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-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a texas couple charged with killing the little girl known as `` baby grace '' now face capital murder charges , after a texas grand jury upgraded the charges on wednesday . riley ann sawyers was moved from ohio to texas by her mother . prosecutors said they have not decided whether to seek the death penalty against the girl 's mother , kimberly dawn trenor , and trenor 's husband , royce clyde zeigler ii . two-year-old riley ann sawyers was beaten to death and her body was disposed of in galveston bay .<doc-sep>riley 's body was found october 29 by a fisherman on an uninhabited island in the bay . it was wrapped in black plastic bags and stuffed in a blue , plastic bin . her identity was not known at first , and police dubbed her `` baby grace . '' police sketches of the child were widely distributed , and sheryl sawyers , the girl 's paternal grandmother , contacted police from her ohio home to say the drawing resembled her granddaughter . dna testing confirmed the child 's identity . trenor , 19 , and zeigler , 24 , were initially charged with injury to a child and tampering with evidence . but since the initial charges were filed last month the investigation has continued and police have gathered additional evidence , in addition to confirming riley 's identity , said a statement released wednesday by galveston county criminal district attorney kurt sistrunk .<doc-sep>based on that , the grand jury was asked to upgrade the charges , he said . a three-hour hearing was held wednesday in which grand jurors heard testimony from five witnesses , including police and fbi investigators and the medical examiner . the grand jury deliberated for only three minutes wednesday before upgrading the charges , sistrunk said . trenor told police riley had been beaten and thrown across a room and that her head was held under water before she died july 24 . she said the couple hid the girl 's body in a storage shed for one to two months before putting it in the plastic container and dumping it into the bay .<doc-sep>a medical examiner said riley 's skull was fractured in three places that would have been fatal injuries . trenor and the girl moved to texas from ohio in may to be with zeigler , who trenor had met online . sistrunk said the investigation is continuing , and a decision on whether to seek the death penalty will not be made until its conclusion . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>had not received any medical attention , according to portland police . the case was presented to a grand jury last week and the couple was arrested on friday morning . the couple were arrested on friday , then arraigned on charges of murder by abuse and first-degree manslaughter on monday and are set to face trial on aug. 26 . sarah mangus ' mother marie dakota has blamed krystal 's death on the local hospital . sarah mangus ' mother marie dakota has blamed krystal 's death on the local hospital . ` my daughter did everything she could to get that baby up to the hospital after it was born . she cleaned it up , had it dressed in clothes and everything . the umbilical cord was clamped off real good , ' she told fox12 . ` the baby had good color . the baby cried . the baby sucked the bottle . so , i do n't agree with any of this . ' both suspects were arraigned on charges . of murder by abuse and first-degree manslaughter on monday . they are set to face trial on aug. 26 . video : parents plead not guilty to murder in death of newborn baby girl .<doc-sep>an american couple convicted in qatar of child endangerment will receive a final verdict on their appeal next month , a qatari judge announced on monday . matthew and grace huang of los angeles were originally jailed on murder charges following the january 2013 death of their adopted daughter gloria . they were released from prison last november , but banned from leaving during the trial . scroll down for video . matthew and grace huang of los angeles -lrb- pictured today -rrb- were originally jailed on murder charges following the january 2013 death of their adopted daughter gloria . ` it feels like there is no end to this , ' matthew huang told reporters outside the courtroom monday . ` the qatar government is ignoring the calls of the u.s. government for our release ' they were released from prison last november , but banned from leaving during the trial . in march , the court sentenced them to three years in prison for child endangerment . in march , the court sentenced them to three years in prison for child endangerment .<doc-sep>by . snejana farberov . a texas woman has been arrested and charged in the death of her fiance 's 2-year-old daughter who had her mouth taped shut earlier this month . little gracie ford was discovered unconscious in her father 's plano home january 9 . she was rushed to children 's medical center in dallas , where she was declared legally dead three days later . on tuesday , police arrested melinda muniz , 25 , on a capital murder charge . the woman was ordered held in the plano city jail on $ 1million bond . justice for gracie : melinda muniz -lrb- left -rrb- , 25 , was charged tuesday in the january 9 death of her fiance 's 2-year-old daughter , grace ford -lrb- right -rrb- . innocent toddler : grace , pictured here with her mother , emily ward , was found unconscious in her crib with her mouth covered with duct tape . plano police officers responded to an apartment in the 1500 block of j place at around 1.40 pm on january 9 to discover 2-year-old grace ford unconscious in her crib with duct tape covering her face .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- three siblings caught after allegedly firing at colorado police during a high-speed chase appeared in court monday , facing a ballooning list of charges against them . lee grace dougherty faces 29 charges , while her brothers dylan stanley dougherty and ryan edward dougherty face 23 and 24 charges respectively , according to complaints filed monday in huerfano county district court in walsenberg . that includes five counts of attempted second-degree murder for 29-year-old lee grace dougherty , for allegedly threatening five police officers with a gun on august 10 . she also faces eight first-degree assault charges and one count of aggravated motor vehicle theft , among others . her brothers face a similar laundry list of charges . both ryan , 21 , and dylan , 26 , for instance , are charged with five counts of attempted second-degree murder and five of first-degree assault , among others .

<t> grand jury upgrades charges against girl 's mother and mother 's husband . </t> <t> presented new evidence , jury took just 3 minutes to vote for tougher charges . </t> <t> riley ann sawyers , initially known as baby grace , was beaten to death . </t> <t> prosecutors have n't decided whether to seek death penalty for couple . </t>

couple face capital murder charges in baby grace death<T>

washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the fbi and the department of homeland security issued a bulletin thursday citing an alleged claim of responsibility by al qaeda for former pakistani prime minister benazir bhutto 's assassination , a dhs official told cnn . an italian news agency says al qaeda no. 2 ayman al-zawahiri began planning bhutto 's killing in october . but such a claim has not appeared on radical islamist web sites that regularly post such messages from al qaeda and other militant groups . the source of the claim was apparently italian news agency , adnkronos international -lrb- aki -rrb- , which said that al qaeda afghanistan commander and spokesman mustafa abu al-yazid had telephoned the agency to make the claim .<doc-sep>`` we terminated the most precious american asset which vowed to defeat -lsb- the -rsb- mujahadeen , '' aki quoted al-yazid as saying . according to aki , al qaeda no. 2 ayman al-zawahiri set the wheels in motion for the assassination in october . one islamist web site repeated the claim , but that web site is not considered a reliable source for islamist messages by experts in the field . the dhs official said the claim was `` an unconfirmed open source claim of responsibility '' and the bulletin was sent out at about 6 p.m. to state and local law enforcement agencies .<doc-sep>the official characterized the bulletin as `` information sharing . '' ross feinstein , spokesman for director of national intelligence mike mcconnell , said the u.s. intelligence community is monitoring the situation and trying to figure out who is responsible for the assassination . `` we are not in a position to confirm who may be responsible , '' feinstein said . feinstein said that the intelligence community `` obviously analyze -lrb- s -rrb- open source intelligence , '' but he would not say whether the community believes the claim has any validity .<doc-sep>for now , he said , there is `` no conclusion '' as to who may be responsible . earlier , dhs spokesman russ knocke said bhutto 's assassination had not prompted `` any adjustments to our security posture . '' `` of course , we continue to closely monitor events as they unfold overseas , '' he said . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's jeanne meserve contributed to this report .<doc-sep>islamabad , pakistan -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- benazir bhutto died from a fractured skull caused by hitting her head on part of her car 's sunroof as a bomb ripped through a crowd of her supporters , a spokesman for pakistan 's interior ministry said friday . members of bhutto 's pakistan people 's party in the northwestern city of peshawar protest her assassination . `` when she was thrown by the force of the shockwave of the explosion , unfortunately one of the levers of the sunroof hit her , '' said spokesman brigadier javed iqbal cheema . the explanation is the latest from the interior ministry . it initially said bhutto was killed by shots fired by the bomber , and then , via the state-run associated press of pakistan , it said the cause of death was a shrapnel injury . but farzana raja of bhutto 's pakistan people 's party told cnn the government 's explanation is `` a pack of lies , '' she told cnn . raja also accused the government of a `` total security lapse . '' at a news conference , cheema showed images of bhutto in a car , standing up through an open sunroof , looking out at the crowd as she was about to be driven away . when the gunshots rang out and the explosion occurred , bhutto `` fell down or perhaps ducked '' and apparently hit her head on a lever , cheema said , adding that the lever was stained with blood . watch the shots , then a blast '' the blast killed at least 28 more people and at least 100 were wounded . the interior ministry also revealed friday that it had proof showing that al qaeda was behind bhutto 's assassination . cheema said the government had an intelligence intercept in which an al qaeda militant `` congratulated his people for carrying out this cowardly act . '' however , that claim has not appeared on radical islamist web sites that regularly post such messages from al qaeda and other militant groups . the interior ministry told pakistan 's geo-tv that the suicide bomber belonged to lashkar-e-jhangvi -- an al qaeda-linked sunni muslim militant group that the government has blamed for hundreds of killings . u.s. officials believe that a taliban leader , baitullah mahsud , may be the person behind the assassination . bhutto was laid to rest in a chaotic funeral at her ancestral home of garhi-khuda baksh on friday after violent scenes erupted across pakistan following her death a day earlier . watch video from bhutto 's funeral procession '' hundreds of thousands of people in the surrounding streets almost brought the procession to a standstill before it finally reached the bhutto family 's mausoleum . the throngs of her grieving supporters crushed up against the flag-draped coffin , while minor scuffles also broke out . see images of pakistan mourning bhutto . ''<doc-sep>suicide bombings like the attack that killed bhutto and more than 20 of her supporters , including asif , have intensified in recent months in pakistan . watch the devastating effects of bombings '' on thursday , a suicide bomber killed at least 23 people and injured more than 58 others outside a court in lahore , police said . the attack brought to 20 the number of suicide attacks in pakistan in the last three months , including a failed attack on bhutto 's life in october . the bombings have killed close to 400 people and wounded nearly 1,000 others in the last three months , according to government officials . pro-taliban militants with ties to al qaeda are carrying out the attacks , according to analysts and government officials . cnn terrorism analyst peter bergen says the number of suicide bombings in pakistan has `` reached unprecedented levels in the past year . '' previously , bergen says , such attacks were rare . `` the reason for this rise is because al qaeda and the pakistani taliban have morphed together ideologically and tactically , and both see themselves at war with the pakistani state , '' bergen says . `` many of the suicide attacks have been aimed at pakistani politicians , officials and soldiers . ''<doc-sep>rawalpindi , pakistan -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- former pakistani prime minister benazir bhutto 's assassination was her own fault , the country 's president , pervez musharraf , said in an interview that aired sunday on u.s. television . bhutto sits on stage at a campaign rally minutes before her assassination . `` for standing up outside the car , i think it was she to blame alone -- nobody else . responsibility is hers , '' the former general told cbs ' `` 60 minutes . '' bhutto was killed december 27 in rawalpindi , south of the pakistani capital islamabad , while she was standing in an armored moving car after rallying supporters for now-postponed parliamentary elections . her head was above the roof and unprotected at the time of the attack . the cause of her death is not clear : a bomber blew himself up near bhutto 's limousine and videotape showed a gunman present , though no autopsy has been carried out . asked if bhutto could have been shot , musharraf said , `` yes , absolutely , yes . possibility . '' he has said he welcomes an international investigation . musharraf , who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999 , rejected criticism that his government did not do enough to provide security to bhutto , who was seeking to regain the post of prime minister . he noted that she had already survived one assassination attempt and `` was given more security than any other person . '' asked about the hunt for al qaeda leader osama bin laden , widely rumored to be in the remote border region between pakistan and afghanistan , musharraf said , `` there is no proof whatsoever that he 's here . we are not particularly looking for him , but we are operating against this -- and al qaeda and militant taliban . and in the process , obviously , it is combined . maybe we are looking for him also . '' and pakistan 's ambassador to the united states , mahmud ali durrani , told cnn 's `` late edition with wolf blitzer '' that , `` if we knew where he was , we would have taken him out . '' durrani added that musharraf 's comment about `` not specifically looking for osama '' means that the pakistani military is `` totally focused on destroying al qaeda and the taliban network and not just one person . '' about bhutto 's death , he noted only that the investigation is not completed `` and we should not jump to conclusions . '' still , he added , `` if she had not come out of the vehicle , the protected and armored vehicle , maybe we would have seen her smiling face again today . '' though musharraf 's popularity at home has plummeted , he retains support from gop presidential contender sen. john mccain . `` i think he 's a good man , '' the arizonan told nbc 's `` meet the press . '' `` but i think he 's made mistakes , do n't get me wrong . and we 've got to move forward with these elections and have them free and fair . `` but i can work with him . he understands the threat to his country that the taliban and al qaeda present . and radical islamic extremists . he 's a very smart man . he 'd be one of the first to go . they 've tried to kill him nine times , ok ? nine times they 've tried to kill musharraf . he 's not their favorite guy . ''<doc-sep>rawalpindi , pakistan -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- former pakistani prime minister benazir bhutto 's assassination was her own fault , the country 's president , pervez musharraf , said in an interview on u.s. television . bhutto sits on stage at a campaign rally minutes before her assassination . `` for standing up outside the car , i think it was she to blame alone -- nobody else . responsibility is hers , '' the former general told cbs ' `` 60 minutes '' on sunday . bhutto was killed december 27 in rawalpindi , south of the pakistani capital islamabad , while she was standing in an armored moving car after rallying supporters for now-postponed parliamentary elections . her head was above the roof and unprotected at the time of the attack . the cause of her death is not clear : a bomber blew himself up near bhutto 's limousine and videotape showed a gunman present , though no autopsy has been carried out . asked if bhutto could have been shot , musharraf said , `` yes , absolutely , yes . possibility . '' he has said he welcomes an international investigation . musharraf , who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999 , rejected criticism that his government did not do enough to provide security to bhutto , who was seeking to regain the post of prime minister . he noted that she had already survived one assassination attempt and `` was given more security than any other person . '' asked about the hunt for al qaeda leader osama bin laden , widely rumored to be in the remote border region between pakistan and afghanistan , musharraf said , `` there is no proof whatsoever that he 's here . we are not particularly looking for him , but we are operating against this -- and al qaeda and militant taliban . and in the process , obviously , it is combined . maybe we are looking for him also . '' and pakistan 's ambassador to the united states , mahmud ali durrani , told cnn 's `` late edition with wolf blitzer '' that , `` if we knew where he was , we would have taken him out . '' durrani added that musharraf 's comment about `` not specifically looking for osama '' means that the pakistani military is `` totally focused on destroying al qaeda and the taliban network and not just one person . '' about bhutto 's death , he noted only that the investigation is not completed `` and we should not jump to conclusions . '' still , he added , `` if she had not come out of the vehicle , the protected and armored vehicle , maybe we would have seen her smiling face again today . '' though musharraf 's popularity at home has plummeted , he retains support from gop presidential contender sen. john mccain . `` i think he 's a good man , '' the arizonan told nbc 's `` meet the press . '' `` but i think he 's made mistakes , do n't get me wrong . and we 've got to move forward with these elections and have them free and fair . `` but i can work with him . he understands the threat to his country that the taliban and al qaeda present . and radical islamic extremists . he 's a very smart man . he 'd be one of the first to go . they 've tried to kill him nine times , ok ? nine times they 've tried to kill musharraf . he 's not their favorite guy . '' the new york times reported sunday that the bush administration is considering expanding covert operations in the western part of pakistan to shore up support for musharraf 's government and to find bin laden and his second in command , ayman al-zawahiri . democratic presidential candidate bill richardson of new mexico told cnn 's `` late edition with wolf blitzer '' that , though he had not heard details of the plan , `` it sounds like a strategy that makes sense . '' he added , `` we have got to take whatever action is needed . '' richardson has called for musharraf to step down and has called for free and fair elections . `` what we need to do is ask musharraf , push him , push him to step aside for the good of the country , because he is widely unpopular , '' he told cnn . sen. hillary clinton , a democratic presidential candidate from new york , said saturday that she would try to persuade musharraf to share the responsibility for safeguarding his country 's nuclear weapons with a delegation from the united states and perhaps great britain . meanwhile , detectives from britain 's scotland yard on sunday once again examined the white land cruiser that bhutto was riding in when she was assassinated , pakistan 's state-run news agency said . the associated press of pakistan said the detectives also watched videos of bhutto 's last moments three times , and looked at bird 's eye view photographs of liaqat bagh park taken from a building that overlooks the rawalpindi public site . the team of five detectives arrived in pakistan friday after musharraf agreed they should work alongside pakistani agencies to determine how bhutto was killed and who was responsible for her death . on saturday , the team spent more than two hours at the park . musharraf said he expected the scotland yard investigators to help `` solve all the confusion '' surrounding the case . bhutto 's husband , asif ali zardari , wants a united nations inquiry into his late wife 's assassination . the pakistan interior ministry say the former leader died when she hit her head on the lever of her car 's sunroof after ducking for cover after a suicide bomb attack on her convoy . however , supporters of bhutto insist she was shot prior to the explosion -- a view that some say is supported by video footage of the moments before the blast . e-mail to a friend .

<t> fbi , department of homeland security issue bulletin thursday . </t> <t> bulletin says two al qaeda associates made claim to news agency . </t> <t> `` we terminated the most precious american asset , '' associate says . </t> <t> dhs official says the claim has not been confirmed . </t>

officials : al qaeda claims responsibility for bhutto killing<T>

washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- president bush on friday proposed a temporary , broad-based tax relief package aimed at spurring the nation 's slowing economy . `` we can provide a shot in the arm '' to the economy , president bush said friday at the white house . during remarks at the white house , bush , flanked by economic advisers , said the nation 's economy is at risk for a downturn and congress must act to head off trouble . `` this growth package must be big enough to make a difference in an economy as large and dynamic as ours , '' bush said . `` by passing a growth package quickly , we can provide a shot in the arm to keep a fundamentally strong economy healthy , and it will help keep economic sectors that are going through adjustments , such as the housing market , from adversely affecting other parts of our economy . '' watch more of bush 's tax outline '' it should equal about 1 percent of the nation 's gross domestic product , or roughly $ 140 billion , he added . bush said the economy will continue to grow but at a slower rate . the president offered no specific details of the proposed package , but he did insist that it include tax incentives for business , `` including small businesses , to make major investments in their enterprises this year . '' bush also said the economic package must include `` rapid income tax relief '' for consumers to `` lift our economy at a time when people otherwise might spend less . '' although democratic leaders in congress expressed general support for bush 's remarks , other democrats on capitol hill met the president 's proposal with suspicion . two democratic leadership aides made it clear friday that the growth package would not win support from democratic leaders unless it includes relief for low and middle income earners . `` we want to include people who pay taxes , not necessarily income taxes -- a lot of lower income people pay payroll taxes , '' said one aide . another source stated flatly , `` we 're not going to pass a bill in the house that does n't include low-income people . ''<doc-sep>sen. charles schumer , d-new york , said he was disappointed that bush did not include stimulus-spending measures aimed at helping the disadvantaged such as extending unemployment benefits . schumer said such spending initiatives would jump-start the economy faster than tax cuts alone . `` i think if we avoid any of the ideological fights , we could actually pass something so that it would take effect on march 1 , '' schumer said . house speaker nancy pelosi , d-california , expressed agreement with bush on `` the need to provide assistance immediately , '' saying in a statement that `` we must invest our resources in such a way that injects confidence and consumer demand , promotes economic growth and creates jobs . '' senate majority leader harry reid , d-nevada , said , `` i also agree that our focus must be on finding temporary measures that will do the job effectively . '' sen. edward kennedy , d-massachusetts , agreed that `` we must act swiftly to boost the economy '' but stressed the need to help families who `` are struggling every day to pay their bills , heat their homes and pay their mortgages . '' bush 's remarks came a day after talks on the subject with democratic and republican lawmakers , and following federal reserve chairman ben bernanke 's call for a fiscal stimulus package to help an economy beset by plummeting stock prices and a credit and mortgage crunch . bush said friday he was encouraged by his discussions with lawmakers . `` i believe there is enough broad consensus that we can come up with a package that can be approved with bipartisan support . '' existing income tax cuts supported by the bush administration are due to expire in 2010 , and the president called on congress to make them permanent . `` unless congress acts , the american people will face massive tax increases in less than three years , '' bush said . `` this tax increase would put jobs and economic growth at risk . '' watch experts explain how to goose the economy '' the proposed stimulus package comes as a leading gauge of future economic activity was released friday by the conference board . the december report showed a decline for a third straight month for the u.s. leading index -- down two-tenths of a percent . the report cited housing permits for the largest negative contribution to the index . see chart showing americans ' recession fears ''<doc-sep>on thursday , the dow jones industrial average of stock prices dropped more than 300 points after reports of slowing growth and massive debt write-offs by merrill lynch . the brokerage giant reported a nearly $ 10 billion loss for the fourth quarter of 2007 and wrote off more than $ 11 billion in bad mortgage debts . former treasury secretary lawrence summers stressed the importance of whom any relief package would target . `` it needs to go to people who are going to spend it , '' summers said friday on cnn 's `` american morning . '' `` that means particularly those who rely on tax refunds -- those receiving benefits , those whose incomes have been hurt by the downturn . '' bernanke told the house budget committee on thursday that he does not believe the economy will enter a recession , but he said he expects growth to proceed at a slow pace this year and possibly into early 2009 . he said congress needs to take decisive action to boost the economy . `` to be useful , a fiscal stimulus package should be implemented quickly and structured so that its effects on aggregate spending are felt as much as possible within the next 12 months or so , '' bernanke said . but he said any package should be `` explicitly temporary '' to avoid running up the government 's long-term debt . bernanke stopped short of suggesting that the bush tax cuts should be made permanent , telling lawmakers he supports `` the law of arithmetic . '' `` what comes in at least has to equal what goes out at some point , '' he said . in 2001 , americans received checks from the government designed to stimulate the economy . individuals received $ 300 and families $ 600 . twenty to 40 percent of the checks were spent within days . consumers saved one-third of the money , and two-thirds went back into the economy within two quarters , officials said . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's deirdre walsh contributed to this report .<doc-sep>`` i remember that back when we were discussing the stimulus package , both parties recognized that the deficit would increase , and that would be the price that we pay in order to help improve the economy , '' she said . nussle said the $ 170 billion , bipartisan stimulus , which congressional democrats and bush agreed to earlier this year , was a major reason the deficit was expected to reach record levels next year . the deficit projection for 2009 would have been only 2.2 percent of the economy , or $ 272 billion , if the stimulus package is excluded , nussle said . watch nussle warn congress not to increase spending '' `` the determination was made that getting the economy back on track was a higher priority than immediate deficit reduction , '' nussle said . he said the omb projects that the deficit would fall after the 2009 budget year , and he predicted that the government would have a surplus in budget year 2012 , if the president 's budget blueprint is followed . `` near-term deficits are temporary and manageable if -- and only if -- we keep spending in check , the tax burden low and the economy growing , '' nussle said , warning that congressional democrats were planning to add billions of dollars in spending to the federal budget . president bush inherited a budget surplus of $ 128 billion when he took office in 2001 but has since posted a budget deficit every year . view a history of the government deficits and surpluses '' the bush administration has spent heavily on the wars in iraq and afghanistan , and faces a large budget shortfall in tax revenue in part because of bush 's tax cuts and a souring economy . a democratic point man on the budget , sen. kent conrad of north dakota , blasted the administration for its `` reckless fiscal policies , '' blaming the president 's tax cuts for driving the government into deficit and saying bush `` will be remembered as the most fiscally irresponsible president in our nation 's history . '' watch conrad call the federal debt bush 's legacy ''<doc-sep>republicans , meanwhile , are already apoplectic about president obama 's plan . one of the more curious phenomena about republicans is that their economic agenda is entirely independent of the facts of the moment . so when the economy is strong , republicans demand tax cuts for the rich . when the economy is weak , republicans demand tax cuts for the rich . when the economy is recovering , republicans demand tax cuts for the rich . but the massive tax cuts for the wealthy under president george w. bush did n't stave off the recession and arguably precipitated or worsened the fall . moreover , the nonpartisan congressional research service has conclusively determined that tax cuts for the rich do not spur economic growth . to the contrary , there 's evidence that tax cuts hurt growth . in fact , the only thing tax cuts unequivocally do , according to the study ? tax cuts increase economic inequality . president obama is also proposing fees to make it more costly for the biggest financial companies to excessively borrow money . post-recession , corporate profits have soared , but wages for americans workers have not . once upon a time , corporate profits used to correlate more closely with economic growth and wage prosperity for average americans . in other words , we used to do well all together . but increasingly , especially in the past decade thanks to republican tax cuts and deregulations , corporations have succeeded while ordinary americans have fallen behind . how else do we explain the stock market hitting record highs while many americans are still out of work ? this runaway train of inequality wo n't solve itself . we need government action -- action the majority of americans strongly support .<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 .<doc-sep>tuesday 's veto is the fifth cast since democrats took control of congress in 2006 . congress has overridden one of those , voting last week to authorize $ 23 billion in water projects nationwide over the president 's objections . democrats will schedule another override vote this week , an aide to house majority leader steny hoyer said . but antonia ferrier , spokeswoman for house republican whip roy blunt , said bush 's gop allies are confident they will be able to sustain the veto . bush signed a $ 470 billion pentagon spending bill that covers the defense department 's normal operations , but democrats split $ 50 billion in spending for the wars in iraq and afghanistan off into a `` bridge fund '' to which they plan to attach demands for bush to withdraw u.s. combat troops . the measure sets up another confrontation with the white house . bush also demanded congress reform the alternative minimum tax -- a measure originally aimed at preventing the wealthy from evading taxes , but one that increasingly affects middle-class earners -- without raising additional revenue . he said a plan proposed by rep. charles rangel , the democratic chairman of the house ways and means committee , to eliminate the tax was unacceptable . `` preventing a tax increase in one area should not be an excuse for raising taxes in other areas , '' he said . `` congress should eliminate the tax increases in the bill and send the amt relief to my desk as soon as possible . '' the elimination of the tax would cause an estimated $ 800 billion to be lost over 10 years . to replace that , rangel 's bill would add a 4 percent surtax on individual incomes over $ 100,000 , after deductions , and close corporate tax loopholes . the bill also would cut rates for many individual and corporate taxpayers . republicans have already started calling it `` the mother of all tax increases . '' `` with all the other pressures on our economy , raising taxes is one of the most unwise things congress could possibly do , '' bush said . bush acknowledged the difficulties americans face from high fuel prices , a `` challenged '' housing market and `` uncertainty '' in financial markets stemming from the collapse of the subprime mortgage market -- `` but as we have seen in recent years , this economy is resilient , and that 's important for the american people to understand . '' e-mail to a friend . cnn 's deirdre walsh contributed to this report .

<t> new : democratic leadership aides say bill must help low - , middle-income earners . </t> <t> president calls for broad-based tax relief for consumers , businesses . </t> <t> bush says he 's encouraged by talks with congress , hopeful of agreement . </t> <t> bush says his tax cuts due to expire in 2010 should be made permanent . </t>

bush calls for quick , temporary tax relief to spur economy<T>

tampa , florida -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- after witnessing the rapid devastation of a cayman island coral reef where he had been diving since childhood , todd barber was moved from horror to action . he gave up a six-figure salary as a marketing consultant and dedicated his life to restoring the world 's ocean reef ecosystems . `` i had been following this reef since i had been 14 ; it was where my first dive was , '' recalls barber . `` when that one little tiny reef was lost , that sparked something in me . if we lost one and it took that tens of thousands of years to get here , how fast is this happening ? '' barber had caught a small glimpse of a larger global issue -- the destruction of the world 's coral reefs -- and it scared him . according to the nature conservancy , if the present rate of destruction continues , 70 percent of the world 's coral reefs will be destroyed by the year 2050 . not only are they home to 25 percent of all marine fish species , but the organization states that 500 million people rely on coral reefs for their food and livelihoods . so barber and his father , a marine biologist and fellow diver , sat down to devise a solution to `` put the reef back . '' what started as a basic idea to shape concrete around a beach ball led to three years of research , testing and prototyping with the help of friends and college professors . watch as barber explains his passion for saving reefs ''<doc-sep>`` our goal was to mimic nature , not dictate nature , '' says barber . `` and that meant that i could n't come up with an idea ; i had to design something that would fit exactly what the reef required . '' the result was what barber calls a `` reef ball . '' made of concrete engineered to last more than 500 years , reef balls are circular structures with a hollow center that serve as a base habitat upon which a natural reef can grow . portable , inexpensive and environmentally friendly , according to barber , reef balls can be built anywhere and are used to mimic and rehabilitate all forms of oceanic reefs , such as mangrove , oyster and coral reefs . they can also help control erosion and stabilize shorelines . watch as an organization in tampa tries to restore habitats for oysters '' to manufacture and place reef balls in marine habitats around the world , barber established the reef ball foundation in 1993 . today , the non-profit organization works with environmental agencies , universities , community groups and corporations and empowers others to build and restore their local marine ecosystems . '' -lsb- reefs -rsb- have an incredible bearing on human life , '' says barber . `` without conserving these resources , they 're going to be all gone before we even know what we 've lost . ''<doc-sep>according to barber , marine conservation is n't just about reef balls , but they 're one important tool . `` it 's about saving natural reefs . it 's about changing our behaviors , '' says barber . `` it 's better to save the reef that you have than to build a new one . '' since its inception , the reef ball foundation has placed reef balls in more than 59 countries . `` for me , personally , the satisfaction comes from diving on a reef ball and seeing that the environment has been rehabilitated ; that the reef is actually there , '' says barber . `` and that our grandkids will be able to see the same thing . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>spectacular images of giant sea turtles on the great barrier reef illustrate perfectly why the majestic animals are known as the ancient mariners of the sea . captured swimming through the water in all their glory , the turtles are not phased by nearby snorkelers and divers , including german photographer christian miller , who took the breathtaking photos . using their fins to effortless carve through the water , one turtle is pictured pushing a diver out the way - possibly more intent on finding a good feeding area . but hoping for some interaction , the diver attempts to give the turtle a kiss , which goes ignored . ancient mariners of the sea : giant sea turtles have been captured on the great barrier reef by photographer christian miller , completely unperturbed by nearby divers and snorkelers .<doc-sep>this is the incredible moment a diver balances a shark on the palm of his hand on the bottom of the ocean floor . the diver - known only as tom - dove 45-feet in the bahamas to meet with a pack of 15 caribbean reef sharks . he then chose a shark and sent it to sleep by performing a gentle nose rub . after hypnotising the shark , he then managed to balance one in the palm of his hand . scroll down for video . amazing : this is the incredible moment a diver balances a caribbean reef shark in the palm of his hand on the bottom of the ocean floor . danger : the diver - known as tom - dove 45-feet to the ocean floor to find a pack of 15 caribbean reef sharks . american business student graham gibson , 31 , and his wife debbie took these incredible photographs in the bahamas to coincide with the discovery channel 's world shark week . conservationists - such as the shark hypnotist shown in these pictures - highlight the unusual side to these vulnerable creatures . mr gibson said : ` my wife and i were both surprised at how gently and calmly the sharks behaved . ` right from the beginning , our shark whisperer tom was able to start hypnotizing one of the sharks . ` it became completely docile in his hands . once he had calmed the shark , he gently grasped its dorsal fin and turned the shark in the water so that it was parallel to us . ` moving slowly to avoid disrupting the shark 's trance , tom brought its body towards us until the shark was sitting directly in our laps . my wife and i lightly touched the shark 's body and its fins , the skin feeling somewhat like a rubbery , fine-grain sandpaper . ' brave : american business student graham gibson , 31 , took the pictures in the bahamas . tom can be seen with the sharks following his dive . calm : tom gently touches this shark as he begins to hypnotise it .<doc-sep>by . emily crane . a diver has filmed the moment a great white shark appeared out of nowhere and started circling him off the coast of south australia . chris rapson , 32 , was diving with a group at glenelg tyre reef , an artificial reef near adelaide , on sunday when he caught sight of the great white 18 metres below the water . ` one of the other divers mentioned he saw a shark and he decided he was going to surface , ' mr rapson told mailonline . chris rapson was diving at glenelg tyre reef near adelaide on sunday when he caught sight of the great white 18 metres below the water .<doc-sep>by . sarah griffiths . sharks are not known for being particularly friendly towards humans . but divers in the bahamas have proved that with a little trickery and a lot of courage , they can balance a caribbean reef shark vertically in the palm of their hands and even stroke the creatures ' noses . the underwater explorers have been caught on camera stroking , touching and holding the animals , which can measure 10ft -lrb- three metres -rrb- long and have been known to occasionally attack humans . scroll down for video . underwater magician : one diver in the bahamas has proved that with a little trickery and a lot of courage , he can balance a caribbean reef shark vertically in the palm of his hand and stroke its nose -lrb- pictured -rrb- . the caribbean reef shark -lrb- carcharhinus perezi -rrb- is found in tropical waters in the western atlantic from florida to brazil . it is the most commonly-encountered reef shark in the caribbean sea and can measure 10ft -lrb- three metres -rrb- long . it generally feeds on fish and cephalopods but has attacked humans , mainly as a result of controversial ` shark feedings ' . normally shy of divers , the shark has been known to become aggressive in the presence of food and grows sufficiently large to be considered potentially dangerous . the creatures have been documented resting motionless on the sea floor or in caves , which is unusual behaviour for sharks . caribbean reef sharks have between 11 and 13 rows of teeth on the top and bottom of their jaws . they are one of the largest apex predators in the reed system and usually feed on fish and cephalopods . one of the divers appears to put a shark into a trance , known as a state of tonic immobility . tonic immobility is a natural state of paralysis which animals enter but scientists are not entirely sure why they do it . experts . think ` animal hypnosis ' is related to mating in sharks and is used by . other creatures to avoid predators by ` playing dead ' and blending in . with surroundings . it can be induced without causing any apparent stress to animals , such as stroking a certain place on a lobster 's shell . sharks can remain in a tonic state for up to 15 minutes . some species are ` hypnotised ' when they are turned upside down . he claims to have done this my stroking the receptors on the shark 's nose . the underwater explorer has been caught on camera stroking , touching and holding the animals , which can measure 20ft -lrb- three metres -rrb- long and have been known to occasionally attack humans . he wears metal gloves in case the shark tries to bite his fingers . the diver was able to gently hoist the shark vertically -lrb- pictured -rrb- as it rested in the palm of his hand , but as soon as he let go , the shark snapped out of its trance and swam away . the diver was able to gently hoist the . shark vertically as it rested in the palm of his hand , but as soon as . he let go , the shark snapped out of its trance and swam away . british underwater photographer simon . enderby captured the amazing moment during a routine feeding dive off . the coast of the bahamas . the divers wore mesh metal gloves and body suits to help protect against the shark 's teeth . shark handlers in the area -lrb- pictured -rrb- are said to frequently use the tonic immobility technique to pacify the predators for up to 15 minutes and impress tourists . it is not thought to harm the creatures in any way . it is not just caribbean reef sharks -lrb- pictured -rrb- that can enter tonic states . research has shown that vicious tiger sharks can be put in a ` trance ' when gentle pressure is applied on either side of their snouts . shark handlers in the area are said to . frequently use the tonic immobility technique to pacify the predators . for up to 15 minutes to impress tourists . it is not thought to harm the . creatures in any way . it is not just caribbean reef sharks that can enter tonic states . research has shown that vicious tiger sharks can be put in a ` trance ' when gentle pressure is applied on either side of their snouts . some species are ` hypnotised ' when turned upside down and when they are in a tonic state , their dorsal fins straighten and their breathing becomes more stead and relaxed . tonic immobility has been observed in a number of shark species and there is a great deal to learn about the benefit that the temporary trance-like state provides , ali hood , director of conservation at the shark trust told mailonline . ` the state of tonic immobility is used quite extensively as an aid to shark husbandry , or when handling sharks in the wild , limiting the chance of injury to both the shark and the handler . however , there is also some evidence of sharks being induced into such a state for the amusement of tourists . ` the shark trust supports well managed ecotourism operations ... tourism ventures which work to engage and train local people and seek to develop a `` live '' value for sharks can make a real contribution to both conservation and the local economy . ` however , questions should be raised as to just how invasive some `` ecotourism '' ventures have become if inducing tonic immobility has become part of the `` show '' . the shark trust does not encourage handling sharks in this manner , ' she added . some species are ` hypnotised ' when turned upside down and when they are in a tonic state , their dorsal fins straighten and their breathing becomes more stead and relaxed . here a diver is pictured with a caribbean reef shark . tonic immobility is a natural state of paralysis which animals enter but scientists are not entirely sure why they do it . experts think ` animal hypnosis ' is related to mating in sharks and is used by other creatures to avoid predators by ` playing dead ' and blending in with surroundings . it can be induced without causing any apparent stress to animals , such as stroking a certain place on a lobster 's shell . sharks can remain in a tonic state for up to 15 minutes . some species are ` hypnotised ' when they are turned upside down . tiger sharks can be put in a tonic state by placing a small amount of pressure on the sides of their snout , much like caribbean reef sharks . during tonic immobility , sharks ' dorsal fins straighten and both breathing and muscle contractions become more steady and relaxed . great white sharks do not enter tonic states as easily as other species , although it an eye witness is said to have seen a female orca holding one upside down to put it in a ` trance ' and then kill it .

<t> most coral reefs are in danger , according to estimates from the nature conservancy . </t> <t> the group says 500 million people rely on coral reefs for food . </t> <t> reef balls are concrete spheres upon which a natural reef can grow . </t> <t> the objects also help control beach erosion and stabilize shorelines . </t>

cnn heroes : reef restoration provides passion for diver<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- cnn is taking an in-depth look at contemporary russia as part of the `` eye on russia '' series . we asked you to share your photos of russia and tell us about your experiences in the country , and photos and stories poured in of beautiful places and ordinary places , and of hopes for russia 's future in the 21st century . anna glubokina , 27 , jumped at the opportunity to send photos of her country . a business analyst in moscow , she has traveled through russia and collected photos along the way . murray gillis took this image of an ice sculpture during a trip to gubkinsky , russia . `` i think that russia is like a mountain river : fast , dangerous and beautiful , '' glubokina said .<doc-sep>`` you will never know what is waiting for you in the future . but i love russia very much . i will never be bored here . i know that tourists like russia , because of its astonishing churches and palaces , because of kremlin and red square , because of its great scenery . '' many of those who sent us photos were originally from other countries , like justin goney , originally from urbana , ohio . he now lives in helsinki , finland , but spent 14 months teaching english in moscow . at the small soviet-style grocery store where he sometimes shopped , he would tell the store clerk what he would like to purchase , rather than get the items himself . the 26-year old said he thinks there are more tourists in russia now than there would have been during soviet times . he said he has very vivid memories of what it was like seeing the country on tv as a child . `` i guess that 's sort of a defining element of who i am is growing up during the reagan presidency and seeing the end of the cold war on tv , '' goney said .<doc-sep>arturo fortun , originally from bolivia , has lived in russia for six years . he said the russian people will take time to become accustomed to democracy . he said life is different there , but after a time , your impressions may change . `` it 's like a constant adventure , '' he said . `` you can not take anything for granted . '' volker kleensang , of hamburg , germany , frequently visits kaliningrad , russia , a former german territory that lies between poland , lithuania and the baltic sea . physically separated from the rest of russia , kaliningrad has a different character than other parts of the country , kleensang said .<doc-sep>`` many people from kaliningrad , they still use the old german name . for me it 's a sign that they say , ` we are russian , but we are more and more european-oriented than the people from moscow or st. petersburg . ' '' craig dillon of queenstown , new zealand , visited the country after winning a contest through a new zealand vodka company . he said he had a choice of taking an $ 8,000 prize or a trip to moscow , and out of curiosity , he took the latter . it was his first trip out of the region , and he said it was a `` major eye opener '' to see the gap between the rich and poor : `` fast cars power past a begging woman on the streets of moscow . '' on a more mundane note , he visited a russian mcdonald 's and found that the food was much the same as anywhere else . the only thing he noticed about edible items was that the water had a slightly different taste . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>are there local specialty dishes or drinks that visitors must try ? quest : go to the savoy for a classic british tea and to see what a $ 350 million renovation can do for a hotel . cnn.com : if beer 's your thing , have a pint of british ale . london gold , by young 's , or london pale ale , by meantime brewery are popular local choices . where is the best place to people watch ? cnn.com : on a fine evening , it 's definitely soho , especially old compton street , frith street and greek street . you 'll see clubbers , couples , theater-goers , tourists and celebrities all mixed up together -- it 's a colorful and eye-catching combination ! what is your favorite neighborhood ? cnn.com : london is a melting pot full of contradictions , it 's always changing and it 's also a lot more friendly than people think . brixton is a great neighborhood , because it sums up all of london 's best and worst bits -- it 's culturally vibrant , fashionably edgy and economically and socially diverse -- into one big , boisterous , rapidly developing city-within-a-city . san fran moniker a rookie mistake . how do tourists stick out and what 's the best way to blend in ?<doc-sep>`` we want our compelling interviews and reports to stand alongside the very best in audience commentary to provide a really lively insight into what contemporary russia looks like at a time when its impact is being felt not just in politics but in a diverse array of other fields . we 're also excited to offer an online outlet for the first time for russian language audience feedback as well . '' the week of programming kicks off with a special travelogue documentary eye on russia : moving forward where cnn 's moscow-based senior international correspondent matthew chance rides the train from the arctic north of murmansk down to the southern climes of sochi by way of st petersburg and moscow , to offer a diverse range of reports . he visits a russian farm to look at the country 's ambitions to be an agricultural superpower , checks out the star city astronaut training center , meets with seven-foot boxing world champion-turned-movie star nikolai valuev and talks along the way with entrepreneurs and environmentalists working to make the city of sochi home to green olympics in 2014 . cnn also catches up with famous faces like nhl hockey star alexander ovechkin , russian vogue editor in chief aliona doletskaya , a list model natalia vodianova , acclaimed conductor valery gergiev , the `` russian madonna '' singer valeriya , and london-based russian art collector nonna materkova to bring together an eclectic mix of russians who have made it on the world stage .<doc-sep>diversity : malcolm gillies , vice chancellor of london metropolitan university , said students ' values were changing . a university is considering ending the sale of alcohol on campus due to concerns from muslim students . london metropolitan university could take action because a ` high percentage ' of its students thought drinking was ` immoral ' , according to its vice chancellor . professor malcolm gillies raised the prospect of an alcohol-free campus after gauging the changing values from the influx of new students . he said it would be unwise to ` cling ' to a ` nostalgic ' view where the vast majority wanted alcohol to be available and instead take account of diverging views . he told mailonline : ` i was raising the issue of changing values in student populations and the question of how a responsible university responds . ` london metropolitan university is a highly diverse university ethnically and in religious terms . '<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the millennial generation is big , diverse and changing the american landscape . a new infographic and book , `` the next america , '' by paul taylor and the pew research center , examines the data about the change . it 's revelatory . taylor calls the demographic transformations `` dramas in slow motion . '' the gen y -- or millennial -- generation 's lack of religious affiliation , indifference to political parties and strong liberal views are a contrast to previous generations . additionally , a great deal of the `` next '' in `` the next america '' has to do with racial and ethnic identity . immigration , intermarriage and the growing percentages of people who identify as mixed race are drastically recoloring the nation 's racial tapestry . today , just a half-century after interracial marriages were illegal in one-third of the states , nearly 1 in 6 newlyweds marry across racial lines . immigrants and their children are projected to make up about 37 % of america 's population by mid-century , the highest share in our history . but what does this all mean ? there is often a focus on data highlighting the size and diversity of the millennial generation , drawing the conclusion that it is inevitable that our values will soon take over . but research shows other factors are equally important : our generation 's economic insecurity , dependence on our parents and most notably , the unprecedented size of the older generation . i want to challenge the notion of inevitability , that just because we are more diverse , liberal and `` huge , '' millennials will soon win the culture wars and easily transform our society to reflect our values . in my early 20s , as a gen y proselytizer and a person of color , i thought i knew exactly what the demographic changes meant : millennials , in all of our black , brown and liberal glory , were taking over politically . i spent the early part of my career working on progressive policies and cause campaigns geared toward youth and diverse communities . i even founded a program that applied a racial equity lens to public policy development in part because of the country 's changing demographics . the unspoken premise was this : political elites had better `` get hip '' and start authentically working toward equity . otherwise , they would be left in the change-making millennial dust . this premise was grounded in what i now call the myth of inevitability . although i worked hard to increase civic engagement , activism and community involvement amongst my peers , deep down inside , i believed that the odds were in our favor . we would inevitably win the culture wars because of our sheer size and diversity . i believed that increasing our involvement and voice would make the difference of when the united states would be transformed to reflect our values , not if . i was not alone . others deeply believed this to be true , too . but there are a few important factors that we forgot to consider . first , the country is n't just young and diverse . it is also getting old very quickly . the second major demographic `` drama '' detailed by pew is one of older americans living longer than ever before .

<t> eye on russia is part of a cnn series looking at contemporary russia . </t> <t> cnn.com asked readers to share their photos , views of russia . </t>

eye on russia : your views of a diverse , rapidly changing country<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the saudi lawyer who represented a woman kidnapped and raped by seven men said his license to practice has been reinstated . a protest appeared in india in november against the saudi sentence . lawyer and human rights activist abdul rahman al-lahem told cnn 's nic robertson that the justice ministry has reinstated his license . al-lahem had previously told cnn that the saudi judge revoked his license as punishment for speaking to the media about his client 's case , which attracted international attention . his client , an engaged teenager , was raped by seven men who found her alone with a man unrelated to her . she has said she was meeting with the man to retrieve a photograph . the attack took place in qatif in march 2006 . the seven rapists were sentenced to two to nine years in prison but she also was sentenced to 200 lashes and six months in prison for having violated the kingdom 's strict islamic law by being alone with an unrelated man . the woman 's sentence provoked outrage in the west and cast light on the treatment of women under saudi arabian law . under saudi law , women are subject to numerous restrictions , including a strict dress code , a prohibition against driving and a requirement that they get a man 's permission to travel or have surgery . in challenging what he said were his suspension and disbarment , al-lahem said he had received threats on his life from the religious right . last month , minister of justice abdallah bin mohammed al-sheikh , in a phone call to a saudi television newscast , said the lawyer 's license had never been revoked . `` such decisions are made through institutions in the kingdom , '' he said . `` the punishment of the lawyer or any lawyer does not come from a reaction ; it comes from a carefully examined procedure within a special council in the ministry . '' he said the council charged with deciding law license revocations had not issued any decisions in the case . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>swedish authorities arrested assange `` in absentia '' last month on charges of rape and molestation . the chief prosecutor later revoked the arrest warrant and dropped the rape charge . the charges came from two separate women . the lawyer for both women appealed , asking for the rape charge to be reinstated and the molestation charge to be upgraded to include a sexual component . before he was questioned , assange told cnn he had no idea what the case was about . assange told the arabic-language television network al-jazeera august 22 the accusations are `` clearly a smear campaign . '' the only question , he said , is who is behind it .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the saudi lawyer who represented a gang rape victim had his disciplinary hearing for `` insulting the supreme judicial council and disobeying the rules and regulations '' of the judiciary postponed to an unspecified date , according to the associated press . abdul rahman al-lahem : `` i believe i did n't do anything wrong . '' his client is a teenage rape victim who was sentenced to 200 lashes and six months in prison for violating the kingdom 's strict islamic law by being alone with an unrelated man before the rape . the attacks took place in qatif in march 2006 when the woman was 18 and engaged to be married . her seven rapists were sentenced to between two to nine years in prison . before the reported postponement wednesday , abdul rahman al-lahem said the rape case had elicited a fierce response , including calls for his beheading . `` these opinions do n't scare me , but they make me feel a disappointment that there are people who think this way . `` i wish that those who oppose me could engage in a direct dialogue instead of calling for violence . unfortunately , they are still stuck in a culture of closed-mindedness . '' ahead of the postponement al-lahem , who has two daughters , predicted he would have his revoked license to practice law reinstated and said he would represent the saudi woman again . the hearing has the power to disbar him . `` i believe in the system and the law , and i believe i did n't do anything wrong , '' abdul rahman al-lahem told cnn in a telephone interview from riyadh on tuesday . the saudi judge who revoked al-lahem 's license last month did so to punish him for speaking to the media about his client , al-lahem said . under saudi law , women are subject to numerous restrictions , including a strict dress code , a prohibition against driving and a requirement that they get a man 's permission to travel or have surgery . in challenging his possible suspension and disbarment , the 36-year-old attorney said he has received threats on his life from the religious right . but the foreign minister 's call for a review of the case -- joined by `` many voices '' of al-lahem 's generation , as he put it -- have been encouraging , he added . `` young people in all fields are asking for reform , in the judicial system , media and elsewhere , '' he said . `` i belong to a new generation of lawyers who know the law and know how to challenge judges about the law . '' he said his opponents ' influence is on the wane . `` they believe that any criticism of the judiciary system is a direct criticism of the islamic sharia law , and they consider that any criticism is a criticism of religion itself , '' he said . al-lahem singled out the chief judge in the qatif court 's panel of three judges who revoked his license as being among those who fail to grasp that the world is changing . `` he 's used to lawyers who accept everything he says without questioning . i told him ` you misunderstood the law , your honor ' and he could n't take that . '' al-lahem said that , from the early 1990s until a few years ago , he was a religious fanatic . but he said he rejected extremism during law school and joined with the reformists , accepting human rights cases on a pro bono basis in addition to the commercial work that pays his bills . the rape victim 's husband , who has been outspoken in her defense , moved al-lahem to accept her case , he said . `` i would be disgraced if i sit back and do n't support these people who need me , '' he said . al-lahem described the woman 's case as unusual only in the attention it has garnered , attention he welcomes . `` one such case is better than thousands of speeches , lectures and theoretical articles , '' he said . such cases `` speak on behalf of the street and reached out to the ordinary people . this is my main reason for defending them . '' though traditionalist judges and conservative lawyers accuse him of harming the kingdom 's image by talking to the media , young people and reformists have offered their support , especially over the internet , `` where people are free to express their views , '' al-lahem said . `` the world is now a small village , '' he said . `` what is happening in a small room can be known within seconds to the whole world . '' this is not the lawyer 's first challenge to saudi ways . he also represented a professor accused of holding views that offended islam . `` i defended him , and the king personally intervened '' on his behalf , al-lahem said . in another case , he sued the religious police , also known as the committee for the propagation of virtue and the prevention of vice , after they kidnapped a woman and beat her , `` and then we proved that she was innocent . '' e-mail to a friend . cnn 's octavia nasr contributed to this story . copyright 2007 cnn . all rights reserved.this material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten , or redistributed . associated press contributed to this report .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a saudi arabian human rights attorney is asking the government to allow him to represent a woman who was gang-raped -- and then sentenced to prison for speaking out about the case . human rights groups want saudi arabia 's king abdullah to drop charges against the rape victim . the attorney , abdulrahman al-lahim , had his license revoked last week by a judge for speaking to the saudi-controlled media about the case , al-lahim told cnn . the judge more than doubled the sentence against al-lahim 's 19-year-old client because she spoke to the media about the case , a court source told arab news , an english-language middle eastern daily newspaper . the woman -- who was initially sentenced in october 2006 to 90 lashes -- had her sentenced increased to 200 lashes and was ordered to serve six months in prison under saudi arabia 's strict islamic law . `` we were shocked , '' al-lahim said of the increased sentence . cnn has been unable to reach saudi government officials for comment on this report , despite repeated requests . watch the emotional toll the crime took on the rape victim '' al-lahim had petitioned the court to sentence the attackers to the death penalty , but instead the court agreed to increase their jail sentences , which had been two to three years , to two to nine years , al-lahim said . the case has sparked outrage among human rights groups . `` barring the lawyer from representing the victim in court is almost equivalent to the rape crime itself , '' said fawzeyah al-oyouni , founding member of the newly formed saudi association for the defense of women 's rights . `` this is not just about the girl , it 's about every woman in saudi arabia , '' she said . `` we 're fearing for our lives and the lives of our sisters and our daughters and every saudi woman out there . we 're afraid of going out in the streets . '' human rights watch said it has called on saudi arabia 's king abdullah `` to immediely void the verdict and drop all charges against the rape victim and to order the court to end its harassment of her lawyer . '' the woman , who is married , and an unrelated man were abducted and she was raped by a group of seven men more than a year ago , the lawyer said . the male victim was also given an increased sentence of 200 lashes and six months in prison , al-lahim said . the man and woman were attacked after they met so she could retrieve an old photograph of herself from him , according to al-lahim . citing phone records from the police investigation , al-lahim said the man was trying to blackmail his client . he noted the photo she was trying to retrieve was harmless and did not show his client in any compromising position . al-lahim said the man tried to blame his client for insisting on meeting him that day . it is illegal for a woman to meet with an unrelated male under saudi 's islamic law . al-lahim has been ordered to attend a disciplinary hearing at the ministry of justice next month , where he faces a possible three-year suspension and disbarment , according to human rights watch . he told cnn he has appealed to the ministry of justice to reinstate his law license and plans to meet with justice minister abdullah bin muhammad bin ibrahim al al-sheikh . `` currently she does n't have a lawyer , and i feel they 're doing this to isolate her and deprive her from her basic rights , '' he said . `` we will not accept this judgment and i 'll do my best to continue representing her because justice needs to take place . '' he said the handling of the case is a direct contradiction of judicial reforms announced by the saudi king earlier this month . `` the ministry of justice needs to have a very clear standing regarding this case because i consider this decision to be judiciary mutiny against the reform that king abdullah bin abdulaziz started and against saudi women who are being victimized because of such decisions , '' he said . saudi arabia 's islamic law or sharia is not written and , therefore , subject to a wide array of interpretations . human rights watch points out that a judge in jeddah threw out a lawyer simply because he was a member of the ismaili faith , a branch of shia islam . under saudi law , women are subject to numerous restrictions , including a strict dress code , a prohibition against driving and a requirement that they get a man 's permission to travel or have surgery . women are also not allowed to testify in court unless it is about a private matter that was not observed by a man , and they are not allowed to vote . the saudi government recently has taken some steps toward bettering the situation of women in the kingdom , including the establishment earlier this year of special courts to handle domestic abuse cases , adoption of a new labor law that addresses working women 's rights and creation of a human rights commission . christoph wilcke of human rights watch praised the female rape victim and her attorney for speaking out about the case , which he said may be indicative of `` many injustices that we still do n't know about . '' `` it 's not only one court , it is the saudi government that is fully behind punishing a woman who 's been raped -lsb- and -rsb- punishing the lawyer who 's trying to help her and doing that both because they 've spoken to the media , '' wilcke told cnn . `` and if they had n't spoken to the media , we would n't know about it . '' shying away from criticism of key ally , state department spokesman sean mccormack called the case and the punishment `` surprising '' and `` astonishing . '' `` while this is a judicial procedure -- part of a judicial procedure -- overseas in courts outside of our country , still while it is very difficult to offer any detailed comment about this situation , i think most people would be quite astonished by the situation , '' mccormack said . `` i ca n't get involved in specific court cases in saudi arabia dealing with its own citizens . but most people here would be quite surprised to learn of the circumstances and then the punishment meted out , '' he said . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's saad abedine and mohammed jamjoom contributed to this report .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- saudi king abdullah has pardoned a rape victim who had been sentenced to 200 lashes and six months in prison in a case that sparked international attention , a saudi newspaper has reported . the case cast light on the treatment of women under saudi arabia 's strict islamic law . al-jazirah newspaper quoted a saudi justice ministry official saying king abdullah issued a royal pardon monday -- the same day that the hajj , the annual muslim pilgrimage to mecca , begins in saudi arabia . the victim 's husband told cnn he has not received an official letter regarding her pardon , but considers it to be legitimate since it was announced in an official saudi newspaper . he thanked king abdullah for the pardon , saying : `` this fatherly care and noble gesture will help -lrb- in -rrb- lifting the emotional and psychological stress and suffering that our family has been enduring . '' `` this is not something new because we know that the king was always generous in dealing with his people and the entire world , '' the husband said . `` this week , we have two holidays to celebrate ; the eid and this great news of the pardon . '' saudi sources told cnn that the king 's pardon was not related to the beginning of the hajj nor the eid al-adha festival that follows , which is normally when the saudi monarch issues amnesty for prisoners . watch how arab media is reporting the story . '' saudi arabia 's justice minister abdullah bin mohammad al-sheikh told al-jazirah newspaper that the king felt the pardon would be in the best interests of the saudi people , and the decision did not reflect any lack of confidence in the saudi justice system . the white house welcomed king abdullah 's decision , but national security council spokesman gordon johndroe stressed that `` this is obviously a matter for the saudi arabians and king abdullah . '' a saudi court ruled the 19-year-old had an `` illegitimate relationship '' with a man who was not her husband , and that she was raped after she and the man were discovered in a `` compromising situation , her clothes on the ground . '' the rape took place in qatif in march 2006 when the woman was engaged to be married . the case has drawn international attention , provoked outrage in the west and cast light on the treatment of women under strict islamic law in saudi arabia . the woman was meeting with a man -- described by the woman 's attorney as a former friend from whom she was retrieving a photograph -- when they both were abducted last march . seven men , convicted of abducting the pair and raping her , were sentenced from two to nine years in prison . abdul rahman al-lahim , the lawyer who represented the woman , faced a disciplinary hearing for `` insulting the supreme judicial council and disobeying the rules and regulations '' of the judiciary . the hearing has been postponed . the woman 's husband has been outspoken in his support for his wife . he called a lebanese tv show to defend her , when a former saudi judge claimed on the program that she `` spoil -lrb- ed -rrb- their marital bed '' by meeting an unrelated male `` in secret '' and admitted her guilt . al-lahim has said he hopes the case changes the saudi justice system . `` we want to highlight the rape crimes in saudi arabia and the way they are handled and sentenced in court , '' he added . `` this is a new era for all of us . '' he said that the rape case had elicited a fierce response , including calls for his beheading . u.s. president george w. bush said last week that king abdullah `` knows our position loud and clear '' on the case . under saudi law , women are subject to numerous restrictions , including a strict dress code , a prohibition against driving and a requirement that they get a man 's permission to travel or have surgery . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's mohammed jamjoom , saad abedine and isha sesay contributed to this report .

