-nav system that lights up in any one of 10 colors . honda fit . a co-worker bought one of these after crashing her old and very badly beaten up saturn on a left turn into oncoming traffic . ouch . so it technically was n't her first car , but for many buyers , it will be . energetic , filled with flair and boasting a vertical fold the length of its bonnet , the fit looks the part as well as being colossally roomy inside for what you expect . you do n't get a third row of seats in there but , with the back row folded flat , it almost lends you to believe it can become a camper . other great touches include an mp3 input jack and reclining rear-seat headrests , while gas mileage is , as expected , very good indeed . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>australian first home buyers are getting older as skyrocketing house prices and dwindling government grants force them to save longer and cut back harder on other things so they can pull together a deposit . a new report by realestateview.com.au shows the largest group of first home buyers is now people in their thirties or forties . and just one in ten first home buyers are younger than 30 , the report says . the main reasons include rising house prices and a lack of government grants , according to the report . people are also forgoing big ticket items like cars and are happy to cut back on buying clothes , computers and going away on holidays to help save a deposit . the age of first home buyers in australia is stretching with most people now in their thirties or forties before they purchase a property , according to a new report . ` when we think of first time buyers we think of singles or couples in their twenties , but the reality is the road to achieving home ownership is longer and harder than it once was , ' general manager of realestateview.com.au , petra sprekos , told daily mail australia . ` more people want to save 20 percent deposit and pay more than their mortgage repayments require , so they are spending at least three to five years saving for a deposit . ` people view buying property as biggest achievement so they 're cutting other expenditure to support dream . '<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- president barack obama 's goal of putting 1 million electric cars on u.s. roads by 2015 could run into a huge roadblock -- the american consumer . according to a report released wednesday by researchers at indiana university , automakers are unlikely to manufacture enough cars to reach the president 's goal because of a potential lack of buyer demand . nissan and general motors , makers of the leaf and volt , respectively , already have the capacity to produce enough cars to meet the goal . serious questions remain , however , about the level of desire among potential buyers worried about cost , ease of use and likely resale value . `` after the early adopters , what is going to motivate the mainstream people to buy the vehicles ? '' asked gurminder bedi , a retired ford motor co. executive and one of the authors of the report . `` buying an electric vehicle just by itself , because it 's better for gas mileage , will be a good factor . but that 's not going to be sufficient . '' bedi nevertheless praised obama 's goal , noting that it `` has really jump started '' the market for electric cars . `` i 'd say there will be more electric vehicles by 2015 than there would have been if that initiative had n't been started , '' he said . in 2008 , there were nearly 57,000 electric cars on u.s. roads , according to an estimate by the u.s. energy information administration . the administration has created a number of incentives for consumers to purchase electric cars , including a $ 7,500 tax credit to first-time buyers .<doc-sep>the first home buyer report is based on a national survey of more than 1,000 australian first home buyers , first home owners and non-buyers . the first home buyer report is based on a national survey of more than 1,000 australian first home buyers , first home owners and non-buyers . half of first home buyers and more than 60 per cent of first home owners have children - an indication australians are taking longer to enter the market . over a third of those surveyed have n't bought a property yet because they think house prices are too high . ` over the last 12 months in particular we 've seen house prices rise and it 's putting pressure on people 's abilities to fund mortgage repayments , ' ms sprekos said . ` demographic changes are also behind it . we used to see people buy a house and then have kids , but it 's actually happening the other way now . it 's just taking people a little bit long for people to buy now . people are also forgoing big ticket items like cars and are cutting back on clothes , computers and holidays to help save a deposit . over a third of those surveyed have n't bought a property yet because they think house prices are too high .<doc-sep>green cool . to combat escalating levels of air pollution , the chinese government is promoting low-emission vehicles to the average driver , and has set a target of putting five million electric cars on the road by 2020 . many incentives are in place to encourage consumers to adopt green car technology , such as a rmb 60,000 cash handout to buyers of electric cars . despite this , most drivers are still hesitant to go green . less than 7,000 electric and hybrid vehicles were sold in the first quarter of 2014 . convenience , affordability , and style still trump environmental concerns for most of china 's young car buyers . `` i am afraid i will run out of electricity on the road and get stranded , '' says zhao bi , a thirty-something fashion designer who lives in china 's capital .

<t> tiburon is low-slung sportster that wo n't bust first-time buyer 's wallet . </t> <t> pontiac g5 gt boasts highly sprung motoring . </t> <t> toyota 's hipster scion comes dripping with gadgetry inside . </t>

stylish cars for first time buyers<T>

tehran , iran -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- iran should be allowed to pursue its nuclear program for peaceful purposes , russian president vladimir putin said on tuesday during the first visit to the country by a kremlin leader since 1943 . putin , right , is greeted by iranian president mahmoud ahmadinejad following his arrival in tehran . putin , who is in tehran to attend a summit of caspian sea nations , said that he and the other leaders agreed that `` peaceful nuclear activities must be allowed '' in the region . `` the iranians are cooperating with russian nuclear agencies and the main objectives are peaceful objectives , '' he said . russia is building iran 's first nuclear power plant and has resisted moves by the u.s. and its allies to impose stronger u.n. sanctions against tehran . on monday , u.s. defense secretary robert gates reiterated the bush administration 's stance that `` all options '' must be kept `` on the table '' in confronting the threats posed by iran -- a reference to the option of using military action against the long-time u.s. adversary .<doc-sep>`` we should have no illusions about the nature of this regime or its leaders -- about their designs for their nuclear program , their willingness to live up to their rhetoric , their intentions for iraq , or their ambitions in the gulf region , '' gates said in a speech to the jewish institute for national security affairs . the leaders of iran , russia , kazakhstan , turkmenistan and azerbaijan also met tuesday to reach agreement on issues relating to the sharing and regulating of the caspian sea -- the world 's largest inland body of water . speaking afterwards , putin said that no caspian nation should offer its territory to third parties intent on military action against other countries in the region -- a reference to rumors that the u.s. planned to use azerbaijan as a base for a possible attack against iran , the associated press reported . `` we are saying that no caspian nation should offer its territory to third powers for use of force or military aggression against any caspian state , '' putin said . `` the caspian sea is an inland sea and it only belongs to the caspian states , therefore only they are entitled to have their ships and military forces here , '' added iranian president mahmoud ahmadinejad .<doc-sep>putin , defying reports of an assassination plot against him , was greeted by iranian foreign minister manouchehr mottaki as he stepped off his plane at tehran 's mehrabad airport . during a news conference monday after talks with german chancellor angela merkel in wiesbaden , germany , putin said rumors of an attempt on his life would not stop his plans . `` of course i will travel to iran , '' putin said . `` if i reacted to these kinds of rumors every time , i could never leave the house . '' iranian officials denied there was an assassination plot against putin , with a foreign ministry spokesman describing rumors of a possible terrorist action during the putin visit baseless . `` spreading this kind of totally false news lacks any value and can not damage the trend of the prepared programs , '' spokesman mohammadali hosseini told the iranian fars news agency .<doc-sep>hosseini blamed the rumor on western media , particularly the u.s. media , saying the report was `` made up by the enemies of relations between iran and russia to create a psychological war . '' putin 's visit is the first by a leader in the kremlin to iran since joseph stalin 's world war ii conference meeting with u.s. president franklin d. roosevelt and british prime minister winston churchill . `` putin 's trip to tehran is a show of russia 's independence in global affairs . putin , who approaches the end of his term , wants to demonstrate that he would n't cave in to the u.s. pressure , '' said alexander pikayev , an expert on iran with russia 's institute for world economy and international relations , in a report carried by ap . putin 's schedule also includes meetings with ahmadinejad and iran 's supreme leader , ali khamenei , ap said . e-mail to a friend . copyright 2007 cnn . all rights reserved.this material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten , or redistributed . associated press contributed to this report .<doc-sep>iranian president hassan rouhani has boasted to a cheering crowd that the united states and other world powers ` surrendered ' to tehran with the new nuclear agreement struck in geneva . ` do you know what the geneva agreement means ? it means the surrender of great international powers before the great nation of iran , ' the moderate leader told a home crowd today . rouhani has cast the nuke deal as a national win in a bid to appease hardliners who claim the agreement tramples on iran 's enrichment rights . but commentators say the remarks are likely to rile members of congress pressing for additional sanctions . scroll down for video . power hungry : iranian president hassan rouhani has boasted to a cheering crowd the united states and other world powers ` surrendered ' to tehran with the new nuclear agreement struck in geneva . supportive : a large crowd cheered and waved flags when iranian president hassan rouhani boasted that the us ` surrendered ' to the country 's interests in the new nuclear deal . rouhani also told the flag-waving crowd : ` the geneva agreement means the world 's acceptance of the peaceful technology that was obtained due to the efforts and sacrifices of our young scientists . ` the geneva agreement means the breaking of sanctions that had been imposed wrongfully on this dear and peace-loving nation of iran . ' the president re-iterated his comments on his personal twitter account today . ` our relationship w / the world is .<doc-sep>the recent op-ed by rick santorum and joel c. rosenberg is yet another attempt to stymie and shackle iran and international negotiators in ongoing talks about iran 's peaceful nuclear program . iran should be able to enjoy its right to peaceful nuclear energy while avoiding further hostilities and instability . particularly illogical is their joining in the decades-old rhetoric , comparing who they see as their foe -- iran -- to adolf hitler . their view of the diplomatic path is misguided . their attempt to compare the iranian government to the murderous third reich is ludicrous , counterproductive and unfortunate . the hitler analogy has a long and tortured history . for many decades , those seeking to circumvent peaceful conflict resolution have resorted to the crude hitler analogy , comparing others to the hideous ruler . santorum and rosenberg affirmed comparisons of russian president vladimir putin to hitler earlier in the same article . but their comparisons to hitler carry some insidious inferences . they say that since hitler 's claim that he desired peace was a lie , iran 's claims to want peace can not be believed . therefore diplomacy in general ca n't happen and thus nations are locked in a policy of continuous war and aggression . they also seek to undermine any constructive debate about policy , and instead have the public and policy makers act out of sheer panic rather than thoughtful statesmanship . those favoring a rush to hostility have always used the hitler comparison to circumvent sensible deliberation and intimidate others . they want nations to support the impulsive use of force at times when they know using force is the wrong path and that diplomacy is best for national and global security . this is not to say that there are n't many valuable lessons to be learned from the failure to quickly confront the menace of the third reich . the world should not have stood by as hitler invaded his neighbors . iran , by contrast , has not invaded any of its neighbors over the past 250 years . thus , comparing iran to nazi germany is illogical and should be condemned for the sake of peace and global security . the current efforts by the iranian government to reach a diplomatic resolution on the nuclear file is not a tactic but , as many independent observers have noted , reflects its will to compromise and re-engage the world with mutual respect and the peaceful resolution of conflict .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- nearly a week after the bloody weekend crackdown on iranian protesters , the issue is still generating thousands of posts on twitter , youtube , and facebook . cnn 's iran desk is analyzing dozens of internet videos of the violent demonstrations on dec. 23-24 in which at least seven protesters were killed . hundreds of `` tweets '' are still being posted onto twitter every hour . each day , thousands of people are joining a facebook page dedicated to supporting the anti-government protesters , called `` 100 million facebook members for iran . '' here is a rundown of the latest social media trends that cnn has compiled : . twitter : most shared articles on iran . • u.s. iran standing in its own way with nuke plan . • iran gives west one-month ultimatum to accept uranium swap . • total wealth of khamenei and family $ 36 billion . • iranian opposition grows beneath surface . • shah 's son urges international protest over iran . most popular iran hashtags on twitter . #iran . #iranelections . #ashura . #hhrs .<doc-sep>kabul -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- u.s. secretary of state john kerry arrived in austria on sunday for talks with five other world powers and iran on tehran 's nuclear program . the participants will hold a final round of negotiations ahead of a july 20 deadline aimed at reaching a permanent deal on the future of iran 's nuclear program . `` obviously , we have some very significant gaps still , so we need to see if we can make some progress , '' kerry said in the austrian capital , vienna . `` i really look forward to a very substantive and important set of meetings and dialogues . '' the nuclear talks will include the five permanent members of the united nations security council -- the u.s. , uk , france , china and russia -- and germany . `` it is vital to make certain that iran is not going to develop a nuclear weapon , that their program is peaceful , '' kerry said . tehran insists its ambitions are peaceful , but the world powers fear it plans to build nuclear weapons .

<t> russian president putin backs iran 's `` peaceful '' nuclear program during visit . </t> <t> putin in tehran to attend summit of caspian sea nations to discuss oil rights . </t> <t> iran , russia set to discuss iranian nuclear program , u.s. push for sanctions . </t> <t> putin downplay rumors of assassination plot ; iran says claims are `` baseless '' </t>

putin : iran nuke plans ` peaceful '<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- erik prince , the chairman and ceo of blackwater usa , appeared tuesday before the house committee on oversight and government reform . erik prince , ceo and chairman of blackwater usa , is sworn in tuesday at a congressional hearing . the committee convened amid an fbi investigation into a september 16 shootout involving blackwater personnel that resulted in the deaths of iraqi civilians . following is a transcript of prince 's opening statement : . chairman -lsb- henry -rsb- waxman , -lsb- d-california -rsb- , congressman -lsb- thomas -rsb- davis , -lsb- r-virginia -rsb- , members of the committee , my name is eric prince , and i am the chairman and ceo of the prince group and blackwater usa . blackwater 's a team of dedicated professionals who provide training to america 's military and law enforcement communities and risk their lives to protect americans in harm 's way overseas . under the direction and oversight of the united states government , blackwater provides an opportunity for military and law enforcement veterans with a record of honorable service to continue their support to the united states . words alone can not express the respect i have for these brave men and women who defend -- who volunteer to defend u.s. personnel facilities and diplomatic missions . i am proud to be there to represent them today . after almost five years in active service as a u.s. navy seal , i founded blackwater in 1997 . i wanted to offer the military and law enforcement communities assistance by providing expert instruction and world-class training venues . ten years later , blackwater trains approximately 500 members of the united states military and law enforcement agencies every day . after 9/11 , when the u.s. began its stabilization efforts in afghanistan and then iraq , the united states government called upon blackwater to fill a need for protective services in hostile areas . blackwater responded immediately . we are extremely proud of answering that call in supporting our country . blackwater personnel supporting our overseas missions are all military and law enforcement veterans , many of whom have recent military deployments . no individual ever protected by blackwater has ever been killed or seriously injured . there is no better evidence of the skill and dedication of these men . at the same time , 30 brave men have made the ultimate sacrifice while working for blackwater and its affiliates . numerous others have been wounded and permanently maimed . the entire blackwater family mourns the loss of these brave lives . our thoughts and our prayers are with their families . the areas of iraq in which we operate are particularly dangerous and challenging . blackwater personnel are subject to regular attacks by terrorists and other nefarious forces within iraq . we 're the targets of the same ruthless enemies that have killed more than 3,800 american military personnel and thousands of innocent iraqis .<doc-sep>any incident where americans are attacked serves as a reminder of the hostile environment in which our professionals work to keep american officials and dignitaries safe , including visiting members of congress . in doing so , more american service members are available to fight the enemy . blackwater shares the committee 's interest in ensuring the accountability and oversight of contract personnel supporting u.s. operations . the company 's personnel are already accountable under and subject to numerous statutes , treaties and regulations of the united states . blackwater looks forward to working with congress and the executive branch to ensure that any necessary improvements to these laws and policies are implemented . the worldwide personnel protection services contract , which has been provided to this committee , was competitively awarded and details almost every aspect of operation and contract performance , including the hiring , vetting guidelines , background checks , screening , training standards , rules of force and conduct standards . in iraq , blackwater reports to the embassy 's regional security officer , or rso . all blackwater movements and operations are directed by the rso . in conjunction with internal company procedures and controls , the rso ensures that blackwater complies with all relevant contractual terms and conditions , as well as any applicable laws and regulations . we have approximately 1,000 professionals serving today in iraq as part of our nation 's total force . blackwater does not engage in offensive or military missions but performs only defensive security functions . my understanding of the september 16 incident is that the department of state and the fbi are conducting a full investigation , but those results are not yet available . we at blackwater welcome the fbi review announced yesterday , and we will cooperate fully and look forward to receiving their conclusions . i just want to put some other things in perspective . a recent report from the department of state stated that in 2007 blackwater conducted 1,873 security details for diplomatic visits to the red zone , areas outside the green zone in iraq , and there have been only 56 incidences in which weapons were discharged , or less than 3 percent of all movements . in 2006 , blackwater conducted over 6,500 diplomatic movements in the red zone . weapons were discharged in less than 1 percent of those missions . to the extent there is any loss of innocent life , ever , let me be clear that i consider that tragic . every life , whether american or iraqi , is precious . i stress to the committee and to the american public , however , that i believe we acted appropriately at all times . i am prepared to answer your questions . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the head of blackwater usa on sunday rejected a mounting series of reports suggesting the private contractor 's security guards opened fire on innocent iraqi civilians last month . blackwater ceo erik prince said sunday that guards `` definitely '' faced insurgent fire september 16 . `` there was definitely incoming small arms fire from insurgents '' in the september 16 incident in baghdad , founder and ceo erik prince told cnn 's wolf blitzer on `` late edition . '' there was no `` deliberate violence , '' committed by blackwater employees , he added . still , when asked whether it is possible someone with blackwater `` screwed up '' in the incident , prince replied , `` certainly it 's possible . '' he said he expects the fbi investigation to provide many answers . meanwhile , u.s. and iraqi officials continue discussing baghdad 's demand that blackwater be expelled from iraq within six months , the associated press reported sunday . american officials are also coming up with ways to fill the security gap if blackwater is forced to leave , ap reported . blackwater guards , protecting u.s. officials in iraq , face dangerous circumstances every day and have navigated the vast majority of those situations without any violence , prince told cnn . the guards just try to do their jobs , and are `` not trying to make any trouble , '' he said . the iraqi government accuses blackwater guards of opening fire without provocation on civilians in a crowded area in baghdad on september 16 , killing 17 and wounding 27 . survivors told fbi investigators blackwater guards shot at civilians presenting no threat . watch a blackwater witness describe his account '' the first u.s. soldiers to arrive on the scene after the incident told military investigators they found no evidence contractors were fired upon , a source familiar with a preliminary u.s. military report told cnn . the soldiers found evidence suggesting the guards fired on cars attempting to leave and found weapon casings on the scene matching only those used by u.s. military and contractors , the military source said . but prince on sunday told cnn , `` in the incident reports i 've seen , at least three of our armored vehicles were hit by small arms fire , incoming , and one of them damaged , which actually delayed their departure from the traffic circle while they tried to rig a tow . `` so there was definitely incoming small-arms fire from insurgents . '' he added , `` i guarantee our guys were n't shooting at each other . '' and he said the traffic circle is very big , so those first soldiers on the scene would have needed `` almost a battalion to secure that entire area , to do a thorough crime scene type investigation . '' `` so the jury is still out . we 'll see what the fbi report comes up with , but i 'm confident that the kind of people we have out there are proven military professionals , '' prince said . iraqi government spokesman ali al-dabbagh accused blackwater of `` a deliberate crime against civilians , '' and said the company `` should be tried in court , and the victims should be compensated . '' a philadelphia law firm has filed suit in federal court against blackwater on behalf of the families of three iraqis killed and one wounded in the in the incident , which occurred in and around baghdad 's nusoor square . the suit claims blackwater `` created and fostered a culture of lawlessness amongst its employees , encouraging them to act in the company 's financial interests at the expense of innocent human life . '' prince called the lawsuit `` politically motivated '' for `` media attention , '' and rejected the depictions of his company . `` in baghdad , the most dangerous city in the world , to say that it was a callous , rampant , evil action , you know , when the guys get it right 99 out of 100 times and do n't have to use any force or any violence at all , i think they are doing very well , '' he said . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>the news made her feel like `` i was lifted into the air , '' she said . `` for me , it was good . i miss my jerry more today than yesterday . '' the gruesome attack put the little-known north carolina-based security company into the american lexicon and on the world stage . it also changed the course of the war . the house report called it a `` turning point in public opinion about the war , '' which led to the first major u.s. offensive in falluja . the fighting lasted three weeks , killing 36 u.s. service members , about 200 insurgents and an estimated 600 iraqi civilians , according to the report . in the ensuing years , blackwater and other private security firms in iraq received hundreds of millions of dollars in u.s. government contracts . tactics used by the private security firms sometimes created ill will among iraqis and blackwater in particular was criticized , even by some in the u.s. military , for its allegedly reckless use of deadly force . erik prince , blackwater 's founder and former ceo , dismissed such allegations as `` baseless '' after his company was criticized by the iraqi government for an incident in which its guards killed 17 iraqi civilians and wounded others while protecting a u.s. state department convoy in baghdad on september 16 , 2007 . `` to the extent there was the loss of innocent life , let me be clear that i consider that tragic , '' prince said , adding that the blackwater team `` acted appropriately while operating in a very complex war zone '' that day . five ex-blackwater security guards pleaded not guilty in january to charges of voluntary manslaughter stemming from their involvement in the shootings . a sixth pleaded guilty to voluntary and attempted manslaughter . that same month , the iraqi government refused to grant the firm an operating license , and the u.s. state department announced that it will not renew its contract . in the two months since the exit of the bush administration , prince has stepped down as ceo and brought in a new leadership team . the company has changed its name to xe , but prince is still chairman . `` i think blackwater 's been punished enough , '' zovko said , `` but they will be punished more . it 's time our government makes some rules and regulations about what civilian contractors can do in their wars . '' this week , xe released a brief statement to cnn about the falluja killings , saying the `` sacrifices of these brave men have not been forgotten . on the five-year anniversary of their death , the company continues to mourn their loss . our thoughts remain with their families and loved ones . '' prince 's promise . both mothers seem to be making a conscious effort to control their anger five years on . `` i refuse to hate , but if i were gon na hate anybody , it would be blackwater and erik prince , '' helvenston-wettengel said . `` i want blackwater exposed for who they are , and i want them out of business . '' zovko said she relies on her catholic faith to control her anger . in 2007 , prince told cnn he would be willing to meet with zovko , but 16 months later , no such meeting has taken place . `` he has n't honored his promise , but i believe he will , '' zovko said . `` sometimes i think he does n't have a heart , but he really does . '' zovko said she wants to ask prince , `` where are my jerry 's three suitcases with personal things that i have never received ? '' also , she said prince promised to invite zovko to blackwater 's headquarters in north carolina to see memorial stones and trees that were planted honoring the victims .<doc-sep>the news made her feel like `` i was lifted into the air , '' she said . `` for me , it was good . i miss my jerry more today than yesterday . '' the gruesome attack put the little-known north carolina-based security company into the american lexicon and on the world stage . it also changed the course of the war . the house report called it a `` turning point in public opinion about the war , '' which led to the first major u.s. offensive in falluja . the fighting lasted three weeks , killing 36 u.s. service members , about 200 insurgents and an estimated 600 iraqi civilians , according to the report . in the ensuing years , blackwater and other private security firms in iraq received hundreds of millions of dollars in u.s. government contracts . tactics used by the private security firms sometimes created ill will among iraqis and blackwater in particular was criticized , even by some in the u.s. military , for its allegedly reckless use of deadly force . erik prince , blackwater 's founder and former ceo , dismissed such allegations as `` baseless '' after his company was criticized by the iraqi government for an incident in which its guards killed 17 iraqi civilians and wounded others while protecting a u.s. state department convoy in baghdad on september 16 , 2007 . `` to the extent there was the loss of innocent life , let me be clear that i consider that tragic , '' prince said , adding that the blackwater team `` acted appropriately while operating in a very complex war zone '' that day . five ex-blackwater security guards pleaded not guilty in january to charges of voluntary manslaughter stemming from their involvement in the shootings . a sixth pleaded guilty to voluntary and attempted manslaughter . that same month , the iraqi government refused to grant the firm an operating license , and the u.s. state department announced that it will not renew its contract . in the two months since the exit of the bush administration , prince has stepped down as ceo and brought in a new leadership team . the company has changed its name to xe , but prince is still chairman . `` i think blackwater 's been punished enough , '' zovko said , `` but they will be punished more . it 's time our government makes some rules and regulations about what civilian contractors can do in their wars . '' this week , xe released a brief statement to cnn about the falluja killings , saying the `` sacrifices of these brave men have not been forgotten . on the five-year anniversary of their death , the company continues to mourn their loss . our thoughts remain with their families and loved ones . '' prince 's promise . both mothers seem to be making a conscious effort to control their anger five years on . `` i refuse to hate , but if i were gon na hate anybody , it would be blackwater and erik prince , '' helvenston-wettengel said . `` i want blackwater exposed for who they are , and i want them out of business . '' zovko said she relies on her catholic faith to control her anger . in 2007 , prince told cnn he would be willing to meet with zovko , but 16 months later , no such meeting has taken place . `` he has n't honored his promise , but i believe he will , '' zovko said . `` sometimes i think he does n't have a heart , but he really does . '' zovko said she wants to ask prince , `` where are my jerry 's three suitcases with personal things that i have never received ? '' also , she said prince promised to invite zovko to blackwater 's headquarters in north carolina to see memorial stones and trees that were planted honoring the victims .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- blackwater usa guards have used deadly force weekly in iraq and have inflicted `` significant casualties and property damage , '' according to a congressional staff report released monday that cites internal company and state department documents . blackwater 's contractors fired their weapons 195 times -- or an average of 1.4 times a week -- from the beginning of 2005 through the second week of september , the democratic staff of the house oversight and government reform committee found . in over 80 percent of the cases , blackwater reports that its forces fired first , according to the staff report . the committee will hear from blackwater 's ceo erik prince on tuesday . read prince 's prepared statement -lrb- pdf -rrb- . records of the company and state department show blackwater 's use of force in iraq has been `` frequent and extensive , '' the report says . though blackwater is authorized to use force only defensively , `` the vast majority of blackwater weapons discharges are pre-emptive , with blackwater forces firing first at a vehicle or suspicious individual prior to receiving any fire , '' the report states . a blackwater contractor wrote an initial u.s. government report describing contractors ' involvement in a september 16 incident in which iraqi civilians were shot , government and industry sources told cnn . the iraqi government claims blackwater contractors , who were guarding a u.s. diplomatic convoy , killed as many as 20 civilians in western baghdad 's nisoor square . the incident elicited outrage in iraq and raised questions about the accountability of foreign security personnel in the country who , under an order by the u.s.-led occupation government , are not subject to iraqi law . blackwater said its employees responded properly to an insurgent attack on a convoy , and the state department `` spot report '' written by the blackwater contractor underscores that and does n't mention civilian casualties . however , the contractor 's account is at odds with iraqis ' version of the incident . a senior iraqi national police official participating in the iraqi governmental probe of the shooting said the blackwater gunfire was unprovoked and random , killing and wounding several civilians . blackwater contractor darren hanner drafted the two-page spot report on the letterhead of the bureau of diplomatic security for the embassy 's tactical operations center , said a source involved in diplomatic security at the u.s. embassy in baghdad . hanner , listed on the report as the center 's watch officer , was working for blackwater at the time the report was written -- just after the shooting occurred , said a highly placed industry source . he was to rotate out of iraq last week , the source said . the center tracks and monitors all incidents and movements involving diplomatic security missions and has outsourced positions to blackwater and another private firm , the embassy source said . watch aftermath video of the shooting obtained by newsweek '' the state department is conducting an investigation , and deputy spokesman tom casey called the spot report `` a first-blush account of those on the scene . '' he said the `` report has no standing whatsoever . '' `` it was not intended to be used as an analysis , investigation , review or any detailed assessment of the situation . to assert that is untrue , '' casey said . a state department agent took sworn statements from the participants in the shooting after receiving the spot report , the embassy source said .

<t> erik prince , ceo of blackwater usa , testifies before house panel . </t> <t> hearings held amid an fbi probe into a shootout involving blackwater personnel . </t> <t> prince : `` i believe we acted appropriately at all times '' </t>

blackwater ceo 's opening statement<T>

washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- sniper lee boyd malvo said in a letter to cnn that he is still `` grappling with shame , guilt , remorse and my own healing if that will ever be possible . '' and a social worker who has worked extensively with him said he draws self-portraits that often show him with a tear running down his cheek . a self-portrait drawn by sniper lee boyd malvo . many of his drawings show him with a tear running down his cheek . malvo , 22 , spends 23 hours a day inside his cell at virginia 's toughest prison , a maximum-security compound called red onion , not far from the kentucky border . he 's serving a life sentence . according to social worker carmeta albarus-lindo , malvo is a changed person since he and john allen muhammad terrorized the washington area five years ago this month in attacks that left 10 dead over a 23-day period . `` the most i can do is to continue to be there , because that is his greatest fear -- that , you know , another parental figure would abandon him because that was what he 'd been exposed to all his life , '' said albarus-lindo , who has spent hundreds of hours with malvo since his arrest and conviction . read the letter '' she said one of those `` parental '' figures was muhammad , who met malvo in the caribbean nearly two years before the deadly shooting spree began in 2002 . muhammad became the teenager 's surrogate father , convincing him that violence was the only way to correct perceived injustices to african-americans , albarus-lindo said . he ordered malvo to go to bed each night and to memorize passages from `` the art of war , '' an ancient chinese text on battlefield strategy . according to albarus-lindo , malvo was `` brainwashed '' into aiding muhammad in the murders . however , prosecutors have said malvo , even at 17 , knew what he was doing .<doc-sep>`` i thought he was coldblooded , '' said paul ebert , commonwealth attorney for prince william county , virginia , of the first time he met malvo . `` he was a person who had chosen a life of crime . '' and when a virginia jury spared malvo 's life , some investigators said they were horrified . `` that was the hardest day of my career , '' said april carroll of the bureau of alcohol , firearms and tobacco . `` i felt that day we had failed when malvo was not sentenced to death . '' some of the victims ' families said they are content that malvo did not receive the death penalty . vicki buchanan snyder , whose brother james `` sonny '' buchanan was shot in the back while mowing a patch of lawn at a maryland auto dealership , said she was `` satisfied '' with the jury 's verdict . as for malvo , albarus-lindo said he will `` never forgive himself for what has happened . '' when she first began seeing him , he still called muhammad `` dad . '' it took months , she said , before he stopped . in the interim , albarus-lindo said , he took college correspondence courses and began to draw . muhammad is at a virginia prison called sussex one . in a dvd made last year inside prison and obtained exclusively by cnn , he said he is `` still fighting '' on death row . he wants to `` correct , '' he said , some `` inaccurate statements '' made by the news media about his relationship with malvo . he was n't specific about what he meant . watch muhammad on death row '' muhammad 's ex-wife , mildred , said she believed that she was the real target of the snipers from the beginning . she and her children live in suburban washington , and she runs a web site called afterthetrauma.org , devoted to the victims of domestic abuse . mildred muhammad said she feels her ex-husband wanted to kill her as revenge because she was able to gain custody of their three children . as for his relationship with malvo , she said she too is convinced that john allen muhammad brainwashed the younger man . `` that boy was a victim before he even knew it , '' she said . `` his life was over when he said , ` hi . ' '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a spanish study found women are more susceptible to guilt than men , and suggested that in the interests of equality , men should accept more guilt , women less . equality considered in such terms is a shibboleth . guilt is bad stuff ; it poisons life , saps resolution and crushes orgasmic potency . no psychologist ought to wish more guilt on anyone of any sex . dr. itziar extebarria , who led the study of 360 men and women carried out at the university of the basque country and published in the spanish journal of psychology , says the research `` highlights the need for educational practices and socializing agents to reduce the tendency towards anxious aggressive guilt in women , and to promote interpersonal sensitivity in men . '' rescuing women from their burden of unwarranted guilt is going to require `` educational practices and socializing agents '' even more effective than the ones that have been relentlessly loading female humans with responsibility for other people 's behavior from their earliest childhood . guilt is one side of a nasty triangle ; the other two are shame and stigma . this grim coalition combines to inculpate women themselves of the crimes committed against them . opinion : why women trash successful women . women feel more guilt than men , not because of some weird chromosomal issue but because they have a history of being blamed for other people 's behavior . you get hit , you must have annoyed someone ; you get raped , you must have excited someone ; your kid is a junkie , you must have brought him up wrong . any victim of sexual offenses who denounces the perpetrator should incur no shame . but she does . and to conceal the identity of a victim of a sexual offense , which is routine , is to endorse this profoundly misogynist prejudice . until women feel free to identify offenders without shame , the wounds inflicted on them will remain unhealed .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- his shooting spree left at least 10 dead and millions terrified of bullets coming from an unseen sniper . but mildred muhammad believes she was the ultimate target of her ex-husband , john allan muhammad , the man dubbed the `` d.c. sniper . '' and for some time , muhammad said she felt extreme guilt for the victims that were gunned down in grocery store parking lots and gas stations . the youngest was a 13-year-old boy who was shot while walking to his maryland school . muhammad spoke about the guilt she felt after the killing spree on cnn 's `` larry king live '' on monday night , the day before her ex-husband was scheduled to be executed . muhammad said she has gradually gotten over her guilty feelings and focused on her three children .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- his shooting spree left at least 10 dead and millions terrified of bullets coming from an unseen sniper . but mildred muhammad believes she was the ultimate target of her ex-husband , john allan muhammad , the man dubbed the `` d.c. sniper . '' and for some time , muhammad said she felt extreme guilt for the victims that were gunned down in grocery store parking lots and gas stations . the youngest was a 13-year-old boy who was shot while walking to his maryland school . muhammad spoke about the guilt she felt after the killing spree on cnn 's `` larry king live '' on monday night , the day before her ex-husband was scheduled to be executed . muhammad said she has gradually gotten over her guilty feelings and focused on her three children . `` i felt that way initially because i had done everything i knew how to do to bring attention to how dangerous he was to me , '' muhammad said . `` i had no idea his anger would extend beyond me , to include all people in his killings . ''<doc-sep>` it was one moment 's impulsiveness , that decision to drive , that decision to drive his sister natalie home , to make sure she got home , ironically , safely . ' i do fear i ca n't adequately convey the shame and guilt he feels , the shame and the hatred he will carry with him for the remainder of his life . ` this is the burden he carries and that 's the burden he will continue to carry . nathan managed to break free and called for help , but natalie died later in hospital on july 6 last year . ` the burden manifests itself in the physical anguish born from the loss of his sister . and the obvious unbearable guilt when he looks his parents in the eyes . ' mr macwhirter added that the scotchford family had said : ` we can not properly grieve for natalie if we have to grieve for nathan as well . ' in a statement after the accident mr and mrs scotchford said their family would remain united . they said : ` words can not begin to convey how devastated we are at the loss of our beautiful natalie . ` she was a popular , caring and loving young woman who loved her friends , her family and having fun . ` she 'd just become a doting auntie and was doing a magnificent job supporting her sister looking after her little nephew . ` we are an exceptionally close family and we will remain united - as we have always been - to support each other through the difficult times ahead . ' after the case accident investigator pc james thorne said : ` this is an extremely tragic case which has clearly had a devastating impact on all of the family . ` justice must be done and the sentence has been passed however there can be no greater punishment than knowing you are responsible for your sister 's death . ` this is a sad example of the devastating effects driving over the limit can cause . ' scotchford , who showed no emotion as he was sent down , was also subject to a victim surcharge of â # 100 .