<t> saudi lawyer abdul rahman al-lahem says his license to practice is reinstated . </t> <t> al-lahem says license revoked because he publicized rape victim 's conviction . </t> <t> saudi minister last month denied license was ever revoked . </t> <t> rape victim was convicted of being alone with an unrelated man . </t>

saudi rape case lawyer ` reinstated '<T>

kansas city , missouri -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- president bush drew parallels between the aftermath of the vietnam war and the potential costs of pulling out of iraq in a speech wednesday . president bush draws parallels wednesday between the cost of pulling out of iraq and `` the tragedy of vietnam . '' `` three decades later , there is a legitimate debate about how we got into the vietnam war and how we left , '' bush told members of the veterans of foreign wars , at their convention in kansas city , missouri . `` whatever your position in that debate , one unmistakable legacy of vietnam is that the price of america 's withdrawal was paid by millions of innocent citizens , whose agonies would add to our vocabulary new terms like ` boat people , ' 're - education camps ' and ` killing fields , ' '' the president said . the white house billed the speech , as it did next week 's address to the american legion , as an effort to `` provide broader context '' for the debate over the upcoming iraq progress report by gen. david petraeus , the top u.s. military commander , and ryan crocker , the u.s. ambassador in baghdad . bush also sought to shore up the perception of his support for iraqi prime minister nuri al-maliki , after voicing some frustration with him on tuesday . `` prime minister maliki 's a good guy -- good man with a difficult job and i support him , '' bush said . `` and it 's not up to the politicians in washington , d.c. , to say whether he will remain in his position . watch bush reiterate his support for al-maliki '' sen. edward kennedy , d-massachusetts , said bush had drawn the wrong lesson from history : . `` america lost the war in vietnam because our troops were trapped in a distant country we did not understand supporting a government that lacked sufficient legitimacy with its people , '' kennedy said in a statement . sen. joe biden , democratic chairman of the senate foreign relations committee , invoked his own vietnam analogy in a statement released after the speech : . `` it 's the president 's policies that are pushing us toward another saigon moment -- with helicopters fleeing the roof of our embassy -- which he says he wants to avoid . '' biden said bush continues to cling to the premise that iraqis will rally behind a strong central government , but he believes that will not happen .<doc-sep>`` there 's no trust within the iraqi government ; no trust of the government by the iraqi people ; no capacity of that government to deliver security or services ; and no prospect that it will build that trust or capacity any time soon , '' biden 's statement said . but house republican leader john boehner of ohio said more democrats are `` bucking their party leaders '' in acknowledging progress in iraq . `` many rank-and-file democrats have seen this progress firsthand and are now acknowledging the successes of a strategy they 've repeatedly opposed , '' boehner said in a statement . `` but democratic leaders , deeply invested in losing the war , would rather move the goalposts and claim that a precipitous withdrawal is the right approach despite the overwhelming evidence of significant progress . '' former presidential adviser david gergen said bush ran the risk of doing as much harm as good for his case . `` by invoking vietnam he raised the question , ` if you learned so much from history , how did you ever get us involved in another quagmire ? ' '' gergen said . gergen said he did agree with bush in one respect , though : `` he 's right , initially when we pulled back in vietnam there were massive killings . '' on tuesday , bush had expressed frustration with the pace of progress toward political reconciliation in iraq , saying if the iraqi government does n't `` respond to the demands of the people , they will replace the government . '' iraqi prime minister nuri al-maliki on wednesday shot back at criticism of his government , including pointed remarks from a u.s. senator who called his administration `` nonfunctioning '' and urged iraq 's parliament to turn it out of office . speaking at a press conference in the syrian capital of damascus , al-maliki characterized such comments as `` irresponsible '' and said they `` overstep the bounds of diplomatic and political courtesy . '' government spokesman ali dabbagh told cnn that al-maliki was referring to comments made monday by sen. carl levin , the michigan democrat who chairs the senate armed services committee , who called on iraq 's parliament to turn al-maliki 's `` nonfunctioning '' government out of office when it returns in two weeks . levin said al-maliki 's government was `` too beholden to religious and sectarian leaders '' to reach a political settlement that would end the country 's sectarian and insurgent violence . in his speech , bush said withdrawing from vietnam emboldened today 's terrorists by compromising u.s. credibility , citing a quote from al qaeda leader osama bin laden that the american people would rise against the iraq war the same way they rose against the war in vietnam .<doc-sep>`` here at home , some can argue our withdrawal from vietnam carried no price to american credibility , but the terrorists see things differently , '' bush said . 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 . 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 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 the petraeus report will have no effect on their opinion . the poll also found a great deal of skepticism about the report ; 53 percent said they do not trust petraeus to give an accurate assessment of the situation in iraq . in addition to his analogy to vietnam , bush referred to previous conflicts in asia in talking about the war against terror in iraq . `` there are many differences between the wars we fought in the far east and the war on terror we are fighting today , '' bush said . `` but one important similarity is that at their core , they are all ideological struggles . `` the militarists of japan and the communists in korea and vietnam were driven by a merciless vision for the proper ordering of humanity . they killed americans because we stood in the way of their attempt to force this ideology on others . '' bush said history proved skeptics wrong about japan 's ability to become a free society and will prove those who want to withdraw from iraq wrong . `` in the aftermath of japan 's surrender , many thought it naive to help the japanese transform themselves into a democracy . then , as now , the critics argued that some people were simply not fit for freedom , '' bush said . `` today , in defiance of the critics , japan ... stands as one of the world 's great free societies . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>the president will also make the argument that withdrawing from vietnam emboldened today 's terrorists by compromising u.s. credibility , citing a quote from al qaeda leader osama bin laden that the american people would rise against the iraq war the same way they rose against the war in vietnam , according to the excerpts . `` here at home , some can argue our withdrawal from vietnam carried no price to american credibility , but the terrorists see things differently , '' bush will say . on tuesday , democratic senate majority leader harry reid said , `` president bush 's attempt to compare the war in iraq to past military conflicts in east asia ignores the fundamental difference between the two . our nation was misled by the bush administration in an effort to gain support for the invasion of iraq under false pretenses , leading to one of the worst foreign policy blunders in our history . `` while the president continues to stay-the-course with his failed strategy in iraq , paid for by the taxpayers , american lives are being lost and there is still no political solution within the iraqi government . it is time to change direction in iraq , and congress will again work to do so in the fall . '' the white house is billing the speech , along with another address next week to the american legion , as an effort to `` provide broader context '' for the debate over the upcoming iraq progress report by gen. david petraeus , the top u.s. military commander , and ryan crocker , the u.s. ambassador in baghdad .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- as he awaits a crucial progress report on iraq , president bush will try to put a twist on comparisons of the war to vietnam by invoking the historical lessons of that conflict to argue against pulling out . president bush pauses tuesday during a news conference at the north american leaders summit in canada . on wednesday in kansas city , missouri , bush will tell members of the veterans of foreign wars that `` then , as now , people argued that the real problem was america 's presence and that if we would just withdraw , the killing would end , '' according to speech excerpts released tuesday by the white house . `` three decades later , there is a legitimate debate about how we got into the vietnam war and how we left , '' bush will say . `` whatever your position in that debate , one unmistakable legacy of vietnam is that the price of america 's withdrawal was paid by millions of innocent citizens , whose agonies would add to our vocabulary new terms like ` boat people , ' 're - education camps ' and ` killing fields , ' '' the president will say .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a moveon.org political advertisement that criticized the top u.s. commander in iraq was `` disgusting , '' president bush said thursday , accusing democrats of being afraid to criticize the anti-war group . gen. david petraeus testifies on capitol hill last week about the so-called surge in iraq . bush told reporters at a white house news conference that moveon.org 's ad in the new york times about gen. david petraeus was a `` sorry deal . '' the september 10 full-page ad was titled `` general petraeus or general betray us ? '' `` i felt like the ad was an attack , not only on gen. petraeus , but on the u.s. military , '' bush said . `` and i was disappointed that not more leaders in the democratic party spoke out strongly against that kind of ad . '' bush said that `` most democrats are afraid of irritating a left-wing group like moveon.org '' and they `` are more afraid of irritating them than they are of irritating the united states military . '' watch bush condemn the moveon.org ad '' he said , `` it 's one thing to attack me . it 's another thing to attack somebody like gen. petraeus . '' many democratic lawmakers immediately criticized the ad after it was published . eli pariser , executive director of moveon.org , reacted quickly to bush 's comments . `` what 's disgusting is that the president has more interest in political attacks than developing an exit strategy to get our troops out of iraq and end this awful war , '' pariser said . `` the president has no credibility on iraq : he lied repeatedly to the american people to get us into the war . most americans oppose the war and want us to get out . '' moveon.org and other war critics have accused petraeus and the bush administration of `` cherry-picking '' data to make it seem that military success is being achieved in iraq . during testimony last week before congress , petraeus and ryan crocker , u.s. ambassador to iraq , said they believed the u.s. troop increase in iraq has had some success , an assertion that critics of the war have questioned . a senate gop amendment to repudiate the moveon.org ad passed thursday 72-25 as republicans tried to force democrats to distance themselves , on the record , from the controversy . gop senate minority leader mitch mcconnell of kentucky said the amendment `` gives our colleagues a chance to distance themselves from these despicable tactics , distance themselves from the notion that some group literally has them on a leash , like a puppet on a string . '' among democratic presidential candidates , sen. hillary clinton of new york and sen. chris dodd of connecticut voted against the resolution . sens. joe biden of delaware and barack obama of illinois did n't vote . the democrats on thursday failed to pass their resolution . it included a condemnation of the `` unwarranted personal attack '' on petraeus , but also condemned `` personal attacks '' that happened in 2002 against then-democratic sen. max cleland of georgia and attacks in 2004 against sen. john kerry . the vote was 51-46 , but 60 votes were needed to proceed . the democrats ' amendment was sponsored by democratic sen. barbara boxer of california . house speaker nancy pelosi said she faults the republicans for blocking the democratic resolution praising cleland , who was wounded while serving in vietnam , and kerry , who is a decorated veteran of the vietnam war . `` the senate just voted to denounce , condemn , whatever it is , moveon for that ad , but at same time , they rejected assaults on those who have served in our military with great heroism -- the boxer amendment , '' pelosi said . `` it seems that the republicans are selective in how they want to honor those who are serving or have served in the military . it was very disappointing , but it was also very telling . '' e-mail to a friend . cnn 's dana bash contributed to this report .<doc-sep>`` it 's magical , '' she said while gazing at the picture with nayomi . `` how can one picture make him look alive ? just for one moment , i thought he was here . '' reagan said the impact of his portraits transcends the politics and controversy surrounding war . he is reminded of that every tuesday when joe colgan pulls into reagan 's driveway in a truck decorated with bumper stickers calling for the pullout of troops from iraq . reagan , on the other hand , supported the removal of iraqi leader saddam hussein . despite their political differences , the two men are friends and close collaborators on the portrait project . every week , colgan drives 70 miles round trip to pick up and mail reagan 's portraits . he carries with him the framed portrait that reagan drew of colgan 's son ben , an army lieutenant killed by a bombing in iraq in 2003 . `` somehow , the spirit of the person comes through , the soul of the person is right there with the drawing , '' colgan said . `` i ca n't explain it . '' reagan also ca n't explain the effect of his portraits or why a successful artist would suddenly decide to begin drawing pictures of an intensely painful subject , free of charge . it is a journey , he says , that began years ago with his own experience on the battlefield as a young marine in vietnam . `` i love drawing pictures , i have always loved it , '' reagan said . `` in vietnam , a lot of the pictures i drew came home when the soldiers and marines did n't . '' he said his personal war experience changed his perspective on life . `` i think anybody who served in combat knows what that is : you come home with the nightmares that never go away , '' reagan said . `` doing this is finally allowing me to come home . '' cnn 's john couwels contributed to this report .

<t> new : kennedy : bush drawing wrong lesson from history . </t> <t> president says withdrawing from iraq will embolden terrorists . </t> <t> speech is latest white house attempt to try to reframe the debate over iraq . </t>

bush invokes ` tragedy of vietnam ' against iraq pullout<T>

atlanta , georgia -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- they prefer the darkness and calm of early morning when their targets are most vulnerable , still sleeping or under the influence . they make sure their prey -- suspected killers and other violent fugitives -- know what they 're up against . u.s. marshal supervisory inspector james ergas takes aim during a computer-simulated attack . `` when they wake up to a submachine gun and flashlight in their face , they tend not to fight , '' says james ergas , the supervisory inspector for the u.s. marshals southeast regional fugitive task force . the u.s. marshals service is the nation 's oldest law enforcement agency and best known for protecting federal judges , transporting federal prisoners and protecting witnesses . less known is the cutting-edge work of the agency 's six regional task forces in capturing suspects . the task force in atlanta is located in a nondescript warehouse office park . in 2007 , the investigators from the southeast task force arrested more than 3,000 suspects ; only once did the marshals exchange gunfire , ergas says . watch ergas blast bad guys in simulated attack '' `` this is the crème de la crème of the marshal service , '' says eugene o'donnell , a former prosecutor and new york city police officer who now teaches at the john jay college of criminal justice in new york . on any given day , ergas and his force are tracking 10 to 15 suspected killers roaming the southeast , while also searching for other violent offenders . already this year , they have been involved in a number of high-profile searches : gary michael hilton , the suspect charged in the killing of meredith emerson who disappeared while hiking in northern georgia ; a fugitive marine wanted in connection with the killing of lance cpl. maria lauterbach in north carolina ; and suspects wanted in connection with the killings of two suburban atlanta police officers . but most of the time they 're chasing suspects outside of the glare of the media spotlight . `` our mandate is to track violent fugitives -- murderers , armed robbers , rapists and fugitives of that caliber , '' says keith booker , the commander of the task force . watch booker describe their mission ''<doc-sep>one suspect currently being hunted is charles leon parker who has been on the run since the 1980s after being accused of molesting his stepdaughters . the marshals were brought in recently , booker says , after parker allegedly called one of his victims and said , `` i wanted you to know i saw you and your daughter , and she sure is beautiful . '' o'donnell says it takes highly trained , high energy , `` really special people '' to do such work day in and day out , especially when they 're up against `` some of the most dangerous individuals in the country . '' `` it 's not an exaggeration to say they 're the front of the front line , '' o'donnell says . `` it 's not going to get any more challenging than this in law enforcement . '' to make sure they are well prepared , the atlanta office is equipped with a locker full of high-powered weaponry ; a high-tech operations center , complete with flat screen tvs , where they communicate directly with investigators in the field ; a two-story house for training ; and a 300-degree computer simulator that puts the marshals into real life danger scenarios . in one demonstration , ergas steps into the simulator and responds to reports of shots fired at a workplace . a woman rushes to a victim on the ground , as ergas barks out commands . moments later , a man rounds the corner . he too tends to the victim . suddenly , the gunman runs into the corner and ergas opens fire with his glock . the suspect hits the ground . watch ergas say there 's no better training than the simulator '' a split second later , another gunman emerges , and ergas blasts him too . think of it as wii on steroids . `` these are things you can not get on a range , '' ergas says . there are 50 different scenarios the simulator can create , with a technician able to change each scenario . a trainee can use a shotgun , rifle , glock 22 or glock 23 . the guns shoot a laser and each shot is traced . sometimes , the simulator jams the guns to see how one responds to the situation .<doc-sep>after each training session , the person is debriefed about why he or she opened fire or did n't fire at all . each shot is analyzed , because in the real world a law enforcement officer is held accountable for every bullet that comes out of his or her gun . it helps investigators train for situations they could face on any given day , at any given moment , ergas says . `` no one wants to shoot anyone , '' ergas says . `` even officers that may not have pulled the trigger will be affected by shooting and killing someone . '' o'donnell says the fact the task force rarely engages fire with suspects and that they have such rigorous training , `` underscores you can teach tactics . '' `` this is a model , '' he says . booker says it helps having a coordinated team of armed officers with shields and big guns , as well . `` we overwhelm them with surprising speed and force , '' he says . `` that 's what keeps us safe , and that 's what keeps them safe . '' his message for those still out there ? `` we 'll pull all of our collective knowledge and resources and investigative techniques to hunt them down and take them into custody , '' booker says . `` we wo n't stop until our job is finished . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>serial killers are portrayed as cold , calculating and often obsessive but it was unknown exactly what caused them to commit such heinous crimes . now research from glasgow has found that these similar traits among different murderers may be linked to specific psychological disorders and childhood trauma . researchers from glasgow have conducted the first ever analysis of journals , news reports and legal files involved in the cases of killers , including anders breivik and dr harold shipman . they discovered a link between suffering a combination of autism spectrum disorder -lrb- asd -rrb- , a head injury and a psychosocial disorder , such as that caused by exposure to abuse in childhood or parental divorce . the study found 28 % of killers were thought to have suffered from autism spectrum disorder -lrb- asd -rrb- , and a fifth suffered a ` definite or suspected ' head injury . this venn diagram shows the proportion and overlaps between head injury and/or asd and psychosocial stressors . breivik was convicted of mass murder in 2012 for causing a fatal explosion and terrorism in norway in 2011 . during his attack eight people died in the bombing and 69 more died in a mass shooting . in january 2000 , a jury found dr harold shipman guilty of killing 15 of his patients - although he is believed to have been involved in the death of up to 250 . other killers studied included 1996 australian mass murderer martin bryant , and 2008 exeter nail bomber nick reilly . the team . from glasgow searched studies and books that were both . published and still in progress which referred to serial killers , . violent crime , psychopathy , narcissistic personality disorder , and . autistic spectrum disorders . this . included web of knowledge and psycinfo , and search terms included . ` autism and serial killer ' , ` psychopathy and autism ' , ` murder and . autism ' , ` brain injury and serial killer ' , among other relevant . searches . among . the 239 eligible killers , 28 per cent had ` definite , highly . probable or possible asd ' of which 7 per cent also had a head injury . more than 21 per cent had suffered a definite or suspected head injury , of which 13 per cent also had evidence of asd traits . out of the 106 killers with asd and/or head injury , more than half -lrb- 55 per cent -rrb- had experienced psychosocial stressors . according to the findings , 28 per cent of the high-profile killers were thought to have suffered from asd . in contrast , around one in 100 of the general population is thought to suffer from the condition . there were additional reports that claimed a fifth had suffered a ` definite or suspected ' head injury in the past . of those killers with asd and/or a head injury , more than half had previously experienced psychosocial stress such as sexual or physical abuse , but also parental divorce . the glasgow research , therefore , concluded probably . more than 10 per cent of serial killers on the whole , across the worldwide population , show signs of asd , and a similar .<doc-sep>by . chris greenwood and rosie taylor . published : . 09:33 est , 23 may 2013 . | . updated : . 04:36 est , 24 may 2013 . defending response time : assistant commissioner simon byrne said the first officers were on scene within nine minutes of the 999 call . police sought to defend their response to the woolwich terror attack last night by suggesting the attackers could have laid a trap . commanders at scotland yard suspected the savage killers were waiting for officers to arrive so they could set off hidden explosives . this is why they chose to send in firearms officers who did not arrive at the scene of the carnage for 14 minutes . that left their uniformed colleagues to stand on the sidelines while three brave women confronted the killers . local officers had taken nine minutes to arrive , even though woolwich police station was 300 yards away . they waited helplessly as dozens of bystanders milled around the scene of horror and traffic continued to flow . even after police marksmen fired shots at the terrorists , members of the public could be seen yards away . last night , one metropolitan police source said : ` the unarmed officers were effectively keeping a cordon . both guys were wearing heavy coats and keeping a distance between us and them was a priority . scroll down for video . waiting for police : witnesses said this blood-covered man , named as michael adebolajo , walked the street clutching weapons and talking to passers-by with cameras for up to 20 minutes before officers arrived . stayed put : onlookers said the suspected attackers walked around the body while they waited for police . conversation : another suspected attacker holding a knife speaks to cub scout leader ingrid loyau-kennett who tried to persuade him to hand over his weapons . no cordon : it was a while after armed police arrived and shot two men -lrb- one circled right -rrb- before officers cordoned off the area around the soldier 's body -lrb- circled left -rrb- . ` questions were immediately asked . about why you would commit such an offence and wait for police . these . are the kind of tactics seen employed by palestinians in israel . ` detonate a bomb , wait for the emergency services to arrive and then walk in with a suicide vest . ' assistant commissioner simon byrnet said unarmed officers arrived . at john wilson street within nine minutes of the first of hundreds of . 999 calls to flood into their control room . it is understood that among the officers was at least one armed with a taser but he was told to stand by . the officers radioed developments to . senior staff who were able to watch the tense stand-off via a cctv . camera mounted on a traffic island .<doc-sep>others reacted to the gory pictures of spider and snake bites , saying ` never visit australia ' , ` your country is hell . burn it all down ' , ` everything in australia is trying to kill you ' , and ` this is n't funny . this is `` oh god no '' . one user in the us said ` join us in america ! bears and cougars are too big to hide in your shoe . ' even australians jumped on the bandwagon of fear , advising that shoes and dark places should always be checked in case there were any stowaways making an item home . ` if you think an aussie critter is cute , odds are they still probably want to kill you . one way or another , ' claimed one user . ` how are you guys still alive ? ' asked one user . the quick reply was ` we check our shoes first . obviously . ' so bang your shoes , shake out your rugs , check underneath the toilet seat , and beware . so bang your shoes , shake out your rugs , check underneath the toilet seat , and beware .<doc-sep>proportion have had a head injury . this combination could . potentially result in an individual being predisposed to develop into a . mass murderer . ` the report , which is the first of its kind to look at all the available material around serial and mass killers , identified that a complex interplay between neurodevelopmental problems and psychosocial factors are most likely to lead to incidences of this kind , ' explained the study authors , led by dr clare allely . but the researchers claim that a person suffering a neurodevelopmental disorder or a brain injury , by itself does not result in a serial killer or mass murderer . to test the hypothesis , the team from the university of glasgow searched studies and books that were both published and still in progress that referred to serial killers , violent crime , psychopathy , narcissistic personality disorder , and autistic spectrum disorders . researchers from glasgow analysed journals , news reports and legal files involved with cases of serial killers , including anders breivik -lrb- pictured -rrb- . they discovered a link between autism spectrum disorder -lrb- asd -rrb- and psychosocial disorders , such as exposure to abuse in childhood or parental divorce , among serial killers . databases included web of knowledge and psycinfo , and search terms included ` autism and serial killer ' , ` psychopathy and autism ' , ` murder and autism ' , ` brain injury and serial killer ' , among other relevant searches . the researchers also examined book chapters , whole books and electronic documents available locally , and through the uk 's inter-library loan system . among all the 239 eligible killers , 28 per cent had ` definite , highly probable or possible asd ' of which seven per cent also had a head injury . more than 21 per cent had suffered a definite or suspected head injury , of which 13 per cent also had evidence of asd traits . mass murderer dr harold shipman , pictured , was ` highly suspected to have had asd ' and had experienced stressors in the past , the study found . out of the 106 killers with asd and/or head injury , more than half -lrb- 55 per cent -rrb- had experienced psychosocial stressors . the paper added that despite the ` exhaustive search ' reports on fewer than 400 serial and mass killers were found since 1985 , suggesting they are rare . dr allely , from the institute of health and wellbeing at the university of glasgow , continued : ` it is crucial to note that we are not trying to suggest individuals with asd or previous head trauma are more likely to be serial killers or commit serious crime . ` rather we are suggesting that there may be a subgroup of individuals within these groups who may be more likely to commit serious crimes when exposed to certain psychosocial stressors . ` research on mass and serial killing is still very much in its infancy . new research is urgently required to understand the mechanisms underlying these extreme forms of violence so that preventative strategies can be developed . ` we would recommend that in future , all serial or mass killers who are apprehended should be thoroughly assessed using standardised tools for investigating neurodevelopmental disorders including asd and head injury . ' the findings are published in the in the journal of violent and aggressive behaviour and the full paper can be viewed at science direct . carol povey , director of the national autistic society 's centre for autism , told mailonline : ` this is a very serious issue and research like this is vital if we are to develop preventive strategies . ` but we would urge people not to jump to conclusions about people with autism and to make judgements about a whole section of society . ` this and previous research shows that the vast majority of individuals with autism are law abiding and respect the rules of society . indeed , in many cases , individuals with autism are unusually concerned to keep the letter of the law , due to the nature of the disability . ` this research reaffirms the importance of ensuring that people with autism get the support they need as early as possible . ' in a recent paper , published in frontiers in human neuroscience journal , dr sergio canavero claimed the brains of killers and other psychopaths should be treated using psychomodulation -- a deep brain stimulation of regions linked to personality and mood . he said that imprisonment or the death penalty are costly and considered inhumane . in his research , dr canavero called for a ` complete rewiring of the psychopath brain by associating brain cortical stimulation to environmental reconditioning . ' he believes that because brain stimulation is a non-invasive , or minimally invasive technique , it can be used to treat a number neurological and psychiatric conditions . this is because ` it has the capacity to alter brain circuitry according to length of stimulation . unlike deep brain stimulation , it carries no risk of death or disability . '

<t> u.s. marshals southeast task force tracks 10-15 suspected killers a day . </t> <t> some are high-profile cases , but most are searches that go under media radar . </t> <t> commander : `` our mandate is to track ... murderers , armed robbers , rapists '' </t> <t> office captured 3,000 suspects last year ; only once were shots fired , chief says . </t>

suspected killers -- beware of these guys<T>

washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the u.s. senate was called to order for 11 seconds on wednesday as the last political scuffle of the year between the white house and the democratic-led congress played out . democratic senators will hold short `` pro forma '' sessions over the holiday break to prevent recess appointments . nearly all the senators left the capitol for the christmas holiday last week , but democrats are keeping the senate in session to block president bush from making any recess appointments -- a constitutional mechanism that allows the president , during congressional recesses , to fill top government posts for up to one year without senate confirmation . sen. jim webb , d-virginia , opened and then immediately gaveled the senate session to a close . he spent 57 seconds in the chamber . senate majority leader harry reid , d-nevada , announced december 19 that he would keep the senate open with a series of `` pro forma '' sessions through mid-january .<doc-sep>talks had just broken down with the white house on a deal that would have allowed the president to make dozens of those appointments if he agreed not to appoint one controversial official , steven bradbury , as the permanent head of the influential office of legal counsel at the justice department . bush declined to accept the democrats ' offer , and reid refused to approve bradbury because of concerns about his involvement in crafting legal opinions for the administration on interrogation techniques of terrorism suspects . similar sessions were conducted over the thanksgiving recess . webb also did the duty friday , but he wo n't be the only senator tasked with presiding over the shortened sessions . other democrats -- including sens. edward kennedy of massachusetts , byron dorgan of north dakota , jack reed of rhode island , mary landrieu of louisiana , ben cardin of maryland and chuck schumer of new york -- will share the duty . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's ted barrett and vandana kilaru contributed to this report .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the u.s. senate was called to order for 11 seconds on wednesday as the last political scuffle of the year between the white house and the democratic-led congress played out . democratic senators will hold short `` pro forma '' sessions over the holiday break to prevent recess appointments . nearly all the senators left the capitol for the christmas holiday last week , but democrats are keeping the senate in session to block president bush from making any recess appointments -- a constitutional mechanism that allows the president , during congressional recesses , to fill top government posts for up to one year without senate confirmation . sen. jim webb , d-virginia , opened and then immediately gaveled the senate session to a close . he spent 57 seconds in the chamber . senate majority leader harry reid , d-nevada , announced december 19 that he would keep the senate open with a series of `` pro forma '' sessions through mid-january .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- in one of the shortest session in its history , the senate 's final session of the year lasted a total of 12 seconds monday . democrats kept the senate in session over the holiday season . only one senator , democrat jack reed of rhode island , was in the chamber to gavel open the senate and adjourn it until january 3 . monday 's event was the latest in a series of `` pro forma '' sessions the senate has called . pro forma means `` for the sake of formality '' and these micro sessions are part of the last political scuffle between the white house and the democratic-led congress . democrats are keeping the senate in session to block president bush from making any recess appointments . during congressional recesses , a constitutional mechanism allows the president to fill top government posts for up to one year without senate confirmation . nearly all the senators left the capitol for the christmas holiday nearly a week and a half ago , but only one senator is needed to keep the senate in session . during the session last week , sen. jim webb , d-virginia , opened and then immediately gaveled the senate session to a close . wednesday 's session lasted for 11 seconds . in all , he spent 57 seconds in the chamber . senate majority leader harry reid , d-nevada , announced december 19 that he would keep the senate open with a series of pro forma sessions through mid-january . talks had just broken down with the white house on a deal that would have allowed the president to make dozens of those appointments if he agreed not to appoint one controversial official , steven bradbury , as the permanent head of the influential office of legal counsel at the justice department . bush declined to accept the democrats ' offer , and reid refused to approve bradbury because of concerns about his involvement in crafting legal opinions for the administration on interrogation techniques of terrorism suspects . similar sessions were conducted over the thanksgiving recess . other democrats -- including sens. edward kennedy of massachusetts , byron dorgan of north dakota , mary landrieu of louisiana , ben cardin of maryland and chuck schumer of new york -- will share the duty of presiding over the `` pro forma '' sessions next month . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's lisa desjardin contributed to this report .<doc-sep>this is the moment a hapless thief is arrested by bouncers after he tried to steal from a car parked outside their training session . nathan webb , 39 , slipped inside the unlocked vauxhall astra parked outside the training hub in manchester city centre in an attempt to grab a sat-nav . but owner danny rose , a trainee doorman who was taking part in a session on how to use handcuffs , was watching from inside the building and rushed outside to stop him . scroll down for video . nathan webb , 39 , is caught slipping into the driver 's side of the vauxhall astra parked outside training centre . one of the trainee bouncer 's is then seen approaching the car , where webb is inside trying to take a sat-nav . he called for help from the centre manager - marcus gentles , a bouncer with 16 years ' experience -- who was able to apprehend him with the handcuffs he had been using during the lesson . cctv footage shows mr gentles leaning into the driver 's seat , where webb was sitting , and detain him as the trainees look on . he held webb inside the classroom for 15 minutes until the police arrived . he was charged the next day and appeared before magistrates in manchester where he pleaded guilty to theft from a motor vehicle . mr gentles , a former fusilier from oldham , said candidates on the 10 candidates on the training course thought the incident had been staged as part of the session . ` it was just so funny . he 's come up to a building that is teaching doormen how to arrest people - and has tried to steal from them , ' he said . he opens the door as other trainee bouncers , who were learning how to use handcuffs , come rushing out . ` i said to him , `` are you stupid mate ? there are big signs outside '' . ` he said , `` you 've got to take a chance , mate '' . ' his training centre works with get licensed to offer security industry authority -lrb- sia -rrb- approved sessions for would-be doormen and he has been doing the training for five years . centre manager marcus gentles - a bouncer of 16 years - rushes out and detains him using cuffs from lesson . webb is taken into classroom where he waits for police to arrive . he was charged the next day and pleaded guilty to theft from a motor vehicle . the 40-year-old said he taught candidates to make citizen 's arrests using handcuffs because police were increasingly over-stretched and often took up to 20 minutes to attend an incident . he added : ` people slag off the police but when you work in the industry you see how under-funded and over-stretched they are . that 's why we are now doing the arrests ourselves . ' webb is due to be sentenced later this month .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- west virginia gov. joe manchin will announce on friday his pick to temporarily fill the u.s. senate seat left vacant by the death of democratic sen. robert byrd . manchin has said he 'll push to hold a special election this november to fill the remaining two years of the term . the legislature is meeting in special session , considering legislation to do just that . manchin , a popular two-term democratic governor , told reporters this month that he `` would highly consider '' seeking the seat himself -- not surprising given manchin was thought to be interested in running for the senate in 2012 , when the election is currently scheduled . west virginia law dictates that the governor has the power to name an immediate replacement for byrd . manchin says he does n't want to appoint someone who would serve for two-and-a-half years without the people 's consent .

<t> democratic senators will hold short `` pro forma '' sessions over the holiday break . </t> <t> sessions usually under one minute long . </t> <t> move prevents president bush from making recess appointments . </t> <t> bush refused to withdraw one controversial nominee after democratic offer . </t>

webb opens , closes vacant senate session<T>

pella , iowa -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a senior aide to republican presidential candidate mike huckabee admitted friday that the former arkansas governor had `` no foreign policy credentials '' after his comments reacting to the assassination of former pakistani prime minister benazir bhutto raised questions . during an event friday in pella , iowa , huckabee said the crisis sparked by bhutto 's death should lead to a crackdown on illegal immigrants from pakistan . the huckabee official told cnn that when he said that , huckabee was trying to turn attention away from scrutiny of his foreign policy knowledge . huckabee 's foreign policy credentials have been under a microscope since the candidate admitted that he was unaware of an intelligence report that iran had suspended its nuclear weapons program earlier this month . `` in light of what happened in pakistan yesterday , it 's interesting that there are more pakistanis who have illegally crossed the border than of any other nationality except for those immediately south of our border , '' huckabee said friday . americans might `` look halfway around the world and say , ` how does that affect me ? ' ... we need to understand that violence and terror is significant when it happens in pakistan , -lsb- and -rsb- it 's more significant if it can happen in our own cities . and it happens if people can slip across our border and we have no control over them . ''<doc-sep>`` the immigration issue is not so much about people coming to pick lettuce or make beds , it 's about people who could come with a shoulder-fired missile and could do serious damage and harm to us , '' huckabee said , `` and that 's what we need to be worried about . '' the huckabee official said he told huckabee that his reaction to the crisis in pakistan will be the story for the next several days , and until he is `` briefed and up to speed '' on pakistan , a good place for huckabee to draw the line is on illegal immigration . watch a report about the ` surprising tactic ' '' `` why does rudy giuliani get more credentials on homeland security than you do ? you 've been a governor , '' the huckabee campaign official said he told the candidate . the campaign official admitted that huckabee 's tough immigration talk is also aimed at helping him win male gop voters in iowa -- a bloc the official concedes the campaign has been losing ground with . huckabee said 660 pakistanis entered the country illegally last year . when asked by a reporter the source for that statistic , huckabee appeared unsure , saying , `` those are numbers that i got today from a briefing , and i believe they are cia and immigration numbers . '' the huckabee campaign later said the figure came from a march 2006 report by the denver post . but the border patrol told cnn on friday that it apprehended only `` a handful '' of illegal immigrants from pakistan in 2007 .<doc-sep>the number of illegal immigrants from pakistan deported or apprehended is not mentioned in the latest report from the department of homeland security/office of immigration statistics . in 2005 , the nation did not make the list of the top 10 sources of illegal immigrants . the previous year , pakistan was the last country listed , but no specific numbers were given . huckabee is the gop front-runner in iowa , according to most polls . a los angeles times/bloomberg poll conducted december 20-23 and 26 has huckabee leading former massachusetts gov. mitt romney 36 percent to 28 percent among likely caucus goers . the poll 's margin of error was plus or minus 7 percentage points . as the campaigns enter the final stretch before the iowa caucuses on january 3 , romney has gone on the attack against huckabee , particularly focusing on his record on illegal immigration issues while he was arkansas governor . huckabee 's friday comments on immigration came after he appeared to make another gaffe thursday , when he seemed to suggest incorrectly that pakistan was under martial law . watch huckabee 's response to bhutto 's assassination '' while commenting on bhutto 's death during an orlando , florida , press conference , huckabee told reporters that the united states ' first priority should be to find the responsible parties . `` but the most urgent thing to do is to offer our sincere sympathies and concerns to the family and to the people of pakistan , and that 's the first thing we would be doing other than , again , trying to ascertain who 's behind it , and what impact does it have on whether or not there 's going to be martial law continued in pakistan , suspension of the constitution , '' huckabee said . `` those are concerns that the united states certainly should have . ''<doc-sep>later thursday , at an event in west des moines , iowa , huckabee told cnn that `` it was not that i was unaware it was suspended , two weeks ago , lifted . ... the point was , would it be reinstated , would it be placed back in ? all of the aspects of martial law have not been completely lifted even now . there 's still a heavy hand musharraf has used . '' conservative critics immediately pointed out that pakistani president pervez musharraf lifted the country 's state of martial law roughly two weeks ago . the slip `` ought to be really bad news for huckabee , '' said the national review 's jim geraghty , writing on the magazine 's web site . `` i 'm not sure how big assassination-related news will play in the first primary states . still , i think those misstatements will exacerbate the huck/not huck divide in gop circles . '' the national review has endorsed romney . but cnn senior political analyst bill schneider said the debate over whether huckabee has command of the nuances of the pakistan crisis would have little impact on his support . `` mike huckabee is a populist . his comments on pakistan reflect a populist understanding of the crisis , which , is to say , not much , '' schneider said . `` sure , the political establishment is snickering , but i doubt that his misstatements bother his supporters much . '' e-mail to a friend . cnn 's dana bash and rebecca sinderbrand contributed to this report .<doc-sep>before the disagreement over crime , the two exchanged barbs over foreign policy . in the current issue of foreign affairs magazine , huckabee says , `` american foreign policy needs to change its tone and attitude , open up , and reach out . the bush administration 's arrogant bunker mentality has been counterproductive at home and abroad . '' that stance prompted romney , on nbc 's `` meet the press '' on sunday , to call on huckabee to apologize to president bush for his remarks . `` i said , ` well , did this come from barack obama or from hillary clinton ? did it come from john edwards ? ' no , it was gov. huckabee , '' romney told host tim russert . `` the truth of the matter is this president has kept us safe these last six years and that has not been easy to do . '' huckabee said he did n't have anything for which to apologize . `` i did n't say the president was arrogant , '' huckabee told cnn on sunday . `` one of my opponents has mistakenly , maybe purposefully , misstated my position on that . i 've said the policies have been arrogant . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>a cnn reporter shouted : ` gov romney are you concerned about some of the mishaps of your trip ? ' ` gov romney do you have a statement for the palestinians ? ' a new york times reporter asked ` what about your gaffes ? ' chimed in a washington post writer . ` governor romney do you feel that your gaffes have overshadowed your foreign trip ? ' asked the times journalist . honoring the dead : romney laid a wreath at the tomb of the unknown solider before visiting with the mayor of warsaw . praise : romney said poland was a model for small government and free enterprise during a foreign policy speech at the university of warsaw library . ` governor romney just a few . questions sir , you have n't taken but three questions on this trip from . the press ! ' the cnn reporter protested . that 's when mr gorka stepped in : ` show some respect , ' he told the american journalists . when a new york times reporter said he was trying to get answers to his question , gorka responded harshly . ` kiss my a ** . this is a holy site for the polish people . show some respect , ' he said . going home : the foreign policy speech was on the last events of romney 's world tour . he returns home on wednesday . later , he told a politico reporter to ` shove it . ' about 30 minutes later , the spokesman called reporters and apologized . however , it 's likely that for all the media bluster , romney 's ` gaffes ' on his foreign trip will effectively zero impact on his chances in the november election . a poll in may found that only one percent of voters said foreign policy was the most important issue in the race . the foreign trip also garnered front page coverage in several newspapers in the swing states of florida , nevada and ohio -- with on-message stories about his support for israel , not articles about his slip-ups .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- republican presidential hopeful mike huckabee refused to retract a statement he made in 1992 calling for the isolation of aids patients . responding to an associated press questionnaire , huckabee said steps should be taken to `` isolate the carriers of this plague '' during his failed run for a u.s. senate seat from arkansas 15 years ago . he said he probably would not make the same statement today because of what is known about how hiv , the virus that causes aids , is transmitted . `` i had simply made the point -- and i still believe this today -- that in the late '80s and early '90s , when we did n't know as much as we do now about aids , we were acting more out of political correctness than we were about the normal public health protocols that we would have acted , '' huckabee told fox news on sunday . the centers for disease control and prevention concluded in 1985 that aids was not transmitted by casual contact . but huckabee said at the time , `` there were other concerns being voiced by public health officials . '' he disputed the characterization that he was calling for individuals infected with hiv to be quarantined . `` now , would i say things a little differently in 2007 ? probably so , '' huckabee told fox news . `` but i 'm not going to recant or retract from the statement that i did make because , again , the point was not saying we ought to lock people up who have hiv/aids . '' huckabee did not explain how individuals with hiv would have been isolated .<doc-sep>republicans ' nearly singular focus on the economy took a back seat wednesday when sen. john mccain and former secretary of state condoleezza rice took the stage to talk foreign policy , a topic mitt romney makes little mention of on the stump and that has been largely absent from the national political debate . romney faces a solid foreign policy record from the current president , who voters consistently say in polls would better handle america 's relationships with other countries if re-elected . in the latest cnn/orc international survey released earlier this week , president barack obama had a 51 % -44 % advantage over romney on foreign policy . facing those facts , the romney campaign chose wednesday to use conservatives with well-established foreign policy credentials to make the case that obama has failed a test of leadership in key international hot spots , including in syria and iran . `` unfortunately , for four years , we 've drifted away from our proudest traditions of global leadership , traditions that are truly bipartisan , '' mccain said . `` we 've let the challenges we face , both at home and abroad , become harder to solve . we ca n't afford to stay on that course any longer . '' rice echoed many of the same themes . the former secretary of state said romney and ryan `` know that our friends and allies must again be able to trust us , '' what she said was obama 's weakness on the international stage . yet even rice turned back to the economy , saying when the world looks at the united states , `` they see an american government that can not live within its means . '' rice and mccain 's remarks were a brief side track to a convention overwhelmingly focused on blaming obama for the weak economy and how romney plans to fix it . as republican strategist and cnn contributor alex castellanos noted , neither campaign thinks foreign policy will make a big difference to voters struggling with high unemployment and stagnant wages . `` it 's not going to matter at the end , '' castellanos said . `` both campaigns , i think , but especially the -lsb- romney -rsb- campaign , wants to move on to the economy . and barack obama now has the experience , four years as commander-in-chief . so i put that is a plus for the democrats in the fall . '' mccain : ca n't have security threatened . 3 . faith does matter . four years ago , as they were battling for the 2008 republican presidential nomination , mike huckabee questioned romney 's mormon faith . four years later , as he addressed the republican convention in prime time , the former arkansas governor had a very different message . `` i care far less as to where mitt romney takes his family to church than i do about where he takes this country , '' said huckabee , who still wields influence among social conservatives . some in that key component of the republican base still harbor suspicions of romney 's faith .

<t> new : aide admits that huckabee has `` no foreign policy credentials '' </t> <t> new : campaign official suggested tying pakistan crisis to immigration issue . </t> <t> huckabee appeared not to know that martial law had been lifted in pakistan . </t> <t> gaffes will have little effect on support for populist candidate , analyst says . </t>

foreign policy gaffes plague huckabee<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a colorado prosecutor friday asked a judge to dismiss the first-degree murder charge against tim masters , who spent nine years in prison until new dna evidence indicated someone else might have committed the crime . tim masters , center , walks out of a fort collins , colorado , courthouse tuesday with his attorney david wymore . court papers filed by district attorney larry abrahamson cited `` newly discovered '' evidence , but took pains to state that evidence did n't clear masters . `` while the newly discovered dna evidence does not exonerate timothy masters , it clearly warrants a complete re-examination of all the evidence related to the murder of peggy hettrick , '' the court papers state . the motion seeks dismissal of the charges `` in the interest of justice . '' it points out the dna testing used to uncover the new evidence was n't available when masters was investigated and tried . on tuesday a judge threw out masters ' 1999 murder conviction , and he was freed -- also `` in the interest of justice . '' although the motion signals that abrahamson is dropping the masters case , he did not rule out future prosecution . in a statement , the prosecutor cautioned : `` contrary to news reports , the dna testing results only suggest that there may be others , along with timothy masters , who should be investigated . these test results do not provide us with enough information to completely exonerate anyone . ''<doc-sep>abrahamson said he has asked colorado attorney general john suthers to appoint a special prosecutor to continue the investigation of hettrick 's slaying . the attorney general will announce his decision early next week , abrahamson said . masters , 36 , has been investigated for hettrick 's murder since he was 15 . he has insisted he had nothing to do with her death , and no physical evidence ties him directly to the crime . watch masters describe his anger at police '' a jury convicted masters 12 years after the discovery of hettrick 's stabbed and sexually mutilated corpse in a field near his trailer . among the evidence jurors considered were a collection of knives found in master 's bedroom , gruesome sketches and testimony from a prosecution expert that he fit the psychological profile of a killer . masters ' defense team said he was framed , and that police and prosecutors sat on evidence that could have raised doubt about his guilt . the significance of friday 's motion to dismiss is largely procedural , but abrahamson indicated earlier this week that it might be unnecessary to try masters again .<doc-sep>`` in light of newly discovered evidence revealed to me on friday , '' abrahamson said in a statement a week ago , `` i will be moving as expeditiously as possible to make the determination of whether all charges against timothy masters will be dismissed . '' abrahamson also has vowed to review all `` contested convictions '' in which advances in dna testing may prove useful . he said he wanted to examine the legal discovery process and that he had met with the fort collins police chief and his officers `` to discuss the critical flow of information with assurance that all information is available to our office and the defense . '' special prosecutor don quick filed a motion earlier this month citing four instances in which police and prosecutors should have handed over evidence to masters ' original defense team . see the key players in the case '' among them was a police interview with a plastic surgeon who said it was improbable that a teen could have made the meticulous cuts necessary to remove hettrick 's body parts . also , according to quick 's motion , police failed to divulge that a renowned fbi profiler warned police that masters ' penchant for doodling gruesome horror scenes did not tie him to the crime . investigations into how police and prosecutors handled the case continue . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- tim masters squarely blames fort collins , colorado , police and prosecutors for his inability to land gainful employment and for his not having a wife and kids at this stage in his life . tim masters , left , stands with attorney david wymore , right , before masters ' release from prison last year . in 1987 , masters became the prime suspect in the slaying of peggy hettrick , a 37-year-old found in a field near his house . among the reasons police said they focused on masters was that he failed to report the body after he found it and his childhood drawings and stories suggested he was fixated on death . masters was convicted of murder in 1999 , but a judge last year threw out the conviction and released him from prison , citing new evidence that did not implicate masters . masters now has a lawsuit pending against several police officers , ex-prosecutors and the city . the city of fort collins has asked a federal judge to dismiss the case . now 37 , masters sat down for a phone interview with a cnn reporter who covered his case and subsequent release . he said he still holds a grudge against the police and prosecutors who put him behind bars . watch masters the day after his 2008 release '' he 's living in greeley , colorado , and does n't get back to fort collins much , but he does love traveling . most notably , he 's traveled to amsterdam , netherlands , to appear on a talk show with richard and selma eikelenboom , the dutch forensic scientists who discovered the dna evidence that ultimately freed masters . things can be tough sometimes , but anything is better than prison , masters said of his first year as a free man since being imprisoned . cnn : how have things been in the year since your release ? masters : it 's a struggle to earn enough money to pay my bills and everything , make a living . other than that , life is good . cnn : do you have a job ? masters : i buy stuff at auction and i sell it on ebay . cnn : do you have trouble finding a job because of your time in jail ?<doc-sep>greeley , colorado -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- tim masters often drank heavily before he was imprisoned for murder in 1999 , but he said he 's sworn off the stuff in an interview wednesday , his first full day of freedom in nearly a decade . on his first full day of freedom , tim masters shows attorney maria liu a hot rod magazine . `` just because i do n't look angry does n't mean i do n't have a whole lot of anger inside , '' masters said . `` i do n't want to get drunk . people get drunk , they have no self control . i do n't want to get mad or do anything stupid or say something stupid . i 'd rather just stay sober . '' the anger he fears unleashing is aimed squarely at the fort collins police department , which doggedly pursued him for almost 12 years before charging him with the 1987 murder of peggy hettrick -- a crime he has always insisted he did n't commit . masters , 36 , was released tuesday from prison after new dna evidence pointed to someone else . he will find out next month if he will stand trial again , but a prosecutor said monday that charges against masters could be dismissed . watch masters talk about his freedom '' speaking with cnn about 24 hours after his release , masters said he is relieved to be out of prison , but he ca n't shake the feeling this saga might not be over . he also ca n't shake his anger at one investigator in particular . `` my opinion is that jim broderick , the guy in charge of it , has a very big ego and would not allow anything or anyone to convince him that he was wrong , '' masters said . `` he made up his mind in the beginning , from day one when he walked into my bedroom and saw my horror drawings and war stories , that i was guilty . nothing would change his mind . '' broderick did not return a call wednesday to his office . his answering machine said he would not be checking messages until the end of the month .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a colorado judge tuesday threw out tim masters ' 1999 murder conviction after dna evidence pointed to another suspect , and masters was freed after spending nine years behind bars . tim masters , center , walks out of a fort collins , colorado , courthouse tuesday with his attorney david wymore . cheers and applause erupted as masters walked out of court with his attorneys david wymore and maria liu . a jury convicted masters 12 years after the discovery of the mutilated corpse of peggy hettrick , 37 , in a field near his trailer . masters was 15 at the time of the slaying . now 36 , masters wore new clothes bought by his lawyers for tuesday 's hearing . he appeared dazed and elated . watch masters ' first minutes of freedom '' `` they did a fantastic job , '' masters said of his attorneys at a hastily convened news conference . `` i want to go see my family , '' he said . wymore said he would `` urge the prosecutors to dismiss all charges as soon as possible . '' he added , `` it 's an opportunity to do the right thing . '' wymore thanked former fort collins investigator linda wheeler-holloway , who came forward with her doubts about the conviction . he also thanked journalists `` for not letting it sink into a dark hole . '' surrounded by police officers and his attorneys , masters left the second-floor jury room and walked to the main floor of the larimer county justice center amid a flurry of flashes and shutter clicks . police cleared a path as the smiling masters walked outside onto icy courthouse steps and squinted as the sunlight hit him in the face . he and his attorneys got into a waiting vehicle , which quickly drove away . a special prosecutor who reviewed how the 1999 case was handled made the request to vacate the conviction , citing new dna evidence that points to someone else in hettrick 's slaying . judge joseph weatherby quickly granted the request . masters was freed on his own recognizance , which means his family does not have to put up any money or property . watch masters ' first minutes of freedom '' masters had been under investigation for the slaying for more than half his life . a passing cyclist discovered the mutilated body of hettrick near masters ' home . masters has said since february 12 , 1987 -- the day after the killing -- that he did not commit the crime . watch police question 15-year-old masters .<doc-sep>one of the teenagers accused of the murder of australian baseballer chris lane will no longer face a first-degree murder charge and is testifying against two co-defendants . the stephens county district attorney 's office on tuesday filed a motion to dismiss the murder charge against james francis edwards jr. . edwards jr will instead be charged with the lesser offence of accessory after the fact in the shooting death of 22-year-old lane . scroll down for video . australian baseballer , 22 , was shot dead while jogging in oklahoma in august , by three ` bored ' teenagers . edwards testified against 18-year-old michael dewayne jones and 17-year-old chancey luna during their preliminary hearings and is expected to testify against them at trial in august . both are charged with first-degree murder . prosecutors had earlier said they would dismiss the first-degree murder charge against edwards in exchange for his continued testimony . evidence gathered since the killing ` tends to further implicate chancey luna and michael jones and further casts doubt on the role of edwards in the murder of christopher lane , ' according to the motion .

<t> new : d.a. seeks dismissal of tim masters murder case . </t> <t> masters was released tuesday ; conviction was tossed . </t> <t> masters convicted in 1999 of murder , sexual mutilation of 37-year-old woman . </t> <t> he spent nearly nine years in prison . </t>

d.a. : dismiss murder charge against tim masters<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- cnn.com reader kristy o'connor took a prenatal yoga class with heath ledger and michelle williams and says she was `` in awe of his devotion and attention to michelle . '' reader dena michnowih says she came across ledger in brooklyn , new york , teaching his young daughter matilda her right from her left , and was enchanted . heath ledger is pictured with crew of the 2005 film `` lords of dogtown '' and members of the zephyr skating team . cnn.com asked readers to share their memories of ledger , who was found dead in a new york apartment tuesday , january 22 . famous for his roles in the films , `` the patriot '' and `` lords of dogtown , '' ledger was widely acclaimed for his portrayal of the homosexual cowboy ennis del mar in 2005 's `` brokeback mountain . '' cnn.com readers describe meeting ledger in person , and call him humble and kind . below are a selection of their responses , some of which have been edited for length and clarity . donal logue , actor , of los angeles , california i met heath eight years ago while working on `` the patriot . '' he became a star while we were sequestered away in a small town in south carolina based on the strength of the dailies going back to los angeles . heath was a fantastically kind and sweet young man . he surrounded himself with his friends from australia and never forgot any of us he ever worked with . i last saw him in australia when he called my name on a melbourne street and introduced me to michelle , his -lrb- then -rrb- pregnant -lsb- girlfriend -rsb- . i have great memories of going for runs with him or watching a bootleg copy of a parker and stone 's musical called `` cannibal ! the musical of the donner party tragedy . '' heath must have been in a place of great pain and sadness to be split from his wife and child . he was sensitive and unfairly victimized in his native country by the unfortunate australian custom called the `` tall poppy syndrome '' in which an australian , the second he or she achieves global success , is immediately and arbitrarily accused of losing all of their humanity . not true . he was a sweet person , and less importantly , an unbelievably talented actor . maybe the best of his generation . dan bova of larchmont , new york once when i was driving in brooklyn , i got a flat tire . as i was jacking up my car , this deep voice from behind me said , `` need a hand ? '' it was heath ledger . i could n't believe it . he helped jack up my car and change the tire . he was really good with tools ! r. of perth , western australia i grew up with heath around the speedway racing circuit . i remember the night he was a little boy and his dad was racing speed cars at claremont speedway -lrb- my dad was in the race , too -rrb- . his dad was coming 3rd then in the final corner , the two lead cars spun out and heath 's dad kim took the lead and won the state title race . heath was standing a couple of rows in front of me with his mum and sister and they were all so excited , jumping up and down and cheering . he was about as happy as a little boy could be watching his dad become a champion . i remember that night because in the years that followed , i saw his parents marriage break up and it was like there was this moment in his childhood of pure joy that i witnessed . later heath would pit crew for graham jones , and i crewed for my dad and brother . heath and i were both the youngest on our crews so that meant our job was to take the fiberglass bonnets over to the hoses and wash the mud off after each race really dirty work but he managed to stay cleaner than the rest of us . crystal davis of toronto , ontario i met heath in l.a. at a mall a year or so ago . i was staring at him working up the nerve to ask for an autograph . he saw me , started laughing and walked towards me . he said i was white as an `` egg '' and asked if he could do anything . i said , no thanks ... yes i forgot to ask for the autograph . he touched my shoulder and told me to take it easy and walked away . he looked back several times and smiled . what a great memory i have of him . my prayers go out to his family and friends . dena michnowich of glen cove , new york i was walking in the lower east side of manhattan one day and i noticed a really cute man holding his little daughter on his shoulders . she looked just like him . he told her that they had to make a right and asked her to point them in the right direction , which she did . i soon realized that it was heath ledger and i got really excited . i was walking right up to them as they were waiting to cross the street . when i got close , i waved and he smiled at me . he was so handsome i got the chills . i could also sense that he had a very sweet spirit . it was a very special moment for me . i 'm so sad to hear that he died . leanne scorzoni of staten island , new york i worked as a nanny for a number of years in manhattan , and i ended up having a toddler class with my charge and heath , michelle and baby matilda . the couple was so polite and laid back at first i did n't recognize who they were . they were genuinely interested in their child , her development , and treating the rest of us -lrb- including staff -rrb- with respect . he will be sorely missed . michael williams of perth , western australia i met heath ledger many years ago while i was working at a local fast food outlet here in perth western australia . he came through to order and i was amazed at how polite , kind and friendly he was . he stopped to sign autographs while he waited knowing that to the people asking him he was somewhat of a hero . he did all this with the great australian attitude that he had and a smile on his face , he was one superstar that took stardom well and in his stride , i for one feel thankful that i have met this great person . i send my deepest sympathy to his family and say to them that you do not mourn his passing alone ; the people of perth share your grief . tracy kimball of rock hill , south carolina i met heath ledger in 1999 while he was filming `` the patriot '' in south carolina . i was a reporter for a daily newspaper there and he was at a press conference about the movie at historic brattonsville , a revolutionary-era plantation . he was so very kind and was more than happy to sign my newspaper . the media was flocking around mel gibson , but seeing a new young and dashingly gorgeous guy standing off to himself , i approached him and asked for his autograph . he flashed that smile , grabbed my pen and used my back to sign the newspaper i was holding . we had a conversation , but i do n't remember it because i was so enamored . i had never heard of him before because the only american movie he had filmed was `` ten things i hate about you , '' which i had not yet seen . i went back to the paper where i worked and wrote a story about the new hot aussie star that would surely become hugely successful in america . his death really saddens me . he was such a talented actor and a new dad . having a child the same age as his daughter , it makes me even sadder to think of her missing her father . amanda olmstead of penticton , british columbia i met heath when he was filming `` brokeback mountain '' in my hometown of fort macleod . he was a down to earth man with amazing talent . his portrayal of ennis del mar was life-changing for many of my friends . i am truly saddened by his death . kristy o'connor of sydney , australia my heart goes out to heath 's family and little matilda , i met heath one time at a prenatal yoga class in sydney with michelle and was in awe of his devotion and attention to her . he was a true gentleman and i 'm sure an amazing father . to make assumptions as to how or why he died is to bring more pain to an already devastated family . adrian k. of perth , western australia i met heath one night on the town in perth . the one-degree of separation rule in perth made him a friend of a friend . we had a brief and quiet chat . what struck me was his calm in the face of his monstrous burgeoning celebrity . with both of his feet planted firmly on the ground , he seemed to be facing the publicity with stoic resolve . goodnight , heath . you were a good bloke . `` a sad fan '' in chicago , illinois i was an extra in the movie `` dark knight , '' which filmed in chicago this past summer . i spend an entire weekend on set with heath . he was rather quiet most of the time between takes , but seemed to be a nice , likeable guy . it was great to watch him work , as he was very committed to his craft . his death is a great loss . kelly fishburne of west palm beach , florida i met heath ledger while working in atlanta . we both were taking a cnn tour . he was silly , smiling all the time and we spoke about horses and riding lessons . he was also talking about the movie the patriot he filmed with mel gibson . he had to do lots of riding . he was down to earth and so very talkative . just a normal guy , hanging out . a real gentleman . jessi lee of central , south carolina i really enjoyed heath 's acting . his best movie was my favorite movie of 2005 , `` lords of dogtown . '' heath played the somewhat obnoxious skip engblom , but thinking of all the other actors who could have taken the roll , i do n't think anyone could have done it better . even two of the original zephyr shop boys themselves . tony alva & stacy peralta , said when heath came in & did the voice he would use in the film , it was like hearing skip from the past . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>new york -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- actor heath ledger was found dead tuesday of a possible drug overdose in a lower manhattan apartment , the new york police department said . heath ledger was unresponsive when a housekeeper found him in a manhattan apartment tuesday . the academy award-nominated actor was 28 . ledger was found naked and unresponsive , facedown on the floor at the foot of his bed by a housekeeper trying to wake him for an appointment with a masseuse , said police spokesman paul browne . `` pills were found in the vicinity of the bed , '' he told cnn . `` this is being looked at as a possible overdose , but that is not confirmed yet . '' browne later told reporters some prescription medications were found in the room , including sleeping pills . but he stressed police have made no determination of the cause of ledger 's death -- that would be done by the medical examiner . he said the pills were not `` scattered about . '' no note was found and there was no indication of foul play , browne said . ledger was found at about 3 p.m. , and was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency personnel about 3:30 p.m. watch a report about ledger 's death '' a crowd of onlookers , photographers and reporters gathered outside the apartment building after news of ledger 's death was reported . police officers were guarding the doors . browne said he did not know how long ledger had been renting the apartment , which he said took up the entire fourth floor . an autopsy would be conducted on wednesday , said ellen borakove , spokeswoman for the new york city medical examiner 's office . watch ledger 's body being removed '' ledger 's family called his death `` very tragic , untimely and accidental . '' `` heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life , but few had the pleasure of truly knowing him , '' his father said . `` he was a down-to-earth , generous , kindhearted , life-loving , unselfish individual extremely inspirational to many . '' hollywood reacts . condolences began pouring in from ledger 's friends and co-stars .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- `` the dark knight '' opened early friday to huge crowds and rave reviews . colorado teen christina perez says she painted her face like the joker as a tribute to heath ledger . much of the praise has gone to heath ledger 's dark and disturbing portrayal of the joker . ledger died of an accidental drug overdose before the movie was finished . ireporter chelsea itson , a 23-year-old student , went to the 12:15 a.m. showing in perrysburg , ohio , and could n't sleep afterward . `` it still has me kind of jittery , '' she told cnn . itson saw the first `` batman '' movie , but was n't a big fan of the series , or heath ledger , but said her friend wanted to go . ireporter has n't been to sleep since seeing film '' `` it was completely different from jack nicholson -lsb- as the joker -rsb- , '' she said .<doc-sep>below is a sampling of ireporters ' impressions of `` the dark knight . '' some have been edited for length or clarity : . sanjeeva7 of alpharetta , georgia : believe the hype . the dark knight lived up to the hype , especially heath ledger 's role as the joker . i really felt he was crazy . one of the best villain portrayals of all time and well deserving of an oscar nomination . geno walker of charlotte , north carolina : `` unless you hate yourself , you should go see this movie immediately . stop reading this right now and go to the nearest movie theater . it does n't even matter if the show has already started . buy a ticket , walk in halfway through , sit down and wait for the next showing to start . see it soon and see it often . you 'll love yourself more if you do . '' mrrg : `` a haunting experiment into the human psyche is the only way i can describe the unequivocal depth that ledger was able to reach with this portrayal of one the most evil characters ever brought to the screen . it was definitely bale 's story , but the late heath ledger 's movie . sonnyjc9 : wife and i watched this yesterday 17 july here in bangkok , thailand . heath ledger is awesome as the joker . 154 minutes of pure entertainment , and you will be giggling to yourself from heath 's performance . it is sad to think he will never reprise this role , but what a farewell . must see . zandz : we went to the premiere of this movie last night and thought the movie was only good . however , heath ledger did an excellent job portraying the the joker . the way heath ledger plays the joker is different than how jack nicholson plays the character . both have their unique styles -- nicholson 's joker was more comical , but ledger 's was more dark -lrb- while trying to be funny -rrb- . the makeup artists also did a great job on this joker 's face .<doc-sep>` there was no one like him and no one will ever be like him . ` i 'm just so grateful i got to meet him and get as close as i did with him , ' ward said of ledger . ward took ' a break from the media spotlight for the past few years and it was something spurred by heath 's death . ' ' -lrb- heath and i -rrb- first met in new york and we were both struggling with things that i wo n't get into , and we bonded over that , ' ward told the herald sun . ` there was no one like him and no one will ever be like him . ` i 'm just so grateful i got to meet him and get as close as i did with him . ' for ward , retreating from the world of modelling was a ` reassessment of everything ... a commitment to myself to address some things that were coming up to do with heath 's passing and also things that were troubling me before we met . ' ` so it was a retreat from many things in my life and i did think it was important for me to focus on those things . ' ' i did n't know how long it would take . i did n't know if it would solve anything , but i set out to focus inside myself . ' despite the pain of losing ledger , the model 's mum knew it was only a matter of time before the flawless beauty was back . ` if the fashion industry embraces her like it did before , and if gemma can work in a way that has some balance with family life and it does n't get too frantic , i think it would be amazing , ' said the model 's mother . despite the pain of losing ledger , the model 's mum knew it was only a matter of time before the flawless beauty was back . ` she got to see that if she chose to she could have a very normal life , ' mrs ward said . ' i always knew she wanted to go back - she had unfinished business . it was kind of hard leaving when she did , she needed to go and spend some time for herself . '