<t> social worker says sniper lee boyd malvo is a changed person . </t> <t> ten people were killed in washington-area sniper attacks in 2002 . </t> <t> in a letter to cnn , malvo writes he 's still `` grappling with shame , guilt , remorse '' </t>

sniper says he feels shame , guilt for murders<T>

washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- with the election of the next president a year away , sen. hillary clinton remains the person to beat , a cnn/opinion research corporation poll released monday suggests . as the countdown begins to november 4 , 2008 , the new york democrat continues to dominate the race for the democratic presidential nomination , and comes out ahead when voters are asked whether they prefer her or the gop front-runner , former new york mayor rudy giuliani . but clinton 's path to the white house is in no way certain . clinton was criticized for her performance during a debate last week , and her rivals for the democratic nomination have stepped up attacks that she has equivocated on her position on iraq , iran and other major issues . the republican presidential candidates have also stepped up their attacks on the democratic front-runner , with each suggesting that he has the best chance of stopping clinton . the attacks may be working . the cnn/opinion research polls suggests that clinton 's support has slipped from its height one month ago . watch cnn 's bill schneider on the latest poll numbers '' `` clinton 's strength is about where it was throughout the summer , indicating that she has lost the support she gained last month but that obama has not yet cut into her core constituency , '' cnn political director keating holland said . clinton is the top choice of 44 percent of the likely democratic voters interviewed for the poll . her closest rival , sen. barack obama of illinois , was the top choice of 25 percent , and former sen. john edwards of north carolina has 14 percent .<doc-sep>all other democratic candidates were in single digits . new mexico gov. bill richardson was backed by 4 percent , sen. joe biden of delaware by 3 percent , sen. christopher dodd by 2 percent , ohio rep. dennis kucinich by 2 percent and former alaska sen. mike gravel was at 1 percent . the poll involved 467 interviews conducted on november 2-4 with democrats or independents who lean democratic . the poll 's margin of error was plus or minus 4.5 percentage points . view the poll results '' in an october cnn/opinion research poll , clinton was supported by 51 percent of democratic voters and had a 30 point lead over obama . during last week 's democratic debate , clinton received heavy criticism from her fellow democratic presidential rivals , who are desperate to shake up the presidential race just months before the first voting occurs in the iowa caucus in early january . edwards was particularly aggressive during the debate , criticizing clinton for her stance on iraq , iran and social security . `` the american people ... deserve a president of the united states that they know will tell them the truth and wo n't say one thing one time and something different at a different time , '' edwards said . edwards has also accused clinton of being a `` corporate democrat '' too willing to defend a `` corrupt '' washington establishement .<doc-sep>`` we desperately need in the next president someone that recognizes we have a system in washington that 's become broken , corruption has crept into it , and we have to tell the truth about that , '' edwards said monday . `` if you defend that system , i do n't believe you can bring about the change that america needs . '' in the republican presidential race , giuliani continues to be the leading candidate , with the backing of 28 percent of the republican primary voters polled . former sen. fred thompson of tennessee was backed by 19 percent . sen. john mccain of arizona was the top pick of 16 percent , and former massachusetts gov. mitt romney had 11 percent . of the remaining republican candidates , former arkansas gov. mike huckabee received 10 percent , texas rep. ron paul 5 percent , california rep. duncan hunter 4 percent and colorado rep. tom tancredo 3 percent . the poll involved telephone interviews with 397 republicans or independents who lean republican . the poll 's margin of error was 5 percentage points . in a head-to-head matchup of the two front-runners , clinton leads giuliani 51 percent to 45 percent . that lead has increased since october , when clinton led giuliani 49 percent to 47 percent . `` the overall political environment seems to favor the democrats , partly because democratic voters are more enthusiastic about the coming election and partly because the public is in a sour mood , which is usually not a good sign for the incumbent party , '' holland said . only 42 percent of americans think things are going well , while 58 percent think things are going badly , the poll found .<doc-sep>`` the public is not just pessimistic about the country -- americans are angry , '' holland said . `` more than eight in 10 say they are angry about the way things are going in the country . '' clinton 's lead over giuliani would be greater if a third-party candidate entered the race who believes abortion should be illegal in all circumstances , the poll found . in a three-way race , clinton would get the support of 48 percent of voters , giuliani 32 percent and the third-party candidate 18 percent . the poll 's margin of error was plus-or-minus 3 percent . `` my analysis of it is that -lsb- a third-party candidate -rsb- is more of an attempt to keep the nomination from me , '' giuliani said . `` you know it is a tactic , and a legitimate one . people have to think about that and consider it . '' the lack of enthusiasm for giuliani , particularly by social conservatives , could spell trouble for the gop next year if he becomes the nominee , holland said . `` only 27 percent of republicans say they would feel enthusiastic if giuliani won the gop nod , and the remaining gop candidates fare even worse , '' he said . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>`` virtually none of the other democrats could beat her , '' said saul anuzis , the former chairman of the michigan republican party . `` now , lots of things could happen , but i think most republicans assume we are going to run against her . '' since leaving the state department in 2013 , the former secretary of state kept up an active schedule , collecting paychecks on the corporate speaking circuit and picking up hardware at award ceremonies across the country . hillary clinton set for california swing in april . democratic groups have begun lining up behind her possible candidacy in 2016 . in addition to groups like ready for hillary and emily 's list -- two pro-clinton fundraising machines -- the liberal priorities usa moved this week to get behind clinton and announced they will begin raising big money to help elect clinton to the white house . the one issue : clinton has publicly said she is only mulling whether to run for president . late last year , clinton said she would decide whether to run or not by the end of this year . in touting clinton as the inevitable candidate , republicans have both heaped praise on her -- `` she has a first-rate organization , '' duprey said -- and tested out attack lines . `` we are doing everything we can do to define her early , '' matt moore , chairman of the south carolina republican party , said about clinton , who he described as the `` mother of obamacare . '' `` she is an opportunistic person who has been running for president for 20 years . '' moore said the ability to focus on clinton almost three years out from election day means that the narrative republicans will push has more time to take hold . moore sees a parallel between clinton in 2016 and mitt romney , the republican nominee in 2012 .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- watching president obama react to what he called his `` shellacking '' in the midterm elections had me remembering then-president bill clinton back on november 9 , 1994 -- the day after he and his fellow democrats lost control of the house and the senate . i was then cnn 's senior white house correspondent and i vividly remember attending clinton 's news conference . like obama this week , he was humble in defeat . none of us knew what to expect from clinton on that day 16 years ago , but he came out and was direct -- he said that he took responsibility for the political disaster . on wednesday , obama was clearly somber and sad . but like clinton in 1994 he answered questions for nearly an hour . what a difference it was for both presidents from their election days . clinton was in little rock in november 1992 when he was elected : obama was in chicago on november 4 , 2008 , when he was elected -- exactly two years ago today . how quickly their political fortunes changed . a fundamental lesson in american politics is that things can -- and often do -- change rather dramatically and very quickly . and that means that things can dramatically change over the next two years as well . so the issue for obama is what he does next . does he follow clinton 's playbook and move toward the center -- what was called `` triangulation '' ? will obama separate himself from the liberal base of the democratic party -- as clinton did ? as much as obama does n't want to do that , he 's a politician , and politicians have a very powerful instinct for their own political survival , especially when they face re-election in two years . just ask clinton . he pushed for welfare reform and a balanced budget -- to the deep concern of his liberal base . but he beat bob dole and was re-elected .<doc-sep>by . hayley peterson . published : . 14:51 est , 11 august 2013 . | . updated : . 05:22 est , 12 august 2013 . donald trump called the u.s. a ` laughingstock ' on saturday and said republicans better find a strong presidential candidate or they will face certain defeat in the 2016 election . in a speech to the family leadership summit , a gathering of christian conservatives in iowa , trump warned that hillary clinton will be ` really tough ' to beat if she runs for president in 2016 . ` it 's going to be in my opinion a tougher race than the last race , ' he said , according to the des moines register . ` really tough . and somebody 's going to have to emerge who 's really strong . ... the republicans have to do what 's right . if they do n't pick the right person -- it 's got to be the perfect person -- they are going to get drubbed in the 2016 election . ' donald trump speaks during the family leadership summit in ames , iowa saturday aug. 10 , 2013 .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- in early 2000 , shortly after al gore beat bill bradley by a too-close-for-comfort four points in the state 's first-in-the-nation primaries , ray buckley , then a new hampshire state legislator , swung through washington to have breakfast with a friend in the clinton administration . as he sat in the white house mess eating pancakes , buckley was shocked when an aide brought him a note that said president bill clinton wanted to see him in the oval office . he did n't know clinton was even aware he was visiting . `` he started grilling me on what towns gore did well in and did n't do well in . he did n't have a paper in front of him , he just knew . he was asking me ` why did n't al do better in amherst ? ' his understanding of the political landscape of new hampshire is just amazing , '' buckley , now the chairman of the new hampshire democratic party , told cnn . clinton is taking that enthusiasm for the granite state , generated in no small part by the dramatic successes he and his wife have historically secured here , to the state party 's jefferson-jackson dinner in manchester on thursday , raising money and encouraging voters in his party to get to the polls on election day . incumbent gov. maggie hassan has the most comfortable lead in the polls among democrats running for federal office in new hampshire . reps. carol shea-porter and ann kuster are in more competitive races as they try to hang onto their house seats . but it 's sen. jeanne shaheen who is getting the most attention . the longtime clinton ally is running statistically even with republican scott brown , the former senator from massachusetts , in a race that could determine the balance of power in the senate . `` bill clinton is probably the best person for shaheen , '' says neil levesque , the executive director of the new hampshire institute of politics and political library at saint anselm college . `` he 's custom made for a state like new hampshire that really appreciates someone who can get into the issues . '' clinton 's visit comes one day after mitt romney campaigned alongside brown and with democratic activists here growing more and more anxious -lrb- the state legislature 's return to republican control looks like a foregone conclusion already -rrb- it 's just in time . `` the concern is if there 's anxiety bordering on depression about the bad news not just in new hampshire but nationally that might stop an activist from working as hard as they might to get out the vote , '' says dante scala , professor of political science at the university of new hampshire . clinton 's visit appears to be buoying many democrats already . with news of his headlining appearance , 1,200 people have purchased tickets to the jefferson-jackson dinner , the biggest crowd since the state party revived it as a fall fundraising event in 1991 . normally 400-450 democrats attend . this year , some attendees will be watching clinton from an overflow room and the normally seated dinner has been scrapped for an earlier buffet-style meal followed by clinton 's speech to a crowd in a theater-style seating arrangement . new hampshire has always been friendly to the clintons and they 're not going to neglect the state as hillary clinton eyes another presidential run . in 1992 , just a few days after a tabloid broke a story about bill clinton 's affair with an arkansas state employee named gennifer flowers , a surprise second place finish in the new hampshire primary kept clinton 's presidential prospects alive . he famously declared that january evening , `` new hampshire has made bill clinton the comeback kid , '' and went on to win the state in the general election as well . in 2008 , when hillary clinton trailed barack obama by double digits in the lead up to the new hampshire primary , she teared up at a portsmouth coffee shop as she told a voter who asked how she was faring on the trail , `` i just do n't want to see us fall backwards . this is very personal for me . it 's not just political . '' the next day , she answered obama 's crushing iowa caucus win with a three point victory in new hampshire , telling her supporters at her victory rally , `` now let 's give america the kind of comeback new hampshire has just given me . '' hillary clinton will campaign here the weekend before the election , hoping to make a last minute move for sen. shaheen and gov. hassan . by then , most voters will have made up their minds . but strategists say clinton can make an effective play for undecided female voters , especially with incumbent democratic women up and down the ballot . `` she could win this race for shaheen , '' says levesque . and if she does , the clintons are betting new hampshire will remember that in 2016 .

<t> sen. clinton supported by 44 percent of democrats polled , down from october . </t> <t> rudy giuliani continues to lead republican presidential field with 28 percent . </t> <t> clinton beats giuliani 51 percent to 45 percent , the poll found . </t> <t> only 42 percent think things are going well in the u.s. , according to the poll . </t>

a year from election day , clinton remains person to beat<T>

rome , italy -- italy national coach roberto donadoni has left cristiano lucarelli in his squad for next saturday 's crucial euro 2008 qualifier in scotland . lucarelli keeps his place in the italian squad after scoring twice against south africa . the shakhtar donetsk striker is in fine form and has been rewarded for his inspiring performance in last month 's friendly against south africa , when he scored twice in the world champions ' victory . while donadoni has again left out veteran forwards filippo inzaghi and alessandro del piero , he has handed juventus striker and italy under-21 international raffaele palladino his first call-up to the senior squad . donadoni 's squad is also boosted by the return from suspension of captain fabio cannavaro , . italy go into the clash in glasgow third in group b , two points behind leaders france and one point below scotland .<doc-sep>italy end their qualifying campaign by taking on bottom side the faroe islands in modena on november 21 . italy squad : . goalkeepers : marco amelia -lrb- livorno -rrb- , gianluigi buffon -lrb- juventus -rrb- , gianluca curci -lrb- roma -rrb- . defenders : andrea barzagli -lrb- palermo -rrb- , daniele bonera -lrb- ac milan -rrb- , fabio cannavaro -lrb- real madrid -rrb- , giorgio chiellini -lrb- juventus -rrb- , fabio grosso -lrb- lyon -rrb- , massimo oddo -lrb- ac milan -rrb- , christian panucci -lrb- roma -rrb- , gianluca zambrotta -lrb- barcelona -rrb- . midfielders : massimo ambrosini -lrb- ac milan -rrb- , mauro camoranesi -lrb- juventus -rrb- , daniele de rossi -lrb- roma -rrb- , gennaro gattuso -lrb- ac milan -rrb- , simone perrotta -lrb- roma -rrb- , andrea pirlo -lrb- ac milan -rrb- . strikers : antonio di natale -lrb- udinese -rrb- , alberto gilardino -lrb- ac milan -rrb- , vincenzo iaquinta -lrb- juventus -rrb- , cristiano lucarelli -lrb- shakhtar donetsk -rrb- , raffaele palladino -lrb- juventus -rrb- , fabio quagliarella -lrb- udinese -rrb- , luca toni -lrb- bayern munich -rrb- e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>oops : the the director of market intelligence was in such a hurry to get home he forget his modest footwear , leaving two slippers sitting on the sidewalk of worth st in lower manhattan . however , after posting a $ 500,000 bond and pleading not guilty , lucarelli attempted to exit without being seen . after noticing photographers , he put his hands up over his face and started to run . and he after losing one of his shoes , he kept on going , leaving the brown sandal on worth st. lippert/heilshorn founding partner keith lippert described lucarelli as a ` rogue employee ' and ` selfish ' following his arrest . ` it 's very disconcerting , when you run a company for 30 years that prides itself on its honesty and integrity , and of its employees in dealing with clients ' non-public information , to have to deal with a rogue employee who , despite the firewalls in place and the rules and regulations , obviously completely ignored it for his own selfish gain , ' lippert told the new york business journal . lucarelli , who was hired by the firm in august 2012 , is facing 20 years prison and up to $ 1 million in fines . the 13 charges date back to august 2013 . ` despite the well-known parade of convicted insider trading perpetrators over the past several years , michael lucarelli was not deterred and violated both his company 's policies and his responsibility to its clients , ' u.s. attorney preet bharara said in a release .<doc-sep>george venizelos , head of the new york fbi office , said that rather than doing his job , lucarelli ` spent his days setting up brokerage accounts to make illegal trades using inside information from unwitting clients ' . security fraud : michael lucarelli , who started working at lippert/heilshorn & associates , is accused of 13 counts of insider trading . he is seen here in a photo from his linkedin page . u.s. attorney preet bharara said lucarelli violated his responsibilities to both his firm and his clients . prosecutors allege lucarelli stole draft press releases that could influence investors once the information became public . he would then allegedly buy stock from his clients , and sell them when the information became available , earning him over $ 500,000 . in one of the sales , lucarelli allegedly made a $ 90,000 profit , according to the biz journal . lucarelli allegedly used four different brokerage accounts to funnel the money into . the finance website said the fbi first searched lucarelli 's office on july 24 and allegedly found a locked briefcase with one of the draft press released inside . authorities notified lha bosses of the impending two days before lucarelli 's arrest , however they refrained from terminating so as to not hinder the investigation .<doc-sep>by . joel christie for mailonline . a wall street investor accused of insider trading over half a million dollars bolted from the press pack waiting for him outside court in new york today , sprinting so fast he left one of his flip flops on the sidewalk . michael lucarelli was arrested tuesday morning at his apartment on the upper east side and immediately faced manhattan federal courthouse . the 51-year-old director of market intelligence at lippert/heilshorn & associates allegedly used non-public information from draft press releases to cash in on the stock market . he has been hit with with 13 counts of security fraud charges , according to the new york daily news . making a run for it : michael lucarelli , 51 , the director of market intelligence at lippert/heilshorn & associates , was arrested early tuesday morning at his manhattan apartment and then faced federal court . charged : lucarelli is accused of stealing draft public statements from his firm and using the information on them to buy and sell stocks . camera shy : michael lucarelli covers his face from the media as he leaves the federal court building after posting bail in the manhattan borough of new york august 26 , 2014 . off and running : lucarelli lost both his flip flops as he took off down worth st in lower manhattan . he is facing 20 years in prison .<doc-sep>a sentencing memo said he expects ` to be licensed and to drive tractor trailers ' , according to the new york daily news . it also said he ` will never again trade another stock or work in any stock related field ' . mr lucarelli was ridiculed last august when he ran from media waiting for him outside a court in new york following a hearing for his case . he ran out of his sandals racing down the sidewalk in a tank top and slacks , earning him a mocking ` moment of zen ' on the daily show with jon stewart . in a september hearing he described his crime to u.s. district judge jesse m. furman , lucarelli apologized and paused briefly to cry . after mr lucarelli lost his sandals while running from the press he was mocked on the daily show with jon stewart .

<t> striker cristiano lucarelli keeps his place in italy 's squad to face scotland . </t> <t> lucarelli impressed by scoring twice in the recent victory over south africa . </t> <t> juventus striker raffaele palladino earns his first call-up to the senior squad . </t>

lucarelli keeps italy squad place<T>

paris , france -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- three french journalists charged in an alleged plot to kidnap african children for adoption in europe arrived in paris on sunday , hours after french president nicolas sarkozy held emergency talks in chad . but 14 other people remained in custody in the african nation , some facing serious charges that could send them to jail for up to 20 years . the journalists were among seven europeans a chadian judge released sunday , including a spanish flight crew , whom sarkozy dropped off in a brief stop in madrid on his way back from chad . all were arrested last week after workers from zoe 's ark -- a french-based charity group -- were accused of trying to fly 103 children out of chad in a kidnapping and adoption operation . watch a report on how the events unfolded '' some of the children may never return to their families because it is too difficult to determine their backgrounds , red cross spokeswoman inah kaloga told cnn on friday . those who remain under arrest in chad are six members of the french charity , four chadians and four remaining members of the flight crew . some face kidnapping and fraud charges .<doc-sep>zoe 's ark leader eric breteau testified saturday to a court in the chadian capital that the three journalists and the flight crew of seven spaniards and a belgian were not involved in the alleged plot , court witnesses told cnn . at least some of the flight crew are scheduled to testify before a judge on monday . the three journalists initially had been charged with complicity in the alleged kidnapping attempt . it 's not clear if the charges against them have been dropped . watch the freed europeans leave chad '' in a joint news conference with spanish prime minister jose luis rodriguez zapatero on sunday at madrid 's torrejon air force base , sarkozy expressed satisfaction that some of those detained had been released . at the same time , however , he told reporters , `` we should respect the sovereignty of chad . ''<doc-sep>zapatero thanked sarkozy for dropping the four spanish flight crew members off in their home country , and thanked chadian president idriss deby for allowing them to return . after his emergency talks in chad , sarkozy stressed the scandal would not affect the strong relations between the two countries or affect the planned deployment of a european force to protect refugees from sudan 's darfur region who have fled to chad and the neighboring central african republic . sarkozy also said he hoped the six remaining french nationals -- all from zoe 's ark -- would face trial in france . the charity says that the children were orphans from the darfur region -- where the united nations estimates 200,000 people have been killed in four years of conflict -- and that the group was taking them to host families in france . but after preliminary interviews with the children , aid agencies said thursday it appeared most of them probably are not orphans and not from sudan , but instead come from villages on the chadian side of the border with sudan .<doc-sep>the children are staying in an abeche orphanage while aid agencies and government officials try to find out where they came from -- a challenge hindered by the number of children , their youth , and the volatile situation in the region . a father of three of the children allegedly kidnapped told a french newspaper he put his children into the charity 's care after he was told they would be educated at a school under construction in a nearby town . the chadian man , who gave his name as arbab , told le parisien on sunday that workers from zoe 's ark had visited his village three times . `` they never said they would take away our children , '' he told the newspaper . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's nic robertson and al goodman contributed to this report .<doc-sep>abeche , chad -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- most of the 103 children that a french charity attempted to take to france from chad for adoption are neither sudanese nor orphans , three international aid agencies reported on thursday . hundreds of women protest child trafficking and shout anti-french slogans wednesday in abeche , chad . six members of zoe 's ark were arrested last week as they tried to put the children on a plane to france , where the charity said host families were waiting to take the children in . three french journalists , a seven-member spanish flight crew and one belgian were also arrested . representatives of the journalists and flight crew said they were unaware of problems with zoe 's ark and thought they were on a humanitarian mission . chadian president idriss deby hopes the journalists and the flight crew will be freed , his chief of staff , mahamat hissene , said thursday . the president would legally be able to intervene in the case if it is transferred from a judge in the eastern city of abeche , where the children were taken , to a judge in n'djamena , the capital , hissene said . the transfer will take place monday , according to media reports . the international red cross committee , the u.n. high commissioner for refugees and unicef said most of the children were living with their families before zoe 's ark took them . the charity said the children were sudanese orphans that it was trying to rescue from a war-torn nation .<doc-sep>adre , chad -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- nearly 100 children at the center of an international scandal that left them stranded at an orphanage in remote eastern chad returned home after nearly five months friday , and were being reunited with their families . some of the children who were nearly abducted by a french charity , pictured in abeche in november 2007 . it was a six-hour bus ride from abeche , in eastern chad , to adre , on the border with sudan , where mothers and fathers gathered at the post office waiting for their children . during the ride , the bus broke down when its radiator burst . those accompanying the children were concerned about rebels causing trouble along the way , but that concern turned out to be unfounded . the 97 children were taken from their homes in october by a then-obscure french charity , l'arche de zoe -lrb- zoe 's ark -rrb- , which claimed they were orphans from sudan 's war-torn darfur region . watch as children prepare for return home . '' the group , which registered under the name `` children 's rescue '' in chad , planned to place the orphans with foster families in france . but chadian authorities stopped the group just before its first planeload of children departed abeche , after it was discovered that most of the children -- who range form age one to 10 -- were from chad and had at least one living parent . both chadian and french officials were quick to criticize the group 's actions . zoe 's ark head eric breteau and five others were convicted of attempted kidnapping . they were initially sentenced to eight years of hard labor in chad , but were taken to france and jailed there after french president nicolas sarkozy intervened by flying to chad and appealing directly to president idriss deby . although unicef and other agencies rapidly determined the children were chadian , finding their parents was an arduous process , as little paperwork on them could be found . social workers and officials literally went door-to-door in the chad-sudan border region , with photographs in some cases , asking parents whether the children were theirs . those efforts were hampered by a february offensive in the capital , n'djamena , by rebels attempting to oust deby . furthermore , the children could not be returned home until the criminal case involving them was complete . as the children left the orphanage for the last time on their trip home , red cross and unicef workers who have cared for them over the months were in tears . some of the children are too young to know what is going on , but others , who understand , were only told thursday they were going home , as officials did not want to raise false hopes . six of the children remained in the abeche orphanage after it was determined they were from darfur . their future is unclear . but the scene in adre was one of jubilation as families headed out of the post office in a steady stream , taking their children home . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's david mckenzie contributed to this report .<doc-sep>french authorities have reacted angrily to the zoe 's ark trip , calling the group 's actions `` illegal and irresponsible . '' the french foreign ministry has said the dispute will not affect france 's participation in a european peacekeeping force due to be deployed along the border between chad and sudan . in response to the dispute in chad , the republic of congo said late wednesday it was suspending all international adoptions , the associated press reported . reporters without borders said it will work for the release of the three journalists arrested in chad . the organization said photographers marc garmirian of the capa news agency and jean-daniel guillou of the synchro x agency were on assignment for their news organizations and were not part of the charity 's efforts . the third journalist , marie-agnes peleran of the tv station france 3 miditerranee , was traveling with the group in a personal capacity , though she carried a camera from her station , reporters without borders said . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's al goodman contributed to this report . copyright 2007 cnn . all rights reserved.this material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten , or redistributed . associated press contributed to this report .<doc-sep>the former leader had told journalists they would ` never hear from him again ' after he lost the election to socialist francois hollande in the 2012 election . the former leader , who is married to carla bruni -lrb- right -rrb- , had told journalists they would ` never hear from him again ' after he lost the election to socialist francois hollande in the 2012 election . he said : ` looking at the disastrous state france risks finding itself in , i will have no choice . ' friends say mrs bruni had begged him not to run again . sarkozy has faced several legal investigations since leaving office , including charges that he allegedly took campaign funds from former libyan dictator muammar gaddafi . the leadership bid could also be hindered by a raft of corruption charges he faces over illegal campaign funding . he is accused of accepting illegal party funding payments from france 's richest woman , the l'oreal heiress lilian bettencourt , in return for tax breaks . he has accused the country 's socialist government of framing him with ` grotesque ' accusations . while sarkozy 's supporters are desperate for him to return to politics , the wider french population is less enthusiastic . a poll by opinionway found that 64 per cent of french people are not interested in his upcoming comeback announcement .

<t> new : french president returns to france with three released journalists . </t> <t> journalists are among seven europeans freed sunday in child `` kidnap '' row . </t> <t> there are still 14 other people in custody in chad . </t> <t> father : `` they never said they would take away our children '' </t>

french journalists accused in chad child row return home<T>

london , england -- uefa has punished benfica midfielder augustin binya with a six-match european ban following his horror tackle on celtic 's scott brown last week . augustin binya , right , lunges towards celtic midfielder scott brown during benfica 's 1-0 defeat in glasgow . the cameroon international was sent off for the challenge in his side 's 1-0 defeat in the champions league match in glasgow last wednesday . scotland international brown avoided injury , but claimed binya had tried to break his leg with the tackle in the 85th minute -- and demanded that europe 's governing body take further action . binya , 24 , apologized for the challenge -- described by officiating referee martin hansson of sweden as one of the worst he had ever seen -- on the day after the match .<doc-sep>but uefa 's control and disciplinary body announced their sanction on friday morning , having deliberated on the case on thursday . in a statement on uefa.com , binya 's challenge was described as one which `` seriously endangered the physical health of the opposing player '' . benfica can appeal against the ban , which rules binya out of the portuguese club 's remaining group d matches against ac milan and shakhtar donetsk . if unsuccessful , he will also miss any matches in the knockout stages of the champions league or uefa cup . the suspension will also carry over to future seasons if , as seems likely , benfica finish bottom of group d and bow out of europe for this campaign .<doc-sep>brown , who has been passed fit for scotland 's euro 2008 qualifier against italy , said straight after the benfica match : `` he obviously tried to do me as hard as possible . '' it is the second time that uefa has had to intervene following an incident involving celtic this season . ac milan keeper dida was handed a two-match ban , subsequently reduced to one on appeal , after collapsing theatrically when a fan of the scottish club invaded the pitch and lightly slapped the brazilian in the face . celtic were fined $ 50,000 and barred the supporter for life . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>benfica 0-0 bayer leverkusen . bayer leverkusen drew 0-0 at benfica to advance in the competition but the bundesliga side surrendered top spot in group c to monaco . the german club were already guaranteed a place in the knockout round , but needed a win in lisbon to secure top spot and the prospect of facing a runner-up from another group as its next opponent . with five points from its six matches and bottom place in the group , benfica recorded its worst ever champions league group campaign . bayer leverkusen went through , but were disappointed at full-time after surrendering top spot to monaco .<doc-sep>rooney started on the bench against liverpool following the news that he will be banned for all three of england 's euro 2012 finals group matches after his red card against montenegro . `` when the initial news came through it was a definite blow for him . he did n't expect that . none of us did , '' ferguson said . in tuesday 's other group c game , swiss side basel host portugal 's benfica with both clubs on four points . in group b , italy 's internazionale travel to french side lille on the back of another domestic defeat at the weekend , while turkey 's trabzonspor will seek to extend their lead at home to cska moscow . group a leaders bayern munich visit italy 's napoli in search of a third successive win , while manchester city host spain 's villarreal with both teams in search of a first victory . nine-time european champions real madrid will seek a third successive group d victory at home to french side lyon in the clubs ' ninth meeting in six years . dutch club ajax , whose fourth european title came in 1995 , travel to croatia 's dinamo zagreb -- with neither team having won yet this season .<doc-sep>cnn -- spanish giants real madrid have confirmed they have reached an agreement with portuguese club benfica for the transfer of argentina striker angel di maria . the 22-year-old is expected to sign a six-year-deal at madrid with the fee believed to be in the region of $ 30 million . di maria is jose mourinho 's first signing since taking over as manager from manual pellegrini at madrid on may 31 . `` real madrid and benfica have come to terms for the transfer of angel di maria . the player will sign a six-year contract , '' the club said in a statement on their website . the attacking midfielder won the 2007 world under-20 championship with argentina in canada . he also scored the winner against nigeria in the final at the 2008 beijing olympics . di maria is currently on international duty at the world cup in south africa , and has started all four of argentina 's matches . he started his career at ca rosario central of argentina before moving to benfica in 2007 after a host of impressive displays . he then alerted many of europe 's top clubs last season after helping benfica claim a portuguese league and cup double . di maria is expected to be the first in a string of big name signings as mourinho attempts to wrest the spanish league title back from rivals barcelona .<doc-sep>benfica beat otelul galati 1-0 in romania in the other group game , which leaves basel and benfica level on top of the group on four points , with manchester united third on two points after drawing their opening two matches . real madrid are top of group d with a maximum six points from their two matches , after a 3-0 win over ajax at the bernabeu . cristiano ronaldo opened the scoring in the 25th minute when he converted a fine flowing move that saw five players involved . and the spanish giants doubled their lead four minutes before the break when kaka fired home a left-foot shot into the bottom corner of the net from ronaldo 's pass . the home side secured the points early in the second half when kaka found karim benzema , who found the net from 10 yards out . lyon are second in the table with four points after they beat dinamo zagreb 2-0 at the stade de gerland in their 100th champions league game . bafetimbi gomis opened the scoring with a sublime chip and bakary kone sealed the points from close range . ajax are third in the group with a single point , while zagreb are bottom after losing their opening two matches .