<t> i-reporters share tales of meeting heath ledger in person . </t> <t> `` he was really good with tools , '' says don bova ; ledger helped him change a tire . </t> <t> i-report : share your photos , memories of actor heath ledger . </t>

i-reporters recall meeting kind , handsome heath ledger<T>

-lrb- instyle.com -rrb- -- check out these seven truly amazing destinations and plan the best place for your great escape . the farm at cape kidnappers in new zealand is the best place for an adrenaline rush . girl 's getaway : ojai valley inn & spa -- ojai , california . why it 's great : this spanish colonial hideaway offers 308 rooms -- many with fireplaces and private terraces with mountain views . -lrb- no wonder kate walsh celebrated her wedding here . -rrb- . what to do : activities range from hiking and horseback riding to the more esoteric -lrb- take a watercolor class or customize your own massage oil . -rrb- watch what stars pack for trips '' bring it back : honey lip balm from a local bee farm ; pixie tangerines -lrb- some of the sweetest fruits in this valley -rrb- . book it : ojairesort.com . hip sightseeing : haymarket hotel -- london , uk . why it 's great : haymarket manages to capture the cool , contemporary buzz of today 's london to a tee . it 's where posh and becks stay when they cross the pond and where jude law drops by for dinner . all 50 guest rooms are spacious and done in a bold color scheme . what to do : shop at og2 the new shop from of-the-moment designer duro olowu , whose vintage prints draw clients like sienna miller ; visit eco , a green store opened by colin firth in chiswick ; or head to the fashion and textile museum , spearheaded by designer zandra rhodes . for london 's hottest new table , return to haymarket 's brumus . bring it back : blue-suede weekend bag at conran ; new lulu guinness jewelry collection -lrb- we love the glamour-girl charm -rrb- ; colorful candles or twist tumblers from nina campbell . book it : firmdale.com . shopping spree : villa mangiacane -- tuscany , italy .<doc-sep>why it 's great : you 'll feel as if you stumbled onto a bernardo bertolucci set at this retreat , with its sculpture garden and gnarled olive grove . the 26 guest rooms are located in two villas , but romantics should stay in the 16th-century main villa , whose loggia is decorated with historic frescoes . you can request to have dinner in a new spot each night -lrb- try the dreamy vineyard -rrb- . what to do : florence is a short drive away -- spend the day shopping at the city 's hottest fashion emporium , luisa via roma , and loretta caponi for exquisite lingerie , then head to the roof of hotel continentale , where the ferragamos go for sunset cocktails . bring it back : in florence , find hand-finished leather gloves from the family-run madova shop ; soaps from the historic santa maria novella pharmacy ; a bottle of mangiacane wine -lrb- the property produces merlot and chianti -rrb- . book it : steinhotels.com/mangiacane . lazy beach time : rosewood mayakoba , mexico . why it 's great : located on the super-hot riviera maya , which has drawn the likes of tom cruise and katie holmes , rosewood mayakoba has 128 suites , which are actually freestanding villas with luminous bathrooms and private plunge pools . it 's also eco-minded : building materials are indigenous , and guests can navigate the property 's network of freshwater canals via electric boats . what to do : visit the mayan ruins of tulum ; have dinner in the beach town of playa del carmen -lrb- try the hip glass bar / di vino -rrb- ; snorkel in underwater caves -lrb- cenotes -rrb- ; or book a treatment at the rosewood 's spa , which occupies its own little island . bring it back : a string hammock from tulum for lounging ; beauty products , like scented candles and linen spray , made with local ingredients , such as tropical wood and coconut , from chic eco-retreat -lrb- coqui coqui -rrb- . book it : rosewoodmayakoba.com . cozy weekend : winvian -- morris , connecticut . why it 's great : when it comes to throwing the ultimate weekend get-together , this new 113-acre resort is the place . the heart of the property is a restored colonial farmhouse , filled with antiques , but guests stay in 18 lavish cottages -- each boasting a unique design scheme and at least one open fireplace . one pick : stable , a duplex with a sunken bathtub . what to do : plenty of outdoor activities , like hiking and antiquing , but you may want to stick close to winvian 's spa -lrb- facials with top u.k. aesthetician eve lom 's products -rrb- and fabulous restaurant -lrb- the chef trained under alain ducasse -rrb- . bring it back : furniture from the historic town of woodbury -lrb- once home to american antiques dealer wayne pratt -rrb- ; a first edition from a nearby antiquarian book dealer , like nutmeg books in torrington ; maple syrup tapped at a local farm .<doc-sep>book it : winvian.com . adrenaline rush : the farm at cape kidnappers , new zealand . why it 's great : this luxe lodge is situated on a 6,000-acre sheep and cattle farm in hawke 's bay , one of the country 's premier wine regions . it offers 24 suites , spread among several cottages -lrb- all have private decks with sweeping views -rrb- . what to do : there 's no end to the activities , whether you love the beach -lrb- surfing -rrb- or the countryside -lrb- hiking -rrb- . ask the lodge to arrange sporting expeditions with an expert guide , a helicopter excursion , or a trip to local wineries . and do n't miss the stunning seaside golf course , designed to make the most of the natural topography . bring it back : sheepskin slippers -lrb- locally made from merino wool -rrb- ; a bottle of sauvignon blanc -lrb- hawke 's bay is known for it -rrb- . book it : capekidnappers.com . surfing and samba : fasano -- rio de janeiro , brazil . why it 's great : rio tops current hot lists , and there 's no better place to soak up the vibe than at the new fasano . located in a prime spot overlooking ipanema beach , the hotel has 82 rooms , ten suites and three mini apartments -- all designed by philippe starck -- and boasts a 1950s bossa-nova ambience . what to do : sip rio 's best caipirinhas , the national cocktail , at club chocolate ; spend a day at posto 10 -lrb- the city 's chicest beach -rrb- ; or for authentic samba music , head to carioca a gema -lrb- but never before 11 p.m. -rrb- . bring it back : a teeny isabel capeto bikini and matching sarong ; a cd by gilberto gil ; loose thai pants from the outdoor ipanema hippie market . book it : fasano.com.br e-mail to a friend . get a free trial issue of instyle - click here ! copyright © 2007 time inc. . all rights reserved .<doc-sep>by . ellie zolfagharifard . scientists may not have found extra-terrestrial life yet , but they now claim there are far more aliens out there than first believed . researchers in scotland believe that earth-sized planets can support life at least ten times further away from stars than previously thought . this means that cold rocky planets previously considered uninhabitable may be teeming with life beneath the surface . scottish academics claim cold rocky planets previously considered uninhabitable may be teeming with life beneath the surface . academics at the university of aberdeen and university of st andrews claim the definition of the ` goldilocks ' zone - the area of space around a star , or sun , which can support life -- is flawed . they argue this definition fails to take into account life that can exist beneath a planet 's surface . ` as you get deeper below a planet 's surface , the temperature increases , and once you get down to a temperature where liquid water can exist -- life can exist there too , ' said aberdeen university phd student sean mcmahon . in the study ` superhabitable worlds ' , professor heller proposes that tidal heating can create conditions where life could emerge on an icy or terrestrial planet once thought to be uninhabitable . pictured is an artist 's impression of an exoplanet . the goldilocks zone is the belt around a star where temperatures are ideal . for liquid water to . pool on a planet 's surface . to determine the location of a star 's habitable zone , scientists have to first learn how much total radiation it emits . knowing precisely how far away a habitable zone needs to be from a star also depends on chemistry . for . example , molecules in a planet 's atmosphere will absorb a certain . amount of energy from starlight and radiate the rest back out . how much of this energy is trapped can mean the difference between a turquoise sea and erupting volcanoes . researchers in scotland now claim that earth-sized planets could support life at least 10 times further away from stars than first thought . in a galaxy of 200 billion stars of various types , scientists estimate there are 11 billion potentially habitable planets in the goldilocks zone as it is currently defined . factor smaller , dimmer red dwarf stars , and the number of planets with mild temperatures similar to earth rises to 40 billion . researchers in aberdeen claim the figure is much higher . mr mcmahon told mailonline the number was ` probably several times ' larger but added that the is difficult to quantify . mr mcmahon 's team created a computer model that estimates the temperature below the surface of a planet of a given size , at a given distance from its star . ` the deepest known life on earth is 5.3 km below the surface , but there may well be life even 10 km deep in places on earth that have n't yet been drilled , ' he said . ` using our computer model we discovered that the habitable zone for an earth-like planet orbiting a sun-like star is about three times bigger if we include the top five kilometres below the planet surface . ' the model shows that liquid water could survive 5km below the earth 's surface even if the earth was three times further away from the sun . ` if we go deeper , and consider the top 10 km below the earth 's surface , then the habitable zone for an earth-like planet is 14 times wider , ' said mr mcmahon . the current habitable zone for our solar system extends out as far as mars , but this re-drawn habitable zone would see the zone extend out further than jupiter and saturn . goldilocks zone is a belt around a star where temperatures are ideal for water to pool on a planet 's surface . the findings also suggest that many of the so-called ` rogue ' planets drifting around in complete darkness could be harbouring life . . ` rocky planets a few times larger than the earth could support liquid water at about 5 km below the surface even in interstellar space , even if they have no atmosphere because the larger the planet , the more heat they generate internally , ' said mr mcmahon . ` it has been suggested that the planet gliese 581 d , which is 20 light years away from earth in the constellation libra , may be too cold for liquid water at the surface . ` however , our model suggests that it is very likely to be able to support liquid water less than 2 km below the surface , assuming it is earth-like . ' so far , scientists have detected about a thousand planets orbiting other stars in something known as the goldilocks zone . this is the belt around a star where temperatures are ideal for liquid water to pool on a planet 's surface . another paper published by the same team suggests there could be more life below the surface of the continents on earth than there is below the seafloor . mr mcmahon hopes the studies will encourage other researchers to consider how life on other planets might be detected . ` the surfaces of rocky planets and moons that we know of are nothing like earth , ' he said . ` they 're typically cold and barren with no atmosphere or a very thin or even corrosive atmosphere . ` going below the surface protects you from a whole host of unpleasant conditions on the surface . so the subsurface habitable zone may turn out to be very important . ` earth might even be unusual in having life on the surface . '<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- dear mr. lucas , . i was sincerely disturbed when i found out you where planning on converting the `` star wars '' franchise to 3-d . this is one of the worst ideas you 've ever had about `` star wars . '' and let 's face it -- you 've had some real stinkers : `` the star wars holiday special '' ring a bell ? i want to believe that you think this is a good move for the franchise but please consider what 3-d will do to the `` star wars '' legacy . sure , it seems like every other movie that gets released these days is 3-d -- some a lot better than others . as a wise man once said , `` this is a dangerous time for you when you will be tempted by the dark side of the force . '' i am a huge fan of the `` star wars '' movies . thank you for all the years of enjoyment you have given me . when i sat in the theater in petersburg , virginia , in 1977 and saw `` star wars '' -lrb- i refuse to call it `` a new hope '' -rrb- i walked away with a vision of not only how good can triumph over evil but how seeing a movie could be the coolest thing to ever happen to me . i was there for `` empire '' and `` jedi '' and read everything i could about the movies . i had the toys and waited for the sequels you promised us . when i heard that you where going to make prequels i was a little kid again . i was in line to see the first one , opening night at 12:01 am and ... why did you do that to me ? to us ? there was little to love in `` the phantom menace , '' and i was so ready to love it . i think this 3-d idea is doomed to be a repeat performance . if you 're going to capitalize on me -- and people like me -- at least let us get something out of it that rivals our dedication to the jedi universe .<doc-sep>ms crighton , of west hampstead , north london , said : ` they were reading out the steps in the book about how to make a sex tape - how to produce it , how to get a co-star and how to leak it . ' i interrupted them and took the kindle away and i spoke to them and said , `` this is not a book you should be reading '' . ' the mother-of-two added : ' i found the subject matter inappropriate . ` they have gone online to find books about how to get famous so it 's worrying if this kind of stuff is being sold . ' ms crighton said the raunchy e-book was downloaded by her daughter 's mate on her mother 's kindle . ms crighton said she tipped the other mother off about the worrying incident immediately and the book was deleted . ' i think for kids a novel on a kindle seems more like an app , something you can quickly download , ' said the furious web designer . ` it 's more accessible than going into a shop , so it 's more difficult to monitor what children are reading . ` the government should do something where they get publishers to say what is in the book or give them a rating . '<doc-sep>` most of these planets have a good chance of being rocky , like earth , ' said lead scientist dr guillermo torres , from the harvard-smithsonian centre for astrophysics in cambridge , us . the two most earth-like planets , known as kepler-438b and kepler-442b , both orbit red dwarf stars that are smaller and cooler than the sun . with a diameter just 12 per cent bigger than earth , kepler-438b has a 70 per cent chance of being rocky , the scientists have calculated . kepler-442b is about one-third larger than earth , and the likelihood of it being rocky is around 60 per cent . the two most earth-like planets , known as kepler-438b and kepler-442b , both orbit red dwarf stars that are smaller and cooler than the sun . an artist 's impression is pictured . the goldilocks zone is the belt around a star where temperatures are ideal for liquid water to pool on a planet . to be in the habitable zone , also known as the ` goldilocks zone ' , a planet must be not too hot or too cold and receive roughly as much sunlight as earth . too much heat from its star , and any water would boil away as steam . too little , and the water would freeze solid . the goldilocks zone is the belt around a star where temperatures are ideal for liquid water to pool on a planet 's surface . to determine the location of a star 's habitable zone , scientists have to first learn how much total radiation it emits . knowing precisely how far away a habitable zone needs to be from a star also depends on chemistry . for example , molecules in a planet 's atmosphere will absorb a certain amount of energy from starlight and radiate the rest back out .

<t> you can enjoy the same posh places as the stars . </t> <t> ojai valley inn & spa in california is great for weekend getaway . </t> <t> learn to samba at fasano in rio de janeiro , brazil . </t> <t> shop your heart out in villa mangiacane in tuscany , italy . </t>

how , where to get away like a star<T>

london , england -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- valerie gooding is in the top five most powerful businesswomen in europe as named by the financial times . she runs global health and care organization bupa and under her leadership it has grown to over 8 million customers in over 190 countries and record revenues . cnn 's todd benjamin spoke to her in london and began by asking her why there are so few women at the top . she said it goes beyond family issues . gooding : women sometimes do n't put themselves forward for things . and one of the things i think about and talk about a lot is that women often lack confidence to go for the next job , the top job . they sometimes do n't wish to compete or they do n't think they 're good enough for the next thing . benjamin : why do you think that is ?<doc-sep>gooding : partly a lack of role models , partly it may be conditioning from a very early age about what the role of women is in society and the family , in work . but also i think there is still -- i do n't like to call it a glass ceiling , but i think there is still an unseen barrier for women , which is that , if you ask most business people , would they like to promote more women , they would all say yes , they 'd love to : `` where are these women , i want to promote them , '' will be the answer . but often they do n't really automatically think of a woman first for a top job . benjamin : and what advice would you give to women who want to try and make it to the top ? gooding : well , first of all , to learn as much as you can and to make sure you 've got the right experience , the right qualifications , and to enjoy each job for its own interest and job satisfaction . but i think another piece of advice i would give to women is not to be afraid to put themselves forward and say what it is they want , because i think one thing that happens with women , which perhaps is a gender difference , is that women often hang back and think `` i will be noticed for my results , everybody will see how great i am because i 've delivered these exceptional outcomes '' . but actually life is n't like that , you have to tell people about your results and your achievements , and men are often better at doing that than women are . benjamin : what do you think separates good leadership from great leadership ?<doc-sep>gooding : well , i think good leaders should be judged on their results . and i think of a good leader you should be able to say `` she transformed the business , '' `` she upped the performance , '' `` she exceeded the expectations of the stakeholders . '' i think of a great leader i would go to that old chinese saying , `` of a great leader the people will say `` we did it ourselves '' '' . benjamin : do you think that women in general as managers are more inclusive than men ? gooding : no , i do n't . in fact , i sometimes find these gender differences , when sort of represented in the business environment , are actually just not very useful . i think men and women have very different styles of leadership as individuals and i do n't think it goes down to straightforward gender divide . because i have seen women who are more autocratic and more leading from the front and more dictatorial , and i 've equally seen men who are very consultative . so , i do n't just think it divides that way . benjamin : you clearly love what you do . what is it about business that you think is such a buzz ? gooding : it 's the constant challenge , there 's always something new , there 's a new competitor , there 's a new pressure , there 's a new opportunity , there 's a new challenge , i think that 's what keeps us all going . i think it 's the thrill of the chase , basically . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>the bartender told police she asked gooding to calm down , at which point he allegedly pushed her away . another employee called 911 and told gooding to leave , and as he left , he pushed the bartender again , police said . police said gooding was presumed to be intoxicated , and a misdemeanor battery warrant was issued for his arrest .<doc-sep>the retired crime scene investigator manages nottstalgia.com , a genealogy and history website which has attracted thousands of members from across the world . he banned gooding from the site after he left abusive and derogatory comments in 2009 . gooding then began to bombard mr twomey with threatening messages , and even posted his car registration and telephone numbers online . the stalker also posted pictures of his victim 's face superimposed on a body dressed in nazi uniform , and confronted his partner at her workplace . mr twomey initially struggled to get colleagues from his old force , derbyshire police , to investigate . they eventually arrested gooding twice but he escaped prosecution under ` restorative justice ' procedures , which saw him simply apologise for his actions . in 2011 , after an inquiry by a neighbouring force , gooding was convicted of harassment and given a 12-month conditional discharge and two-year restraining order . derby crown court jailed gooding for one year and banned him from contacting mr twomey indefinitely . it had little effect , and derby crown court heard that the next year mr twomey moved house . a year later , gooding was arrested after posting the dagger photo online and trying to arrange to meet mr twomey using a fake name . under the picture he had written : ` this could do some damage in the wrong hands ... i 'll keep it , one never knows when it will come in handy . '<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a new orleans bartender who accused oscar-winning actor cuba gooding jr. of pushing her has dropped all charges against him , bar management said wednesday . the unnamed female bartender told police gooding stopped by the old absinthe house in the french quarter in the early hours of tuesday with a group of people . she said gooding soon became angry with other patrons who recognized him and wanted to take pictures with him .<doc-sep>when he set up a website for history buffs , mick twomey probably expected to make new friends . instead he attracted a knife-wielding stalker who waged an extraordinary five-year hate campaign against him . dennis gooding , 66 , published mr twomey 's personal details online and even confronted his girlfriend at her workplace . dennis gooding , pictured , was jailed for one year for his campaign against web historian mick twomey . last night the affluent former businessman began a one-year prison sentence after ` obsessively ' targeting his victim despite a series of arrests . the abuse culminated when gooding uploaded a photograph of himself snarling and brandishing a large blade at his throat . mr twomey , 63 , was left so terrified by the ordeal that he sought counselling , and eventually fled the market town of long eaton , derbyshire , to escape gooding .

<t> valerie gooding , ceo of bupa , speaks to cnn 's todd benjamin . </t> <t> bupa has over 8 million customers in 190 countries . </t> <t> valerie is one of ft 's top five most powerful businesswomen in europe . </t>

valerie gooding , ceo , bupa<T>

las vegas , nevada -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a fire charred the top of two of three wings of the monte carlo resort and casino on friday , causing no major injuries but forcing visitors and employees to evacuate , authorities said . the recently remodeled monte carlo resort and casino in las vegas , nevada , is shown after and before the fire . a bit over an hour after it began , the fire was fully contained , according to the fire departments in las vegas and clark county . firefighters would remain at the hotel until `` the fire is completely knocked out , '' said clark county fire chief steven m. smith . watch the fire chief explain the situation '' that would be at least through the afternoon , he said . it was mainly an exterior fire , although there might have been slight damage to some rooms , he told cnn after a news conference .<doc-sep>the cause of the fire was unknown . welders had been working on the roof . see where the hotel is located '' no one was trapped , and there were no reports of major injuries , said ed cagalo of the clark county fire department . the 32-floor building was completely evacuated . the blaze was reported about 11 a.m. black smoke and flames poured from the fire , which roared through the building 's exterior stucco and foam until firefighters were able to get on the roof and knock down the flames . watch the fire burn '' most of the damage was to the top floor of the building . falling debris ignited parts of an exterior ledge four floors below . `` high-rise fires are never easy to fight . as you can see with it being outside , our firefighters actually had to hang out the windows to try and cut the fire off . we directed our fire streams at an angle so we could make contact with the fire . ... it was n't an easy fire at all , '' smith said . watch the chief talk about the firefighting efforts ''<doc-sep>he urged motorists and pedestrians to avoid the area . earlier , the smoke was visible from more than a mile away , cnn producer darian billington said . billington said traffic was backed up on the strip , and crowds of people were gathering to watch the blaze . `` it was horrible , there was fire everywhere , '' a hotel worker who watched the flames from a parking lot told cnn affiliate kvbc . four u.s. air force hh-60 pave hawk helicopters with rescue crews were put on standby at nellis air force base during the afternoon to assist in any rescue efforts , but were not needed , a nellis spokeswoman said .<doc-sep>the hotel has more than 3,000 rooms , including 211 penthouse suites , and conference rooms . the more expensive rooms are on the top floors . the hotel was built in 1996 for $ 344 million . it is in the heart of the resort corridor . the monte carlo , a subsidiary of mgm mirage , has about 3,000 employees . in 1980 , a fire across the street at the mgm grand hotel , now ballys , killed 84 people and injured nearly 700 . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-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>david beckham came under fire from anti- gambling campaigners last night after revealing he has signed up with a las vegas hotel and casino giant to help promote its property businesses in asia . the former england football captain will promote properties owned by las vegas sands in singapore and the chinese gambling enclave of macau . he has already made promotional appearances with groups of local schoolchildren at casino resorts . scroll down for video . star attraction : david beckham -lrb- pictured at the marina bay sands in june -rrb- has agreed to promote the las vegas company 's properties in singapore and the chinese gambling enclave of macau . sands admits it hopes to cash in on the popularity in the region of . the 38-year-old who quit as a player in may with a fortune estimated at . # 165million . his wife victoria is said to have another # 35million . last . night beckham 's spokesman said ` the central part -lrb- of the deal -rrb- is a . dining and sports experience along with corporate social responsibility . initiatives . there is explicitly no promotion around gambling . ' but . his partnership with the casino company has disturbed counsellors . helping to combat the perils of gambling addiction . they warn that his . association with such a well-known gambling company and his position as a . role model could raise awareness of gambling with people who would n't . otherwise be interested . ` this is very bad news , ' said peter chan , . manager of the london-based christian centre for gambling . rehabilitation . ` david beckham could influence a lot of people and he . should be very careful who he associates himself with . we ca n't look . lightly on it . ` he probably does n't know about the kinds of . problems that gambling can bring . he should take the time and learn . about the kind of devastation that gambling can cause to people and . their families and friends . the point is that the gambling industry is . using him . ' big hitter : the marina bay sands resort in singapore cost # 4bn to build and opened in 2010 . largest casino in the world : the venetian macao is a luxury hotel resort owned by las vegas sands . gamcare , britain 's leading charity providing support . and advice for people suffering with gambling problems , said young . people can be influenced by role models . ` for most people gambling . is a popular leisure activity , but for some it can spiral out of .<doc-sep>this 4,490-square-foot suite was inspired by louis xv 's royal court . it comes with coveted fifth avenue views , three marble fireplaces , 24k gold-plated fixtures in its four bathrooms , an in-suite gymnasium with fitness equipment , library lined with hand-selected books and the plaza 's chefs at your disposal to make use of its magnificent kitchen . or for just less than $ 3,000 a night , the hotel 's new great gatsby-themed suite is a relative steal . the plaza hotel , fifth avenue at central park south ; +1 866 940 9361 ; from $ 30,000 per night . presidential suite , hotel bel-air , los angeles . this glamorous hollywood hills suite has a chef 's kitchen with a private entrance for your `` personal staff , '' dining for 10 , a beautiful living room with a grand piano , fully stocked bar , his-and-hers showers and deep-soak tubs with built-in tvs . french doors lead to a 4,500-square-foot spanish courtyard , with a full-size swimming pool , jacuzzi and outdoor fireplace . hotel bel-air , 701 stone canyon road , los angeles ; +1 310 472 1211 ; from $ 15,750 per night . hardwood suite , palms casino resort , las vegas . extending 10,000 square feet across two floors , the palm 's hardwood suite is an over-the-top hoopster 's dream , with an indoor basketball court , locker room , scoreboard and gigantic murphy beds that unfold right onto the hardwood . the hotel 's kingpin bowling suite is another fun option , with a two-lane bowling alley built into the room . palms casino resort , 4321 w. flamingo road , las vegas ; +1 866 942 7770 ; from $ 25,000 per night . stephanie orma is a san francisco-based travel and design writer .<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 .

<t> fire doused on the top floors and roof of monte carlo resort . </t> <t> fire chief : firefighters had to hang out the windows to try to cut the fire off . </t> <t> the 32-floor building was completely evacuated . </t> <t> no major injuries have been reported , and no one was trapped . </t>

vegas resort casino fire fully contained<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a mine exploded monday on a road in southern somalia , killing four people -- three members of the medical humanitarian group medecins sans frontieres and a journalist . ongoing violence in somalia has devastated the capital mogadishu . the incident occurred monday along a road in kismayo , the group said . victor okumu , 51 , a kenyan doctor ; damien lehalle , 27 , a french logistician ; and a somali driver named billan were the msf workers who were killed . another member of the team was slightly wounded , the group said in a posting on its web site .<doc-sep>`` the exact circumstances of this fatal incident are not yet clear , '' the posting said . also killed was journalist hassan kafi hared , 36 . the remote-controlled mine erupted as he was walking to a news conference in siyad village in northern kismayu , said the national union of somali journalists -lrb- nusoj -rrb- . he was working for the government-run somali national news agency and a somali web site called gedonet.com . he is survived by a wife and three children . `` this is a targeted attack and we declare that this brutal killing on the journalist and the aid workers is an attack on the society itself , '' said nusoj secretary general omar faruk osman , in a news release .<doc-sep>`` we demand that transitional government and the authorities in kismayu to identify the culprits of this crime and bring them to justice '' he said . the medical humanitarian organization said it was evacuating remaining international members of it staff from kismayu . hared is the second journalist to be killed this year , according to the committee to protect journalists . the first , 38-year-old norwegian reporter carsten thomassen , died jan. 15 in a suicide bomb attack in kabul . in a written statement , a representative of u.n. secretary-general ban ki-moon said he condemned the killings and `` demands a thorough investigation by the authorities . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>last year , a u.s. drone strike killed anwar al-awlaki and al qaeda founder osama bin laden was shot to death by u.s. commandos . al-shabaab , which has battled somalia 's weak transitional government since 2007 , controls much of southern somalia and is active around the capital city of mogadishu . the u.s. listed it as a terror organization in 2008 . `` the group is responsible for the killing of thousands of somali civilians , somali peace activists , international aid workers , journalists and african union peacekeepers , '' the state department said . kenyan blast injures 28 ; authorities disagree on cause . the state department is also offering up to $ 5 million each for information leading to the location of four of aw-mohamed 's associates , who make up his inner circle : ibrahim haji jama , fuad mohamed khalaf , bashir mohamed mahamoud , and mukhtar robow , who acts as the group 's spokesman and spiritual leader .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a mine exploded monday on a road in southern somalia , killing four people -- three members of the medical humanitarian group medecins sans frontieres and a journalist . ongoing violence in somalia has devastated the capital mogadishu . the incident occurred monday along a road in kismayo , the group said . victor okumu , 51 , a kenyan doctor ; damien lehalle , 27 , a french logistician ; and a somali driver named billan were the msf workers who were killed . another member of the team was slightly wounded , the group said in a posting on its web site . `` the exact circumstances of this fatal incident are not yet clear , '' the posting said . also killed was journalist hassan kafi hared , 36 . the remote-controlled mine erupted as he was walking to a news conference in siyad village in northern kismayu , said the national union of somali journalists -lrb- nusoj -rrb- . he was working for the government-run somali national news agency and a somali web site called gedonet.com . he is survived by a wife and three children . `` this is a targeted attack and we declare that this brutal killing on the journalist and the aid workers is an attack on the society itself , '' said nusoj secretary general omar faruk osman , in a news release . `` we demand that transitional government and the authorities in kismayu to identify the culprits of this crime and bring them to justice '' he said . the medical humanitarian organization said it was evacuating remaining international members of it staff from kismayu . hared is the second journalist to be killed this year , according to the committee to protect journalists . the first , 38-year-old norwegian reporter carsten thomassen , died jan. 15 in a suicide bomb attack in kabul . in a written statement , a representative of u.n. secretary-general ban ki-moon said he condemned the killings and `` demands a thorough investigation by the authorities . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>the aid agency said only that a convoy `` was involved in an incident '' in dadaab and that secretary-general elisabeth rasmusson and country director hassan khaire were at the camp but neither was in the convoy . while the four aid workers were taken , their kenyan driver was killed , police said friday . two other staff members were injured and treated at a hospital in the capital of nairobi , officials said . a norwegian refugee council vehicle also was taken . police have not said whether the kidnappers were from al-shabaab , an al qaeda-linked group that is fighting to impose islamic law in somalia and controls large parts of the troubled nation . kenya has blamed previous abductions of tourists and aid workers on al-shabaab . in september , armed bandits broke into a beachfront cottage where britons judith and david tebbutt , both in their 50s , were staying . david tebbutt was shot dead while trying to resist the attack . his wife was grabbed and spirited away on a speedboat . she was released months later in somalia after her family paid a ransom . in october , pirates made another cross-border raid , this time snatching a french woman in her 60s , who used a wheelchair and was believed to be in bad health , from a holiday home on manda island , where she lived part of the year . she later died , likely because of the kidnappers ' refusal to give her medicine , according to the french foreign ministry . also in october , gunmen abducted two spanish workers with the medical charity doctors without borders from dadaab , the world 's largest refugee camp , which houses nearly 500,000 people about 50 miles west of the somali border . cnn 's elizabeth joseph and journalist lillian leposo contributed to this report .<doc-sep>al-shabaab has never forgotten its home base of somalia . the somali government , helped by allies including the united states and african union , has managed to strike significant blows against the group , including a 2014 u.s. operation that killed godane . but al-shabaab has continued its campaign of violence in attacks such as a suicide blast last month on a somali army convoy in mogadishu , the bombing of a bus carrying kenyan teachers in galkayo , somalia , and an attack on an african union military base . journalist omar nor reported from mogadishu , and cnn 's greg botelho wrote from atlanta .

<t> journalist and two doctors were among those killed . </t> <t> remote-controlled mine went off in southern somalia . </t> <t> somali driver also died in the attack . </t> <t> journalist is the second to die in conflict situation this year . </t>

aid workers , journalist killed in somalia blast<T>

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 former guards ' company , blackwater worldwide , will not face charges . in a statement released shortly after the indictments were announced , blackwater reiterated its position that its former employees had not acted improperly . `` based on the information available to us , we understand that these individuals acted within the rules set forth for them by the government and that no criminal violations occurred , '' the statement said . blackwater also complained about a number of `` misguided assumptions and generalizations that surrounded this unfortunate incident . ... -lsb- blackwater 's -rsb- work has been mischaracterized and all of our personnel unfairly maligned . '' at the same time , the company noted that if `` it is determined that an individual acted improperly , then blackwater supports holding that person accountable . '' none of the former guards has worked for blackwater since 2007 , company spokeswoman anne tyrrell said . an iraqi official familiar with the investigation said that an fbi team and two u.s. prosecutors working on the case will meet in baghdad on saturday with more than 60 iraqis involved in the incident . the meeting is intended to brief the iraqis on the status of the case . blackwater said its guards were protecting a u.s. diplomatic convoy when they came under attack from armed insurgents . the guards returned fire , blackwater said . but an iraqi investigation called the killings `` premeditated murder '' and accused the guards of firing on civilians indiscriminately . the first u.s. soldiers to arrive on the scene told military investigators they found no evidence the contractors were fired upon , a source familiar with a preliminary u.s. military report told cnn . the indictments are `` a step in the right direction , '' said mohammad abdul razzaq , whose 9-year-old son , ali , was killed at nusoor square in baghdad . `` it was heinous crime and a painful incident , -lsb- but -rsb- we can overcome that if a just verdict is handed down . ''<doc-sep>blackwater said its guards were protecting a u.s. diplomatic convoy when they came under attack from armed insurgents . the guards returned fire , blackwater said . but an iraqi investigation called the killings `` premeditated murder '' and accused the guards of firing on civilians indiscriminately . the first u.s. soldiers to arrive on the scene also told investigators they found no evidence the guards were fired upon , sources told cnn . the complex legal case has been dogged by difficulties and may present a major challenge to federal prosecutors . among the potential problems is the uncertain limit of a law passed by congress that prevents prosecution of military personnel or others working for the military and leaves open the question of those working for other u.s. government departments and agencies abroad .<doc-sep>a federal jury returned guilty verdicts for all four former blackwater security guards charged in the 2007 shootings of more than 30 iraqis in baghdad . the jury in washington found nicholas slatten guilty of first-degree murder , and the three other guards -- paul slough , evan liberty and dustin heard -- guilty of at least three counts of voluntary manslaughter . the four men were charged with a combined 33 counts in the shootings , but the jury had reached verdicts on only part of the charges after weeks of deliberations . district court judge royce c. lamberth allowed the jury to announce the verdicts agreed upon , with the expectation jurors would continue deliberating on the other counts . scroll down for video . guilty : the jury in washington found blackwater worldwide soldier nicholas slatten -lrb- seen in a june 2014 file photo -rrb- guilty of first-degree murder in the 2007 shootings . scandal : paul slough , right and nick slatten were found guilty in the shootings that caused an international uproar -lrb- seen in december 2008 -rrb- . lengthy : former blackwater worldwide security guard dustin heard leaves federal court in washington in this january 2009 file photo . the case was mired in legal battles for years , making it uncertain whether the defendants would ever be tried . attorney : bill coffield , a lawyer for blackwater security guard evan liberty , speaks to media as he leaves federal court on wednesday . the shootings on sept. 16 , 2007 , caused an international uproar over the role of defense contractors in urban warfare . the state department hired blackwater to protect american diplomats in baghdad , the iraqi capital , and elsewhere in the country . blackwater convoys of four heavily armored vehicles operated in risky environments where car bombs and attacks by insurgents were common . slatter was charged with first-degree murder ; the others were charged with voluntary manslaughter , attempted manslaughter and gun charges . the case was mired in legal battles for years , making it uncertain whether the defendants would ever be tried . the trial focused on the killings of 14 iraqis and the wounding of 17 others . during an 11-week trial , prosecutors summoned 72 witnesses , including iraqi victims , their families and former colleagues of the defendant blackwater guards . there was sharp disagreement over the facts in the case . the defendants ' lawyers said there was strong evidence the guards were targeted with gunfire from insurgents and iraqi police , leading the guards to shoot back in self-defense . federal prosecutors said there was no incoming gunfire and that the shootings by the guards were unprovoked . the prosecution focused on the defendants ' intent , contending that some of the blackwater guards harbored a low regard and deep hostility toward iraqi civilians . michael j. baratz , one of the attorneys for former blackwater security guard paul slough , walks from federal court . attorneys for former blackwater guard nicholas slatten walk away from the courthouse . slatten was found guilty of first-degree murder . lawyer : thomas connolly , attorney for former blackwater security guard nicholas slatten , leaves federal court on wednesday . deadly : the trial focused on the 2007 baghdad killings of 14 iraqis and the wounding of 17 others . soldier : evan liberty -lrb- pictured in june 2014 -rrb- was also found guilty of at least three counts of voluntary manslaughter . the guards , the prosecution said , held ' a grave indifference ' to the death and injury that their actions probably would cause iraqis . several former blackwater guards testified that they had been generally distrustful of iraqis , based on experience the guards said they had had in being led into ambushes . prosecutors said that from a vantage point inside his convoy 's command vehicle , slatten aimed his sr-25 sniper rifle through a gun portal , killing the driver of a stopped white kia sedan , ahmed haithem ahmed al rubia ` y . at the trial , two iraqi traffic officers and one of the shooting victims testified the car was stopped at the time the shots were fired . the assertion that the car was stopped supported the prosecution argument that the shots were unwarranted . defense lawyers pressed their argument that other blackwater guards -- not slatten -- fired the first shots at the kia sedan and that they did so only after the vehicle moved slowly toward the convoy , posing what appeared to be a threat to the blackwater guards ' safety . once the shooting started , hundreds of iraqi citizens ran for their lives . it was ` gunfire coming from the left , gunfire coming from the right , ' prosecutor anthony asuncion told the jury in closing arguments . one of the government witnesses in the case , blackwater guard jeremy ridgeway , pleaded guilty to killing the driver 's mother , who died in the passenger seat of the white kia next to her son . the maximum sentence for conviction of first-degree murder is life imprisonment . the gun charges carry mandatory minimum prison terms of 30 years . the maximum prison term for involuntary manslaughter is eight years ; for attempted manslaughter it is seven years .<doc-sep>by . associated press . the us government is hiding evidence of ak-47 shell casings that could suggest blackwater security forces were fired on before returning fire in nisoor square in baghdad , killing 14 , lawyers for the security contractors are claiming . four blackwater guards are on trial for the massacre on september 16 , 2007 , that raised questions about the private security firm 's involvement in the iraq war .

<t> erik prince : `` there was definitely incoming small arms fire from insurgents '' </t> <t> there was `` no deliberate violence , '' he said , during september 16 shooting . </t> <t> iraqi government says blackwater guards killed 17 , fired without provocation . </t> <t> ap : blackwater may be expelled from iraq within six months . </t>

blackwater chief : guards were ` definitely ' fired on<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the announced pregnancy of jamie lynn spears -- the 16-year-old children 's television star and younger sister of beleaguered pop star britney spears -- is casting new light on how states deal with the thorny issue of consensual sex among teens . jamie lynn spears , shown in september , stars in the popular nickelodeon series `` zoey 101 . '' spears , the star of nickelodeon 's `` zoey 101 , '' told ok! magazine that she 's pregnant and that the father is her 18-year-old boyfriend . there has been no public talk of criminal prosecution in the case . consensual sex between the two may well have been legal , depending on where and when it took place . but critics of the nation 's statutory rape laws say that laws that are ignored in some cases can be used to put other teens in prison and land them on sex-offender registries . watch cnn 's sunny hostin on what the law says '' `` you have a disturbing disparity in how these laws are enforced , '' said jonathan turley , a law professor at george washington university . `` i have no problem at all with nailing adults who sleep with children , but i have a problem with the prosecution of teenagers in consensual relationships . `` what this case should focus the nation on is having a more evenhanded approach to these cases . '' watch a psychologist talk about how spears ' pregnancy could lead to parents talking to their kids about sex ''<doc-sep>in louisiana , where spears lives , it is a misdemeanor for someone age 17 to 19 to have consensual sex with someone age 15 to 17 if the difference between their ages is more than two years . in california , where she sometimes tapes her television show , it 's a misdemeanor to have sex with someone younger than 18 if the offender is less than three years older . someone more than three years older could be charged with a felony . according to ok! magazine , which first reported the news tuesday , spears said the father of her baby is longtime boyfriend casey aldridge . turley said most states have similar laws but rely on prosecutors to be selective in enforcing them . but that 's a recipe for legal problems , he said . the issue drew international attention when a georgia teen was sentenced to 10 years in prison for having consensual oral sex with a 15-year-old girl when he was 17 . in 2005 , genarlow wilson was tried for the rape of a 17-year-old girl at a hotel-room party . while he was found not guilty of that charge , he was convicted of aggravated child molestation for the act with the 15-year-old -- even though he was less than two years older . georgia law , which has since been changed , required a mandatory 10-year sentence on the charge of aggravated child molestation and required wilson to register as a sex offender when he was released . under the revised georgia law , the act now would be a misdemeanor .<doc-sep>now 21 , wilson was released from prison in october -- after serving more than two years -- when the state supreme court ruled his sentence was `` grossly disproportionate to his crime . '' `` the current laws leave too much to prosecutorial discretion , '' turley said . `` we saw in the wilson case how prosecutorial discretion can lead to grotesque results . '' he said statutory rape prosecutions of teens are more common in southern states and small towns than they are elsewhere in the country or in big cities . b.j. bernstein , wilson 's attorney , argued throughout his case that wilson was imprisoned for an act that , while perhaps morally questionable , probably is going on among teens everywhere . `` if you prosecuted , even with misdemeanors , all those cases , you 'd clog up the justice system with kids having sex , '' she said . `` it 's a social issue -- and it may be something that parents do n't want to happen or wish would n't happen at that age -- but it should n't be a crime . '' spears , who turned 16 on april 4 and says she is 12 weeks into her pregnancy , told the magazine she plans to raise her child in louisiana , `` so it can have a normal family life . '' nickelodeon released a statement saying the network respects spears ' decision `` to take responsibility in this sensitive and personal situation . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the announced pregnancy of jamie lynn spears -- the 16-year-old children 's television star and younger sister of beleaguered pop star britney spears -- is casting new light on how states deal with the thorny issue of consensual sex among teens . jamie lynn spears , shown in september , stars in the popular nickelodeon series `` zoey 101 . '' spears , the star of nickelodeon 's `` zoey 101 , '' told ok! magazine that she 's pregnant and that the father is her 18-year-old boyfriend . there has been no public talk of criminal prosecution in the case . consensual sex between the two may well have been legal , depending on where and when it took place . but critics of the nation 's statutory rape laws say that laws that are ignored in some cases can be used to put other teens in prison and land them on sex-offender registries . watch cnn 's sunny hostin on what the law says '' `` you have a disturbing disparity in how these laws are enforced , '' said jonathan turley , a law professor at george washington university . `` i have no problem at all with nailing adults who sleep with children , but i have a problem with the prosecution of teenagers in consensual relationships . `` what this case should focus the nation on is having a more evenhanded approach to these cases . '' watch a psychologist talk about how spears ' pregnancy could lead to parents talking to their kids about sex '' in louisiana , where spears lives , it is a misdemeanor for someone age 17 to 19 to have consensual sex with someone age 15 to 17 if the difference between their ages is more than two years . in california , where she sometimes tapes her television show , it 's a misdemeanor to have sex with someone younger than 18 if the offender is less than three years older . someone more than three years older could be charged with a felony . according to ok! magazine , which first reported the news tuesday , spears said the father of her baby is longtime boyfriend casey aldridge . turley said most states have similar laws but rely on prosecutors to be selective in enforcing them . but that 's a recipe for legal problems , he said . the issue drew international attention when a georgia teen was sentenced to 10 years in prison for having consensual oral sex with a 15-year-old girl when he was 17 . in 2005 , genarlow wilson was tried for the rape of a 17-year-old girl at a hotel-room party . while he was found not guilty of that charge , he was convicted of aggravated child molestation for the act with the 15-year-old -- even though he was less than two years older . georgia law , which has since been changed , required a mandatory 10-year sentence on the charge of aggravated child molestation and required wilson to register as a sex offender when he was released . under the revised georgia law , the act now would be a misdemeanor . now 21 , wilson was released from prison in october -- after serving more than two years -- when the state supreme court ruled his sentence was `` grossly disproportionate to his crime . '' `` the current laws leave too much to prosecutorial discretion , '' turley said . `` we saw in the wilson case how prosecutorial discretion can lead to grotesque results . '' he said statutory rape prosecutions of teens are more common in southern states and small towns than they are elsewhere in the country or in big cities . b.j. bernstein , wilson 's attorney , argued throughout his case that wilson was imprisoned for an act that , while perhaps morally questionable , probably is going on among teens everywhere . `` if you prosecuted , even with misdemeanors , all those cases , you 'd clog up the justice system with kids having sex , '' she said . `` it 's a social issue -- and it may be something that parents do n't want to happen or wish would n't happen at that age -- but it should n't be a crime . '' spears , who turned 16 on april 4 and says she is 12 weeks into her pregnancy , told the magazine she plans to raise her child in louisiana , `` so it can have a normal family life . '' nickelodeon released a statement saying the network respects spears ' decision `` to take responsibility in this sensitive and personal situation . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>he claimed spears favoured . amphetamines and that the dogs turned up a substance the grammy-award winner . told lutfi was probably crystal meth . turned sour : lutfi , pictured with spears in 2008 , was once an integral part of the singer 's camp but is now suing his former client and her parents for defamation and breach of contract . but jurors are unlikely to hear directly . from the singer , who remains under a conservatorship overseen by a judge . who has ordered her not to appear for trial or a deposition . superior court judge susan bruguera told schleimer during a break in . proceedings that all the accusations he raised during his opening . statement should be supported by evidence to be presented at trial . schleimer said he would prove them through either ` testimony or documentary evidence . ' attorneys for spears ' parents and conservators will have their own opportunity to present opening remarks to jurors . lutfi and spears ' parents , jamie and lynne , were all in court as schleimer made his opening statements to the panel of eight women and four men ; britney 's parents took notes throughout . jamie spears did not look up at the photos of his daughter that schleimer displayed . lacklustre : lutfi claims he did not want spears taking part in the 2007 mtv awards but she ` would n't hear it ' lutfi is seeking millions of dollars from spears and her family , claiming her mother 's lynne 's 2008 book : through the storm : a real story of fame and family in a tabloid world , lied about him drugging and isolating the pop superstar . he is also seeking a portion of the singer 's profits , claiming he was a key player in her 2007 album blackout and had the right to serve as her manager for years . the case is the culmination of years of acrimony between lutfi and spears ' family and conservators , who successfully obtained a restraining order against him to keep him from contacting the singer or trying to intervene in her life . the order has expired , but conservatorship attorneys are seeking repayment for more than $ 93,000 in legal fees - a judgement lutfi is appealing . lutfi sued back in february 2009 , roughly a year after spears was hospitalised and placed under the conservatorship to take control of her health and finances . the move by jamie spears came after months of erratic behaviour by his daughter , including shaving her head , speaking in a british accent and other bizarre incidents that also led to her losing custody of her two sons with ex-husband kevin federline .<doc-sep>by . amelia proud . published : . 17:56 est , 19 october 2012 . | . updated : . 22:02 est , 19 october 2012 . lawyers for the defence in the britney spears trial are blaming . britney 's breakup with justin timberlake for the downward spiral that eventually saw her sectioned . a lawyer for lynne spears and britney , who made opening . statements for the defence earlier today , says the end of this relationship with her childhood sweetheart was so painful that she changed almost overnight , according to tmz . according to the lawyer , before they split , britney . was a ` ray of light , ' but afterwards she became ` angered and . depressed . ' so happy : britney spears ' break up with justin timberlake 'cause d the downward spiral ' that led to her being sectioned , her parents ' lawyers claim . they also claimed that lutfi would hide the singer 's dog , wait for the tears to come and then ` find ' the pup to appear as a ` saviour figure ' to the star . they added that britney 's parents , especially her father jamie , had made heroic efforts to help their daughter . lawyers also mentioned that when jamie tried to ask lutfi to stay away from his daughter , the parent touched lutfi 's arm and is now being sued for assault . ` and at that point jamie touched lutfi . for that , jamie is being sued for battery , ' lawyer leon gladstone said . he said lutfi was not hurt and was out that night with britney . spears attempted to put on a brave face as she faced on the world on thursday afternoon while her ex manager made a series of bombshell claims about her in court at the same time . the 30-year-old looked tense and dishevelled as she stepped out in la with a male companion wearing grimy tracksuit pants and a white t-shirt . back in the fray : britney spears parents , lynne and jamie spears arrive at court on friday . her former manager sam lutfi claimed she was once hooked on . prescription drugs , downing up to 30 a day , and was in such a grip of . addiction she shaved her head to beat a drugs test . lutfi is suing spears , her mother lynne and father jamie for defamation , breach of contract and libel . ` she liked to use amphetamines . mostly everything that went wrong was because of this drug , ' lutfi 's lawyer joe schleimer told the jury , alleging that mr lutfi was made a scapegoat for the singer 's mental breakdown back in 2008 . schleimer told the jury that spears had a ` prescription for amphetamines , and overdosed on them ' before being put in the involuntary 5150 hold . carrying on as normal : on thursday , while sam lutfi gave evidence ... britney shopped and worked out as normal . gym visit : the x factor judge stopped in for a workout on thursday as she tried to carry on as normal . lutfi felt that spears should not perform at the 2007 mtv awards as she was still overweight and did not rehearse . however ` britney would n't hear it . ' the star 's subsequent lacklustre performance at the ceremony was roundly criticised . schleimer added that lutfi was trying to help the singer but lost control in a series of events that led to her being hospitalised and placed under a court-ordered conservator . lutfi is also seeking a share of the singer 's fortunes , claiming he had an agreement to serve as her manager in exchange for 15 percent of her earnings . schleimer conceded the case would be a complicated one . his opening statements included flashing photos of spears with a shaved head and striking an suv with an umbrella back in 2007 during a period of her life which he described as a ` complete shambles . ' he said one of lutfi 's first actions after being hired as manager was having drug-sniffing dogs search the singer 's hilltop home . he claimed spears favoured . amphetamines and that the dogs turned up a substance the grammy-award winner . told lutfi was probably crystal meth . turned sour : lutfi , pictured with spears in 2008 , was once an integral part of the singer 's camp but is now suing his former client and her parents for defamation and breach of contract . but jurors are unlikely to hear directly . from the singer , who remains under a conservatorship overseen by a judge . who has ordered her not to appear for trial or a deposition . superior court judge susan bruguera told schleimer during a break in . proceedings that all the accusations he raised during his opening . statement should be supported by evidence to be presented at trial . schleimer said he would prove them through either ` testimony or documentary evidence . ' attorneys for spears ' parents and conservators will have their own opportunity to present opening remarks to jurors . lutfi and spears ' parents , jamie and lynne , were all in court as schleimer made his opening statements to the panel of eight women and four men ; britney 's parents took notes throughout . jamie spears did not look up at the photos of his daughter that schleimer displayed . lacklustre : lutfi claims he did not want spears taking part in the 2007 mtv awards but she ` would n't hear it ' lutfi is seeking millions of dollars from spears and her family , claiming her mother 's lynne 's 2008 book : through the storm : a real story of fame and family in a tabloid world , lied about him drugging and isolating the pop superstar . he is also seeking a portion of the singer 's profits , claiming he was a key player in her 2007 album blackout and had the right to serve as her manager for years . the case is the culmination of years of acrimony between lutfi and spears ' family and conservators , who successfully obtained a restraining order against him to keep him from contacting the singer or trying to intervene in her life . the order has expired , but conservatorship attorneys are seeking repayment for more than $ 93,000 in legal fees - a judgement lutfi is appealing . shaved head : schleimer told the jury britney had shaved her head to avoid a drugs test on her follicles . lutfi sued back in february 2009 , roughly a year after spears was hospitalised and placed under the conservatorship to take control of her health and finances . the move by jamie spears came after months of erratic behaviour by his daughter , including shaving her head , speaking in a british accent and other bizarre incidents that also led to her losing custody of her two sons with ex-husband kevin federline . lutfi was a constant presence around spears during this tumultuous period of her life , her parents accused of him of crushing tablets into her food . it 's also been claimed that britney was going broke during her time with lufti . with no source of income , the star - who was worth $ 32 million - was spending $ 700 a month , paying huge legal bills in her custody case with ex-kevin federline and renting luxury mansions , one of which she spent just three nights in . in his court case he maintains that he was trying to help her , though her parents say lutfi cut her phone line , hid her cellphones and used the paparazzi as ` henchmen . ' he also said that britney shaved her hair to avoid the courts finding drug residue - which can remain in the strands for months after use . turned life around : britney now has a role as a u.s. x factor judge and plans to wed agent jason trawick . schleimer claimed lutfi befriended . the paparazzi so that they would treat spears with more respect and . claims he tried to assemble top talent agents to jumpstart her career . ` sam was trying to find top notch people to work with britney , ' he told the court . lufti is also planning to call lourdes torres to testify that britney is being controlled by her parents via the conservatorship . ` lulu ended up quitting her job because she was so disturbed by what she saw was happening to britney ... lulu 's testimony could have significant impact on the jury because she spent a great deal of time with britney and her parents after the conservatorship was put in place . lulu is n't after money , she just wants the truth to come out and it will be shocking , ' a source told radar . many of the claims about lufti were included in court filings used to obtain the conservatorship , but lynne spears also included them in her book . lutfi . is suing for libel based on three chapters in the book that describe . him as a ` general ' to the paparazzi and portray him as a man trying to . manipulate not only the singer , but also her mother . although she is still under conservatorship , spears is now firmly back on track with a role as a judge on x factor usa . she is also now preparing to . marry long-term love jason trawick . the case continues today .<doc-sep>britney spears ' new beau charles ebersol is not only dad approved , he was dad selected . the pop star 's ` dadager ' and conservator jamie spears knows that reality tv producer charles ebersol is no gold digger . ` charlie had to pass the dad test for sure , ' a long-time business friend of jamie 's tells mailonline exclusively . ` and charlie had to pass legal muster , too , with that mob of lawyers that run her world . ' lest we forget , britney 's finances , and her personal life , are still in the hands of conservator lawyers , who can pretty much say ` yay ' or ` nay ' to anyone if they want . lucky for britney , 32 , her family 's matchmaking track record is n't too shabby . scroll down for video . heart ! could this be true love ? brit posted a selfie with her new squeeze dick ebersol captioning the picture with a heart . sexy : britney models her intimates lingerie collection , the intimate britney spears on sunday . all business : dadager jamie spears has a hand in all things britney . he introduced her to now ex boyfriend david locado and kicked him to the curb when he cheated on his daughter . britney 's big brother bryan introduced his sister to jason trawick in late 2007 at a sushi restaurant at the top of beverly glen , california . that that affair lasted more than two years . dad jamie found david locado when they met in britney 's westwood lawyers ' offices . that relationship played out for 18 months , after they first kissed on valentine 's day 2013 . both men were rumored to have cheated on the pop diva . ` when jamie found out david was cheating on his daughter , the guy was kicked to the curb so fast , it would make your head spin . jamie does n't give second chances . ' enter the handsome charlie ebersol , 31 , son of former nbc sports chief dick ebersol . and not a moment too soon . ` britney functions best with a man in her life , and jamie knows that . he 's is good at selecting just the right candidates . they last a while . that 's all anyone can ask , really . britney has a complicated life . ' ` it took less than a month for jamie to find charlie . he eyeballed him from a distance at first . but after a few meetings together , jamie knew he 'd found a good guy . ' all dad had to do from there was get them together in a subtle way . ` jamie had to do this stuff slowly and cautiously , so britney would n't rebel . he had to make it seem like it was her idea to date charlie , and not the other way around or it would n't work . ' no slouch : charles hangs out with other a-listers , including ryan gosling and ashton kutcher . the star 's new man has previously been linked to tennis player maria sharapova and sophia bush -lrb- above -rrb- . in early september , after accepting a business ` pitch ' meeting with ebersol , who co-founded the reality tv production house ` the company , ' it became clear to mr. spears that the young entrepreneur should be high up on the short list . ` charlie is very much like britney . they make a good couple . he was born privileged . he gets the game . he gets her lifestyle . he gets her . they 're both about the same height , if that matters . and they are both a little out of touch with the cost of bread . ` they 've been rich from a very young age . they live that world . ' charlie is the son of tv executive dick ebersol and kate & allie star susan st. james . ` they were raised the same , in the industry , ' revealed the insider . ` big emphasis on family and giving back to charities , that sort of stuff . that 's what jamie loves about him . ` charlie 's an okay guy . he is n't out to screw anybody . he saved his dad from a burning plane wreck , for chrissakes . what more could you want ? ' on november 28 , 2004 , a private plane crashed carrying dick ebersol , charlie and brother teddy , 14 , who died in the accident . initially , jamie met ebersol from across a conference table . the tv show producer was pitching team spears an idea for a reality show starring britney . ` the concept sounded good to jamie , and i guess it seems that as the meetings advanced , britney was brought in to meet charlie . ` lo and behold there was chemistry there . this was a couple of months ago now . so jamie sat on that idea of a reality show . ' ` you have to remember , britney gets pitched these things 50 times a day . but jamie liked the idea of her going out into the world and doing good . she 's really so naturally generous . to a fault , really . and so is charlie . ' new love : britney spears , pictured at a britney day celebration ceremony in las vegas on wednesday , has confirmed she is dating writer and producer charlie ebersol . big smiles : britney was also seen yesterday out in vegas carrying her brother bryan 's daughter . niece to see you ! the singer was wearing a pair of sheepskin boots and a novelty mickey mouse hat . sources suggest the britney 's reality show would peg her as a philanthropist , rather than a chart topper . each episode would follow britney finding new ways to give money or services to people or give back to a community . ` jamie likes the idea . and so does britney . it puts her out of her comfort zone of playing mom and rock star and into the role of giving to those in need . ' and with each subsequent meeting , one thing led to another . pretty soon , charlie and britney were moving from the board room into the dining room . ` there were a few ` dinner ' meetings . they were getting to know each other . ' meanwhile , jamie maintained a strict leash on his ward . britney can date , surely . but edan yemini , britney 's bodyguard of more than six years , always must be waiting nearby . whether at the restaurant 's bar observing , or in an suv idling out front , britney 's guards are charged with never leaving her alone . and despite britney 's public acknowledgment of their union on wednesday at a las vegas press conference , there was still no official word on the reality show . last wednesday was dubbed ` britney day ' in las vegas , when the toxic singer accepted the ` key to the las vegas strip . ' the divorced mother-of-two seized the opportunity to tell extra that she and ebersol were an official couple . ` yes , there is a special someone ' she told the news outlet . britney continues her concert residency at planet hollywood with newly-added show dates for ` britney spears : piece of me ' through 2016 . ` charlie 's seen her show like six times . it takes 20 minutes by private plane from van nuys , so there wo n't be any long-distance relationship issues , like there were with jason . ' -lrb- jason traveled with his clients taylor swift , hilary duff and paris hilton which ticked off brit to no end -rrb- . and as a possible jump start to her philanthropic tv persona , britney announced that every ticket purchased for her show , one dollar will go toward the nevada childhood cancer foundation . parental units : charles is the son of tv executive dick ebersol and actress susan st james . tell-all : britney spears with former jersey shore dj pauly d on extra - she told him she had a new love . however , the singer and mother of jayden and sean has remained optimistic about finding mr right . ` i 'd like to have more kids , settle down ... have kids -- maybe twins -- and get married , ' she said last year . ` that would be nice . ' hear that , charlie ?

<t> experts say there is a disparity in how statutory rape laws are applied . </t> <t> jamie lynn spears is 16 , and her boyfriend -- the father of her child -- is 18 . </t> <t> there has been no talk of criminal prosecution involving the couple . </t> <t> experts : attorneys choose when to prosecute , leading to unfairness . </t>

jamie lynn spears pregnancy raises legal questions<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a vietnamese woman caught cooking a tiger carcass was sentenced to two and a half years in jail , state media reported thursday . there are reportedly only about 100 tigers , prized by so-called medicine men , left living in vietnam . a hanoi court convicted nguyen thi thanh , 41 , for `` violating regulations protecting rare wild animals . '' she was arrested last september after police raided a house that she rented in the capital city of hanoi and found dead tigers , bear arms , monkey bones and elephant tusks . officers found thanh and three accomplices cooking tiger carcasses , the thanh nien daily reported . the three men received suspended sentences , ranging from 24 to 30 months , the daily said .<doc-sep>the woman told police she sold the animals ' bone marrow for 6.5 million vietnamese dong -lrb- $ 400 -rrb- per gram to traditional medicine men , according to reports at the time . such medicine men think tiger bones and other parts can cure arthritis and other joint ailments , according to the humane society of the united states . tigers are universally threatened , with only about 100 still living in vietnam , the world wildlife fund said . the southeast asian country has banned trafficking in endangered animal parts . last year , the vietnamese government unearthed 38 cases of illegal trafficking that involved 503 endangered animals , local media said at the time . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>an australian man has shocked onlookers by jumping off a boat and climbing on top of a dead whale carcass in open waters , despite sharks circling the body . on saturday afternoon at approximately 1.30 pm , harrison williams , from mindarie , near perth in western australia , swam to the body of the deceased humpback whale and sitting on it . despite several tiger sharks and at least one white shark circling the whale 's bloated carcass , mr williams , an extreme sport lover , made the perilous swim over . mr williams confirmed to daily mail australia that he was the man on top of the whale , and said ` basically the whale looked in distress and i tried to help it . but clearly i was too late -lsb- sic -rsb- . ' scroll down for video . harrison williams shocked onlookers by jumping off a boat and climbing on top of a dead whale carcass in open waters , despite sharks circling the body . despite several tiger sharks and at least one white shark circling the whale 's bloated carcass , mr williams , an extreme sport lover , made the perilous swim over . mr williams confirmed to daily mail australia that he was the man on top of the whale . mr williams said ` basicly -lsb- sic -rsb- the whale looked in distress and i tryed -lsb- sic -rsb- to help it . but clearly i was to -lsb- sic -rsb- late . ' twitter uses quickly saw the funny side of the situation . the whale has reportedly been in the ocean for several weeks , floating between rottnest and fremantle off the western australia coast . western australia 's surf life saving warned that several tiger sharks and at least one white shark were in the water surrounding the 12 meter long whale . twitter uses quickly saw the funny side of the situation , with one commenting ` only in australia would a guy be sitting on a carcass in the ocean whilst sharks are feeding on it ... ' another said , ` if i came across a floating whale i 'd probably have a sit on it too . there 's a box to tick . ' mr williams climbed on top of the dead whale carcass at approximately 1.30 pm on saturday . twitter uses quickly saw the funny side of the situation , with one commenting ` only in australia would a guy be sitting on a carcass in the ocean whilst sharks are feeding on it ... ' ` if sharks were feeding on that whale carcass when he swam over then that type of behaviour is highly risky , ' regional manager tony cappelluti told the west australian . the whale is reportedly the responsibility of the fremantle port authority , reported the west australian . the animals carcass is not anticipated to come ashore for some time , said a spokeswoman from the department of parks and wildlife spokeswoman .<doc-sep>on sunday fisheries officers were monitoring the whale to ensure that it was not interfered with again , and the carcass drifted towards scarborough , just off the coast of perth . mr williams had earlier told daily mail australia that he had climbed on top of the whale because the animal looked like it was in trouble . ` basically the whale looked in distress and i tried to help it . but clearly i was too late -lsb- sic -rsb- , ' he said . ` it was definitely a stupid act but i did n't mean any disrespect to anyone . mum thinks i 'm an idiot , and dad is n't too proud either , ' said mr williams . harrison williams shocked onlookers by jumping off a boat and climbing on top of a dead whale carcass in open waters , despite sharks circling the body . despite several tiger sharks and at least one white shark circling the whale 's bloated carcass , mr williams , an extreme sport lover , made the perilous swim over . mr williams confirmed to daily mail australia that he was the man on top of the whale . mr williams said ` basicly -lsb- sic -rsb- the whale looked in distress and i tryed -lsb- sic -rsb- to help it . but clearly i was to -lsb- sic -rsb- late . ' twitter uses quickly saw the funny side of the situation . the whale has reportedly been in the ocean for several weeks , floating between rottnest and fremantle off the western australia coast . western australia 's surf life saving warned that several tiger sharks and at least one white shark were in the water surrounding the 12 meter long whale . twitter uses quickly saw the funny side of the situation , with one commenting ` only in australia would a guy be sitting on a carcass in the ocean whilst sharks are feeding on it ... ' another said , ` if i came across a floating whale i 'd probably have a sit on it too . there 's a box to tick . ' mr williams climbed on top of the dead whale carcass at approximately 1.30 pm on saturday . twitter uses quickly saw the funny side of the situation , with one commenting ` only in australia would a guy be sitting on a carcass in the ocean whilst sharks are feeding on it ... ' ` if sharks were feeding on that whale carcass when he swam over then that type of behaviour is highly risky , ' regional manager tony cappelluti told the west australian . the whale is reportedly the responsibility of the fremantle port authority , reported the west australian . the animals carcass is not anticipated to come ashore for some time , said a spokeswoman from the department of parks and wildlife spokeswoman .<doc-sep>the siberian tiger is the biggest cat on earth and would not normally come into contact with other species of tiger in the wild . if a rogue tiger invaded its territory , it would have no hesitation in attacking , but it would normally eat other large animals . siberian tigers will scavenge a tiger carcass if . sufficiently hungry , but do not like the taste of carnivores ' meat , . especially that of their own kind . the siberian male has been known to kill the cubs of others , but this is generally to bring the mother into heat and mate with her . the cubs are only eaten because in nature nothing goes wasted . this level of desperation normally comes about if the tiger is old and injured , or sick .<doc-sep>by . john hall . published : . 13:09 est , 2 january 2014 . | . updated : . 13:29 est , 2 january 2014 . eight big cat sightings have been reported to police in cambridgeshire over the last three years , prompting fears the fabled ` fen tiger ' may be on the loose in the county . new figures show that in 2013 alone big cats were spotted in a back garden in friday bridge , on a . road in comberton and there was a report of a ` heavily mauled deer . carcass ' in melbourn . between 1998 and 2010 there were 63 calls to cambridgeshire police reporting sightings of the mysterious ` fen tiger ' - a big cat that has apparently been stalking the area since 1982 .