<t> uefa has punished benfica midfielder augustin binya with a six-match ban . </t> <t> the cameroon international was sent off for bad tackle on celtic 's scott brown . </t> <t> brown was lucky to escape injury in incident during champions league match . </t>

benfica 's binya banned six matches<T>

las vegas , nevada -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- former football star o.j. simpson walked out of jail late wednesday after posting $ 250,000 bail . o.j. simpson leaves the clark county detention center late wednesday night . eighth district judge jackie glass hours earlier doubled simpson 's bail to ensure his appearance at an april 7 trial . glass said simpson had violated terms of his previous bail . glass was adamant that simpson remain in the clark county detention center until 15 percent of the $ 250,000 is paid in full -- $ 37,500 -- after it was revealed in court that simpson never paid any part of his previous $ 125,000 bail . `` there 's no ` get-out-of-jail-free card ' today , '' an angry glass told simpson 's lawyers . `` i do n't want him out of the jail until the 15 percent is paid in full . '' watch the scolding judge '' the judge scolded simpson , saying he was n't taking the matter seriously .<doc-sep>`` i do n't know if it 's just arrogance . i do n't know if it 's ignorance , '' she chided . simpson posted bail at about 6:15 p.m. local time -lrb- 9:15 p.m. et -rrb- , according to las vegas authorities . simpson returned to jail in nevada from his home in florida january 11 for wednesday 's hearing , after prosecutors alleged he violated the terms of his bail by attempting to contact a co-defendant . the original bail bondsman -- miguel pereira of florida-based you ring , we spring -- testified wednesday that the former football player did n't put any money toward the bail that allowed him to leave jail in september . `` not one cent , '' he said . the bail bondsman himself paid the 15 percent premium and the $ 40 filing fee to allow simpson to leave the detention center , although he said he had a power of attorney for simpson 's florida home but never filed a lien on it . when questioned by simpson attorney yale galanter , pereira admitted he had never sent simpson a bill for the premium .<doc-sep>but , he said , he had an understanding with simpson that he would be paid `` after it was all over . '' glass described it as `` mind-boggling '' that simpson never had to put up any collateral for his first bond and that the bail bondsman never asked for anything . prosecutors also produced wednesday a recording of a profanity-laced voice mail message left on pereira 's answering machine in november from simpson , which he told pereira to deliver to co-defendant clarence stewart . the prosecutor said the message contained `` an undercurrent of a threat , '' and he wanted the bail to be raised to at least $ 1 million . galanter did not contest the authenticity of the recording . as part of his bail granted september 19 , simpson was to have no contact whatsoever with victims , witnesses or co-defendants in the case . glass said the same goes this time . watch how simpson wound up in jail ''<doc-sep>`` when i tell you , mr. simpson , there are conditions and there are rules , let me make sure you understand if you violate those rules ... you 'll be back , locked up in the clark county detention center ; do you understand me ? '' the judge asked . `` i understand 100 percent , '' said simpson , dressed in a navy blue jail jumpsuit . `` no contact -lsb- with others in case -rsb- , no phone messages to third parties , no emails , no letters -- nothing , '' glass added . galanter said his client `` was truly contrite about what has occurred . '' `` he will abide scrupulously by whatever this court decides , '' the attorney said . simpson faces trial april 7 on 12 criminal counts , including conspiracy , kidnapping , robbery , burglary , coercion and assault with a deadly weapon . the charges stem from a september 13 incident at a las vegas hotel in which he allegedly stole sports memorabilia he said belonged to him from dealers alfred beardsley and bruce fromong . according to earlier testimony , beardsley and fromong were offering more than 600 simpson-related items for sale , including ties simpson wore during his criminal trial for the 1994 murders of his ex-wife , nicole brown simpson , and her friend ron goldman . simpson was acquitted in that trial . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>las vegas , nevada -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- former football star o.j. simpson will be held without bail after his arrest on robbery and assault charges , police announced late sunday . police released this mug shot of o.j. simpson after his arrest . simpson is accused of having directed several other men in an alleged armed robbery of sports memorabilia in a room at a las vegas hotel room . las vegas authorities said they have no information leading them to believe simpson was carrying a firearm during the alleged incident at the palace station hotel and casino . police said simpson and other men burst into the room and walked out with the memorabilia , including some that was unrelated to simpson , police said . `` we do n't believe that anyone was roughed up , but there were firearms involved , '' lt. clint nichols told reporters . nichols said the firearms were pointed at the victims . a reporter asked nichols : was `` o.j. was the boss in that room ? ''<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- four of o.j. simpson 's accomplices in the 2007 robbery at a las vegas hotel were given suspended sentences tuesday by nevada district judge jackie glass . district court judge jackie glass sentenced four o.j. simpson codefendants to probation on tuesday . the four -- charles cashmore , charles erlich , michael mcclinton and walter alexander -- all turned on simpson and cooperated in the case against him . simpson was sentenced last week to at least nine and as many as 33 years in prison in the case . glass called him `` arrogant '' and `` ignorant . '' before announcing the suspended sentences tuesday , glass said the actions of cashmore , erlich , mcclinton and alexander were `` stupid but also criminal '' when they accompanied the former football star to the palace station hotel and casino on september 13 , 2007 . but she praised them for taking responsibility for their actions and for cooperating with the state 's case against simpson . should they violate the terms of their probation , the four could face prison time ranging from 12 months to 84 months , depending on the specific charges against them . the four apologized to the state and the victims in the case before their sentences were read in court tuesday .<doc-sep>by . associated press reporter and daily mail reporter . published : . 17:50 est , 14 may 2013 . | . updated : . 21:51 est , 14 may 2013 . o.j. simpson managed a smile and a . waist-high wave with his shackled hand as he entered a las vegas courtroom tuesday and . found friends and family members in the audience . among them was tom . scotto , whose wedding was the reason for simpson 's ill-fated trip to . las vegas in 2007 , which landed him in prison with a nine-to-33-year sentence for robbery and kidnapping . ` he looks . like a beaten man , ' scotto said outside court after seeing his old . friend clad in a dingy blue prison uniform and orange prison issue . slippers , chains clanking around his feet and waist . scroll down for video . back in court ; o.j. simpson appears during a break in an evidentiary hearing in clark county district court in las vegas , nevada . argument : simpson 's lawyers are claiming that his trial lawyer for the robbery case , yale galanter , gave such bad trial advice and had such conflicted interests that simpson deserves a new trial . smiling : simpson managed a smile and a waist-high wave with his shackled hand as he entered a las vegas courtroom . the . 65-year-old simpson is in prison for leading . five men in the armed robbery-kidnapping of the two sports memorabilia . dealers . since scotto 's . wedding , his marriage has collapsed and he underwent three . emergency surgeries for life-threatening intestinal ailments . ` you do n't think about it , but this has taken a toll on a lot of people , ' scotto said . simpson 's lawyers are claiming that . his trial lawyer for the robbery case , yale galanter , gave such bad trial advice and had such . conflicted interests that simpson deserves a new trial . simpson . claims that galanter told him he did n't need to testify . because prosecutors failed to prove their case , and that he did n't tell . him about a plea offer by prosecutors that would have gotten him a . minimum of two years in prison . his co-counsel said tuesday that simpson became so dependent on galantar during the armed robbery trial that the former football star would have done anything his lawyer advised - including passing up the chance to testify . defense : simpson confers with defense team member dustin marcello . he is currently serving a nine-to-33-year sentence in state prison as a result of his october 2008 conviction for armed robbery and kidnapping charges . yale galanter -lrb- pictured above -rrb- allegedly gave simpson bad legal advice during his trial in 2008 , leading to simpson 's conviction , the former nfl football star claimed in his 94-page petition for a new trial . ' i could advise o.j. all day long , and he was very respectful of me , ' gabriel grasso told the court . ` but if i advised him of something different from what yale said , he would do what yale said . ' it was galanter 's decision not to have simpson testify in the trial , grasso said . the 65-year-old simpson was later convicted and sentenced to 33 years in prison for the crime . simpson takes a drink after the judge allowed him to take one of his handcuffs off . under questioning from prosecutor h. leon simon , grasso acknowledged the trial judge , jackie glass , specifically asked simpson if he wanted to testify . ` o.j. did say he did not want to testify , ' said simon , clark county 's chief deputy district attorney .<doc-sep>kato kaelin , a star witness at the o.j. simpson trial , has backtracked saying that he never confirmed the disgraced former football star killed his ex-wife . in a recent interview , kaelin , who gave . evidence for four days in front of millions glued to their tvs , said . simpson was guilty of butchering nicole brown simpson and her friend . ronald goldman - but that he was ` too scared ' to say so during the 1994 . hearing . however kato has now flip-flopped on these reported statements and told tmz : ' i would never say something like this ... i have no first hand knowledge . ' he said he was shocked by the interview with the new york post and that it did not take place . change of tune : kato kaelin testified during the o.j. simpson trial in 1995 -lrb- left -rrb- . right , pictured ahead of a 2011 press conference . sensational trial : nicole brown simpson was suspected of being killed by ex-husband o.j. simpson in los angeles , california , in june 1995 . kaelin allegedly told the new york post 's cindy adams : ` the statute of limitations has now passed ... so i can now say ... yes , he did it . ' asked why he let simpson get away with it , he said : ' i was too scared . i was terrified . ' the bodies of brown simpson and goldman were found at her home , the victims of a vicious knife attack in front of her los angeles condominium . over the years , kaelin 's claims implied that o.j. simpson could know more details about the case that have not yet become public . victim : ronald goldman was found murdered along with his friend nicole brown simpson in 1994 . simpson starred in dozens of film and tv roles both during and after his nfl career , and was most famous for his three-film stint as detective nordberg in the ` naked gun ' series . for 17 years , doubt has hung over his innocence despite the acquittal , and a $ 33.5 million civil case later found him liable for her death and the death of goldman . at the trial , kaelin , a small-time actor and simpson 's house-guest on the night of the killing , became an oddball celebrity after his rambling testimony about simpson 's movements and some background information . he was lampooned on tv shows for his long hair , laid-back surfer demeanor and for being an unemployed layabout . critics claim that he held back from telling the jury about simpson 's bouts of rage or his possessiveness of his ex-wife . his . testimony was so inconsistent that at one point , prosecutor marcia . clark asked for permission from judge lance to to treat him as a . hostile witness . he then admitted that simpson had acted ` upset ' in the hours before his ex-wife and goldman were killed . not guilty : simpson celebrates his verdict with his lawyers robert kardashian , left , and johnnie cochrane , right . simpson is currently serving in a nevada prison for his role in a las vegas robbery case . he was convicted of being the leader . of an armed group that raided a hotel room at the palace station hotel . in 2007 and robbed a pair of sports memorabilia dealers . though . simpson said that he was only taking back what was rightfully his and . claimed no weapons were used , he was sentenced to 33 years in jail on . october 8 , 2008 - 13 years to the day of his 1995 acquittal . many saw the especially harsh sentence as retribution for getting off scot-free in the killings . bronco chase : simpson , in a white ford bronco , is pursued by the lapd shortly after the murders of nicole brown simpson and ronald goldman in the infamous photo . celebration : o.j. simpson -lrb- c -rrb- cheers while standing with his attorneys f. lee bailey -lrb- l -rrb- and johnnie cochan jr -lrb- r -rrb- , after hearing the not guilty verdict in his criminal murder trial . the simpson case recently returned to the headlines when one of the original prosecutors alleged that the lead defense lawyer tampered with a crucial piece of evidence . former los angeles deputy district attorney christopher darden accused the late johnnie cochran of ` manipulating ' one of the infamous gloves that the prosecution said linked simpson to the crime . after simpson struggled to fit the gloves on his hands - in one of the defining moments of the racially-charged trial that captivated the nation - cochran famously admonished the jury : ` if it does n't fit , you must acquit . ' ` if the glove do n't fit ... ' : o.j. simpson holds up his hands to the jury wearing the infamous gloves found at the crime scene and at his home during the murder trial . following simpson 's acquittal kaelin , 53 , skirted around the edges of celebrity and became a failed reality tv star , appearing in shows like ` celebrity boot camp . ' he filmed episodes of a series called ` house guest ' in which he would stay in the homes of various celebrities , but the show never saw the light of day . kaelin also appeared as a contestant on quiz shows and briefly worked in radio . o.j. simpson was sentenced on 12 charges , including felony kidnapping , armed robbery and conspiracy related to a 2007 confrontation with sports memorabilia dealers in a las vegas hotel . o.j. simpson : a former football star whose career spanned 11 seasons with the buffalo bills and san francisco 49ers . he had turned to acting both during and after his football career , and his most famous role was as detective nordberg in the ` naked gun ' films opposite leslie nielson . he was famously acquitted of the murder of his ex-wife nicole brown simpson and her friend ronald goldman in 1995 , but ordered to pay their families 33.5 million in damages in a subsequent wrongful death civil trial . on october 8 , 2008 - 13 years to the day of his 1995 acquittal , he was found guilty in a las vegas armed robbery case and sentenced to 33 years in jail . he will be eligible for parole in 2017 . judge lance ito : ito worked in the los angeles district attorney 's office before he was appointed to the job of superior court judge in 1989 . but he was n't internationally recognised until he sat on the bench at the o.j. simpson murder trial . he regularly declines invitations to be interviewed about the case . today , ito continues to hold the post of superior court judge . the la times reported in 2009 that ito 's notoriety because of the simpson case prompted thieves to repeatedly steal the placard bearing his name from outside the courtroom so often that ito will no longer replace it . johnnie cochran : while many figures of the o.j. simpson trial became national figures in the trial itself , cochran was already notorious in california as a skilled lawyer with a wide variety of celebrity clients to his name . among them were michael jackson , rapper tupac shakur and sean ` p. diddy ' combs . cochran also represented police brutality victim abner louima in new york . he famously uttered the term ` if the glove do n't fit , you must acquit ' to jurors during the simpson trial in reference to the bloody glove found at the murder scene . in the hit tv show seinfeld , cosmo kramer 's attorney jackie chiles is loosely based on cochran . cochrane died of a brain tumor in 2005 . marcia clark : clark was active for several years as a prosecutor before she unsuccessfully tried to put simpson away in 1995 for the murder of brown simpson and goldman . she penned a book about the simpson case , called without a doubt , in 1997 . it was released right after she resigned as a prosecutor . last year , she was back on tv to provide legal analysis for healdine news on the trial of casey anthony , the florida mother who was accused of murdering her young daughter caylee . in a 2011 daily beast column she wrote after anthony 's murder acquittal , clark branded her ` worse than oj ! ' robert kardashian : before his children kim , kourtney , khloe and rob kardashian became fixtures on reality television , robert kardashian was simpson 's close friend and lawyer during his murder trial . his ex-wife kris -lrb- who later went on to marry olympics icon bruce jenner -rrb- was equally as close with nicole brown simpson . o.j. stayed in kardashian 's home in the days after the murder - just before the famous ford bronco chase . he joined simpson 's defense team despite not having practiced law in several years . kardashian , who was married three times , was just 59 years old when he died of esophageal cancer in 2003 . robert shapiro : another one of simpson 's high-priced attorneys , robert shapiro has a long list of celebrity clients to his name - from athletes like jose canseco and darryl strawberry to tv stars like johnny carson and the kardashian family . in 2001 , he co-founded the online legal documentation site legalzoom.com . he also stepped into the fashion realm in 2009 when he co-founded shoedazzle.com . he continues to represent clients like eva longoria and casino tycoon steve wynn . mark fuhrman : the la detective who was branded a liar and racist by o.j. simpson 's defense team may no longer be on the force , but he 's still keeping busy . several years after the o.j. simpson trial , fuhrman published a book about the long-unsolved murder of martha moxley in greenwich , connecticut . fuhrman alleged that the killer was kennedy cousin michael skakel . in 2002 , skakel was convicted of the crime and sentenced to 20 years to life in prison . fuhrman now provides crime commentary for fox news .

<t> judge doubles bail to $ 250,000 , accuses of `` arrogance '' or `` ignorance '' </t> <t> jailed since friday , simpson was required to put down $ 37,500 in cash to get out . </t> <t> bail bondsman tells judge o.j. simpson never paid him . </t> <t> da says simpson violated bail terms by leaving message for co-defendant . </t>

o.j. simpson released after judge scolds him , doubles bail<T>

washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the air force is returning f-15e strike eagle jets to service over iraq and afghanistan after grounding other f-15s , the air force said wednesday . the air force grounded models of its f-15 fleet after the crash of an older model f-15c this month . the f-15s were grounded after a crash earlier this month in missouri of an older model that disintegrated in flight . each f-15e must pass an inspection of critical parts on the airframe before returning to flying missions , air force officials said . all u.s. air force 224 e-model aircraft will undergo a one-time inspection of hydraulic system lines , the air force statement said . the longerons -- molded , metal strips of the aircraft fuselage that run from front to rear -- will also be inspected , according to the air force . the straps and skin panels in and around the environmental control system bay will also be examined , officials said . the air force would not say whether the parts being inspected were part of the problem on the aircraft that crashed . the investigation into why that plane fell apart in flight is still ongoing and air force officials will not say what happened until the investigation is complete , an air force spokesperson said .<doc-sep>air force officials said the rest of the almost 500 f-15s -- older airframes than the f-15es -- will remain grounded until the investigation offers a solution to what happened . the e-model aircraft , the youngest and most sophisticated in the f-15 inventory , is heavily used by central command for ground support in the u.s.-led wars in iraq and afghanistan . it is also used for the homeland security mission over the united states known as operation noble eagle . on november 3 , the air force grounded all of its f-15s in response to a november 1 crash of a missouri air national guard f-15c in boss , missouri . the grounding forced central command to use other air force , navy and french fighters to fill the gaps , though strike eagles did fly to support troops in battle in afghanistan as an emergency measure while they were still under grounding orders , according to central command reports . the plane that crashed , built in 1980 , was one of the older f-15s in the fleet . the f-15e strike eagle is an air-to-ground and air-to-air fighter , making it more versatile than other f-15 models , which are used for only air-to-air missions . the strike eagle is used in afghanistan and iraq in its air-to-ground role , using its advanced sensors to drop bombs on targets . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>islamic state fighters , who have controlled much of syria 's eastern oil and agricultural provinces for more than a year , swept through mainly sunni muslim regions of north iraq in mid-june , seizing cities including mosul and tikrit and halting less than 100 miles -lrb- 160 km -rrb- from the capital baghdad . two us air force f-15e strike eagles fly over iraq after conducting air strikes in syria earlier this week . further bombing runs have targeted isis oil installations and bases in a bid to cripple the group 's revenue stream . aerial bombardment : the us air force f-15e strike eagles are part of a coalition strike force that aims to roll back and ultimately crush the extremist group that has created a caliphate spanning the syria-iraq border . but their recent moves suggest they are worried about the air strikes , which are backed on the ground by a largely hapless iraqi army but a more formidable kurdish peshmerga force . ` they were executing people like drinking water ... now the air strikes are very active and have decreased the -lrb- militants ' -rrb- ability , ' sheikh anwar al-assy al-obeidi , the head of his tribe in kirkuk and across iraq , told reuters . ` wherever they hide , people want to get rid of them because they 're afraid their houses will be struck , ' said obeidi , who fled to kurdistan this summer after islamic state blew up his home . the insurgents have gone underground in their main syrian stronghold since u.s. president barack obama authorised u.s. air strikes on the group in syria - which began earlier this week . they have disappeared from streets , redeployed weapons and fighters , and cut down their media exposure , residents said . the air strikes have by no means crippled them . their fighters edged towards a strategic town on northern syria 's border with turkey on friday , battling kurdish forces , while air strikes hit their oilfields and bases in syria 's east . pit stop : a u.s. air force f-15e strike eagle receives fuel from a kc-135 stratotanker over northern iraq after conducting airstrikes in syria earlier this week . in the eastern iraqi province of diyala , an eyewitness said the air strikes had forced the militants to cut back the number of checkpoints which inspected identity cards , looking for those they considered ` apostates ' : shi'ites , policemen , soldiers . ` they have also increased the number of headquarters , instead of two , they now have 20 , with only 3-4 people in each one of them , ' said the eyewitness . an eyewitness in jalawla town in diyala also said the militants had decreased their presence on the frontline , no longer confronting army troops with large numbers . in tikrit , police colonel hassan al-jabouri said the militants had withdrawn their checkpoints from main thoroughfares in the city , retreating to side streets . ` they have also switched cars between the areas they control and our intelligence indicates that they have all changed their cell phones . these are always shut and the batteries are removed unless they need to use them , ' jabouri told reuters .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a mandatory grounding of air force f-15s has been expanded to cover those flying combat missions over afghanistan after a crash in missouri last week , air force officials said monday . the air force grounded models of its f-15 fleet after the crash of an older model f-15c friday . the f-15es in afghanistan can fly only in emergency situations to protect u.s. and coalition troops in a battle , according to maj. john elolf , a spokesman for the u.s. air force central command . maj. cristin marposon , an air force spokeswoman , told the associated press the country 's fleet of 676 f-15s , including mission critical jets , was grounded on november 3 for `` airworthiness concerns '' after the crash of an older model f-15c on friday . the cause of the crash is still under investigation , but air force officials said it was a structural failure and the plane broke apart in flight . a spokeswoman for boeing , the aircraft 's manufacturer , told ap the company was cooperating with the air force but could not provide additional comment because of the pending investigation . col. robert leeker , commander of the 131st fighter wing , said friday the plane had been among four planes split into pairs and were engaging in one-on-one training flights in which speeds of 400 to 450 mph are typical , according to ap . a pilot , a 10-year veteran of the guard whose name and rank were not released , safely ejected from the aircraft when it crashed in dent county , missouri , ap reported . the pilot suffered a dislocated shoulder , a broken arm and minor cuts and bruises . now only `` mission critical '' f-15s will fly . pentagon officials said the u.s. navy has had to move the only aircraft carrier in the region from the persian gulf to the north arabian sea to fill mission gaps for the f-15s . several dozen f/a -18 fighters from the aircraft carrier uss enterprise will fly missions with other air force aircraft to fill mission gaps . the f-15e strike eagle is an air-to-ground and air-to-air fighter , making it more versatile than other f-15 models , which are used for only air-to-air missions . the strike eagle is used in afghanistan in its air to ground role , dropping bombs on targets with its advanced sensors . `` the u.s. air force maintains assigned f-15e strike eagles on ground alert and will accomplish all assigned missions with a variety of fighter , attack and bomber aircraft , and unmanned aerial vehicles , under my command and control during this period , '' lt. gen. gary l. north , commander of the u.s. central command 's combined forces air component , said in a statement monday . the single-seat f-15c is one of the older models in the air force 's fleet of 700 f-15s which entered service in 1979 . the air force 's top aircraft , the stealthy f-22 raptor , is newly operational for the air service and has not yet been deployed in combat . the expensive f-22 will eventually be the main fighter jet for the air force , but budgetary restrictions on the plane have forced the air force to cut the number of planes it will have in the fleet . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>pentagon officials are finding it difficult determining how effective us airstrikes against isis in iraq and syria are because of ` significant gaps in intelligence ' . senior current and former us officials have told the associated press that american aircraft are running under less restrictive rules than those governing drone strikes in pakistan and yemen . despite this , they are having difficulties determining the effectiveness of the bombing missions targeting al-qaeda and isis due the lack of intelligence assets on the ground . these assets identify targets before an airstrike and conduct an after action battle damage assessment . scroll down for video . us president barack obama has reduced the restrictions on us airstrikes against isis in iraq and syria . us aircraft such as these f-15e strike eagles patrolling over northern iraq are looking for isis strongholds . military intelligence is hampered during the current conflict by the lack of agents operating on the ground . the us military says its airstrikes have been discriminating and effective in disrupting the terrorists . but independent analysts say isis remains on the offensive in areas of iraq and syria , where it still controls large sections . and according to witnesses , us airstrikes have at times hit empty buildings that were long ago vacated by islamic state fighters . human rights groups also say coalition airstrikes in both countries have killed as many as two dozen civilians . us officials say they ca n't rule out civilian deaths but have n't confirmed any . rear admiral john kirby said : ` we do take extreme caution and care in the conduct of these missions . but there 's risk in any military operation . there 's a special kind of risk when you do air operations . '<doc-sep>have mounted on the korean peninsula since north korea staged its first . successful long-range rocket launch in december . it followed this up . with its third nuclear weapons test in february . aggressive : north korea 's supreme military command said it had u.s. bases in guam and okinawa in their sights . this picture shows a military drill of the korean people 's army at an undisclosed location in north korea . pyongyang is . barred from developing missile and nuclear-related technology under u.n. sanctions imposed after previous nuclear tests . earlier . wednesday , china 's new leader , xi jinping , said he would offer to . promote `` reconciliation and cooperation '' on the korean peninsula . most . military experts say that the north will likely not launch an all-out . war against south korea and its u.s. ally due to its outdated weaponry . pyongyang . is viewed as more likely to stage an attack along a disputed sea border . between the two countries as it did in 2010 when it shelled a south . korean island , killing four people . such a move would provide a . major test for new south korean president park geun-hye , who took office . pledging closer ties with the north if it abandoned its nuclear push . threatened : f-15e strike eagles and a b-2 spirit bomber fly in formation over andersen air force base in guam - north korea has threatened to attack the facility in retaliation for continuing sanctions and b-52 flights over the korean peninsula . andersen air force base , guam : north korea is objecting to the flights of b-52 's -lrb- pictured -rrb- over the korean peninsula - threatening massive retaliation .

<t> f-15s grounded after a november 1 crash in missouri . </t> <t> f-15 is used for ground support in the wars in iraq and afghanistan . </t> <t> all u.s. air force 224 e-model aircraft will undergo a one-time inspection . </t>

f-15e strike eagles to fly again in iraq , afghanistan<T>

rome , italy -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a sixth u.s. service member died friday from injuries sustained when a black hawk helicopter crashed in northeastern italy on thursday , the u.s. military in europe said . the helicopter , carrying 11 u.s. military personnel , crashed thursday afternoon about 22 miles from aviano , italy . four people were killed and seven were injured in the crash , and two of the injured later died , the u.s. military said . treviso fire officials said one of the dead was a woman , and said no one on the ground was hurt . the u.s. military said the helicopter was an army h-60 black hawk attached to the 1st battalion , 214th aviation regiment .<doc-sep>the military was not releasing the names of those killed , pending notification of the victims ' families . police and fire officials said the craft crashed in an open area near the piave river north of treviso , between the towns of maserata sul piave and santa lucia di piave . watch scenes of the crash site in northern italy '' the helicopter appeared crumpled and charred in photos from the crash . italy 's ansa news agency said the helicopter crashed near the bridge of a major highway and the road was closed as a precaution .<doc-sep>ansa said the helicopter had taken off from aviano air base , but fire authorities could not confirm whether it was leaving or returning to the base . the black hawk is considered the workhorse of the military 's helicopter fleet . it is used in missions in iraq and afghanistan to carry troops and equipment . the military has employed black hawks for about three decades . the helicopter 's first combat mission was about 25 years ago . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's hada messia and barbara starr contributed to this report .<doc-sep>earlier wednesday , 14 u.s. soldiers died when their helicopter crashed in northern iraq , the u.s. military said . separately , at least 37 people were killed and 81 wounded when a suicide car bomb detonated outside a police building in the iraqi town of baiji , north of baghdad , in salaheddin province , police said . also wednesday , a u.s. soldier was killed and three others wounded in combat west of baghdad , the military said . the helicopter crash occurred near kirkuk , according to a u.s. military intelligence source . watch the initial report of the copter downing '' `` two uh-60 black hawk helicopters were on a night operation when one of the aircraft crashed , '' the military said . `` initial indications are that the aircraft experienced a mechanical malfunction . there were no indications of hostile fire . '' the dead were all members of the army 's task force lightning and comprised four black hawk crew members and 10 passengers . the task force typically operates in the tikrit area , north of baghdad .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- three crew members died in a fiery navy helicopter crash near corpus christi , texas , a military spokesman said , and a fourth is hospitalized in critical condition . the navy mh-53 sea dragon helicopter crashed in a field about four miles south of corpus christi on wednesday just after 8 p.m. . it caught fire after impact , said ed mackley with the naval mine and anti-submarine warfare command . copter wreckage came to rest near guide wires of a 1,000-foot tv tower for public broadcasting system affiliate kedt , according to the corpus christi caller-times . authorities refused to tell the associate press whether the sea dragon collided with the tower . a witness reported a huge fireball and booming noise shortly after the crash . rescuers found bodies of three crew members about 2:30 a.m. on thursday , mackley said . watch smoke and flames after the crash '' witness j.d. batten told the caller-times he was walking on his property about two miles from the crash site when he heard a helicopter overhead . `` i saw a red-glowing fireball shoot hundreds of feet up into the air , '' he told the paper . `` i heard a giant boom a second later . it was then dead silent , and i could n't hear the helicopter anymore . '' a fourth crew member was in critical condition at christus spohn memorial hospital in corpus christi , texas , mackley said . `` our hearts and prayers go out to the families , '' mackley said . authorities did not immediately identify the victims . the aircraft was part of helicopter mine countermeasures squadron 15 out of naval air station corpus christi , a military spokesman told the caller-times . the caller-times quoted a navy spokesman who said the aircraft was on a training mission and the crash occurred during heavy fog . a military investigation will try to determine what caused the crash , mackley said . first responders to the crash site were hindered by downed power lines , according to the caller-times report . the paper said firefighters and a busload of military personnel searched the muddy area surrounding the crash site for hours . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>roads near the site have been closed and will probably remain that way until monday , he said . according to the air force website , a pave hawk is a `` highly modified '' version of a black hawk helicopter that often carries a crew of two pilots , one flight engineer and one gunner . death toll in scottish helicopter crash rises . 3 killed in medical helicopter crash in tennessee . copter crashes during antarctica science mission .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a marine who fell from an aircraft during a training exercise was found dead late tuesday afternoon , the marines reported . nobody knows how the marine happened to fall out of the mv-22b osprey on monday , 1st lt. hector alejandro , media officer for the 2nd marine aircraft wing at cherry point , north carolina , told cnn on tuesday . the aircraft had taken part in a training exercise at the airport in elizabethtown , bradley kinlaw , bladen county emergency management director , told cnn affiliate wect . a crew member noticed the marine missing about half a mile past white lake , wect reported . alejandro said marines in ospreys are always supposed to be secured , either by seat belts or tether cables . he did n't know how the missing marine was secured . lt. col. christian harshberger with marine aircraft group 26 said the tiltrotor osprey 's cargo bay door remains open during training operations , according to wect . the osprey has the speed and range of a turboprop airplane but the vertical maneuverability of a helicopter . more than 100 marines had been brought in to search on the ground and in the air , alejandro said . the marine 's name was not immediately released . he was believed to have died from the fall , officials said . strange noise , then fiery crash : 2 dead as copter falls near space needle .

<t> four killed in crash ; two people die later of injuries . </t> <t> copter took off from aviano air base , news agency reports . </t> <t> black hawk helicopter had 11 people aboard . </t>

military copter crash leaves six dead<T>

washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- sen. barack obama on thursday criticized a recent vote by democratic presidential rival sen. hillary clinton as helping to give president bush a `` blank check '' to take military action against iran . sen. barack obama says sen. hillary clinton has shown `` flawed '' judgment . `` we know in the past that the president has used some of the flimsiest excuses to try to move his agenda regardless of what congress says , '' obama said in an interview with cnn 's wolf blitzer . last month , clinton voted to support a resolution declaring iran 's islamic revolutionary guard corps , an elite part of the iranian military , a foreign terrorist group . -lrb- the nonbinding amendment to the defense authorization act passed by a 76-22 vote . -rrb- . obama said he would have voted against the measure but did n't because he was campaigning in new hampshire at the time . he said it was impossible to know when votes will be scheduled in the senate . `` this is a problem '' related to running for president , he said . obama said clinton also had shown `` flawed '' judgment during the vote to authorize the iraq war five years ago . `` we know that there was embodied in this legislation , or this resolution sent to the senate , language that would say our iraqi troop structures should in part be determined by our desire to deal with iran , '' obama said . `` now if you know that in the past the president has taken a blank check and cashed it , we do n't want to repeat that mistake . '' clinton on thursday defended her vote on the resolution during an interview on new hampshire public radio , saying `` what i voted on was a nonbinding resolution . it 's not an amendment . it 's not a law . ''<doc-sep>while clinton was campaigning sunday in new hampton , iowa , an audience member at a town hall-style meeting pressed her on why she voted for the iran measure and asked why she had n't learned from past `` mistakes . '' calling `` the premise of the question '' wrong , the senator from new york argued the resolution calls for the terrorist label so that sanctions can be imposed . the sanctions , clinton said , will in turn `` send a clear message to the leadership '' and lead to stronger diplomatic efforts . earlier this month , clinton also co-sponsored legislation with sen. jim webb , d-virginia , that would prohibit military operations against iran without congressional approval . obama 's comments came on the fifth anniversary of the 77-23 senate vote that authorized the president to use force against iraq . obama , then an illinois state senator , spoke out against the resolution authorizing force at the time . clinton 's 2002 vote shows a clear difference in judgment between the two of them , obama said . watch as obama questions clinton 's judgment '' `` i do n't think it disqualified her , but i think it speaks to her judgment and it speaks to my judgment , '' obama said . `` it speaks to how we will make decisions going forward . `` i think her judgment was flawed on this issue . '' obama said he also will step up efforts to clarify his differences with clinton , whom many political observers view as the front-runner for the democratic nomination .<doc-sep>`` there 's no doubt we are moving into a different phase of the campaign , '' obama said . `` the first part of a campaign is to offer some biography and give people a sense of where i 've been and what i am about . `` in this next phase , we want to make sure that voters understand that on big issues , like the decision to go into the war in iraq , i had real differences with the other candidates , and that reflects on my judgment . '' another leading democratic candidate , john edwards , also voted in 2002 to authorize force in iraq while he was then a senator from north carolina . he later called his vote a mistake . in a veiled swipe at clinton , obama also suggested he could better unite the country and offer `` something new , as opposed to looking backward and simply duplicating some of the politics that we 've become so accustomed to , that frankly the american people are sick of . '' obama would not say whether he would consider clinton as his running mate should he become the democratic party 's nominee . `` i think sen. clinton is a very capable person , '' he said . `` right now , my goal is to make sure i am the nominee , and she is still the senator from new york . '' e-mail to a friend . cnn 's scott anderson and alexander mooney contributed to this report .<doc-sep>clinton left the state department at the start of last year and is weighing another bid for the white house . ' i still got it wrong ' on iraq . on the iraq war , clinton writes she wish she had n't voted to authorize the use of military force in iraq in 2002 . `` as the war dragged on , with every letter i sent to a family in new york who had lost a son or daughter , a father or mother , my mistake become -lrb- sic -rrb- more painful , '' she writes , according to excerpts posted online by cbs . `` i thought i had acted in good faith and made the best decision i could with the information i had . and i was n't alone in getting it wrong . but i still got it wrong . plain and simple , '' she said . it 's not the first time she 's expressed regret , but it 's some of the strongest language she 's used on the issue . clinton 's vote became a key topic in her marathon 2008 battle with obama for the democratic presidential nomination . the issue , more than the economy , dominated the early parts of the campaign , with obama criticizing clinton over the vote . clinton at first refused to term it a mistake , but later said during the campaign that she would not have voted the same way . obama , who was a major opponent of the war , never had to vote on whether to authorize military action against saddam hussein , as he was not elected to the senate until 2004 . clinton rarely talks about her vote on iraq and in the last few months , as she has crisscrossed the country speaking to a wide array of audiences , she has not been asked about it . conflict in syria . in the book , clinton describes the bloody three-year long civil war in syria as `` a wicked problem . ''<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the chairman of the senate foreign relations committee on wednesday cautioned the united states against engaging with iran in the fight against the islamic state in iraq and syria . in an exclusive interview with cnn 's dana bash , sen. robert menendez also pushed back against criticism that lawmakers are purposefully holding off on an authorization vote until after election day in november . his comments came just minutes before the committee began hearing testimony from secretary of state john kerry on the administration 's plan to combat isis . obama , kerry : no u.s. troops will be sent into combat . kerry said monday in paris that the u.s. would be open to having talks with iran on how to deal with the group . but menendez said he has `` a problem '' with directly cooperating with iran `` because iran has different goals than we have . '' he added the country has a history of creating `` sectarian divisions of iraq '' and is `` is one of the patrons of -lrb- bashar al - -rrb- assad '' and his regime in syria . `` i do n't get how we engage with iran in this context other than to realize that they 're in the theater for their own interests , '' the new jersey democrat said . pelosi stands firm against ground troops before syrian funding . president barack obama said wednesday the international community and a coalition of at least 40 nations will degrade and defeat the group , which is bent on forming a caliphate from syria to iraq , in which strict islamic law , or sharia , governs all aspects of life . the house is set to vote on a measure wednesday to authorize the arming and training of syrian rebels to help fight isis . it is expected to get folded into a bill to fund the government , meaning congress wo n't vote for it as a stand-alone measure . bash asked menendez if he thinks that 's a `` cowardly '' way to approach the situation , as it makes it easier for lawmakers up for re-election to not have to be on the record on a tough vote . `` i get it . and i 'm -- and i 'm ready and willing to -- i voted for a year ago , on this very same committee , to do exactly what we 're doing , maybe for different purposes at the time , it was to defeat assad , '' he said . `` i 'm ready to cast that vote independently or as part of the -lrb- funding measure -rrb- myself . '' menendez said he also thinks congress will authorize the use of military force in the region but he did n't indicate the vote would come before the midterm elections . `` it has nothing to do with the election , '' he said . `` this is all about getting it right , not getting it fast . i do n't want to have another 2001 or 2003 authorization for the use of military force that has been used 13 years later in four different parts of the world . i do n't want to give an open-ended blank check to this or any other president . '' ahead of kerry 's testimony menendez said he wants to hear `` specifics '' about the plan to defeat the islamic state in iraq and syria . `` i am convinced we are at war with isis , '' he said , adding that he wants to know what `` resources '' the u.s. will use and `` who is playing what senior role '' in the effort . president obama 's top general said tuesday it 's not out of the realm of possibility -- if the situation requires it -- that the pentagon would call for sending ground troops into iraq to fight the terror group . on wednesday , obama reiterated there would be no u.s. ground troops engaging in combat in iraq . he told service members at u.s. central command in florida that troops `` do not and will not have a combat mission '' to battle isis . isis has slaughtered swaths of people in both countries , and has beheaded two american journalists and a british aid worker it held in captivity . `` we must be clear-eyed '' about the risk in engaging in a fight against isis , menendez said in his opening remarks shortly after speaking with bash . `` i want to hear what success looks like -lsb- in syria and iraq -rsb- after fighting comes to an end , '' the senator said .<doc-sep>hillary clinton has distanced herself from barack obama over the situation in syria - saying she pushed to arm moderate syrians , but was overruled by the president . mrs clinton - a potential presidential candidate for 2016 - made her differences with mr obama clear . but , though the suggestion was made , she did not go so far as to say whether different foreign policy could have prevented the rise of jihadist militants now causing chaos in syria and iraq . in a tv interview she said : ` we pushed very hard . but as i say in my book , i believe that harry truman was right , the buck stops with the president ' . scroll down for video . not our fault ; clinton said the decision to yank american troops out of iraq , taken while she was secretary of state , belonged to iraq itself , not to the u.s. clinton , who is on the fence about running for president in 2016 , fielded questions moderated by cnn 's christiane amanpour while wearing a ralph lauren suit . mrs clinton , a former secretary of state , said she joined forces with pentagon and cia chiefs to persuade obama to arm rebels opposing syrian president bashar al-assad , but that the white house resisted . speaking on cnn , she said : ` it 's very difficult , in retrospect , to say that would have prevented this . ' the former secretary of state , senator and first lady has been offering views that differ from obama 's on foreign policy in recent months , including on issues such as iran 's nuclear program and dealings with russian president vladimir putin . however , she stood by the president in another segment of the interviewing , suggesting that mr obama bears no responsibility for his decision to pull american troops out of . iraq at the end of 2011 . that decision , which created a power vacuum in the country , has also contributed to the rise of isis -lrb- islamic state of iraq and the levant -rrb- militants . ` in retrospect , that was a mistake by the iraqi government , ' she said . mrs clinton was referring to the two governments ' failure to . sign a mutual status of forces agreement , a document that would have kept . american servicemen and women in iraq as a stabilizing force after 2011 . iraqi prime minister nouri al-maliki reportedly balked on a . u.s. proposal because it would have included legal immunity for american troops . who broke local laws . isis has seized american-made tanks and weapons along its push toward baghdad -- materiel transferred to the iraqi army before obama ordered a troop pullout in 2011 .<doc-sep>muscat , oman -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- u.s. secretary of state hillary clinton is urging countries in the persian gulf region to support iraq 's newly created government as she prepares to head to an international forum on development and the environment . `` there 's a government in iraq that 's embraced by the iraqi people . the attitude toward that government and iraq among its arab neighbors is changing . more and more people are seeking out relationships , seeking out trade agreements , opening embassies , '' clinton said . in that regard , gulf states have `` got more to do , but they 're making progress . ... i 'm encouraged , '' she said . clinton spoke to cnn wednesday in muscat , oman , a day before she was to meet with regional leaders in qatar at the `` forum for the future . '' in late december , the iraqi parliament voted in prime minister nuri al-maliki 's government , which is inclusive of iraq 's major ethnic and sectarian groups . the long-awaited legislative action came more than nine months after a hotly disputed national election that threatened to inflame the country 's deep sectarian tensions . if other countries in the region do not acknowledge iraq 's new `` inclusive government , '' clinton said , `` that would be a great mistake . '' `` what we see is iraq increasingly asserting itself . iran is a big neighbor . iran is a big presence in this entire region , and obviously , next door to iraq as well , '' she said . `` but we also see the other sets of power in the region beginning to step up and make sure that iraq is part of the larger community , and that 's very important . '' she also insisted that progress is being made regarding iran , saying the united states has moved the world from merely condemning iran to enacting sanctions that she says are working . clinton conceded there 's still a long way to go toward convincing iran to give up its nuclear ambitions . `` can we run up the flag and say , oh no , we 've reached the conclusion we sought ? not yet , but we are making progress , '' she said . clinton 's six-day trip to the region also included a stop in the united arab emirates . before her stop in oman , she made a surprise visit tuesday to poverty-stricken yemen , a key al qaeda battleground and planning center in recent years .