<t> vietnamese woman caught cooking a tiger carcass jailed for two and a half years . </t> <t> nguyen thi thanh , 41 , convicted for violating regulations protecting rare wild animals . </t> <t> police found dead tigers , bear arms , monkey bones and elephant tusks in her flat . </t>

woman jailed for cooking tiger carcass<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a mine exploded monday on a road in southern somalia , killing four people -- three members of the medical humanitarian group medecins sans frontieres and a journalist . ongoing violence in somalia has devastated the capital mogadishu . the incident occurred monday along a road in kismayo , the group said . victor okumu , 51 , a kenyan doctor ; damien lehalle , 27 , a french logistician ; and a somali driver named billan were the msf workers who were killed . another member of the team was slightly wounded , the group said in a posting on its web site . `` the exact circumstances of this fatal incident are not yet clear , '' the posting said . also killed was journalist hassan kafi hared , 36 . the remote-controlled mine erupted as he was walking to a news conference in siyad village in northern kismayu , said the national union of somali journalists -lrb- nusoj -rrb- . he was working for the government-run somali national news agency and a somali web site called gedonet.com . he is survived by a wife and three children . `` this is a targeted attack and we declare that this brutal killing on the journalist and the aid workers is an attack on the society itself , '' said nusoj secretary general omar faruk osman , in a news release . `` we demand that transitional government and the authorities in kismayu to identify the culprits of this crime and bring them to justice '' he said . the medical humanitarian organization said it was evacuating remaining international members of it staff from kismayu . hared is the second journalist to be killed this year , according to the committee to protect journalists . the first , 38-year-old norwegian reporter carsten thomassen , died jan. 15 in a suicide bomb attack in kabul . in a written statement , a representative of u.n. secretary-general ban ki-moon said he condemned the killings and `` demands a thorough investigation by the authorities . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>last year , a u.s. drone strike killed anwar al-awlaki and al qaeda founder osama bin laden was shot to death by u.s. commandos . al-shabaab , which has battled somalia 's weak transitional government since 2007 , controls much of southern somalia and is active around the capital city of mogadishu . the u.s. listed it as a terror organization in 2008 . `` the group is responsible for the killing of thousands of somali civilians , somali peace activists , international aid workers , journalists and african union peacekeepers , '' the state department said . kenyan blast injures 28 ; authorities disagree on cause . the state department is also offering up to $ 5 million each for information leading to the location of four of aw-mohamed 's associates , who make up his inner circle : ibrahim haji jama , fuad mohamed khalaf , bashir mohamed mahamoud , and mukhtar robow , who acts as the group 's spokesman and spiritual leader .<doc-sep>the aid agency said only that a convoy `` was involved in an incident '' in dadaab and that secretary-general elisabeth rasmusson and country director hassan khaire were at the camp but neither was in the convoy . while the four aid workers were taken , their kenyan driver was killed , police said friday . two other staff members were injured and treated at a hospital in the capital of nairobi , officials said . a norwegian refugee council vehicle also was taken . police have not said whether the kidnappers were from al-shabaab , an al qaeda-linked group that is fighting to impose islamic law in somalia and controls large parts of the troubled nation . kenya has blamed previous abductions of tourists and aid workers on al-shabaab . in september , armed bandits broke into a beachfront cottage where britons judith and david tebbutt , both in their 50s , were staying . david tebbutt was shot dead while trying to resist the attack . his wife was grabbed and spirited away on a speedboat . she was released months later in somalia after her family paid a ransom . in october , pirates made another cross-border raid , this time snatching a french woman in her 60s , who used a wheelchair and was believed to be in bad health , from a holiday home on manda island , where she lived part of the year . she later died , likely because of the kidnappers ' refusal to give her medicine , according to the french foreign ministry . also in october , gunmen abducted two spanish workers with the medical charity doctors without borders from dadaab , the world 's largest refugee camp , which houses nearly 500,000 people about 50 miles west of the somali border . cnn 's elizabeth joseph and journalist lillian leposo contributed to this report .<doc-sep>al-shabaab has never forgotten its home base of somalia . the somali government , helped by allies including the united states and african union , has managed to strike significant blows against the group , including a 2014 u.s. operation that killed godane . but al-shabaab has continued its campaign of violence in attacks such as a suicide blast last month on a somali army convoy in mogadishu , the bombing of a bus carrying kenyan teachers in galkayo , somalia , and an attack on an african union military base . journalist omar nor reported from mogadishu , and cnn 's greg botelho wrote from atlanta .<doc-sep>somalia is in the middle of the worst humanitarian crisis since the famine of the early 1990s , with half of its population -- nearly 4 million people -- in need of food aid , according to the wfp . somalia is also one of the most dangerous places in the world : four wfp staff members were killed between august 2008 and january 2009 . nevertheless , the aid agency said it increased its operations during the first half of this year , providing assistance to nearly 3 million people . cnn 's alden mahler levine and journalist mohammed amiin adow contributed to this report .

<t> journalist and two doctors were among those killed . </t> <t> remote-controlled mine went off in southern somalia . </t> <t> somali driver also died in the attack . </t> <t> journalist is the second to die in conflict situation this year . </t>

aid workers , journalist killed in somalia blast<T>

london , england -- cocaine-abusing celebrities are glamorizing the use of narcotics and encouraging more young people to use illegal substances , the united nations drug control agency has warned . model kate moss faced allegations of cocaine use in 2005 but was never charged for over the claims . the annual report from the international narcotics control board warns that treating stars `` leniently '' by allowing them to get away with drug crimes undermines faith in the criminal justice system and has a damaging effect on adolescents . `` they get more lenient responses by the judiciary and law enforcement , and that is regrettable , '' professor hamid ghodse , a member of the incb , told the uk 's press association wednesday . `` there should not be any difference between a celebrity who is breaking the law and non-celebrities . `` not only does it give the wrong messages to young people , who are quite impressionable , but the wider public becomes cynical about the responses to drug offenders , '' ghodse said . watch ghodse explain how celebrity offenders are being given an easy ride '' last month , acclaimed singer amy winehouse was questioned by police after a video emerged which appeared to show her smoking crack . last fall she was arrested and fined in norway for possessing marijuana .<doc-sep>winehouse was due to appear in a norwegian courtroom to contest the drug charges at the end of february . the hearing was postponed indefinitely , pa said , after the court approved a request from winehouse 's lawyer . watch how celebrity drug scandals affect children '' supermodel kate moss also faced cocaine-snorting allegations in 2005 . the crown prosecution service later said she would not be charged over the claims . despite losing modeling contracts in the wake of the revelations , she later won fresh jobs and remains one of the world 's top models . singer pete doherty , the former boyfriend of moss , also has had a well-publicized drug abuse problem but has so far managed to avoid jail time . earlier this month he was named by music magazine nme as its hero of the year . and paul mccartney and his late wife linda were open about their marijuana habit . the former beatle was arrested for possession in 1980 in japan . after 10 days in jail , he was released without charges . the report found that britain , along with spain and italy , have some of the highest rates of cocaine abuse in the world . the report also expressed concerns on rising opium production in afghanistan . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>california . doctors said he was in coma after suffering from pneumonia . with sepsis , which was made worse by his years of drug abuse . two weeks later , his family took him off life support . he died at age 60 . rodney king became a celebrity after . he his brutal beating by lapd cops was caught on tape . their acquittal . resulted in the 1992 los angeles riots . king appeared on ` celebrity rehab ' in 2008 to cope with long-term alcoholism . he also had a history of drug abuse . he . also appeared on ` sober house ' and continued to appear on dr drew 's . programs as he worked through his substance addictions and trauma from . being battered by police . on june 17 , 2012 , he was found lying at the bottom of his swimming pool in rialto , california . an autopsy found alcohol , marijuana and cocaine in his system . he was 47 . joy kovar 's drug an alcohol addiction . became so pronounced during his run on mtv 's ` real world ' that he was . kicked off the show in 2008 . he joined season three of ` celebrity rehab , ' which aired in 2010 . on the show , he admitted to abusing alcohol , cocaine , ecstasy , methamphetamine and steroids . his family said he remained clean for six months while he pursued an acting career . on august 17 , 2012 , he was found dead in an apartment in chicago . reports . from the time say he died of a suspected drug overdose after drinking . heavily and taking cocaine and viagra the night before . mccready walked away from treatment . several days ago after her father asked a judge to intervene . her body . was found on the front porch of a home she shared with david wilson , the . longtime boyfriend and father of her youngest son who appears to have . killed himself in the same spot last month . bob forrest , a chemical dependency . counselor who appeared on season 3 of ` celebrity rehab ' and continues to . work with pinsky , said a discussion about mental health and substance . abuse issues is important . but attacking pinsky has only distracted from the real issues . ` regardless of your feelings about . how we do it with the tv show , calling dr. drew ` dr. kevorkian , ' what . kind of dialogue is that ? ' he said . ` it 's a good headline . we 're going . through a growth spurt in regards to who we are as a country . i really . feel there 's something going on in america beyond mindy mccready 's . death . '<doc-sep>last year , plastic jesus came up with a similar stunt to address `` the covering up of drug use in hollywood . '' in that installation , the oscar statue had a needle in its arm , appearing to be shooting up heroin . it was said to be inspired by oscar winner philip seymour hoffman , who had died in new york weeks prior from acute mixed drug intoxication -lrb- both heroin and cocaine were contributing factors in his death -rrb- . plastic jesus is a former photojournalist from london , according to the hollywood reporter . before he set out to expose hollywood , he created similar social commentary through graffiti featuring lance armstrong with an iv bag attached to his arm , a reference to doping allegations against the bicyclist . `` we only hear about -lrb- drug abuse -rrb- when high-profile people in hollywood have a meltdown , check into rehab , or die , '' plastic jesus tells cnn . celebrity substance abuse confessions . `` there is a fear among these people that their careers will be ruined if they admit that they have a drug problem . ''<doc-sep>sage stallone was not known for going out to clubs and partying , braunstein said . his vices were candy bars and soda , he said . sudden celebrity deaths often draw early speculation about drug involvement in hollywood , but in several recent cases the cause of death proved to be natural . although the investigation into actor corey haim 's death two years ago began as a `` suspected prescription medication overdose , '' toxicology tests `` revealed no significant contributing factors '' from drugs , the coroner later concluded . pneumonia , not drug abuse , killed haim .<doc-sep>by . meghan keneally . published : . 16:52 est , 18 february 2013 . | . updated : . 04:05 est , 19 february 2013 . mindy mccready is the fifth former contestant on ` celebrity rehab ' who died within three years of appearing on the television show . since the country star was found after an apparent suicide at her cabin in arkansas , the reality show that she starred in has come under increased scrutiny . however , mccready herself was possibly under scrutiny at the time of her death . police were reportedly planning question her about the death last month of her boyfriend david wilson , who was shot at the same heber spring , arkansas , home where mccready killed herself . ` celebrity rehab , ' which is currently in its fifth season on vh1 , is lead by dr drew pinsky and features a changing cast of celebrities . camera chronicle their journey through a 21-day rehabilitation clinic where they are treated for various drug addictions . scroll down for video . addiction : country singer mindy mccready is the fifth former celebrity rehab contestant to die in the years after their appearance on the reality show . tragic : mindy mccready , 37 , killed herself on the same front porch where her ` soulmate ' david wilson died on january 13 . in addition to 37-year-old mccready , four other castmates have died because of different incidents relating to their addictions . the most fatal of the show 's seasons was the third season , since mccready 's death brings the fatality count up to three out of the nine featured cast members . it was revealed on monday that mccready had been working on a suicide awareness video right before her death , it was revealed today . private investigator danno hanks told e! news the 37-year-old had asked him to work on a cover of i 'll see you yesterday which was written by courtney dashe , a fan of mccready 's who wanted her to sing the song . then on saturday , the day before she was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at her arkansas home , she sent him a frame for a video with a suicide hotline number . mike starr , a former bassist for the . grunge rock band alice in chains , was the first ` celebrity rehab ' star . to die after his appearance on the show . starr appeared on the show in 2009 in its third season . he admitted to being addicted to heroin , methadone , methamphetamine , cocaine and marijuana . in february 2011 , starr was arrested for possessing two kinds of painkillers without a prescription . one . month later , on march 8 , 2011 , he was found dead at his salt lake city , . utah , home . dr drew pinsky described his death as a ` prescription drug . overdose . ' he was 44 . jeff conaway made a name for himself in ` grease , ' where he played kenickie . he . appeared on season one of ` celebrity rehab ' in 2008 in an attempt to . overcome his addiction to alcohol , cocaine and prescription drugs . he also appeared in the second season of the show , after he relapsed following back surgery . on . may 11 , 2011 , conaway was found unconscious at his home in encino , . california . doctors said he was in coma after suffering from pneumonia . with sepsis , which was made worse by his years of drug abuse . two weeks later , his family took him off life support . he died at age 60 . rodney king became a celebrity after . he his brutal beating by lapd cops was caught on tape . their acquittal . resulted in the 1992 los angeles riots . king appeared on ` celebrity rehab ' in 2008 to cope with long-term alcoholism . he also had a history of drug abuse .

<t> u.n. says celebrity drug use encourages adolescent substance abuse . </t> <t> report says leniency towards celebrities hurts criminal justice system . </t> <t> report finds britain , italy , spain have among highest rates of cocaine use . </t>

u.n. blasts celebrity drug abuse<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- whoever killed six people in a memphis , tennessee , home may still be on the loose , police said tuesday . they asked the community for help in solving the slayings . police and fire units responded monday after six people were killed in memphis , tennessee . police found six people -- two men , two women and two boys -- dead in a home in a north memphis neighborhood monday , said memphis police lt. joe scott . three other children who were wounded in the home were taken to a hospital . scott did not release the names of the victims . he said there was no sign of forced entry into the home , and evidence at the scene indicated that the killer or killers left the house . detectives were trying to determine the day of the killings , which could have occurred as early as saturday , scott said . he said police had not developed a suspect and need people to come forward with information . `` we need the community 's help , '' he said . `` these were children that were brutally killed . we know that there are people out there that heard things , saw something . this is a stain on our community . we really need the community 's help to solve this . '' the four dead adults were shot and the two dead children were stabbed , sources told cnn affiliate wmc-tv . the wounded children -- a 7-year-old boy , a 10-month-old girl and a 4-year-old whose gender was n't immediately known -- were transported to le bonheur children 's medical center . they were treated for gunshot wounds , said hospital spokeswoman jennilyn utkov , who said she did not have any additional information about their conditions . at least one of the wounded children also was stabbed , police told the commercial appeal newspaper . the newspaper reported tuesday that two of them were in very critical condition and one was in serious condition .<doc-sep>a neighbor told cnn tuesday that he heard gunshots coming from the house saturday night . `` i heard about six or seven shots , '' said wayne bolden , a landscaper who said he lives across the street from the home where the killings occurred . `` i did not call the police because you always hear shooting in this neighborhood . now i wish i would have called . '' he said he did not see any movement at the home the next day . the two cars , a van and a passenger car , never moved . monday , he saw many police cars at the home and heard about the killings , he said . bolden said a family that included a man , a woman and five or six children moved into the home about five months ago . `` i did not know him by name , '' bolden said of the man . `` but the kids were always out playing , and he would barbecue outside on his front porch . '' a prayer service was held for the victims tuesday morning at the family 's nearby church , said keith norman , senior pastor at first baptist church . he said he had been asked by the police to counsel the family members of the victims . another prayer service was scheduled for 6 p.m. , he said , and some of the victims ' family members are expected to attend . `` there are multiple families affected by this , '' said norman , who said he did not want to speak about what led to the killings . `` we are just praying for the family members and trying to help them get through this . '' police do not know what was behind the violence , the commercial appeal newspaper reported .<doc-sep>`` we just do n't know the motive or cause of death , but we do have four adults and two children -lsb- dead -rsb- , '' memphis police lt. jerry guin told the paper . rob robinson told the commercial appeal that he was the landlord for the brick , single-family house that rented for $ 550 per month . `` they were very nice , very polite to me , '' robinson told the paper of the residents . `` it 's kind of surprising , actually . i 've never had any trouble with them , no damage to the property . they paid their rent and even helped with repairs and stuff . '' neighbor leo baker told wmc-tv he has lived nearby for 10 years but did not know the residents of the home . `` it 's sad you come home to find out something like this has gone on , '' baker said . `` it 's kind of sad , and scary too . '' video footage showed emergency vehicles on the scene , with people embracing in rainy weather outside police tape surrounding the home . `` i 've been on a scene where there were one or two or three -lsb- victims -rsb- , but i do n't remember anything this large , '' guin told the commercial appeal . the newspaper reported that the shooting appeared to be the city 's deadliest mass killing since 1973 , when 28-year-old david sanders randomly shot and killed five people before being shot dead by police . in 2000 , police said firefighter frederick williams confessed to a shooting in memphis in which four people were killed -- his wife , a sheriff 's deputy and two fellow firefighters . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- whoever killed six people in a memphis , tennessee , home may still be on the loose , police said tuesday . they asked the community for help in solving the slayings . police and fire units responded monday after six people were killed in memphis , tennessee . police found six people -- two men , two women and two boys -- dead in a home in a north memphis neighborhood monday , said memphis police lt. joe scott . three other children who were wounded in the home were taken to a hospital . scott did not release the names of the victims . he said there was no sign of forced entry into the home , and evidence at the scene indicated that the killer or killers left the house . detectives were trying to determine the day of the killings , which could have occurred as early as saturday , scott said . he said police had not developed a suspect and need people to come forward with information . `` we need the community 's help , '' he said . `` these were children that were brutally killed . we know that there are people out there that heard things , saw something . this is a stain on our community . we really need the community 's help to solve this . '' the four dead adults were shot and the two dead children were stabbed , sources told cnn affiliate wmc-tv . the wounded children -- a 7-year-old boy , a 10-month-old girl and a 4-year-old whose gender was n't immediately known -- were transported to le bonheur children 's medical center . they were treated for gunshot wounds , said hospital spokeswoman jennilyn utkov , who said she did not have any additional information about their conditions . at least one of the wounded children also was stabbed , police told the commercial appeal newspaper . the newspaper reported tuesday that two of them were in very critical condition and one was in serious condition . a neighbor told cnn tuesday that he heard gunshots coming from the house saturday night . `` i heard about six or seven shots , '' said wayne bolden , a landscaper who said he lives across the street from the home where the killings occurred . `` i did not call the police because you always hear shooting in this neighborhood . now i wish i would have called . '' he said he did not see any movement at the home the next day . the two cars , a van and a passenger car , never moved . monday , he saw many police cars at the home and heard about the killings , he said . bolden said a family that included a man , a woman and five or six children moved into the home about five months ago . `` i did not know him by name , '' bolden said of the man . `` but the kids were always out playing , and he would barbecue outside on his front porch . '' a prayer service was held for the victims tuesday morning at the family 's nearby church , said keith norman , senior pastor at first baptist church . he said he had been asked by the police to counsel the family members of the victims . another prayer service was scheduled for 6 p.m. , he said , and some of the victims ' family members are expected to attend . `` there are multiple families affected by this , '' said norman , who said he did not want to speak about what led to the killings . `` we are just praying for the family members and trying to help them get through this . '' police do not know what was behind the violence , the commercial appeal newspaper reported . `` we just do n't know the motive or cause of death , but we do have four adults and two children -lsb- dead -rsb- , '' memphis police lt. jerry guin told the paper . rob robinson told the commercial appeal that he was the landlord for the brick , single-family house that rented for $ 550 per month . `` they were very nice , very polite to me , '' robinson told the paper of the residents . `` it 's kind of surprising , actually . i 've never had any trouble with them , no damage to the property . they paid their rent and even helped with repairs and stuff . '' neighbor leo baker told wmc-tv he has lived nearby for 10 years but did not know the residents of the home . `` it 's sad you come home to find out something like this has gone on , '' baker said . `` it 's kind of sad , and scary too . '' video footage showed emergency vehicles on the scene , with people embracing in rainy weather outside police tape surrounding the home . `` i 've been on a scene where there were one or two or three -lsb- victims -rsb- , but i do n't remember anything this large , '' guin told the commercial appeal . the newspaper reported that the shooting appeared to be the city 's deadliest mass killing since 1973 , when 28-year-old david sanders randomly shot and killed five people before being shot dead by police . in 2000 , police said firefighter frederick williams confessed to a shooting in memphis in which four people were killed -- his wife , a sheriff 's deputy and two fellow firefighters . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>there wo n't be any trick-or-treating in the northeastern pennsylvania area where authorities continue searching for a suspect accused of killing a state trooper . officials in rural barrett township in pennsylvania canceled the beloved halloween ritual and the annual parade because of the police manhunt for eric frein . but kids did get to ` trunk or treat ' over the weekend . the event held at a school parking lot included candy , a costume contest and car trunks decorated for the spooky holiday . scroll down for video . still at large : frein -lrb- left and right -rrb- , a self-taught survivalist , allegedly used a rifle to open fire outside the state police barracks on september 12 , killing corporal bryan dickson and wounding trooper alex douglass . halloween was canceled in barrett township as police continued the manhunt for the cop-killer - but kids did get to ` trunk or treat ' over the weekend in the school parking lot -lrb- pictured -rrb- . organizers called it a success , saying hundreds of children and adults attended . still , halloween parade chairwoman betty oppelt says the community is missing a major tradition this year . frein is charged with opening fire outside the blooming grove barracks on september 12 , killing trooper bryon dickson and seriously wounding trooper alex douglass . the search for frein - who allegedly used a high-powered rifle to open fire outside the state police barracks on september 12 - has reached its 48th day . frein was identified as a suspect in the barracks shooting on september 16 after his disabled suv was found abandoned a mile away , according to the morning call . officials believe the self-taught survivalist - who allegedly prepared for the ambush and his escape for months - is hiding out in the woods on the border of pike and monroe counties . although hundreds of families attended the ` trunk or treat ' event , halloween parade chairwoman betty oppelt says the community is missing a major tradition this year because a killer is still on the loose . hundreds of state police and federal agents have been involved in the widespread , intensive search that reportedly continues to exceed $ 1million a week . on september 21 , investigators discovered a gun belonging to him . the search team has largely shut down the area near canadensis , pennsylvania , where he lived with his parents . although a ` shelter in place ' order has been lifted for residents , citizens have been urged to avoid the woods and take caution when outside of their homes . law enforcement officers wearing bulletproof vests and armed with rifles can still be seen marching the streets , while unmarked helicopters regularly fly overhead . frein belonged to the rifle team at pocono mountain high school , and as an adult joined a group that performed military re-enactments of eastern european conflicts in the modern era . he even played a small role in a 2007 movie about a concentration camp survivor - earning him a mention in the movie database imdb - and helped with props and historical references on a documentary about world war i. pennsylvania state troopers walk along route 191 after searching the woods in henryville , pennsylvania on monday in the continuing manhunt for suspected killer eric frein . citizens have been urged to avoid the woods and take care when outside of their homes as troopers continue the search to track down the killer . ` he was a very friendly guy to me , ' said jeremy hornbaker , who hired him for the documentary . ` we left on very good terms . ' frein 's father , retired army major e. michael frein , told police that he had taught his son to shoot . he ` does n't miss , ' the father told state police during a search of the family home , when he also disclosed that an ak-47 and a .308 rifle with a scope were missing . a copy of the book , ` sniper training and employment , ' was found in his bedroom . frein had for a time attended nearby east stroudsburg university and held a number of jobs over the years but never any for very long , authorities said . police have not yet determined what may have led to the suspect 's apparent hatred of police . frein is accused of murdering pennsylvania state police cpl bryon dickson -lrb- left -rrb- and wounding trooper alex douglass -lrb- right -rrb- during the bloody ambush on the state police barracks in blooming grove .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a teenage student is facing a first-degree murder charge , with police saying that he followed through on a plan to kill the principal of his small private school in memphis , tennessee . eduardo marmolejo was charged in the death wednesday of 49-year-old suzette york , the memphis police department said in a statement thursday . a detention hearing was held on thursday , during which magistrate judge sheldon mccall ordered the suspect held without bail and also ordered a mental evaluation , said chief probation officer barry mitchell of the memphis and shelby county juvenile court . court-appointed defense attorney autumn chastain told reporters thursday that `` it 's difficult for everybody right now . '' `` it 's just a very serious allegation , '' chastain said . `` we need to know everything that 's going on in the case . '' police said the suspect is 17 years old , while mitchell said he is 16 . cnn normally does not identify juveniles charged with crimes unless the juveniles are charged as adults . however in this case police have released his name under a tennessee law that allows them to publicly identify juveniles charged with first-degree murder . once the police publicly identified the suspect , cnn and other national and local media have reported his name . york was found wednesday lying in a pool of blood at memphis junior academy , according to the city fire department . police , who responded to a call at 11:15 a.m. , added that she was pronounced dead at the scene , after succumbing to `` multiple stab wounds . '' memphis police director toney armstrong told cnn on thursday that the suspect `` has been carrying a grudge all summer long '' because the previous school year he 'd been switched out of a class that he liked . `` basically , he conspired all summer as to how he was going to get revenge , '' armstrong said .<doc-sep>by . rachel rickard straus and meghan keneally . published : . 08:44 est , 3 may 2012 . | . updated : . 09:16 est , 3 may 2012 . a 16-month-old girl was shot dead by her 2-year-old brother in their memphis home on tuesday . calvuna reese was killed on tuesday when her brother allegedly accidentally pulled the trigger of a loaded gun . the girl 's father confirmed the shooting to neighbors , but the case is still under investigation by police . scene : 16-month-old calvuna reese was shot dead inside this memphis apartment building by her 2-year-old brother on tuesday . ` oh it tears me up . it really really hurts , ' neighbor randy lark told local station wmctv . ` i 'm so shocked and hurt by what happened to this child . ' ` she was real sweet , she was obedient . '

<t> new : police believe killer or killers left the memphis house where 6 people slain . </t> <t> neighbor says he heard shots saturday night , did n't call police . </t> <t> police : four adults , two kids killed ; 3 other children wounded . </t> <t> 7-year-old , 4-year-old , and 10-month-old hospitalized . </t>

police : killer of 4 adults , 2 kids in memphis still at large<T>

jacksonville , north carolina -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- christina laurean has told authorities she was attending a christmas party on the night her husband allegedly killed pregnant marine lance cpl. maria lauterbach , according to police . marine cpl. cesar laurean , wanted for murder , may have fled to his native mexico . marine cpl. cesar laurean is charged with first-degree murder . he remains at large , and authorities say he may have fled to mexico . also , an affidavit obtained thursday by cnn states that christina laurean knew about the death one day before reporting it to authorities . the marines were assigned to camp lejeune , north carolina . lance cpl. maria lauterbach was eight months pregnant when she was reported missing december 19 . authorities say she was killed four days earlier . a warrant allowed authorities to search western union records . authorities said in the accompanying affidavit that cesar laurean and his wife received a transfer of money between december 10 and january 12 . the affidavit provided no other details . authorities requested the search warrant and all accompanying documents be sealed . the fbi says laurean may have fled to his native country of mexico . cesar laurean , 21 , is a naturalized u.s. citizen .<doc-sep>he mailed at least one letter from houston , texas , since his disappearance , cnn affiliate kprc in houston reported thursday . according to the affidavit , christina laurean , 25 -- who also is a marine -- went with her husband to a jacksonville attorney on january 10 , and the lawyer told cesar laurean he could face the death penalty . the next day , christina laurean reported lauterbach 's death to the onslow county sheriff 's office , where she appeared with an attorney and a sergeant from her former chain of command . she turned over to deputies several notes from her husband that she said she found at their home . in the notes , cesar laurean said lauterbach committed suicide and he buried her . lauterbach , 20 , had accused cesar laurean of raping her and was to testify at a military hearing not long after her disappearance . according to a co-worker , she feared cesar laurean , although the military said she told prosecutors she did not . lauterbach 's allegations involved two encounters -- one on or about march 26 and one approximately two weeks later , the marines told cnn . lauterbach received two protective orders , one of which was in effect when she died . christina laurean on january 11 told authorities her husband had denied the rape allegations and said he was not the baby 's father , according to the affidavit . in the document she says her husband told her : .<doc-sep>dubois contends the facts show probable cause exists to show that cesar laurean `` committed murder . '' the detective said he does n't believe lauterbach committed suicide , especially because she had told people she wanted the child . christina laurean told police she was at a christmas party for her husband 's marine unit during the late afternoon and evening of december 15 , onslow county sheriff ed brown told cnn . her husband did not attend the party , she told authorities . lauterbach 's charred remains and those believed to be of her unborn child were found in a fire pit in the laureans ' backyard . police have said blood spatters were found throughout the laurean home on walls and ceilings , and evidence showed someone tried to clean them up and paint over them . dna testing is being conducted to see if lauterbach 's unborn baby was fathered by cesar laurean , brown said , adding there was no rush on the part of detectives to get those results . the fbi is offering a $ 25,000 reward for information leading to cesar laurean 's arrest . anyone in mexico with information is asked to contact the legal attache at the u.s. embassy in mexico city . meanwhile , authorities have discovered the weapon likely used to kill lauterbach , a spokesman for the onslow county sheriff 's office said thursday . authorities have said the woman died of blunt force trauma to the head . a man who had rented a room to lauterbach , sgt. daniel durham , told investigators he found a note from her december 14 -- the day she was last seen -- saying she was tired of the marine corps life and was leaving . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's rusty dornin contributed to this report .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a colorado man who lived near a park crafted explosives he claimed could kill everyone within 20 meters , hoping to trade the bombs and other weapons for cocaine or cash , authorities said . special agents with the federal bureau of alcohol , tobacco , firearms and explosives arrested richard sandberg , 35 , on thursday morning as he was heading to work , said jeffrey dorschner , a spokesman for the u.s. attorney 's office in colorado . in the afternoon , he appeared in federal court , where he was ordered held without bond until at least a detention hearing tuesday . his arrest followed an undercover sting that revealed the suspect had an arsenal of `` homemade '' improvised explosive devices and military-grade grenades in his suburban denver home , according to an affidavit filed by an atf agent in federal court . the investigation began a week ago , when a denver police detective alerted an atf agent about a claim from a `` reliable '' informant . the informant had gone to sandberg 's house and saw `` numerous hand firearms and hand grenades '' the suspect `` wanted to trade ... for cocaine , '' according to the affidavit . that night , an undercover atf agent talked over the phone with sandberg , who said he was a former member of a marine special operations unit .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a third suspect has been arrested in the california death of a deployed marine 's wife , authorities said . dorothy grace marie maraglino , 36 , was taken into custody thursday night in connection with the death of brittany killgore , according to the san diego county sheriff 's department . authorities did not say what charges maraglino will face . investigators found killgore 's body on april 17 in a rural part of riverside county . authorities have already arrested marine staff sgt. luis ray perez , on a suspicion of murder charge . they have also arrested jessica lynn lopez and charged her with first-degree murder . both suspects have pleaded not guilty . killgore 's connection with the suspects has been unclear . brittany killgore had recently filed for divorce from her husband , who was serving with an artillery unit in afghanistan 's helmand province , investigators said . lance cpl. cory killgore , her husband , was granted an emergency leave to return to the united states when he learned about his wife . `` my wife , brittany , was beautiful beyond words and her murder has left me devastated . my duty to her memory is now to ensure her good reputation remains intact , and help law enforcement and prosecutors secure justice for the person or persons who took her away from me , '' cory killgore said in april .<doc-sep>school : aune was a professor and chair of the department of communications at texas a&m university , pictured . ` and if by some miracle you get away with this i will use every chance i get to make sure every place or person associated with you knows and see what you have done . last chance , you better make the right move . ' the professor told his wife in mid december that he was being blackmailed after being caught up in an online sexual relationship with a minor , according to the fbi affidavit . on the morning of aune 's death , the suspected blackmailer contacted him at 9:21 a.m. , giving him three hours to come up with the unknown sum of money or ` the calls start . ' at 10:29 a.m. aune replied : ` killing myself now . and u will be prosecuted for blackmail . ' a minute later , he jumped off the parking garage to his death , according to the fbi affidavit . the 37-year-old suspect was indicted last week .<doc-sep>by . joel christie . and associated press reporter . investigators believe the missing pregnant wife of a california-based marine may have been shot while hunting with a married ex-marine with whom she was having an affair . court documents say that on the day she disappeared three weeks ago , 20-year-old erin corwin had planned to meet with christopher brandon lee to spend a day together on a hunting trip , according to an affidavit obtained by the desert sun . the detective 's affidavit shows the investigation is focusing on married father-of-one lee , 24 , who may have been the father of corwin 's child . the affidavit also states lee 's wife , nichole lee , told a friend police ` would never find the body ' and that she scolded her husband for ` not being able to keep his lies . straight when he was interviewed by detectives because he was dumb ' . still missing : erin corwin , 20 , disappeared on june 28 , two weeks after discovering she was pregnant . married to a marine , she was allegedly having an affair with a fellow marine who lived on the same military base in twentynine palms , california . arrested but released : christopher brandon lee , 24 , a recently discharged marine , was allegedly having an affair with erin corwin . he was arrested earlier this month on suspicion of having a ` destructive device ' but released two days later . he has reportedly moved to alaska . newlyweds : erin married marine cpl. jonathan corwin -lrb- pictured -rrb- two years ago , and they found out erin was pregnant two weeks before she went missing . base : the couple live at the marine corps air ground combat center in twentynine palms . christopher lee also lived at the base . erin 's abandoned car was found outside the site two days after she was reported missing . lee , who volunteered at a horse ranch . with corwin , was arrested july 4 on suspicion of possession of a . destructive device . the device turned out to be a potato gun , but lee was held for two days before being released on bail . authorities would n't say if the two cases are connected .

<t> new : woman says husband did n't show up at a party on suspected date of killing . </t> <t> new : dna testing under way to see if cesar laurean fathered the victim 's child . </t> <t> accused marine and his wife spoke to lawyer after pregnant marine slain . </t> <t> marine fled the next day , is believed to have headed to native mexico . </t>

affidavit : suspect 's wife at party the night of marine 's death<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a bus carrying members of a marine corps reserve unit overturned at an alabama military base sunday , leaving 23 marines injured , four of them critically , the military said in a news release . a bus overturned sunday in alabama , injuring 23 marines , the military said . the passengers , members of e company , anti-terrorism battalion , 4th marine division , had been taking part in a training exercise at fort rucker , an army post outside ozark , alabama . they were departing the range at 9:20 a.m. when the accident occurred . the unit is made up of reservists from tallahassee , florida , and bessemer , alabama . the injured were from first and headquarters platoons out of bessemer , a birmingham suburb . by mid-afternoon , 11 of the injured had been released to their unit from the hospital . pictures of the wreck were provided to the news media by the military . ozark is about 175 miles south of birmingham . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- no one was seriously injured when a u.s. marine helicopter crashed into the arabian sea monday following training exercises in djibouti , the u.s. navy said . all 25 military members , 17 marines and eight sailors , aboard the super stallion chopper were safely recovered from the gulf of aden and taken aboard the amphibious transport dock uss mesa verde , according a navy statement . the helicopter was part of the 22nd marine expeditionary unit and was attempting to land on the mesa verde when the accident occurred , the navy said . `` the crash was not a result of hostile activity . '' `` the aircraft was transferring the marines and sailors back to uss mesa verde from training ashore in nearby djibouti . '' both the navy and the marines are investigating the accident .<doc-sep>taylor is also survived by three sisters and a brother . muchnick , who 'd been in the marines for about three years , had served in afghanistan . he played high school lacrosse and football in westport , and later played lacrosse at eastern connecticut state university , where he studied business . he was considering a return to college after his enlistment . in a biography on the university 's website , muchnick said the one thing he would like to do before he died was ` live , ' and his most embarrassing moment was getting caught lip-synching in a school talent show . his grandfather , jerome muchnick , said : ` he was at the top of his game when this happened . you ca n't imagine losing a very handsome , 23-year-old grandson who was vital and loving . ' pfc martino had aspired to be a marine since he was a boy , when he saw a tv special on the marine corps . his mother karen perry said : ` since he was probably 8 years old , he wanted to be a marine . that 's all he wanted to do . ' martino was a talkative former high school athlete and accomplished hunter who hoped to marry his fiancee later this year , perry said . his mother said she first heard a radio news report about the monday accident , then three marines arrived at her workplace to say her son was among the seven dead . all three were based at camp lejeune . solemn : all of the marines killed in monday night 's accident were based at camp lejeune in north carolina , where the community mourned its fallen soldiers on wednesday . demonstration : this file photo provided by the u.s. marine corps , shows mortarmen firing off illumination rounds during a training exercise at the hawthorne army depot . tragedy : marine brig gen jim lukeman speaks to the media on tuesday outside the gates of camp lejeune , where the marines were based . marine officers from the base , who arrived at the hawthorne army depot on tuesday , could not attend the memorial , as they began the task of figuring out what caused a mortar shell to explode in its firing tube . the accident prompted the pentagon to restrict the use of the weapons until an investigation can determine their safety , officials said . the explosion on monday night at the sprawling facility during an exercise involved the 2nd marine expeditionary force from camp lejeune . seven men were killed and eight were injured , officials said . a navy corpsman is among the injured . hawthorne has been an important installation in american military history since world war ii , when it was the staging area for ammunition , bombs and rockets . historic : hawthorne has held an important place in u.s. military history since world war ii when it became the staging area for ammunition , bombs and rockets . practice facility : the mortar blast occurred at the hawthorne army depot in nevada , where members of the u.s. military conduct training . area : the facility is made up of hundreds of buildings spread over more than 230 square miles . it is located about 140 miles away from reno . the facility has downsized in recent years but still serves as a munitions repository and disposal site , along with being a training facility for troops as they take advantage of terrain and climate similar to places like afghanistan . the facility is made up of hundreds of buildings spread over more than 230 square miles , and bunkers dot the sagebrush-covered hills visible from the highway . even though the marines were from the other side of the country , locals still feel a strong sense of pride in the military because the town 's history is so deeply tied to the armed forces . following the accident , the marines issued an . indefinite moratorium on firing of all such mortars worldwide until an . investigation clears as safe the type of weapon and ammunition in the . tragedy .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter , associated press and reuters reporter . published : . 07:49 est , 19 march 2013 . | . updated : . 17:13 est , 19 march 2013 . seven marines have been killed in an explosion during a marine corps training exercise last night in nevada . the mortar blast occurred at the hawthorne army depot in nevada , which houses and disposes of ammunition . the marine corps said in a statement this morning that the accident , at about 10pm last night , also injured several with the 2nd marine division , based in camp lejeune , north carolina . scroll down for video . historic : hawthorne has held an important place in u.s. military history since world war ii when it became the staging area for ammunition , bombs and rockets . demonstration : this file photo provided by the u.s. marine corps , shows mortarmen firing off illumination rounds during a training exercise at hawthorne army depot . practice facility : the mortar blast occurred at the hawthorne army depot in nevada , where members of the u.s. military conduct training . the marines immediately issued an indefinite moratorium on firing of all such mortars worldwide until an investigation clears as safe the type of weapon and ammunition in the tragedy . a marine corps official , speaking on the condition of anonymity , said it was not immediately clear whether the mortar exploded prematurely inside its firing tube or whether more than a single round exploded . the 60mm mortar is a weapon that traditionally requires three to four marines to operate , but it 's common during training for others to observe nearby . maj gen raymond c. fox said : ` we send our prayers and condolences to the families of marines involved in this tragic incident . ` we remain focused on ensuring that they are supported through this difficult time . we mourn their loss , and it is with heavy hearts we remember their courage and sacrifice . the cause of the explosion is under investigation . tragedy : marine brig gen jim lukeman speaks to the media outside the gates of camp lejeune , n.c. , where the marines were based . tribute : a sign showing support for the seven u.s. marines killed in the explosion is pictured near the site of the accident on tuesday . area : the facility is made up of hundreds of buildings spread over more than 230 square miles . it is located about 140 miles away from reno . preparedness : the military has called hawthorne an ideal training facility for special forces . the injured were taken to area hospitals for treatment and further evaluation . the identities of those killed were not released pending notification of their families and a 24-hour waiting period after that . russ collier told krnv-tv . in reno that the explosion was an accident unrelated to the ammo that . is kept at the military facility near the small desert community of . hawthorne , about 140 miles southeast of reno . calls to the depot and to u.s. joint munitions command , which oversees the facility , were not immediately answered . the mineral county sheriff 's office said it does not have any details . hawthorne has held an important place in american military history since world war ii when it became the staging area for ammunition , bombs and rockets for the war . the nevada division of environmental protection says that the depot employed more than 5,500 people at its peak . the facility is made up of hundreds of buildings spread over more than 230 square miles . location : the facility is made up of hundreds of buildings spread over more than 230 square miles . nevada was chosen for the location . because of its remoteness in the wake of a devastating explosion at the . government 's main depot in new jersey in the 1920s . it opened in september 1930 as the . naval ammunition depot hawthorne , was redesignated hawthorne army . ammunition plant in 1977 when it moved under the control of the army , . according to its website . in 1994 , the site ended its production mission and became hawthorne army depot . the . site currently serves several purposes for the military , including . storing ammunition and explosives and providing what the military calls . an ideal training facility for special forces preparing for deployments . to similar desert terrain in places like afghanistan . nevada 's political leaders expressed their sympathy . senate majority leader harry reid gave his condolences to victims of the explosion during a tuesday morning speech on the senate floor . blast : the cause of the explosion at the depot , pictured , is under investigation . he said : ` my thoughts are with those who were injured . my heart goes out to the families of those who lost their lives . and my sympathies are with their fellow marines , who are also grieving this loss . ' nevada republican sen dean heller . tweeted : ` thoughts and prayers are with the families who lost a loved . one in the hawthorne army depot explosion . grateful for their service . ' nevada gov brian sandoval said in a . statement : ' i am deeply saddened to hear of the incident at the . hawthorne army depot this morning . ` the . men and women who work and train there put service ahead of self each . and every day . -lsb- my wife -rsb- kathleen and i wish to extend our deepest . sympathies to those killed and their families . our thoughts and prayers . are with those who have been injured and we pray for their speedy . recovery . ' sen kay hagan , d-n.c . , said in a statement : ' i was so saddened to learn about the seven marines from camp lejeune who were killed last night in nevada . ` my thoughts and prayers are with the . families of the marines who were killed and those who were injured , and . i will continue to monitor the investigation so we can find out what . happened and take appropriate steps . ' training : in a photo provided by the u.s. army , military members practice during an evacuation training exercise at the hawthorne army depot in 2008 . it is one of the deadliest incidents to occur within a military facility in the u.s. . the . accident comes a week after a u.s. military plane assigned to a . washington state naval air station crashed during a routine training . flight , killing all three crew members on board . in february 2012 , seven marines were killed when a chopper went two military choppers collided in the chocolate mountains along the california-arizona border . thirteen service members were killed in the 2009 fort hood shooting , when army psychiatrist nidal malik hasan opened fire on colleagues at the texas base . in march 2002 , two training accidents over the course of few days totaled five deaths . in the first incident , a navy hh-1 huey chopper crashed into split mountain in the sequoia national forest . two service members aboard the helicopter were killed and another four were injured . a mortar explosion was reported a day later at fort irwin in the mojave desert . three soldiers from kansas were killed in that accident . watch video here .<doc-sep>by . ryan gorman . published : . 23:41 est , 19 december 2013 . | . updated : . 11:37 est , 20 december 2013 . rain is the likely culprit in a pair of california tour bus accidents only miles apart that have left one dead and dozens injured . the buses overturned in both accidents , which occurred about 30 miles and about 10 minutes apart on interstate 15 north of san diego - one in fallbrook claimed the life of one passenger and left 22 injured , the one in corona left 30 injured . the fallbrook crash involved seven or eight vehicles and killed one person while 22 others were taken to local hospitals â $ `` the deceased is a woman who was ejected from and pinned underneath the wreckage , according to nbc los angeles . those injured in corona were mostly minor , with one in critical condition at a local hospital , according to the inland valley daily bulletin . scroll down for video . deadly : the fallbrook crash killed one and injured 22 - many of whom were ejected from the bus . blame it on the rain : the corona accident happened after the bus hydroplaned on the rain-slicked highway , according to the driver . the fallbrook bus , operated by five star bus charter , was traveling southbound on i-15 at 55mph at about 2.30 pm when it began swerving , the driver told investigators , according to abc 10 . multiple other people were ejected from the bus , according to kabc , but only one person died , the others somehow suffered only minor injuries . the deceased has not yet been publicly identified . the highway was slick after it had been raining in torrents a short time earlier , which the driver blamed for the deadly accident , the station said . the overturned bus caused massive delays as multiple lanes of the highway had to be closed during the rescue operation . taken away : this man is carried away on a stretcher after surviving the fallbrook bus accident . several injuries : almost two dozen people were injured in the fallbrook accident , many were tended to right next to the highway . outdoor triage : one of the injured is wheled away while another is tended to in the wet grass . shaken : a woman wrapped in a blanket is led away from the wrecked bus . authorities are still investigating the accident , but havenâ $ ™ t ruled out rain as the cause . the bus had been traveling from los angeles to valley view casino , in san diego , according to abc 10 . the deadly accident happened only 30 miles from a separate accident in corona . the corona accident , which occurred at 2.43 pm , left 30 injured , mostly minor , according to the los angeles daily news . a california highway patrol officer told the paper that it was raining hard at the time of the accident , but it is not yet clear if that is the main cause . kicked out : survivors in the corona bus accident crawled out through escape hatches in the roof and were carried out through the removed windshield by rescuers . wheeled away : another victim of the fallbrook crash is loaded into an ambulance to be taken to a local hospital . a massive undertaking : several dozen emergency workers tended to the injured and investigated the cause of the deadly fallbrook accident . as far as the eye can see : traffic was snarled for miles as lanes were closed and motorists slowed down to look at the deadly fallbrook accident . all northbound lanes were closed while fire fighters pulled injured people from the overturned bus , others wriggled their way through kicked-out escape hatch on the roof , according to ktla . the bus was heading to nearby garden grove from the pala casino spa & resort , also in san diego , according to kabc . both accidents resulted in massive traffic delays going in both directions as passersby slowed down to take a look . the bus , owned by sina coach , was carrying mostly vietnamese gamblers , a spokesperson told nbc los angeles . five star bus has had two crashes in the past two years , but sina coach has zero . the cause of both accidents remains under investigation , according to reports .

<t> bus carrying marine corps reserve unit overturned at alabama military base . </t> <t> 23 marines have been injured ; four critically , the military says . </t> <t> e company , anti-terrorism battalion , 4th marine division , was involved . </t> <t> the accident happened sunday morning , officials said . </t>

military : 23 marines injured in alabama bus accident<T>

new delhi , india -- police covered up the murder of a british teenage girl in goa last month to protect the tourist industry , a state minister and local media said monday . scarlett keeling stands on anjuna beach in goa a few days before her death . officers had initially said scarlett keeling had drowned on anjuna beach after taking drugs , but changed their story when the 15-year-old 's mother protested and a second autopsy suggested she had been raped and murdered . a suspect in the case was arrested sunday but fiona mackeown said she did not believe he was the man who killed her daughter . `` this is a clear case of murder and it has gone out of proportion because the police tried to cover it up , '' francisco x. pacheco , goa 's tourism minister told reuters.com . indian media suggested the cover-up was an attempt to protect goa 's tourism industry . `` they should have arrested this man a long time ago and this issue would have got diluted , but now because of the tainted image of some police officers in the case , things have gone out of hand , '' pacheco said . police said they were investigating allegations of a cover-up and the actions of junior officers . `` there are certain things under my scrutiny and i have taken cognizance of all these issues , specially these officers , '' kishan kumar , a senior police officer overseeing the probe told reuters . keeling 's mother said she also believed police were trying to cover up the truth behind her daughter 's murder , and that they had arrested samson d'souza , 29 , to make it look like they were making progress in the case . `` we 've had an awful lot of contact with people that have been in this situation before , and they 've warned us to be careful -lrb- that -rrb- the police will try and find someone immediately to try and put a front on it that they 're actually doing something , '' fiona mackeown told bbc radio on monday . kumar described d'souza as a `` local anjuna boy '' who was a bartender at liu 's , a beachfront bar . he said police had confirmed d'souza 's role in keeling 's rape and were now trying to find evidence that he killed the teenager . `` we have sufficient evidence to show that he was involved in rape , '' kumar told cnn . `` so far as murder is concerned , we are investigating further . '' scarlett and her family arrived in november for an extended vacation in goa , known for its white sandy beaches and dance music scene . beachfront shacks house the bars that fuel the nightlife . mackeown said scarlett was left in the care of a trusted male friend and his aunts while the rest of the family traveled to an adjoining indian state , but she told the bbc that she has had no contact with the family since her daughter 's death . the mother said monday she sent a letter to goa 's chief minister asking for india 's central bureau of investigation to look into the case . goa is popular with western tourists but several tourists have died from drug overdoses in recent years while women have been attacked and sexually assaulted . the times of india said 126 foreigners have died in goa over the last two years and in january this year a 30-year-old british woman was raped . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's tess eastment contributed to this report .<doc-sep>women should n't wear bikinis on the beach in the indian holiday state of goa , according to a senior minister . sudhin dhavalikar , public works minister for goa , said women should cover up on public beaches for their own safety and even went as far as suggesting that bikinis should be banned altogether . the politician 's suggestion that women ` attract ' sexual harassment by wearing the swimsuits in the popular holiday destination has drawn fierce criticism from women 's rights activists . cultural differences : the minister claimed that women should not be allowed to wear bikinis in public . mr dhavalikar said : ` wearing bikinis can attract problems like molestations . ' i feel that wearing bikinis should be banned on the beaches . we should not allow such types of people -lrb- in bikinis -rrb- to enter public places . ' and the controversial minister went on to suggest that women should also not be allowed to go out in the evening to bars . banned : the public works minister called for bikinis not to be allowed on public beaches in goa . the minister added that ` scantily dressed girls visiting pubs project the wrong culture and this should be stopped . ` young people go drinking and it often leads to law and order problems . our sisters and daughters are getting spoilt . ' the inflammatory comments have drawn criticism for a victim-blaming culture , with activists claiming the outdated attitudes are partly responsible for the country 's much-publicised high rates of rape and sexual assault . goa is a hugely popular holiday destination for britons , particularly those looking for winter sun . and mr dhavalikar 's comments follow a string of high-profile rape cases that have focused the world 's attention on how india deals with sexual crimes . hotspot : goa has long been a popular winter sun destination for holidaymakers and attracted tourists looking to embrace yoga and spirituality . in december 2012 a 23-year-old physiotherapy student was gang-raped so violently on a delhi bus that she died from her injuries . just a month ago , two teenage girls were raped and then hung from a mango tree in a northern indian village and locals claimed police only acted after they sat around the bodies of the girls and refused to leave them . it is not just local women who are victims of sexual violence . in january this year a 52-year-old danish tourist was gang-raped in new delhi in an attack that lasted for hours . in the same month , an 18-year-old german charity worker said she was sexually assaulted on a train in southern india by a fellow passenger . according to the associated chambers of commerce and industry of india , tourism figures fell significantly after the much-publicised rape in 2012 , with visits by female tourist dropping by 35 per cent .<doc-sep>he said the . company plans to invest $ 37.5 million to open clubs , bars and cafes over . the next five years , with a goal of opening 120 outlets , including . retail stores , over the next decade . local officials will be monitoring gupta 's efforts with interest . ` assuming there is going to be vulgarity and activities that are not in tune with the goan culture , their proposal will not be granted permission , ' said nikhil desai , goa 's director of tourism . ` however , they could be setting up a perfectly decent club . ' however goa tourism . minister dilip parulekar said the state government will not permit a . playboy club in goa . he said the state is already fighting the menaces . of prostitution and drug peddling and is not willing to attract any more . issues . ` we will not entertain anyone who is here to spread obscenity and nudity , ' he said . women 's . organisations had raised objections to the opening of such a club in . the state , claiming it would show the region in a poor light .<doc-sep>last night , the news finally came through that police in goa are now looking into the case . the . times of india today reported : ` the anjuna police will now investigate . the case of a british woman who died mysteriously in april 2010 as . murder . ' indian officials were moved to act after family members travelled to the foreign office in london . family : miss sweeney 's son ben -lrb- left -rrb- , sister marion -lrb- second left -rrb- , niece rochelle -lrb- second right -rrb- and sister maureen -lrb- right -rrb- during a trip to the foreign office in london . miss sweeney 's sister maureen , 43 , of . derby , said : ` this morning i woke up and instead of the first thought . being a sad thought about denyse it was a positive one that perhaps now . we will get answers . ' every day for the last two years , . maureen and another sister marion have written letters and made phone . calls to goa , to the foreign office , to mps and ministers , trying to . prompt a murder investigation . now they are waiting to hear from foreign secretary william hague . a letter is said to be on its way . derby south mp margaret beckett , who met with the family , used her contacts to help them . the former foreign secretary said : .<doc-sep>indian railway minister mamata banerjee ordered an inquiry into the crash , according to cnn 's sister station in india , cnn-ibn . the goa express , bound for new delhi from the western coastal state of goa , was running on the same track as the mewar , which shuttles between new delhi and udaipur , in western rajasthan state . both trains have stops in mathura , about 90 miles south of new delhi . rescuers had to cut trapped passengers from a wrecked car of the mewar express . the car had a special compartment for women , disabled passengers , cargo and train guards , said aditya verma , a senior police official in mathura .

<t> indian police covered up murder of uk girl in goa , state 's tourism minister said . </t> <t> police arrest one man over the death of the 15-year-old . </t> <t> mother of scarlett keeling says she thinks police have arrested wrong man . </t>

minister : teen 's goa murder covered up<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- despite the obvious claims of younger rivals cristiano ronaldo and lionel messi , few can really argue with the 96 football journalists who voted ricardo izecson dos santos leite as the 2007 world footballer of the year . brazilian genius kaka fully deserves winning the 2007 world footballer of the year award . the prestigious ballon d'or award is widely regarded as the most prestigious individual prize in football and kaka 's inclusion on its coveted roll of honor is a testament to the 25-year-old brazilian 's current standing in world football . when ac milan defeated liverpool in the champions league final in athens , avenging their heartbreaking loss to the same team in istanbul two years previously , it enabled kaka to fulfill his dream of holding aloft europe 's premier trophy -- a winner 's medal he fully deserved after a sublime 90-minute performance . kaka 's stock for both club and country has risen steadily since his move to the san siro from sao paulo for a fee of just $ 8.5 million in the summer of 2003 . unlike many a brazilian sporting genius , kaka did not hone his skills on the beach or the streets of a favela shanty town . he was born into a comfortable middle class brasilia family , where football was not the only hope of a bright future . however , it soon became clear that this particular boy had a very special skill and he was signed by sao paulo , after his family had moved there , at just eight years of age -- making his first team debut as an 18-year-old . kaka 's progress was soon picked up by his national team coach and felipe scolari named the graceful midfielder in his 23-man squad for the 2002 world cup finals , earning him a winners ' medal despite playing only 19 minutes of the tournament in a group match against costa rica . a year later , and kaka was on his way to milan . within a month he had made the starting line-up and his 10 goals helped the rossoneri lift the scudetto and the european super cup . throughout his career , kaka has always possessed the innate ability to score goals -- his record for both club and country sees him average roughly a goal every three games . yet to describe kaka merely as a goalscoring midfielder would be doing him a massive injustice . tall , elegant and blessed with astonishing skill , milan and brazil utilize kaka 's ability superbly . milan coach carlo ancelotti soon recognized kaka 's genius , changing his team 's system to a 4-4-1-1 , playing the brazilian behind a main target man . with andrea pirlo and gennaro gattuso holding the central midfield area , kaka has a license to roam in behind the lone striker , be it filippo inzaghi , ronaldo or alberto gilardino . and kaka does this with devastating effect , running at the opposition with pace and power , finding defense-splitting passes or shooting from range with deadly accuracy be it from a dead-ball situation or open play . the fly in the ointment for milan comes in the shape of their poor form this season . although they have already reached the last 16 of the champions league , the club are floundering in serie a and face the unthinkable prospect of not qualifying for next season 's competition unless they win the trophy . real madrid have coveted kaka for the last two years -- expect the world transfer record to be smashed if milan do n't secure a place among europe 's elite . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- cristiano ronaldo was crowned fifa 's world player of the year in zurich on monday as manchester united 's star winger completed a stunning trophy collection . portuguese winger ronaldo completed a stunning trophy collection when named world player of the year . portugal international ronaldo helped united win the premier league , champions league and world club championship titles in 2008 . ronaldo also collected the european player of the year accolade and was voted number one by fifpro , the worldwide players ' union . now ronaldo has seen off 2007 winner kaka , of ac milan , spain euro 2008 top scorer fernando torres of liverpool and barcelona stars xavi and lionel messi . `` it 's another overwhelming moment in my career , '' said 23-year-old ronaldo who received the award from brazilian legend pele . `` it 's a tremendously emotional moment and a dream come true . i 'd like to dedicate this to my family . '' ronaldo also paid tribute to club manager alex ferguson who fought a very public battle with real madrid last summer when the primera liga giants attempted to lure the player to spain . `` it 's also true that the manager always has an important role to play . it was a great season for me and for my club , and the coach was important for me because i learned a lot for him , '' he said . `` his experience over so many years is of paramount importance -- it 's a privilege to have such a great club manager . `` this is the climax of a fantastic era for me . i 'm happy and proud about what has been done by my team and what we have won . `` i am lucky to to be part of the history of a club like manchester united . '' messi led argentina to the olympic gold medal in august and nou camp teammate xavi was named uefa 's player of the tournament when spain won euro 2008 in june . ronaldo 's 31 league goals in the 2007-08 season , and 42 in total , won him the european golden shoe as the continent 's top scorer . he is the first premier league-based start to win fifa 's top individual award while david beckham and thierry henry , both twice , and frank lampard finished runners-up . the awards are voted for by the head coaches and captains of all countries . olympic silver medalist marta of brazil was named the fifa women 's player of the year for the third successive campaign .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- there is much debate in the world of golf as to whether four-time major winner phil mickelson deserves his place in the game 's hall of fame , but journalist david dusek is in no doubt . the deputy editor of golf.com has told cnn world sport there should be no doubt mickelson 's pedigree befits the accolade , calling the 41-year-old one of the best players of his generation . there has been criticism in some quarters that given his age , mickelson is too young to take his place in the pantheon of greats who have graced the sport despite a 20-year top-level career . others have pointed to the fact that , incredibly , he has never held the top spot in golf 's world rankings . fowler finally comes of age with first pga tour title . but dusek disagrees and thinks the player -- known affectionately by fans as `` lefty '' -- still has a few major championships left in the tank . `` phil absolutely deserves to be in the hall of fame . he 's one of the great players of his generation , '' dusek said ahead of mickelson 's induction on monday . `` he won four major championships in the era when one guy , namely tiger woods , won 14 of them . he was well seated at number two in the world for a quite a while . `` the fact that he has been a stalwart of eight ryder cup teams , eight presidents cup teams , he has 40 -lrb- pga tour -rrb- wins -- all these numbers are hall of fame-worthy material . '' the debate over mickelson 's worthiness will be replicated in the coming years , according to dusek , given that woods reigned supreme over the game for such a long period .<doc-sep>an agreement with chelsea could not exist , '' he told gazzetta dello sport . `` kaka goes to real or he remains at milan . that is his will and we are doing everything in complete agreement . '' kaka scored the final goal from the penalty spot as brazil moved to the top of south american qualifying for the 2010 world cup finals after thrashing uruguay 4-0 in montevideo , their first victory in the country for 33 years . with milan , kaka won an array of awards including the champions league , the uefa super cup , the fifa club world cup and the seria a title . he was a crucial part of brazil 's 2002 world cup-winning squad he was also voted the fifa world player of the year in 2007 . last january , kaka rejected a move to premier league manchester city who were prepared to pay him a reported $ 750,000 per week .<doc-sep>`` kaka has behaved very professionally with us , he has never asked for his deal to be revised or his contract extended . he has been here six years and won everything there is to win . but we ca n't afford to miss out on $ 100 million . '' galliani had said there was no chance of english club chelsea -- who appointed former milan coach carlo ancelotti as manager on monday -- swooping in to beat real for kaka 's signature . an agreement with chelsea could not exist , '' he told gazzetta dello sport . `` kaka goes to real or he remains at milan . that is his will and we are doing everything in complete agreement . '' kaka scored the final goal from the penalty spot as brazil moved to the top of south american qualifying for the 2010 world cup finals after thrashing uruguay 4-0 in montevideo , their first victory in the country for 33 years . with milan , kaka won an array of awards including the champions league , the uefa super cup , the fifa club world cup and the seria a title . he was a crucial part of brazil 's 2002 world cup-winning squad he was also voted the fifa world player of the year in 2007 . last january , kaka rejected a move to premier league manchester city who were prepared to pay him a reported $ 750,000 per week .

<t> kaka deservedly named world player of the year for the first time in his career . </t> <t> the brazilian beats cristiano ronaldo and lionel messi in the journalists ' vote . </t> <t> the 25-year-old averages one goal in three games for both ac milan and brazil . </t>

kaka deserves top player accolade<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- sens. hillary clinton and barack obama each accused the other of borrowing portions of their presidential campaign speeches monday . massachusetts gov. deval patrick , left , on the stump with sen. barack obama . the clinton campaign accused obama of borrowing from a close supporter , and the illinois senator responded by saying his own words have been used by clinton . on a conference call with reporters , clinton spokesman howard wolfson said it was clear obama had `` lifted rhetoric '' from massachusetts gov. deval patrick . late monday , clinton followed up with a swipe of her own . `` if your whole candidacy is about words , then they should be your own words , '' clinton said in madison , wisconsin . `` that 's what i think . '' obama downplayed the significance of the accusation . `` i 've written two books , wrote most of my speeches . so i think putting aside the question ... in terms of whether my words are my own , i think that would be carrying it too far , '' obama said . `` deval and i do trade ideas all the time , and you know he 's occasionally used lines of mine , '' obama said . obama said he also used some of deval 's words at a jefferson-jackson dinner in wisconsin . `` i would add i 've noticed on occasion sen. clinton has used words of mine as well , '' said obama . `` as i said before , i really do n't think this is too big of a deal . '' obama campaign officials said clinton had a pattern of borrowing from some of her rival 's signature phrases , including `` yes , we can '' and `` fired up , ready to go . '' they circulated a youtube video and list of these alleged instances to reporters . the clinton campaign earlier pointed to similarities between the words of obama and patrick that have raised eyebrows and attracted traffic on youtube . a central passage in a speech obama gave saturday -- aimed at convincing voters that his campaign is not just about lofty rhetoric -- is adapted from one that patrick used in his 2006 campaign , the obama campaign said when asked about it . the controversy is lost on the massachusetts governor , who endorsed obama . obama 's campaign had patrick call the new york times over the weekend and issue a statement . `` senator obama and i are long-time friends and allies . we often share ideas about politics , policy and language , '' patrick said in the statement . `` the argument in question , on the value of words in the public square , is one about which he and i have spoken frequently before . given the recent attacks from senator clinton , i applaud him responding in just the way he did . '' watch a comparison of obama 's and patrick 's speeches '' the obama campaign also confirmed comments chief strategist david axelrod -- an adviser on obama 's senate campaign and patrick 's gubernatorial run -- made to the new york times about the speeches . `` they often riff off one another . they share a world view , '' axelrod told the times about obama and patrick . `` both of them are effective speakers whose words tend to get requoted and arguments tend to be embraced widely . '' responding to attacks from clinton that he offers words while she offers action , obama has been arguing that words matter . saturday night at a gala for the wisconsin democratic party , obama said to frequent applause , `` do n't tell me words do n't matter ! ' i have a dream . ' just words . ` we hold these truths to be self-evident , that all men are created equal . ' just words . ` we have nothing to fear but fear itself . ' just words , just speeches ! '' in 2006 , patrick , fending off attacks from his rival kerry healey , told a crowd , `` her dismissive point , and i hear it a lot from her staff , is all i have to offer is words . just words . ` we hold these truths to be self-evident , that all men are created equal ' -- just words . just words . ` we have nothing to fear but fear itself ' -- just words . ` ask not what your country can do for you , ask what you can do for your country ' -- just words . ' i have a dream ' -- just words . '' clinton has argued that while obama provides rousing speeches , she has the stronger grasp of the issues and the knowledge of how to use the presidency to start making changes from `` day one . '' speaking last week at a general motors plant in ohio , she said , `` there 's a big difference between us -- speeches versus solutions , talk versus action . you know , some people may think words are change . but you and i know better . words are cheap . i know it takes work . '' e-mail to a friend . cnn 's josh levs , rebecca sinderbrand and chris welch contributed to this report .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- sen. barack obama claimed a significant victory in the south carolina democratic primary on saturday , telling supporters `` we are hungry for change . '' sen. barack obama and his wife , michelle , celebrate his south carolina win . the illinois senator earned more than twice the vote that rival sen. hillary clinton did , 55 percent to 27 percent , unofficial returns showed . former sen. john edwards was third with 18 percent . `` tonight , the cynics who believed that what began in the snows of iowa was just an illusion were told a different story by the good people of south carolina , '' obama said to supporters saturday . watch a recap of obama 's big win '' a win in south carolina was considered crucial for obama , who won iowa but finished second to clinton in new hampshire and nevada . see what the results mean '' `` i did not travel around this state over the last year and see a white south carolina or a black south carolina . i saw south carolina , '' he said . `` the choice in this election is not between regions or religions or genders , '' obama said . `` it 's not about rich versus poor ; young versus old ; and it is not about black versus white . `` it 's about the past versus the future . '' watch obama speech . with 99 percent of precincts reporting , obama had 55 percent of the vote . clinton was second with 27 percent , followed by edwards , with 18 percent . obama 's victory capped a heated contest in south carolina , the first democratic primary in the south and the first with a largely african-american electorate . obama , who is hoping to become the the nation 's first african-american president , did well with black voters , who made up about half of saturday 's electorate , according to exit polls . black voters supported the illinois senator by a margin of more than 4-to-1 over his nearest rival , exit polls indicate . among white voters , obama took about a quarter of the vote , with clinton and edwards roughly splitting the remainder , according to exit polls . clinton congratulated obama and said she was excited to move forward to the super tuesday contests on february 5 . `` millions and millions of americans are going to have the chance to have their voices heard and their votes counted , '' she told supporters at tennessee state university . watch clinton speak to supporters '' edwards also looked ahead to the next contests . `` now the three of us move on to february 5 , where millions of americans will cast their vote and help shape the future of this party and help shape the future of america , '' he said . watch edwards rally supporters '' `` our campaign from the very beginning has been about one central thing , and that is to give voice to the millions of americans who have absolutely no voice in this democracy . '' clinton beat obama only among elderly voters , according to exit polls . among voters 65 and older , clinton beat obama 40 to 32 percent . but obama handily defeated clinton in every other bracket , and overall garnered 58 percent of the vote among 18 to 64-year-olds while 23 percent of those voters picked clinton . and half of those polled said both candidates shared blame for the rancor between the two camps . of those who said one of the contenders was more to blame than the other , 21 percent blamed clinton , and 6 percent said obama . `` it 's fairly obvious it 's not going to be over february 5 , '' obama spokesman robert gibbs said . edwards was born in south carolina and won the state 's primary four years ago , when he was making his first bid for the white house . see voters head to the polls in south carolina '' edwards had touted his native status , and as the clinton and obama camps have squabbled , edwards continued to talk about the issues and suggests he 's the only adult in the field . watch edwards reach out to voters '' `` i 'm keeping moving no matter what , but i feel good about how things are moving right now here today , '' edwards told reporters saturday morning . `` i feel there 's a lot of energy behind my campaign . '' on january 15 , edwards pledged , `` i 'm in this for the long haul . we 're continuing to accumulate delegates . there 's actually a very narrow margin between sen. obama , sen. clinton and myself on delegates . '' the state democratic party estimated that more than 530,000 democrats turned out for saturday 's primary , as compared with 445,000 voters who showed up to vote last weekend in the state 's republican primary . the democratic numbers topped the gop turnout for the first time since 1992 , when 445,000 republicans turned out to renominate president george h.w. bush . obama attracted more than 290,000 votes -- nearly matching the total turnout of the 2004 democratic primary . `` this is an enormous turnout , '' cnn analyst jeffrey toobin said . `` democrats are wildly motivated in this election . '' as south carolina 's democratic primary voters went to the polls saturday , almost half of them had made up their minds more than a month ago , according to exit polls . in the 2004 primary , nearly a quarter decided either the day of the primary or in the three days prior who they would support , but this year , only 10 percent of this year 's voters waited until saturday to choose . another 10 percent decided only in the last three days , and 32 percent decided in the last month . forty-seven percent made up their minds at least a month ago , more than double the percentage of 2004 . the early exit polls were taken from a sampling of 1,269 voters statewide . following a rough campaign between clinton and obama , the two camps toned down the rhetoric in the past two days , returning to the issues and concentrating their firepower on the republicans rather than on each other . `` i think they -lsb- the republicans -rsb- should be gracious and just say , `` we have messed this thing up so much we are just going to quit and ... we should n't be re-elected , ' but i do n't think that is what they are going to do , '' clinton said . south carolina is the last big test for the democrats before super tuesday , february 5 , when nearly two dozen states will hold either primaries or caucuses -- including such delegate-rich states as california , new york , new jersey and illinois . florida holds its primary on tuesday but no democratic delegates are being awarded there because the national party is penalizing the state for moving its primary up earlier in the year . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's paul steinhauser , bill schneider , peter hamby , alexander mooney , suzanne malveaux and jessica yellin contributed to this report .<doc-sep>`` obama 's speech will be a vigil with rhetoric that does n't soar , but touches the heart , '' brinkley said . `` we want him to be our empathizer-in-chief . he 's our representative at the memorial service for how we collectively feel . and that 's what powerful rhetoric from presidents can do . '' reagan and clinton both delivered speeches that were brief yet poignant when they addressed a grieving public . reagan encouraged the country to find `` the courage to look for the seeds of hope . '' in the aftermath of a bombing that killed 168 people , clinton told mourners , `` you have lost too much , but you have not lost everything . and you have certainly not lost america , for we will stand with you for as many tomorrows as it takes . '' brinkley calls clinton 's memorial remarks `` the finest speech '' he ever gave .<doc-sep>`` as an african-american , i 'm frankly insulted that the obama campaign would imply that we are so stupid that we would think bill and hillary clinton , who have been deeply and emotionally involved in black issues when barack obama was doing something in the neighborhood that -- i wo n't say what he was doing , but he said it in his book , '' johnson said while campaigning at the largely black northminster presbyterian church in columbia , south carolina . in obama 's recently reprinted 1995 book , `` dreams from my father , '' the future presidential candidate writes he was once headed in the direction of a `` junkie '' and a `` pothead . '' in december , clinton personally apologized to obama after her new hampshire campaign co-chairman raised the issue . the adviser resigned amid the controversy that followed . johnson later sunday said his remarks referred `` to barack obama 's time spent as a community organizer , and nothing else . any other suggestion is simply irresponsible and incorrect . '' the clinton and obama camps are locked in an increasingly heated battle for black voters in south carolina . watch what race has to do with the democratic nomination '' former south carolina state rep. `` i.s. '' leevy johnson , an obama supporter , called on hillary clinton to disavow johnson 's remarks . `` it 's offensive that sen. clinton literally stood by and said nothing as another one of her campaign 's top supporters launched a personal , divisive attack on barack obama , '' he said in a statement released by obama 's campaign . `` for someone who decries the politics of personal destruction , she should 've immediately denounced these attacks on the spot . '' sunday 's flare-up capped a weekend of sparring between the two camps that began with clinton 's comments last week that while the rev. martin luther king jr. led the civil rights movement , `` dr. king 's dream began to be realized when president lyndon johnson passed the civil rights act of 1964 . it took a president to get it done . '' watch what clinton says about obama , king and the civil rights movement '' some african-american leaders criticized the remarks as dismissive of the civil rights movement and of king , who was assassinated in 1968 . on sunday , obama described clinton 's comments as `` ill-advised '' but rejected any suggestion that his campaign has been behind the complaints .<doc-sep>david axelord , obama 's former top adviser who now acts as his biggest defender outside the white house , took her to task with a tweet , referencing her 2002 vote in favor of the iraq war . and liberals in her party spoke up about the quickness with which she broke with obama in favor of hawkish rhetoric . clinton reached out to obama this week to assure him that her comments did not represent an attack on his policies or his leadership . people close to clinton argue she used the interview to only articulate what she wrote in the book about syria . on the festering civil war , clinton writes that `` the president 's inclination was to stay the present course and not take the significant further step of arming rebels , '' while hers was to arm the rebels . `` no one likes to lose a debate , including me . but this was the president 's call and i respected his deliberations and decision , '' she writes . as secretary of state , though , clinton publicly expressed doubt with arming the rebels . `` what are we going to arm them with and against what , '' clinton told cbs in february 2012 . `` you are not going to bring tanks over the borders of turkey , lebanon and jordan -- that 's not going to happen . so maybe at the best you can smuggle in , you know , automatic weapons . '' few hints of disagreement . but there was little indication that she disagreed with obama on other big issues during her time in his cabinet , including the pivot to asia , a cease-fire between israel and gaza the last time around , and working to curb iran 's nuclear ambitions . opinion : clinton pummels obama foreign policy . one former clinton aide said what clinton told the atlantic reflected what she wrote in the book and that there 's no indication she 's being a `` monday morning quarterback . '' `` i think it is wrong to assume that the fact things are going to sh ** abroad , that is why she is coming out so forcefully against him , '' said a former clinton campaign aide . `` the timing of this book , the timing of these interviews is coincidental . '' republicans see clinton distancing herself from obama as a boon for them . not only might it reinforce their anti-obama efforts , but it enables them to amplify their claims that clinton 's just expedient . `` she is cold and calculating and a hyper-positioning politician , '' said kevin madden , a republican strategist . opinion : clinton , obama both wrong . he was excited about the prospect of the gop exploiting clinton 's `` voluminous '' and `` overwhelming '' record of working with obama . the republican national committee also sees an opening . `` hillary clinton spent four years executing barack obama 's foreign policy and in year five of obama 's term , it 's ridiculous for hillary to try to swindle voters into thinking what 's happening around the world is n't a product of obama-hillary diplomacy , '' said kirsten kurkowski , spokeswoman for the rnc . republicans are trying to exploit clinton 's attempts to distance herself from the `` obama doctrine . '' `` moving away from mr. obama may look good on paper , but it may not work so well , '' rove wrote in an opinion piece for the wall street journal . `` for one thing , mrs. clinton can not point to any notable successes during her state department tenure . '' former vice president dick cheney also got in on it as well . `` i do n't think it 's a slam dunk for her by any means , '' he told conservative hugh hewitt 's radio show on wednesday .

<t> phrase in obama speech similar to that of massachusetts gov. deval patrick . </t> <t> clinton : `` if your whole candidacy is about words , then they should be your own '' </t> <t> obama downplays significance , says : `` clinton has used words of mine as well '' </t>

obama , clinton camps point to borrowed rhetoric<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- atlanta falcons quarterback michael vick is expected to plead guilty to federal conspiracy charges involving an illegal dogfighting operation , according to one of his attorneys . leah perry , who sent this photo of son bobby and dog rosie , thinks vick should not be allowed back on the field . the plea deal may include prison time , but the nfl has not yet decided what football sanctions , if any , it should impose on vick , a spokesman said . we asked cnn.com readers whether they thought vick would -- or should -- play professional football again as well as their opinions on the case . below is a selection of those responses , some of which have been edited for length and clarity . stephanie king of arlington , washington michael vick is a disgrace . for anyone thinking he should be let off easy for admitting his guilt -- think again . the only reason he did that was because he knew the evidence against him was so great . remember only shortly ago he was stating vehemently that he `` only owned '' the property and had no idea what was going on there . it was n't until the eyewitness accounts were brought to light that he `` apologized . '' one can not be `` sorry '' for torturing and killing animals . as you know it 's been proven that those with the ability to do so also have a stronger chance of being abusive to humans . how can we allow someone like that to be a role model for children ? if we do we 're degrading our society and shame on us . patricia reese of paola , kansas yes , i think mr. vick should be allowed to play football again . he is a talented individual and it would be a shame to waste that talent . i also believe he should be able to rebuild his life . however , as part of his restitution to society , i believe he should contribute at least 40 % of his salary for what could have potentially been his maximum jail sentence to the humane society to help abused and abandoned animals . debbie clayton of greensboro , north carolina he should never be allowed to play -lsb- in the -rsb- nfl or earn a dime associated with the nfl . he should be made to work so many hours per week , every week , at minimum wage at an animal shelter . jeff wise of atlanta , georgia why not give him a chance to play again ? seriously how many chances has the nfl given to ricky williams ? smoking pot is against the law , but he 's been given a number of chances , and still is n't banned from the nfl !<doc-sep>jeremy montgomery of mount laurel , new jersey i think that vick should not be allowed to step on the field again and any endorsement deals revoked . what he did was reprehensible . he is in a spotlight where he should be held at a higher standard for a role model . josh hebert of loganville , georgia he should take whatever punishment our government gives him , but when he has done his time -lrb- if he does do time -rrb- he should be able to continue playing football . the charges against him are not football related in any way . angela ziegler of cleveland , ohio the nfl needs to `` step up to the plate '' and be the man that michael vick is not . allowing him in their league gives a signal that animal abuse is ok with them . remember jeffrey dahmer started as an animal abuser ! want him as your role model or a spokesman ? kelly koch of holland , michigan the nfl and all sponsors should refrain from any future contact with michael vick . i , for one , will boycott those with future dealings with him . john robinson of redmond , washington pro athletes are constantly getting in trouble with the law . unless we make a policy that all players who are convicted of a felony are banned from the league , then vick should be allowed to play after a suspension . randy jonson of stamford , connecticut until i know the depth of the gambling angle it 's hard to be certain . dog fighting is brutal but if it 's only dog fighting/killing , he should get whatever the feds give him and be able to return to football once his debt is paid . bill saray of derby , connecticut vick should never play again . he was n't the best qb to begin with . anyone with such a blatant disregard for life -- animal or human -- is not worthy of the position in life he was given . playing in the nfl is not a right . as such , the league should ban him permanently , while society should shun him publicly . if only scarlet letters were still around . todd morrison of howell , michigan mr. vick should be judged of his crime . not by his fame , nor his race . he should be prosecuted as a person . i believe mr. vick 's nfl playing days should be determined by the nfl commissioner with consideration of the nfl 's personal conduct policy . this is how everyone should be treated in america . everyone is equal regardless of popularity , fame , and race . lance g. of dearborn heights , michigan first off , i am an african-american ... this is not a race issue . i wish the ignorant people here in the u.s. would get off that tip . this is not an issue to raise the `` race '' card . even his so-called homies -lrb- who were all black -rrb- turned on him .<doc-sep>vick ... committed a felony and now he has to pay for it . he should have chosen a better hobby in life than dog fighting . as for playing football ... he should be banned from the league for at least 2 to 3 years , including his jail time . leah perry of chelmsford , massachusetts i do n't think vick should be allowed to play football , nor should he get off easy . after he serves his sentence , i think he should work at the mspca -lsb- to -rsb- make him see what cruelty to animals really looks like in all aspects . steven todd of fort wayne , indiana i think michael vick will play football again , though at what level is anybody 's guess . i do not think he should be banned for life . he may have gambled , but not on the game as pete rose did . a suspension is in order and i think a year would be fair , but a prison term and suspension would put him out of football for up to three years , and who knows what kind of qb he will be after this ordeal and so long an absence ? jennifer runyan of fayetteville , north carolina i think the whole michael vick case is disgusting . the nfl needs to ban him permanently . he should n't be able to use the obscene amount of money he makes to torture innocent animals . kids looked up to him and how many of them will think that abuse is ok now ? i do n't think he deserves to play ever again . i applaud the people sending michael vick jerseys into the atlanta humane society to use cleaning the kennels , now that 's appropriate ! watch what a dog thinks of his vick jersey . debbie connor of whitesville , kentucky no , he should not be granted the right to play pro football again ! he was given the `` golden '' key to a life of fame and riches and he blew it away . he should be working for the road department , picking up `` road kill '' off the streets ! julio hernandez of kalamazoo , michigan he needs to be banned from the nfl forever . these `` men '' are role models for the youth of this country . what kind of message would we be sending to them if we were to let him play in the nfl again ? not a good one , i can tell you that much . he 's through . and if he 's not , i certainly wo n't be watching any falcons games , or for that matter any team he may eventually play for . nichelle williams of woodbridge , virginia if imus is going to return back to the air ... then vick should return to the field . you violate some people or beings ; you apologize , let the air clear and go on with business as usual ! john brandon of old hickory , tennessee to make a long story short -- my family will never watch a game with michael vick in attendance . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>the former atlanta falcons quarterback said he grew up not knowing the severity of the crime of dogfighting and asked hudson for `` a second chance . '' other letters supporting vick were sent by his mother , his seventh-grade teacher and children he had met since becoming a star and one of the nfl 's most highly paid players . brenda vick boddie said her son fell victim to friends who took advantage of vick 's inability to `` say no . '' `` please your honor give my baby michael another chance . -lsb- h -rsb- e 's never been in trouble with the law before , please ! please ! one more chance , '' she pleaded in her own handwritten letter . former falcons teammate warrick dunn , atlanta mayor shirley franklin and two sporting legends -- former home-run king hank aaron and former two-time boxing heavyweight champion george foreman -- also wrote letters on vick 's behalf . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the national football league has indefinitely suspended atlanta falcons quarterback michael vick without pay , officials with the league said friday . nfl star michael vick is set to appear in court monday . a judge will have the final say on a plea deal . earlier , vick admitted to participating in a dogfighting ring as part of a plea agreement with federal prosecutors in virginia . `` your admitted conduct was not only illegal , but also cruel and reprehensible . your team , the nfl , and nfl fans have all been hurt by your actions , '' nfl commissioner roger goodell said in a letter to vick . goodell said he would review the status of the suspension after the legal proceedings are over . in papers filed friday with a federal court in virginia , vick also admitted that he and two co-conspirators killed dogs that did not fight well . falcons owner arthur blank said vick 's admissions describe actions that are `` incomprehensible and unacceptable . '' the suspension makes `` a strong statement that conduct which tarnishes the good reputation of the nfl will not be tolerated , '' he said in a statement . watch what led to vick 's suspension '' goodell said the falcons could `` assert any claims or remedies '' to recover $ 22 million of vick 's signing bonus from the 10-year , $ 130 million contract he signed in 2004 , according to the associated press .<doc-sep>the former atlanta falcons player is a free agent and has not been signed by any team . goodell said he was not involved in any negotiations between vick and a team . dungy has agreed to continue working with vick as an adviser and mentor , the nfl statement said . goodell said vick underwent tests after requests from animal rights groups , including a psychiatric evaluation . `` we worked with animal rights activist groups , and we are clear , '' he said . `` we worked with their medical professionals about the aspects of our evaluations . michael fully cooperated with all of those tests . those tests did not indicate there was any reason he could n't make a transition forward . '' in a letter to vick , goodell wrote that his decision regarding full reinstatement `` will be based on reports from outside professionals , your probation officer and others charged with supervising your activities , the quality of your work outside football '' as well as factors such as the absence of any further law enforcement issues . ireport.com : should vick get a second chance ? `` this step-by-step approach is not meant to be a further punishment and should not be viewed as such , '' goodell wrote , according to the nfl . `` instead , it is intended to maximize the prospect that you can successfully resume your career and your life . i believe that a transitional approach with a strong network of support will give you the best opportunity to manage effectively the various issues and pressures that you will inevitably face in the coming weeks and months and earn your full reinstatement . '' watch goodell talk about his decision '' the league suspended vick indefinitely in august 2007 after his guilty plea . although he was released from federal custody july 20 , he must serve three years of probation , the league said . in reviewing vick 's status , goodell considered court records , submissions from vick and others , reports from outside professionals and conversations with current and former players , among other items . at a hearing july 22 , goodell spoke to vick along with his representatives and others , including nfl players ' association officials .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- disgraced former nfl star michael vick declared that `` i am not the bad person or the beast i 've been made out to be '' in a letter to a judge asking for leniency . michael vick wrote he was `` forever a changed man . '' `` i have been talked about and ridiculed on a day to day basis by people who really do n't know michael vick the human being . they only knew the football player which is unfair , '' vick said in a handwritten letter released this week . u.s. district judge henry e. hudson sentenced vick on monday to serve 23 months in prison for financing a dogfighting ring and helping to kill pit bulls that did not fight aggressively . vick wrote the judge that he had accepted responsibility for his actions , would pay restitution and never again use `` a single dollar that i have earned for anything but to help people . '' read letters from vick , his mom , sports stars ''

<t> michael vick to take plea deal on dogfighting charges . </t> <t> nfl expected to announce how the case will affect his career . </t> <t> cnn.com readers shared their thoughts on vick 's future , send your i-report . </t>

your e-mails : should the nfl ban michael vick ?<T>

miami , florida -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- four men have been arrested in connection with the shooting death of nfl player sean taylor , authorities announced friday evening . police have more than one confession in the case and the individuals will be charged with murder , said robert parker , director of the miami-dade police department . the suspects were identified as venjah k. hunte , 20 ; eric rivera jr. , 17 ; jason scott mitchell , 17 ; and charles kendrick lee wardlow , 18 . additional arrests are possible , parker said . `` the key to solving this case was citizen 's tips , '' he said . taylor , 24 , died tuesday , a day after he was shot during an apparent burglary at his miami home . the police investigation revealed the suspects thought the house was empty , parker said . `` they were certainly not looking to go there and kill anyone , '' he said . `` they were expecting a residence that was not occupied , so murder or shooting someone was not their initial motive . ... their obvious motive was to go there and steal the contents of the house . '' the men knew taylor lived at the house , parker said . at 1:45 a.m. monday , taylor 's girlfriend , jackie garcia , called 911 and said someone had been shot . authorities have said she told police she was hiding under the bedding during the attack . garcia did not see what happened and could not provide a suspect description , parker told reporters on wednesday .<doc-sep>police said garcia and taylor were awakened by noise in the living room , and that taylor got up and locked the bedroom door , but the door was kicked in and two shots were fired , one striking him in the leg . garcia tried to call 911 but was unable to , and used her cell phone instead , police said . there was no evidence the line had been cut , parker said wednesday . a break-in was also reported eight days earlier , miami-dade police said . a police report said someone forced a window open and left a kitchen knife on a bed . several drawers and a bedroom safe were searched during the break-in , according to the report . taylor was home unexpectedly because of an injury , his former attorney , richard sharpstein , told reporters tuesday . `` i think he was surprised or they were surprised to find him there , '' he said . taylor spent four years with the washington redskins , but had been out with a sprained right knee . he did not play in sunday 's game against tampa bay . taylor was a first-round pick in the 2004 draft , according to his team 's web site . he played at the university of miami , where he was an all-american in 2003 , and was also a high school standout in the city . dubbing him `` the prototype nfl free safety , '' the redskins credited taylor 's team-leading tackling prowess for sending him to his first pro bowl after 2006 . he was regarded as one of the hardest hitting players in the league . taylor recorded 257 tackles -lrb- 206 solo -rrb- during his brief career , two sacks and seven interceptions . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's rich phillips 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 fourth suspect -- eric rivera jr. , 17 -- remained in custody in fort myers , florida . his attorney , wilbur smith , told cnn he expected his client to be moved to a miami-dade juvenile detention facility wednesday . watch cnn 's rick sanchez speak to attorneys for two of the suspects '' rivera was armed during the alleged burglary , and `` during the course of the commission of the offense ... discharged a firearm and as a result of the discharge , death or great bodily harm was inflicted upon sean maurice taylor , a human being , '' the indictment says . the four men were arrested friday , officials said . taylor , 24 , died a day after he was shot during an apparent burglary at his home . miami-dade police investigators said they believe the burglars thought the house was empty .<doc-sep>miami , florida -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- four suspects indicted on murder and burglary charges in the slaying of washington redskins star sean taylor begin their journey through the courts on wednesday . a grand jury identified eric rivera jr. as the shooter in the death of nfl star sean taylor . court documents say the youngest is alleged to have fired the fatal shot . he is identified as eric rivera jr. , 17 . he appeared briefly on wednesday morning before a judge in miami , florida . rivera has been indicted as an adult and judge john thornton found probable cause to support charges of first degree felony murder and burglary with assault or battery with a firearm . three other suspects -- venjah k. hunte , 20 , jason scott mitchell , 19 , and charles kendrick lee wardlow , 18 -- appeared tuesday in court via videoconference . they wore thick green vests , which defense attorneys said were suicide safety smocks . they were ordered held without bail at the pre-trial detention center in miami , florida , where corrections officer janelle hall said they are under suicide watch . all four suspects are expected to make initial appearances later this morning before circuit judge dennis murphy . watch cnn 's rick sanchez speak to attorneys for two of the suspects '' rivera was armed during the alleged burglary , and `` during the course of the commission of the offense ... discharged a firearm and as a result of the discharge , death or great bodily harm was inflicted upon sean maurice taylor , a human being , '' the indictment says . the four men were arrested friday , officials said . taylor , 24 , died a day after he was shot during an apparent burglary at his home . miami-dade police investigators said they believe the burglars thought the house was empty . thousands of mourners attended taylor 's funeral monday at florida international university 's arena . see photos from the funeral '' police said taylor and his girlfriend , jackie garcia , were awakened by noise coming from the living room early november 26 . taylor got up and locked the bedroom door , but the door was kicked in and two shots were fired , police said . one struck taylor in the leg . garcia and the couple 's 18-month-old daughter were not hurt . authorities have said garcia told police she was hiding under the bedding during the attack , did not see what happened and could not provide a suspect description . a break-in had been reported at taylor 's residence eight days earlier . a police report from that incident said someone forced a window open and left a kitchen knife on a bed . several drawers and a bedroom safe were searched during the break-in , according to the report . taylor spent four years with the redskins , earning his first pro bowl selection in 2006 . he suffered a sprained right knee in a november 11 loss to the philadelphia eagles and had not played since . the 2004 first-round draft pick played at the university of miami , where he was an all-american in 2003 . he was regarded as one of the hardest-hitting players in the nfl . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's john couwels , kim segal , and patrick oppmann contributed to this report .<doc-sep>miami , florida -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a grand jury tuesday indicted four suspects on charges of first degree felony murder and armed burglary in the slaying of washington redskins star sean taylor . a grand jury identified eric rivera jr. as the shooter in the death of nfl star sean taylor . court documents say the youngest is alleged to have fired the fatal shot . the three adult suspects -- venjah k. hunte , 20 , jason scott mitchell , 19 , and charles kendrick lee wardlow , 18 -- appeared in court tuesday via videoconference wearing thick green vests , which defense attorneys said were suicide safety smocks . they were ordered held without bail at the pre-trial detention center in miami , florida , where corrections officer janelle hall said they are under suicide watch .<doc-sep>by . associated press . published : . 17:06 est , 4 november 2013 . | . updated : . 17:44 est , 4 november 2013 . a 23-year-old man was convicted of . second-degree murder on monday in the 2007 slaying of washington redskins . star sean taylor during what witnesses say was a botched burglary . the jury deliberated about 16 hours over . four days before returning the verdict in the trial of eric rivera jr , . who admitted in a videotaped confession to police days after taylor 's . death that he fired the fatal shot after kicking in the bedroom door . at . the trial , he said on the witness stand that his confession was given . only under police pressure and amid purported threats to his family . rivera , who was 17 at the time of the slaying , was also convicted of armed burglary . he could be sentenced to life in prison . scroll down for video . botched robbery : eric rivera jr , pictured on friday , was convicted of second degree murder today in the slaying of red skins star sean taylor . convicted : rivera sat quietly at the defense table with his lawyers after the verdict was announced , showing no reaction or emotion . he sat quietly at the defense table . with his lawyers after the verdict was announced , showing no reaction or . emotion . the courtroom was packed with taylor and rivera family . members , but there were no outbursts . neither prosecutors , taylor 's family nor the family of the football player 's girlfriend would comment after the hearing . in the confession , rivera said the group . of five young men , all from the fort myers area , had driven to taylor 's . house planning to steal large amounts of cash he kept inside . victim : washington redskins football player sean taylor is shown at training camp in ashburn , virginia . they . thought taylor , 24 , would be out of town at a game against tampa bay , . but did n't realize until it was too late that he was home with a knee . injury . taylor 's then-girlfriend , jackie garcia haley , and their . 18-month-old daughter , were also home at the time . they were not hurt . four other men were also charged in the . case and three will be tried later . venjah hunte , 25 , pleaded guilty to . second-degree murder and burglary charges in a deal that calls for a . 29-year prison sentence . testifying in his own defense , rivera . claimed it was hunte who brought the 9mm handgun and who shot taylor . rivera insisted that he was not told about the burglary plot until the . group was driving across alligator alley toward miami , and that he .

<t> new : police say they have more than one confession in the case . </t> <t> new : investigation reveals the men thought the house was empty , police say . </t> <t> washington redskins safety sean taylor died tuesday . </t> <t> taylor shot during an apparent burglary at his miami home . </t>

four arrested in death of sean taylor<T>

colombo , sri lanka -lrb- reuters -rrb- -- humble woodcutter mohammed sultan nafeek 's teenage daughter moved to saudi arabia to work as a housemaid to support her family after they were displaced by the 2004 tsunami . now she is on death row , and all he can do is pray . razeena mohammad -lrb- left -rrb- and mohammad sultan nafeek , parents of rizana nafeek . rizana , who was 17 when she started work in saudi arabia , was convicted of killing a 4-month-old baby boy in her care just two weeks into her job . nafeek says the child died accidentally , choking on milk . his daughter was sentenced to beheading in a case rights groups say underlines the vulnerability of many of the 1.5 million sri lankans who work abroad -- nearly 400,000 of them in saudi arabia alone . `` our family was suffering hardship , and so our daughter volunteered to go and work abroad to send money home , '' nafeek told reuters by telephone from his modest home in mutur in sri lanka 's war-torn northeast . after the december 2004 tsunami forced them from their home , the family was displaced again by renewed civil war between the state and separatist tamil tiger rebels . nafeek visited saudi arabia with sri lanka 's deputy foreign minister this month in a bid to secure clemency and met with relations of the dead child 's parents but came away empty handed . under saudi law , a pardon is the gift of the family of the victim , and so far the parents of the dead child have refused to meet either the family or sri lankan officials . `` the cops told us : ` go and pray to allah . if you can get the forgiveness of the parents , your daughter will be free , ' '' he said . `` so i am praying all the time . '' `` if we had been able to meet the parents , we are sure they would have been willing to forgive our daughter after seeing our situation . ''<doc-sep>the sri lankan government is investigating the agency that sent rizana to work abroad when she was technically still a child but remains hopeful she will be pardoned or exonerated . `` i am fairly confident , '' said deputy foreign minister hussein bhaila . `` we have spoken to tribal leaders of their particular tribe , we have spoken to area officials ... it is they who will now have to speak -lrb- to the parents -rrb- . '' `` his excellency the president -lrb- mahinda rajapaksa -rrb- has been following this case very keenly . this is an exceptional case because of her tender age , '' he added . rights groups accuse the government of failing to protect its expatriate workers -- one of the main sources of foreign-exchange revenues for the $ 23 billion economy -- with legal aid . they also decry saudi arabia 's legal system . `` this case raises many troubling questions about the treatment of children and foreigners in saudi arabia 's criminal-justice system , '' human rights watch said in a statement issued overnight . `` international law prohibits the death penalty for crimes committed before the age of 18 . '' saudi arabia executed four sri lankans convicted of armed robbery earlier this year , and did not inform sri lankan authorities beforehand . sri lanka reinstated its own death penalty in 2004 after the murder of a high court judge , but it has been dormant since 1976 . there is no indication any of the dozens of convicted murderers , rapists and drug smugglers on death row in sri lanka and effectively serving life prison terms will actually be executed . e-mail to a friend . copyright 2007 reuters . all rights reserved.this material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten , or redistributed .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- saudi arabia on sunday defended its execution of a sri lankan maid for the death of an infant in her care and hit back at international criticism of last week 's beheading . `` the kingdom of saudi arabia categorically rejects any interference in its affairs or in the provisions of its judiciary under any justifications , '' a statement carried by the official saudi press agency read . human rights groups and the sri lankan government had lobbied for leniency in the case of rizana nafeek , who was convicted of killing her employers ' son in 2005 . the family said she strangled the boy , kayed bin nayef bin jazyan al-otaibi , after being asked to bottle-feed him , but nafeek said the infant accidentally choked on milk . read more : outrage over beheading of sri lankan woman by saudi arabia . she was executed wednesday amid condemnation by human rights groups , the european union and the united nations . but in sunday 's statement , the saudis said complaints about her execution `` draw on false information about the case and are issued without full knowledge of the circumstances of the case itself . '' the saudi statement denied allegations by nafeek 's advocates that she was a minor at the time of the boy 's death . sri lanka 's government said she was only 17 at the time . but the saudi statement said her official passport showed she was 21 when the boy died .<doc-sep>last month he was only 15 when he was arrested as part of a ring that . stole jewelry in 2004 and 2005 . it was also reported that they had no access to lawyers . the south has been marginalized and . suffered discrimination by the powerful central saudi region where the . capital , riyadh , and holy shrines of mecca and medina are located . it was reported on march 13 that the execution went ahead despite appeals from human rights charities . there was also an international outcry , including from human rights groups , after a sri lankan maid , rizana nafeek , was beheaded in public by sword last month . miss nafeek was sentenced to death aged 17 in 2007 after her saudi employer accused her of strangling his four-month-old baby two years earlier after a dispute with the child 's mother . a government spokesman said riyadh : ` deplores the statements made ... about the execution of a sri lankan maid who had plotted and killed an infant by suffocating him to death one week after she arrived in the kingdom . ' the case soured the kingdom 's diplomatic relations with sri lanka , which on thursday recalled its ambassador to saudi arabia in protest . the un 's main human rights body on friday expressed ` deep dismay ' at the beheading , while the european union said it had asked saudi authorities to commute the death penalty . riyadh , however , rejected the statements as ` external interference ' in its domestic affairs . the spokesman said : saudi arabia ` respects ... all rules and laws and protects the rights of its people and residents , and completely rejects any intervention in its affairs and judicial verdicts , whatever the excuse . '<doc-sep>by . sarah johnson . published : . 04:13 est , 11 march 2013 . | . updated : . 06:24 est , 11 march 2013 . saudi arabia is considering dropping public beheadings as a method of execution because of a shortage of government swordsmen in the oil-rich kingdom . a joint saudi committee composed of representatives of the ministries of interior , justice and health has instead proposed firing squads for capital sentences . the committee argued that the measure , if adopted , would not violate islamic law , allowing heads - or emirs - of the country 's 13 local administrative regions to begin using the new method when needed . new measure : a committee based in the saudi capital riyadh -lrb- pictured -rrb- is considering dropping public beheadings because of a lack of swordsmen . the daily mirror in sri lanka reported that the committee said in a statement : ` this solution seems practical , . especially in light of shortages in official swordsmen or their belated . arrival to execution yards in some incidents ; the aim is to avoid . interruption of the regularly-taken security arrangements . ' the ultra-conservative gulf kingdom beheaded 76 people in 2012 , according to an afp tally based on official figures . human rights watch -lrb- hrw -rrb- put the number at 69 . rape , murder , apostasy , armed robbery and drug trafficking are all punishable by death under saudi arabia 's strict version of sharia , or islamic law . so far this year , three people have been executed . death by beheading has always been a source of tension between saudi arabia and the international community . there was international outcry , including from human rights groups , after a sri lankan maid , rizana nafeek , was beheaded in public by sword last month . death by beheading has always been a source of tension between saudi arabia -lrb- capital riyadh pictured -rrb- and the international community . executed : sri lankan maid rizana nafeek was beheaded despite international appeals for her release . miss . nafeek was sentenced to death aged 17 in 2007 after her saudi employer accused . her of strangling his four-month-old baby two years earlier after a . dispute with the child 's mother . a . government spokesman said riyadh : ` deplores the statements made ... about the execution of a sri lankan maid who had plotted and killed an . infant by suffocating him to death one week after she arrived in the . kingdom . ' the case soured the kingdom 's diplomatic relations with sri lanka , which on thursday recalled its ambassador to saudi arabia in protest . the un 's main human rights body on friday expressed ` deep dismay ' at the beheading , while the european union said it had asked saudi authorities to commute the death penalty . riyadh , however , rejected the statements as ` external interference ' in its domestic affairs . the spokesman said : saudi arabia ` respects ... all rules and laws and protects the rights of its people and residents , and completely rejects any intervention in its affairs and judicial verdicts , whatever the excuse . '<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- sri lanka will limit the amount of women that go to saudi arabia to work as housemaids as outrage continues over saudi arabia 's beheading of a sri lankan teen . officials this week raised the minimum age for female domestic workers so that no women under the age of 25 would be allowed to go to saudi arabia to work as a maid , said keheliya rambukwella , a government spokesman . read more : why global labor reforms are vital to protect vulnerable workers . the move comes after the beheading of housemaid rizana nafeek that occurred earlier this month . nafeek was 17 when a baby she was caring for in saudi arabia died . she was convicted of killing her employers ' son in 2005 . the family said she strangled the 4-month-old boy after being asked to bottle-feed him , but nafeek said the infant accidentally choked on milk .

<t> girl convicted of killing baby in her care in saudi arabia when she was 17 . </t> <t> nafeek says the child died accidentally , choking on milk . </t> <t> girl 's family displaced by december 2004 tsunami , renewed civil war in sri lanka . </t>

sri lankan teen maid on death row<T>

paris , france -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- as a look , it is about as quintessentially french as it gets . all the same , from the new year enjoying a cigarette while you sip on your cafe au lait will become a thing of the past . from january 1 it will be illegal in france to smoke in cafes as well as clubs , casinos and hotels . france is extending its ban on smoking to include bars , discotheques , restaurants , hotels , casinos , as well as its fabled cafes . in a country renowned for its fondness for romance , smoking has never quite shaken off its romantic associations with smoky left bank cafes and waifish parisienne beauties clutching on a gauloises . in spite of the health dangers , about 13.5 million people smoke out of a population of 60 million with around 26 percent of 15 year olds estimated to smoke , according to 2002 figures from the world health organization . a smoking ban was first introduced in france in february this year to cover workplaces , schools , airports and hospitals .<doc-sep>the new restrictions will only apply to the inside of premises , meaning smokers are still free to light up on the terraces . even so , enforcing the ban may prove tricky in a country well known for its cafe culture . to soften the blow , the authorities have agreed to an amnesty over the new year holiday and will not fully enforce the new arrangements until wednesday . after that time , any smoker caught will face a fine of $ 450 -lrb- $ 662 -rrb- , while hotel and bar owners who fail to prevent smokers from lighting up on their premises will be fined $ 750 -lrb- $ 1,100 -rrb- . france has lagged behind many of its european neighbors in bringing in legislation to curb smoking in public places . ireland became the first european country to introduce a comprehensive smoking ban in 2004 . since then italy , spain , belgium and britain have followed suit with similar bans . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>by anthony bond . updated : . 12:25 est , 14 october 2011 . the father of a two-year-old girl has accused his ex-wife of teaching their daughter how to smoke cigarettes after shocking images of the tot emerged on the internet . gabriel burulea is now demanding permanent custody of his daughter after claiming that his ex posted a video on youtube of their child smoking at home in bughea de sus , arges , romania . it is also alleged that she taught the youngster to like coffee . concerns : gabriel burulea , 30 , claims his ex wife elena ursu posted a video of their daughter smoking and drinking coffee just to infuriate him . shocking : a romanian father has been awarded temporary custody of his two-year-old toddler after his ex-wife reportedly posted a video of their daughter smoking cigarettes . the couple split up a year ago but full custody of the young girl was awarded to elena ursu , 28 . it is now believed that mr burulea has been awarded temporary custody of the child following the release of the video . the concerned father is now hoping it will lead to him being awarded permanent custody of his daughter . according to orange news , mr burulea . said : ` she wants to taunt me by showing me how she is treating our . child , but i hope it will backfire and be what i need to win custody . ` our daughter does n't want milk - just coffee - and instead of sweets she wants cigarettes . it 's terrible . coffee drinker : the little girl is then handed a cup of coffee which she swallows enthusiastically . ` when . i am allowed to visit her i can see that she is so desperate for a . cigarette that she even grabs the ends of cigarettes and puts them in .<doc-sep>a caffeine-loving robber was being hunted today after holding up a newsagents armed with a cup of coffee . the masked bandit has been dubbed britain 's most carefree raider after casually strolling into the shop holding a mug of black coffee in his right hand then calmly asking the sales assistant to empty the stock of cigarettes into four bin bags . he also stole cash from the oasis news store in wythenshawe , manchester , before walking out . easy raider : this masked bandit was caught on cctv holding up a newsagents in manchester armed with just a cup of black coffee as he made off with four bin bags full of cigarettes and tobacco . nonchalant : the caffeine-loving robber 's accomplice does n't even worry about covering his face as he enters the store . police have released these images in the hope someone will come forward with information . he did disguise himself in a bandana and a hooded jacket , but he was with an equally casual accomplice who did n't even cover his face despite security cameras capturing every moment of the 10.45 am hold-up on new year 's day .<doc-sep>sales of electronic cigarettes , labelled as a ` healthy ' alternative to smoking , have risen tenfold in the last year , as celebrities help make puffing away ` cool ' again . star endorsements of the devices have been credited as one of the factors behind new figures showing an increase in sales from # 9million in 2012 to # 90million in 2013 . companies selling ecigs are also raking in the benefits from its products being allowed on screens , despite a 50-year-long ban on television ads for cigarettes . scroll down for video . fired up sales : actress jenny mccarthy features in an advertisement for electronic cigarette company blucigs . images depicting smoking of electronic . alternatives get around the ban as the products , unlike real cigarettes , . do not contain tar or carbon monoxide . celebrities such as steven dorff and jenny . mccarthy have recently featured in television advertisements for . ecigarettes , and both kate moss and simon cowell have been spotted . puffing away on the fake thing . using electronic cigarettes , known as . ` vaping ' , allows smokers to inhale nicotine vapours without exposing . their bodies to harmful components of a regular cigarette . in the uk , 25 per cent of all attempts to kick the habit are made using e-cigarettes , making it the most popular quitting aid . around 1.3 million britons use . battery-powered e-cigarettes , and sales of the fake fags are predicted . to rise to # 193million by the end of the year , hitting # 339million . annually by 2015 , according to consumer analyst nielsen . not cooling off : the product , which is used by 1.3 million brits is evergrowing in popularity with several famous faces endorsing the product as a ` healthier ' smoking alternative . retro attraction : blade actor stephen dorff also stars in ecig advertisements , resembling the classic black-and-white marlboro man ads from the 1950s . in july , the british american tobacco , . makers of lucky strike , became the first tobacco company to launch a . range of electronic cigarettes in the uk . ` tobacco companies , which are . experiencing a long-term decline in demand for factory-manufactured . cigarettes , are moving to cash in on the new trend , ' andy morton , uk . commercial director of nielsen .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . published : . 01:07 est , 12 october 2013 . | . updated : . 06:16 est , 12 october 2013 . it was only a matter of time - welcome to new york 's first e-cigarette bar . the henley vaporium has just opened up among the pop-up galleries and boutiques on the border of nolita and soho and is being hailed the ` hookah bar of the now ' . owner talia eisenberg even went as far to say she wants the space to become ` like starbucks ' . so what exactly is an e-cigarette bar ? according to eisenberg - a reformed smoker who , like many , turned to electronic cigarettes to kick her habit - it is both a shop that aims to help smokers -lrb- or ` vapers ' , as e-cigarette users have come to be known -rrb- find the perfect device for them , as well as a hang-out where you can ` vape ' , drink cold-pressed juices and eat from a vegan menu . just opened : the henley vaporium , an e-cigarette bar , is the first of its kind in new york , offering a place for ` vapers ' - e-cigarette smokers - to hang out and sample new devices and flavors available . oh-so-chic : the henley vaporium is located at 23 cleveland pl in nolita , right near the soho border . candy store of e-cigs : there seems no end to the flavors of vaper available , from cherry to ` mr miyagi ' . there is a patio out back and a coffee bar . eisenberg developed henley , a company that purveys e-cigarettes , after being unimpressed by the e-cigarettes available at the time . ' -lrb- they ' -rrb- did n't have the throat hit of a real cigarette , ' she told the week . now the henley vaporium is her first real store and the first e-cigarette bar of its kind .

<t> smoking ban in france extended to bars , clubs , restaurants , cafes from jan 1 . </t> <t> smoking ban first introduced in february 2007 for public buildings , workplaces . </t> <t> about 13.5 million people in france smoke out of a population of 60 million . </t> <t> similar bans now exist in ireland , italy , spain , belgium and britain . </t>

france faces end of coffee and cigarettes<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the toddler whose body washed ashore in texas last month has been tentatively identified as a 2-year-old girl , and her mother and a man identified as her boyfriend were arrested saturday , the galveston county sheriff 's office said sunday . police believe two-year-old riley ann sawyers may be `` baby grace . '' investigators believe the child they dubbed `` baby grace '' is actually 2-year-old riley ann sawyers , the galveston county sheriff 's office said sunday . dna analysis is still in progress to confirm that identification . the child 's mother , kimberly dawn trenor , 19 , and a man identified as royce clyde zeigler ii , 24 , were arrested saturday on charges of injuring a child and tampering with physical evidence , the sheriff 's department said . the couple lives in spring , texas , a houston suburb about 75 miles north of galveston .<doc-sep>their bonds were set at $ 350,000 each . the arrests followed searches conducted saturday after a november 7 tip , the sheriff 's department said . deputies and fbi agents plan to release more information at a news conference monday , galveston county sheriff 's maj. ray tuttoilmondo said . the girl 's grandmother , sheryl sawyers , of cleveland , ohio , told cnn affiliate wkyc that riley ann has been missing since june . watch sawyers family describe their fears before child was identified '' on october 29 , a fisherman discovered the body in a blue sterilite plastic container on an uninhabited island in galveston 's west bay . police dubbed the dead girl `` baby grace , '' and asked the public for help in identifying her .<doc-sep>a medical examiner said the child 's skull was fractured , and a forensic dentist estimated her age at 2 to 3 years . in composite sketches , the girl is wearing a pink skirt and matching top -- clothing authorities said she was wearing when she was found . the other sketch , a close-up rendering of the child 's face , shows a fair-skinned toddler with long blond hair . `` she is more to us than just a case number , more to us than just an unidentified body . she is very much a human being , '' tutoilmondo said last month . `` she is someone 's child , someone 's grandchild , someone 's cousin , someone 's best friend , and to us , that is the most important part about this case . '' `` we have adopted the name of baby grace because , there again , that is part of the emotional part of this case for us , '' he said , holding a tiny sneaker identical to one of those the child was wearing when she was found . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's hank bishop contributed to this story .<doc-sep>the toolbox had holes punched in it so she could breathe , and a blanket . another hole was drilled into the box so they could a run a hose through it to clean out human waste without letting her out . it was spray-painted with ` an animal skull surrounding the shadow image of a human skull with the logo `` bone collector . '' ' after her rescue the girl recalled two occasions where she was in the box for three days . apparently balletto called her a ` trooper ' for not screaming in the box . she was also told ` not to -lrb- expletive -rrb- up ' because the men had a ` whole lot of money on the -lrb- marijuana -rrb- grow . ' in addition to the toolbox , police found a homemade wooden rack used for sexual bondage , a noose , two dildos , and a white towel with blood stains on it . lapd contacted the lake county police department , saying balletto may have been responsible for the girl 's kidnapping . officers showed up at balletto 's house on april 29 , asking about the teen . the next day the girl called the police to report that she was okay . authorities were able to trace that call to the girls location at a west sacramento motel , where the two men were arrested and the teen transferred to protective custody . while arresting the men , police found a notebook with what seems to be a script written for the girl for her phone call to police .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . authorities in florida say a naked body found in the water under a causeway in tampa bay might be that of a 9-year-old girl who has been missing since friday afternoon . felecia williams was reported missing after a family friend took her to her apartment complex while the girl 's mother was at a hair appointment . tampa police and police from temple terrace searched the complex with k-9 units but there was no sign of the missing girl . police say a body found under a causeway is that of 9-year-old felecia williams , who was reported missing friday afternoon . about 3:30 p.m. saturday , fisherman at the courtney campbell causeway called 9-1-1 and reported seeing a body floating near the shore below them . on saturday night , temple terrace police announced that the body they found was likely felecia , fox13 reported . ` we do n't know what occurred here yet , ' temple terrace police spokesman michael dunn told tampabay.com . ` that is still under investigation . ' police wo n't make a positive id until an autopsy is performed , which will likely take place on sunday . the little girl 's disappearance is unusual for several reasons . discovery : two fisherman found the body washed up on the shore of the causeway saturday afternoon . felecia 's mother , felecia demerseon , said in an interview that she was getting her hair done when her daughter called to ask if she could go home with a former neighbor and family friend who now lives in another part of tampa bay .<doc-sep>` as he . starts to walk to where the screams are , a little girls runs out , ' upper darby police superintendent michael chitwood told philly.com . ` she said , `` i ran away , i ran away from the people who took me '' . ' the child was immediately taken to a nearby hospital to get checked out . news of the girl 's abduction sent waves through both the community and the school where the girl was successfully released to the woman without photo id shown . about a week after the principal at the school was removed among four people held responsible for the horrific ordeal . the girl had been abducted from her school around 8:50 am by a woman dressed in a burkha who called herself ` tiffany ' district officials . said the incident violated school procedure , which requires anyone . signing a child out of school to show id and be on a list of as a . verified parent or guardian . allowing . the girl to leave school with an unknown adult was a ` serious break in . procedure , ' district spokesman fernando gallard said . the . woman did n't wait at the school 's front office , as is policy , but went . to robinson 's classroom and told a teacher that the child had already . been ` checked out ' of school . robinson was not reported as missing until 3pm , when a caretaker from the child 's after-school program came to pick her up . her mother appeared on local media tearfully pleading for her safe return , and explaining how . she also wears the traditional chador and niqab - the type of clothing . that robinson 's abductor was wearing . the playground where the girl was found is adjacent to a baseball field and a residential neighborhood , where police focused their search for her abductors .<doc-sep>last picture : stephen rakes looks over his shoulder as he leaves the courthouse after attending the trial . the funeral has been scheduled for the man who was found dead just days after being relieved as a witness from the whitey bulger trial . police are still investigating the death of stephen ` stippo ' rakes , who was found dead on a remote running path on wednesday . rakes openly despised bulger , the former crime boss who headed boston 's notorious winter hill gang , and was ready to testify that bulger threatened his daughter at gunpoint to force him to turn over his south boston liquor store for $ 100,000 so that he could make it his mob 's new headquarters . after rakes ' body was found by a jogger , police initially ruled it a suicide but now they have revealed that an autopsy has been rulled inconclusive in determining what killed him . investigators have ordered toxicology tests , which can take weeks to be processed . in the meantime , the boston herald reports that his friends and relatives will attend his wake on wednesday and funeral at the gate of heaven church in south boston on thursday morning . his friend steven davis told nbc : ` no car , no automobile , no id . steve carried his id right here all the time in his pocket . ` of course i think -lrb- he was murdered -rrb- . because of how everything falls into play here now . ' steven davis told nbc : ` no car , no automobile , no id . steve carried his id right here all the time in his pocket . of course i think -lrb- he was murdered -rrb- . because of how everything falls into play here now ' a long time friend of rakes , steve davis , whose sister debbie was allegedly killed by bulger , said the first indication of anything amiss with rakes was on wednesday afternoon when he was removed from the witness list of u.s. attorney carmen ortiz at the u.s. district court in south boston . james ` whitey ' bulger : he was one of the nation 's most wanted fugitives after he fled boston in 1994 . he was finally captured two years ago in santa monica , california and faces 32 counts , including 19 murder charges . the 59-year-old 's death came just weeks after rake , 59 , revealed he was no longer scared of the gangster and that he was grateful to be alive to testify . ` they took everything from me , ' he said of the mob . ` they do n't care about nothing . they do n't care about what they take from you ... at least i 'm still alive . i 'm alive and i 'm grateful for that . ' rakes , who had previously refused to testify against bulger , had told davis that he was ` nervous ' about the ` bombshell ' he thought he was going to drop on the stand at the feared mobster 's trial . ` he was looking forward to taking the stand . he told me over and over he had a big bombshell to drop , ' said davis . however , . he was robbed of this chance on tuesday when u.s. attorney carmen ortiz . informed rakes that he was no longer needed as a witness - a decision . that reportedly ` devastated ' him . rakes . had harbored decades of anger at bulger and his accomplices , stephen . ` the rifleman ' flemmi and kevin weeks , after they allegedly forced him . to hand over his south boston liquor store in 1984 by holding a gun to . his daughter 's head . ` the day i see him in a box , not breathing , will be better , ' rakes said in april . scene : lincoln police guard the side of the road where stephen rakes was found dead on wednesday 17 july . secluded : this is mill st in lincoln , massachusetts , where stephen ` stippo ' rakes was discovered dead . indeed , rakes had been a constant presence at bulger 's trial at the us district court in south boston . attending . every day for the past six weeks , the trial began after the notorious . gangster was captured in california two years ago after 16 years on the . run from authorities . bulger 's right-hand man , kevin weeks . testified last week rakes ' expected upcoming testimony that bulger 's . gang put a gun to his daughter 's head was . bogus . weeks , who was a close associate of . bulger 's for two decades , later became a government witness and . eventually led authorities to the bodies of people who were allegedly . killed by bulger and the gang . he served five years in prison after pleading guilty to being an accessory to five murders . testimony : stephen rakes smiles after greeting an acquaintance outside the liquor store he once owned in the south boston neighborhood of boston , thursday , june 6th , 2013 . bulger stared straight ahead during much of weeks ' testimony and only glanced at him occasionally.weeks also described how bulger acquired a liquor store in south boston . prosecutors . say bulger forced stephen rakes to sell his liquor store to him in 1984 . to use as a headquarters for his gang and as a source of ` legitimate ' income . weeks denied that . the gang forced rakes to sell the store , saying rakes had agreed with an . offer from bulger to buy the store for $ 100,000 . he said when they arrived at rakes ' house to close the deal , rakes said his wife did n't want to sell the . store and complained about the selling price . ` he was trying to shake us down , ' weeks said . at the time , rakes ' two young daughters were in the room and bulger was bouncing one of the girls on his lap , weeks said . he . said he pulled a gun out of his waistband and put it on the table . the . girl on bulger 's lap reached for the gun , weeks said . bulger then told . him to put it away . surveillance shot : this undated surveillance photo released monday , july 8 , 2013 by the u.s. attorney 's office at federal court in boston shows james ` whitey ' bulger , left , with his former right hand man , kevin weeks . changing sides : weeks , right , who was a close associate of bulger 's for two decades , later became a government witness and eventually led authorities to the bodies of people who were allegedly killed by bulger and the gang . ` kevin continues to lie , as usual , because that 's what he has to do , ' rakes said . ` my liquor store was never for sale - never , never , never . ' davis . told abc news that the last time he saw rakes was on tuesday in court . but he failed to reach him during the night and alarms bells started . ringing when he did n't meet him for breakfast on wednesday . ` stippo would not kill himself . absolutely not , ' said davis to abc news on thursday morning . davis said that his friend was ` in good shape ' and the two of them would frequently cycle across boston . ` he had everything to live for and was looking forward to his day in court . it does n't make sense . '

<t> woman , boyfriend arrested after a tip led to search . </t> <t> police believe child found dead in box is riley ann sawyers , 2 . </t> <t> body of little girl was found in box that washed ashore last month . </t> <t> police asked public for help identifying girl they dubbed `` baby grace '' </t>

police have tentative id on girl found dead in box<T>

miami , florida -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- four suspects indicted on murder and burglary charges in the slaying of washington redskins star sean taylor begin their journey through the courts on wednesday . a grand jury identified eric rivera jr. as the shooter in the death of nfl star sean taylor . court documents say the youngest is alleged to have fired the fatal shot . he is identified as eric rivera jr. , 17 . he appeared briefly on wednesday morning before a judge in miami , florida . rivera has been indicted as an adult and judge john thornton found probable cause to support charges of first degree felony murder and burglary with assault or battery with a firearm . three other suspects -- venjah k. hunte , 20 , jason scott mitchell , 19 , and charles kendrick lee wardlow , 18 -- appeared tuesday in court via videoconference . they wore thick green vests , which defense attorneys said were suicide safety smocks . they were ordered held without bail at the pre-trial detention center in miami , florida , where corrections officer janelle hall said they are under suicide watch . all four suspects are expected to make initial appearances later this morning before circuit judge dennis murphy . watch cnn 's rick sanchez speak to attorneys for two of the suspects '' rivera was armed during the alleged burglary , and `` during the course of the commission of the offense ... discharged a firearm and as a result of the discharge , death or great bodily harm was inflicted upon sean maurice taylor , a human being , '' the indictment says . the four men were arrested friday , officials said . taylor , 24 , died a day after he was shot during an apparent burglary at his home . miami-dade police investigators said they believe the burglars thought the house was empty . thousands of mourners attended taylor 's funeral monday at florida international university 's arena . see photos from the funeral '' police said taylor and his girlfriend , jackie garcia , were awakened by noise coming from the living room early november 26 . taylor got up and locked the bedroom door , but the door was kicked in and two shots were fired , police said . one struck taylor in the leg . garcia and the couple 's 18-month-old daughter were not hurt . authorities have said garcia told police she was hiding under the bedding during the attack , did not see what happened and could not provide a suspect description . a break-in had been reported at taylor 's residence eight days earlier . a police report from that incident said someone forced a window open and left a kitchen knife on a bed . several drawers and a bedroom safe were searched during the break-in , according to the report . taylor spent four years with the redskins , earning his first pro bowl selection in 2006 . he suffered a sprained right knee in a november 11 loss to the philadelphia eagles and had not played since . the 2004 first-round draft pick played at the university of miami , where he was an all-american in 2003 . he was regarded as one of the hardest-hitting players in the nfl . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's john couwels , kim segal , and patrick oppmann contributed to this report .<doc-sep>a 17-year-old boy has been charged with rape following a sickening assault on a 93-year-old woman . iquise taylor of anderson , indiana , was charged as an adult on monday after the july 16 attack on amelia rudolf at her home . mailonline does not normally name victims of sexual assault but mrs rudolph participated in a police news conference after anderson was charged with rape , burglary , criminal confinement and strangulation . scroll down for video . brave : amelia rudolf , spoke at a news conference on monday , after the teenage boy who allegedly raped her was charged . sickening assault : iquise taylor , from anderson , indiana has been charged with rape . burglary and strangulation .<doc-sep>the case against a 10-year-old pennsylvania boy accused of fatally beating a 90-year-old woman has been moved to juvenile court . the times-tribune reports that monday 's ruling came after a prosecution psychiatrist testified the boy would benefit most from treatment in the juvenile system . facing an adult charge , the ten-year-old was housed in an adult jail in the months following the oct. 11 beating and killing of 90-year-old helen novak at the home of the boy 's grandfather , novak 's caretaker . juvenile court : the case against a 10-year-old pennsylvania boy accused of fatally beating a 90-year-old woman has been moved to juvenile court -lrb- photographed is the boy and his mother , martha virbitsky , left , and the boy posing , right -rrb- . helen : the boy is accused of beating and killing 90-year-old helen novak -lrb- photographed -rrb- . wayne county chief public defender scott bennett has said there 's ` no real question ' the boy beat novak . the boy reportedly lost his temper after the woman yelled at him . martha virbitsky , the boy 's mother , who took him to police barracks later that day , said the boy told her ` he got mad , lost his temper and grabbed a cane and put it around novak 's throat , ' police said . authorities said the boy told police that he held novak down on the bed and punched her several times in the stomach and throat . he was charged as an adult with criminal homicide and held away from the general population at wayne county 's adult jail .<doc-sep>stayed in the car outside taylor 's house the whole time . the murder weapon was never found . police say it was stuffed in a sock and thrown into the everglades . taylor , a pro bowl safety who had . starred at the university of miami , was shot in the upper thigh , . damaging his femoral artery and causing massive blood loss . admission : suspect eric rivera pictured in court today . since rivera was 17 at the time of the killing , the maximum sentence for his crime is life in prison and not the death penalty . witnesses . say taylor was shot when he confronted the group with a machete outside . his bedroom . a medical examiner said he was essentially dead on arrival . at a hospital on november 26 , 2007 , although doctors did manage to restart . his heart for a while . aside from rivera 's confession , police . found shoe prints outside taylor 's home that matched sneakers some in . the group were wearing that night . witnesses testified rivera was seen . driving a rented black toyota highlander believed used in the crime , and . another witness said the group of five had burglary tools when they . came to her house after taylor was shot . an american hero : one prosecutor described taylor as an american hero who was innocently sleeping with his girlfriend and their baby when he was killed . taylor , a first-round redskins draft . pick in 2004 , signed an $ 18 million contract with the team and was . becoming one of the nfl 's top defensive players when he was slain . several witnesses , including garcia haley , testified that he liked to . keep large amounts of cash around his miami house . one of the men charged in the slaying , . 25-year-old jason mitchell , attended a birthday party a few weeks . earlier at the house for taylor 's half-sister , sasha johnson -- who lived . in fort myers and knew rivera . she testified that taylor gave her a . purse containing $ 10,000 in cash at the party , which was witnessed by . all the guests . that event put the wheels in motion for . the burglary plot , witnesses said . rivera himself testified that some in . the group thought they would get between $ 100,000 and $ 200,000 to split . up . also charged and awaiting trial are mitchell , charles wardlow , 24 , and 22-year-old timothy brown . jackie . garcia , taylor 's girlfriend , who was also inside the bedroom , became . noticeably upset as the detective recounted details of the slaying and . rested her head on her knees in court . she sat near several members of . taylor 's family , including his father , florida city police chief pedro . taylor , in the packed miami-dade county courtroom . emotional : sean taylor 's girlfriend , jackie garcia haley , reacts during testimony at the murder trial of eric rivera in miami-dade circuit court in miami earlier this week .<doc-sep>the murder weapon was never found . police say it was stuffed in a sock and thrown into the everglades . taylor , a pro bowl safety who had . starred at the university of miami , was shot in the upper thigh , . damaging his femoral artery and causing massive blood loss . admission : rivera , shown last october during his trial , was 17-years-old at the time of the killing - sparing him from the death penalty . witnesses . say taylor was shot when he confronted the group with a machete outside . his bedroom . a medical examiner said he was essentially dead on arrival . at a hospital on november 26 , 2007 , although doctors did manage to restart . his heart for a while . aside from rivera 's confession , police . found shoe prints outside taylor 's home that matched sneakers some in . the group were wearing that night . witnesses testified rivera was seen . driving a rented black toyota highlander believed used in the crime , and . another witness said the group of five had burglary tools when they . came to her house after taylor was shot . an american hero : prosecutors described taylor during the trial as an american hero who was sleeping with his girlfriend and their baby when the armed thugs busted into his home and killed him . taylor , a first-round redskins draft . pick in 2004 , signed an $ 18 million contract with the team and was . becoming one of the nfl 's top defensive players when he was slain . several witnesses , including garcia haley , testified that he liked to . keep large amounts of cash around his miami house . one of the men charged in the slaying , . 25-year-old jason mitchell , attended a birthday party a few weeks . earlier at the house for taylor 's half-sister , sasha johnson â $ '' who lived . in fort myers and knew rivera . she testified that taylor gave her a . purse containing $ 10,000 in cash at the party , which was witnessed by . all the guests . that event put the wheels in motion for . the burglary plot , witnesses said . rivera himself testified that some in . the group thought they would get between $ 100,000 and $ 200,000 to split . up . also charged and awaiting trial are mitchell , charles wardlow , 24 , and 22-year-old timothy brown . jackie . garcia , taylor 's girlfriend , who was also inside the bedroom , became . noticeably upset as the detective recounted details of the slaying and . rested her head on her knees in court . she sat near several members of . taylor 's family , including his father , florida city police chief pedro . taylor , in the packed miami-dade county courtroom . emotional : sean taylor 's girlfriend , jackie garcia haley , cries last year during testimony given at the murder trial .