<t> new : sen. hillary clinton defends vote on resolution , saying `` it 's not a law '' </t> <t> sen. barack obama : president could use iran measure to justify military action . </t> <t> obama says clinton 's vote for resolution shows `` flawed '' judgment . </t> <t> differences with clinton will be clear in `` next phase '' of campaign , obama says . </t>

obama : clinton 's vote for iran measure repeats iraq mistake<T>

dhaka , bangladesh -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- more than 1,700 people have died in bangladesh after a devastating tropical cyclone ripped through the western coast of the country , and the toll is expected to rise , a government spokesman tells cnn . families stand amid the wreckage caused by the cyclone friday in southern bangladesh . brig. gen. qazi abedus samad , director of operations for the country 's armed forces , told cnn saturday the toll had reached 1,723 , and the figure is expected to rise . as flood waters recede , aid workers say they expect to find scores more bodies when remote villages are finally reached and the counting is done . they face debris-blocked roads , no electricity and almost nonexistent communications . in addition to the dead , another 15,000 people have been injured . thousands of people have been displaced and many are still missing . cyclone sidr , with sustained winds of at least 131 mph -lrb- 210 kph -rrb- , made landfall thursday night along the western coast of bangladesh near the border with india , unleashing floodwaters . government spokesman fahim munaim told cnn by telephone that the government held an emergency cabinet meeting saturday to assess the disaster and discuss recovery issues . he said the extent of the cyclone 's damage may be much worse because emergency relief had not been able to reach remote areas .<doc-sep>the government has identified the 12 worst districts -- all of them located on the southern coast -- out of the 23 affected by the cyclone , munaim said . see victims pick up the pieces after the storm '' the bangladeshi air force , army and navy are working to provide shelter for the many people who have been displaced . power is still out in much of the country but it is being restored . watch how the cyclone spawns a large relief effort '' vince edwards , national director of the relief agency world vision in bangladesh , said the high wind speeds of cyclone sidr have laid waste to the all-important rice crop and caused a huge loss of livestock . he said 280,000 families have been rendered homeless by the cyclone , but many have been able to get shelter from family members . world vision is deploying 135 staffers and 7,000 volunteers to provide food , shelter and other relief . the group is appealing for $ 1.5 million in further funds to assist some 9.300 families rebuild their homes . in dhaka -- about 200 miles north of the worst-hit region -- there were power outages , massive traffic jams and spotty phone service , cnn 's cal perry said from the city . `` from an infrastructure perspective , the country absolutely has been brought to its knees , '' he said . red crescent spokeswoman nabiha chowdhury told cnn that communication with her agency 's teams who have arrived in the stricken area is spotty , but they have resources with them to immediately help people with water purification , which she said was a top priority .<doc-sep>those teams have cash with them to buy relief supplies from local wholesalers , said chowdhury , who said the latest number of people injured was 15,000 with 1,000 missing . chowdhury said about 600,000 people had fled , adding that about 2 million people lived along the coast . the u.n. world food programme said it has enough high-energy biscuits to feed 400,000 people for several days . another humanitarian group , save the children , appealed for aid from the public . `` many families have lost everything , including their homes and their crops , and they are struggling to survive , '' said kelly stevenson , save the children 's bangladesh director . `` we are appealing to the u.s. public to support our efforts to assist children and families affected by this disaster . we remain very concerned about possible outbreaks of cholera and severe diarrhea due to the lack of access to clean water , '' he said in a written statement . the u.s. department of state pledged friday pledging `` to work with the government and foreign donors to assist in relieving the effects of the disaster . '' department spokesman sean mccormack said the u.s. mission in bangladesh , anticipating the storm , pre-positioned 16 zodiac boats , water treatment systems , water ambulances and food for a more rapid response . u.s. defense secretary robert gates was expected to approve plans to send up to three navy amphibious warships , with up to 3,500 marines , to locations off the coast of bangladesh to assist in relief efforts . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- india 's president expressed her condolences sunday for those killed by a devastating cyclone that has forced thousands to seek refuge in emergency shelters . the death toll along india 's southeastern coastline stood at 27 as of sunday , according to officials . this was two days after cyclone thane brought heavy rains and winds gusting at almost 90 miles per hour at its peak to the area .<doc-sep>`` china is n't doing its share of heavy lifting , and the same can be said about india as well , '' zarni said . `` china is a country on the rise , and it can really repair its tarnished reputation around tibet if it puts pressure on the regime and says , ` this is unacceptable , even to chinese standards . ' '' zarni was referring to critics of last fall 's chinese crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators , led by tibetan monks . he directed most of his criticism toward myanmar 's military rulers , who he said are solely concerned with their own security and political ambitions , while neglecting the cyclone victims . the government has been bitterly criticized for being too slow in responding to the may 2 disaster , then blocking large-scale , international emergency aid . the government has relented somewhat in the past few days . the official death toll from cyclone nargis rose thursday , with myanmar state television reporting more than 40,000 fatalities . many believe the toll will be much higher . watch scenes of widespread destruction ''<doc-sep>new delhi , india -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the death toll from a powerful cyclone that hit india and bangladesh this week has climbed to at least 180 , officials said wednesday . cyclone aila struck eastern india , causing an estimated $ 8 million damage in one district alone . in bangladesh , some 111 people have died and more than 6,600 others have been injured in the storm , said sultanul islam chowdhury from the country 's food and disaster management ministry . cyclone aila , which made landfall on monday , has swept away nearly 180,000 homes and affected the lives of more than 3.3 million people , he said . in india , the number of storm-related deaths climbed to 69 wednesday , according to an emergency official . about a quarter of the total , 20 people , died in landslides triggered by aila on tuesday in a hilly region of west bengal , said debabrata pal , a joint-secretary with the state 's disaster management department . cnn 's harmeet shah singh contributed to this story .<doc-sep>two days ago , an intensely powerful typhoon ripped through the midsection of the philippines . internationally known as haiyan , the weakened but still dangerous storm has plowed into vietnam . but history will record this as a filipino disaster . i will call the typhoon by its filipino name , yolanda . yolanda might have been the most powerful land-falling tropical cyclone -- this being the generic scientific term as they are called typhoons , hurricanes or simply cyclones in different parts of the world -- ever recorded by meteorologists . more analysis will be needed to finalize that ruling . but it really does n't matter now to the millions of people in the rubble of yolanda 's wake . the strongest winds , in the narrow ring of yolanda 's perfectly circular eyewall , passed directly through tacloban city , a provincial capital with more than 200,000 inhabitants . photos coming from tacloban show almost complete devastation . an accurate death toll will take time , but it is nearly impossible to imagine that it wo n't be in the thousands . numbers of more than 10,000 , as in some early estimates , seem possible . many , perhaps most , were not killed by the winds but were drowned by deep storm surges . yolanda may have broken records , and its direct hit on a major city was excruciatingly bad luck . but tropical cyclone death tolls in the thousands or higher are not nearly rare enough in the developing world . in 2008 , cyclone nargis likely killed more than 100,000 in myanmar . and the philippines , right in the world 's worst cyclone highway , are hit very often . in december , typhoon bopha , nearly as strong as yolanda , hit the southern island of mindanao and killed more than a thousand . does it seem , in fact , that these weather disasters are happening more often ? well , they are .

<t> more than 1,700 people dead , toll expected to rise , official says . </t> <t> 15,000 people are injured following thursday 's tropical cyclone sidr . </t> <t> u.n. world food programme has food for 400,000 people for three days . </t> <t> power outages , massive traffic jams and poor phone service in dhaka . </t>

cyclone death toll hits 1,700<T>

los angeles , california -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a court has ordered pop singer britney spears to give up custody of her children effective wednesday at noon . kevin federline and britney spears , here during happier times , have two children . spears ' former husband , kevin federline , is to retain custody of their two sons `` until further order of the court , '' according to a ruling by superior court judge scott gordon . it was not clear what led to monday 's decision awarding federline full custody . a transcript of the court proceedings was ordered sealed . last month , a judge ordered spears , 25 , to submit to random drug tests after finding she engaged in `` habitual , frequent , and continuous use of controlled substances and alcohol . '' that order , also by gordon , provided no details and did not name any drugs .<doc-sep>the former couple has been embroiled in a bitter custody fight over their sons , sean preston and jayden . the parents had split custody 50-50 , but federline then asked for the arrangements to be shifted to 70-30 in his favor . watch how spears became user of -- and prisoner to -- fame '' in addition to ordering the twice-weekly drug tests , gordon ordered spears to spend eight hours per week working with a `` parenting coach , '' who was to observe her interactions with her children . gordon also told both parents to avoid alcohol or `` other non-prescription controlled substances '' 12 hours before taking custody of the children . he also barred the exes from making `` derogatory remarks about the other party and the other party 's family or significant other '' during the case . and he ordered the parents to go through `` joint co-parenting counseling '' and barred them from using corporal punishment on the boys .<doc-sep>spears and federline were married for two years before their divorce became final in july . monday 's order comes amid a career freefall for spears , whose new album is due to be released november 13 . after her september 9 `` comeback '' performance on the mtv video music awards , critics derided her singing and dancing as lackluster and said she appeared overweight in her sequined two-piece costume . her former divorce lawyer , laura wasser , resigned last month as her legal representative after telling reporters the singer `` just wants to be a mom . '' spears ' management company , the firm , recently quit after representing the singer for little over a month . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>she also had been taken to another hospital january 3 for drug and alcohol tests and a psychiatric evaluation after a custody dispute at her home . the following day , a california court refused to grant spears visitation rights with her children -- sean preston , 2 , and jayden james , 1 -- until mid-february at the earliest . in the last year , the onetime mouseketeer has shaved her head as photographers looked on ; been cited for `` habitual , frequent , and continuous use of controlled substances and alcohol '' by the judge in her custody case ; and seen her `` comeback '' performance on the mtv video music awards panned by critics who derided her singing , dancing , costume choice and weight . spears ' parents obtained a restraining order against her manager earlier this week , accusing omar `` sam '' lufti -- whom spears met in october -- of drugging her and controlling her life , her finances and her exposure to photographers . the order barred lufti from spears ' homes and those of her family , as well as her children . federline , spears ' former backup dancer , holds primary custody of the children . spears had been in trouble with the court earlier concerning her compliance with court orders in the custody case . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>los angeles -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- pop singer britney spears must submit to random drug tests , a judge has ordered after finding she engaged in `` habitual , frequent , and continuous use of controlled substances and alcohol . '' kevin federline and britney spears are in the middle of a bitter custody battle over their two sons . the ruling by superior court commissioner scott gordon provided no details and did not name any specific drugs , stating only that the findings were `` based on the evidence presented . '' spears must also spend eight hours a week working with a parenting coach who will observe her interactions with her children , according to the ruling released tuesday . efforts to contact the singer 's lawyers , marci levine and mel goldman , were unsuccessful late tuesday . the ruling comes during spears ' custody battle with ex-husband kevin federline . the documents underscore the bitter nature of the fight over their two sons , sean preston and jayden . the two have split custody equally , but federline is asking for the arrangements to be shifted to 70-30 in his favor .<doc-sep>los angeles , california -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- pop star britney spears was resting at ucla medical center on thursday , her mother said , hours after police escorted her to the hospital from her hollywood home . britney spears , left , and her mother lynne spears pose at the 2000 mtv video music awards in new york . a long convoy of police and a los angeles fire department ambulance transported the 26-year-old singer to the hospital after midnight , acting on what the los angeles times reported was a `` mental evaluation hold . '' it was the second hospitalization for spears this month . the police operation was planned far in advance and , according to the l.a. times , followed a phone call to police from spears ' psychiatrist . asked if her daughter was resting , mother lynne spears said `` yes '' to a throng of reporters as she departed the medical center . watch scene at spears ' home '' the pop star 's father jamie spears and her manager sam lufti also appeared at the hospital , neither choosing to speak to reporters . the latest incident in the troubled performer 's saga began about 12:55 a.m. on thursday when the north hollywood police department sent about eight officers to spears ' hilltop house in studio city , california , according to a law enforcement official , who asked not to be identified because he 's not authorized to comment publicly . see spears timeline '' the group at spears ' house included plainclothes officers , motorcycle police , ambulance crews and some police `` brass , '' the official said . it took the better part of the day to arrange the transport plan , the officer said . on january 3 , spears was taken to cedars-sinai medical center , where she reportedly underwent a psychological evaluation . watch how mental evaluations work '' andrew blankstein , a los angeles times reporter who was at the scene of thursday 's incident , told cnn that a police convoy , stretching the length of a football field , accompanied the ambulance as it drove down coldwater canyon boulevard -- in part to keep the paparazzi from getting too close . watch police motorcade at spears ' home '' spears was whisked out a side entrance to her house . `` you could n't really see what was going on -lsb- when officers first swept into the residence -rsb- but on the police radio , there was some reference to ` the package is on the way out , ' ` we 're leaving now . go , go , go , ' '' blankstein said . a few hours earlier , two officers were sent to investigate a report of a large group gathered outside the singer 's home , said david grimes , watch commander for the west division of the los angeles police department . the two officers found 20 to 25 people near the house around 11 p.m. wednesday and they asked them to leave , he said . abc-tv host barbara walters reported on monday 's `` the view '' that she had been contacted by spears ' manager and `` good friend , '' lufti , who told her the pop star has seen a psychiatrist and `` is suffering from what he describes as mental issues which are treatable , '' according to the associated press . watch experts discuss spears ' behavioral issues '' during spears ' earlier hospitalization , in addition to the psychological evaluation , she was examined for possible influence of alcohol or drugs . police had been called to her home that night to mediate a custody dispute . a day later , a california court refused to grant spears visitation rights with her two children -- sean preston , 2 , and jayden james , 1 -- at least until mid-february . spears has been in a heated dispute with ex-husband kevin federline over custody of their sons . federline , spears ' former backup dancer , holds primary custody of the children . spears has been in trouble with the court earlier concerning her compliance with court orders in the custody case . after filing for divorce in november 2006 , spears was frequently seen enjoying hollywood nightlife . her behavior became increasingly erratic ; in february 2007 , she shaved her head as paparazzi looked on , then spent a month in rehab . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's saeed ahmed and ninette sosa contributed to this report . copyright 2008 cnn . all rights reserved.this material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten , or redistributed . associated press contributed to this report .<doc-sep>after a closed hearing monday , gordon ordered spears , 25 , to undergo random drug tests twice a week . he told both parents to avoid alcohol or `` other non-prescription controlled substances '' 12 hours before taking custody of the children . he also barred the exes from making `` derogatory remarks about the other party and the other party 's family or significant other '' during the case , ordered them to go through `` joint co-parenting counseling '' and barred them from using corporal punishment on the boys . spears and federline were married for two years before their divorce was finalized in july . federline 's attorney , mark vincent kaplan , told reporters on monday he did n't see the custody battle being resolved before scheduled hearings in november and december . tuesday 's order comes amid a career freefall for spears , who has a new album due in stores november 13 . critics said her september 9 `` comeback '' performance on the mtv video music awards was lackluster and said she appeared overweight in her sequined , two-piece costume . her former divorce lawyer , laura wasser , resigned as her legal representative in the past few days after defending her outside the courthouse on friday , telling reporters the singer `` just wants to be a mom . '' and spears ' management company , the firm , has quit after representing the singer for a little more than a month . `` it saddens us to confirm media reports that we have terminated our professional relationship with britney spears , '' the company announced monday . `` we believe britney is enormously talented and has made a terrific record , but current circumstances have prevented us from properly doing our job . we wish britney the best . '' e-mail to a friend .

<t> kevin federline to take custody of children effective wednesday noon . </t> <t> federline and britney spears have two children , ages 2 and 1 . </t> <t> pair were divorced in july . </t>

spears will lose custody of children<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- rock group r.e.m. debuted a song from its upcoming album wednesday on cnn 's `` anderson cooper 360 ° '' program . r.e.m. singer michael stipe says the band was honored to be involved with the `` planet in peril '' project . the song `` until the day is done '' also will appear later this month in `` planet in peril , '' a four-hour cnn documentary that looks at environmental crises around the world . `` with ` planet in peril , ' anderson cooper and his team have done an amazing job capturing global eco-devastation , '' said r.e.m singer michael stipe in a news release . `` the images in the film are beautiful , while at the same time heartbreaking and frightening . we are honored to have our song included in this monumental project . ''<doc-sep>this is n't the first time r.e.m. has worked with cooper . the band premiered its video `` bad day '' on the show in 2002 . `` planet in peril '' executive producer charlie moore said the group 's longstanding commitment to environmental causes made them a natural choice for the project . watch a trailer for `` planet in peril '' and hear `` until the day is done '' '' moore said they contacted r.e.m. earlier this year to see if the group would be willing to write a song to go with the documentary , and the band happened to be in the studio working on their upcoming album . `` we were able to hear some of the stuff they were doing and this particular song fits perfectly for the project , '' moore said .<doc-sep>he said the group , their management and their record label were eager to be involved . `` it 's sort of serendipitous that we were able to work something out with them , '' moore said . `` all the stars were lined up for this to happen , they were in the studio , they were working on a song that fit with the feeling that the pictures portray and they really match up very well . and we like their music , we like their work and are just thrilled that they wanted to be a part of it . '' `` planet in peril '' features cnn anchor anderson cooper , chief medical correspondent dr. sanjay gupta and `` animal planet '' host and wildlife biologist jeff corwin . the two-part documentary was filmed in 13 countries and focuses on the issues of climate change , deforestation , species loss and overpopulation .<doc-sep>cnn will air `` planet in peril '' on october 23 and 24 at 9 p.m. et . it also will be broadcast on cnn international . in a message on the r.e.m. 's web site , the group said it had finished recording songs for the new album , which is scheduled to be released next year . the band also is releasing a live cd/dvd on tuesday with 22-tracks recorded at a 2005 concert in dublin , ireland . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- rock group r.e.m. debuted a song from its upcoming album wednesday on cnn 's `` anderson cooper 360 ° '' program . r.e.m. singer michael stipe says the band was honored to be involved with the `` planet in peril '' project . the song `` until the day is done '' also will appear later this month in `` planet in peril , '' a four-hour cnn documentary that looks at environmental crises around the world . `` with ` planet in peril , ' anderson cooper and his team have done an amazing job capturing global eco-devastation , '' said r.e.m singer michael stipe in a news release . `` the images in the film are beautiful , while at the same time heartbreaking and frightening . we are honored to have our song included in this monumental project . '' this is n't the first time r.e.m. has worked with cooper . the band premiered its video `` bad day '' on the show in 2002 . `` planet in peril '' executive producer charlie moore said the group 's longstanding commitment to environmental causes made them a natural choice for the project . watch a trailer for `` planet in peril '' and hear `` until the day is done '' '' moore said they contacted r.e.m. earlier this year to see if the group would be willing to write a song to go with the documentary , and the band happened to be in the studio working on their upcoming album . `` we were able to hear some of the stuff they were doing and this particular song fits perfectly for the project , '' moore said . he said the group , their management and their record label were eager to be involved . `` it 's sort of serendipitous that we were able to work something out with them , '' moore said . `` all the stars were lined up for this to happen , they were in the studio , they were working on a song that fit with the feeling that the pictures portray and they really match up very well . and we like their music , we like their work and are just thrilled that they wanted to be a part of it . '' `` planet in peril '' features cnn anchor anderson cooper , chief medical correspondent dr. sanjay gupta and `` animal planet '' host and wildlife biologist jeff corwin . the two-part documentary was filmed in 13 countries and focuses on the issues of climate change , deforestation , species loss and overpopulation . cnn will air `` planet in peril '' on october 23 and 24 at 9 p.m. et . it also will be broadcast on cnn international . in a message on the r.e.m. 's web site , the group said it had finished recording songs for the new album , which is scheduled to be released next year . the band also is releasing a live cd/dvd on tuesday with 22-tracks recorded at a 2005 concert in dublin , ireland . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>malcolm young 's guitar has been a major part of the ac/dc sound -- a sound often slammed by rock critics but beloved by fans of hard rock and heavy metal . other guitarists , including megadeth 's dave mustaine , rank him highly . young has said he 's proud of the band 's straightforward , powerhouse crunch . `` people can go out and hear r.e.m. if they want deep lyrics , but at the end of the night , they want to go home and get f ***** ! that 's where ac/dc comes into it , '' he once said . ac/dc is one of the biggest-selling bands in music history , ranking 10th on the recording industry of america list with more than 70 million albums sold .<doc-sep>this year marked the 61st anniversary of the 1950 chinese invasion of tibet , and the benefit -- which also featured patti smith , michael stipe , taj mahal and the roots -- is in its 21st year . the show kicked off with several tibetan monks in robes chanting in front of a large painting of the region 's sprawling potala palace . the roots were the first performers to bring the entire audience to their feet when they were joined by angelique kidjo for a rousing `` move on up . '' their peak was their take on neil young 's `` down by the river , '' a reprise from their carnegie appearance last month at a young tribute show . guitarist captain kirk douglas took center stage , wailing on his gibson sg and throwing in riffs of `` hey joe '' under young 's lyrics . r.e.m. are n't touring off `` collapse into now '' -lrb- out march 8th -rrb- , but michael stipe looked thrilled to be onstage . he debuted two never-performed r.e.m. songs : `` saturn return , '' off 2008 's `` reveal , '' which he performed standing behind the piano , and gorgeous new `` collapse '' track `` everyday is yours to win . '' he told the crowd he had only played the song in bassist mike mills ' living room in l.a. two weeks earlier , but it sounded like an r.e.m. classic .<doc-sep>by . matt chorley , mailonline political editor . published : . 11:13 est , 6 february 2014 . | . updated : . 12:15 est , 6 february 2014 . music , it seems , really is the food of love ... at least for david cameron and wife samantha . the prime minister has revealed the song which soundtracked the couple 's early courtship , and how an eclectic love of music has sustained 18 years of marriage . mr cameron named perfect circle , an album track with obscure lyrics by american alternative rock group r.e.m. , as the song which they listened to as they fell in love . favourite : perfect circle , an obscure album track by us band r.e.m. provided the soundtrack to david and samantha cameron 's early courtship . the prime minister , pictured with wife samantha at the conservative party black & white ball last night , lifted the lid on the couple 's early musical tastes . the tory leader does not have a good track record with making his musical choices public . in 2010 the smiths ' jonny marr banned him from listening to their music , after he repeatedly named them as one of his favourite bands . and radiohead frontman tom yorke vowed to ` sue the living s *** ' of the conservative if he used one of the band 's songs in an election campaign . but so far at least there has been no warning from r.e.m. singer michael stipe about the song he listened to while wooing his future wife . put your hair back , we get to leaveeleven gallows on your sleeveshallow figure , winner 's paideleven shadows way out of place . standing too soon , shoulders high in the roomstanding too soon , shoulders high in the roomstanding too soon , shoulders high in the room . pull your dress on and stay real closewho might leave you where i left offa perfect circle of acquaintances and friendsdrink another , coin a phrase . heaven assumed , shoulders high in the roomheaven assumed , shoulders high in the roomheaven assumed , shoulders high in the room . try to win and suit your needsspeak out sometimes but try to win . standing too soon , shoulders high in the roomstanding too soon , shoulders high in the roomstanding too soon , shoulders high in the roomstanding too soon , shoulders high in the roomstanding too soon , shoulders high in the room . asked during an interview on bbc manchester radio to name the song that meant most to the couple when they were falling in love , mr cameron named perfect circle from r.e.m 's 1983 debut album murmur . he told presenter mike sweeney : ` we . had lots of songs . there was one by r.e.m , i think , which was perfect . circle , which we liked a lot . ` in . june this year , we 'll have been married 18 years . i remember it all as . clear as day , and she 's got some good musical tastes , actually . ' mr cameron picked the track when he . appeared on bbc radio 4 's desert island discs in 2006 , saying then that . it ` reminds me of driving down to bristol to sam 's student flat and . falling in love ' . while . the pm has happy memories of listening to the same song over and over . again , his repetitive music choices have not always curried favour with . mrs cameron . his favourite . album of 2013 was mumford & sons ' ` babel ' . but he added : ` it 's . driving samantha mad . you know what it 's like when you overplay . something and it 's even beginning to annoy you , and it 's annoyed . everyone else in the family . ' last month he revealed how he and mrs . cameron recently ` sneaked ' into a concert by obscure swedish folk duo , . first aid kit . he added : ` i 've got into a bit of a countryish thing . ' he has also previously boasted of being a fan of the killers , emiliana torrini and florence and the machine . mr cameron was ` banned ' from listening to the smiths by johnny marr , so instead has taken to ` sneaking ' into a concert at shepherd 's bush empire to see scandinavian sisters johanna and klara soderberg as first aid kit . last week he named brit award-nominee tom odell as his latest favourite artist . the pm said : ' i do n't know who is going to win the brit awards . i think tom odell has got a lovely voice . ' i have been married to samantha for 18 years this year , she is an amazing woman , and i think his song grow old with me for old romantics like me is a good one . '

<t> r.e.m. song `` until the day is done '' debuts on cnn . </t> <t> song also to be used in documentary `` planet in peril '' </t> <t> song will be on r.e.m. 's upcoming album . </t> <t> band releasing live cd/dvd next week . </t>

r.e.m. debuts song on ` ac 360 ⁇ '<T>

las vegas , nevada -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a young girl shown on video being sexually assaulted was raped while in the care of a baby sitter her mother hired , the mother 's attorney said tuesday . chester arthur stiles , 37 , of nevada is being sought as a suspect in the videotaped rape of a young girl . the mother did not know her daughter had ever been victimized and was apparently oblivious to efforts to find her until last friday , jerry t. donohue said . `` a family friend called her and said , ` my god , you need to turn on the tv . i believe that is your daughter , ' '' he said . donohue said the mother recognized the suspect , chester arthur stiles , 37 , a former animal trainer . the abuse most likely occurred while the mother - a single woman working six days a week - was at work , donohue said . the attorney said he knows who the baby sitter is , but would not release that information because of the ongoing investigation .<doc-sep>earlier , officials had said the girl , who is now 7 , was 3-years-old at the time the video was made . but donohue said tuesday , `` to my understanding , the abuse occurred before she was 3 years old . '' the mother of the girl asked that the news media leave the family alone . `` i want to ask you , the press , to respect my family 's privacy and to not attempt to contact my daughter or myself , '' the mother said in a written statement read by her attorney . watch donohue read the mother 's statement '' the mother also said she is cooperating with investigators and that her daughter `` is safe and healthy . '' the girl 's videotaped rape set off a nationwide search last week . she was found friday with family in las vegas , nevada , after thousands of tips poured in . professionals have since evaluated her and she appears to be `` healthy and fine and happy , '' the lawyer said . the lawyer said neither he nor the mother has watched the videotape .<doc-sep>asked whether the mother is thankful to the news media for having published the girl 's picture so that authorities were able to identify her , donohue said , `` not really ... there 's some things maybe you do n't want to know . '' still , he said , he hopes the man in the tape is brought to justice . `` speaking as a father myself , i wish the guy would dig a hole in the desert and put a gun in his mouth , '' he said , referring to such an outcome as `` wild-west justice . '' meanwhile , the intense manhunt for stiles continued tuesday . on monday , stiles ' former girlfriend , tina allen , told cnn she thinks she is the reason stiles came in contact with the girl and is `` mortified '' by the allegations against him . allen said she and stiles were in an on-again , off-again relationship for 10 years until recently , when she called it off .<doc-sep>`` he said he 'd been in the navy and , you know , i was looking for a strong guy to represent to my sons what i thought they needed to be , '' allen said . allen said she took stiles to a crowded apartment where her son and daughter lived . also living in the apartment were a family friend and her daughter , who allegedly was victimized by stiles . `` i 'm disgusted . i 'm ashamed , embarrassed , mortified , '' allen said of the alleged rape . `` i regret every , every step i ever took , i feel bad for the baby . '' the fbi is also seeking stiles , a resident of pahrump , nevada , in a separate matter involving state charges of sexual assault and lewdness with a minor under the age of 14 . pahrump is about 60 miles west of las vegas . a man who said he found the tape in the desert and held it for at least five months before handing it over to authorities turned himself in sunday to nye county officials . darren tuck , a nevada resident who allegedly showed the tape to others before giving it to police , faces charges of exhibiting pornography and possession of child pornography . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>after attempting unsuccessfully to find out the girl 's identity , authorities turned to the media for help and released a picture of the girl , and the case drew nationwide attention . she was found in october 2007 . an attorney for her mother said she was 7 years old and safe and healthy . the rape occurred before the girl 's third birthday , while she was in the care of a baby-sitter her mother had hired , he said . the mother did not know the girl had been victimized . after the girl was found , authorities asked cnn and other news organizations to stop showing her picture . in an appearance on `` the dr. phil show , '' the girl 's mother said the girl has no recollection of the assault . stiles , a resident of pahrump , nevada , was arrested in a traffic stop in october 2007 . police said at the time they pulled stiles ' car over because it had no license plate , and became suspicious when the driver displayed an expired california license with a photo that did not match his appearance .<doc-sep>after attempting unsuccessfully to find out the girl 's identity , authorities turned to the media for help and released a picture of the girl , and the case drew nationwide attention . she was found in october 2007 . an attorney for the child 's mother said she is 7 years old and safe and healthy . the rape occurred before her third birthday while she was in the care of a baby sitter her mother had hired , he said . the mother did not know the girl had been victimized . after the girl was found , authorities asked cnn and other news organizations to stop showing her picture . stiles , a resident of pahrump , nevada , was arrested in a traffic stop in october 2007 . police said at the time they pulled stiles ' car over because it had no license plate and became suspicious when the driver displayed an expired california license with a photo that did not match his appearance . `` he finally told us , ` hey , i 'm chester stiles , ' '' said henderson , nevada , police officer mike dye . '' ` i 'm the guy you 're looking for . '' stiles told police he was `` sick of running , '' dye said .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the maternal grandmother of a 7-month-old florida girl found hidden in a small cedar box under her baby sitter 's bed says her daughter , who was charged in the case , is troubled and needs help . police think chrystina lynn mercer gave shannon lee dedrick to the sitter -- who is the baby 's paternal aunt , susan baker -- and 10 hours later reported the girl missing . `` as confused as tina is , i have to tell you , she has emphatically stated that she did not and would not ever harm her child , '' mercer 's mother , kandis boyer , said thursday on hln 's `` nancy grace . '' without elaborating , boyer said she thinks her daughter `` was manipulated into this situation . ''<doc-sep>a foster dad pleaded guilty wednesday to involuntary manslaughter for leaving a 10-month-old girl inside a sweltering car outside of his house in july while he and his partner smoked marijuana . sedgwick county district attorney marc bennett has said seth jackson , 29 , went to a drug dealer 's house july 24 before picking up the girl from a baby sitter . after arriving home , he went inside with a 5-year-old child , but left the baby in the vehicle . it was around 90 degrees outside , and police say the girl was inside the car with the windows up for more than two hours . an autopsy showed she died of hyperthermia due to heat exposure . scroll down for video . guilty : seth jackson pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter for leaving his 10-month-old foster daughter inside a sweltering car outside of his house in july while he and his partner smoked marijuana . killed : it was around 90 degrees outside , and police say the girl , kadillak poe jones , was inside the car with the windows up for more than two hours . sedgwick county district attorney 's office spokesman dan dillon said authorities are identifying the child only by her initials , which are k.p.j. local media , however , and mailonline earlier reported the girl 's name is kadillak poe jones . the affidavit said that jackson realized that jones was in the car when he heard a baby crying on an episode of ` game of thrones ' they were watching . the couple allegedly viewed one-and-a-half episodes of the program , the affidavit said . the men rushed outside , jackson unlocked the vehicle and his partner , payton schroeder , removed the child .