<t> new : 17-year-old alleged shooter appears in miami courtroom . </t> <t> new : eric rivera jr. will be tried as an adult . </t> <t> three adult suspects in sean taylor slaying on suicide watch . </t> <t> taylor died after being shot in home invasion last week . </t>

boy , 17 , charged as adult in killing of nfl 's taylor<T>

london , england -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- leaving school at 16 is not normally the route to success . but richard branson did just that , setting up a magazine and then entering the record business . now his brand is behind more than 300 companies -- from cola to trains , from phones to planes making virgin a global name . soon virgin will reach galactic proportions . in 2009 richard branson hopes to take tourists into space . cnn 's todd benjamin caught up with the billionaire in london and asked what drives him to create such a diverse enterprise . branson : what drives me to create a lot of different businesses is simply a feeling that we can , most likely , do it better than other people in particular areas . we wo n't create a business if somebody else is doing it really well , the only time we 'll create one is if it 's not being done well . benjamin : how would you describe your own personality ? branson : i love people , i love to learn . i never went to university so i see my life as one long university education i never had . i 'm very inquisitive , hence the fact we 've gone to 350 different businesses , which is quite unusual for a western company . benjamin : you run your companies as a series of independent companies . what do you look for in your key lieutenants ? branson : number one , the virgin brand is absolutely paramount , they must do nothing to damage the reputation of the brand . and the second thing is to look after their team of people . benjamin : your headmaster when you left high school said to you '' branson , congratulations , i predict you 'll either go to prison or become a millionaire . '' what was it in your character that you think made him make that observation ? branson : well i suspect the fact that at age 13 i 'm writing him letters on how he could organize the catering better and how the school could save money , and if they save money they could then put it into better facilities for the students . and i managed to persuade him to give me a study to start my magazine and it was only when he actually finally came to me and said `` look , you 're either going to have to do your school work or your magazine , '' that i said `` well , goodbye . i 'm off to do the magazine , but thanks very much . '' benjamin : in your autobiography you write about being four-years-old and your mother stops the car and makes you get out and what does she make you do ? branson : we were on the way to my grandmother 's house in devon , and i think about three miles before we got there she made me get out and told me to find my own way to my grandmother 's house . basically , her approach was to try and get us to stand on our own two feet and she went to extreme measures sometimes to do so . benjamin : without your persona do you think the virgin brand could have ever become what it became ? branson : i think the particular virgin brand perhaps needed me , in the past , to get out there and be adventurous , and therefore to give the brand an adventurous feeling ; take on the big guys , which we did , and beat the big guys and that 's what 's created the virgin brand . i think now if my balloon pops , or the space ship just continues to go into space , or whatever , i think the brand is strong enough to withstand all that and it 'll continue to grow . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>the rocket-powered portion of the flight lasted a little more than 10 minutes , and the entire flight took about an hour . the flight was not a space flight . virgin galactic said it will continue testing this year and plans to reach full space flight by the end of 2013 . `` for the first time , we were able to prove the key components of the system , '' said virgin galactic founder sir richard branson in a statement . branson was in the mojave desert for the flight .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- robert plant has called reports of a led zeppelin tour `` rubbish , '' and now richard branson is doing the same . on his blog wednesday , the virgin group founder said he 's `` dazed and confused '' by rumors that he offered an $ 800 million -lrb- â # 500 million -rrb- contract to see led zeppelin re-form for a reunion tour . `` as much as i love the band , there is absolutely no truth to the story , '' branson said . and despite what you may have heard , virgin atlantic is n't going to rename a plane `` and include a stairway to heaven '' in led zeppelin 's honor , branson added . `` however nice an idea , this is also completely untrue . ''<doc-sep>interest in jobs at virgin is likely to soar following suggestions by billionaire boss richard branson that people should be able to take time off work whenever they want . branson wrote , in an excerpt from his new book , the virgin way : everything i know about leadership : ` it is left to the employee alone to decide if and when he or she feels like taking a few hours a day , a week or a month off . ' branson , who released the material on his blog , said the plan was in action at virgin officers in britain and the u.s. . if it worked , he said , he would encourage all of the company 's subsidiaries to stop counting holiday leave . scroll down for video . virgin boss richard branson believes that people should be able to take vacation time whenever they want . branson said he began considering the concept after his daughter told him netflix was doing it . he said the plan worked on the assumption that employees will only take time off when they think it wo n't impact on them or the company . branson said he first decided to try out the plan after seeing an article on how netflix did not track staff vacation time . he recalled his daughter telling him : ' i have a friend whose company has done the same thing and they 've apparently experienced a marked upward spike in everything -- - morale , creativity and productivity have all gone through the roof . ' branson is n't the first billionaire to publicly advocate for a more flexible work-life balance . branson , pictured here with his staff during the virgin trains ` arrive awesome ' campaign earlier this month , said the plan was already in action at virgin offices in britain and the u.s. . in an interview posted on youtube google co-founder larry page recently said : ` if you really think about the things you need to make yourself happy -- housing , security , opportunity for your kids ... it 's not that hard for us to provide those things . ' he added : ` the idea that everyone needs to work frantically to meet peoples ' needs is not true . '<doc-sep>the virgin strive challenge will be raising money for big change , a charity founded by six friends including sam and holly branson , and princess beatrice . big change is dedicated to improving the lives of young people in the uk and the money raised by the event will support a number of different projects working with young people to develop crucial life skills including communication , resilience and team work . the core team consists of sam branson , richard reed -lrb- innocent co-founder -rrb- , marion bartoli -lrb- former wimbledon champion -rrb- , karl lokko -lrb- poet and social activist -rrb- , justin packshaw -lrb- adventurer -rrb- , fiona waller -lrb- trans-atlantic and indian ocean rower -rrb- , arnaud haines and noah devereux -lrb- event co-founder and director -rrb- . other famous faces who took part in the marathon included ben ainslie , funnyman jack whitehall and singer alexandra burke . the team : -lrb- l-r -rrb- marion bartoli , noah devereux , holly branson , jermain jackman , sam branson , jack whitehall and princess beatrice of york attend the virgin strive challenge launch day . ' i called in my friends who have used life skills to succeed and the premise really captured their imagination , they felt emotionally invested in it , ' explained sam . ` they 've all been striving for success in their lives so it was quite an easy concept for them to grasp . ` we believe the journey is as important as the destination , and that by setting yourself goals and striving to achieve them , you learn vital skills along the way . this is fundamental to the spirit of the virgin strive challenge . it 's such an amazing feeling when you 've pushed yourself and achieved something . ' as someone who has achieved an enormous amount in his lifetime , sir richard shared his advice on what he believes it takes to succeed .

<t> richard branson , founder of virgin , talks to cnn 's todd benjamin . </t> <t> branson left school at 16 to work on a magazine he had set up . </t> <t> he is now responsible for over 300 businesses under the virgin brand . </t>

richard branson , founder , virgin<T>

washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- sen. larry craig filed an appeal monday in his continued legal fight stemming from a bathroom sex sting this summer . sen. larry craig , r-idaho , initially said he would resign at the end of september but then changed his mind . the idaho republican wants the minnesota court of appeals to overturn a judge 's decision refusing to let him withdraw a guilty plea to misdemeanor charges stemming from his arrest in june . `` from the outset senator craig has maintained that he is innocent of any illegal conduct at the minneapolis airport , '' craig 's lawyer , billy martin , said in a written statement . `` like every other citizen , senator craig has the constitutional right to make every effort to clear his name . '' martin called the judge 's decision `` a manifest injustice . '' in an interview sunday with boise , idaho , tv station ktvb , craig said `` we do n't know what the appellate court will say to me , '' according to the station 's web site . watch craig discuss his chances on the appeal '' `` honestly , the appeals courts tend to defend the courts below them . it is my right to do what i 'm doing . i 've already provided for idaho -lsb- the -rsb- certainty that idaho needed , i 'm not running for re-election . i 'm no longer in the way . i am pursuing my constitutional rights . '' the appeals process could take months to complete , court spokesman kyle christopherson said . craig entered a guilty plea after his arrest in a men 's room at the minneapolis-st . paul international airport for allegedly propositioning a plainclothes police officer for sex . craig originally said he would resign from the senate on september 30 if he could not get the guilty plea withdrawn . he later postponed his decision until the judge ruled . after an october 4 ruling against him , craig changed course , saying he would not resign and would continue to pursue his legal options . `` i am innocent of the charges against me , '' he said at the time . the idaho lawmaker 's decision not to resign has created a political headache for the senate 's republican leadership . when news of the arrest first surfaced , gop leaders called for an investigation by the senate ethics committee . they later applauded craig 's decision to resign .<doc-sep>and when craig announced that he would continue to serve in the senate , gop leaders did not appear pleased . `` it 's embarrassing for the senate . it 's embarrassing for our party , '' said sen. john ensign of nevada , who leads the gop 's senate campaign committee , on the day of the judge 's decision . `` i think it 's best for the u.s. senate , it 's best for certainly his party , that he just keeps his word . '' romney accused . in an interview taped sunday with nbc 's matt lauer , craig complained that gop presidential candidate mitt romney `` threw me under the campaign bus '' when news of his arrest came out . `` he not only threw me under his campaign bus , he backed up and ran over me again , '' craig told lauer in the interview set to run tuesday night , according to msnbc.com . romney , former governor of massachusetts , called craig 's behavior `` disgraceful '' and urged the senator to resign when news of the arrest broke in august . craig was romney 's senate liaison before resigning from the campaign . romney spokesman kevin madden defended the presidential candidate 's response . `` gov. romney simply believes that a public office is a public trust , '' madden said . `` he believes when a public official enters a guilty plea , they have broken that public trust and should step aside for the sake of their constituents . '' also in the lauer interview , craig and his wife , suzanne , denied that their marriage is a cover for his homosexuality , according to msnbc.com . `` people know me and know that i would never do that , '' said suzanne craig , msnbc.com reported . `` that 's almost like selling your soul for something . '' the senator has denied he is gay . `` i love this woman very , very much , '' larry craig said , according to msnbc.com . `` the day i found her , i fell deeply in love . and we 're heading toward our 25th anniversary . '' when she learned the story was going to break , suzanne craig said , `` i felt like the floor was falling out from under me . ... and i felt like almost like i was going down a drain for a few moments , '' according to msnbc.com . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's scott anderson and alexander romney contributed to this report .<doc-sep>a decade ago , a federal court ruled than an amendment banning same-sex marriages was unconstitutional . but the decision was short-lived . an appeals court reinstated the ban . rights groups have filed legal challenges . same-sex couples are challenging the state 's ban in u.s. district court , but a federal judge issued a ruling on january 20 delaying the proceedings until after the u.s. supreme court rules . u.s. district court judge karen schreier struck down the state 's same-sex marriage ban in january , but blocked enforcement pending an appeal to the u.s. court of appeals for the eighth circuit . the state 's ban was struck down in january 2014 by a federal judge who said it serves `` no legitimate governmental purpose . '' but , as in many other states , enforcement was delayed pending appeals . the u.s. court of appeals for the fifth circuit heard the case last month and a ruling is pending . a federal appeals court judge upheld a ban last year on same-sex marriages in the state . that decision is part of the u.s. supreme court case expected to be finalized this summer . in november 2014 , the u.s. court of appeals for the sixth circuit upheld the state 's ban . that decision also will be part of the u.s. supreme court case .<doc-sep>georgia is one of just three states with no legislative action or pending legal decisions whatsoever on same-sex marriage . the others are north dakota and nebraska . however , lawsuits are pending to overturn the state 's 2004 ban . the state 's ban is being challenged in state court , where a judge last year ruled the law is unconstitutional , and in federal court , where a u.s. district court judge took the rare step , for a federal judge , of backing such a ban . the ban remains in place pending louisiana 's appeal of the state court ruling . on the federal level , a ruling is pending out of the u.s court of appeals for the fifth circuit , which heard arguments in the case in january . last year , a u.s. district court judge ruled that the state 's constitutional amendment banning gay marriages had no `` legitimate purpose . '' the u.s. court of appeals for the sixth circuit later overturned the ruling , reinstating gay marriage bans in kentucky and four other states . the kentucky ban is part of the u.s. supreme court case scheduled for arguments in april and a decision by june . a u.s. district court judge ruled last year that the state 's same-sex marriage ban was unconstitutional , resulting in the issuance of more than 300 marriage licenses . that ended when the u.s. court of appeals for the sixth circuit granted a stay . the court later reinstated michigan 's ban in the same ruling that reinstated kentucky 's ban . its fate will be decided by the supreme court decision due by june . a state court judge ruled in november that missouri 's 2004 constitutional ban on gay marriage was illegal . attorney general chris koster appealed the ruling to the state supreme court . but that court has indicated that it will not rule on the case until after the u.s. supreme court decision . just a few days after that state court ruling , a u.s. district court judge struck down the state 's marriage ban , but that decision has been stayed pending appeals . while the state ban is in effect , officials in the st. louis area have issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples . a u.s. district court judge granted an injunction last year against the state 's same-sex marriage ban , describing it as unconstitutional . the judge , however , postponed his ruling from going into effect to give the state time to appeal . a federal appeals court heard arguments in the case in january . in the meantime , the same-sex marriage ban is still in effect .<doc-sep>the controversial issue of same sex marriage could be heading for the supreme court , just a month after the body declined to rule on it . a federal appeals court on thursday halted a run of rulings supporting same-sex marriage by the u.s. courts that are the last line for appeals just below the supreme court . the 6th u.s. circuit court of appeals panel instead upheld laws against the practice in four states -- ohio , michigan , kentucky and tennessee . halt of momentum ? the rulling ran counter to a rapid string of victories for the gay rights movement . pictured : sean lewrence , of philadelphia , holds up a flag during a gay marriage rally , in philadelphia last year . the ruling followed more than 20 court victories for supporters of same-sex marriage since the supreme court struck down part of the federal defense of marriage act last year . lawyers for gay plaintiffs say they will ask the supreme court to hear their arguments , and the split created thursday among the federal appeals courts makes it more likely they will agree to this time . justice ruth bader ginsburg had explained in september that the lack of a split in the appeals courts made supreme court review of the issue unnecessary . but she said ` there will be some urgency ' if the 6th circuit allowed same-sex marriage bans to stand . one month ago thursday , the supreme court turned away appeals from five states seeking to uphold their same-sex marriage bans . that action had the effect of further expanding gay marriage . ` ecstatic ' : brian brown , president of the national organization for marriage , applauded the ruling and said the other side was ` counting their chickens before they 're hatched ' -lrb- file picture -rrb- . the 6th circuit panel , in its 2-1 ruling , said changing the definition of marriage should be done through the political process , not by judges and lawyers . ` surely the people should receive some deference in deciding when the time is ripe to move from one picture of marriage to another , ' wrote circuit judge jeffrey sutton , writing for himself and a fellow george w. bush appointee . the dissenting judge suggested that sutton and judge deborah cook might have wanted to push the issue on to the high court . ` because the correct result is so obvious , one is tempted to speculate that the majority has purposefully taken the contrary position to create the circuit split , ' judge martha craig daugherty wrote . the clinton appointee added that the supreme court could put an `` end to the uncertainty of status and the interstate chaos that the current discrepancy in state laws threaten . '' the ruling ran counter to a remarkably rapid string of victories for the gay rights movement over the past few months that have now made same-sex marriage legal in at least 30 states . four other u.s. appeals courts in other regions of the country ruled in recent months that states can not ban gay matrimony . ` this anomalous ruling wo n't stand the test of time or appeal , ' said evan wolfson , president of the pro-gay marriage group freedom to marry , in a statement about the 6th circuit ruling . ohio attorney general mike dewine 's office , which argued in support of the voter-passed 2004 ohio ban on gay marriage , said it was ` pleased the court agreed with our arguments that important issues such as these should be determined through the democratic process . ' brian brown , president of the national organisation for marriage , said he was ` ecstatic ' about the ruling . ` the other side was counting their chickens before they 're hatched . ' the supreme court would have to decide by mid-january whether to hear the case in time for a decision in june . otherwise , the case would be pushed back to the following term and probably not decided until june 2016 .<doc-sep>the utah announcement comes two days after state officials lost their case in a federal appeals court , which said the state 's request for a stay was n't warranted and ordered the appeal process be expedited . the appeals court 's ruling allows same-sex marriages to continue in utah while appeals continue . last week , u.s. district judge robert j. shelby struck down utah 's ban on same-sex marriage , saying the law `` conflicts with the united states constitution 's guarantees of equal protection and due process under the law . '' utah voters approved a law banning same-sex marriage in 2004 . judge shelby 's ruling drew national attention partly because utah is viewed as among the more conservative states and because the u.s. supreme court just ruled this summer on same-sex marriage .

<t> sen. larry craig files appeal to get guilty plea in sex sting withdrawn . </t> <t> craig criticizes mitt romney for quickly calling for his resignation . </t> <t> the idaho republican was gop presidential candidate 's liaison to the senate . </t> <t> craig stepped down from romney campaign when news of his arrest broke . </t>

craig appeals judge 's ruling in sex sting case<T>

washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- federal agents have determined new york gov. eliot spitzer used a high-priced call-girl ring at least eight times in recent months , and agents had him under surveillance twice this year , sources familiar with the investigation said wednesday . sources say new york gov. eliot spitzer used a call-girl service eight times in recent months . spitzer announced his resignation wednesday , two days after reports of his connection to the emperors club vip became public . he has not been charged with a crime . he told reporters wednesday , `` i can not allow my private failings to disrupt the people 's work . '' the resignation will take effect monday . watch spitzer say he will resign '' the sources said the investigation began when new york 's north fork bank notified the treasury department about suspicious transfers of money from spitzer 's bank accounts . that investigation led agents to the alleged organizers of the prostitution ring , four of whom were charged in a criminal complaint last week , the sources said . a grand jury in new york is likely to hear evidence in the case soon , said kathleen mullin , an attorney who said she represents one of the ring 's employees . mullin would not identify her client , but said she was not the woman identified only as `` kristen '' linked to spitzer in court papers . she said her client and other women who worked for the emperors club have been asked to testify before the grand jury . asked if her client had any encounters with spitzer , mullin said , `` we have no information regarding the governor . '' wiretaps on suspected members of the ring , authorized in january , yielded more than 5,000 telephone calls and text messages and another 6,000-plus e-mails , according to court papers . in those intercepts , the organizers told clients how to arrange and pay for their trysts , a federal agent 's affidavit states . the affidavit identified clients by number , with spitzer designated `` client 9 , '' a source with knowledge of the investigation told cnn this week . sources familiar with the investigation said federal authorities wednesday were trying to clamp down on leaks of the investigation 's details . see a timeline of the investigation '' the affidavit states `` client 9 '' paid $ 4,300 for 2 1/2 hours with a call girl he arranged to meet at washington 's mayflower hotel , with some of that a deposit on a future session . court papers state he also paid for train tickets , cab fare , mini-bar and room service charges for kristen -- a 5-foot-5 , 105-pound brunette he arranged to meet the night of february 13 . kristen is a 22-year-old would-be singer from new jersey , the new york times reported wednesday . the newspaper said ashley youmans -- now known as ashley alexandra dupre -- was identified in court documents as kristen . dupre has not been charged with a crime . she made a brief appearance monday in u.s. magistrate court as a witness against four people charged with operating the emperor 's club , the times said . in an entry on her myspace page , dupre says she left `` a broken family '' and `` abuse '' in 2004 , eventually settling in manhattan `` to pursue my music career . '' `` i am all about my music , and my music is all about me , '' she writes on her myspace page . `` it flows from what i 've been through , what i 've seen and how i feel . '' dupre 's mother , carolyn capalbo , told the times she and her daughter were close , adding that `` she obviously got involved in something much larger than her . '' spitzer , whose squeaky-clean image as a corporate corruption-buster made him a rising democratic star , testified to the house financial services committee the next day about the effect of the mortgage meltdown . he took a state plane from buffalo , new york , to washington and back to new york , his office confirmed tuesday . sources told cnn that fbi agents had spitzer under surveillance at the mayflower that night -- and on an earlier occasion , on january 26 , when no prostitute showed up . his resignation is unlikely to affect decisions about whether he will face prosecution , the sources said . his attorneys were negotiating wednesday with the u.s. attorney 's office in new york in an effort to avoid criminal charges , a source told cnn . but in a statement issued after the governor 's resignation , u.s. attorney michael garcia said no agreement had been reached between his office and the governor `` relating to his resignation or any other matter . '' the resignation could be a factor in the u.s. presidential race . spitzer was a superdelegate , one of nearly 800 party leaders and officials who cast their votes at the democratic national convention . they are free to vote for any candidate they wish . spitzer was a political ally of new york sen. hillary clinton , who is currently in a tight race with illinois sen. barack obama to win the democratic nomination . a candidate must get 2,024 delegates to clinch the democratic nomination . with the race so close , superdelegates could play a larger role in determining the democratic presidential candidate than in past elections . according to two sources who spoke tuesday with cnn , spitzer hit the federal radar when a bank reported to the internal revenue service that a significant amount of money had been suspiciously transferred from one account to another . late last year , upon investigating the movement of money that the bank initially reported , the irs found that the accounts were connected to spitzer , the sources said . the irs contacted the fbi , which joined the case to investigate the possibility of government corruption . federal law requires a banking institution to file a suspicious activity report when the institution suspects a transaction is linked to a federal crime . more specifically , banks are required to report to the irs any transactions totaling $ 5,000 or more if the transactions `` involve potential money laundering or a violation of the bank secrecy act . '' the act requires businesses to keep documents that are useful for identifying and investigating money laundering . after receiving the irs report last year , the fbi corruption squad linked the account transfers to a prostitution ring , according to sources . the fbi criminal division joined the probe to look into the prostitution ring , while the federal corruption team continued its investigation into spitzer . legal experts not involved in the case have said spitzer could face some type of money-laundering charge , such as structuring a financial transaction to evade federal bank reporting requirements by breaking up a large transaction into smaller ones . sources tell cnn that prosecutors have considered pursuing a structuring charge , but have run into some difficulty . and richard smith , a former justice department official , said structuring charges are `` fairly difficult to prove . '' `` you are going to have to prove that he withdrew sums of money with the intent to evade the reporting requirements , to conceal the fact that he is withdrawing the money , '' said smith , the former deputy chief of the justice department 's fraud section . `` because if the money was withdrawn , it appears if his lawyers are correct , in a manner that he did n't conceal anything , it begs the question whether or not they can prove the reckless intent that he withdrew this money in small sums to avoid the reporting requirement . '' spitzer also could face charges related to the mann act , which makes it a federal offense to transport someone across state lines for the purpose of prostitution . but sources tell cnn that the government is less interested in pursuing charges for prostitution than on following the money . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's kevin bohn contributed to this report .<doc-sep>in graphic detail , the $ 1,500 hooker describes how spitzer pretended to test her karate skills , exclaiming , ` well , then , let 's see if you learned anything , ' before pouncing on her . ` the more struggle there was , the more he was into it , ' the blonde writes in the book , ` call girl confidential , ' according to the new york post . ` when he grabbed my throat , that was too much . ' spitzer vehemently denies the claims . ` this is an old story , a complete fabrication , that is unequivocally untrue , ' his spokeswoman , lisa linden , told mailonline on sunday . ` as the ny times and ny law enforcement have already debunked the lies in this book , anyone who reprints it is knowingly repeating falsehoods . eliot has no ties whatsoever to the person in question . ' woodard , who writes for simon & schuster under the alias ` rebecca kade , ' claims she worked for two notorious new york madams and eventually became a police informant , helping prosecutors take down anna gristina , known as the ` soccer mom madam . ' rebecca woodard has recalled acting out the violent fantasies of former new york governor eliot spitzer . the former call-girl claims spitzer would enjoy strangling her and wrestling her before they had sex in her new book , call girl confidential . tell-all : woodard wrote the book , call girl confidential pictured , under the alias ` rebecca kade ' ` he was n't squeezing , ' woodard .<doc-sep>by . david martosko . published : . 01:42 est , 8 july 2013 . | . updated : . 08:12 est , 8 july 2013 . eliot spitzer , the one-time new york governor who resigned in disgrace after his involvement with high-price call girls became public in 2008 , is getting back into politics . his bid to become new york city 's next comptroller will be complicated , however : one of the two most prominent candidates opposing him is kristin davis , the madam who spent three months in prison for running the prostitution ring that counted spitzer among its clients . and with that announcement sunday evening , the entire city of new york collectively set its dvrs to record what would otherwise be a boring autumn debate . spitzer , who spent roughly $ 80,000 on prostitutes before his political work came crashing down five years ago , told the wall street journal that he plans to use the comptroller 's office to audit city agencies , citing ` critical issues of judgment if we are spending our dollars wisely . ' he will need to collect 3,750 signatures from new york city voters by july 11 - just four days away - to put his name on the ballot . i am going to be on the street corners , ' spitzer told the new york times without a hint of irony . ` we will be out across the city . ' scroll down for video . a tale of two candidates : former new york gov. eliot spitzer -lrb- l -rrb- is back in the political limelight after his resignation in 2008 over a call-girl scandal . kristin davis -lrb- r -rrb- was the madam who supplied him with prostitutes . hooker . they 're both running for new york city comptroller . ashley alexandra dupree was spitzer 's favorite call girl . the two romped in room 817 of the mayflower hotel in washington , d.c. on several occasions , according to federal court documents . kristen davis , a former hedge fund manager-turned-madam , announced her candidacy for the same post in april , and won the endorsement of the libertarian party to fly its banner on election day . ` bring it on , ' she told reporters when the news broke . ` gosh , it 's going to be a fun race ! ' davis has already said she plans to make spitzer 's past association with her ladies of the evening a central campaign issue , saying that ` it would be a disgrace for the city of new york to allow an unpunished criminal who committed multiple felonies to be re-elected back into office . ' she tweeted a reminder on sunday evening that it was spitzer who , as governor in 2007 , signed a bill into law that ` made it a felony 4 a man to use prostitutes . ' ` not that i think that should be criminal but he sure did . ' political wire 's taegan goddard tweeted what many pundits are thinking . other tweets predicted a bill clinton run for parks and recreation director . politico 's alex burns offered help to jay leno 's joke writers , who will soon be competing with the rest of the late-night universe to find new ways to poke fun at new york 's political scene . former white house press secretary ari fleischer represented george w. bush for more than two years . his critics would say he knows a thing or two about laughing stocks . davis ' illicit operation , the .<doc-sep>they stayed at the exclusive pavillon de la reine - a four-star hotel where the cheapest rooms cost $ 500 per night . ms smith is spitzer 's former publicist , and was behind his failed city comptroller campaign . she then joined bill de blasio 's team and was widely considered to be the likely candidate for the mayor 's press secretary . but just as the final staffing decision was due to be made , photos were released that showed spitzer sneaking in and out of her soho apartment last december . ashley alexandra dupre , or ` kristen ' - one of the escorts spitzer was revealed to have liaised with . spitzer became state attorney general in 1998 and found fame as the ` sheriff of wall street ' - going after corrupt financiers . his moral authority and intellect helped catapult him into the governor 's office in 2007 - however he resigned in disgrace just a year later after being revealed to have used prostitutes . he reportedly had at least seven meetings with high-end prostitutes over a six-month period , and is also believed to have spent up to $ 80,000 on them over many years , starting when he was attorney general . infamous as client 9 of the emporers club vip call-girl ring , he resigned at a public press conference with his then-wife silda wall spitzer by his side . the pair finalised a very public and bitter divorce in february . after his resignation , spitzer attempted to rehabilitate his public image with a stint presenting a cnn news show which failed and then eventually made his way back to work for his father .<doc-sep>eliot spitzer 's ex-wife finally has something to smile about after the details of her multimillion-dollar divorce settlement from the disgraced ` luv guv ' were revealed today . silda wall spitzer gets a $ 7.5 million payout and to keep her luxury fifth avenue apartment overlooking central park in manhattan as part of the deal . the ex-new york governor 's former wife , who grimly stood by him when his predilection for expensive call girls came to light in 2008 , will also receive $ 240,000-a-year maintenance for life . eliot spitzer and his wife silda wall spitzer , pictured in november 2006 when he was elected ny governor . she stood by her husband following his call girl scandal in 2008 but the couple announced their divorce on christmas eve last year . details of her multimillion-dollar divorce deal emerged today . eliot spitzer and new girlfriend lis smith attend a new york knicks game on march 10 this year . spitzer announced his separation from wife silda on christmas eve last year after he was pictured sneaking into his former publicist smith 's apartment . three months after ending their 26-year marriage , details of silda 's massive ` post-nuptial ' agreement have been revealed at radaronline . other perks of the 56-year-old 's deal include a new car ` no more than every five years ' , a housekeeper , accountant , unspecified ` entertainment and activities expenses ' , a $ 100,000-per-year charity donation and a part-time assistant . mr spitzer will also take care of his former wife 's medical insurance and health care . although the multimillionaire does not have to pay child support to silda for their daughters - elyssa , 24 , sarabeth , 21 , and jenna , 19 - he must take care of 100 per cent of their medical , dental and college expenses . the former couple agreed to shared use of their $ 5million upstate new york farm . however the divorce agreement states that the ` choice of visitors ' can not cause their daughters any emotional distress or embarrassment . the spitzers divorce was finalized in february this year and it was agreed that silda would receive the first $ 1million within 180 days . another $ 1million will follow on the service of their divorce judgement and then at least $ 500,000 ever year unless the former politician decides to pay his ex a lump sum . the annual $ 240,000 maintenance payment will come to silda after her former husband has paid the taxes . it will continue until she either remarries or dies .

<t> `` kristen '' identified as aspiring singer ashley youmans , 22 . </t> <t> spitzer resigns wednesday , two days after he is linked to call-girl ring . </t> <t> bank notified treasury department about suspicious transfers of money . </t> <t> spitzer could face charges of money laundering , legal experts say . </t>

sources : spitzer used call-girl service at least 8 times<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the presidents of sudan and chad signed a non-aggression agreement late thursday , aiming to halt cross-border hostilities between the two african nations . chad president idriss deby , right , and sudan 's president omar al-beshir , left , shake hands after signing the pact . the signing came after nearly two full days of talks in dakar , senegal , between sudan president omar al-beshir and idriss deby , the president of chad . senegalese president abdoulaye wade facilitated the talks , and united nations secretary general ban ki-moon met with officials from both nations and witnessed the signing of the agreement at about 10 p.m.<doc-sep>`` the idea is to get the governments of sudan and chad to normalize their relations with each other and to halt any action that would allow for the cross-border movement of rebel factions or armed factions of either side that could hurt the other country , '' said united nations spokesman farhan haq . each country accuses the other of supporting armed rebel groups that cross the border to attempt to destabilize the government . the rival nations ' armies have skirmished several times . the united nations says refugees and armed groups have been regularly crossing the border between the troubled darfur region of sudan and chad . they allegedly include many of the rebels that attacked n'djamena , the capital of chad , in early february . as recently as thursday , just hours before the agreement was signed , chad issued a communique saying rebels from sudan had crossed the border .<doc-sep>chad is still recovering from a failed attempt last month by rebels to overthrow deby 's regime . the united nations says the swelling number of darfur refugees and other displaced people living in eastern chad is causing serious strain on the region . kingsley amaning , the u.n. 's humanitarian coordinator for chad , said more than 10,000 people from darfur , in sudan , have fled into 12 official refugee camps in eastern chad .<doc-sep>they join some 240,000 darfurians who have lived in chad since 2004 because of fighting in their homeland and an estimated 180,000 displaced chadians also living there . the number of displaced chadians is growing because of the recent fighting there , kingsley said . haq said the united nations , which has peacekeeping troops in the darfur region , will work to assure sudan and chad carry out the terms of thursday 's deal . the countries have signed several peace agreements in the past , only to see renewed violence flare up . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the presidents of sudan and chad signed a non-aggression agreement late thursday , aiming to halt cross-border hostilities between the two african nations . chad president idriss deby , right , and sudan 's president omar al-beshir , left , shake hands after signing the pact . the signing came after nearly two full days of talks in dakar , senegal , between sudan president omar al-beshir and idriss deby , the president of chad . senegalese president abdoulaye wade facilitated the talks , and united nations secretary general ban ki-moon met with officials from both nations and witnessed the signing of the agreement at about 10 p.m. `` the idea is to get the governments of sudan and chad to normalize their relations with each other and to halt any action that would allow for the cross-border movement of rebel factions or armed factions of either side that could hurt the other country , '' said united nations spokesman farhan haq . each country accuses the other of supporting armed rebel groups that cross the border to attempt to destabilize the government . the rival nations ' armies have skirmished several times . the united nations says refugees and armed groups have been regularly crossing the border between the troubled darfur region of sudan and chad . they allegedly include many of the rebels that attacked n'djamena , the capital of chad , in early february . as recently as thursday , just hours before the agreement was signed , chad issued a communique saying rebels from sudan had crossed the border . chad is still recovering from a failed attempt last month by rebels to overthrow deby 's regime . the united nations says the swelling number of darfur refugees and other displaced people living in eastern chad is causing serious strain on the region . kingsley amaning , the u.n. 's humanitarian coordinator for chad , said more than 10,000 people from darfur , in sudan , have fled into 12 official refugee camps in eastern chad . they join some 240,000 darfurians who have lived in chad since 2004 because of fighting in their homeland and an estimated 180,000 displaced chadians also living there . the number of displaced chadians is growing because of the recent fighting there , kingsley said . haq said the united nations , which has peacekeeping troops in the darfur region , will work to assure sudan and chad carry out the terms of thursday 's deal . the countries have signed several peace agreements in the past , only to see renewed violence flare up . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>an impasse over the boundaries of the town of abyei is a major reason the peace agreement has not been fully implemented . fighting erupted in abyei on may 13 . it resumed tuesday despite a cease-fire and has `` resulted in the destruction '' of the town `` and the displacement of between 30,000 and 50,000 people , '' the secretary general said in a statement . do n't miss sudanese opposition leader arrested sudan cuts ties with chad after attack darfur rebels advance on sudan capital , their leader says `` if the situation is not urgently addressed , the achievements thus far of the comprehensive peace agreement could be placed at serious risk , '' he said . the civil war in sudan , which started in 1983 , pitted a northern government dominated by arab muslims against black christians and animists in southern sudan .<doc-sep>the participants are expected to discuss means of achieving peace in the region , welcoming the steps for realizing peace in darfur , progress of the relations between qatar , sudan , chad and eritrea and other issues of mutual concern , suna said . tahir al-fati , chairman of the justice and equality movement 's legislative assembly , told cnn on saturday that a preliminary document for the framework agreement was signed saturday in chad between representatives of the two sides . a permanent cease-fire -- which , according to this preliminary accord , is to be signed before march 15 -- will be a final step , al-fati said .<doc-sep>the conflict has wiped out entire neighborhoods and transformed into a full-blown war between two large tribes , the nuer and the dinka . machar belongs to the nuer community , while the president is a dinka . bucciarelli 's pictures provide a rare window into a civilian population under siege . `` south sudan 's war represents one of the longest and most forgotten african conflicts , '' he said . `` its tragic consequences are quietly fading away from the headlines , making these pictures even more crucial . '' social media . follow @cnnphotos on twitter to join the conversation about photography . south sudan split from sudan in 2011 as part of a peace deal that ended decades of war in africa 's largest nation . that war left 2 million people dead and ended with the peace agreement that included an independence referendum for the south . the recent clashes have been a major setback for a country so desperate for a new start . instead of relishing its independence , residents of areas such as bentiu , bor , nyang and mingkaman are struggling to survive as communities turn against one another . concerned neighboring nations have stepped in and urged warring parties to sign ceasefire deals , but the weapons have not gone quiet . frantic international pleas for peace have gone unheeded . fabio bucciarelli is an italian photographer whose work focuses on conflict and war . you can follow him on twitter .

<t> sudan , chad presidents sign agreement aiming to halt cross-border hostilities . </t> <t> signing came after nearly two days of talks between presidents of sudan and chad . </t> <t> each accuses other of supporting rebels that attempt to destabilize the government . </t> <t> just hours before agreement , chad claimed rebels from sudan had crossed border . </t>

chad , sudan sign peace deal<T>

london , england -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- queen elizabeth helped launch heathrow 's $ 8.6 billion new terminal 5 on friday as part of the british airport 's rejuvenation plan to maintain its status as one of the world 's most important transport hubs . a general view of the new terminal 5 at heathrow airport prior to its official opening on friday . the british monarch , who also opened heathrow 's first passenger terminal in 1955 , was present under strict security a day after a man carrying a backpack was arrested for running onto a runway at the airport . the first flights from the new terminal are scheduled for march 27 . its opening has come after 15 years of planning and construction by its owners baa -- and protests by local residents and environmental groups .<doc-sep>it is part of a strategy which could lead to passenger numbers almost doubling to 122 million a year , with a sixth terminal and a third runway in the pipeline despite some vociferous opposition . spanish-owned baa , which also runs gatwick and stansted in britain , also plans to eventually demolish terminals 1 and 2 and replace them in a project called heathrow east . watch queen elizabeth meet airport staff . '' residents were once told by baa that there would be no fifth terminal , but the company is planning to forge further ahead despite the concerns of environmental groups . `` terminal 5 stands as a monument to the binge-flying culture this government has done so much to encourage , '' greenpeace transport campaigner anita goldsmith told the uk press association .<doc-sep>`` it 's part of an obsession with expansion which can only mean more flights , more emissions and more climate change . '' richard dyer of friends of the earth added : `` if the government is serious about tackling climate change , the opening of terminal 5 must mark the end of airport expansion in britain . `` further expansion of heathrow would be environmentally irresponsible and is n't necessary for the economy of london . '' however , business groups welcomed the expansion at heathrow .<doc-sep>`` thriving , growing airports are vital to help maintain britain 's economic competitiveness , '' neil pakey , chairman of the airport operators ' association , told pa. . `` domestic air links to heathrow are particularly valuable for the regional economies , and this new terminal will undoubtedly provide them with a much-needed boost . the passage of the current planning bill must ensure that this is the last airport which has to endure such an absurdly protracted planning process . '' see british airways chief executive willie walsh 's views on the terminal . '' visit london chief executive james bidwell said : `` t5 will provide visitors to london and the uk with a spectacular first impression and alleviate the pressure experienced at heathrow , the world 's busiest airport . `` the terminal 's smoother check-in process and state-of-the-art baggage management system will certainly better the tourist experience and should help improve the airport 's international reputation . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>london , england -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- queen elizabeth helped launch heathrow 's $ 8.6 billion new terminal 5 on friday as part of the british airport 's rejuvenation plan to maintain its status as one of the world 's most important transport hubs . a general view of the new terminal 5 at heathrow airport prior to its official opening on friday . the british monarch , who also opened heathrow 's first passenger terminal in 1955 , was present under strict security a day after a man carrying a backpack was arrested for running onto a runway at the airport . the first flights from the new terminal are scheduled for march 27 . its opening has come after 15 years of planning and construction by its owners baa -- and protests by local residents and environmental groups . it is part of a strategy which could lead to passenger numbers almost doubling to 122 million a year , with a sixth terminal and a third runway in the pipeline despite some vociferous opposition .<doc-sep>more than # 2.5 bn . among the airlines set to join united in the new terminal are egyptair , ethiopian , sas , tap portugal and swiss . looking good : a dapper duke of edinburgh appeared to be in fine fettle as he arrived at the london airport . enjoying the day : the queen beamed as she met staff at t2 which has enjoyed a smooth first few weeks . open for business : the queen officially opens terminal 2 : the queen 's terminal at heathrow airport . gift : the queen was presented with a bouquet of flowers . honour : designer cath kidston and chef heston blumenthal met her majesty . line-up : the queen is introduced to staff during the official opening of the new terminal . the queen herself is to travel on to belfast , and will join theresa villiers , the secretary of state for . northern ireland , and first minister peter robinson for a meeting at her . official residence in the province , hillsborough castle . also at the meeting will be the duke of edinburgh and stormont 's deputy first minister , the controversial martin mcguinness . tomorrow , . will see the queen and the duke of edinburgh visit crumlin road gaol , a . former prison that closed in 1996 after 150 years . the . gaol , a nineteenth century grade one listed building , has recently been . restored and reopened as a museum dedicated to the history of the . troubles and the men and women on both sides who were imprisoned there . after you : the queen leads the way taking the escalator . special guests : the royal couple add their signatures to the visitors ' book . exciting stuff : the queen and duke of edinburgh were surrounded by well-wishers as they toured the building .<doc-sep>-lrb- travel + leisure -rrb- -- with airports from new york to sydney getting upgrades , travel + leisure picks our favorite restaurants , bars , lounges , shops and spas . travelers can tuck into skirt steak tacos at bonfire , a todd english restaurant in terminal b of boston 's logan international airport . restaurants . boston : bonfire , logan international airport . todd english continues to expand his empire with the third outpost of his south american-inspired steak house , bonfire , at terminal b. grilled chicharrones -lrb- crispy pork in chimichurri sauce -rrb- and skirt steak topped with chipotle aioli and avocado crema are standouts . bonfiresteakhouse.com . london : plane restaurant , heathrow airport . gordon ramsay 's first airport restaurant opens this month in terminal 5 . in addition to a michelin star-worthy menu -lrb- braised pork cheeks with honey and cloves and brioche french toast with treacle-cured bacon in the mornings -rrb- , travelers can opt for special `` picnics '' - to-go . baa.com . stockholm : max , arlanda airport . a cross between in-n-out burger and mcdonald 's , max is a family-run swedish fast-food chain that dates back to 1968 . now it has brought its brand of trans-fat-free , made-to-order swedish burgers and crispy fries to the capital 's airport -lrb- terminal 4 -rrb- . for those trying to stay fit while on the road , there 's the delifresh menu , including a chicken burger served with fresh fruit salad . max.se . bars . copenhagen : nørrebro bryghus , copenhagen airport . denmark has experienced an artisanal beer resurgence in the last few years with the opening of 25 new microbreweries . ushering in a new era is the nørrebro bryghus , whose owner anders kissmeyer recently opened a branch between terminals 2 and 3 -lrb- before security -rrb- . always on tap : four different danish seasonal , handcrafted beers served at its stainless-steel bar . cph.dk . new york : vino volo , jfk . this contemporary wine bar recently launched a fifth airport location at american airlines ' terminal 8 . the dimly lit , cream - and brown-tinged venue stocks bottles from around the world , including little-known vintages from the hudson river valley . vinovolo.com . singapore : post bar , changi airport . taking design cues from its namesake older sibling in the fullerton hotel , the just-opened post bar in terminal 3 mixes traditional and modern design elements -lrb- retro artichoke lamps ; an illuminated honey-onyx bar -rrb- . the best part ? it 's open 24 hours a day . fullertonhotel.com . lounges . geneva : swiss lounges , geneva international airport . when it came to designing new lounges for geneva airport , swiss air stuck to what it knows best -- being swiss . more than 10 tons of limestone from the jura mountains were used in the construction , the menu consists of national dishes such as älplermakkaroni -lrb- alpine-style macaroni-and-cheese -rrb- , and the chocolate leather chairs and sofas were produced by vitra -lrb- though designed by londoner jasper morrison -rrb- . swiss.com . los angeles : oneworld , lax .<doc-sep>by . travelmail reporter . heathrow 's . # 2.5 bn new terminal 2 -lrb- t2 -rrb- opens tomorrow with the first flight - a . united airlines service from chicago - due to land just before 6am . but . due to the t5 debacle in march 2008 , when one in five flights were cancelled . and 28,000 suitcases went missing , heathrow development director john . holland-kaye and his team are opening t2 in stages . united will be the only carrier to begin with and , for the first few days , t2 will only operate at 10 per cent of its total capacity . scroll down for video . taking off slowly : the new terminal will operate to just 10 per cent of its capacity . taking no chances : volunteer passengers wait at a check in desk in the departures hall during a test day . spacious : british artist richard wilson 's sculpture slipstream dominates this view of the new terminal 2 . there will be just 34 flights on the first day , with t2 having only to deal with 6,000 passengers . by october , united will be joined by more than 20 other airlines , including air china , singapore airlines and lufthansa . virgin 's domestic operation , little red , will also be using the new terminal . when fully occupied , t2 will be home to 26 airlines and will have more than 330 flights a day to more than 50 destinations . mr holland-kaye said , ` opening a new terminal is one of the most complex challenges that any airport can undertake . ' ` we ca n't guarantee that opening day will be perfect . there is a very high risk of things happening -lrb- on the first day -rrb- when . you carry out a live operation for the first time . ' gavin . hayes , director of the let britain fly campaign , said : ` the opening of . t2 is a cause for jubilation , demonstrating what can be achieved by . private sector funding of nationally-significant infrastructure . gateway to the world : the departure area of the new ` queen 's terminal ' , which is expected to manage up to 20 million passengers every year . breath of fresh air : visitors walk past a doorway at the new building , which replaces the old , overcrowded terminal 2 which had stood since the fifties . but . he added , ` the refurbishing of an existing airport terminal at london 's . busiest airport does little to relieve the huge pressure on uk aviation . capacity ... the uk is falling further behind international rivals . because the industry can not invest in urgently-needed runways . ' officially . named terminal 2 , the queen 's terminal , .

<t> queen elizabeth opens heathrow airport 's $ 8.6 billion new terminal 5 . </t> <t> the new building took more than 15 years to complete following protests . </t> <t> launch a day after security scare at one of world 's busiest international airports . </t> <t> a lone man ran onto a heathrow runway carrying a backpack on thursday . </t>

queen opens new $ 8.6 b airport terminal<T>

new york -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a young man carrying what turned out to be a hairbrush died monday night in a hail of bullets fired by new york police . khiel coppin 's brother joel coppin spoke briefly with reporters saying , `` we want justice . '' authorities were responding to a 9-1-1 call his mother made about a `` family dispute with a gun , '' police said . in the background of the call , played at a news conference tuesday , 18-year-old khiel coppin can be heard saying , `` i 've got a gun , i 've got a gun , '' new york police department deputy commissioner paul browne told cnn . the teen put an object under his shirt and told his mother around the time she phoned 9-1-1 that he was going to say he had a gun , said new york police commissioner raymond kelly . the teen told her , '' ` i 'm prepared to die , ' '' kelly told reporters . when authorities arrived at the bedford-stuyvesant apartment , the teenager had something stuffed under his shirt and several times showed a knife to police . `` shoot me , kill me , '' he shouted , according to kelly . `` come get me . i have a gun . let 's do this . ''<doc-sep>coppin ignored repeated commands to stop and get on the ground . witnesses said the teen appeared to be holding an object underneath his shirt and pointed it at the officers . coppin continued to approach officers , as they ordered him to stop , said kelly . twenty shots were fired ; coppin was struck eight times , kelly said . `` this was a terrible tragedy for khiel 's family , no doubt about it , '' said kelly . but the commissioner stressed that officers reasonably believed they were about to receive fire . kelly said the teen 's mother reported he had not taken his anti-depressant and anti-psychotic medication . police have not recovered a gun and do not believe that coppin was armed , kelly said . a reporter asked kelly if it 's possible the young man was goading police to shoot him , a phenomenon known commonly in law enforcement circles as suicide-by-cop . `` that 's certainly a possibility , '' said kelly .<doc-sep>`` the boy did n't have no gun , he had a brush on him , '' said andre wildman , a neighbor who told cnn that he saw the shooting . listen to mother 's 911 call '' another neighbor , wayne holder , said police should be required to see a weapon before opening fire on a suspect . `` at least see a gun before you start to discharge it , '' holder said . police `` do n't even have to see it , -lsb- if -rsb- they think you got one , you 're going to get shot . '' coppin was taken to a hospital where he was declared dead . an autopsy is scheduled for tuesday , the medical examiner 's office said . the rev. al sharpton 's national action network is expected to hold a news conference on tuesday about the shooting . police said they were investigating whether coppin had a history of mental illness and whether his mother had tried to have him hospitalized earlier monday . the shooting came a year after unarmed groom sean bell , 23 , was killed hours before his wedding in a shooting involving new york police . in 1999 , unarmed african immigrant amadou diallo , 22 , died when police in the bronx shot him 19 times .<doc-sep>bystander dyshawn gibson described monday 's shooting to cnn affiliate wabc-tv . `` he dropped the brush , '' gibson said . `` he put his hands up . police just started firing . '' coppin was seen pacing around the apartment prior to the shooting , according to an initial police statement issued monday night . `` he began screaming from the window at his mother and the police , '' the police statement said . `` at some point , the male climbed out of the window and began crossing the sidewalk toward the police . '' that 's when police began firing , a police spokesman said . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's jennifer rizzo , janine brady and alina cho 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>` he showed them it was loaded with one round and spun the cylinder three times , ' the police report states . ` he said something to the effect of , `` have you ever played russian roulette ? '' held the revolver to his head and fired . ' one 911 caller said she heard shouts of ` why would you do this ? ' a second 911 caller told police he saw the teen carry the gun upstairs . as defined by the merriam webster dictionary russian roulette is , ' a dangerous game in which people fire a gun with a single bullet at their heads without knowing if the bullet will be shot or not . ' lethal game : as defined by the merriam webster dictionary russian roulette is , ' a dangerous game in which people fire a gun with a single bullet at their heads without knowing if the bullet will be shot or not '<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . published : . 22:39 est , 5 october 2012 . | . updated : . 07:13 est , 6 october 2012 . the sister of a connecticut man who fatally shot his teenage son last week frantically called police to report someone was shot after she called her brother for help with someone trying to break into her house , according to 911 calls released on friday . police say jeffrey giuliano went outside with a gun at about 1 a.m. on sept. 27 after his sister called to say someone was trying to break into her house next door in new fairfield . authorities say giuliano saw a person wearing a ski mask holding a shiny object come toward him in a threatening manner and shot him . he was told later the person he killed was his 15-year-old son , tyler . police said the weapon was a knife . tyler giuliano was shot dead by his father , police said , as he tried to break into his aunt 's home . mistake : jeffrey giuliano opened fire on a burglary suspect next-door , only to find that he was in fact his adopted son , tyler . ` someone 's been shot . they were trying to break into my house and i called my brother next door , ' said alexis scocozza , giuliano 's sister , on the 911 recording . speaking rapidly and trying to catch her breath , she said she was n't sure if her brother was shot . ' i do n't know if he was shot or not , ' the sister says . ` does your brother have a gun ? ' the dispatcher asks . ' i think so , ' she replies . ` but i opened the front door and he screamed for me to stay inside . ' giuliano 's wife also called police . gene zingaro , giuliano 's attorney , said this week that giuliano believed the masked person had a gun . ` what that tells me is she did not know if there was one or two guns , ' zingaro said , referring to giuliano 's sister . ` mr. giuliano as we all know felt like at the time of the shooting the masked intruder not only had a gun but that he was in imminent danger . ' the recordings show that ` probably five . or six ' calls came in to the dispatch center from people who heard . ` multiple ' shots fired , and that the police arrived in a matter of . minutes . on another call , someone says it appeared the teen might have a gunshot wound to the head . police have said tyler died of multiple gunshot wounds . police are investigating the shooting . no charges have been filed and zingaro said he does n't expect any . devastated jeffery giuliano went outside with his gun at 1am after his sister called to say someone was trying to break into her house next door in new fairfield , about 50 miles from new york city . he saw a masked person holding a knife come toward him in a threatening manner and shot him . after calling the police mr giuliano . began to fear it was his son he had shot , as the boy had been missing , but . the terrible truth was not confirmed for several hours . mr giuliano 's attorney gene zingaro , . who arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting , said giuliano was . inconsolable and physically ill - crying and vomiting . giuliano and his wife adopted tyler . and his sister about four years ago . the children 's biological father . was heading to prison , and the children would have gone into an . orphanage if the couple , who had three other children , had not adopted .<doc-sep>a growing digital lynch mob of twitter users is calling for street justice against george zimmerman and advocating he be murdered since his release from jail on $ 150,000 bail early this morning . some have even threatened to kill the neighborhood watch volunteer themselves . the public menace against zimmerman is not new . his family said he has received ` thousands ' of death threats since he shot and killed 17-year-old trayvon martin february 26 in a gated community in sanford , florida . for this reason he was promptly whisked away to a secret location after he walked out of jail . he has been in hiding ever since the shooting , which erupted into a racially-charged national controversy . the threats come as his lawyer says he regrets letting zimmerman take the stand friday to apologize for trayvon 's death and said he would n't have done it , had he known the teen 's parents would n't have taken it well . scroll down for video . threats : dozens of profane tweets threatened george zimmerman flooded twitter after the neighborhood watch volunteer was released from jail . sprung : george zimmerman is now in hiding after his release from jail in seminole county , florida , after he posted bail . the vitriol on twitter became dozens . of violent threats ever since a judge agreed friday to set zimmerman 's . bail at $ 150,000 . zimmerman , 28 , is charged with second-degree murder in . the killing , but was not deemed a flight risk . twitchy , . a right-leaning blog that tracks twitter traffic , published several of . the threats . many were since taken down , but more continue to pour in . a user named jordan irving wrote : ` they let this n **** zimmerman out of jail ?! somebody kill this dude already ! ' another , called uncle phil , said : ' i say kill zimmerman b **** . ' chatia said : ` someone pass me a gun , imma go follow zimmerman , shoot and kill him and say #imstandingmyground . ' ` they done let zimmerman free lets kill that mf , ' louis david jr wrote . ` if i go kill zimmerman how much time will i get?or will they let me out on bond ? ' kenish . according to twitchy , a user called taylor said : ` ima kill zimmerman myself * loads semi * where he at . ' twitter 's policy says such comments .<doc-sep>hiding out ? dunn told interrogators the day after the shooting that he did n't turn himself in because he wanted to get things settled at home first . the next day they saw a news report on tv about a 17-year-old who had been fatally shot at a gas station in jacksonville , and instead of calling police then , they drove 130 miles home to satellite where police caught up with him . the defense attorney blames most of that strange behavior on dunn 's girlfriend , who ordered the pizza because she had n't had much to eat all day and was hungry . they decided to go home the next day instead of turn dunn in because rouer was ` petrified ' and ` did n't know the law of self-defense ' . a day after the shooting , dunn told interrogators he ` was waiting till we get around people we know ' to turn himself in . he wanted to make sure his dog and ` everybody were where they needed to be . i did not want to being a s *** storm down on them in jacksonville ' . the prosecution may have a problem in their case when it comes to witnesses . the witness who took down dunn 's license plate is currently in prison and tried to leverage a lighter sentence for agreeing to testify . and the teen driver of the suv was on probation and violating curfew when the incident happened . in the end , the defense painted dunn as a man who could have been a victim if he had n't taken out his gun that day . ` god did n't make all men equal . colt did . colt is a firearm , ' strolla said . ' -lrb- dunn -rrb- had every right under the law to not be a victim , to be judged by 12 rather than carried by six . ' prosecutors say the teen was innocent , and did nothing to provoke a gun being fired . ` jordan davis was sitting in his car seat with the door closed with nothing in his hands , ' guy told the jury . the trial is expected to conclude as early as february 14 .