<t> mom thinks girl was abused while in the care of a baby sitter , attorney says . </t> <t> mother had no idea daughter had been abused , attorney says . </t> <t> girl , now 7 , shown being raped on videotape made years ago . </t> <t> manhunt underway for suspect , chester arthur stiles , 37 . </t>

girl raped while in the care of baby sitter , attorney says<T>

memphis , tennessee -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- three men have been arrested and charged with murder in the shooting death last week of a university of memphis football player , memphis police announced monday . police investigating a car crash on september 30 found taylor bradford , 21 , fatally wounded near the campus residence hall area . he had apparently gotten into his car after being shot , and drove a short distance before crashing into a tree . bradford -- a 5-foot-11 , 300-pound defensive lineman from nashville -- was pronounced dead at regional medical center .<doc-sep>memphis police department director larry godwin said deeshawn tate , 21 , victor trezevant , 21 , and courtney washington , 22 , had been charged with murder in perpetration of attempted aggravated robbery . homicide investigators developed the case against the three men with the help of a citizen 's tip and crimestoppers , he said . godwin said the investigation continues , and `` we do expect additional arrests in this case . '' `` it was an attempted robbery , aggravated robbery , '' he said . bradford `` was targeted because of some information that was out there and the fact that they believed he had some cash , or he had something that they wanted . ''<doc-sep>godwin said none of the three arrested suspects were students at the university , but he would not rule out that other suspects could be students . shelby county district attorney general william l. gibbons said the three suspects would make an initial court appearance as early as tuesday . he said prosecutors were considering seeking the death penalty in the case , but no decision had been made .<doc-sep>`` whether or not it will be would be premature for me to say , '' gibbons said . `` there are a lot of factors that go into it . we 'll make a determination at the appropriate time . '' officials at the 21,000-student school said bradford , a marketing major who lived on campus , was popular with the football team and on the campus as a whole . he had transferred from samford university in birmingham , alabama , and was 36 credit hours short of graduation . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a fourth man was charged tuesday with murder in the shooting death of university of memphis football player taylor bradford , memphis police said . devin jefferson , 21 , planned the armed robbery of bradford because he thought the football player was carrying a large amount of cash , police said . `` he was the brain trust on this one , he was the one that got the information that taylor had cash , '' sgt. vince higgins said . `` taylor and jefferson knew each other . they had a girlfriend in common so there was some history there . '' police investigating a car crash on september 30 found bradford , 21 , fatally wounded near the campus residence hall area .<doc-sep>spanish police made the arrests on thursday , mainly in madrid , and seized 600 kilos -lrb- 1,320 pounds -rrb- of cocaine they alleged had been shipped from argentina to spain earlier this month . the suspected leader of the group was identified as zoran matijevic , a serb-born football agent , the international football federation , who now holds french citizenship , according to a police statement and the police source . his aides in the alleged scheme included pedrag stankovic , a former player on the second-division hercules team from alicante in southeast spain ; carlos de la vega diaz , a current player for the second-division rayo vallecano team in madrid , and pablo acosta , a football agent , according to the statement and the police source .<doc-sep>prosecutors said . hernandez 's attorneys had asked a judge to throw out one of the former nfl star 's murder cases , saying prosecutors lacked evidence . prosecutors countered that they can tie hernandez to lloyd 's shooting and that the killing was part of a pattern of hernandez committing acts of violence following nightclub disputes . also during the court hearing , hernandez pleaded not guilty to charges that he attacked a handcuffed inmate and threatened to kill a guard and his family while at a county jail in dartmouth . former new england patriots nfl football player aaron hernandez 's attorneys challenged the evidence in one of his murder cases , arguing at a pretrial hearing that prosecutors have not established probable cause . ursula ward , the mother of victim odin lloyd attends a hearing for former nfl new england patriots football player aaron hernandez . hernandez faces murder charges in the june 17 slaying of lloyd , a semi-pro football player , as well as a separate case in which he is accused of shooting two men in boston from inside a suv in 2012 . he has pleaded not guilty in each case and is being held without bail . the former new england patriot sat passively in a blue blazer and khaki dress pants as his attorneys argued that the charges in the lloyd slaying should be dismissed . defense attorney james sultan said the prosecution might be able to prove hernandez was with lloyd the night he was killed , but he argued that does not make hernandez culpable . ` you ca n't throw a bunch of stuff at the wall . that 's not probable cause , ' sultan said . terri hernandez , mother of former new england patriots nfl football player aaron hernandez , stands up at the conclusion of her son 's hearing .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- jason baldwin paused saturday on his first morning of freedom in 18 years to share a revelation he gleaned in prison while serving a life sentence . the `` west memphis three '' member recalled telling inmates he had figured out the secret of life . `` what is it ? '' they asked . `` i said , ` enjoy it . enjoy it , ' '' baldwin told cnn memphis affiliate wmc . and enjoy it he did friday and saturday . baldwin , damien echols and jessie misskelley jr. -- freed friday in arkansas after a complicated plea arrangement -- spent time with family , friends and supporters . echols and baldwin saw the sunset friday from the rooftop of the madison hotel in memphis , across the mississippi river from west memphis , arkansas . supporters eddie vedder of pearl jam and natalie maines of the dixie chicks joined the party . the three men , who served 18 years in prison following their convictions in a 1993 triple-slaying in west memphis , walked free friday to cheers from a supportive crowd after entering rarely used pleas in which they maintained their innocence but acknowledged that prosecutors have evidence to convict them . they had been imprisoned for the slayings of second-graders steven branch , christopher byers and michael moore .

<t> university of memphis athlete taylor bradford , 21 , was shot september 30 . </t> <t> three charged with murder in perpetration of attempted aggravated robbery . </t> <t> after player was shot , he got in his car , drove off and then crashed into a tree . </t> <t> the killing spurred school officials to temporarily lock down the campus . </t>

arrests made in memphis football player slaying<T>

los angeles , california -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- former detainees of immigration and customs enforcement accuse the agency in a lawsuit of forcibly injecting them with psychotropic drugs while trying to shuttle them out of the country during their deportation . raymond soeoth , pictured here with his wife , says he was injected with drugs by ice agents against his will . one of the drugs in question is the potent anti-psychotic drug haldol , which is often used to treat schizophrenia or other mental illnesses . doctors say they are required to see patients in person before such drugs are administered . two immigrants , raymond soeoth of indonesia and amadou diouf of senegal in west africa , told cnn they were injected with the drugs against their will . both are plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit brought by the american civil liberties union against the government . they are seeking an end to the alleged practice and unspecified damages . watch why the former detainees claim abuse '' dr. paul appelbaum , a professor of psychiatry , law and ethics at columbia university , reviewed both men 's medical records for this report and was stunned by what he discovered . `` i 'm really shocked to find out that the government has been using physicians and using potent medications in this way , '' said appelbaum , who also serves as a member of the american academy of psychiatry and the law . `` that is the sort of thing that would be subject to a malpractice claim in the civilian world . '' the allegations of ice forcibly drugging deportees were raised last month by sen. joe lieberman , i-connecticut , during the re-nomination hearing of ice chief julie myers . `` the information the committee has received from ice regarding the forced drugging of immigration detainees is extremely troubling , particularly since it appears ice may have violated its own detention standards , '' lieberman spokeswoman leslie phillips told cnn in an e-mail . `` senator lieberman intends to follow up with ice to ensure that detainees are not drugged unless there is a medical reason to do so . '' aclu attorney ahilan arulanantham , who is representing soeoth and diouf , said , `` it would be torture to give a powerful anti-psychotic drug to somebody who is n't even mentally ill . ... but here , it 's happening on u.s. soil to an immigrant the government is trying to deport . '' responding to lieberman 's written questions , myers said 1,073 immigration detainees had `` medical escorts '' for deportation since 2003 . from october last year to the end of april this year , she said 56 received psychotropic medications during the removal process . of those , 33 detainees received medication `` because of combative behavior with the imminent risk of danger to others and/or self , '' she said . `` first , i am aware of , and deeply concerned about reports that past practices may not have conformed to ice detention standards , '' myers said .<doc-sep>she added no detainee should be `` involuntarily medicated without court order , '' except in emergency situations . but both soeoth and diouf say they had not exhibited any combative behavior . soeoth , a christian minister from indonesia , spent 27 months in detention awaiting deportation after his bid for political asylum was rejected . hours before he was to be sent back home on december 7 , 2004 , he says guards injected him with a mystery drug that made him groggy for two days . see the document that shows soeoth was injected . `` they pushed me on the bench , they opened my pants , and they just give me injection , '' he said through broken english . he says he was taken to los angeles international airport while in this drug-induced stupor , but two hours before takeoff , airline security refused to transport him , so ice agents returned him to his cell at terminal island near los angeles . terminal island , once a federal prison , is a crowded facility along the ocean where hundreds of illegal immigrants await deportation . soeoth 's medical records indicate he was injected with cogentin and haldol , even though those same records show he has no history of mental illness . in the records , the government says he was injected with the drug after he said he would kill himself if deported -- a remark soeoth denies ever making . ice said in a written statement it could n't respond to specific allegations due to pending litigation . `` department of homeland security law enforcement personnel may not and do not prescribe or administer medication to detainees , '' the ice statement said . `` only trained and qualified medical professionals , including officers of the u.s. public health service , may prescribe or administer medication . '' but , diouf says , he was injected on the plane right before he was to be deported . he said he even had a federal stay of his deportation -- and the paperwork to prove it -- but his u.s. government escorts would n't let him show it to the pilot of the plane preparing to fly him out of the country . see diouf 's stay of deportation document . that 's when , he says , `` i was wrestled to the ground and injected through my clothes . '' a government report says he was medicated because he did not follow orders . in both cases , diouf and soeoth remain in the united states pending a decision in the case . if they lose , they may land back in the hands of ice , once again facing deportation . soeoth says he 's traumatized by what happened . `` i know this country -lsb- is -rsb- very generous to immigrants , '' he says . `` what they did to me was very , very bad . '' e-mail to a friend . cnn 's wayne drash , traci tamura and gregg cane contributed to this report .<doc-sep>`` it 's abhorrent that president obama is releasing criminals into our communities to promote his political agenda on sequestration , '' house judiciary committee chairman bob goodlatte , r-virginia , said . `` by releasing criminal immigrants onto the streets , the administration is needlessly endangering american lives . '' but the white house had no input on the plan , spokesman jay carney said wednesday . the decision was made by career ice employees , an administration official told cnn . the move was made because the agency was preparing its year-end budget and had to take budget cuts into consideration , the official said . an exact number of released detainees has not been released ; ice characterized it as `` several hundred . '' the population of immigration detainees is currently about 30,700 . those who have been released are non-criminals or low-risk offenders without serious criminal histories , ice spokeswoman barbara gonzalez said . `` detainees with serious criminal histories are a detention priority and have not been released , '' she said . another ice official reiterated that all of those released remain in deportation proceedings , released on an order of supervision .<doc-sep>its release did not say where the class-action suit was filed wednesday , but it said defendants include three ice officials ; williamson county , texas , where the hutto facility is ; the corrections corporation of america -lrb- cca -rrb- , a private prison company that manages the hutto facility ; the former facility administrator for hutto ; and a guard at the facility . the lawsuit alleges that ice along with williamson county and the corrections corporation of america were `` deliberately indifferent and willfully blind to the fact that -lrb- the guard named as a defendant -rrb- and other employees regularly violated the rule that detainees are not be transported without another escort officer of the same gender present , '' the aclu said . ice did not comment specifically on the aclu 's announcement of the lawsuit , but an agency spokeswoman said ice `` maintains a strict zero tolerance policy for any kind of abusive or inappropriate behavior and requires all contractors working with the agency to adhere to this policy . '' ice public affairs officer gillian christensen added that the agency requires regular criminal backgrounds checks for its workforce .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- at first , miguel hernandez thought it was a mistake , or worse , a joke . the 19-year-old had been pulled over for failure to use his turn signal , but the fact that he is an undocumented immigrant landed him in a detention center in rural georgia . hernandez was certain that deportation proceedings would follow soon , and was mulling over it when a guard brought some news : he was being released . `` i was walking and i was thinking , this is a joke . they probably got confused with another guy or something , '' hernandez said . more likely , hernandez was one of hundreds of undocumented immigrants released from detention because of looming budget cuts set to take effect friday absent congressional action . the package of forced budget cuts , known as sequestration , will mean $ 85 billion of government-wide cuts . the u.s. immigration and customs enforcement -lrb- ice -rrb- decision to move detainees to less costly supervision options was met with backlash from republicans who accuse the obama administration of using scare tactics to win a political battle .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- gaby pacheco calls herself an aspiring u.s. citizen who is compiling the paperwork and trying to get the $ 465 needed to apply for a two-year reprieve from getting deported . james d. doebler says his superiors at u.s. immigration and customs enforcement are threatening to suspend him for putting an arrested illegal immigrant into the hearing process that could lead to deportation . the two are on opposite sides of a lawsuit filed this week by doebler and nine other ice agents that challenges a new obama administration policy intended to remove the threat of deportation faced by young illegal immigrants who arrived in america as children and have good student or military records . doebler and his fellow complainants argue the new policy on immigration law enforcement exceeds the administration 's authority and puts ice agents in the position of facing disciplinary action for doing their jobs . `` they 're in a position now that 's just untenable , '' argued roy beck of numbersusa , an advocacy group for more restrictive immigration that is bankrolling the lawsuit . the goal of the lawsuit is to force a court ruling on whether the new administration policy is legal , beck told cnn on friday . if so , then the ice agents are protected ; and if not , the case would halt what the former journalist called a harmful influx of illegal workers at a time when young americans are struggling to find jobs . `` obviously , we would not be pleased if they say this is a legal order , '' beck said , adding : `` we do believe strongly that the president does n't have the right to do this . '' pacheco and others reject the premise of the lawsuit , calling it a politically motivated effort to undermine the `` deferred action '' directive by homeland security secretary janet napolitano that went into full effect last week . `` i think they 're using this as a political plan to rally the voters in election season , '' said pacheco , the political director of united we dream , an advocacy group for young illegal immigrants like herself . a statement by afl-cio president richard trumka said the lawsuit lacked a sound legal basis , noting that `` over 100 of the nation 's top constitutional and immigration law scholars signed on to a letter '' attesting to the constitutionality of the new administration policy . trumka 's statement added that the suing agents `` are working with some of the most anti-immigrant forces in the country ; forces that have long sowed division and destruction . '' the agents are represented by kris kobach , the republican kansas secretary of state who worked on arizona 's controversial immigration law and is an informal adviser to presumed republican presidential nominee mitt romney , according to numbersusa .

<t> detainees file suit against ice , allege they were injected with drugs . </t> <t> one detainee tells cnn : `` what they did to me was very , very bad '' </t> <t> ice says 1,073 detainees have had `` medical escorts '' since 2003 . </t> <t> sen. lieberman vows to investigate further ; spokesman calls charges `` troubling '' </t>

lawsuit : ice drugging detainees set for deportation<T>

tampa , florida -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- some christian congregations , particularly in lower income , urban areas , are turning to an unlikely source for help -- the church of scientology . rev , charles kennedy uses scientology founder l. ron hubbard 's book during a friday night sermon . scientologists do not worship god , much less jesus christ . the church has seen plenty of controversy and critics consider it a cult . so why are observant christians embracing some of its teachings ? two pastors who spoke recently with cnn explained that when it comes to religion , they still preach the core beliefs of christianity . but when it comes to practicing what they preach in a modern world , borrowing from scientology helps . the rev. charles kennedy , of the glorious church of god in christ , a pentecostal church in tampa , florida , and the rev. james mclaughlin , of the wayman chapel african methodist episcopal church in houston , texas , are among the theological hybrids . watch rev. kennedy preach '' they say they are not scared off by programs with ties to a church that critics say has aggressive recruiting , secretive ways and rigid theology . as men of god rooted in christian values , they do not see scientology as a threat to their faith , but rather as a tool to augment it . scientology was founded in the 1950s by l. ron hubbard , a science fiction writer . followers are taught that they are immortal spiritual beings called thetans . although the church says there is a supreme being , its practices do not include worshipping god . `` i 'm looking for solutions , and the people that i help , they do n't ask me who l. ron hubbard is , '' said mclaughlin , who works with addicts . `` you know what they say ? ` thank god . ' '' critic rick ross , a court-certified scientology expert , sees something more sinister at work . he warned that mainstream acceptance makes it easier for the scientologists to achieve their ultimate goal -- new recruits . `` their hope is that through these programs , people will become more interested in l. ron hubbard , what else mr. hubbard had to offer , and this will lead them eventually to scientology , '' ross said . the church has long been in the headlines for practices critics say are little more than cult-like mind control . it is also known for its stable of devout celebrity followers . and according to published reports , scientology has been recently diversifying its outreach to include other religions and ethnic groups . kennedy , mclaughlin and a handful of other christian church leaders -- no one can say how many -- are finding answers to their communities ' needs in scientology 's social programs . for kennedy , it began two years ago when he attended a meeting at the church of scientology 's spiritual headquarters in clearwater , florida . he was introduced to a book called `` the way to happiness '' -- hubbard 's 64-page , self-described `` common sense guide to better living . ''<doc-sep>in the book , which lays out ways to maintain a temperate lifestyle , kennedy found a message he believed could help lift his predominantly lower income african-american congregation . he said the book 's 21 principles help them with their struggle in an urban environment where there is too much crime and addiction and too little opportunity . kennedy knew that before he could introduce any scientology-related text to his congregation , he would have to prove that it did not contradict his christian beliefs . and so , he found scripture to match each of the 21 principles . now kennedy uses `` the way to happiness '' as a how-to supplement to his sermons . he believes it is easier to understand and clearer to follow than ancient scriptures taken from the bible . when asked whether scientology 's values contradict the religion of jesus christ , kennedy replies , `` sometimes yes . sometimes no . '' but he says his congregation can relate to `` the way to happiness . '' kennedy admits other pastors have criticized him , but the disapproval is not enough to discourage him . he insists that he has witnessed the changes `` the way to happiness '' has inspired in people . he also maintains that the scientologists , many of whom he calls friends , are successful at outreach and getting desired results . at kennedy 's c. l. kennedy center , free tutoring based on hubbard 's `` study tech '' philosophies is provided to dozens of children and some adults . kennedy 's daughter , jimirra , is one of the instructors . she said `` study tech '' and the scientology orientation classes she attended helped her graduate from high school and become a poised woman . though jimirra kennedy insists she does not ascribe to the religious side of scientology , she still considers herself , at least in part , scientologist . `` we say this all the time and i know my father says this , but i am like a pentecostal scientologist , that 's what we are . '' critics like ross are alarmed by such a blurring of the lines . they consider it a marketing win for scientology . in houston , mclaughlin says he is not one to argue with success . driven by a need to address the rampant drug problem in his community , mclaughlin spent years searching for a solution before he discovered `` narconon , '' scientology 's nonprofit drug rehab center , in 2001 . mclaughlin trained at narconon and brought the techniques back to his community to launch `` first step faith step , '' a program that combines hubbard 's methods with the teachings of christianity . he claims a 70 - to 80-percent rehabilitation success rate . kennedy and mclaughlin said they have never lost a member of their congregations to scientology . `` i think that they truly believe that this may help their communities , but in my opinion , they 're naïve , '' ross said . scientologists , he added , `` have their own agenda . '' the church of scientology would not grant cnn an interview , nor would its representatives answer questions about the hubbard-based programs . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>cameroon 's president paul biya has ordered the closure of nearly 100 christian churches in key cities , citing criminal practices organized by pentecostal pastors that threaten the security of the west african nation . but pentecostal pastors said the move is evidence of biya 's insecurity about the churches ' criticism of the government . biya is using the military to permanently shut down all pentecostal church denominations in the nation 's capital , yaounde , and the north west regional capital , bamenda , which have the largest christian populations in cameroon . more than 50 churches have now been closed , with the government targeting nearly 100 in eight other regions . `` we will get rid of all the so-called christian pentecostal pastors who misuse the name of jesus christ to fake miracles and kill citizens in their churches . they have outstretched their liberty , '' mbu anthony lang , a government official in bamenda , told cnn wednesday . nearly 500 pentecostal churches operate in cameroon , but fewer than 50 are legal , he added . on sunday , a 9-year-old christian girl collapsed and died during a prayer session in winners ' chapel , a pentecostal church in bamenda . the girl 's mother , mih theresa , told cnn wednesday that the pastor intended to cast out the numerous demons that were in control of her daughter 's life . `` i want the government to stop these pastors who use mysterious powers to pull christians and kill then for more powers . all my children have ran away from the catholic church in search for miracles , signs and wonders , '' she told cnn while holding back tears . another christian , mveng thomas , said his marriage ended abruptly when a pentecostal pastor ordered his wife to dissolve their union . he said the pastor described him as `` an unrepentant devil . ''<doc-sep>pastors marched against the government 's decision wednesday in bamenda and douala . pastors said the biya government sees the mass proliferation of churches as a threat . boniface tum , a bishop of the christian church of god in yaounde , said that biya , who has been president since 1982 , is becoming insecure about the freedom of speech within these churches . `` authorizing only the catholic , presbyterian , baptist , muslim , and a few other churches , is a strict violation of the right to religion , '' tum added . targeted pentecostal christians in bamenda are transforming their private homes into churches . north west regional governor adolphe lele l'afrique said wednesday that police had discovered the abduction of 30 children under age 18 by a pastor in bamenda . the pastor said he wanted to remove the children from a bad society , lele added . government officials also say that some pastors convince congregants that they do not need professional medical treatment for their ailments . `` how can a pastor say the sick needs no medical doctor ? we need sanity in our christian lives , '' nyang blaise , a youth leader for biya 's ruling party , cpdm , told cnn . one woman said her mother was refusing cancer treatments because of her pastor . `` my mother 's condition is worsening after doctors confirmed she had cancer . she is dying silently , and yet we can not persuade her to see a doctor for proper treatment , against her pastor 's wish , '' deborah tanyi said .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . when most people think of jesus , they do n't typically think of grown men beating each other to a pulp . but for a collection of small christian churches , mixed martial arts submission moves like the arm bar and the triangle choke hold are as integral a part of worshiping christ as communion wine and bible verses . a new documentary goes inside some of these churches and examines the relationship between mma and christianity by following a group of cage-fighting pastors who preach that a punch in the jaw is better than turning the other cheek . ` weâ $ ™ ll just be a couple of god-fearing men punching each other in the . face , ' one of the pastors explains in a trailer for the documentary , titled fight . church .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . published : . 12:21 est , 13 january 2013 . | . updated : . 19:27 est , 13 january 2013 . the church of scientology has vehemently denied claims made in a sensational new book that tom cruise auditioned a host of hollywood beauties including scarlett johansson , jessica alba , lindsay lohan and kate bosworth to be his wife before settling on katie holmes . allegedly disappointed by his split from oscar-winning actress penelope cruz in 2004 after she failed to embrace scientology , cruise , 50 , allowed senior members of the church to summon the unwitting stars to read for a non-existent part in the ` mission : impossible ' series . according to ` going clear : scientology , hollywood and the prison belief ' , the top gun star initiated the unusual casting couch-style marriage interviews after a complaint to his sister at a scientology church opening in madrid that no one had been able to find him a new girlfriend . actresses scarlett johansson and jessica alba -lrb- right -rrb- were reportedly auditioned by scientologist 's looking to find a new wife for tom cruise . actor tom cruise attends the ` jack reacher ' press conference at conrad hotel on january 10 , 2013 in seoul , south korea . actresses kate bosworth and lindsay lohan were also reportedly considered for the role of tom cruise 's wife and were asked to attend casting for a bogus role in a new mission impossible film .

<t> christian pastors borrow ideas from scientology to preach temperate lifestyle . </t> <t> critics say scientology is a cult , always looking for recruits . </t> <t> pastor in houston , texas , claims 70 percent success rate with addicts . </t>

some christian pastors embrace scientology<T>

atlanta , georgia -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- after his weekend arrest on gun charges , rapper t.i. will remain in custody until a bond hearing friday , a federal magistrate said monday . t.i. , whose real name is clifford harris , was arrested without incident in midtown atlanta . the entertainer , whose real name is clifford harris , was arrested saturday just hours before he was scheduled to perform at the bet hip hop awards . the small court room of magistrate judge alan baverman was packed with family , supporters and media , but even more people , including the rapper 's mother , were turned away because of the overcrowding . harris , 27 , was arrested in a federal sting after his bodyguard-turned-informant delivered three machine guns and two silencers to the hip-hop star , according to a justice department statement . watch a search of the rapper 's home '' he was held in federal custody over the weekend . authorities said that harris provided the bodyguard $ 12,000 to buy the weapons , which harris is not allowed to own because he is a convicted felon . court documents said harris was convicted on felony drug charges in 1998 , and a federal affidavit said he has been arrested on gun charges in the past . however , one of his attorneys , dwight thomas , said he was not aware harris was a convicted felon and that `` a number of people '' live in harris ' suburban atlanta home . thomas added there were `` two sides to every story -- sometimes three '' and he was confident the legal system would work in harris ' favor .<doc-sep>the entertainer was taken into custody about 2:30 p.m. saturday in atlanta , where the bet award show was taped . harris , the show 's top nominee , was up for nine awards , including cd of the year and lyricist of the year . he also was scheduled to perform , along with fellow rap stars common , nelly and kanye west . harris won two awards . the show went on without the self-proclaimed `` king of the south , '' whose car and home in the atlanta suburb of college park were searched after his arrest . authorities said they found three more firearms in the car in which harris drove to pick up the machine guns and silencers , `` including one loaded gun tucked between the driver 's seat where harris had been sitting and the center console . '' at his home , authorities found six other guns , five of them loaded , in his bedroom closet . `` machine guns pose a serious danger to the community , which is why they are so carefully regulated , '' said david nahmias , u.s. attorney for the northern district of georgia . `` the last place machine guns should be is in the hands of a convicted felon , who can not legally possess any kind of firearm . this convicted felon allegedly was trying to add several machine guns to an already large and entirely illegal arsenal of guns . '' the sting came after harris ' bodyguard was arrested purchasing the machine guns and silencers from an undercover bureau of alcohol , tobacco , firearms and explosives agent wednesday , according to the justice department statement . the bodyguard then agreed to cooperate with the atf , the statement said .<doc-sep>the guns were not registered on the national firearms registration and transfer record as required by law . the bodyguard -- who has worked for harris since july -- told authorities he had bought about nine guns for the rap star in the past , the statement said . on wednesday , authorities said , harris arranged for the bodyguard to pick up $ 12,000 in cash from a bank to buy the guns . after his arrest , the bodyguard made phone calls to harris , which authorities recorded , the statement said . harris was supposed to meet the bodyguard in a shopping center parking lot in midtown atlanta to pick up the guns . authorities arrested harris there without incident , the justice department statement said . court documents in the case show harris was convicted on felony drug charges in cobb county , georgia , in 1998 and sentenced to seven years ' probation . `` harris has additional arrests and at least one probation violation for unlawfully possessing firearms , '' according to an affidavit . harris ' music is built around the drug culture and is known as `` trap musik , '' the name of harris ' second album . a `` trap '' is southern slang for a drug house . harris soon will appear in the movie `` american gangster , '' starring denzel washington and russell crowe . the film is set to open november 2 . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's mike phelan and catherine callaway contributed to this report .<doc-sep>floyd mayweather jr. is still undefeated in las vegas after he and rapper t.i. became embroiled in a huge melee which caused chaos at a city fatburger on saturday morning . two videos from that evening show chair 's being thrown inside the burger joint while in another the 37-year-old mayweather screams , presumably at t.i. , for him to ` control your b **** motherf ***** ' . witnesses to the brawl said that t.i. approached mayweather while he was eating and began to verbally abuse him before he allegedly threw a punch at the undefeated eight-time world champion . scroll down to watch video . fight : floyd mayweather and rapper t.i. got into a brawl at a las vegas fatburger restaurant . wild : chairs were thrown during the altercation but both mayweather and t.i. left before police arrived .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- rapper t.i. walked out of a federal prison in arkansas wednesday morning , 10 months after he began serving a sentence for violating his parole on a gun conviction , a prison official confirmed . `` the storm is over & da sun back out . it 's our time to shine shawty !!!!! welcome to the beginning of our happy ending !!!! '' t.i. , whose real name is clifford harris , wrote in a twitter message wednesday . t.i. will complete the last weeks of his 11-month sentence in a community service center , or half-way house , but bureau of prisons spokesman chris burke would not disclose its location until the singer gets there . this was the rapper 's second stint in the federal correctional center in forrest city , arkansas . he served seven months there in 2009 as part of an unusual sentence negotiated two years ago to resolve federal gun charges . those charges followed his attempt to buy three machine guns in the parking lot of an atlanta grocery store . `` feels great to be back where i belong ... back in the arms of those who need me the most , '' t.i. tweeted wednesday . cable channel vh-1 announced just hours after his release that it was producing a reality series to show t.i. `` as he re-adjusts to life as a free man after being incarcerated for nearly a year in a federal prison in arkansas . '' the as yet-untitled 10-episode series will premiere in december , vh-1 said . `` viewers will get a behind-the-scenes look at the most private and personal moments of one of today 's hottest , most sought after grammy winning artists as he is reunited with his wife and kids and thrust back into society at this crucial juncture in his life , '' the channel said . mtv produced a series in 2009 based on the countdown to his first prison term , titled `` t.i. 's road to redemption . ''<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- rapper t.i. , who was sentenced to a 366-day prison sentence in march , reported tuesday to a federal prison complex in forrest city , arkansas , according to cnn affiliate wsb-tv . t.i. , left , performed to a packed crowd sunday , days before he was to start a prison term . the rapper -- whose real name is clifford harris jr. -- was required to be at the prison before noon local time to begin serving his sentence on federal weapons charges . according to news reports , officers from forrest city and the prison set up a roadblock along arkansas highway 1 about one-tenth of a mile from the complex . reporters were not allowed any closer to the prison . t.i. threw himself a going-away party sunday night at philips arena in atlanta , georgia , before a packed house . during sunday 's concert -- called `` t.i. 's final goodbye bash '' -- the 28-year-old grammy winner reiterated a message that 's become familiar in recent weeks : he wants others to learn from his mistakes . `` i 'm doing the best i can to get out there , man , and put something positive on these young kids , man , '' t.i. said during the show . `` i try my best . i need y' all help , though . '' the rapper played to a sell-out crowd of 16,000 people , said kenan woods , a spokesman for the arena . t.i. played through much of his catalog , including the hits `` whatever you like , '' `` live your life '' and the grammy-winning `` swagga like us , '' woods said .<doc-sep>west hollywood , california -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the date was october 13 , 2007 . in four hours , t.i. was scheduled to appear at the bet hip-hop awards in atlanta , georgia , where he was nominated for nine trophies . `` i have a lot of people to make proud , '' t.i. says . instead , the hip-hop superstar found himself handcuffed in a downtown parking lot for attempting to buy machine guns and silencers in an undercover sting . he pleaded guilty to illegal weapons possession and was sentenced to seven months of house arrest , 1,500 hours of community service and one year in jail -- which he begins serving next march . in the meantime , t.i. 's new cd , `` paper trail , '' has become his third consecutive no. 1 album . and if that is n't enough , he sits at no. 1 and no. 2 on the billboard hot 100 singles chart with `` live your life '' and `` whatever you like . '' cnn senior producer denise quan spoke with the multiplatinum rapper , born clifford harris jr. , backstage before a recent show at the key club in west hollywood , california . cnn : when i first heard about the charges , i said , `` you have got to be kidding . why ? '' t.i. : well , in order to fully understand the answer to that question , you will have to put yourself in my shoes . you know how many attempts have been made against my life ? there are people out there that would rather kill you than to tell you `` good luck '' or `` i am happy for you . '' so until you understand that , you would n't understand my train of thought . ireport.com : what do you think ? share thoughts on video . not to say it was right . it 's just my best explanation . cnn : what scares you ? t.i. : federal court dates . -lrb- laughs -rrb- . cnn : are you scared about going to jail for a year ? t.i. : i would n't describe it as fear . i would describe it more as concerned . concerned , and i am a little anxious . sooner i get started , sooner i get finished . watch t.i. talk about his hope for redemption '' cnn : what do you think is the biggest misconception is about you ? t.i. : the biggest misconception is that i am a hotheaded thug . ignorant , cold-hearted , just another ignorant rapper who had a chance at success and has done nothing but horrible things with it . nothing can be further from the truth .

<t> new : t.i. to remain in custody until friday , when there 's a bond hearing . </t> <t> rapper was arrested saturday on weapons charges . </t> <t> t.i. won two awards at bet awards show saturday night . </t>

rapper t.i. in custody until friday<T>

jena , louisiana -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- charges against bryant purvis , one of the six black students accused of being involved in beating a white student , were reduced to second degree aggravated battery during his arraignment wednesday morning . bryant purvis says he is focusing on his studies and practicing basketball . purvis , who was facing charges of second-degree attempted murder and conspiracy , entered a not guilty plea to the reduced charges in the lasalle parish courthouse in jena . charges have now been reduced against at least five of the students in the racially charged `` jena 6 '' case . charges against jesse ray beard , who was 14 at the time of the alleged crime , are unavailable because he 's a juvenile . civil rights leaders martin luther king iii and al sharpton led more than 15,000 marchers to jena -- a town of about 3,000 -- in september to protest how authorities handled the cases against purvis and five other teens accused of the december 2006 beating of fellow student justin barker .<doc-sep>after the arraignment , purvis said he has moved to another town to complete high school . he said he is focusing on his studies and practicing basketball , which he hopes to play in college . mychal bell , 17 , is the only one of the `` jena 6 '' teens still in jail . although he was released in september after his adult criminal conviction for the beating was overturned , he was ordered two weeks later to spend 18 months in a juvenile facility for a probation violation relating to an earlier juvenile conviction . a district judge tossed out bell 's conviction for conspiracy to commit second-degree battery , saying the matter should have been handled in juvenile court . the 3rd circuit court of appeal in lake charles , louisiana , did the same with bell 's battery conviction in mid-september . prosecutors originally charged all six black students accused of being involved in beating barker with second-degree attempted murder and conspiracy . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a louisiana appeals court ruled it was too early to consider a motion to release a black teenager who allegedly took part in beating up a white classmate in jena , louisiana , last year . mychal bell , 17 , is accused with five others of severely beating justin barker in a school fight . the tuesday ruling is the latest turn in the racially charged saga of a group known as the jena 6 -- six black teens initially charged with attempted murder after they allegedly knocked out classmate justin barker and stomped him during a school fight . five of the teens were charged as adults . civil rights groups and other organizations have marshaled thousands of people to march on jena on thursday , a day originally slated for 17-year-old mychal bell 's sentencing hearing on battery and conspiracy convictions . however , a district judge earlier this month tossed out bell 's conviction for conspiracy to commit second-degree battery , saying the matter should have been handled in the juvenile court . on friday , the 3rd circuit court of appeals in lake charles , louisiana , did the same with bell 's battery conviction . a three-judge panel ruled tuesday , however , that it would not consider a motion to free bell from prison . `` the motion for release from custody , filed by the defendant in this court , is premature , '' the panel ruled without setting a date for considering the motion . the future of bell 's case is up to the district attorney , who must decide whether to refile the charges in juvenile court , bell 's attorney bob noel said last week . charges against four of the teens -- bell , carwin jones , theodore shaw and robert bailey -- have been reduced to battery and conspiracy . shaw and jones have not gone to trial . bailey has pleaded not guilty to the charges and his trial is scheduled for november 26 . bryant purvis and an unidentified juvenile remain charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder . advocates of the jena 6 say the story began well before the december 4 beating . they say it began in september when three white students decided to hang nooses from a tree on campus . in september 2006 , a black student asked the vice principal if he and some friends could sit under an oak tree where white students typically congregated . told by the vice principal they could sit wherever they pleased , the student and his pals sat under the sprawling branches of the shade tree in the campus courtyard . the next day , students arrived at school to find three nooses hanging from those branches . according to the town talk in nearby alexandria , the school 's principal recommended expulsion for those behind the nooses . instead , the newspaper reported , a school district committee suspended three white students for three days for hanging the nooses , a gesture written off as a `` prank . '' racial tensions flared . the district attorney was summoned to address the student body . off-campus fights were reported . on november 30 , someone torched the school 's main academic building . the arson remains unsolved , but many suspect it was linked to the discord . four days after the arson , several students jumped barker , knocking him unconscious before stomping and kicking him . parents of the jena 6 say they heard barker was hurling racial epithets . barker 's parents insist he did nothing to provoke the beating . barker was taken to a hospital with injuries to both eyes and ears as well as cuts . his right eye had blood clots , said his mother , kelli barker . he was treated and released that day . bails for the jena 6 were set at between $ 70,000 and $ 138,000 . all but bell posted bond . the judge has refused to lower his $ 90,000 bail , citing bell 's criminal record , which includes four juvenile offenses -- two simple battery charges among them . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>bails for the jena 6 had been set at between $ 70,000 and $ 138,000 , and all but bell posted bond . the judge has refused to lower his $ 90,000 bail , citing the teen 's record , which includes four juvenile offenses -- two simple battery charges among them . bell and five other defendants were arrested in the alleged beating of barker , who is white , at their high school on december 4 . the incident followed months of racial tension , sparked originally when three white teens hung nooses from an oak tree the day after a group of black students violated an unofficial rule among students that only whites sit in that area . see timeline of how events unfolded '' prosecutors originally charged all six black students with second-degree attempted murder and conspiracy . walters reduced charges against at least four of them -- bell , robert bailey jr. , carwin jones and theo shaw -- to battery and conspiracy . bryant purvis awaits arraignment . charges against jesse ray beard , 14 at the time of the alleged crime , are unavailable because he 's a juvenile . civil rights leaders and other demonstrators call events in jena a sign of unequal justice in the 21st century . the white kids who hung the nooses were briefly suspended from classes but faced no punishments from the legal system . donald washington , u.s. attorney for the western district of louisiana , told cnn that the fbi and other investigators thought the noose incident bore the markings of a hate crime , but a decision was made not to press charges because the case did n't meet federal criteria . the students were under 18 and had no prior records , and no group such as the ku klux klan was found to be behind their actions . authorities estimated about 15,000 to 20,000 protesters came out thursday to jena -- a town of about 3,000 , according to the 2000 census . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>`` there 's a jena in every state , '' jackson told the crowd in jena on thursday morning . joann scales , who brought her three teenage children on a two-day bus journey from los angeles , california , to jena , made the same point . `` the reason i brought my children is because it could have been one of them '' involved in an incident like the one in jena . `` if this can happen to them -lsb- the jena 6 -rsb- , it can happen to anyone , '' scales said . ondra hathaway was on the bus with scales . `` if this young man -lsb- bell -rsb- was railroaded to do time as an adult , how many more people has that happened to ? '' she said . jackson said on cnn 's `` american morning '' on thursday that the charges against the black youths , their possible jail terms if convicted and their bail amounts are `` excessive . '' punishing the teens with probation would have been sufficient , jackson said . bails for the jena 6 were between $ 70,000 and $ 138,000 , and all but bell have posted bond . bell , 17 , has been in prison since his arrest . the judge has refused to lower his $ 90,000 bail , citing bell 's record , which includes four juvenile offenses -- two simple battery charges among them . bell was 16 at the time of the attack ; 17 is the legal adult age in louisiana . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's susan roesgen , tony harris , kyra philips , eric marrapodi and eliott mclaughlin contributed to this report .<doc-sep>purvis is one of six former students in jena , louisiana , accused of being involved in the beating of a white student . he initially was charged with second-degree attempted murder and conspiracy , but charges against him were reduced in november to second-degree aggravated battery . he is awaiting trial in that case . civil rights leaders martin luther king iii and al sharpton led more than 15,000 marchers to jena -- a town of about 3,000 -- in september to protest how authorities handled the cases against purvis and the five others accused in the december 2006 beating of fellow student justin barker . after his arraignment in november , purvis told reporters he had moved to another town to complete high school . e-mail to a friend .

<t> charges against bryant purvis reduced to second degree aggravated battery . </t> <t> purvis had faced attempted murder , conspiracy charges . </t> <t> charges reduced against at least five of six blacks charged in beating . </t> <t> case of `` jena 6 '' drew national spotlight during september protest . </t>

charges against jena 6 defendant reduced<T>

london , england -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- up to 1,000 human rights campaigners demonstrated saturday in front of no. 10 downing street , the official residence of british prime minister gordon brown , calling on the british government to demand that full democracy be restored in pakistan . jemima khan , center , ex-wife for former pakistani cricket star imran khan , joins protesters in london .<doc-sep>protesters waved placards and chanted in support of the resignation of pakistani president pervez musharraf , a week after he imposed a state of emergency in the country . the crowd of demonstrators massed behind barriers and included jemima khan , the ex-wife of former pakistani cricket star turned politician imran khan .<doc-sep>the demonstrators carried placards saying `` free the innocent '' and `` end musharraf 's regime '' and waved pakistani flags . imran khan , who heads the the movement for justice party , has been under house arrest since the emergency declaration .<doc-sep>his ex-wife delivered a petition to a doorman at downing street , calling on britain to use its influence to ensure that all institutions are in place well in advance of pakistani elections originally scheduled for early next year . the petition also demands that pakistan restore democracy and the judiciary and calls on musharraf to release all political prisoners , including lawyers , journalists and opposition politicians . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>by . tamara abraham . published : . 13:18 est , 30 july 2013 . | . updated : . 06:31 est , 31 july 2013 . jemima khan has revealed that her late friend princess diana was so ` madly in love ' with hasnat khan , she considered moving to pakistan to be with him . in a vanity fair article titled : ` the grandmother prince george never knew ' , jemima says diana , who dated the heart surgeon from 1995-97 , sought her advice during fundraising visits to lahore . ` she wanted to know how hard it had . been for me to adapt to life in pakistan , ' jemima told the magazine 's contributing editor sarah ellison . true love : the september 2013 vanity fair features the late princess diana on its cover . inside , the magazine discusses her relationship with pakistani heart surgeon hasnat khan . close friends : diana pictured with jemima khan on 21 february 1996 in lahore . it was on visits such as these that diana would seek jemima 's advice on moving to pakistan . ` both times she also went to meet -lsb- hasnat 's -rsb- family secretly to discuss the . possibility of marriage . '<doc-sep>miss bonas joins the likes of helen flanagan , cheryl cole , michelle keegan and jemima khan in backing the campaign . the photograph emerges after the miss bonas and her boyfriend were recently spotted on a skiing trip to kazakhstan . staying at a resort owned by a wealthy oligarch with ties to the dictatorship 's political elite , the couple flew by government helicopter to the exclusive resort of shymbulak in the former soviet state for a ` private holiday ' . miss bonas and prince harry are photographed here together earlier this month at twickenham . back to basics : helen flanagan posted this bare-faced selfie to her instagram account in support of cancer research . ' i woke up like dis -lrb- sic -rrb- ' : cheryl cole joined the make-up free selfie trend by posting a picture of herself on instagram .<doc-sep>sitting in the dentist 's waiting room , the receptionist called out brightly : ` mrs hodgkinson ? ' i was on my feet without hesitation , even though the word ` mrs ' was almost as painful as the dentist 's drill . i have n't been a mrs for nearly 30 years and , truth to tell , i 'm not really a hodgkinson either . it is my former husband 's surname , not mine , but it 's far too late to change and revert to my original surname . that is why i felt a pang of jealousy when i read in last week 's mail that jemima khan is to become jemima goldsmith again . liz felt a pang of jealousy when she read in last week 's mail that jemima khan -lrb- left -rrb- is to become jemima goldsmith again , having kept her ex-husband imran khan 's -lrb- right -rrb- surname for so long . she became a khan in 1995 when she married pakistani cricketer-turned-politician imran khan . despite their divorce in 2004 , until now she has remained a khan . ostensibly , she is going back to her maiden roots because her former husband is considering remarrying , which means there would be two mrs imran khans . but others have suggested imran is unlikely to have been overjoyed to see the khan name associated with louche comedian russell brand , whom jemima dated recently . when my husband and i split up in 1988 , after 23 years together , i kept his name for practical reasons . during our married life , i had become reasonably well known as a writer and it seemed professional suicide to revert to my original name , garrett , a name nobody recognised . the name had become , as we might say today , a kind of brand . jemima is going back to her maiden roots because her former husband is considering remarrying , which means there would be two mrs imran khans . so , against my feminist principles , i had little choice but to stay with a surname that bore absolutely no relation to my status or lifestyle . i was , and would remain , a single woman stuck with a married name , even though i called myself miss on official documents .<doc-sep>george galloway has called in his lawyers over jemima khan 's claim that he converted to islam in a ` phantom ' ceremony more than a decade ago . the socialite had said the maverick mp took part in a ` shahadah ' conversion , attended by members of the muslim association of great britain . mrs khan , who herself became a muslim ahead of her failed marriage to cricketer imran khan , claimed she knows someone who attended the event in north-west london in an article in the new statesman magazine . but mr galloway , who was elected to parliament as mp for bradford west in a by-election last month , angrily denied that any ceremony had taken place . war of words : jemima khan , right , wrote that george galloway , right , converted to islam in a secret ceremony more than a decade ago . he has denied ever taking part in such a ceremony . last night , he issued a statement saying : ` the further allegations from the new statesman in response to my rebuttal moves the issue into the area of defamation . ` jemima khan asked me on tape about this phantom ceremony in kilburn . and i told her it was a lie and whoever told her it was a liar . ` no trace . of this exchange appears in the new statesman piece , . which is predicated upon it . now that they are denying my denial it . places the matter in the hands of my solicitor . ' the four times married 57-year-old had refused to deny claims that he is a muslim . in the media , mr galloway has always been widely referred to as a catholic . but the four times married 57-year-old had refused to deny claims that he is a muslim . in the days before his shock landslide by-election victory last month , a letter - which mr galloway denies being behind - went out to voters highlighting his record of support for palestine , his work for ` the freedom of kashmir ' and his abstention from alcohol . it added : ` god knows who is a muslim . and he knows who is not . instinctively so do you . ' elected : bradford west mp george galloway takes his seat in the house of commons earlier this month for the first time after winning a by-election . george galloway took to twitter to angrily deny mrs khan 's claim that he converted to islam . jemima khan hit back asking ` what 's wrong with being a muslim ? ' ms . khan , who interviewed the mp in his new constituency , which has a large . muslim community , started the article : ` george galloway , mp for . bradford west , is a muslim . ` he . converted more than ten years ago in a ceremony at a hotel in kilburn , . north-west london , attended by members of the muslim association of . great britain . ` those close to him know this . the rest of the world , including his muslim constituents , does not . ' claims : jemima khan 's allegations were published in the new statesman magazine today . ms khan tells mr galloway she knows someone ` who attended your shahadah ' and says , ` so you converted ? '

<t> human rights campaigners demonstrate in front of no. 10 downing street . </t> <t> protests urged uk government to demand full democracy restored in pakistan . </t> <t> cricketer turned politician imran khan 's ex wife jemima among protesters . </t>

jemima khan joins protests<T>

washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- three chinese nationals accused of importing thousands of counterfeit luxury handbags in the united states have been arrested in the past two days , federal authorities announced thursday . shoppers sort through counterfeit brand name luxury bags and wallets on a hong kong street . `` this was a sophisticated criminal conspiracy that trafficked millions of dollars of counterfeit goods from china , profiting off the backs of legitimate companies and their hard-working employees , '' said assistant attorney general alice fisher . authorities call it one of the largest counterfeit operations ever discovered , involving about 300,000 bags and wallets with names like burberry , gucci and coach . for customers who bought the knockoffs , it seemed like a deal .<doc-sep>they paid a total of about $ 16 million for what would have been more than $ 100 million in handbags , purses and wallets in legitimate retail sales . the alleged leaders of the counterfeit operations are three chinese citizens living in new york . chong lam , 49 , and joyce chan , 39 , were arrested there wednesday . eric yuen , 39 , was arrested thursday in las vegas , nevada . immigration and customs enforcement agents who made the arrests began investigating the alleged scheme five years ago , after raids turned up counterfeit goods . the indictment was secretly returned in richmond , virginia , in october . the charges were unsealed when the alleged conspirators were taken into custody . authorities seized and froze 29 bank accounts and three new york properties . the chinese defendants will be taken to richmond , where they will be arraigned at a later date , officials said . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>chinese police destroyed # 21 million of counterfeit designer goods today in a lavish publicity stunt aimed at showing the world they are cracking down on the illegal trade . fake wine , cigarettes , handbags and cosmetics were all thrown on a fire in guiyang , southwest china 's guizhou province . but authorities have a long way to go - a recent un report revealed a staggering 75 per cent of all fake goods seized worldwide from 2008 to 2010 were primarily from china . fake : chinese police destroyed # 21million of counterfeit designer goods today in a lavish publicity stunt aimed at showing the world they are cracking down on the trade . destroyed : china is the largest source of counterfeit goods , according to a un report . most of the counterfeit trade sourced from east asia ends up in the united states and europe . a high percentage of items are purchased on the internet . shippers sometimes route deliveries through . ports in the middle east or africa to avoid detection by customs . most counterfeits fall into four categories : cds and dvds ; accessories , watches and footwear ; tobacco products ; and textiles . gucci handbags retail between # 500 - # 3,390 in stores . but fake versions can be picked up for around # 15 - # 30 . rayban sunglasses usually sell for # 100 , but they fake reproductions can be bought for as little as # 4 . london boroughs and county councils prosecuted 372 people for the sale of counterfeit electrical goods in 2009 . that figure dropped to 245 last year .<doc-sep>the five ` fake shoppers ' would buy the high-priced goods using the unsuspecting customers ' credit information , the complaint stated . some of the items were returned to saks and the charges were returned to fake accounts created by the suspects . the crew were caught on surveillance footage carrying out the elaborate operation , and this was then shown to police . the process was able to continue for four months until the group were caught on surveillance footage carrying out the elaborate operation , and this was then shown to police . williams ' apartment was raided on friday and police found ` over one hundred boxes of shoes ... as well as many boxes of handbags and other merchandise ' , the criminal complaint stated . four men and one woman have been arrested in addition to williams . kris rockson , 45 ; jason chance , 25 ; michael knight-williams , 44 ; michael bright-asante , 39 , and alaia harrison , 20 , have all been charged with grand larceny and identity theft .<doc-sep>detectives from the intellectual property crime unit , which was set up last september to tackle the huge quantities of counterfeit goods flooding into britain , also seized fake designer goods in the raid . fake cosmetics , sunglasses , ugg boots , handbags and liverpool football club merchandise were also discovered . among the hundreds of thousands of pounds of products found piled high in two shipping containers and another property were unbranded electronic cigarette refills , which could pose a significant health risk . fake cosmetics , sunglasses , ugg boots , handbags and liverpool football club merchandise were also discovered . sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .<doc-sep>fake nike , converse and . adidas trainers are sold for # 25 a pair , and mulberry , louis vuitton , . prada and chanel all sell for well under # 35 . the 20 shops reportedly operate on a ` spotter system ' - whereby a lookout will stand outside the shuttered shop front and use mobile phones to alert colleagues inside if police are near . while most of the business comes from those buying in bulk , individual shoppers also visit the underworld factory to buy fake handbags , sunglasses and sports gear . while most of the business comes from those buying in bulk , individual shoppers also visit the underworld factory to buy fake handbags , sunglasses and sports gear .

<t> authorities call it one of the largest counterfeit operations ever discovered . </t> <t> official : scheme profited `` off the backs of legitimate companies '' </t> <t> counterfeit operation allegedly involved 300,000 high-end bags and wallets . </t> <t> the alleged leaders are three chinese citizens living in new york . </t>

chinese charged over fake handbags<T>

washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- national hurricane center director bill proenza left his position monday , just days after nearly half of the nhc staff signed a petition calling for his ouster . hurricane center bill proenza left his job as director monday . proenza is still employed by the national oceanic and atmospheric administration -- a parent organization of the nhc -- but he is currently on leave , said noaa spokesman anson franklin . deputy director ed rappaport has been temporarily placed in charge . proenza , 62 , became the director in january after the retirement of max mayfield .<doc-sep>proenza caused an uproar last month with comments about a key hurricane satellite called quikscat . the satellite is five years beyond its life expectancy and operating on a backup transmitter . proenza said if it were to fail , forecast tracks could be thrown off by as much as 16 percent . he said washington reprimanded him for the remarks : `` they wanted me to be quiet about it . '' but one of the center 's longtime forecasters said proenza 's comments were misguided . `` quikscat is another tool that we use to forecast , '' lixion avila said . `` the forecast will not be degraded if we do n't have the quikscat . '' last week , the commerce department launched an unscheduled review of the hurricane center after word of the staff 's dissatisfaction started to become public .<doc-sep>his staffers on thursday issued a petition calling for him to step down . watch how proenza lost the confidence of his staff '' the petition said the center 's `` effective functioning '' is at stake as the atlantic hurricane season heads toward its peak . `` the undersigned staff ... has concluded that the center needs a new director , and with the heart of the hurricane season fast approaching , urges the department of commerce to make this happen as quickly as possible , '' said the petition , which was signed by twenty-three people , including four of five senior hurricane specialists . hurricane center staffers told cnn 's john zarella they were unhappy not only about his comments about the quikscat , but also about the environment at the center -- one characterized by closed doors and the public airing of dirty laundry .<doc-sep>proenza on friday told cnn he had contacted his superiors in washington about `` ways to move forward , '' but added , `` i am not going to resign . '' proenza told cnn he did not think the staff should dictate the leadership through `` signing petitions . '' proenza graduated from florida state university with a degree in meteorology . he began his career in tropical meteorology in the mid-1960s at nhc and as a meteorologist on the `` hurricane hunter '' aircraft , according to his biography posted on the agency 's web site . he continued within the national weather service for more than 35 years , `` receiving numerous performance commendations and awards , including recognition from the nws employees ' organization as the nws manager of the year for his collaborative leadership , '' the bio said . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>miami , florida -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- about half of the staff of the national hurricane center have signed a petition calling for the ouster of the center 's director , saying its `` effective functioning '' is at stake as the atlantic hurricane season heads toward its peak . national hurricane center director bill proenza said he was reprimanded for comments about replacing a key satellite . `` an unfortunate public debate is now occurring over the ability of the national hurricane center to meet its mission , '' the petition , released thursday , says . `` the undersigned staff of the national hurricane center has concluded that the center needs a new director , and with the heart of the hurricane season fast approaching , urges the department of commerce to make this happen as quickly as possible . '' twenty-three people signed the petition -- about half the center 's total staff , but about 70 percent of those who were available and discussed the statement thursday , said james franklin , a senior hurricane specialist . the center 's current director , bill proenza , took over in january after the retirement of max mayfield . proenza caused an uproar last month with comments about a key hurricane satellite called quikscat . the satellite is five years beyond its life expectancy and operating on a backup transmitter . proenza said if it were to fail , forecast tracks could be thrown off by as much as 16 percent . he told cnn that washington reprimanded him for the comments -- `` they wanted me to be quiet about it . '' but one of the center 's veteran forecasters said proenza 's comments were misguided . `` quikscat is another tool that we use to forecast , '' lixion avila said . `` the forecast will not be degraded if we do n't have the quikscat . '' the commerce department this week launched an unscheduled review of the hurricane center after word of the staff 's dissatisfaction started to become public , the associated press reported . hurricane center staffers told cnn 's john zarrella they were not consulted before proenza made the remarks and replacing the satellite would not be one of their priorities . but they said their dissatisfaction stems not only from proenza 's comments , but also from the environment at the center -- one of closed doors and the public airing of dirty laundry . staffers say they are worried the hurricane center 's mission is being undermined and that public confidence in the center could erode -- meaning the public might not take the center 's storm warnings or evacuation alerts seriously , for instance . the statement was not sent to the commerce department , zarrella said , but was sent to the national oceanic and atmospheric administration 's public affairs office . the national hurricane center is under noaa 's authority . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>hurricane hound -lrb- android -rrb- . hurricane hound uses google maps as its framework and tracks both forecasts and the locations of atlantic and east pacific hurricanes and tropical storms , points out areas the national weather service is keeping tabs on and offers standard nws `` tropical outlooks and discussions , public advisories , forecasts , and satellite imagery . '' fair warning : the free version of hurricane hound has n't been updated in over a year , and it looks like the $ 1.99 add-free version is where developer stki concepts is focusing its attention , recently adding support for `` current radar and weather satellite overlays . '' hurricane / hurricane hd -lrb- ios -rrb- . developer kitty code 's longstanding $ 2.99 hurricane-watching app -lrb- updated in june -rrb- offers a repository of global meteorological information , including tracking maps , satellite views , five-day forecasts , radar and bulletins from the national hurricane center . pull up hurricane isaac and you can see information about wind speed , storm speed and direction as well as follow it from its genesis off the west coast of africa in mid-august through its current position several hundred miles southeast of the mississippi river delta . probably the app 's most valuable function : using ios 's locational services to determine how far away you are .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- november 30th marks the end of the atlantic hurricane season , and although it was extremely active , the national oceanic and atmospheric administration is calling 2010 a `` gentle giant . '' the season wraps up with a total of 19 named storms , 12 hurricanes , and five hurricanes that were category three or higher . that makes 2010 the third busiest season when considering all named storms , and second busiest season on record when considering hurricanes . `` the excellent verification of the seasonal forecast points out , once again , why one can not use this forecast as an indicator of personal risk . the good fortune of relatively minimal impact on the united states in spite of 19 storms , 12 of which were hurricane and 5 of which were category 3 or 4 , will serve as yet another reminder that from a hurricane readiness viewpoint , one must prepare every season as if a major hurricane will impact them , '' said bill read , director of the national hurricane center . remarkably , there were zero u.s. hurricane landfalls in 2010 . on average , approximately two hurricanes hit the united states per year . less fortunate was mexico , which was slammed with a number of storms including hurricane karl , which intensified into a major hurricane before hitting land -- the only hurricane to do so in the bay of campeche . central america also had a share of the tropical activity , where storms caused deadly flooding and mudslides . jack hayes , director of the national weather service , said the season 's forecast was a success . `` as noaa forecasters predicted , the atlantic hurricane season was one of the most active on record , though fortunately most storms avoided the u.s. for that reason , you could say the season was a gentle giant . ''<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- hurricane ida moved into the southern gulf of mexico sunday , prompting a declaration of emergency in louisiana and concern along the u.s. gulf coast . the storm regained hurricane intensity overnight saturday , becoming a category 2 hurricane , but forecasters said it is expected to weaken as it moves north . ida drenched nicaragua after making landfall last week as a category 1 hurricane , then weakened to a tropical storm before resuming strength . in el salvador , at least 91 people died in flooding and mudslides , according to the government , but a low-pressure system out of the pacific -- not hurricane ida -- triggered the disaster , forecaster robby berg of the national hurricane center said sunday . a hurricane warning , meaning hurricane conditions are possible within 24 hours , extends from pascagoula , mississippi to indian pass , florida , forecasters said . from grande isle , louisiana , to west of pascagoula , mississippi , a tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch are in effect . this area includes new orleans , which the center earlier excluded from the watch , and lake pontchartrain , the hurricane center said . in anticipation of the storm 's arrival , louisiana gov. bobby jindal declared a state of emergency sunday afternoon . hurricane ida `` threatens the safety and security of those citizens '' along the state 's southeast coastline , he wrote in the declaration . the declaration gives the director of the governor 's office of emergency preparedness authority `` to undertake any activity authorized by law which he deems necessary and appropriate '' to prepare for the possibility of a hurricane . track ida 's progress , potential path . alabama 's baldwin county commission urged that residents living in mobile homes , coastal communities or low-lying , flood-prone areas voluntarily evacuate . the county is under a local state of emergency and opened a shelter , according to a sunday night statement from the county commission . as of 10 p.m. et sunday , ida had maximum sustained winds near 105 mph -lrb- 165 km/hr -rrb- with higher gusts . but the storm was expected to weaken on monday and possibly begin losing tropical characteristics on tuesday , the hurricane center said .

<t> national hurricane center director bill proenza has left his position . </t> <t> nearly half of the nhc signed a petition calling for him to step down . </t> <t> proenza came under fire for comments he made about the quikscat satellite . </t> <t> staff unhappy with environment of closed doors , public bickering . </t>

national hurricane center director leaves position<T>

el calaboz , texas -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- eloisa tamez said she is n't scared anymore , just determined . `` i am not backing down , '' she said . the u.s. government wants to build a border fence like this one . about 100 landowners are fighting it . tamez owns three acres of land along the texas-mexico border where the department of homeland security would like to build a border fence . the property is a remnant of a 12,000-acre grant from spain to her family in 1767 , before the united states even existed . `` it is my history . it is my heritage , '' tamez said . this week , the justice department began legal action against landowners and municipalities who have refused to give government surveyors access to their land . tamez expects she will be sued sometime soon , but she is not intimidated . asked how long she will fight , she said , `` as long as i have to . '' michael chertoff , the secretary of homeland security , said the fence will not be stopped by opponents like tamez . `` can we simply abandon an enterprise because it is a problem for a particular individual ? '' chertoff told cnn . `` i do n't think i can accept that . '' watch chertoff say it 's `` civic responsibility '' to give up land '' chertoff believes a fence would curb the steady stream of illegal immigrants making their way across the border and lessen the flow of drugs . he also argues it will increase the safety of border patrol agents who have faced increasing violence . the government wants to build 700 miles of fence along the mexican border , including 370 miles of it by the end of this year . about 70 miles of fence is to be built in the rio grande valley by year 's end , if the government gets its way .<doc-sep>the rio grande forms a natural barrier along this stretch of the border , but in some places it is narrow enough to swim across . on the banks of the river there is ample evidence that people do so . piles of underwear lie discarded by swimmers after they make it across . the swimmers change into dry clothes they have carried across in plastic bags . then they disappear into the united states . the border patrol has stepped up its efforts in the rio grande valley with more lights , and sensors to pick up movement . a levee built along the river has a muddy road on top used by border patrol vehicles to patrol the area . richard cortez , the mayor of the border town of mcallen , texas , believes hiring more border patrol agents , deepening the rio grande , and clearing its banks of tall vegetation would provide better border protection than the fence . cortez calls the fence `` a multibillion-dollar speed bump , '' which will slow , but not stop , illegal immigration . `` it is a false sense of security , '' he said . `` america will not be safe . america will continue to waste resources on something that is not going to work . '' cortez and other border mayors who oppose construction of the fence formed a group called the texas border coalition . the coalition wrote to chertoff asking for further consultations on the fence , but this week the department of homeland security turned them down . while expressing support for open dialogue with residents and officials , david pagan of u.s. customs and border protection wrote in an e-mail , `` we do not plan to suspend work on the construction of fence in order to hold a series of additional consultation meetings . '' cortez said his city is contemplating a court test of the law that mandated the construction of the border fence . and so a battle is being waged by about 100 landowners , those like eloisa tamez who are standing firm . `` i will not allow them to come and survey my land . i have an american-given right to protect my property , '' she said . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>members at a prison outside monterrey left seven inmates dead . in july , a . riot in a prison in the border city of juarez killed 17 inmates . gangs and drug cartels often dispute for control of prisons in mexico , which also suffer a high level of corruption . matamoros sits across the border from brownsville , texas . border town : matamoros sits next to brownsville , texas , in north-east mexico . last year , the drug-related death toll in mexico stood at 15,273 after skyrocketing a massive 60 per cent on the previous year .<doc-sep>a neighbour has admitted throwing raw chicken , bananas and pickled onions on the driveway of a man dubbed the ` mooning millionaire ' after a bitter dispute with another neighbour . mari hannah swanson , 30 , who lives in the wealthy suburb of kingswood , surrey , has been handed a restraining order banning her from contacting neville williams after admitting harassing him . mr williams , 53 , had been locked in a bitter six-year dispute with neighbour , gerald mead , 72 , over a narrow strip of land between their properties - with both believing the land belonged to them . scroll down for video . feud : neville williams -lrb- left -rrb- was captured on camera ` mooning ' at his neighbour as his gardener looked on . mr williams chopped down trees planted on the border by mr mead - and a smashed greenhouse , burnt trees and mr williams removing his trousers before ` mooning ' at mr mead all followed . although mr williams has said there has been some resolution to the border dispute , he is convinced it is the reason for swanson 's attacks on his # 950,000 two-bedroom detached house . he said : ` we do n't know her from adam . but we have been in a dispute with my neighbour for quite a while and he has been going round to neighbours and saying things against me . ` it was decided he would put up a fence along the boundary by june 8 which he has n't . this may have been how she came round and decided to attack my property . '<doc-sep>cuellar said the law `` needs to be changed at this time . '' obama has asked congress to change the law but congress ' path forward is unclear . perry , however , refused to indicate a law signed by republican president george w. bush was part of the problem . he focused his demands on border security , which is the standard republican talking point on immigration reform . he said he 's only worried about one law : `` the constitution requires the united states to secure the border . and we 're not doing that . '' in response to customs and border enforcement commissioner , gil kerlikowske , saying he `` is confident '' the border patrol has the resources after the deployment of more than 250 additional agents recently , perry said maintained his insistence that lax border security is the problem . he is `` absolutely and totally wrong , '' perry said , noting that texas has seven agents per mile compared with 15 per mile along other parts of the border . showdown over immigration : `` this is an invasion ' cnn 's ashley killough and greg clary contributed to this report .<doc-sep>140-acres of bank-side land along the red river no longer belonged to a texas landowner after the water moved . the . supreme court incorporated the red river as part of the texas border . with oklahoma nearly a century ago , and as the river moves , so does the . border and the definition of what is federal land . the texas case comes shortly after that of cliven bundy , 67 , and his standoff with federal land managers in nevada . the battle began in 1993 when bundy . stopped paying monthly fees of about $ 1.35 per cow-calf pair to graze . public lands which he claims has been in his family for more than 140 years . the . state disagrees , and the dispute culminated in an armed standoff when . more than 200 armed federal agents and snipers were deployed to forcibly .