<t> official : unarmed teen hid object under shirt , shouted , `` kill me . '' </t> <t> new york police commissioner : police feared being fired upon . </t> <t> police confirm khiel coppin , 18 , was carrying hairbrush under shirt . </t> <t> police say he ignored orders to halt ; cops fired 20 shots , killing the teen . </t>

police : teen hiding object shouts , ` come get me , i have a gun '<T>

london , england -- football will pay its tribute to the legend of manchester united 's busby babes on wednesday in moments of remembrance on the 50th anniversary of the munich air disaster . a memorial stone recalls the place of the munich air disaster in kirchtrudering near munich . eight players lost their lives on february 6 , 1958 , when flight 609 zu crashed on the third attempt to take off after re-fuelling in germany as united returned from knocking red star belgrade out of the european cup . sir matt busby 's side , back-to-back english champions and well positioned for a hat-trick attempt , were arguably on course to become the best united team .<doc-sep>the united players killed at munich were geoff bent , aged 25 , roger byrne -lrb- 28 -rrb- , eddie colman -lrb- 21 -rrb- , mark jones -lrb- 24 -rrb- , david pegg -lrb- 22 -rrb- , tommy taylor -lrb- 26 -rrb- , liam whelan -lrb- 22 -rrb- and 21-year-old duncan edwards who died in hospital 15 days after the crash . they and the other 15 people who lost their lives will be remembered with a commemorative service at old trafford while a short ceremony , organised by supporters , will also take place at the memorial site in kirchtrudering , on the outskirts of munich . in keeping with tradition , united supporters will also gather under the memorial plaque at old trafford where the clock is fixed at the exact time of the final fateful take-off attempt . later in the day , a minute 's silence will take place ahead of england 's friendly with switzerland at wembley as a further mark of respect .<doc-sep>as he bows his head during this week 's munich commemorations , survivor harry gregg 's mind will understandably flash back to that snow-laden runway , but only briefly . the 75-year-old ulsterman prefers not to remember the afternoon he lost so many friends among the victims , but instead the days when the dream of the ` busby babes ' was still vibrant and alive . goalkeeper gregg , hailed a hero in the wake of the crash after returning to the wreckage to pull out survivors , is adamant those are the times which always burn brightest in his memory .<doc-sep>`` i was part of something that was a very , very beautiful thing at that time , '' said gregg , who cost united a record 23,000 pounds sterling when he joined from doncaster rovers two months before the disaster . `` i 'll always be proud of that . the fact there 's going to be a minute 's silence after 50 years is a tribute to the people i played with , but one must remember as well there were other people on board that aircraft , a lot more people . `` i want the minute 's silence to be over and then i want to remember the happy times , that 's what i want the world to remember , that 's what i want the families to remember . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>flying high : the red arrows , pictured above training in cyprus , are now ready to display across the uk and europe . anniversary : the red arrows - also known as the royal air force aerobatic team - are set to embark on their 50th display season . new look : in honour of the 50th anniversary , the hawk jet planes have all been given a union flag on their tailfin . climbing high : the pilots have been practising their daring formations over cyrpus for months . manoeuvre : the red arrows have long been held up as an international example of excellence in the skies .<doc-sep>everybody . i 've always thought about the event , but i lost touch . ' tovar . revisted that dark day two years ago though when he returned to site of . the crash and found nothing - no marker to remember the lost lives . going back to the scene : tovar stands next to a sign memorializes the deadly crash . this . september marked the 50th anniversary of the crash , and there 's been . renewed interest in the event especially among immigration rights . actvists who sucessfully lobbied to get a stretch of highway 101 . dedicated as the bracero memorial highway . the dedication was held in september , and today there 's a sign marking the crash where tovar found nothing two years ago . the sign reads : ` rip 32 braceros . sept. 17 , 1963 . 4:25 pm . ' on . thursday , tovar traveled back to the accident site with his wife and . son to talk with researchers about the accident and his part in the . bracero program . he . also appeared with flores barragan , the only other survivor of the . crash , at a ceremony honoring 10 former braceros at stanford university . the same day .<doc-sep>the memorial exhibition is seen during the commemoration of the munich air disaster in 1958 . eight of the busby babes were killed in the air disaster alongside 15 other victims . the tragic accident brings the two clubs together every year as they pay their respects to those lost . the manchester united pictured just before some of the squad were killed in the tragic accident . the crash took place at the munich-riem airport and claimed the lives of 23 people . the wreckage of the plane is seen here but there were some survivors of the crash including matt busby . flowers for the victims were delivered to the airport not long after the disaster .<doc-sep>by . graham smith . published : . 09:42 est , 9 july 2012 . | . updated : . 11:22 est , 9 july 2012 . a classic ferrari worth more than # 20million has been involved in the world 's most expensive car crash . u.s. businessman christopher cox was driving the ferrari 250 gto in central france when the car collided with another vehicle . the multi-millionaire was travelling with his wife ann , who is understood to have suffered a broken leg in the accident . collision course : u.s. businessman christopher cox , pictured behind the wheel next to his wife ann , was driving his ferrari 250 gto in france when the # 20million car was involved in an accident with another vehicle . immaculate collection : mr cox had been taking part in the 50th anniversary tour of the ferrari 250 gto . mr cox had been taking part in the 50th anniversary tour of the ferrari 250 gto - an italian sports car regarded as the picasso of the motoring world . it is thought the ferrari , which is one of only 39 ever built , is worth upwards of # 20million . the incident took place outside saint-etienne-des guirets , near blois . as part of the five-day tour , the enthusiasts drove the iconic gueux racing circuit in reims before visiting the abbey of hautvillers , the home of dom pérignon champagne . the italian convoy , thought to have had a value close to # 500million , was en route to le mans when the accident happened on friday morning . two passengers in the other car were taken to nearby hospital , according to french reports . pink floyd drummer nick mason and jcb boss sir anthony bamford were two of 21 groups of multi-millionaire ferrari fans taking part in the 50th anniversary jaunt . ferrari built the 250 gto between 1962 and 1964 with the 174mph sports car sold with a # 6,000 price-tag . status symbol : a man shows off the car to the press . mr cox was travelling with his wife ann , who is understood to have suffered a broken leg in the crash at saint-etienne-des guirets , near blois . while always expensive , the value of the 250 gto has skyrocketed in recent years with one green model built for stirling moss selling last month for a world record # 22.7 million . the model involved in friday 's crash left the factory in april 1962 with the chassis number 3445gt . initially red , the car was resprayed blue with a yellow central stripe in 1963 to match the colours of sweden after race driver ulf norinder 's nationality . the car was later rebodied , but in 1976 was crashed and underwent a full restoration before mr cox bought the vehicle in 2005 . while always expensive , the value of the 250 gto has skyrocketed in recent years with one green model built for stirling moss selling last month for a world record # 22.7 million . chris evans is also understood to have recently sold his model for somewhere in the region of # 18million . the 250 gto uses a 3-litre v12 engine developing 300bhp which results in a 0-60mph time of 6.1 seconds and a top speed of 174mph .

<t> football pays tribute on the 50th anniversary of the munich air disaster . </t> <t> eight manchester united players died when plane crashed on take-off . </t> <t> a total of 23 people were killed as utd returned from cup tie in belgrade . </t>

50th anniversary of munich air crash<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the amazon rainforest is so vast and full of life that even its defenders do n't know exactly what it is they are protecting . in the past 40 years , roughly 20 percent of the amazon rainforest has been wiped out . `` the wealth of biodiversity is so immense , we can not even estimate the amount we do n't know , '' says cláudio c. maretti , brazil-based director for conservation for the world wildlife fund . `` every new expedition you do to the amazon , you might find one new species of fish . every other , you might find some new bird or frog . '' the amazon rainforest , which encompasses an area nearly as large as the continental united states and stretches across nine countries , is considered the world 's richest and most varied natural habitat , with several million species of insects , plants , birds and fish calling it home . it also plays an important role in regulating earth 's temperature as its dense vegetation absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen into the air . but the amazon has been under pressure from outside forces for decades . in the past 40 years , roughly 20 percent of the rainforest has been wiped out . maretti says an additional 17 percent has been degraded to varying degrees . `` we have been deforesting at enormous rates , '' maretti says . the chief drivers of this deforestation are large-scale business interests involved in logging , mining , agriculture and , especially , cattle ranching . some of this activity is sanctioned by the government ; much of it is not . greenpeace estimates as much as 80 percent of the logging is illegal .<doc-sep>the amazon rainforest is just one of many habitats around the world threatened by encroaching development or natural resource extraction . the food and agriculture organization -lrb- fao -rrb- of the united nations estimates that 50,000 square miles of forest -- more than three times the size of switzerland -- are lost each year because of clearing and degradation . the threat is particularly acute in the more tropical areas of south america , africa and southeast asia . cambodia , for example , lost nearly 30 percent of its primary forests from 2000 to 2005 , according to fao . vietnam lost close to 55 percent of its primary forests , fao found . and nigeria lost nearly 56 percent of its primary forests over the same period , the worst rate of forest loss in the world , according to fao . the destruction of the earth 's oldest and richest forests is not a new phenomenon , but the rate of destruction has increased in recent decades . `` worldwide , one-half of all forests we 've lost in the last 10,000 years has occurred in the last 80 years . half of that was destroyed in the last 30 years , '' says scott paul , forest campaign coordinator for greenpeace . paul says the chief driver of forest destruction is the buying and selling of forest products and farm products in the international market , not to meet local needs .<doc-sep>`` the timber market , and also for agriculture , mining : when it plugs into the international economic system , that 's when you 've got to watch it , '' he says . paul would like to see a certification system so that consumers know the source and conditions under which the product they 're consuming was harvested . `` if you buy wine and cheese , we can tell the region and the year . but forest products have always been cut in remote and distant areas and thrown in a pipe and spit out on the other side . there is no way to determine if something came from a well-managed forest or an illegal forest where there is slavery , murder , drug trade , etc. , '' he says . while the story of the world 's old-growth forests would appear to be one of unremitting destruction , forests lost to logging and agriculture are actually growing back in some areas , such as the northeast region of the united states and parts of europe . this thrills some wildlife advocates who would like to see the restoration of exiled or decimated species . `` northern new england is the only place in the eastern united states where you have the potential for large-scale wilderness where wolves , lynxes , cougars , woodland caribou and salmon rivers could be restored , '' according to michael j. kellett , executive director of restore : the north woods . `` we could literally have almost the entire ecosystem of the maine woods as it once was . ''<doc-sep>with large-scale agriculture all but gone from new england and logging companies concentrating their attention elsewhere , kellett 's biggest fear is that real estate development could begin to carve up the vast forests of maine . his proposed solution : create a national park . in brazil in recent years , the government reportedly has stepped up efforts to slow the amazon 's destruction . last october , brazil said the rate of deforestation plunged 41 percent because of the enforcement of environmental laws . environmental groups say the drop also was caused by the fall of soy prices and the rise of brazil 's currency against the dollar , making the country 's exports more expensive . the world wildlife fund 's maretti is hopeful that brazil , with international help , will be able to protect even more of the amazon , an area he considers among the most vital natural habitats in the world . `` we do have strong civil society . we do have more governance , '' maretti says . `` but we certainly need support from abroad . i do n't believe brazil can do this job alone . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>sao paulo , brazil -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- brazil 's senate passed a controversial forestry bill late tuesday , supported by ranchers and farmers but opposed by many environmental activists . supporters say the legislation will help cut carbon emissions and establish more realistic deforestation rules in what has become brazil 's fast-growing agricultural frontier . after a long debate , senators voted 59 to 7 to approve the legislation . the new `` forest code '' now returns to the lower house for approval and then must be signed by the president . the bill reduces the percentage of land that farmers and ranchers must maintain as forest when they develop it . it also establishes an amnesty for some past illegal deforestation . critics say it will encourage developers to continue to illegally cut down the amazon forest while supporters say it brings the country 's legal framework in line with reality . in recent years , private ranchers and growers as well as the government have invested millions to expand soybean and beef production and build massive hydroelectric dams in the region . `` brazil has to take care of the environment , but at the same time it also has a responsibility to feed the world , '' senator jorge viana said in a statement released by a pro-legislation lobby .<doc-sep>conservationists cite the environmental benefits of saving tropical forests , which provide essential resources and services -- such as fresh water , food , flood control and many others -- on which more than a billion people depend . now , they say , conserving forests also can contribute to sustainable development , benefiting both nature and people . yet several steps remain before the tropical-forest provision becomes reality on a large scale . first , the u.n.-led negotiations must agree on a treaty to succeed the kyoto protocol -- the world 's first global climate change agreement , which expires in 2012 . the kyoto treaty created a global carbon market -- but only the carbon storage of newly planted or replanted forests is eligible for credits . redd also would protect standing forests , to prevent the absorbed carbon dioxide stocks from being released back into the atmosphere . whether a new treaty will be completed in december is unclear . negotiators have yet to set consensus targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions , and major disputes remain between industrialized powers such as the united states and emerging and developing economies including china and brazil . the draft under negotiation includes redd , but negotiations continue on how broad the policy would be . advocates of a limited scope for redd say areas with no history of deforestation should be excluded because protecting them wo n't reduce carbon dioxide emissions . in response , conservationists and developing nations warn against leaving out nations and regions -- including jagdeo 's guyana , parts of indonesia and brazil , democratic republic of congo and others -- that still have much of their tropical forest intact . they argue that halting deforestation in only some countries would cause the loggers , palm oil developers and other drivers of forest destruction to move to previously untargeted areas . `` if redd mechanisms exclude any significant group of countries , redd will fail , '' jagdeo told u.n. negotiators in december .<doc-sep>by . victoria woollaston . published : . 09:02 est , 30 october 2013 . | . updated : . 12:25 est , 30 october 2013 . popular building game minecraft already lets users create their own worlds , but a new 3d gaming map now lets them explore the whole of the uk and build new settlements in their virtual back gardens . minecraft britain was built using ordnance survey maps of the uk as a base and was constructed using 22 billion building blocks from the game . it covers the equivalent of 86,000 square miles of mainland great britain and the surrounding islands and each block represents 50 square metres . ordnance survey used 22 billion blocks from the popular building game minecraft to create the 3d interactive map of mainland uk and its surrounding islands . the os minecraft world covers the equivalent of 86,000 square miles . this image shows the minecraft version of stonehenge in wiltshire . this is how the stonehenge landmark in wiltshire looks in the real world . to help players navigate the interactive world , ordnance survey has also published a list of coordinates to various uk markers , including stonehenge in wiltshire . the map was built using os opendata - maps and mapping tools that ordnance survey lets developers use to develop alternative maps . minecraft was created in 2009 . at the start of the game , a player is put into a ` virtually infinite . game world . ' they can then walk around different terrains , including mountains , forests and caves . players can also fly up in the air for a birds-eye view of the landscape . players are given blocks and tools to build towns and cities . as a player progresses they can earn advanced tools and building blocks in different materials . the game was initially made for the pc but there are now xbox 360 and mobile versions available . for each 100 x 100 km grid square , developers from ordnance survey used height information for various buildings and landmarks . the left-hand image shows the minecraft version of snowdonia , while the right-hand image shows how the north wales mountain range looks in real-life . because the height of many buildings and landmarks in the uk is taller than minecraft 's built-in height limit , developers scaled them down so they would fit . minecraft launched in 2009 . at the start of the game , a player is put into a ` virtually infinite game world . ' they can then walk around and build towns and cities . the game was initially made for the pc but there are now xbox 360 and mobile versions available , pictured . players need a licensed copy of minecraft and around 5gb disk space on their pc . the world covers approximately 3.6 gb uncompressed and needs a minimum 4gb of memory . to install the map , players should download the minecraft-gb.zip archive . unzip the archive to a temporary location . open the readme.html file in a browser and follow the installation instructions . they then loaded images of all uk locations from the os vectormap district files . each 20 x 20 pixel region of the map was analysed so the developers could select the correct colour , material and size of block . the raw height data was stored in metres , meaning the developers were scaled down to fit within the 256-block height limit in . minecraft . ben nevis , for example , has a height of around 2,500 metres and this was converted into 128 blocks high . ordnance survey said in a blog post : ` although this exaggerates the . real-world height , it preserves low-lying coastal features such as . bournemouth 's cliffs , adding interest to the landscape . ' developers used diamond blocks for motorways , emerald blocks for a roads and pumpkin blocks for b roads . water , forests and built-up areas were created using the standard water , leaves and brick blocks . following . this , groups of 32 x 32 chunks called regions were created and assembled together . ordnance survey said the whole process took around seven hours . the river thames in east london is pictured . ordnance survey said the whole mapping process took around seven hours to complete . each 20 x 20 pixel region of the map was analysed so the developers could select the correct colour , material and size of block . these images show a birds-eye view of minecraft london with the river thames flowing through the centre , left , and a satellite view of the same area of the thames , right . to help players navigate the interactive world , ordnance survey has published a list of coordinates to various uk location , available inside the game .<doc-sep>by . damien gayle . published : . 12:25 est , 20 february 2013 . | . updated : . 14:26 est , 20 february 2013 . we still do n't know why lucy learned to walk : the famous 3.2million-year-old hominid fossil was found in ethiopia , one of the regions analysed . a new study has cast doubt on the long-held theory that our ancestors evolved to walk upright to help them see farther on africa 's vast open grasslands . scientists have long believed that early human ancestors began walking on two legs as a response to savannah encroaching on shrinking rainforests in north-east africa . with fewer trees to swing from , human ancestors began walking to get around , while walking on two legs enabled them to see predators and prey further afield , the theory claims . but now a new analysis of the past 12million years ' of vegetation change in the cradle of humanity has challenged long-held beliefs about the world in which our ancestors took shape - and , by extension , the impact it had on them . it found that while the shift to bipedalism seems to have occurred somewhere between 4million and 6million years ago , rainforests had been replaced by grasslands and seasonally dry forests some time before 12million years ago .

<t> un : more than 50,000 square miles of forest lost each year . </t> <t> most trees cut down for international sale . </t> <t> some forests making comeback in u.s. , europe . </t>

developers , ranchers encroaching on many of world 's forests<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- not only is sheikha lubna al qasimi the first woman to hold a ministerial post in the united arab emirates , the first female minister of economy in the gulf , and the first to start a middle eastern bb marketplace , but she 's also the first minister - anywhere in the world - to launch her own perfume line . member of sharjah royal family and one of forbes ' 100 most powerful women , sheikha lubna took the post of minister for economy and planning of united arab emirates in 2004 . her background is in it and before the government appointment worked at the dubai ports authority where she gained the `` distinguished government employee award '' in 1999 for developing a documentation system that reduced cargo turnaround from one hour to ten minutes . in 2000 , sheikha lubna founded tejari , the first middle eastern business-to-business marketplace . as a result of tejari -lrb- arabic for commerce -rrb- 70 percent of dubai 's government purchases are made online , while only 30 percent of bureaucrats were web-literate before its launch . one of the cornerstones of sheikha lubna 's work has been to allow for foreign ownership , so when john defterios met up with her , he began by asking her about her upcoming strategy . sheikha lubna : we are looking with scrutiny at the companies a lot at the moment and we have several sectors . we will evaluate each sector , from the service side , finance , accounting . and any sector that we believe we need further development in terms of economic growth , then we will focus on that : on increasing the acquisition or the ownership of the foreign company .<doc-sep>defterios : if you look at the middle east , specifically within this gulf region , it 's quite a radical change to open up specific sectors to majority foreign ownership . is this society in the region ready for this move ? sheikha lubna : interestingly , the united arab emirates is host to 80 percent of its population coming from outside . we host 200 nationalities , so for us , the contribution to the economy has already started over 15 years ago with the existence of the expatriate community . so in many ways i think the openness is only a natural path : it 's an organic path to continue the openness that exists . foreign direct investment is not your own wealth . when you have your own wealth , you have a tendency to be complacent sometimes , because it 's your money and you may not think you need to actually strengthen your infrastructure . however , if you look at foreign direct investment , it mandates you to be much more transparent , you have to be very diligent about your work , and it also creates new knowledge coming into the country and you can create more development through employment . defterios : it 's interesting , you read the front line of the dp world , p&o acquisition and the furor it created in the united states particularly within congress . what are the lessons , not just from the uae perspective , but the lessons learned from both sides during that whole process ? sheikha lubna : first of all , i think it is important to understand , in this global world , there is a circulation of funds and there is excess of wealth that has to go somewhere . liquidity of markets sometimes means you invest internally or you invest abroad . we 've learned a lesson being in the oil crises earlier that you need to diversify your money and look into investment abroad . and we 've seen this where the uae invests in the far east , australia , asia as well as in europe and the united states .<doc-sep>what 's more important to understand is that if you 're going to lock up your interest in terms of selling either because of protectionism or a particular idea in your mind that i do n't want to sell to this particular organization versus another , there are other places . defterios : that 's not a veiled message your saying , that 's pretty forthright this comment . sheikha lubna : but it 's a message to all of us . if today i lock up my investment opportunity here , money will not come to me , money will go somewhere else . when i have investment coming from abroad , it creates confidence in this country that ' i am a global image ' . so when i say it , i am not directing this as a message to a particular country . i am saying all countries are equal when it comes to regulation , when it comes to responsibility , when it comes to strategy in terms of attracting foreign funds and wealth coming to the country . so that 's really a lesson that 's very very critical . defterios : a number of firsts : the first to start a b2b marketplace ; the first female minister within the country , an economy minister ; and the first to launch a perfume range as well . what is it all about ? trailblazing , setting examples , being an entrepreneur ? how would you describe what you 're doing here ?<doc-sep>sheikha lubna : everybody laughs about the perfume . one , i think the united arab emirates , since inception -lrb- it 's not from today but from the founder late sheikh zayed -rrb- has always given equal opportunities for women . but it 's up to us as women to decide what is it that we can push , and what it is that we can do and not do . in my personal belief you need a bridge , you need a door opener for women . and sometimes women do not want to take the risk . sometimes they are shy of achieving what they should be achieving . i had the opportunity and i had the trust from the government and the community , so to me , it is setting the example internally for the young women , and men by the way . be it in technology , or economy or e-commerce . defterios : and the perfume line is the exclamation point ? sheikha lubna : a young woman , actually a perfume creator , who sells exclusively to saks fifth avenue in dubai , decided to create a perfume with my name . so i had two mandates from her . one , i had to smell it , otherwise if it does n't smell good i 'm not going to take it as a name . so one , i had to actually agree to the scent of the perfume . and it 's an arabic perfume by the way . and second , my mandate was that i would only launch it with my name for her , if she gives 20 percent of its sales and revenue to the friends of cancer patients . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- in focus : sovereign wealth funds . sheikha lubna al qasimi , minister of foreign trade , u.a.e. , talks to cnn about future relations with washington . what a difference a credit crunch makes . sovereign wealth funds control up to $ 3 trillion in assets , which could provide essential liquidity during the global slowdown . british prime minister gordon brown toured the gulf this week in an attempt to secure more funds from the region . mme takes a look at what the sovereign wealth funds can bring to the table and interviews the top u.s. official overseeing relations with the swfs , deputy treasury secretary robert kimmitt . facetime : sheikha lubna al qasimi , minister of foreign trade , u.a.e. .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- facetime -- he sheikha lubna al qasimi . minister of foreign trade , uae . south korea 's national oil corporation recently signed a multi-billion dollar deal with the uae to explore three undeveloped oil fields . trade between the uae and south korea is booming . this week mme caught up with the uae 's minister of foreign trade , her excellency sheikha lubna al-qasimi and asked her about these flourishing trade ties . in focus -- role of arab women . the middle east is not normally recognized for having women at the forefront of business . according to the world bank , 25 % of women in the region participate in the labor force , compared to more than 50 % in sub-saharan africa , east asia and the pacific . but as mme finds out , women in the arab world are making huge strides in business . marketplace middle east airs weekly at the following times -lrb- all gmt -rrb- : .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- not only is sheikha lubna al qasimi the first woman to hold a ministerial post in the united arab emirates , the first female minister of economy in the gulf , and the first to start a middle eastern bb marketplace , but she 's also the first minister - anywhere in the world - to launch her own perfume line . member of sharjah royal family and one of forbes ' 100 most powerful women , sheikha lubna took the post of minister for economy and planning of united arab emirates in 2004 . her background is in it and before the government appointment worked at the dubai ports authority where she gained the `` distinguished government employee award '' in 1999 for developing a documentation system that reduced cargo turnaround from one hour to ten minutes . in 2000 , sheikha lubna founded tejari , the first middle eastern business-to-business marketplace . as a result of tejari -lrb- arabic for commerce -rrb- 70 percent of dubai 's government purchases are made online , while only 30 percent of bureaucrats were web-literate before its launch . one of the cornerstones of sheikha lubna 's work has been to allow for foreign ownership , so when john defterios met up with her , he began by asking her about her upcoming strategy . sheikha lubna : we are looking with scrutiny at the companies a lot at the moment and we have several sectors . we will evaluate each sector , from the service side , finance , accounting . and any sector that we believe we need further development in terms of economic growth , then we will focus on that : on increasing the acquisition or the ownership of the foreign company .<doc-sep>a new era and a new president for the united states . a historic week with the election of the 44th president of the united states . but what can the region look for in a new u.s. administration ? we talk to united arab emirates ' minister of foreign trade , sheikha lubna al qasimi about future relations between the middle east and washington . watch the show this week at the times -lrb- gmt -rrb- below : friday : 0915 , 1945 saturday : 0645 sunday : 0815 .

<t> sheikha lubna was first female minister in the united arab emirates . </t> <t> openness to foreign ownership is the `` natural path '' , she says . </t> <t> if countries `` lock up '' interest due to protectionism there are other places to go . </t>

sheikha lubna al qasimi interview<T>

napa , california -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- if barrett wissman were in the ministry , his arts festivals would be sunny outposts on a fast-widening mission field . his tuscan sun festival opens saturday in cortona , italy . an all-new singapore sun festival opens october 18 . and a secret known to missionaries everywhere is clearly in sway at the festival del sole in napa valley , which has just concluded its second year : bonding with the locals . with quick fervor , local leaders , the hospitality industry and those all-important vintners of napa have embraced their festival . when symphony conductor stéphane denève mentioned last year that he 'd like to get married there , tatiana and gerret copeland of the bouchaine wine estate threw the ceremony for them in the vineyards . see images from a maestro 's marriage in the vineyards of napa during this year 's festival del sole '' `` it 's a mission in my life to have more and more people enjoy and love the arts , '' wissman says in an interview sandwiched between denève 's presentation of the grieg piano concerto and prokofiev 's `` romeo and juliet '' suite with the russian national orchestra . watch highlights and comments from barrett wissman and the artists of festival del sole '' `` one of the reasons that we have these festivals -- engage local communities and have music , literature , art , film , cuisine , wine , all these subjects -- is we attract different people who like each one . and then get them to like something else . today , our goal in education in the arts is to get everybody involved . '' wissman is uniquely positioned to `` get everybody involved . '' more than a priest or even a bishop in this arts-mission field , he 's a cardinal in the industry , the chairman of img artists , a major player in world artists ' representation . img 's roster includes violinists joshua bell and itzhak perlman , mezzo-soprano fredericka von stade , flutist james galway , guitarist christopher parkening , the joffrey ballet and composer jay greenberg , among many others .<doc-sep>wissman has just announced a new managing director for img in north and south america , elizabeth sobol . she is , herself , a co-producer of a new festival in boca raton , florida , and architect of a highly publicized new joint venture for img with gorfaine-schwartz , the agency representing trumpeter-composer chris botti , cellist yo-yo ma , singer-songwriter james taylor and hollywood film composer john williams . no matter how far-flung the festivals and events , wissman stays near his roots . `` i 'm a pianist , '' he says , `` a concert pianist . i still play , i play from time to time in the festivals . so i 'm a musician , i come from the arts . '' in the case of napa 's festival del sole , wissman has a co-founder , san francisco-based attorney richard walker , who has a specialization in artists ' management . watch an audio slide show in which richard walker talks about the atmosphere of the festival '' having worked with mikhail pletnev 's russian national orchestra , walker says , since its inception in 1990 as the first symphonic entity founded after the soviet union 's collapse , he emphasizes the stylistic range demanded in festival work . and walker echoes wissman 's interest in making these festivals oases in the itinerant lives of world-traveling artists . `` the events that surround the musical performances , '' walker says , `` are attended by the artists , themselves -- a time of camaraderie for them because they see each other and spend time enjoying each other 's company . '' as if on cue , two world-class pianists , polish-hungarian piotr anderszewski and french-born jean-yves thibaudet , are seated at the same table at a gala post-concert dinner held by far niente wine estate on a cloudless night in a circular arbor crowded with honeysuckle . thibaudet jumps up at one point to accompany violinist bell in manuel ponce 's `` estrellita , '' watched by composer marco tutino and cellist nina kotova . read about joshua bell 's recent win of the $ 75,000 fisher prize . `` we are located in a wonderful hotel , '' says conductor denève , the newlywed whose base of operations is glasgow where he is music director of the royal scottish national orchestra . `` wonderful swimming pool , actually it 's a great way to socialize and get to know more and more the fellow artists because usually you are engaged and just have one or two nights . '' thibaudet places a similar premium on these festivals ' sense of community for artists . `` when we have concerts , '' he says , `` we just come into town , we play and we leave . usually there wo n't be any other soloists , there 's only you . so we never get to meet each other during the year . ''<doc-sep>and it appears that the napa community could n't be happier than to find these major concert and recording artists `` working the valley . '' in a kind of vine-roots , if not grassroots , effort , the wineries have jumped with endearing eagerness into what walker terms a `` friendly competition '' for whose after-concert gala can be the most opulent . they lay on rich dinners set at starlit tables , some by glowing pools , others on cricket-chirpy hilltops and still others under chandeliers hung high in some of the most honored wine-making facilities in the country . one of the venues for the festival this year has been the medieval-looking castello di amorosa , another the renovated lincoln theatre in yountville . wineries participating in special events around an intensely proud sponsorship of the festival have included far niente , the copelands ' bouchaine vineyards , darioush winery , clos pegase , robert mondavi winery , peju province winery , pine ridge winery and st. supéry vineyards and winery . many of these are festival-funding partners , joined by domaine chandon , blackbird vineyards , dalla valle vineyards , plumpjack winery , folio winemakers ' studio , gargiulo vineyards , swanson vineyards and copia , a nonprofit center of wine-making culture in the valley . the vintners , themselves , seem to enjoy the chance to mingle in the common interest of the festival and in the company of these artists they seem to be tying onto their hearts like vine tendrils in their fields . margrit mondavi is a welcome guest one evening at far niente , as are tatiana and gerret copeland of the bouchaine house . florence 's maria manetti farrow , whose ranging villa mille rose is an influential olive oil estate , seems to be everyone 's fondest table mate and every artist 's favorite dinner companion .<doc-sep>resort partners include auberge du soleil , calistoga ranch , solage calistoga , the carneros inn and silverado resort . walker , in fact , estimates that the napa festival -- which with cortona and singapore is produced by the nonprofit del sole foundation for the arts and humanities -- could cost as much as $ 10 million to stage , if the many in-kind services provided by hoteliers , wineries and others were totaled in cash . the `` rehearsals '' for all this , if you will , took place in cortona , where wissman and charles letourneau , executive producer , have staged several years of festival events in what wissman likes to call `` a magical , fellini-esque feel . '' when he looked for a spot in the united states to base a sister festival , `` napa was the perfect place , '' close to the metropolitan pace of san francisco but removed enough to shelter artists and audiences in peace . wissman looks across a long , candlelit table amid shadowy great barrels of bouchaine wine . french conductor denève has tatiana copeland 's dinner guests in stitches with his tale of how he proposed to his new wife on the glass floor high atop the canada 's national tower in toronto -- `` my god , it was frightening ! '' `` one has to lead , '' says wissman , cortona 's saturday opening already occupying his thoughts . `` when doing something important . no matter what your job is , no matter what your work is , you have to lead . '' e-mail to a friend . official sponsors of the 2007 festival de sole include auberge resorts , bouchaine vineyards , boucheron , grove street winery/peter paul wines , napa valley vintners and xojet .<doc-sep>when kimberly griffiths and her husband , richard cicciarelli , stepped onto the dance floor to the first strains of `` at last , '' their wedding guests burst out laughing . the pair had dated for nine years before finally getting married in july 2008 in upstate new york . `` as the music started and the first words of ` at last ' blasted over the speakers , everyone laughed and clapped because they all knew it was a long journey for us , '' griffiths said . `` it was the perfect fit . it was one of my favorite songs , '' she said . `` it 's so soulful and tells exactly how i feel about the relationship with my husband . ... no one could reproduce the feeling that etta conveys when she sings it . '' `` at last '' was the soundtrack to tina and craig wehrbein 's engagement and wedding , so of course they had to go see james live when she performed in their city of omaha , nebraska , in 2007 . `` we could n't wait to go see her sing our song live on stage , '' tina wrote . `` she was in her late sixties at the time , but wow -- what an entertainer she was ! i was pregnant with our second child when we saw her , but that did n't stop me from enjoying the concert like a teenager ! '' another couple had a different kind of message in mind when they chose `` at last '' for their wedding . jasmine brown-denny married her husband , randy denny , in september 2009 . the brooklyn , new york , couple chose the song because it seemed to describe their relationship -- and to honor president barack obama . `` the song also signified the inauguration of the first african american president , '' brown-denny said . `` we were both big supporters of president obama and his campaign and excitedly watched several inauguration balls where the song played prominently . '' she remembers staying up all night watching the president and first lady michelle obama dance the night away at the inaugural balls . `` when we chose the song , we had the first family in mind . '' and for jenn greenberg , `` at last '' was always her wedding song . she knew from the time she was 10 years old that it would be played at her wedding . `` my mom would play this song , as a record , when i was a little girl and i thought it was so romantic , '' said the epping , new hampshire , resident . `` i would listen to it and piece together all the traits and things that would make the perfect husband . i 've always known that ` at last ' would be the song i 'd want to use as my wedding song with my husband . '' in june 2006 , greenberg married her husband , dave , and finally got to dance to her -- and thousands of couples ' -- perfect wedding song . all thanks to etta james .<doc-sep>-lrb- mental floss -rrb- -- 1 . `` cracklin ' rosie , '' by neil diamond . she 's not a girl -- she 's a bottle of wine . neil diamond told rolling stone that he got the idea from an indian tribe in canada with a much higher male than female population . when the guys with girlfriends all went out on dates , the bachelor guys got together and drank homemade hooch . and actually , cracklin ' rosie is pretty decent wordplay when you realize the song 's boozy origins : `` crackling '' is used in the wine world to describe a wine that 's lightly sparkling . you can actually buy a crackling rosé . 2 . `` elenore , '' by the turtles . if you 've ever listened to this song and thought the line `` you 're my pride and joy etcetera '' felt like a pretty poor attempt at lyrics , well , you 're right . `` elenore '' was n't a girl , but an anti-love letter to the turtles ' record label . the label was demanding a hit just like `` happy together , '' which had come out the previous year , so the band slapped together a song they felt was insanely clichéd , happy-go-lucky and generally crappy . to everyone 's surprise , it was a big hit . 3 . `` jane , '' by barenaked ladies .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- ireporter nnadozie john igbokwe sent photos of his mother 's traditional igbo wedding ceremony . igbokwe , 22 , who lives in belgium , took the pictures at the wedding of his mother tina chenenye ubatu to ubatu peter at umuahia in abia state in february this year . the traditional ceremony is called igbankwu , or wine carrying , because it involves the bride carrying a cup of palm wine to her groom .<doc-sep>a priest stunned an irish couple by breaking out into song with a surprise rendition of hallelujah at their wedding , leaving the bride crying with joy . father ray kelly surprised chris and leah o'kane with the note-perfect performance during their marriage ceremony at oldcastle , meath in ireland . the video of father kelly 's heartwarming performance was then uploaded to youtube on monday making the priest an internet hit after having 240,000 viewings in just two days . scroll down for video . father ray kelly , who has become an internet hit after surprising a couple with a performance on hallelujah on their wedding day . newlyweds chris and leah o'kane were shocked when father kelly unexpectedly broke out into song . the bridesmaids were also delighted with the performance at oldcastle church in meath , ireland . during the marriage ceremony , father kelly told the newly married couple and their family and friends gathered that he had a small surprise for them . but nobody was prepared for his pitch perfect custom rendition of the leonard cohen hit ` hallelujah ' . father kelly , who has been parish priest at oldcastle , north-west of dublin since 2006 , starts the song with the words : ` we join together here today , to help two people on their way , as leah and chirs start their life together . ' family and friends at the wedding were also moved by father kelly 's song . at the end of the song , the congregation treated father kelly to applause and cheering . he then tailors the rest of the song to the newlyweds who look stunned by the surprise performance before the bride mrs o'kane can be seen wiping away tears of joy . midway through the song father kelly then raises his eyebrows to the surprised couple , who both break out into laughter . he then carries on with the song with one of the bridesmaids also wiping a tear from her eye and the other congregation members looking on surprised . the newlyweds chris and leah o'kane , left , had no idea that father ray kelly , right , was going to give the performance on their wedding day . father kelly then finishes the performance to rapturous applause and cheering with some people even rising to their feet to give him a standing ovation . the priest was part of the the all priests show in dublin and has performed in the united states . it is also thought he is planning on releasing a charity album . the video of father ray kelly singing at the wedding of chris and leah o'kane has been viewed 240,000 times on youtube . the church on oldcastle , meath in ireland where father ray kelly is the parish priest .

<t> next in a growing series of arts festivals opens saturday in cortona , italy . </t> <t> napa valley 's festival del sole staged more than 50 events in nine days . </t> <t> wineries engage in friendly rivalries , throwing lavish after-concert galas . </t> <t> international artists cite chances to meet each other , community among lures . </t>

wine , wedding and song<T>

washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the united states imposed stiff sanctions against iran on thursday , targeting two iranian military groups and a number of iranian banks and people it accuses of backing nuclear proliferation and terror-related activities . `` what this means is that no u.s. citizen or private organization will be allowed to engage in financial transactions with these persons and entities , '' secretary of state condoleezza rice said . `` in addition , any assets that these designees have under u.s. jurisdiction will be immediately frozen . '' rice and treasury secretary henry paulson made the announcement in a brief appearance before reporters on thursday morning . rice accused iran of `` pursuing nuclear technologies that can lead to a nuclear weapon ; building dangerous ballistic missiles ; supporting shia militants in iraq and terrorists in iraq , afghanistan , lebanon and the palestinian territories ; and denying the existence of a fellow member of the united nations , threatening to wipe israel off the map . '' watch rice tell why sanctions are being imposed '' `` many of the iranian regime 's most destabilizing policies are carried out by two of its agencies : the islamic revolutionary guard corps , or the irgc , and the quds force , an arm of the irgc , '' she said . she said the sanctions were being imposed `` because of the revolutionary guard 's support for proliferation and the quds force support for terrorism . ''<doc-sep>the united states also designated three iranian state-owned banks for sanctions , two of them `` for their involvement in proliferation activities '' and the other `` as a terrorist financier , '' rice said . `` iran funnels hundreds of millions of dollars each year through the international financial system to terrorists , '' paulson said . `` iran 's banks aid this conduct using a range of deceptive financial practices intended to evade even the most stringent risk management controls . '' the revolutionary guard corps , he said , `` is so deeply entrenched in iran 's economy and commercial enterprises , it is increasingly likely that , if you are doing business with iran , you are doing business '' with the corps . `` we call on responsible banks and companies around the world to terminate any business with bank melli , bank mellat , bank saderat , and all companies and entities '' of the corps , paulson said . the move marks the first time the united states has attempted to punish another country 's military through sanctions . previous sanctions imposed by the united states have been tied to iran 's nuclear program . the united states has been working with other world powers to halt what they believe is iran 's intent to develop a nuclear arsenal . iran says it is pursuing nuclear power for peaceful reasons .<doc-sep>mohamed elbaradei , director-general of the united nations ' international atomic energy agency , said last month that iran 's declared nuclear material has not been diverted from peaceful use and criticized u.s. rhetoric regarding iran . the quds force is blamed by the u.s. military for training and arming shiite militias in iraq and smuggling highly lethal explosives into iraq , where they are used to attack coalition forces . iran denies the charge . `` if the iranian government fulfills its international obligation to suspend its uranium enrichment and reprocessing activity , i will join my british , french , russian , chinese and german colleagues , and i will meet with my iranian counterpart any time , anywhere , '' rice said . `` we will be open to the discussion of any issue . but if iran 's rulers choose to continue down a path of confrontation , the united states will act with the international community to resist these threats of the iranian regime . '' last month , representatives of world powers announced that unless a november report shows a `` positive outcome '' of talks with iran about its uranium enrichment program , they will move ahead with plans for a resolution imposing additional sanctions on the country . the u.n. security council has repeatedly demanded that iran suspend enrichment of uranium and has imposed limited sanctions on tehran for refusing to comply . the european union is weighing its own unilateral sanctions . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's kathleen koch and elise labott contributed to this report .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the history of u.s. sanctions against iran dates as far back as 1979 , when hostages were held at the u.s. embassy in tehran . over the years , the u.s. government has approved other sanctions . in 2010 , amid increasing tensions of iran 's nuclear program , the united states instituted sanctions that u.s. officials described as `` unprecedented . '' the united nations and the european union , and other countries around the world also have sanctions against iran . the following are some key steps in the efforts to sanction iran . u.s. sanctions : . -- as a result of the hostage crisis in 1979 , the u.s. government froze iranian government assets in the united states and u.s. banks overseas , totaling $ 12 billion , according to the u.s. treasury . that freeze was eventually expanded to a full trade embargo until an accord was signed with iran in 1981 . most assets were unblocked and the embargo was lifted . -- in 1987 , the united states imposed a new embargo on iranian goods and services , `` as a result of iran 's support for international terrorism and its aggressive actions against non-belligerent shipping in the persian gulf , '' the u.s. treasury says .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- brazil `` will not bend '' to u.s. pressure to seek sanctions against iran , brazilian foreign minister celso amorim said after a meeting with u.s. secretary of state hillary clinton in brasilia . the united states was seeking support for sanctions against iran , which it accuses of harboring a non-peaceful nuclear program . brazil shares the table with the united states on the united nations security council , where it holds a non-veto seat . `` we think with our own mind . we want a world without nuclear arms , certainly without proliferation , '' amorim said at a news conference with clinton on wednesday , according to the official agencia brasil news agency . `` it is not about simply bending to an opinion that may not be true . we ca n't simply be taken along . we have to think with our own head . '' during her remarks , clinton reiterated the case for new sanctions , saying that iran is not likely to engage in negotiations over its nuclear program until after sanctions are in place . clinton said iran is trying to stall the international community . amorim countered that there is still time for negotiations , and that a uranium swap deal remains a possibility . the united states is proposing tough new sanctions on iran at the u.n. security council in an effort to persuade iran to stop uranium enrichment and negotiate with world powers over its nuclear program , senior u.s. officials and security council diplomats said . the united states and its allies are discussing the measures as part of a possible fourth security council resolution against iran over its nuclear program . the sanctions focus on the iranian revolutionary guards corps , which has vast business interests in the country . the sanctions would center around the banking , shipping and insurance sectors of the iranian economy , broadening the scope of the sanctions in the three previous u.n. security resolutions . while existing sanctions call on u.n. members to exercise `` vigilance '' or `` restraint '' on trade , the sources said the proposed new sanctions call for an outright ban on certain transactions with iran . the proposed measures expand existing areas of sanctions , adding new companies and additional individuals facing a travel ban and assets freeze for their work on iran 's nuclear program . the united states wants to gain the support of russia and china to negotiate the proposed sanctions draft . the united states and its allies hope that china will voice its support in talks with deputy secretary of state james steinberg in beijing this week . cnn 's elise labott and adam levine contributed to this report .<doc-sep>`` the iaea 's report last week provided further credible and detailed evidence about the possible military dimensions of the iranian nuclear program , '' british foreign secretary william hague said in a statement . `` today we have responded resolutely by introducing a set of new sanctions that prohibit all business with iranian banks . '' u.s. secretary of state hillary clinton and treasury secretary tim geithner will `` outline new steps the united states is taking to increase pressure on iran '' on monday afternoon in washington , the state department said . the united states will name iran , as well as its central bank , as a `` primary money-laundering concern '' but will not place sanctions directly on the central bank , a senior treasury department official told cnn . the obama administration plans to impose fresh sanctions against iran 's petrochemical industry , diplomatic sources familiar with the plans said friday . u.s. sanctions already prohibit american companies from doing business with iran .<doc-sep>u.s. officials estimate the overall sanctions relief provided to iran as part of the deal will total around $ 7 billion -- $ 4.2 billion of which consists of restricted iranian assets that will be freed up gradually . `` the $ 4.2 billion in restricted iranian assets that iran will gain access to as part of the agreement will be released in regular installments throughout the six months , '' kerry said . `` the final installment will not be available to iran until the very last day . '' but there 's a bipartisan push in congress to tighten , rather than ease , sanctions on iran . u.s. president barack obama made it clear sunday that he would push back . `` imposing additional sanctions now will only risk derailing our efforts to resolve this issue peacefully , and i will veto any legislation enacting new sanctions during the negotiation , '' obama said in a written statement . senior obama administration officials echoed that sentiment sunday , but also said if iran does n't make good on its promises , the united states could decide to step up sanctions . iranian lawmakers have threatened to boost uranium enrichment levels if the united states imposes more sanctions against the country . one of iran 's deputy foreign minister , majid ravanchi , told cnn sunday that the enactment of additional sanctions from the u.s. senate would `` ruin the entire agreement . ''

<t> u.s. puts sanctions on iran 's revolutionary guard , banks , individuals . </t> <t> revolutionary guard accused of supporting nuclear proliferation . </t> <t> guard 's quds force said by u.s. to support terrorism . </t> <t> sanctions mean financial assets of revolutionary guard , others , are frozen . </t>

u.s. slaps new sanctions on iran<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- myanmar 's pro-democracy leader aung san suu kyi is `` ready to cooperate '' with the government and is committed to pursuing a dialogue with the ruling junta , according to a statement the united nations ' special envoy to myanmar read thursday on her behalf . activists display a portrait of detained democracy leader , aung san suu kyi , in myanmar . `` it is my duty to give constant and serious considerations to the interests and opinions of as broad a range of political organizations and forces as possible , '' ibrahim gambari said , reading the statement from suu kyi . on friday suu kyi was able to meet with three executive members of her national league for democracy and a party spokesman -- the first time they have met in more than three years . members of her party said suu kyi was `` very optimistic '' about prospects of the process for reconciliation , the associated press reported .<doc-sep>the nobel peace prize winner has said she will continue to be `` guided by the policies and wishes '' of the opposition political party she heads -- the national league for democracy . in the statement , suu kyi also welcomed the appointment of aung kyi as the minister of relations , a position the junta created last month to be a liaison between government and suu kyi , whom the junta has under house arrest in yangon . she has been confined to her home for the better part of almost two decades . aung kyi -- viewed as a moderate -- was appointed as the liaison officer amid international pressure following september 's bloody crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations . as many as 110 people are believed to have been killed in the violence , including 40 buddhist monks .<doc-sep>video smuggled out of the country showed unarmed protesters being beaten by the military regime 's security forces , and one man -- believed to be a japanese journalist -- was shot and killed at close range . the protests were sparked by a huge fuel price increase imposed by the military government , and quickly escalated . myanmar 's military junta said in mid-october that it had detained more than 2,900 people during the crackdown . many of them are still believed to be in custody . suu kyi described her october 25 meeting with the liaison officer as `` constructive , '' said the statement read by gambari . `` i look forward to further regular discussions . '' gambari said he will return this week to new york to brief u.n. secretary-general ban ki-moon on the five-day trip to myanmar , also called burma .<doc-sep>the situation in the secretive asian nation is not what it was `` a few weeks ago , '' said a u.n. statement released in conjunction with the end of gambari 's trip . `` we now have a process going which would lead to substantive dialogue between the government and daw aung san suu kyi , '' the statement said . `` the sooner such a dialogue can start , the better for myanmar . '' during his trip , gambari met with myanmar 's prime minister , gen. thein sein , and other government officials , as well as suu kyi , the united nations reported . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- u.s. diplomats met with the myanmar opposition leader aung san suu kyi on thursday in another sign of thawing relations between washington and the southeast asian nation . derek mitchell , the u.s. special envoy to myanmar , and luis cdebaca , the u.s. ambassador-at-large for human trafficking , held talks with suu kyi at her residence . the u.s. delegation arrived in the country monday and has meet with top government officials .<doc-sep>by . phil vinter . published : . 07:57 est , 29 may 2012 . | . updated : . 01:37 est , 30 may 2012 . for 24 years , aung san suu kyi was either under house arrest or too fearful that if she left myanmar , the government would never let her return . now , in a sign of how much life there has changed , she 's back to being a world traveler . bangkok 's towering skyscrapers and sprawling urban lights will be the opposition leader 's first glimpse of the outside world when she lands tuesday night to kick off a tour of two continents . it 's a stark contrast to the sleepy city of yangon , where the former military regime kept her a prisoner in her own home for a total of 15 years . respected : myanmar opposition leader aung san suu kyi pictured at a press conference following a meeting with indian prime minister manmohan singh last tuesday .<doc-sep>the rohingya are a stateless muslim minority who say they have been persecuted by the myanmar military during its decades of authoritarian rule . myanmar does n't recognize them as citizens . q&a : what 's behind the sectarian violence in myanmar ? unrest between the rohingya and majority buddhists has tested president thein sein 's administration , which is trying to seek reconciliation with myanmar 's different ethnic groups and move the country toward more democratic governance . the government has sent extra security into the troubled region and declared a state of emergency . the president 's office warned thursday that `` manipulators '' behind the violence can expect to be found and prosecuted . opposition leader aung san suu kyi , speaking in parliament on friday , called for a greater security presence and urged authorities to investigate suspected human rights offenses . cnn 's paul armstrong contributed to this report .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- democracy leader aung san suu kyi 's victory in myanmar 's by-elections on sunday represents the nascent return of opposition politics to the country after nearly half a century of military rule . it also has created an opportunity for the united states to begin easing economic sanctions that are hindering reform . aung san suu kyi , kept under house arrest by the government for 15 years , won a seat in the parliament with a handy plurality . votes continue to be tallied , but reports indicate that her national league for democracy -lrb- nld -rrb- party captured most of the 45 seats up for grabs . the military-backed union solidarity and development party -lrb- usdp -rrb- will maintain its grip on the majority of the 662 seats in the union parliament , but now opposition members will have a voice in lawmaking . the international community should take this moment to encourage myanmar 's moves toward liberalization . for the united states , the time has come to seriously address its myriad financial sanctions on myanmar to ensure that they are not working at cross-purposes with reform efforts . the reformers in myanmar believe that popular support for the political transition can be consolidated only if real improvements in the quality of life can be delivered to the country 's poverty-struck masses and struggling middle class . they fear that if the country 's economic decline is not arrested and reversed relatively soon , it will lead to widespread dissatisfaction and instability , threatening a return to harsh security measures .

<t> aung san suu kyi says she 's committed to pursuing a dialogue with the ruling junta . </t> <t> suu kyi meets with three executive members of her political party . </t> <t> crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators set off international outrage . </t> <t> as many as 110 people were killed in the september violence . </t>

opposition leader to cooperate with myanmar government<T>

editor 's note : in our behind the scenes series , cnn correspondents share their experiences in covering news and analyze the stories behind the events . here , cnn 's arwa damon describes the hardships faced by iraqi women . her documentary airs this weekend on cnn and cnn international . nahla 's husband returned to iraq after the fall of saddam hussein . he was killed in a bomb blast in 2007 . baghdad , iraq -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the pain here is choking -- it 's a dark , suffocating sorrow . `` they took my husband away in front of me . i found his body in the morgue a few days later . he had multiple bullet wounds and his eyes had been gouged out , '' one woman tells me , forcefully twisting a tissue in her hands as if it somehow could ease her agony and erase the chilling memory . she did n't want her story told , too afraid that she would meet the same fate as the man she loved . her husband 's body bore the `` signs of torture . '' how many times has that phrase been used ? it 's such a common phrase it 's as if what really happened gets glossed over : skin scraped off their bodies , fingernails ripped out , horrifying screams of pain before death . how many times have we reported death tolls from one horrific bombing or another and not been able to get across that these are lives that literally were blown apart ? no matter how hard we in the media try , iraq remains a nation filled with untold tragedies , the scope of which so often is overwhelming . and no matter how hard iraqis try to shield themselves and those they love from the horrors here , more often than not they fail . yet they keep fighting . see the sacrifices of iraq 's women ''<doc-sep>nahla works at a radio station and is one of those women . she 's tall , slender , elegantly dressed and has a firm handshake . i look at her and it 's nearly impossible to imagine what she 's been through . `` this numbers game , you always think that you are exempt from the numbers , '' nahla tells me , referring to the daily death toll . `` you 're pained by them , but you are outside of them . '' watch nahla 's struggle to live on '' on april 14 , 2007 , her world shattered . there was an explosion on a bridge in the capital and 10 people were killed . her husband , mohammed , was one of them . `` and with it , i am motionless , '' she says . `` truly , life was in color and now it is in black and white . i feel like it is a game of musical chairs we used to play with others . ... one time you are hit with the chair ; another time , someone else is . now , my son and i are out of the game completely , completely . '' the image of the man she loved , tall and proud , is of a doctor who moved his family back to iraq after the fall of saddam hussein because he believed his country needed him . he was a father who doted on their 6-year-old autistic son . also etched into her memory is the image of his charred body , melted together with nine others , a twisted pile of black , scorched flesh . yet nahla 's voice is calm as she speaks , only breaking at the very end of our conversation , when the pain , buried so deep , rises to the surface . she could n't suppress her gut-wrenching dry sobs . i do n't know how many times i have heard stories like hers after nearly five years of war here , and yet i still get chills . i ca n't stop being in awe -- nor can i stop looking at these women in amazement . life in iraq has forced people to confront horror that would leave many of us paralyzed . watch a divorcee forced to live amid squalor with her kids ''<doc-sep>where do they find the strength to keep going ? some do n't and choose to live out their lives as hollow shells , just waiting for this wretched existence to be over . but so many others refuse to be beaten down , refuse to allow the horror that is iraq to win and kill their spirit . `` if i want to see baghdad again from before the war , i have to do my part while the other person will do his part and the other person will do his part , '' says dr. eaman , a children 's doctor , as her bright smile seems to shine unnaturally in baghdad 's grim atmosphere . `` this is the dream , and i wish everybody would believe it and it will happen , i 'm sure , and this is what is keeping me here , '' she continues . `` i have been attacked by three insurgents and was going to be kidnapped . '' she now lives at the hospital , choosing to disassociate herself from her 8-year-old son to keep him safe . watch why `` i must help my people '' '' `` i wish i can have him with me , live with me , you know , raising him , and just show him how to do things more than anything else , '' eaman says as she laughs and apologizes for her tears . she knows she chose to live with that pain because she believes other children need her more . `` iraq is my life , is my country . being a woman and knowing what other -lsb- countries -rsb- look like , i want to make a change . i want to make a change for the future for a lot of people . '' yanar is another fighter , petite with curly dark hair and a commanding presence .<doc-sep>`` you have been beaten , pushed , kicked and blindfolded , '' yanar says , describing today 's iraqi woman . `` you can not see , you can not hear , but you are kicking back . it 's not ok to be like that . you kick back and you fight for what you deserve ... you should not be turned into a prisoner . '' she started the organization for women 's freedom in iraq to act as a watchdog to help safeguard women 's rights amid war and conflict . she is another woman who exhibits jaw-dropping courage . go inside iraq with cnn 's arwa damon '' she left her family and her comfortable life in canada and came to baghdad to build growing support for women 's rights . she lives a life that at times sounds more like a james bond movie -- having to constantly move because of death threats -- than that of a mother of a 9-year-old . `` at many stages i had to change my house so my address is a secret ; nobody knows where i am other than 10 very close allies , '' yanar says nonchalantly , as if what she is saying is completely normal . but in iraq it is -- it 's a country where a person 's parameters of what they accept as being `` normal '' have to shift to survive . `` what brings me here , '' yanar says , `` it is that everybody that i love , all the people that i love have been crushed . '' she adds , `` this can not happen , should not happen , can not be allowed to happen . '' what we as journalists can not allow to happen is for these voices to go unheard . no matter how hard it is for us to find them -- literally navigating roadblocks and checkpoints or spending days chasing down someone -- the voices of the innocents caught in war must be heard . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>`` he made the decision . he was presented , i believe , 12 techniques . he authorized the use of 10 of them , including waterboarding , '' rove said . all republicans were n't as defensive of the bush administration 's tactics . arizona sen. john mccain argued the tactics outlined in the report do amount to torture , and said he would `` urge everyone to just read the report . '' `` these are the communications within the cia as to what happened , '' he said on cbs 's `` face the nation . '' `` you ca n't claim that tying someone to the floor and have them freeze to death is not torture . you ca n't say 183 times someone is waterboarded . '' mccain said calling the tactics used under bush `` eits '' -- an acronym for enhanced interrogation techniques -- is `` orwellian . ''<doc-sep>madrid had known coronado since the latter moved into the neighborhood four to five years ago . in that time , madrid and coronado would talk at the grocery store or across the fence about their children . never did she hear any arguments or see any signs of trouble . `` never , '' the neighbor said wednesday . `` completely opposite of what happened yesterday . '' the girls ' father was across the street working on a car when it happened , madrid said . `` i ca n't imagine how he feels , you know , '' robert marino , a family friend , told cnn affiliate kcal . `` it 's just not right . '' police : utah mom admits to killing at least six of her babies . mom kills two of her children during attempted exorcism . opinion : why would a mother kill her babies ? cnn 's sonya hamasaki and ed payne contributed to this report .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- in a place that does not exist -- a black site -- maya -lrb- jessica chastain -rrb- watches as her colleague dan -lrb- jason clarke -rrb- interrogates an arab prisoner . `` if you lie to me , i hurt you , '' dan says to the prisoner , who is bound , bruised , and not telling the americans what they need to know . soon , the prisoner will be held down on the floor with a cloth over his face and will have water poured into his mouth until he is half-drowned . this is waterboarding , and it leaves the prisoner gasping like a dying fish . but he does not give up his secrets , and will not until later in the game . we can imagine this scene played out in different ways . imagine it , for example , with eastern european heavies playing the interrogators and scarlett johansson as the prisoner . or we could see it with kiefer sutherland demanding answers in `` 24 . '' scenes of torture are not rare in tv and movies , and it 's not like the old days when the hero was always on the receiving end . yet even before `` zero dark thirty '' opened , these scenes have stirred controversy , with outspoken critiques accusing director kathryn bigelow -lrb- `` the hurt locker '' -rrb- of endorsing torture . and although controversy is nothing new to the director of `` strange days '' and `` near dark , '' these complaints seem off base .<doc-sep>mr marsh , 64 , works at st george 's hospital in tooting , south london . a leading neurosurgeon has spoken of the ` torture ' of keeping a stiff upper lip in the face of the suffering he sees in his job . henry marsh said yesterday that doctors had to hide the distress they feel at patients ' pain because families did not want to see them ` weeping at the end of the bed ' . the consultant , who was made a cbe in 2010 , said neurosurgery had a high potential for ` catastrophe ' . he added : ` it 's difficult to know how people cope . ` it 's torture . and you ca n't show it . patients and their families do n't want to see you weeping at the end of the bed . ' mr marsh , 64 , who works at st george 's hospital in tooting , south london , has become known for his outspoken views .