<t> government wants land for border fence ; landowners refuse . </t> <t> secretary chertoff says he wo n't relent `` for a particular individual '' </t> <t> eloisa tamez says her property has been in her family since 1767 . </t> <t> border town mayor calls the fence `` a multibillion-dollar speed bump '' </t>

border fence dispute brings texas showdown<T>

washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a man has been indicted on federal charges for allegedly displaying hangman 's nooses from the back of a pickup truck during a civil rights march last year in jena , louisiana . a photo taken by i-reporter casanova love shows a noose hanging from a pickup in alexandria , louisiana . jeremiah munsen , 18 , of grant parish , repeatedly drove slowly past a group of marchers gathered at a bus depot in alexandria , which is near jena , as they awaited buses to return them to tennessee , federal authorities said thursday . as many as 20,000 marchers had taken part in the huge protests in jena . authorities there had been accused of injustice in the handling of racially charged cases , including the hanging of nooses in a tree after a group of black high school students sat in an area where traditionally only white students sat .<doc-sep>the noose incident at jena was the beginning of months of racial tension that included the beating of a white student , allegedly by six black classmates . the black students were prosecuted , but the three white students responsible for the nooses in the tree were not . munsen and an unnamed conspirator had attached nooses to their pickup on september 20 and driven to alexandria specifically to threaten and intimidate the marchers , the authorities said . view a series of photos of the truck '' a juvenile passenger was apprehended with munsen , according to the arresting officer 's report . the juvenile told police he and his family are in the ku klux klan and that he had `` kkk '' tattooed on his chest , the police report said . he also said that he tied the nooses and that brass knuckles found in the truck belonged to him , the report said .<doc-sep>`` this indictment accuses the defendant -lsb- munsen -rsb- of conduct that constitutes a federal civil rights conspiracy violation and a federal hate crime , '' said u.s. attorney donald washington . washington and grace chung becker , acting head of the justice department 's civil rights division , announced the indictment , issued by a grand jury in shreveport , louisiana . a photograph of the truck was sent to cnn by i-reporter casanova love , 26 , who said he is in the u.s. military . he was visiting his family in louisiana and said he witnessed the event . love added , `` if the police had not stepped in , i fear what might have happened . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>`` i want to say to them that they should not tolerate it amongst themselves , because they will be judged by their weakest link , '' he said . `` so far we have n't found out who did this , but i think they can help us find this person . '' the noose incidents were first reported last week in the day newspaper in new london . the reports came amid a rash of incidents around the country involving nooses and their grim symbolism . the so-called `` jena 6 '' case began about a year ago when white students in a small louisiana town hung nooses from a schoolyard tree after black students sat under it . last month , two teenagers were arrested in nearby alexandria , louisiana , after driving through town with nooses hanging from their pickup truck , the night after a protest march brought thousands of demonstrators to jena . in hempstead , long island , a suburb of new york , a noose was found friday hanging in the locker room at a police station . community leaders called for an investigation into that incident . `` the noose , to african americans , is a symbol of hatred and it takes us back to the times when african-american people were being hung from trees for no reason at all , '' cummings said . `` and so it 's a very offensive kind of thing . '' the coast guard academy has about 980 cadets , about 14 percent of whom are minorities . african americans make up about 4 percent of the corps . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>`` he has remarkably transcended race , however the impact of katrina and jena makes america 's unresolved moral dilemma of race unavoidable , '' he said . '' i think jena is another defining moment of the issue of race and the criminal justice system . this issue requires direct and bold leadership . i commend sen. obama for speaking out and demanding fairness on this defining issue . any attempt to dilute my support for sen. obama will not succeed . '' tensions had simmered at jena high school and in the small town for first three months of the 2006 school year after a black student asked the vice principal if he and some friends could sit under an oak tree where white students typically congregated . told by the vice principal they could sit wherever they pleased , the student and his pals sat under the sprawling branches of the shade tree in the campus courtyard . the next day , students arrived at school to find three nooses hanging from those branches . according to the town talk in nearby alexandria , the school 's principal recommended expulsion for those involved in placing the nooses . instead , the newspaper reported , a school district committee suspended three white students for three days calling the incident just a `` prank . '' on december 4 , several students jumped a white classmate , justin barker , knocking him unconscious while stomping and kicking him . the charges against the six blacks -- dubbed the '' jena 6 '' -- resulted from that incident . jackson is slated to be on hand for a march in jena this thursday . the rev. al sharpton , martin luther king iii , and hip-hop artist mos def are also expected to be on hand . obama formally released a statement on the case friday evening after one of the teen 's charges was thrown out , saying , `` i am pleased that the louisiana state appeals court recognized that the aggravated battery charge brought in this case was inappropriate . '' `` i hope that today 's decision will lead the prosecutor to reconsider the excessive charges brought against all the teenagers in this case , '' he added . `` and i hope that the judicial process will move deliberately to ensure that all of the defendants will receive a fair trial and equal justice under the law . '' he also said in a separate statement last week , `` when nooses are being hung in high schools in the 21st century , it 's a tragedy . it shows that we still have a lot of work to do as a nation to heal our racial tensions . this is n't just jena 's problem ; it 's america 's problem . '' cnn senior political analyst bill schneider said obama is under special pressure because he is the only african-american running for president .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a louisiana appeals court ruled it was too early to consider a motion to release a black teenager who allegedly took part in beating up a white classmate in jena , louisiana , last year . mychal bell , 17 , is accused with five others of severely beating justin barker in a school fight . the tuesday ruling is the latest turn in the racially charged saga of a group known as the jena 6 -- six black teens initially charged with attempted murder after they allegedly knocked out classmate justin barker and stomped him during a school fight . five of the teens were charged as adults . civil rights groups and other organizations have marshaled thousands of people to march on jena on thursday , a day originally slated for 17-year-old mychal bell 's sentencing hearing on battery and conspiracy convictions . however , a district judge earlier this month tossed out bell 's conviction for conspiracy to commit second-degree battery , saying the matter should have been handled in the juvenile court . on friday , the 3rd circuit court of appeals in lake charles , louisiana , did the same with bell 's battery conviction . a three-judge panel ruled tuesday , however , that it would not consider a motion to free bell from prison . `` the motion for release from custody , filed by the defendant in this court , is premature , '' the panel ruled without setting a date for considering the motion . the future of bell 's case is up to the district attorney , who must decide whether to refile the charges in juvenile court , bell 's attorney bob noel said last week . charges against four of the teens -- bell , carwin jones , theodore shaw and robert bailey -- have been reduced to battery and conspiracy . shaw and jones have not gone to trial . bailey has pleaded not guilty to the charges and his trial is scheduled for november 26 . bryant purvis and an unidentified juvenile remain charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder . advocates of the jena 6 say the story began well before the december 4 beating . they say it began in september when three white students decided to hang nooses from a tree on campus . in september 2006 , a black student asked the vice principal if he and some friends could sit under an oak tree where white students typically congregated . told by the vice principal they could sit wherever they pleased , the student and his pals sat under the sprawling branches of the shade tree in the campus courtyard . the next day , students arrived at school to find three nooses hanging from those branches . according to the town talk in nearby alexandria , the school 's principal recommended expulsion for those behind the nooses . instead , the newspaper reported , a school district committee suspended three white students for three days for hanging the nooses , a gesture written off as a `` prank . '' racial tensions flared . the district attorney was summoned to address the student body . off-campus fights were reported . on november 30 , someone torched the school 's main academic building . the arson remains unsolved , but many suspect it was linked to the discord . four days after the arson , several students jumped barker , knocking him unconscious before stomping and kicking him . parents of the jena 6 say they heard barker was hurling racial epithets . barker 's parents insist he did nothing to provoke the beating . barker was taken to a hospital with injuries to both eyes and ears as well as cuts . his right eye had blood clots , said his mother , kelli barker . he was treated and released that day . bails for the jena 6 were set at between $ 70,000 and $ 138,000 . all but bell posted bond . the judge has refused to lower his $ 90,000 bail , citing bell 's criminal record , which includes four juvenile offenses -- two simple battery charges among them . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>bails for the jena 6 had been set at between $ 70,000 and $ 138,000 , and all but bell posted bond . the judge has refused to lower his $ 90,000 bail , citing the teen 's record , which includes four juvenile offenses -- two simple battery charges among them . bell and five other defendants were arrested in the alleged beating of barker , who is white , at their high school on december 4 . the incident followed months of racial tension , sparked originally when three white teens hung nooses from an oak tree the day after a group of black students violated an unofficial rule among students that only whites sit in that area . see timeline of how events unfolded '' prosecutors originally charged all six black students with second-degree attempted murder and conspiracy . walters reduced charges against at least four of them -- bell , robert bailey jr. , carwin jones and theo shaw -- to battery and conspiracy . bryant purvis awaits arraignment . charges against jesse ray beard , 14 at the time of the alleged crime , are unavailable because he 's a juvenile . civil rights leaders and other demonstrators call events in jena a sign of unequal justice in the 21st century . the white kids who hung the nooses were briefly suspended from classes but faced no punishments from the legal system . donald washington , u.s. attorney for the western district of louisiana , told cnn that the fbi and other investigators thought the noose incident bore the markings of a hate crime , but a decision was made not to press charges because the case did n't meet federal criteria . the students were under 18 and had no prior records , and no group such as the ku klux klan was found to be behind their actions . authorities estimated about 15,000 to 20,000 protesters came out thursday to jena -- a town of about 3,000 , according to the 2000 census . e-mail to a friend .

<t> louisiana resident , 18 , faces federal hate-crime , conspiracy charges . </t> <t> driver allegedly taunted civil rights marchers with nooses on pickup truck . </t> <t> marchers were protesting handling of several racially charged incidents . </t>

man faces charges over nooses on truck at jena march<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a car bomb attack in algeria has killed three people and wounded 23 , the algerian press service reported . an algerian policeman stands in front of destroyed buildings in thenia . the attack occurred tuesday near an office housing judicial police in the city of thenia , about 50 km -lrb- 31 miles -rrb- east of the capital of algiers , the agency said .<doc-sep>the blast destroyed about 20 houses , and a commission has been appointed to look after the victims , the press agency said . islamic extremists in algeria and other north african countries have struck several times in recent years .<doc-sep>an al qaeda affiliate claimed responsibility last year for the deadliest attack in algiers in 10 years , a bombing that destroyed the prime minister 's headquarters and a police base , killing at least 24 people and wounding more than 220 . al qaeda also took responsibility for a january 2 bombing that killed four and wounded 20 at a building housing security forces in naciria , a city about 50 km -lrb- 31 miles -rrb- east of algiers . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>kabul , afghanistan -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- three suicide car bombs were used to target a joint u.s.-afghan base in eastern afghanistan early sunday in an attack that left at least three afghan soldiers and two civilians dead , officials said . the attack began shortly before sunrise when insurgents -- wearing coalition uniforms -- attacked three different points at forward operating base fenty , near the jalalabad airfield , according to the nato-led international assistance security force 's regional command in nangarhar province . it 's the latest in a series of attacks in recent years that have targeted the base , and it comes just months after nato troops turned over security responsibilities for nangarhar province to afghan forces . there were conflicting reports over casualties . isaf said the attack , which it described as `` complex , '' left at least one afghan soldier dead and several wounded . a provincial police spokesman put the toll at two civilians and three soldiers killed . at least 14 afghan soldiers and four civilians were wounded in the blasts , said havrat hussain mashriqwal , the police spokesman . there were no immediate reports of any u.s. casualties . the attack began shortly after 5 a.m. when insurgents detonated a car bomb near the front gate of the base , according to mashriqwal . a second bomb-rigged car attempting to breach the base exploded after u.s. and afghan troops opened fire , mashriqwal said . a third car bomb was detonated outside the base 's perimeter , according to the coalition . `` afghan national army and international security assistance force soldiers repelled the attack and prevented any insurgent fighters from entering the perimeter , causing numerous insurgent casualties in the process , '' the statement said . the insurgents -- three suicide bombers and six gunmen -- were killed in the blasts and the firefight that ensued , mashriqwal said . taliban spokesman zabiullah mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack in a telephone call to cnn . mujahid said there were two suicide car bombs and a suicide bomber with an explosive belt used in the attack , which he claimed killed at least 20 people . the taliban routinely make telephone calls or send out e-mails claiming responsibility for attacks against coalition and afghan troops . the province borders pakistan 's volatile khyber pakhtunkhwa province , home to a number of insurgent groups , including members of the haqqani network . insurgents have been active in nangarhar , which is home to the tora bora region -- where al qaeda founder osama bin laden escaped after a 2001 battle with coalition forces . sunday 's attack at fob fenty is the latest in a series to target the base and neighboring jalalabad airfield . in february , nine people were killed and 12 wounded in a suicide bombing at the front gate of the base near the airfield . two months later , four suicide bombers wearing women 's burqas tried to launch an attack there , airfield commander jahangir azimi said at the time . in june 2010 , taliban insurgents hit the front gate with a car bomb , rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire . previously on cnn.com : suicide bombing kills 3 near u.s. embassy in afghan capital . previously on cnn.com : roadside mine kills 17 civilians in western afghanistan . read more : report details military approach to ` insider attacks ' amid success . cnn 's barbara starr and chelsea j. carter contributed to this report .<doc-sep>and since that report , al qaeda in yemen has engaged in even more vicious attacks on muslims . keep in mind that 99 % of the population of yemen is muslim -lrb- 65 % sunni and 35 % shia -rrb- so with a few exceptions , virtually every person the group kills there is a muslim . in december 2014 , for example , an al qaeda bomb killed 15 children and 10 adults when the bus they were on was blown up by an al qaeda car bomb intended for a competing militia leader in the area . this attack followed another in which al qaeda sent a suicide bomber into a crowd of protesters in the nation 's capital , killing 47 people and injuring 140 . and back in december 2013 , al qaeda launched an attack on a hospital , killing 52 people and wounding 167 with two car bombs before gruesomely shooting patients and doctors in the hospital . the list goes on , but al qaeda is not alone in killing muslims who stand in its way . isis has done the same in iraq and syria .<doc-sep>2001 - the u.s. state department lists hamas on its official list of terrorist groups . june 12 , 2003 - a suicide bomber disguised as an ultra-orthodox jew detonates himself on a jerusalem bus , killing 16 israelis . hamas claims responsibility . august 20 , 2003 - a suicide bomber detonates himself on a bus killing at least 20 israelis . hamas and islamic jihad claim responsibility . january 2004 - the first hamas female suicide bomber kills four israelis at erez crossing in a joint operation with the al-aqsa martyrs brigades . march 14 , 2004 - hamas and the al-aqsa martyrs brigades claim responsibility for a double attack at the israeli port of ashdod that kills 10 israelis . march 22 , 2004 - hamas leader yassin is killed by israeli air strikes . march 23 , 2004 - dr. abdel aziz rantisi is named as yassin 's successor . april 17 , 2004 - rantisi is killed by an israeli air strike on his car . august 31 , 2004 - the islamic militant group hamas claims responsibility for deadly simultaneous explosions on two buses in the southern israeli city of beer sheva that killed at least 14 people and wounding more than 80 . september 26 , 2004 - a leading member of hamas , izz eldin subhi sheikh khalil , is killed by a car bomb as he leaves his home in damascus , syria . december 12 , 2004 - an attack at a checkpoint on the border between the gaza strip and egypt kills five israelis . hamas claims responsibility .<doc-sep>march 1993 : two boys aged three and 12 are killed and dozens are injured by two bombs left in litter bins in warrington , northern england . the ira admits planting the bombs . april 1992 : a huge ira car bomb in london 's financial district kills three people and wounds 91 . february 1991 : ira terrorists launch a mortar attack at prime minister john major 's downing street offices . no-one is injured . september 1989 : eleven people die and 22 are wounded when an ira bomb explodes at a royal marine music school in deal , southern england . december 1988 : a pan am airliner explodes over the scottish town of lockerbie , killing 259 aboard and 11 people on the ground . libyan agent abdel basset al-megrahi , convicted of the attack in 2001 , was this week granted the right to mount a fresh appeal . -lrb- read about lockerbie bomber -rrb- .

<t> attack occurred near an office housing judicial police in the city of thenia . </t> <t> the blast destroyed about 20 houses ; 23 also injured . </t> <t> al qaeda also took responsibility for a january 2 bombing that killed four . </t>

car bomb attack kills 3 in algeria<T>

sussex , virginia -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- suspended nfl quarterback michael vick must adhere to tightened restrictions after he tested positive for marijuana use , a federal judge said wednesday . suspended atlanta falcons quarterback michael vick tested positive for marijuana in a september 13 drug test . vick tested positive for the drug on september 13 , a court document from the eastern district of virginia shows . as a result , u.s. district judge henry e. hudson ordered vick to `` submit to any method of testing required by the pretrial services officer or the supervising officer for determining whether the defendant is using a prohibited substance . '' those methods could include random drug testing , a remote alcohol testing system `` and/or any form of prohibited substance screening or testing , '' the order said . vick , 27 , must participate in substance abuse therapy and mental health counseling `` if deemed advisable by the pretrial services officer or supervising officer '' at his own expense , the order said . vick was also ordered to stay home between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. , `` or as directed by the pretrial services officer or supervising officer , '' the order said . he is to be electronically monitored during that time . the conditions are to apply until vick 's sentencing , which is set for december 10 . read about the federal case against vick '' `` this is a very difficult time for mr. vick , '' said billy martin , vick 's lead defense counsel , in a written statement . `` he will comply with the court 's new conditions regarding release . '' vick faces a possible prison term of 12 to 18 months after his august guilty plea to federal conspiracy charges related to dogfighting on his property in surry county , virginia . the original terms of the pretrial release , set in july by u.s. magistrate dennis w. dohnal , required that vick not use narcotic drugs or other controlled substances unless prescribed by a doctor . vick 's guilty plea in the federal case came after three associates -- purnell peace , 35 , of virginia beach , virginia ; quanis phillips , 28 , of atlanta , georgia ; and tony taylor , 34 , of hampton , virginia -- admitted their roles in the operation and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors . on tuesday , a virginia grand jury indicted vick and the three co-defendants on state charges of running a dogfighting ring at the home . see a timeline of the case against vick '' the surry county grand jury brought two charges against vick : one count of unlawfully torturing and killing dogs and one of promoting dogfights . each is a felony charge that could result in a five-year prison term . vick will be arraigned october 3 in state court in virginia . vick 's attorneys say they are fighting the state charges on the grounds that he ca n't be convicted twice of the same crime . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's eric fiegel contributed to this report .<doc-sep>in september , vick was put under tight restrictions by the federal court after he tested positive for marijuana use . vick tested positive for the drug on september 13 , a court document from the eastern district of virginia shows . as a result , u.s. district judge henry e. hudson ordered vick to `` submit to any method of testing required by the pretrial services officer or the supervising officer for determining whether the defendant is using a prohibited substance . '' those methods could include random drug testing , a remote alcohol testing system `` and/or any form of prohibited substance screening or testing , '' the order said . vick was also ordered to stay home between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. , `` or as directed by the pretrial services officer or supervising officer , '' the order said . he was to be electronically monitored during that time . vick must participate in substance abuse therapy and mental health counseling `` if deemed advisable by the pretrial services officer or supervising officer '' at his own expense , the order said . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>lohan was charged with reckless driving and lying to a police officer about a june 2012 car crash in which her porsche hit a dump truck on the pacific coast highway in santa monica , california . her arrest triggered the probation violation charge . the police report said lohan denied being behind the wheel , but the prosecutor was expected to call witnesses who say she was driving . lindsay lohan acknowledged her drug and alcohol addiction in past court appearances . she 's spent 250 days in five rehab facilities since january 2007 , including one long court-ordered stint after a failed drug test . the actress has appeared in court at least 20 times before four los angeles judges who have now found her in violation of probation six times and sentenced her to a total of nine months in jail . lohan has spent about two weeks behind bars in six trips to the los angeles county jail , served 35 days under house arrest and worked about 67 days of community service at the county morgue .<doc-sep>meanwhile , holland 's lawyer said last month that the former staffer was `` targeted , unmercifully interrogated , intimidated and threatened with her livelihood '' by the treatment center . lohan checked into the betty ford center on september 27 after it became clear a judge intended to send her to jail because of a failed drug test . the judge eventually ordered lohan to stay in the drug rehabilitation program until monday instead of going to jail . lohan 's probation is scheduled to end in august of 2011 . prosecutor danette meyers said she expects to see lohan back in municipal court on february 1 for a review of whether she has fulfilled the terms of her probation . lohan 's legal troubles began when she was arrested twice in 2007 on charges of driving under the influence ; in the second incident , she was charged with cocaine possession . los angeles superior court judge elden fox has said if lohan violates the rules of her rehab program or fails a drug test before her court date on february 25 , she will be sent to jail for 180 days . cnn 's alan duke and in session 's grace wong contributed to this report .<doc-sep>michael vick is in the dog house again after a series of . shocking revelations made public this week in a tell-all book written by his . former mistress . ` quarterback keeper ' details the secret 10 year relationship . between the former stripper and the philadelphia eagles quarterback , including . revelations about group sex parties in his home , flights around the country for . clandestine hook-ups and even a surprising card he sent her from prison . first reported by radaronline , which obtained a copy of the final manuscript , the book even dishes on an std . scare and the crushing end to their hush-hush relationship . tell-all : michael vick 's former mistress spilled the details on the decade-long affair in a book she is shopping to publishers . the book 's author has refused to reveal her real name , going . under the pen name bella escritor , but the seemingly innocent puppy faced card . sent from mr vick is addressed to a kiana . the front is adorned with two huggable puppies and the words . ` thinking about our friendship . ' mr vick and the woman saw each other under the table while . he was publicly dating now-wife kijafa frink . the former atlanta falcons franchise player asks her about .

<t> vick 's september 13 drug test shows marijuana use . </t> <t> pretrial release conditions tightened ; must stay home from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. </t> <t> virginia grand jury indicts vick and the three co-defendants on state charges . </t> <t> vick already faces up to 18 months in prison after federal plea deal . </t>

vick fails drug test , under house arrest<T>

beirut , lebanon -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a car bomb struck a u.s. embassy vehicle tuesday as it traveled along a coastal highway north of beirut , killing at least three lebanese civilian bystanders , according to american and lebanese officials . lebanese soldiers and red cross workers stand near charred cars at the site of the explosion in beirut . the driver of the embassy vehicle suffered minor injuries , and the sole passenger walked away unscathed , u.s. state department spokesman sean mccormack said . both were lebanese nationals , he said . an american citizen who happened to be in the area suffered non-life-threatening injuries , the spokesman said . lebanese internal security forces said three lebanese civilian bystanders were killed in the explosion in beirut 's dora area , contradicting earlier reports of four . twenty-one others -- including the american bystander -- were wounded in the explosion , which was caused by a 15-kilogram -lrb- 33-pound -rrb- bomb placed in a car before the explosion , the security forces said . the united states is outraged by the terrorist attack , said secretary of state condoleezza rice , who is traveling with president bush in saudi arabia .<doc-sep>`` i want on behalf of our country to say to those who were wounded , and certainly to the families of those who were killed , that our condolences are with them , '' she added . it was not clear whether the blast was caused by a suicide attack or by a remotely detonated car bomb . a communique issued by the u.s. embassy in beirut said the embassy vehicle was apparently the intended target of the attack , and identified the driver and passenger as lebanese security personnel for the embassy . but mccormack cautioned against jumping to any conclusions on the intended target . `` we do n't yet have a full picture of exactly what happened , who is responsible , who is exactly being targeted , '' he told reporters during the state department 's daily briefing . `` we will see over the next day or two ... where the facts lead us . '' citing security concerns , mccormack would also not address unconfirmed reports that the vehicle was part of a convoy for departing u.s. ambassador to lebanon jeffrey feltman .<doc-sep>a u.s. embassy statement said feltman canceled a farewell ceremony that he was to host tuesday night `` out of respect to the victims of today 's terrorist explosion . '' in addition to the american , an iraqi and at least three lebanese were among those wounded in the blast , according to a western diplomatic source . video of the scene showed several damaged cars , including at least one that was left a pile of twisted metal . a nearby high-rise building also sustained damage . mohammed chatah , senior adviser to lebanese prime minister fouad siniora , pointed out that the attack happened during `` a major political crisis '' in lebanon , which has been without a president for nearly eight weeks amid a bitter political feud . `` this explosion just exacerbates a difficult situation , '' chatah told cnn . tuesday 's blast appears to be the latest in a series of attacks against pro-western , anti-syrian targets in the lebanese capital .<doc-sep>most recently , an explosion in beirut 's christian suburb of baabda killed brig. gen. francois al-hajj , the head of operations for the lebanese army , and his bodyguard on december 12 . al-hajj was believed to be a top candidate to take over as army commander in the event current commander gen. michel suleiman was elected to replace emile lahoud as president . lebanon has been in the midst of a political crisis as pro- and anti-syrian lawmakers in parliament are locked in a battle to elect a new president . the nation has been without a president since november 23 , when the pro-syrian lahoud stepped down at the end of his term . in february 2005 , the assassination of former lebanese prime minister rafik hariri in beirut sparked widespread protests that led to the ouster of syrian forces from lebanon . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's anthony mills in beirut and elise labott in washington contributed to this report .<doc-sep>by . graham smith . published : . 02:24 est , 3 september 2012 . | . updated : . 06:17 est , 3 september 2012 . a car filled with explosives rammed into a u.s. government vehicle in the north-west pakistani city of peshawar today , killing three people and wounding 19 others . two americans and two pakistanis working at the u.s. consulate in peshawar were among the wounded , according to a u.s. embassy official , speaking on condition of anonymity . two of the dead were pakistanis . the u.s. embassy in islamabad had earlier denied initial reports that two americans were killed in the blast .<doc-sep>islamabad , pakistan -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- evidence found on the bodies of two men killed by a now-jailed u.s. diplomat aligns with the state department 's claim that the men were robbers , according to a pakistani police official . raymond davis , who works at the u.s. consulate in lahore , pakistan , has been jailed since january 27 , when authorities say he shot and killed two men on a motorcycle . davis said the men attacked him while trying to rob him as he drove through a busy neighborhood , according to the u.s. embassy in pakistan . when police searched the bodies , they found stolen cell phones and cash that belonged to two men who had reported being robbed earlier that day by two gunmen on a motorcycle , a pakistani police official told cnn . the official identified the dead men as faheem shamshad , 26 , and faizan haider , 22 . their families filed police reports accusing davis of murder , a police spokesman said . a third person , muhammad abad ur rehman , allegedly was struck and killed by a u.s. consulate car responding to the shooting . police are investigating the death , but the u.s. embassy has not revealed the identity of the person driving that car despite calls from pakistani authorities to do so . on thursday , a judge in lahore ordered the government to hold davis for at least eight more days and place his name on an exit control list to ensure he does not leave the country . in a statement on its website , the u.s. embassy in pakistan said its employee shot two armed men in self-defense and renewed its call for the pakistani government to release him , saying he is entitled to diplomatic immunity . speculation in the pakistani media has suggested that davis was traveling on a business visa and that he was consequently not subject to diplomatic protections .<doc-sep>an al qaeda splinter group said it launched a rocket toward the u.s. embassy in sanaa on saturday , wounding several guards , to retaliate for a purported u.s. drone strike in a northern province of yemen the day before . the u.s. state department said it had no indication that the embassy was the target of the attack and that none of its staff were wounded . the rocket landed 200 meters from the heavily fortified embassy , hitting members of the yemeni special police force who guard the site . at least two were wounded , police said . a shi'ite houthi rebel mans a checkpoint in sanaa september 27 where shi'ite muslim rebels attacked the home of yemen 's intelligence chief in sanaa . dangerous times : a shi'ite houthi rebel mans a checkpoint in sanaa september 27 , 2014 where violence continues to plague the divided region . targeted the u.s. embassy : mohamed zahawi , head of the benghazi brigade of ansar al-sharia , a group who said they fired a rocket at the u.s embassy on september 27 . militants say they fired in retaliation : shi'ite houthi rebels bury comrades , who were killed in recent fighting against government forces , in sanaa september 26 . the attacker fired the rocket from a car using a m72 light anti-tank weapon before speeding away , a police source told reuters . several hours after the attack , ansar al-sharia , an affiliate of al qaeda in the arabian peninsula -lrb- aqap -rrb- , said on its twitter account it had targeted the embassy with a rocket , injuring several guards and damaging a vehicle . the group said the attack was revenge for a drone strike on friday that had seriously wounded children in the northern al jawf province . tribal sources confirmed that a drone strike killed two al qaeda members and wounded two more in al jawf on friday , and that there were reports of some children having been wounded . the united states regularly uses drones to attack islamist militants in countries such as yemen as part of a strategy to combat al qaeda militants without committing troops on the ground . dangerous territory : an armed follower of the shiite houthi movement mans a checkpoint near the us embassy in sanaía , yemen where some diplomats are forced to go home because of threats to safety . burying their kin : shi'ite houthi rebels bury comrades , who were killed in recent fighting against government forces , in sanaa on september 26 . mourning the dead : a shi'ite houthi rebel wears a photo of his slain brother , a fellow rebel who was killed in recent fighting against government forces , during his brother 's funeral in sanaa on september 26 . washington acknowledges using drones in yemen but does not comment publicly on the practice . al qaeda and its affiliates in yemen are among the most active wings of the network founded by osama bin laden . sanaa is already in turmoil after shi'ite muslim rebels seized control of much of the capital last week , hours before the accord was signed with other political parties providing for the creation of a new government . earlier on saturday , houthi rebels attacked the home of yemen 's intelligence chief in sanaa , in a sign of the fragility the power-sharing accord . the takeover of the capital has given the houthis unprecedented political power in yemen , a u.s.-allied country whose political , tribal and sectarian unrest poses risks to the world 's top oil exporter saudi arabia next door . president abd-rabbu mansour hadi has said yemen may be heading for civil war . the attempted attack on the embassy comes a day after the united states told its citizens to leave yemen and said it was reducing the number of u.s. government staff there due to political unrest and fears of a possible military escalation . the u.s. embassy has been the target of several attacks in recent years , including one in 2008 by al qaeda affiliated militants in which 18 died . in 2012 , demonstrators angry at u.s.-made film they considered blasphemous attempted to storm the compound and in may this year , the embassy said armed individuals had attempted to kidnap two of its officers at a small commercial business in sanaa . u.s. embassy in yemen : an armed follower of the shiite houthi movement checks a vehicle at a checkpoint near the us embassy in sanaía , yemen on september 26 . attacked : shi'ite muslim rebels attacked the home of yemen 's intelligence chief in sanaa on saturday , residents and security sources said , showing the fragility of a power-sharing accord that 's failed to stop violence .<doc-sep>`` al qaeda in the arabian peninsula is now the most operationally active node of the al qaeda network , '' brennan said . according to a statement released by the while house , brennan called yemeni president ali abdullah saleh on thursday and emphasized `` the importance of taking forceful action against al qaeda in the arabian peninsula in order to thwart its plans to carry out terrorist attacks in yemen as well as in other countries , including in the u.s. homeland . '' earlier this month , a vehicle carrying u.s. embassy personnel in yemen was attacked but nobody was injured . in october the motorcade of the british deputy ambassador was attacked and in april the british ambassador 's car was the target of a failed bomb attack . while it is not yet known who is responsible for that attack , the state department 's most recent travel advisory for yemen warns americans of threats to u.s. interests due to active terrorist activity , specifically from aqap . embassy employees in sanaa are instructed to use caution when visiting restaurants , hotels or tourist areas in the capital and are forbidden from traveling outside the capital .

<t> new : the united states is outraged by the attack , secretary of state rice says . </t> <t> car bomb strikes u.s. embassy vehicle north of beirut . </t> <t> three lebanese civilians dead , american and lebanese officials confirm . </t> <t> driver of the vehicle was slightly injured , and the only passenger was not hurt . </t>

3 dead as u.s. embassy car attacked<T>

los angeles , california -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- sens. hillary clinton and barack obama will duel for super tuesday votes thursday night as the democratic presidential hopefuls face off for the first time together minus former sen. john edwards . thursday 's debate is taking place at the kodak theatre in los angeles , california . the debate -- sponsored by cnn , the los angeles times and politico -- starts at 8 p.m. et thursday on cnn and cnn.com . cnn 's wolf blitzer is the moderator . the event is the first democratic debate since obama 's convincing victory saturday in south carolina . on tuesday , clinton won the florida primary , a contest her campaign said helped the senator regain momentum even though it awarded no delegates . the forum at the kodak theatre in hollywood comes hours after the obama campaign revealed it had raised $ 32 million in january from roughly 170,000 new donors . that amount will allow obama to expand his television ad buys greatly in the 20-plus states holding primaries or caucuses tuesday . watch a time-lapse construction of the debate set '' the clinton campaign would not indicate how much money it had raised in the same time period .<doc-sep>mike gravel , the other democratic presidential candidate still in the race , was not invited to participate in the debate because he did not meet certain criteria , including support in national polls . in a cnn/opinion research corporation poll conducted january 14-17 , gravel received less than 1 percent . edwards suspended his presidential run wednesday in new orleans , louisiana , but he did n't endorse any candidate despite what aides described as furious lobbying campaigns by obama and clinton . thursday 's debate may be slightly more restrained than last week 's brutal showdown . following her south carolina loss , clinton has largely steered clear of opportunities to take aim at obama . former president bill clinton also has avoided criticizing his wife 's rival after dominating headlines with his attacks in the days before the south carolina vote . the economy is likely to dominate thursday 's debate , as both candidates look to appeal to supporters of edwards and his brand of economic populism . clinton and obama have split victories in their parties ' early-voting states : obama has won in iowa and south carolina , and clinton has won in new hampshire , nevada , michigan and florida . but the michigan and florida contests awarded no delegates , and all major democratic presidential candidates pledged to avoid campaigning in those states following national party penalties against them for moving up their contests so early .<doc-sep>clinton was the only major candidate to appear on the michigan ballot . obama is leading clinton in the number of pledged delegates -- those awarded based on primary or caucus votes . clinton has the edge when superdelegates are factored in . -lrb- superdelegates are party leaders and elected officials who are not obligated to support a particular candidate . they can change their decisions at any time leading up to the democratic national convention in august . -rrb- . to date , obama has won an estimated 63 national convention delegates as a result of primary or caucus votes , while clinton has earned an estimated 48 delegates . clinton , however , has the overall lead in delegates -- 232 to 158 -- when superdelegates are included . with solid fundraising numbers and a nod from sen. edward kennedy of massachusetts this week , obama will be making the claim he holds the front-runner title . but clinton -- who has led in national surveys for much of the race -- will be making her case as well . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's rebecca sinderbrand contributed to this report .<doc-sep>much of the 90-minute debate featured the two candidates staking out similar positions on issues like iraq , the economy and immigration . watch the candidates weigh in on the economy '' `` it was a very odd debate -- the questioners had to beg them to differ with each other , '' said cnn senior political analyst bill schneider . see what cnn 's political team thought of the showdown '' the debate was the first the two have participated in since they met in los angeles january 31 . five days later , the two effectively split the victories on super tuesday . but since then , obama has rolled to 11 straight wins , a streak that leaves clinton needing wins in delegate-rich texas and ohio on march 4 . vermont and rhode island also hold primaries that day . texas is the biggest prize , with 193 democratic delegates . going into those primaries , obama leads clinton by 140 pledged delegates . responding to a question from the panel , clinton 's sharpest attack on obama came when she went after him for borrowing lines from a speech by massachusetts gov. deval patrick , his campaign co-chairman , in his own campaign speeches . the clinton campaign has called that plagiarism .<doc-sep>reich is the latest former clinton administration official to announce his support for obama . last month , new mexico gov. bill richardson , who held several positions under bill clinton , also came out in support of the illinois senator . clinton supporter and cnn political analyst james carville later called that an `` act of betrayal . '' meanwhile , the obama campaign announced that former sens. sam nunn of georgia and david boren of oklahoma endorsed the illinois senator , and agreed to serve on the campaign 's national security policy team . nunn served 25 years in the senate and was chairman of the senate armed services committee from 1987 to 1995 . he said obama is `` our best choice to lead the nation . '' `` i believe that he will bring to the white house , high principles , clear vision and sound judgment , '' he added . boren -- who served in the senate from 1979 to 1994 and is the longest-serving chairman of the senate select committee on intelligence -- was one of bill clinton 's top choices to replace les aspes in 1994 as u.s. secretary of defense . he said obama is a person of `` sound and good judgement . '' obama responded to the endorsements in a statement , saying the two `` will be important sources of advice and counsel for our campaign in the months ahead . '' watch more from the campaign trail '' the endorsements come just four days before pennsylvania 's april 22 primary . at stake : 158 delegates . also on friday , clinton accused obama of `` complaining '' about wednesday night 's debate in pennsylvania and hinted her rival might not be equipped to handle the rigors of the oval office . watch more from wednesday 's debate '' obama said thursday that clinton was `` in her element '' at the debate , telling a north carolina crowd she `` took every opportunity to get a dig in . '' `` that 's her right to kind of twist the knife in a little bit , '' he said , before adding that he understands why she 's using what he calls the tactics of the gop . watch more of obama 's comments ''<doc-sep>princeton , new jersey -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the mini-civil war that we 've seen play out in the democratic party over the past few weeks is n't just a case of a dispute about tactics . it 's a sign of a deeper division . former president bill clinton , who has been campaigning for president obama and taking on the gop , went off-script several times . soon after obama rolled out his ads attacking mitt romney for his work at bain capital and then as massachusetts governor , clinton took issue with these kinds of attacks and extolled romney 's `` sterling business career . '' a few days later , clinton called for a temporary extension of president george w. bush 's tax cuts , including those for the wealthy , and then on thursday said he was sorry for doing so . video : is clinton undermining obama ? at some levels , the contrast in the views of obama and clinton is yet another chapter in the extraordinarily tense personal relations that began with the 2008 democratic primaries , when then-sen . hillary clinton competed with obama . when some of obama 's supporters charged that bill clinton was subtly playing on racial tensions in the south carolina primary to stir up white voters , the anger between the two camps intensified . but at another level , the debate between these two men is part of a bigger debate about what kind of campaign the democrats should run : a campaign of articulation or a campaign of triangulation . what is bill clinton up to ? the party is reaching a crossroads . with the economy in poor shape and most polls showing that this is an extremely close race , democrats need to make some decisions about the basic themes they will develop in the next few months to define the fall contest . one strategy , which has been the preference thus far for president obama , is a campaign of `` articulation , '' a campaign in which a candidate lays out a clear set of themes and ideas to distinguish himself from the opposition .<doc-sep>los angeles , california -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- democratic rivals hillary clinton and barack obama spent their last debate before next week 's super tuesday contests pointing out differences on iraq , health care and the economy -- but without all of the finger-pointing that 's marked their campaigns . sens. barack obama and hillary clinton struck a mostly cordial tone during the debate . the exchange was in sharp contrast to previous debates because of the absence of political sniping , yet was one of the most substantive policy discussions yet in the race for the nomination . on iraq , obama said he 'd be more able to end the war because he opposed it from the beginning . he said clinton 's vote to authorize the use of force there would undermine her efforts to bring it to an end . `` i think it is much easier for us to have the argument when we have a nominee who says , ' i always thought this was a bad idea -- this was a bad strategy , ' '' he said . clinton defended her vote , saying she was told by the white house that it would be used initially to return weapons inspectors to see whether saddam hussein had an active weapons program . see where they stand on iraq . `` i believe strongly that we needed to put inspectors in , '' the new york senator said . `` that was the underlying reason why i at least voted to give president bush the authority , put those inspectors in , let them do their work , figure out what is there and what is n't . '' watch reaction to clinton 's thoughts on iraq '' both obama and clinton said they support ending the war . on health care , obama defended a plan he says would make insurance affordable to everyone who wants it , but not require everyone to buy it . the illinois senator said his proposal would require that all children be covered and allow young people to remain on their parents ' health insurance up to age 25 -- but would not require adults to purchase care . watch candidates discuss their differences '' `` every expert who looks at it says there wo n't be anybody out there who wants health care who will not be able to get it , '' he said . watch the rivals discuss health care '' clinton , who as first lady spearheaded her husband 's ultimately failed health care reform effort in the early '90s , argued that any health plan should offer universal coverage . `` it is so important that as democrats , we carry the banner of universal health care , '' she said . see where the candidates stand on health care . clinton noted her experience pushing her husband 's plan , saying she 's best suited to hammer out the details of a new plan and create `` a coalition that can withstand the insurance and the prescription drug companies . '' the pair praised former north carolina sen. john edwards , who dropped out of the democratic race this week . both are vying for his supporters . see what the candidates had to say , in their own words '' the democratic race remains close going into super tuesday , when more than 20 states -- including california and new york -- will vote . obama won the season-opening iowa caucuses , then finished second to clinton in every contest until last week 's south carolina primary -- which he won with a commanding 55 percent of the vote in a three-way race . clinton scored victories in the new hampshire primary and nevada caucuses . she also was the top vote-getter in florida and michigan , although no democrats campaigned in those states and their delegates to the nominating convention will not count because of a squabble between state and national party leaders over the timing of the primaries . thursday 's debate differed from the last time the two took to a stage together -- at a contentious january 21 debate in south carolina in which the front-runners peppered each other with sharp attacks . in contrast , on thursday the two smiled , laughed at each other 's jokes and repeatedly complimented the other when they agreed . what does the debate 's cordial tone mean ? '' obama got laughs when asked about how he might counter republican charges against `` tax-and-spend liberal democrats . '' `` well , first of all , i do n't think the republicans are going to be in a real strong position to argue fiscal responsibility , when they have added $ 4 trillion or $ 5 trillion worth of national debt . i am happy to have that argument , '' he said . clinton drew cheers when she responded to a question about how a clinton could promote change after decades of a clinton or bush in power . `` it did take a clinton to clean up after the first bush , and i think it might take another one to clean up after the second bush , '' she said . watch clinton make a jab at bush '' the longest and loudest applause line of the night came when cnn 's wolf blitzer noted that many democrats have said they 'd like to see a clinton-obama or obama-clinton ticket in november . neither ruled out the possibility of selecting the other as a running mate . watch the rivals discuss joining forces '' `` the debate was a rallying debate for democrats , '' said cnn senior political analyst bill schneider . `` democrats like both of them , they continue to like both of them , and they want to vote for both of them . '' schneider said the cordial tone probably helped both candidates . obama continued momentum from his victory in the south carolina primary and high-profile endorsements , including sen. ted kennedy and kansas gov. kathleen sebelius . clinton probably maintained her perceived status as the front-runner . `` i 'm not sure that he turned the election around , '' schneider said . `` he is the challenger here -- he 's got to persuade people they do n't want to vote for her . '' the debate , sponsored by cnn , the los angeles times and politico.com , was held at los angeles ' kodak theatre , where the academy awards are handed out . hundreds , if not thousands , of clinton and obama supporters thronged outside the venue -- cheering and waving signs . the numerous actors , directors and musicians in the audience included stevie wonder , pierce brosnan , rob reiner , jason alexander , isaiah washington , diane keaton , leonardo dicaprio , quentin tarantino and christina applegate . mike gravel , the other democratic presidential candidate still in the race , was not invited to participate in the debate because he did not meet certain criteria , including support in national polls . in a cnn/opinion research corporation poll conducted january 14-17 , gravel received less than 1 percent . e-mail to a friend .

<t> debate will be last time top democrats face off before super tuesday contests . </t> <t> sens. hillary clinton and barack obama to go one-on-one for first time together . </t> <t> ex-sen . john edwards suspended presidential campaign wednesday . </t> <t> debate will start at 8 et on thursday night on cnn and cnn.com . </t>

clinton , obama : just the two of them in debate<T>

las vegas , nevada -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- former beatles paul mccartney and ringo starr clowned around and marveled at their band 's amazing impact in an interview tuesday on cnn 's `` larry king live . '' larry king , left , poses with -lrb- l-r -rrb- paul mccartney , yoko ono lennon , olivia harrison and ringo starr tuesday in las vegas . `` we were just kids from liverpool , '' mccartney said . `` and , yes , it is quite amazing , because as time goes on , it kind of becomes more and more of a phenomenon . '' mccartney said the early beatles knew they were a good band and were pretty sure of themselves , but starr said , `` we thought we 'd be really big in liverpool . '' `` i think the most exciting thing is that , you know , we expect people our age to know the music . but actually , a lot of kids know the music , '' starr said . `` and if anything is left , we have left really good music , and that 's the important part , not the moptops or whatever . '' the pair appeared relaxed in sneakers and almost matching black suits and joked frequently -- often at each other 's expense . `` they were nothing , '' starr said of his former bandmates . `` and then i joined and then they got this record deal and look what happened . '' `` no , we were good , '' mccartney retorted . `` you wanted to join us . you begged to join us . '' `` i did n't beg , '' starr said . watch paul and ringo talk about the beatles ' magic '' mccartney and starr were in las vegas with yoko ono lennon and olivia harrison , the widows of john lennon and george harrison , to celebrate the anniversary of cirque du soleil 's `` love , '' which uses the beatles ' music . harrison said her husband was friends with cirque du soleil founder guy laliberte and came up with the idea before he died of cancer in 2001 .<doc-sep>`` george was around just long enough to transmit that to all of us , '' harrison said . ono said she was n't sure at first what her husband would have thought about the project . john lennon was shot near the couple 's new york apartment in 1980 . `` now i really know that john would be very happy with this , '' she said . neither woman has remarried and they both said it was still sometimes difficult to deal with their losses . `` we feel so strongly about our husbands that sometimes it 's hard for us , is n't it ? '' ono said . `` it 's hard , you know , '' harrison said . `` i mean their presence is very powerful and very strong . but the incredible thing about them is that they -- everything they left the world and left us is uplifting and joyful . '' the beatles ' music received a bit of a facelift for the show and has been remixed in 5.1 surround sound . -lrb- an album , `` love , '' came out last year . -rrb- . `` paul and i went to listen to the music in 5.1 and we go ` whoa , listen to that , ' '' starr said . `` you know you can hear everything now . things that we buried a lot . it 's all very clear , so it 's really great to hear it . '' `` most historic stuff goes down with age , you know ? '' mccartney added . `` winston churchill 's old papers go brown and crinkly , while our music gets brighter and shinier . '' `` next year , it will be 10.1 , '' starr joked . mccartney 's latest solo album , `` memory 's almost full , '' is no. 3 on the album charts and starr is scheduled to release a greatest hits album in august . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- paul mccartney and ringo starr , the two surviving members of the beatles , will get back together to play the star-studded `` the night that changed america : a grammys salute to the beatles , '' starr said monday . `` to celebrate the 50 years since we landed in new york in february -lrb- 1964 -rrb- , they 're putting on a big show on monday and we 'll be doing it there , '' he told `` access hollywood '' on monday at a david lynch foundation event . starr was being honored by the lynch foundation with its lifetime of peace and love award . the recording academy , which oversees the grammy awards , had already said that mccartney and starr would both be performing at the grammys sunday night -- though the question of whether they 'll be performing together is still unconfirmed . the two will be given a lifetime achievement award at sunday 's show . the `` grammys salute '' is being taped the next day , january 27 , and will air on cbs on sunday , february 9 -- the 50th anniversary of the beatles ' debut appearance on `` the ed sullivan show . '' the sullivan performance was the first time most americans had seen the band perform after their first capitol records single , `` i want to hold your hand , '' hit no. 1 . among the other artists performing at the `` grammys salute '' are alicia keys , john legend , keith urban and a reuniting eurythmics . were you there at the start of beatlemania ? share your stories . if mccartney and starr do perform together , it will be the first time the two have played together since a 2010 concert to celebrate starr 's 70th birthday in july 2010 . prior to that , the pair played together at a 2009 event for the david lynch foundation . the beatles ' other members , john lennon and george harrison , died in 1980 and 2001 , respectively . unreleased 1963 beatles tracks hit itunes ahead of copyright deadline .<doc-sep>overall , the numbers are somewhat surprising . turns out the fab four are still doing major business . in fact , recent profits suggest their customers ca n't only be co-members of the boomers ' aging demographic . according to forbes magazine , the two surviving members and the estates of john lennon and george harrison together and individually earned roughly $ 71 million in 2013 from record sales , royalties , merchandise and licensing . earlier this year , the uk trade publication music week reported the beatles ' apple corp. turned over 43.5 million pounds in 2013 , an improvement of 2 million pounds over 2012 . while archival releases are only drops in this plentiful bucket , the long-defunct group 's persistent popularity serves as a lifeboat for the perpetually struggling music retail business . the `` bootleg recordings '' -lrb- and `` tune in '' -rrb- could put beatlemaniacs ' devotion to the test , however . ten years in the research and writing , lewisohn 's doorstop tome has been hailed as a labor of love -- and digression . the author 's minute attention to detail matches the microscopic focus of `` the beatles bootleg recordings , '' where the only arguable revelations are at best minor finds : lennon 's roughly sung demo tracks of two songs , `` bad to me '' and `` i 'm in love , '' later recorded by , respectively , billy j. kramer and the merseybeats . it 's hard to imagine the retrieved versions replacing the originals in anyone 's affections , but casual fans should be entranced by the behind-the curtains glimpses into the early beatles working process . even without producer george martin 's finishing polish , the group 's signature high energy and unstoppable melodies come through loud and clear . and in the absence of true surprises , there are plenty of eyebrow-raising moments such as two spunky versions of `` one after 909 '' -lrb- eventually rerecorded on the `` let it be '' album -rrb- .<doc-sep>the hair . the girls . the screaming . the jolt created by the beatles ' invasion of america could n't happen today . we 're just too connected . in today 's world , the fab four 's frenzied hamburg and cavern concerts would be all over youtube . twitter would be abuzz about this new group with the funny hair and the screaming fans . countless cell phones would be raised in glory at their every move . there would be no element of surprise , no sense of unveiling . but 50 years ago , it was revelatory . 5 things to know about beatlemania . on february 9 , 1964 , the beatles made their u.s. debut on `` the ed sullivan show . '' sullivan was a sunday night staple , one of the great variety shows , a tv version of vaudeville with comedians , acrobats and song-and-dance acts . into this staid carnival came four fresh-faced englishmen with their hair and guitars . americans had heard their music in the first few weeks of 1964 -- `` i want to hold your hand '' was already the no. 1 song in the country and other beatles numbers were making their way up the charts -- but john , paul , george and ringo were essentially unknown , two-dimensional photos at best . the sullivan appearance kicked off the american strain of beatlemania , a fever that had already infected their native britain . it would last for years , morphing along with the band as they performed in stadiums , retreated to the studio , experimented with drugs , married , divorced , bickered and eventually broke up . the beatles of myth , the beatles of reality . now , a half-century later , the beatles are back -- and beatlemania has struck again . cbs is airing a special devoted to the group . capitol records , the beatles ' label , is re-releasing the band 's 13 u.s. albums . cnn is airing `` the british invasion , '' a look back at the musical revolution the band spawned . it 's co-produced by tom hanks , who expertly recreated the time in his 1996 film `` that thing you do ! '' everybody with a memory -- not least paul mccartney and ringo starr , the surviving members of the beatles -- is making the rounds . at the grammy awards on sunday night , mccartney and starr reunited for a song and were frequently singled out by presenters . yoko ono and olivia harrison , john lennon and george harrison 's respective widows , presented the album of the year award . the audience , invariably , cheered . in many ways , the sullivan appearance marked the beginning of a cultural revolution . the foo fighters ' dave grohl perhaps said it best on the grammys red carpet . `` the beatles , '' he observed , `` are the foundation of everything we do . '' ` it was an unreal situation ' but first came the hair , the girls , the screaming . `` it began with shrieks , sirens and total panic , '' wrote gail cameron in life magazine of their arrival at new york 's john f. kennedy airport -- renamed just weeks earlier for the fallen president -- rarely failing to mention a `` mop of hair '' or `` beatle haircut . '' newsweek scoffed . `` visually , they are a nightmare : tight , dandified edwardian beatnik suits and great pudding bowls of hair , '' the magazine wrote . the hair , to a postwar world used to crew cuts and short back-and-sides , was novel . reporters asked to touch it . fan clubs gave away snippets , like pieces of the one true cross . but the screams ? they had screamed before -- for liszt , for sinatra , for elvis -- and they would scream again . but they had never screamed like this . the scene at jfk , the crowds around new york 's plaza hotel , the jet-engine squeals inside cbs ' studio 50 for the debut appearance on `` the ed sullivan show '' -- they were , literally , unheard-of . `` i did -lrb- cue -rrb- cards for presley , and i remember kids yelling . but nothing close to what happened -lrb- then -rrb- . you ca n't compare the two , '' says vince calandra , at the time a 29-year-old production assistant for sullivan . `` it was an unreal situation . '' did you get swept up in beatlemania ? share your memories here .<doc-sep>-lrb- rolling stone -rrb- -- in rolling stone 's new special collectors edition issue , we count down the 100 greatest songs from the greatest band of all time : the beatles . check out the top 10 songs now , before the issue hits stands : . # 10 : `` while my guitar gently weeps '' the lyrics for george harrison 's first truly great beatles song began as a deliberate accident -- and it was n't until harrison pulled eric clapton in to play guitar that the arrangement was finished . # 9 : `` come together '' originally intended by lennon as a campaign song for lsd guru timothy leary 's campaign for california 's governor in 1970 , this became the last song all four beatles cut in the studio together . # 8 : `` let it be '' mccartney channeled aretha franklin 's soul in `` let it be , '' recorded during the peak of the beatles ' troubled times . a month after its 1970 release , mccartney announced the band had broken up .

<t> paul mccartney , ringo starr say their music sounds better . </t> <t> the former beatles talk to cnn 's larry king . </t> <t> widows of john lennon and george harrison also appeared . </t> <t> harrison , ono say their husbands still have strong presence . </t>

surviving beatles , widows come together<T>

-lrb- mental floss -rrb- -- 1 . bobby murcer 's biggest fan . former new york yankee bobby murcer warms up during old timers day yankee stadium on july 7 . our first story has a fairy-tale middle and a horrible ending . in august of ' 77 , bobby murcer of the cubs promised to hit a home run for terminally ill fan scott crull . that night , murcer hit two of them . pretty amazing , especially when you consider murcer only hit nine homers the whole next season . but that 's not why crull -- a 12-year-old from calumet city , illinois -- makes this list . broadcasting the game nationally on abc , keith jackson told the country how murcer had fulfilled the dying boy 's last wish . eyes watered , spines tingled . there was only one problem -- nobody had ever told the boy he was dying . his parents were horrified . weeks later , crull passed away . 2 . the good luck charmers . every sport has its own strange traditions . i 'd argue hockey 's `` throwing an octopus on the ice for good luck '' is the weirdest . tossing the eight-tentacled cephalopod was the brainchild of detroit storeowners pete & jerry cusimano . the date : april 15 , 1952 . the logic : one tentacle for each of the eight victories it took to win the stanley cup . later that spring , most likely fueled by the good luck octopus , the red wings won the title . peta has objected to this practice , which continues to this day . the red wings mascot is not a red wing , but al the octopus . 3 . the john 3:16 guy . also known as `` rainbow man , '' the born-again rollen stewart and his john 3:16 signs were fixtures at major events in the 1970s and 80s . he brought his message to the world series , super bowl , olympics , and world cup . he was outside buckingham palace when di and charles wed ; he went to see the pope in alaska . but he was more religious fanatic than sports fan . according to the los angeles times , stewart planned to assassinate president bush and candidate clinton in 1992 . and he 's now serving three life sentences for holding a maid hostage at a los angeles hyatt , also in 1992 . by the way , chapter three , verse sixteen of the gospel of john says , `` for god so loved the world , that he gave his only begotten son , that whosoever believeth in him should not perish , but have everlasting life . '' this is also printed on cups at the in-n-out burger . 4 . the all-star heckler . for 12 years , maryland lawyer and washington bullets fan robin ficker was the nba 's most prominent heckler . with season tickets behind the visiting team 's bench , his antics were legendary . when he reminded frank layden of the jazz that `` usa today '' had rated him worst dressed coach , layden had to be restrained by security . with the bulls in town , ficker loudly read excerpts of maverick , coach phil jackson 's sex-laden 1975 autobiography . during the 1993 suns-bulls nba finals , charles barkley -lrb- of the suns -rrb- flew ficker to phoenix and bought him a ticket behind the chicago bench . ficker was ejected in the first quarter . the bullets became the wizards in 1997 and moved into the mci center the following season . ficker 's new seats were not in shouting distance of the visiting team , forcing him into heckling retirement . last year he received 9.5 % of the vote in a losing bid for montgomery county executive . 5 . kim jong-il . that 's right , the world 's most feared dictator is a hoops junkie . during a 2000 visit , then-secretary of state madeleine albright presented him a basketball signed by michael jordan . the chicago bulls are the favorite team of kim jong-il , who reportedly has a video library with every game jordan ever played . at 5 ' 3 '' , the supreme commander of the korean people 's army is roughly the same height as muggsy bogues . 6 . david letterman 's stalker . david letterman 's biggest fan was also his biggest headache . when she was arrested for stealing dave 's porsche in 1988 , margaret ray told police she was mrs. letterman . she was a frequent trespasser on dave 's estate , once camping out on his tennis court . ray 's antics made her a regular monologue target . but the jokes stopped in 1998 , when ray jumped in front of a moving train . the collective guilt spread when we learned she was schizophrenic , as were her two brothers , who also committed suicide . 7 . joe from saddle river . a die-hard jets , mets and rangers fan , joe benigno was a frequent caller to wfan , new york 's all-sports radio station . benigno won the station 's fan appreciation day contest in 1994 , earning a chance to guest-host his own show . by 1995 , joe was wfan 's overnight guy , a title he held for almost a decade . in 2004 , he was deemed ready for daytime and given the 10 a.m.-1p . m. timeslot . for all the lonely and passionate talk radio callers out there , joe gives hope . 8 . steffi graf 's biggest fanatic . deranged and obsessed with seeing steffi graf return to the top of the rankings , gunter parche stabbed monica seles during a 1993 match in one of the most disturbing incidents in sports history . almost as disturbing was his punishment . parche received a two-year suspended sentence and was ordered to attend mandatory counseling . even more shocking , i ca n't find footage of any of this on youtube . also receiving votes : john hinckley ; the fan who started the pistons-pacers brawl in 2004 ; jeffrey maier ; the kissing bandit ; `` butch '' from middlebury ; metallica superfan-turned-bass player jason newstead ; and steve bartman . e-mail to a friend . for more mental_floss articles , visit mentalfloss.com . entire contents of this article copyright , mental floss llc . all rights reserved .<doc-sep>but not all authors are on board with fan fiction . `` the wolf gift '' author anne rice wrote about the genre on her website : `` i do not allow fan fiction . the characters are copyrighted . it upsets me terribly to even think about fan fiction with my characters . i advise my readers to write your own original stories with your own characters . it is absolutely essential that you respect my wishes . '' however , other writers have embraced it , allowing such stories to expand the demographic of their original work . hln : 10 things to know about ` fifty shades of grey ' take pottermore for example . j.k. rowling 's website is a space for harry potter fans who do n't want those adventures to end . `` with pottermore , -lrb- rowling -rrb- has said , ` yes , you can come in and tell those stories the way you want to , '' kellogg said . `` i 'm not sure there will be a lot of other ` fifty shades of grey , ' but the way people deal with fan fiction may be shifting in a real and significant way . ''<doc-sep>at the end of october , forbes releases its list of `` top-earning dead celebrities . '' last year 's top 13 -- elvis presley , charles m. schulz , heath ledger , albert einstein , aaron spelling , dr. seuss -lrb- theodor geisel -rrb- , john lennon , andy warhol , marilyn monroe , steve mcqueen , paul newman , james dean , and marvin gaye -- earned a combined $ 194 million in 2008 , according to the magazine . not bad for a group that is unable to make personal appearances or sign autographs . roesler 's company represents two stars on the list -lrb- monroe and dean -rrb- and quite a few living clients -lrb- people as varied as scott baio and boxer roberto duran -rrb- as part of its roster of more than 300 entertainment , music , sports and historical figures and organizations . roesler , who declined to comment on whether he or his company is working with the jackson estate , said dead celebrities are often less risky for companies to use in marketing campaigns . `` the fact that they are deceased , it 's not possible to have any more scandals . andin today 's day and age , companies are becoming less of a risk taker , '' roesler said . `` even for someone like michael jackson , people have thrown a lot of dirt around michael jackson and we all know what that landscape is ... and it 's unlikely that anyone is going to bring up anything that would derail any type of major promotional effort . '' share reviews of `` this is it '' some people take their fascination with dead celebrities to the outer limits . these fans make pilgrimages to the scene of their favorite celebrity 's death , their grave , and where they lived . in the case of elvis presley , it 's the same location , which has made graceland one of the most popular destinations in the united states . michaels ' findadeath.com is a favored destination of those who refer to themselves as `` death hags . '' from visiting grave sites to collecting autopsy photos , death hags are part of a fan culture that can rival a star 's fan club in life . `` stars ' lives are pretty spectacular and we followed their careers , '' said michaels . `` so it makes sense that we follow their deaths . '' why the attraction ? well , death is the great equalizer , said alan w. petrucelli , author of `` morbid curiosity : the disturbing demises of the famous and infamous . '' `` it reminds us that despite all of the money , glamour and fame , -lsb- celebrities -rsb- are going to die just like we all are going to die . ''<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- chris pratt is officially capital - `` f '' famous . it 's not just because he 's the star of the no. 1 movie at the box office , `` guardians of the galaxy , '' or because he 's endlessly charming . and it 's not just his physical transformation or his stories about flashing his `` parks & recreation '' co-star amy poehler , although none of that hurts .<doc-sep>he barely noticed janet jackson 's infamous `` wardrobe malfunction '' during super bowl xxxviii 's halftime show in 2004 . now , he 's ready for the steelers-packers matchup in dallas , blizzard or otherwise . crisman is one-fourth of the `` never miss a super bowl club , '' an exclusive group featured in visa 's latest advertising campaigns . test your super bowl knowledge . he and three other men boasting a perfect attendance record -- 49ers fan larry jacobson , steelers fan thomas henschel and packers fan robert cook -- can be seen in the national commercials , flashing more than four decades of super bowl ticket stubs .

<t> `` rainbow man , '' or the john 3:16 guy , is in prison . </t> <t> communist dictator is a hoops fan . </t> <t> from fan to talk radio host . </t> <t> how an all-star heckler lost his seat . </t>

famous -lrb- or infamous -rrb- fan stories<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- three palestinians , including two sick children , have died recently while waiting for resettlement from iraq , the u.n. refugee agency said on friday . unhcr goodwill ambassador angelina jolie visits the al waleed refugee camp in august . about 2,000 palestinian refugees are stranded in camps along the syrian border and face difficult living conditions , including limited medical care , the u.n. high commissioner for refugees said . the agency has appealed for the resettlement of `` vulnerable and sick '' children in al waleed refugee camp at the iraqi-syrian border . one of those who died in the camp was a 3-year-old palestinian boy who was suffering from rickets and pneumonia . he died a few days ago in a ramadi hospital and then was buried in al waleed . the other was a 14-year-old suffering from hodgkin 's disease who died in baghdad last week . a 50-year-old man who was waiting to be resettled died earlier this month in al waleed . the agency says seven people , including three children , have died at the camp since refugees fleeing attackers began arriving at the border in march 2006 . about 30 to 40 people arrive at the al waleed camp each week , the unhcr reports . the agency has been pursuing medical resettlement . `` unhcr has helped resettle one family of eight with several sick children from this camp to norway last august . another 11 medical cases submitted for resettlement are awaiting approval , '' the agency said , which is working to identify other medical cases . and it is urging the resettlement of the entire group . `` unhcr has sought solutions for the whole group since last year and has only received positive indications from sudan and chile , '' the agency said . thousands of palestinians have lived in iraq , with some going there when israel was formed and others born there . the unhcr notes that some got `` preferential treatment '' under the regime of former iraqi president saddam hussein . but they have been the targets of violence since he was toppled . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- three palestinians , including two sick children , have died recently while waiting for resettlement from iraq , the u.n. refugee agency said on friday . unhcr goodwill ambassador angelina jolie visits the al waleed refugee camp in august . about 2,000 palestinian refugees are stranded in camps along the syrian border and face difficult living conditions , including limited medical care , the u.n. high commissioner for refugees said . the agency has appealed for the resettlement of `` vulnerable and sick '' children in al waleed refugee camp at the iraqi-syrian border .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- iceland and sweden plan to take in about 200 palestinian refugees from iraq who have been living in refugee camps along the iraqi-syrian border , the u.n. refugee agency said tuesday . more than two dozen refugees stranded at the al waleed refugee camp for the last two years will be headed to iceland in the next few weeks , the agency said . in addition , 155 palestinians in the al tanf refugee camp have been accepted for resettlement in sweden , it said . many palestinians living in iraq have gotten caught up in the violence that has engulfed the country since the u.s.-led invasion in 2003 and have had to flee their homes . the u.n. high commissioner for refugees said that out of the estimated 34,000 palestinians who lived in iraq since 2003 , about 10,000 to 15,000 remain . the unhcr says about 2,300 palestinians `` are living in desperate conditions along the iraq-syria border . '' they are , the unhcr says , `` unable to return to iraq or to cross the borders to neighboring countries . '' it says the al waleed camp has 1,400 people and al tanf about 900 . `` unhcr has repeatedly called for international support for the palestinians but with few results . few palestinians in the border camps have been accepted for resettlement or offered shelter in third countries ; 223 palestinians left to non-traditional resettlement countries such as brazil and chile . `` some urgent medical cases were taken by a few european countries , but this is a very small number out of the 2,300 palestinians stranded in the desert , '' the unhcr said in a statement . it noted that sudan has made an offer to take in some of those palestinians , and said `` unhcr and palestinian representatives are finalizing an operations plan that will enable this to take place . '' refugees international recently asked the united states government to intervene and resettle the palestinians in the united states instead of sudan , which itself is engulfed in sectarian fighting and whose government has been condemned for atrocities . `` the palestinians being resettled in sudan is obviously not an ideal or preferred solution , '' state department spokesman kurtis cooper told cnn last month . `` but we accept the judgment of the unhcr that it is preferable to the palestinians continuing to be stranded in the border area in extremely dire circumstances . ''<doc-sep>dubai , united arab emirates -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- sudanese president omar el-bashir on tuesday accused the international media of `` exaggerating '' the situation in darfur to detract from atrocities in iraq , the palestinian territories and somalia . refugees from darfur gather at a camp in chad . sudan 's president says the crisis in darfur is a `` media fabrication . '' el-bashir spoke at a news conference in dubai following a three-day visit to the persian gulf emirate . he said the crisis in sudan 's western darfur region is a `` media fabrication . '' el-bashir 's government has been blamed by the united nations of supporting militias that conduct `` indiscriminate attacks '' on civilians in the darfur region , including torture , rape , and killings .<doc-sep>by . ian laybourn , press association . salford owner marwan koukash and liverpool-born actor david morrissey have teamed up to bring a palestinian refugee to england to improve his rugby league skills . khaled issa , 20 , will spend 10 days with the red devils , training with both the first team and the academy , and hopes to play a game before returning home . issa , whose family fled to beirut in lebanon as refugees , was discovered by the founder of palestinian rugby league , rabie al masri , who has been training palestinian refugees since 2008 and so far has gathered 80 players to form three teams .

<t> u.n. agency appeals for medical resettlement of palestinians in iraq camps . </t> <t> about 2,000 palestinians in camps along iraq-syria border . </t> <t> 30 to 40 refugees arrive at border camp each week , unhcr says . </t>

three palestinian refugees die in iraq<T>

washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- u.s. coast guard planes and ships were searching friday for a japanese balloonist who disappeared off the alaska coast while flying from japan to the west coast united states . missing japanese balloonist michio kanda -lrb- r -rrb- with naoki ishikawa . friends of balloonist michio kanda , who was on a solo flight , last heard from him via satellite phone at 9 a.m. alaska time -lrb- 6 p.m. gmt -rrb- thursday , said uscg petty officer levi read . when he missed three subsequent scheduled calls over the next six hours , they called the coast guard , read said . read said two coast guard c130 hercules planes conducted searches thursday 435 miles south of adak , alaska , the balloonist 's last known position . the searches continued friday and are ongoing , read said . two coast guard cutters are also headed for the area , but both are at least a day away , he said . read said the balloonist , who was heading for portland , oregon , is equipped with provisions and a survival suit . kanda holds the world record for the longest-duration balloon flight , with a time of 50 hours and 38 minutes , according to the world air sports federation . in that january 1997 flight , he and hirosuke takezawa flew from the canadian provionce of alberta to the u.s. state of montana , according to the federation . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- u.s. coast guard planes and ships were searching friday for a japanese balloonist who disappeared off the alaska coast while flying from japan to the west coast united states . missing japanese balloonist michio kanda -lrb- r -rrb- with naoki ishikawa . friends of balloonist michio kanda , who was on a solo flight , last heard from him via satellite phone at 9 a.m. alaska time -lrb- 6 p.m. gmt -rrb- thursday , said uscg petty officer levi read . when he missed three subsequent scheduled calls over the next six hours , they called the coast guard , read said . read said two coast guard c130 hercules planes conducted searches thursday 435 miles south of adak , alaska , the balloonist 's last known position . the searches continued friday and are ongoing , read said .<doc-sep>the body of a hot-air balloonist who saved the lives . of five skydivers before his balloon went down in a thunderstorm was found today in dense woodland . a search team in a helicopter spotted the balloon before crew on the ground discovered the body of 63-year-old edward ristaino . mr ristaino had been taking five . skydivers into the air during a festival in fitzgerald , georgia , when . stormy weather swiftly moved in . missing : ho-air balloonist edward ristaino saved the lives of five skydivers before his balloon went down in a thunderstorm in south georgia on friday . the balloon was found about seven to eight miles east of fitzgerald , according to ben hill county sheriff bobby mclemore . it was draped over the basket containing mr ristaino 's body in a heavily wooded area . a fast-developing thunderstorm sucked in mr ristaino 's balloon while he was ferrying skydivers on friday , then sent the craft plummeting toward the ground . the skydivers parachuted to safety and landed without injury .<doc-sep>two coast guard cutters are also headed for the area , but both are at least a day away , he said . read said the balloonist , who was heading for portland , oregon , is equipped with provisions and a survival suit . kanda holds the world record for the longest-duration balloon flight , with a time of 50 hours and 38 minutes , according to the world air sports federation . in that january 1997 flight , he and hirosuke takezawa flew from the canadian provionce of alberta to the u.s. state of montana , according to the federation . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . published : . 19:16 est , 8 november 2012 . | . updated : . 10:53 est , 9 november 2012 . a cluster-balloonist who became the first person to fly the english channel is taking on the challenge of a lifetime by attempting to cross the entire atlantic ocean . intrepid jonathan trappe , 38 , plans to fly an incredible 2,500 miles across the pond next summer in a seven foot lifeboat carried by 365 huge helium balloons . and the pilot has harnessed the huge public interest in his previous adventures to launch a $ 300,000 appeal to crowd-fund online the expensive helium and special uv resistant balloons he will need for his record-breaking flight .

<t> balloonist michio kanda missing on flight from japan to u.s. </t> <t> u.s. coast guard searching area around his last known position . </t> <t> kanda holds the world record for the longest-duration balloon flight . </t>

record-holding japanese balloonist missing<T>