<t> iraqi woman perseveres because `` all the people that i love have been crushed '' </t> <t> cnn 's arwa damon reveals stories of horror , tragedy among iraq 's women . </t> <t> doctor says she wants all iraqis to do their part : `` i wish everybody would believe '' </t> <t> one woman 's husband was killed in 2007 ; his melted flesh is etched in her mind . </t>

` signs of torture ' you ca n't imagine<T>

london , england -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- fantasy author terry pratchett has admitted that he has been diagnosed with a rare form of alzheimer 's disease -- but says he plans to continue writing his multi-million selling discworld books . terry pratchett , whose books have sold more than 45 million copies worldwide in 33 languages . pratchett , 59 -- whose books have , according to his web site , sold more than 45 million copies worldwide in 33 languages -- suffered what he called a `` phantom stroke '' earlier this year . in a statement titled `` an embuggerance '' on the web site of discworld illustrator paul kidby , pratchett says that he has been diagnosed with what he terms `` a very rare form of early onset alzheimer 's . '' `` i would have liked to keep this one quiet for a little while , but because of upcoming conventions and of course the need to keep my publishers informed , it seems to me unfair to withhold the news , '' says pratchett , who has a strong following among fans of fantasy fiction .<doc-sep>`` all other things being equal , i expect to meet most current and , as far as possible , future commitments but will discuss things with the various organisers , '' he continues . `` frankly , i would prefer it if people kept things cheerful , because i think there 's time for at least a few more books yet . '' pratchett adds that work is continuing on his next book `` nation '' and that the `` basic notes are already being laid down for unseen academicals . '' in a p.s. he adds that `` i would just like to draw attention to everyone reading the above that this should be interpreted as ' i am not dead ' . i will , of course , be dead at some future point , as will everybody else .<doc-sep>`` i know it 's a very human thing to say ` is there anything i can do ' , but in this case i would only entertain offers from very high-end experts in brain chemistry . '' pratchett 's discworld novels , of which 36 have been published to date , are set in a fantasy universe through which the author satirizes modern-day life . he says in a statement on his own web site that the series `` started out as a parody of all the fantasy that was around in the big boom of the early '80s , then turned into a satire on just about everything , and even i do n't know what it is now . '' pratchett , who began writing while a provincial newspaper journalist in the 1960s , received the order of the british empire `` for services to literature '' from the prince of wales in 1998 . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>london , england -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- fantasy author terry pratchett has admitted that he has been diagnosed with a rare form of alzheimer 's disease -- but says he plans to continue writing his multi-million selling discworld books . terry pratchett , whose books have sold more than 45 million copies worldwide in 33 languages . pratchett , 59 -- whose books have , according to his web site , sold more than 45 million copies worldwide in 33 languages -- suffered what he called a `` phantom stroke '' earlier this year . in a statement titled `` an embuggerance '' on the web site of discworld illustrator paul kidby , pratchett says that he has been diagnosed with what he terms `` a very rare form of early onset alzheimer 's . '' `` i would have liked to keep this one quiet for a little while , but because of upcoming conventions and of course the need to keep my publishers informed , it seems to me unfair to withhold the news , '' says pratchett , who has a strong following among fans of fantasy fiction . `` all other things being equal , i expect to meet most current and , as far as possible , future commitments but will discuss things with the various organisers , '' he continues . `` frankly , i would prefer it if people kept things cheerful , because i think there 's time for at least a few more books yet . '' pratchett adds that work is continuing on his next book `` nation '' and that the `` basic notes are already being laid down for unseen academicals . '' in a p.s. he adds that `` i would just like to draw attention to everyone reading the above that this should be interpreted as ' i am not dead ' . i will , of course , be dead at some future point , as will everybody else . `` i know it 's a very human thing to say ` is there anything i can do ' , but in this case i would only entertain offers from very high-end experts in brain chemistry . '' pratchett 's discworld novels , of which 36 have been published to date , are set in a fantasy universe through which the author satirizes modern-day life . he says in a statement on his own web site that the series `` started out as a parody of all the fantasy that was around in the big boom of the early '80s , then turned into a satire on just about everything , and even i do n't know what it is now . '' pratchett , who began writing while a provincial newspaper journalist in the 1960s , received the order of the british empire `` for services to literature '' from the prince of wales in 1998 . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>by . emma innes . published : . 10:37 est , 18 september 2013 . | . updated : . 14:25 est , 18 september 2013 . novelist sir terry pratchett has accused the government of ` pussy footing ' around on dementia treatment and withholding vital research funds . in a damning blog , the top-selling author - who was diagnosed with alzheimer 's in 2007 - said care services were left to ` paper over the cracks ' of a lack of funds . sir terry wrote a personal reflection on society 's response to the disease alongside his own experiences in the inaugural article for the alzheimer 's research uk . sir terry pratchett , 65 , has accused the government of ` pussy footing ' around on dementia treatment and withholding vital research funds . sir terry was diagnosed with alzheimer 's disease in 2007 . he called for more investment into research and said science needed to deliver on its promises . the 65-year-old said : ` technology and a trained and compassionate care system can help paper over the cracks , but , a decade since the last proclaimed development , science needs to deliver on its promises . ` there 's more money floating around the government for research , but barely enough to buy a middling premier league striker . ` if we 're serious about this thing , and want to match the fanfare with the funding , then more money needs to be found down the back of david cameron 's sofa . ' the author , famous for his discworld fantasy books , added : ` if there is indeed an emerging sense - finally - that we 've stopped pussy footing around dementia and can now bear to utter its name , we nevertheless find a cloud of unknowing persists .<doc-sep>imagination : discworld , the setting of many of sir terry 's books . the flat planet is held aloft by elephants , who in turn stand on the bag of a giant turtle that is swimming through space . ` we thought it would be a humorous way of saying thank you . we 'll make sure the hat has a good time . ' he added that the author has enjoyed mingling with the crowd in previous years and said : ` he loves walking around and chatting with fans . ' sir terry became a patron of alzheimer 's research uk in 2008 and donated the charity # 1m . research shows there are hundreds of thousands of people in the uk living with dementia , and more than 40 per cent of the uk population know someone close with the disease . the writer . is best known for his satirical fantasy novels set in discworld , a flat . planet resting on the back of four elephants , themselves perched on the . back of a vast turtle moving through space . there . are hundreds of thousands of people in the uk living with dementia , and . more than 40 per cent of the uk population know someone close with the .<doc-sep>miss parks , a married mother of one , spent months meticulously researching and spending lots of time with dementia sufferers and their families before publishing her book for public consumption last year . the 45-year-old has written 13 novels in 13 years , all of which have topped the times bestseller list , but it is whatever it takes which was released last year , that she regards as one of her ` most rewarding projects ' miss parks , whose other bestselling titles include husbands and playing away , said : ` i 'm the first author to do this i believe , write from the point of view of a dementia sufferer in mainstream fiction . ` i absolutely wanted to write from the alzheimer sufferer 's perspective . it was essential to me -- i did n't want to write in a way that was just what everyone else thinks it must be like . the author 's latest novel whatever it takes , which was released last year . ` and as far as i 'm aware and as far as people who have written to me , lots of people -- either those suffering from alzheimer 's or families and friends -- all have said we had n't come across a book written like this before . ' and her depiction was ` exactly right ' , she said .

<t> multi-million selling writer has `` a very rare form of early onset alzheimer 's '' </t> <t> terry pratchett says work continuing on books , plans to honor commitments . </t> <t> discworld novels are set in a fantasy universe but satirize modern day life . </t> <t> received the order of the british empire from the prince of wales in 1998 . </t>

fantasy author : i have alzheimer 's<T>

panama city , panama -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the sole survivor of a plane crash that killed two americans and a panamanian pilot was awake and talking wednesday , a doctor said . francesca lewis , 13 , apparently fell out of the plane or was ejected on impact , her mother , valerie lewis , told cnn on wednesday . the girl endured two days in the rugged mountains of panama , in frigid temperatures and heavy rain , before rescuers stumbled upon her in the wreckage on christmas day . `` she 's doing all right , '' valerie lewis said . `` she is having tests done at the hospital right now , and so far things seem good -- kind of miraculous . `` the fact that she so far does n't seem to have any major damage seems incredible . '' dr. alexander quidano at the mae lewis medical center in boquete , panama , said francesca was in stable condition , awake and speaking .<doc-sep>she was being treated for a fractured arm and several cuts , but tests , including a cat scan , were under way to make sure nothing else was wrong , quidano said . francesca apparently was disoriented when her rescuers saw her under a wing of the wrecked plane , her mother said . she thought she was at home and wondered why an airplane wing was in her house , her mother said . rescuers carried the girl on a stretcher for three and a half hours in torrential rain over rugged terrain to a helicopter . `` we 're so relieved to have her with us , '' her mother said . the small plane disappeared sunday in a mountainous area of panama .<doc-sep>authorities found the bodies of pilot edwin lasso , american businessman michael klein and klein 's 13-year-old daughter , talia , about 4:30 p.m. tuesday , according to a statement posted on the web site of panama 's civil protection agency . francesca and talia were friends . watch latest from school the girls attended '' rescuers planned to retrieve the three bodies wednesday , said thomas mesa , a spokesman for the u.s. embassy in panama city . klein , a 37-year-old hedge fund manager , was vacationing with the two girls when they took the flight sunday to photograph a volcano in chiriqui province , about 285 miles west of panama city . authorities think the small single-engine cessna ran into bad weather . radio contact with the flight was lost about noon sunday .<doc-sep>authorities and hundreds of volunteers spent the last two days searching the dense jungles and mountainous terrain , but heavy rain in the area had hampered recovery efforts . `` i just want to thank all of the people that cared so much about trying to help us , '' valerie lewis said . `` so many people tried to help , and at great effort and sacrifice , and through the christmas holiday . `` i mean , the most important family holiday , people were giving up that to go and trudge through the mud . it was like looking for a needle in a haystack . we really appreciate everything that was done . '' klein was president and ceo of egroups inc. in 1999 and 2000 , when yahoo! acquired the company , merging it with its own e-mail services and changing its name to yahoo! groups , which now serves more than 100 million users worldwide . `` my heart goes out to everyone , '' valerie lewis said . `` we all have been through a tremendous trauma together . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>witnesses to a horrific crash claim a baby was catapulted to safety from its mother 's womb when she was hit by a truck and killed . heavily-pregnant wang zhau , 40 , was travelling to hospital with her husband mao , 42 , when they were hit by a truck and both flung from the vehicle . eye-witnesses claim the wheels of the truck then went over the woman and the baby was forced from her womb by the impact and catapulted to safety three metres away . others reported that the woman gave birth immediately after being hit by the truck and then died . her husband was also killed in the crash but the baby was taken to hospital in xiamen , fujian province , china , and is expected to survive . scroll down for video . miraculous survivor : baby xiao zhao is being cared for in hospital in fujian province , china , after his mother was killed when she was hit by a truck on her way to hospital to give birth .<doc-sep>a yemenia airways airbus 310 went down early tuesday , carrying 142 passengers and 11 crew members . it originated in yemen 's capital , sanaa , and went down just miles from comoros ' capital , moroni . one person , 13-year-old french girl bahia basari , survived for hours in the indian ocean clinging to the debris of the downed plane . she arrived home in france on thursday , where she was reunited with her father . watch teen survivor from crash '' she is the only known survivor from the crash , which killed her mother .<doc-sep>the devastated relatives of a family killed in a car crash have paid tribute to their loved ones , as an 18-month-old baby - the sole survivor of the accident - remains in hospital . john kehoe , 72 , his wife margaret , 65 , their son-in-law martyn pugh , 47 , and 28-year-old alison hind all died in the three-vehicle collision in west wales last week . baby holly hind was the only survivor . she is currently being treated at cardiff 's university hospital wales , where she is said to be in a stable condition , with her father at her bedside . investigations into what caused the crash on the a44 near llangurig are continuing . survivor : holly hind , 18 months , -lrb- left -rrb- was the sole survivor when her great-uncle martyn pugh 's car was in a pile-up with a fuel tanker and a van , killing her 28-year-old mother , alison -lrb- right -rrb- , mr pugh , 47 , and his partner 's elderly parents , john and margaret kehoe . all four of those killed had been travelling in a ford focus . the other vehicles involved in the crash were a tanker and a van . the driver of the van escaped uninjured as did the lorry driver . but the four adults in the ford were killed . holly , who was strapped into a child seat , was airlifted to hospital in cardiff . her . father , 36-year-old mechanic steve hughes , is at her bedside . the . incident led to a 21-mile stretch of the road being closed for 12 hours . the family of holly 's mother , ms hind , said they were utterly heartbroken .<doc-sep>the lone survivor of a 1985 reno airplane crash that killed 70 people who were returning from a super bowl junket says he ca n't bring himself to attend a memorial on the 30th anniversary of the disaster . george lamson jr. was 17 when galaxy airlines flight 203 crashed in a field in south reno on january 21 , 1985 . rescuers responding to the fiery wreckage found him strapped in his seat in the middle of a street . scroll down for video . then and now : gregory lamson jr. -lrb- pictured recently at left and as a senior in high school at right -rrb- was the sole survivor of the galaxy airlines flight 203 crash that killed 70 -- including lamson 's father -- in 1985 . miraculous : lamson was was discovered still strapped into his seat after the plane broke in half just in front of him and an explosion sent him flying behind a ball of fire into the middle of a street . ' i do n't want to be remembered as the boy who survived this accident . i want to be remembered as the man that lived , ' lamson , 47 , told the reno gazette-journal this week . ` life is a gift for which i am always grateful for . thank you to all that have helped me along in my journey . ' washoe county officials plan to unveil a new memorial plaque on wednesday after the original was stolen two years ago near the campus of the university of nevada , reno . though minnesota native lamson moved to reno way back in 1990 -- to the place he spent the last unscarred day of his youth and last saw the father he so greatly admired -- he says he ca n't bear to attend the memorial re-dedication . but he said he recently visited the new memorial and was pleased with the plaque , which is embedded in a granite boulder and surrounded by pine trees that were planted in memory of the plane 's passengers and crew . lamson , his father , george sr. , and 64 other football fans from minnesota had traveled on a charter flight from minneapolis to reno . too emotional : a previous memorial plaque was stolen near the campus of the university of nevada . the new was to be rededicated this week -- without the only survivor in attendance .

<t> new : girl , 13 , was disoriented when found under wing , mother says . </t> <t> new : lack of major injuries `` seems incredible , '' mother says . </t> <t> new : rescuers carried girl 3.5 hours over mountains in heavy rain . </t> <t> girl was only survivor in panama crash that killed three . </t>

crash survivor 's mother : ` miraculous '<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- thousands of chileans may have to sleep in the streets wednesday night after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake rattled the north part of the country , killing at least two people , injuring dozens and destroying hundreds of homes . valentina bustos shot this photo wednesday of earthquake damage at a hotel in antofagasta , chile . `` there are more than a thousand , 1,200 houses , at least , that were totally flattened , and others in bad shape , '' tocopilla mayor luis moyano said in an interview that aired on radio cooperativo . tocopilla , chile , north of santiago , is about 35 km -lrb- 21 miles -rrb- from the quake 's epicenter . `` tonight , people are going to have to sleep in the street , because there are a great number of houses that are uninhabitable , '' said moyano . places that could be used as shelters , such as schools and gyms , were damaged in the quake , the mayor said . moyano put the number of people without shelter at 4,000 . tocopilla 's population is 24,000 . moyano described going through the damaged city and running into people asking , `` mayor , my house collapsed . what do i do ? mayor , i do n't have water . what do i do ? ''<doc-sep>`` it gets to you , '' he said . paula saez with the aid organization world vision told cnn she was on a treacherous drive attempting to reach tocopilla . `` there 's no electricity and there 's a lot of landslides '' covering the road in spots , she said , and the highway was spotted with holes . once in tocopilla , saez said , she was prepared to offer tents , blankets and medicine to citizens and assess additional needs . the government 's office of national emergency reported that two women had died and others were injured in the city . officials identified one of those killed as 54-year-old olga petronila ortiz cisternas . the other fatality was an 88-year-old woman . watch what a 7.7 earthquake can do '' municipal official ljubica ukurtovic , in an interview with chilean tv station tvn , said that `` approximately 100 people '' had sought treatment at a tocopilla hospital . the quake collapsed a roadway tunnel , temporarily trapping about 50 construction workers . see where the quake struck ''<doc-sep>high-level government sources said the workers had been rescued . repair work on the 793-meter -lrb- 2,600-foot -rrb- pedro galleguillos tunnel , completed in 1994 , began on october 1 and was to be finished early next year . tocopilla is about 1,245 km -lrb- 780 miles -rrb- north of santiago and the quake was felt in peru and bolivia , according to the u.s. geological survey . the temblor was centered at a depth of 60 km -lrb- 37 miles -rrb- , the usgs said . a tsunami warning was issued for the south pacific coast after the quake hit , but was canceled within an hour . chile has been the scene of hundreds of strong earthquakes throughout history , including the largest one of the 20th century on may 22 , 1960 . the quake that struck southern chile that day registered a magnitude 9.5 and launched a tsunami that caused damage as far away as hawaii , japan and the philippines . nearly 6,000 people died as a result of the quake and its tsunami . a magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck southern chile on january 25 , 1939 , killed 28,000 people . a magnitude 9.0 earthquake in what was then southern peru but is now northern chile killed 25,000 people in 1868 . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- thousands of chileans may have to sleep in the streets wednesday night after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake rattled the north part of the country , killing at least two people , injuring dozens and destroying hundreds of homes . valentina bustos shot this photo wednesday of earthquake damage at a hotel in antofagasta , chile . `` there are more than a thousand , 1,200 houses , at least , that were totally flattened , and others in bad shape , '' tocopilla mayor luis moyano said in an interview that aired on radio cooperativo . tocopilla , chile , north of santiago , is about 35 km -lrb- 21 miles -rrb- from the quake 's epicenter . `` tonight , people are going to have to sleep in the street , because there are a great number of houses that are uninhabitable , '' said moyano . places that could be used as shelters , such as schools and gyms , were damaged in the quake , the mayor said . moyano put the number of people without shelter at 4,000 . tocopilla 's population is 24,000 . moyano described going through the damaged city and running into people asking , `` mayor , my house collapsed . what do i do ? mayor , i do n't have water . what do i do ? ''<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn student news -rrb- -- february 28 , 2011 . download pdf maps related to today 's show : . • libya • chile . transcript . this is a rush transcript . this copy may not be in its final form and may be updated . carl azuz , cnn student news anchor : february 28th : the month is just about over . but 10 minutes of commercial-free headlines are just getting started . i 'm carl azuz . welcome to a new week of cnn student news ! first up : crisis in libya . azuz : first up , british officials say the best hope for libya is for moammar gadhafi to leave . the libyan leader is the focus of protests that have been going on for weeks . and the international community is getting involved in this . on saturday , the united nations security council voted 15-0 to punish libya by putting sanctions , or restrictions , on col. gadhafi and his associates . some experts say libya has been under sanctions before ; they have n't worked . the security council referred the crisis to the international criminal court , which could decide to investigate col. gadhafi for war crimes . the u.n. also acted to freeze gadhafi 's financial assets , which means he wo n't have access to some of his money . the united kingdom made the same move yesterday . back in libya , thousands of people are trying to get away from the violence . the united nations commission on refugees says a lot of those people have fled to the neighboring countries of egypt and tunisia . quake anniversary . azuz : chilean president sebastian pinera says a little more than half of the reconstruction is finished , one year after a devastating earthquake hit chile . president pinera said more than 2 million people were directly affected by the quake . in the early morning hours sunday , chileans gathered for a candlelight vigil to mark the anniversary and remember the 521 people killed by the quake . president pinera , who had n't taken office yet when the tremor struck , called it the most destructive earthquake in the history of chile . this file footage shows you scenes from the aftermath of the quake . it was tremendous , with a magnitude of 8.8 . thousands were left homeless . and now , even a year later , dozens are still missing . budget battle . azuz : workers ' unions are at the heart of a budget battle in wisconsin . republican governor scott walker says his state is broke and unions block efforts that could save money . people protesting against governor walker 's proposed budget bill say it 's designed to break up unions by limiting collective bargaining . that 's when unions negotiate working conditions for employees . governor walker talked recently about why collective bargaining should be limited . governor scott walker , -lrb- r -rrb- wisconsin : collective bargaining has a cost . it has a cost in terms of health care and pension contributions . it has a cost overall in terms of how our governments operate at the local level . and we 've got to change that relationship so that we can preserve jobs and ultimately , most importantly , so that the corrections we make for this budget are n't one-time fixes or short-term fixes . azuz : last week , the wisconsin assembly passed the budget bill . the senate has n't voted yet , because senate democrats have n't come back ; they left the state to keep the vote from happening . governor walker says layoffs could be coming if they ca n't reach an agreement soon . one leading wisconsin democrat says the governor and republicans are n't listening to what people want . peter barca , -lrb- d -rrb- minority leader , wisconsin assembly : governor walker and assembly republicans are so out of touch that they are willing to resort to these extreme ends to achieve their political goals .<doc-sep>a major earthquake has killed at least 327 people and left thousands more injured and homeless in a remote region of southwestern pakistan . the pakistani military said it was rushing troops and helicopters to awaran district in baluchistan province where the magnitude 7.7 quake struck on tuesday afternoon . the quake was felt as far away as new . delhi , the indian capital , some 1,200 kilometers -lrb- about 740 miles -rrb- away , . but no damage or injuries were immediately reported there . scroll down for video . disaster zone : survivors of an earthquake walk on rubble of a mud house after it collapsed following the quake in the town of awaran in the southwestern pakistani province of baluchistan . homeless : a survivor of an earthquake sits as he drinks tea on the rubble of a mud house after it collapsed in the 7.7-magnitude quake . in pakistani cities such as karachi . along the arabian sea and quetta , the capital of baluchistan province , . people ran into the streets in fear , praying for their lives when the . quake hit . local officials . said they were sending doctors , food and 1,000 tents for people who had . nowhere to sleep as strong aftershocks continued to shake the region . most of the victims were killed when their houses collapsed . pakistani television showed pictures of the area . walls of the mud brick houses had collapsed and people were gathered outside because they had no homes to sleep in . devastation : baluchistan is pakistan 's largest province but also the least populated and most impoverished . awaran district has about 300,000 residents .<doc-sep>concepcion , chile -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the death toll in chile was revised downward thursday as authorities reviewed discrepancies in the reported number of dead in the maule region . deputy interior minister patricio rosende said the casualty count in maule , originally reported at 587 , included more than 200 people who are missing but not confirmed dead . therefore , the official nationwide death toll is lower than the 802 figure given by emergency authorities . in an attempt to reduce confusion , rosende read aloud the names of 279 chileans who had been killed and identified by thursday evening . he said he would update that official number regularly . this new tally does not account for hundreds of unidentified victims . with disasters of this magnitude , `` the number of dead change daily , '' rosende said . `` it takes months sometimes to compile the information because one of the biggest problems in the affected areas is the lack of precision and uncertainty at the scene . '' rosende also announced that president michelle bachelet has called for three days of national mourning , beginning sunday . he called chileans to fly the country 's flag outside their homes as a sign of solidarity for the earthquake 's victims . bachelet toured devastated parts of central and southern chile on thursday , five days after the 8.8-magnitude earthquake . bachelet first visited the battered seaport of talcahuano , where a quake-induced tsunami roared through many parts of the city . see scenes of devastation . wearing a blue windbreaker and surrounded by military , local dignitaries and tv cameras , bachelet walked for several blocks before stopping to make a lengthy statement . `` this is the time for action , '' bachelet said upon her return to the capital thursday afternoon , where she met with leaders of the catholic church . the church has been a partner in providing help in the quake 's aftermath . the top priority remained the needs of those affected , followed by reconstruction efforts , the president said . `` despite the adversity , despite the challenges , chile will come out on top , '' she said . monsignor alejandro goic shared a note from pope benedict xvi expressing sadness for the tragedy and supporting the chilean people . `` this is the time for unity , '' goic said . talcahuano , the nearby city of concepcion and other parts of the region were the hardest-hit areas and the scene of days of looting and lawlessness . many residents , including the mayor of concepcion , complained that federal aid was slow in arriving . some aid still had not arrived thursday . `` today we have not received one measure of water from the national emergency office , understanding that there are some difficulties , '' said eduardo soto , mayor of rancagua in central chile . bachelet dispatched more than 13,000 soldiers and other military personnel to restore order in the area . food and water started to arrive late tuesday in concepcion , and officials said they distributed 3,500 aid packages on wednesday . she later toured talca , another devastated area . watch rescue efforts under way .

<t> new : tocopilla mayor : more than 1,200 homes flattened , shelters damaged . </t> <t> dozens of workers freed from collapsed roadway tunnel , officials say . </t> <t> chilean navy is moving heavy equipment into the area to help with rescue . </t> <t> 7.7 quake north of tocopilla happened at 12:40 p.m. -lrb- 10:40 a.m. et -rrb- . </t>

thousands of chileans homeless after quake , mayor says<T>

jacksonville , north carolina -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- police believe they have found the remains of a missing marine buried in the backyard of the prime suspect in the case and blood spatter evidence inside his home , authorities said friday evening . investigators search for the body of lance cpl. maria lauterbach friday . tests found the `` trace of violent activity in the house '' and `` evidence of an attempted cleanup , '' said onslow county sheriff ed brown . investigators are treating the death of lance cpl. maria lauterbach as a murder , brown added . lauterbach , 20 -- who was eight months pregnant -- was reported missing from camp lejeune , north carolina , by her mother december 19 . cpl. cesar armando laurean , whom lauterbach had accused of rape , is the suspected killer , and is being sought , brown said . he confirmed that laurean had left a note , but did not divulge what it said . investigators told cnn , however , that laurean left a note to his wife saying lauterbach had committed suicide and that he buried the body . `` evidence now is saying what he 's claiming happened did not happen like he said it happened , '' brown said . authorities searching laurean 's home found a cavity in his backyard earlier friday . a preliminary investigation indicated a `` suspicious situation , '' prompting police to secure the scene and wait for daylight saturday . watch authorities search for a grave '' `` we think that we have found what would be the skeletal remains -lsb- of lauterbach -rsb- , '' onslow county district attorney dewey hudson told reporters . while authorities will not know for sure until saturday , `` there are certainly some strong indicators that there are human remains '' buried in the cavity , he said . `` it does n't take a rocket scientist to understand if there 's a cavity out back and blood on the inside , that 's probably going to be a key location for where this crime may have taken place , '' brown said . he also hinted that investigators have uncovered more twists in the case . `` i do think this case is going to be a bizarre ending , and when i say bizarre , more than just a death and a burial . '' brown stunned reporters earlier in the day by opening a press conference with the announcement : `` she is dead , and she is buried . '' watch brown describe the cavity '' laurean , a 21-year-old from nevada , is believed to have left the marine base about 4 a.m. friday , driving a black dodge pickup with north carolina license plate trr1522 , brown said . he repeatedly refused to meet with investigators , finally telling them that his attorney would n't let him . the sheriff was downcast at a midday news conference . `` these cases , investigations , become personal . i just want to cry , '' he said . `` i 'm telling you , at this point , i 'm down , way down . '' watch sheriff announce that marine is dead '' mary lauterbach reported her daughter missing after being unable to contact her . she said she last spoke to her december 14 .<doc-sep>in a handwritten note , the lauterbach family in vandalia , ohio , mourned their loss . `` we would like to thank everyone for their prayers in this time of grieving , '' the note said . `` maria has been a gift for her family and friends . the outpouring of love from family , friends , neighbors and the general community has been very touching . `` please understand that the family needs time alone to deal with this tragedy . we wish to thank everyone for their love and concern . '' `` they 're having a very difficult time dealing with this , '' said peter steiner , a kentucky psychiatrist who is maria lauterbach 's uncle and mary lauterbach 's brother . `` they remained hopeful , and really , although everyone knew it was a possibility , it was very difficult when it became apparent . '' brown said a witness came forward friday morning with a statement and evidence that convinced authorities lauterbach was dead . brown would n't name the witness , or describe lauterbach 's cause of death , except to say she died `` from an injury . '' asked whether the witness was in protective custody , brown said the person does not feel the need for protective custody , as laurean likely left the county and possibly the state . a source close to the investigation told cnn the witness is laurean 's wife . lauterbach 's relatives believe the pregnancy was the result of the alleged rape , steiner said . a reporter who asked military officials why laurean had n't been taken into custody after lauterbach reported the alleged rape was told there were indications that lauterbach and laurean carried on `` some sort of friendly relationship '' after she filed the complaint against him . `` the information developed over the last 24 hours leads us to believe that she still had some kind of contact '' with him , said paul ciccarelli , agent in charge of the naval criminal investigative service at camp lejeune . because of that , laurean was n't considered a flight risk , he said . steiner disputed that , saying his niece had no relationship with laurean . ciccarelli also said the rape investigation is still active . watch police face unanswered questions '' lauterbach disappeared before she was able to testify at an article 32 hearing -- a kind of military grand jury -- about the sexual assault . earlier friday , brown said a marine who returned to north carolina from california -- sgt. daniel durham , 20 , in whose home lauterbach had been living for a short time -- was questioned , but does not appear to have any link to the death . lauterbach had rented a room in durham 's home , off the base , because she had been subjected to repeated harassment by the marines after reporting the alleged rape , steiner said . her car had been keyed and an anonymous person had `` slugged '' her in the face , he said . lauterbach 's cell phone was found on a roadside near camp lejeune on december 20 . her car was found monday in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant and had apparently been there since december 15 , brown said . a bus ticket to el paso , texas , was bought in lauterbach 's name on the same day , but brown said it was never used . see a timeline of the case '' investigators have said a withdrawal from lauterbach 's bank account was made on december 14 , and there was `` suspicious activity '' on the account 10 days later . lauterbach and her mother last spoke about 2:30 p.m. the day lauterbach disappeared , steiner said . at the time , she had experienced some contractions . `` she was ready to have that baby . '' his niece `` was an energetic , very athletic , beautiful young lady . she was a person that we 're all dearly , dearly going to miss , '' he said . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>jacksonville , north carolina -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the remains of an adult and a fetus were found saturday in a shallow grave in the backyard of the primary suspect in the death of a pregnant marine , onslow county sheriff ed brown announced . investigators search for the body of marine lance cpl. maria lauterbach on saturday . an arrest warrant has been issued for cpl. cesar armando laurean in the death of lance cpl. maria lauterbach . he is charged with first-degree murder , although authorities have not positively identified the body as hers . `` this is consistent with what we were looking for : a pregnant lady who is the victim maria lauterbach and her unborn child , '' brown said . the body was charred , and the fetus was in the victim 's abdomen , brown said , describing the scene in gruesome detail . the fetus was developed enough that the `` little hand was about the size of my thumb . the little fingers were rolled up , '' he said . `` one of the things that will probably stick with me for a long time , and forever , is that little hand , the way those fingers were turned , that had been burned off the arm . that is bizarre . that is tragic . and it 's disgusting . '' watch brown describe the scene '' the remains were taken to the onslow county medical examiner 's office . they will next be sent to the chief medical examiner in chapel hill , north carolina , for dna testing and comparison with dental records .<doc-sep>joe lenczyk -- resident agent-in-charge for the federal bureau of alcohol , tobacco , firearms and explosives -- said wimunc and her husband were estranged and lived apart . wimunc is the second female soldier from fort bragg to die under suspicious circumstances in recent weeks . spc. megan lynn touma , 23 , was seven months pregnant at the time of her death in june , authorities said . investigators say they are treating that death as a homicide . camp lejeune also has had a suspicious death of a female soldier this year . twenty-year-old pregnant marine lance cpl. maria lauterbach 's charred body was found january in the back yard of another marine stationed at the base . that suspect , u.s. marine cpl. cesar laurean , was captured in april in mexico .<doc-sep>soldier son : the family says one of the illegal weapons found at the house belonged to a marine son who had since died . above , mother and daughter pose at son chandler 's grave . the illegal gun belonged to a marine son who had died , the family says . according to information found on their individual facebook accounts , stephanie and raymond have two other sons , chandler and chase . they have pictures of chandler in his marine dress uniform as well as pictures taken at his grave site . publicity : father raymond has several pictures of him and his wife on the cover of magazines . according to his facebook profile , he runs a flooring store . the family has since posted bail . since it was launched in september 2011 , the free harris county iwatch app has received about 1,500 tips a year , leading to the arrest of more than 60 suspects . twenty-three per cent of the tips are drug related while the rest are about suspicious persons or activity and quality of life complaints like loud music .<doc-sep>lauterbach , 20 , disappeared , when she was eight months pregnant , from camp lejeune , north carolina , in mid-december , not long before she was to testify at a military hearing about her rape accusation against laurean . laurean is believed to have left the base at 4 a.m. friday , and a nationwide manhunt is under way . watch authorities search for a grave '' lauterbach 's relatives believe her pregnancy was the result of the alleged rape , said lauterbach 's uncle , peter steiner , a kentucky psychiatrist . investigators told cnn that laurean vanished four hours before his wife , christina , approached brown with a note from her husband claiming that lauterbach had committed suicide and he buried the body . `` we believe our suspect has fled the state of north carolina ; removed himself as far from here as he can get , '' brown said saturday . watch brown describe the cavity where the body was found '' brown said friday that blood spatter evidence was found inside laurean 's home , even on a ceiling . there was evidence of `` an attempted clean-up , '' including an attempt to paint over the blood spatter , he said . `` evidence now is saying what he 's claiming happened did not happen like he said it happened , '' brown said of laurean . lauterbach 's mother , mary lauterbach , reported the young woman as missing from camp lejeune on december 19 . mary lauterbach said she had not talked with her for five days . watch police face unanswered questions '' laurean , 21 , of nevada , is believed to be driving a black dodge pickup with north carolina license plate trr1522 . laurean repeatedly refused to meet with investigators , finally telling them that his attorney would n't let him .

<t> new : tests find `` trace of violent activity in the house , '' sheriff says . </t> <t> new : investigators : suspect left a note saying marine had committed suicide . </t> <t> new : source : witness who came forward friday is suspect 's wife . </t> <t> official : we think we have found lauterbach 's skeletal remains . </t>

blood , possible grave of pregnant marine found at suspect 's house<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the orgy of violence that has greeted kenya 's disputed election result has led to hundreds of deaths and forced tens of thousands to flee their homes . but away from the tragic human cost , the unrest has also provoked concerns about the stability of the east african country 's economy , until now seen as a model for the region . businesses have been destroyed and looted and supply routes disrupted after the opposition accused incumbent president mwai kibaki of election fraud after he was declared winner sunday . investors are watching events closely in the country , fearful of how it could affect one of africa 's few economic success stories . and the early signs have been worrying . the equity market on the nairobi stock exchange lost 40 billion kenyan shillings -lrb- $ 591 million -rrb- in value on its first day of new year trading wednesday , the kenyan financial newspaper business daily africa reported . and business leaders said that the government was losing around 2 billion shillings -lrb- $ 29.5 million -rrb- a day in lost revenue as a result of the political violence , the paper reported . `` we do seem to be in a new place , there 's a lot of uncertainty about where we go from here . and a lot depends crucially on how long-lasting this is , '' said razia kahn , an analyst specializing in africa at standard chartered bank . kenya has attracted a large number of multi-nationals and is home to one of the world 's fastest growing stock exchanges . its relative economic success has been helped in part by its thriving tourist sector , with visitors attracted by its abundant wildlife and pristine beaches .provisional figures for 2006 from the kenya 's tourist board said the country had received 1.5 million visitors for the year , a growth of 5.2 per cent . however , fears that the tourist industry could take a heavy hit from the unrest grew with the british federation of tour operators announcing thursday it was suspending all holidays to the country departing up to and including this saturday . watch an aid worker describe fears that crisis may resemble rwanda 's '' british tourists already in the country have been advised by the british foreign office to stay indoors and to stay away from the major cities . there are also worries about the knock-on effect for the region , since around 40 percent of kenya 's exports go to other african nations , kahn said . of even greater concern is the effect on kenya 's lucrative agriculture industry . exports of tea , coffee , vegetables and flowers are big earners for the country , with agriculture making up about a fifth of the total economy . there have been media reports of tea and coffee auctions being halted by the violence as well as widespread disruption to transport routes as rioters blockade major roads across the country . arun shah , who runs a coffee import business based in london , told cnn his livelihood depended on a stable kenya . `` we have had absolutely reliable supply , '' he said . `` we have had reliable quality and the quantities that we need for our trade . '' e-mail to a friend . cnn 's jim boulden in london contributed to this report .<doc-sep>those clashes ended with the formation of a power-sharing government with kibaki as president and odinga as prime minister . kenya 's election carries significance far beyond its borders . as the largest economy in east africa , it is a crucial trade route into the rest of the continent and provides an important buffer of stability in a region that includes the fledgling somali government and the politically tense sudan and south sudan . kenya is also a major u.s. ally in the war against islamist militants in the region and has remained relatively peaceful amid civil wars in neighboring nations .<doc-sep>provisional figures for 2006 from the kenya 's tourist board said the country had received 1.5 million visitors for the year , a growth of 5.2 per cent . however , fears that the tourist industry could take a heavy hit from the unrest grew with the british federation of tour operators announcing thursday it was suspending all holidays to the country departing up to and including this saturday . watch an aid worker describe fears that crisis may resemble rwanda 's '' british tourists already in the country have been advised by the british foreign office to stay indoors and to stay away from the major cities . there are also worries about the knock-on effect for the region , since around 40 percent of kenya 's exports go to other african nations , kahn said . of even greater concern is the effect on kenya 's lucrative agriculture industry . exports of tea , coffee , vegetables and flowers are big earners for the country , with agriculture making up about a fifth of the total economy . there have been media reports of tea and coffee auctions being halted by the violence as well as widespread disruption to transport routes as rioters blockade major roads across the country . arun shah , who runs a coffee import business based in london , told cnn his livelihood depended on a stable kenya . `` we have had absolutely reliable supply , '' he said . `` we have had reliable quality and the quantities that we need for our trade . '' e-mail to a friend . cnn 's jim boulden in london contributed to this report .<doc-sep>but the upholding of kenyatta 's victory raises the prospect of complicated diplomatic ties with the west . the international criminal court has indicted him for allegedly funding a local militia that conducted reprisal attacks in the last election in 2007 . his running mate , william ruto , also faces icc charges at the hague , in the netherlands . both have denied the charges and have said they will cooperate with the court to clear their names . clashes kill 2 in western kenya after election verdict . beyond borders . kenya is east africa 's biggest economy and a crucial trade route into the rest of the continent . it provides an important buffer of stability in a region that includes the fledgling somali government and the politically tense sudan and south sudan . kenya is also a major u.s. ally in the war against islamist militants in the region and has remained relatively peaceful amid civil wars in neighboring nations .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the orgy of violence that has greeted kenya 's disputed election result has led to hundreds of deaths and forced tens of thousands to flee their homes . but away from the tragic human cost , the unrest has also provoked concerns about the stability of the east african country 's economy , until now seen as a model for the region . businesses have been destroyed and looted and supply routes disrupted after the opposition accused incumbent president mwai kibaki of election fraud after he was declared winner sunday . investors are watching events closely in the country , fearful of how it could affect one of africa 's few economic success stories . and the early signs have been worrying . the equity market on the nairobi stock exchange lost 40 billion kenyan shillings -lrb- $ 591 million -rrb- in value on its first day of new year trading wednesday , the kenyan financial newspaper business daily africa reported . and business leaders said that the government was losing around 2 billion shillings -lrb- $ 29.5 million -rrb- a day in lost revenue as a result of the political violence , the paper reported . `` we do seem to be in a new place , there 's a lot of uncertainty about where we go from here . and a lot depends crucially on how long-lasting this is , '' said razia kahn , an analyst specializing in africa at standard chartered bank . kenya has attracted a large number of multi-nationals and is home to one of the world 's fastest growing stock exchanges . its relative economic success has been helped in part by its thriving tourist sector , with visitors attracted by its abundant wildlife and pristine beaches .

<t> kenya 's once-stable economy faltering due to violence following disputed election . </t> <t> equity market on nairobi stock exchange lost $ 591 million on first day of 2008 . </t> <t> business leaders say the government losing $ 29.5 million a day in revenues . </t> <t> thriving tourist industry also hit , with british tour operators calling off flights . </t>

civil unrest damaging kenya 's economy<T>

islamabad , pakistan -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- pakistan election officials on monday disqualified opposition party leader and former former prime minister nawaz sharif from participating in january parliamentary elections . election officials say nawaz sharif 's previous convictions bar him from standing for reelection . a spokesman for sharif 's pakistan muslim league told cnn monday that sharif had been barred by the election commission because of a previous criminal conviction . sharif filed paperwork for his candidacy last week , although he had left open the possibility that he would boycott the election in protest of a state of emergency imposed by president pervez musharraf . sharif , an outspoken critic of musharraf , who ousted him from power in 1999 , had said he wanted to keep all options open . sharif returned to pakistan last month , ending seven years in exile in saudi arabia . he had first returned in september , but pakistani authorities deported him within hours of his arrival .<doc-sep>sharif was convicted of terrorism , hijacking and tax evasion after musharraf seized power in 1999 . he was released in 2000 in exchange for agreeing to 10 years of exile in saudi arabia . he retained his pakistani citizenship , but has not been allowed to travel to pakistan or directly take part in pakistani politics . musharraf , who quit as military leader and took office for a third term last week , has pledged to lift the state of emergency by december 16 . he was criticized of using the emergency to crack down on political rivals and to purge the judiciary of those likely to block the approval of his reappointment as leader . e-mail to a friend . -- cnn 's zein basravi contributed to this report .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- guatemala 's former first lady , who divorced the sitting president in order to run herself for the top post , had her candidacy rejected by the country 's electoral tribunal wednesday . the decision is a setback for sandra torres , who announced her intention to run for president in march , but had been dogged by critics who called her candidacy illegitimate because of a constitutional article that bars relatives of the president from seeking the high office . to get around this law , torres split from her husband , president alvaro colom . many called the divorce a sham and many individuals , organizations and political parties filed motions to block it , but a judge allowed it .<doc-sep>the government team flew by helicopter from peshawar to meet the taliban negotiators at an undisclosed location , sources and state media said . ttp spokesman shahidullah shahid told cnn the talks , which ended wednesday evening , were held in a conducive environment . he said a consensus emerged on the exchange of noncombatants held by both sides . sharif announced the peace initiative this year , but talks broke down last month in the wake of attacks by the taliban . the militants , who are fighting for their austere version of sharia law across pakistan , have repeatedly rejected the country 's constitution . since taking office last year , sharif faced mounting pressure to bring the violence under control . journalist zahir shah sherazi reported from peshawar , pakistan , and cnn 's michael martinez contributed to this report from los angeles .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . published : . 04:15 est , 14 may 2013 . | . updated : . 05:41 est , 14 may 2013 . the man poised to become pakistan 's next prime minister has pledged to help nato forces withdraw from afghanistan safely next year by allowing them to use his country 's roads to move troops and equipment . nawaz sharif , who is facing renewed allegations of vote rigging after video purporting to show election officials in karachi stuffing ballot boxes with votes , said he thought pakistan had a good relationship with the usa . but he described the cia 's ongoing drone campaign in the country 's tribal region as a challenge to national sovereignty . scroll down for video . pledge : nawaz sharif , who is poised to become pakistan 's next prime minister , said he would allow nato forces to use pakistan 's roads to withdraw safely from afghanistan next year . in a press statement given at his opulent villa near lahore , mr sharif said : ` american troops are being withdrawn in 2014 . we will extend full support to them . we will see that everything goes well and smoothly . ' the u.s. is reliant on pakistan for help in neighboring afghanistan , where it will likely play a strong role in any reconciliation deal with taliban militants . much of the american military equipment that must be shipped out of afghanistan when the international coalition there ends its combat mission in 2014 will go through the port city of karachi in southern pakistan . it comes as fresh allegations of vote-rigging were being aimed against sharif 's pml-n party after video emerged appearing to show election officials stuffing ballot boxed with votes . a video released by the islamist party jamaat-e-islami , which finished fourth winning just ten seats , allegedly shows several women stuffing stacks of papers into ballot boxes at a polling station in karachi . the video is one of several that have been aired on pakistani television purporting to show evidence of vote rigging . one of the women in the grainy video smiles towards the camera and puts a finger to her lips , appearing to make a ` be quiet ' gesture . it is one of several videos purporting to show vote-rigging which have been airing on pakistani television news channels following saturday 's result . on monday munsif ali khan , an independent candidate from pakistan 's remote tribal areas , presented a mobile phone video to journalists showing ballot papers scattered on the ground near a polling station with sound of gunfire heard in the background .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- thousands of anti-government supporters led by two of pakistan 's most influential figures have joined a march to islamabad to demand the resignation of the country 's prime minister , prompting a major security operation . by early friday , an estimated 15,000-20 ,000 people had joined cricketer-turned-politician imran khan on the outskirts of lahore in pakistan 's northwestern punjab region . the procession took to the roads in cars , trucks and buses to make the 230-mile -lrb- 370-kilometer -rrb- journey to the capital . the march started on thursday as pakistan celebrated independence day . khan , the former pakistan cricket captain and leader of the tehreek-e-insaaf -lrb- pti -rrb- political party , has called on prime minister nawaz sharif to stand down amid claims of vote rigging during last year 's election , a claim sharif has rejected . ` huge security operation ' the huge convoy was joined by followers of outspoken cleric tahir ul qadri , who called on his supporters to join what he described as a `` revolution march . '' qadri , who led protests against pakistan 's government last year that brought the capital to a standstill , has accused the sharif government of corruption and campaigned for more to be done for the country 's poor .

<t> former pakistani pm nawaz sharif has his candidacy papers rejected . </t> <t> had submitted nominations papers for pakistan 's parliamentary election . </t> <t> returning officer in lahore upheld ineligibility objections from other candidates . </t>

sharif 's candidacy papers rejected<T>

paris , france -- ac milan 's brazilian midfielder kaka has been named european player of the year , lifting france football 's ballon d'or award . kaka has already claimed all of the game 's major prizes . his success comes two years after his fellow countryman , barcelona 's ronaldinho , claimed the award .<doc-sep>the 25-year-old kaka was a major factor in ac milan 's triumphant champions league campaign . the runner-up was manchester united 's portuguese winger cristiano ronaldo with barcelona 's argentinian midfielder lionel messi finishing third . `` this is very special for me - it culminates an astonishing year for me , '' kaka said .<doc-sep>`` it 's the top prize around and the only way to win something like this is to play for a team like ac milan . it 's great to be part of a team that wins . '' at 25 years old , he has already won all the game 's major prizes , individually and collectively . he was part of brazil 's 2002 world cup winning squad , although he was limited to just 19 minutes as a substitute against costa rica .<doc-sep>he was top scorer in last season 's champions league , helping milan to avenge their loss to liverpool in the 2005 final . he won the italian domestic title in his first season at milan having joined from brazilians sao paulo for $ 8.5 million , a sum that milan president silvio berlusconi then described as peanuts . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>paris , france -- ac milan 's brazilian midfielder kaka has been named european player of the year , lifting france football 's ballon d'or award . kaka has already claimed all of the game 's major prizes . his success comes two years after his fellow countryman , barcelona 's ronaldinho , claimed the award .<doc-sep>there had been speculation that kaka would be handed the number five shirt that zinedine zidane had once worn for madrid , but the new arrival will instead take up the number eight shirt formerly worn by fernando gago . the presentation took place on a stage erected on the bernabeu pitch that also included madrid 's record nine european cup trophies , a giant screen and with a backdrop of four huge images showing club legends raul , juanito , di stefano and zidane . the 27-year-old kaka , who was named player of the tournament after helping brazil win the confederations cup in south africa over the last few weeks , told supporters : `` today is a very happy day for me . `` i 'm very happy because this new stage of my career will be at real madrid . i hope to write my name into the history of this club with many victories and successes . '' kaka was the first signing confirmed by madrid after perez returned to the club presidency at the start of june .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- cristiano ronaldo was crowned fifa 's world player of the year in zurich on monday as manchester united 's star winger completed a stunning trophy collection . portuguese winger ronaldo completed a stunning trophy collection when named world player of the year . portugal international ronaldo helped united win the premier league , champions league and world club championship titles in 2008 . ronaldo also collected the european player of the year accolade and was voted number one by fifpro , the worldwide players ' union . now ronaldo has seen off 2007 winner kaka , of ac milan , spain euro 2008 top scorer fernando torres of liverpool and barcelona stars xavi and lionel messi . `` it 's another overwhelming moment in my career , '' said 23-year-old ronaldo who received the award from brazilian legend pele . `` it 's a tremendously emotional moment and a dream come true . i 'd like to dedicate this to my family . '' ronaldo also paid tribute to club manager alex ferguson who fought a very public battle with real madrid last summer when the primera liga giants attempted to lure the player to spain . `` it 's also true that the manager always has an important role to play . it was a great season for me and for my club , and the coach was important for me because i learned a lot for him , '' he said . `` his experience over so many years is of paramount importance -- it 's a privilege to have such a great club manager . `` this is the climax of a fantastic era for me . i 'm happy and proud about what has been done by my team and what we have won . `` i am lucky to to be part of the history of a club like manchester united . '' messi led argentina to the olympic gold medal in august and nou camp teammate xavi was named uefa 's player of the tournament when spain won euro 2008 in june . ronaldo 's 31 league goals in the 2007-08 season , and 42 in total , won him the european golden shoe as the continent 's top scorer . he is the first premier league-based start to win fifa 's top individual award while david beckham and thierry henry , both twice , and frank lampard finished runners-up . the awards are voted for by the head coaches and captains of all countries . olympic silver medalist marta of brazil was named the fifa women 's player of the year for the third successive campaign .<doc-sep>2013-14 season . in total , kaka , fifa world player of the year in 2007 , has scored 104 goals in 307 appearances for the rossoneri . milan 's statement continued : `` certain loves never end , they go in big circles when a contract is mutually terminated . ` the key word is mutual . ` ciao ricky -lrb- kaka -rrb- , we will never leave each other . ' boy from brazil : kaka will join sao paulo on loan before completing move to orlando city . moving on : kaka exercised a get-out clause in his ac milan contract after club failed to qualify for europe . video no ill-feelings over brazil snub - kaka . big money : kaka was the world 's most expensive player when he signed for real madrid for # 56m in 2009 . milan finished a disappointing eighth last season and failed to qualify for european competition for the first time in 16 years . kaka added he will never again wear the number 22 - the number he wore at milan . ` in brazil , i think i will wear the number 8 and then 10 in america , ' he said . milan . captain riccardo montolivo paid tribute to his former team-mate , . writing on his facebook page : ` it was an honour to be your team-mate . thanks for everything and good luck for your career . ' video 20k sao paulo fans sing kaka .

<t> brazilian kaka is named european player of the year . </t> <t> the ac milan player is chosen ahead of cristiano ronaldo of manchester utd . </t> <t> argentine lionel messi of barcelona finishes third . </t>

kaka is named top european player<T>

brussels , belgium -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- european leaders agreed friday to send an 1,800-strong security force to maintain stability in kosovo , although they stopped short of backing independence for the province . french soldiers at the nato-led peacekeeping mission in kosovo last month . kosovo is expected to declare independence from serbia early in the new year . serbia , however , insists the region should remain autonomous within its borders . speaking at the end of a one-day summit of european heads in brussels , jose socrates , the portuguese prime minister currently holding the european union presidency , said that sending the security mission was a `` political decision . ''<doc-sep>the police and security force is expected to be deployed to the balkan state ahead of an announcement of independence . `` this is the clearest signal that the eu could possibly give that it intends to lead on the whole issue of kosovo 's future , its status and its role in the region , '' socrates said . according to cnn 's robin oakley in brussels , european leaders are trying to balance an obvious readiness to back kosovan independence with incentives to serbia , which is seeking membership of the eu . eu leaders are deeply conscious of their failure in the early 1990s to move early enough to prevent the bloodletting in the balkans over the break-up of the former yugoslavia , he said . although most eu leaders support serbia becoming a member state to boost stability in the balkans , french president nicholas sarkozy said that serbia 's membership is dependent on it recognizing kosovo 's independence and handing over war criminals .<doc-sep>socrates confirmed to cnn that any fast-tracking of serbia into the eu could only be considered if it agreed to hand over ratko mladic , the bosnian serb general wanted at the the hague for suspected war crimes . two years of negotiations on the future status of kosovo ended in failure earlier this week , when talks mediated by europe , the united states and russia ended without an agreement . the disputed province is dear to the serbs , orthodox christians who regard it as serbian territory . but it is equally coveted by kosovo 's ethnic albanians , muslims who have a 90 percent majority . since 1999 the united nations has been running the province with nato peacekeepers , who still number 16,000 . oakley said the eu mission to kosovo would help to ease the handover from the u.n. to local authorities . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the authorities who control kosovo may have stolen organs from prisoners of war and political rivals when the kosovo liberation army was fighting serbian forces for control of the territory , european authorities allege in a new report . `` numerous indications seem to confirm that ... organs were removed from some prisoners ... to be taken abroad for transplantation , '' according to a draft report from the council of europe . investigators have `` made progress '' toward `` proving the existence of secret kla places of detention in northern albania where inhuman treatment and even murders are said to have been committed , '' draft author dick marty says . illegal organ trafficking continued after the war ended , the draft suggests . nearly 1,900 people who disappeared during the conflict still have not been found , and another 500 disappeared after nato troops arrived in june 1999 , marty says . and links between `` criminal activity '' and `` certain kla militia leaders ... has continued , albeit in other forms , until today , '' he report charges . prime minister hashim thaci of kosovo is one of the founders of the kosovo liberation army . the report names him as the `` boss '' of a prominent faction in the militia that `` apparently wrested control '' of `` illicit criminal enterprises '' from rivals across the border in albania . his office refused to comment on the allegations .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- people hurled stones and eggs at the kosovan prime minister 's convoy this week , a spurt of violence just days before the one-time serbian province holds its first elections since declaring independence . the flare-up wednesday targeted prime minister hashim thaci in the western town of decan . it unsettled the balkan country and international officials looking forward to peaceful local elections on sunday in a land scarred by conflict and now slowly on the mend . there will be races in 36 municipalities for mayors and assembly members , with more than 1.5 million people eligible to vote . december 13 has been set as the day for any second round of mayoral elections that may be needed . `` intervening in the election process is a serious violation and criminal acts which are politically incited will be prosecuted by relevant legal bodies , '' said the kosovo government in a statement posted on thaci 's web site . while saying the campaign season has been `` largely free of violence , '' the u.s. embassy in pristina , kosovo 's capital , noted the disturbance `` with distress '' and called on `` political leaders , parties and activists to refrain from all violence and provocations . '' kosovo has long been a restive province of serbia with a majority ethnic albanian population . the kosovo government estimates the country 's population at more than two million , with an estimated 92 percent albanian , 5.3 percent serbs , and 2.7 percent other groups . serbian-albanian sectarian tension boiled over as the former yugoslavia broke up in the 1990s . after the brutal civil war in kosovo in the late 1990s , which pitched kosovo albanian insurgents against serb security forces and belgrade-backed kosovo serb paramilitaries , the country began operating under a u.n. mission and a nato-led peacekeeping force .<doc-sep>kosovo 's government called the report `` defamatory '' and `` mendacious , '' saying the allegations `` have been constructed to damage the image of kosovo and the kosovo liberation army . '' kosovo 's acting president jakup krasniqi -- a thaci ally -- expressed deep indignation about the report , saying it was `` nothing but fabricated and irresponsible statements . '' albanian prime minister sali berisha said it was `` based on no facts , evidence or reality . thus it proves political line of the author , who flagrantly abuses the authority of the council of europe . '' european union officials in kosovo said that anyone with concrete evidence of war crimes or organized crime should come forward . `` the mission is already investigating and prosecuting a number of cases related to war crimes and organized crimes , '' spokesman blerim krasniqi said . on thursday , the report will be debated by a committee of the council of europe , an organization with 47 member countries that seeks to promote democracy and human rights . the council 's parliament plans to debate it in january . the report is based partially on investigations by european union officials and was written by dick marty for the council of europe 's committee on legal affairs and human rights .<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 .

<t> european leaders agree to send 1,800-strong security force to kosovo . </t> <t> kosovo expected to declare independence from serbia in new year . </t> <t> serbia insists region should remain autonomous within its borders . </t>

europe leaders agree kosovo force<T>

los angeles , california -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- no charges will be brought against a 10-year-old boy accused of accidentally starting an october wildfire that scorched more than 38,000 acres north of los angeles , california , prosecutors announced tuesday . firefighters battle the buckweed fire october 22 , 2007 . `` there is no evidence of intent on the part of the minor , '' the los angeles county district attorney 's office said in a written statement issued tuesday afternoon . `` the district attorney 's office is referring the matter to the department of children and family services for evaluation of the minor 's situation to determine if other intervention is necessary . '' the boy had faced possible charges in juvenile court after admitting to sheriff 's deputies that he had started the buckweed fire by playing with matches , investigators said . the blaze eventually destroyed 21 homes and 42 other structures . the fire started october 21 in the agua dulce community north of los angeles . it was one of nearly two dozen wind-whipped wildfires that swept across southern california in late october , forcing hundreds of thousands of people from homes near los angeles , san diego and san bernardino and leaving 14 people dead . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>by . james gordon . a florida man who is accused of setting his dog on fire is in jail . larry wallace , 66 , from arcadia near tampa was booked into the desoto county jail on monday . wallace was apaprently surprised at his arrest and had owned the dog for less than a year . he now faces charges of arson and animal abuse , both felonies . scroll down for video ... long recovery : a dog badly burned when its owner reportedly set it on fire is continuing her recovery at the bluepearl veterinary specialty and emergency hospital in tampa . doctors are concerned about hopes eyes . her corneas nearly melted after being set on fire . face of evil : larry wallace , 66 , is accused of setting his shar-pei mix , hope , on fire . police say wallace chained her to a shed and set her on fire . police initially responded to wallace 's home on march 20th after reports that the dog had been set on fire . a child told investigators he saw wallace throw water on the dog to stop the flames .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . published : . 10:33 est , 23 october 2013 . | . updated : . 10:44 est , 23 october 2013 . an ohio man convicted in the killing of a woman , who was set on fire and left to die on the road , has escaped the death penalty after a jury recommended life in prison without parole . the same jury that found lafonse dixon jr. guilty in the august 2012 death of celeste fronsman on tuesday recommended life in prison for him instead of execution . in trying to spare the life of the 34-year-old dixon , his attorneys told jurors of his troubled upbringing . he 'll be sentenced nov. 4 . lafonse dixon jr. stands between his attorneys , larry thomas and isabella dixon , oct. 16 , 2013 , in zanesville , ohio , during his trial . horrific end : celeste fronsman , pictured after two separate arrests , was found by an unnamed truck driver naked and covered in burns . monica jean washington , 24 , and katrina marie culberson , 20 , pleaded guilty in the case to avoid the death penalty . they testified that the trio took 29-year-old fronsman to rural muskingum county , where she was set on fire and abandoned . dixon 's attorneys argued the canton , ohio , man was n't involved . lafonse . d. dixon jr. pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder , kidnapping , . aggravated arson and conspiracy charges in september in muskingum county . court . on aug. 26 , a . driver found celeste fronsman laying by a road near zanesville in . eastern ohio appearing so badly burned the motorist did n't even know if . she was human . fronsman had been raped and burned over 80 per cent of her body while found wearing a strap around her neck . she died two days later at a columbus hospital having suffered second , third and fourth degree burns . dixon 's attorney said her client said he did n't do it and was n't there . two women , monica jean washington , 24 , and katrina marie culberson , 20 , also have pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder , kidnapping and aggravated arson charges . katrina marie culberson , 20 , and monica jean washington , 24 , were eligible for the death penalty if convicted . muskingum county assistant prosecutor ron welch displays an image of celeste fronsman during closing arguments in the lafonse dixon jr. trial on october 16 in ohio .<doc-sep>guilty : tyler holder , 18 , pleaded guilty to charges of murdering his 6-year-old neighbor last year . he was sentenced to life in prison . an 18-year-old man will spend the rest of his life in prison , after admitting to the murder of his 6-year-old neighbor whose body was found dumped on a street corner last summer . tyler holder plead guilty on thursday to charges of murder in the death of his young neighbor alanna gallagher , who went missing last june . her body was found soon after less then a mile away from her saginaw , texas home and an autopsy report revealed the little girl had been raped . holder , who was 17 at the time , was arrested when his dna was found on her body . in exchange for pleading guilty , holder got a life in prison sentence . he will also serve 40 years for shooting at a police officer during his arrest , and 20 years for setting a car on fire a week after alanna 's killing . alanna mother laura gave a statement at the sentencing , saying holder wo n't be able to hurt any more children but ` it does not repay for what you have done ' . ` it does not bring her back to us . no matter how much suffering you undergo in prison , it wo n't be as much as all the people who knew and loved alanna have been , and will continue to be suffering , ' laura gallagher said . ' i hope you remember this , and that you live with shame for what you have done , every day that you live , every day that alanna is gone from us . ' alanna was the daughter of laura gallagher and her husband karl . the couple also lived with a man named miles mcdaniel as part of a polyamorous relationship . ` there are no more relaxed saturday morning snuggles with her , filled with talk and giggles , ' mrs gallagher continued in the statement . ' i will never again get to go wake her first on a school morning , because she always woke the most cheerfully -- i 'd tickle her toes and say `` good morning , toes ! '' and she 'd laugh and say `` good morning , mama !! '' and come help wake her siblings . tragic : 6-year-old alanna gallagher 's body was found less than a mile from her home , where she went missing last summer .<doc-sep>fort lauderdale , florida -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a florida teenager attacked and set on fire last month , allegedly by five teenage friends , was undergoing skin graft surgery friday , the first procedure in his recovery , a hospital spokeswoman said . michael brewer , who suffered burns over 65 percent of his body , will have his own skin transplanted onto the burned areas of his back and buttocks , said lorraine nelson , a spokeswoman at the university of miami 's jackson memorial hospital burn center . brewer will return to the intensive care unit after the surgery . he has been heavily sedated since the october 12 incident and on a ventilator until last week to keep him alive . he is listed in guarded condition . on thursday , three teens accused of setting brewer on fire pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder , a public defender for one of the boys said . each of the three -- denver jarvis and matthew bent , both 15 , and jesus mendez , 16 -- is charged as an adult with one count of attempted murder in the second degree in the attack in deerfield beach , florida . they were arraigned in broward county circuit court before judge dale cohen , and are being held without bond . prosecutors say the three boys were in a gang that poured alcohol over brewer , then set him ablaze in a dispute over $ 40 , a video game and a bicycle . gordon weekes , bent 's attorney , denounced the fact that the teens were charged as adults . `` it 's been decided by society that a 15-year-old ca n't vote , ca n't join the armed forces and can not buy alcohol , because society has recognized that children do not have the ability to appreciate the long-term consequences of their actions , '' he said . `` but they can treat them as adults in court , when we have very capable remedies for them in the juvenile justice system , which is geared towards rehabilitation , '' weekes added . the attorney said he and the other two public defenders plan to make separate motions to the court asking that their clients be allowed to post bond . detectives say eyewitnesses told them that mendez used a lighter to set fire to brewer after jarvis allegedly poured alcohol over him . they said bent allegedly encouraged the attack . authorities say that mendez admitted setting brewer on fire , and that he made a `` bad decision , '' according to an arrest transcript . two other boys who were allegedly involved -- a 13-year-old and a 15-year-old -- have been charged as juveniles . witnesses say brewer jumped into the swimming pool at his apartment complex to put out the flames . detectives with the broward county sheriff 's office have been unable to interview brewer . `` we hope that we can maybe get a statement this week , '' sheriff 's spokesman jim leljedal said . `` detectives have been waiting for him to recover to the point where he 's strong enough to give us a complete statement . '' doctors say brewer is improving but his condition is tenuous because of the severity of his burns and the possibility of infections . most of his burns are on his back and buttocks ; his face and hands were largely spared , doctors say . brewer 's doctor told cnn the teen faces several more months in the hospital , and will need multiple skin grafts and surgeries . `` they still have to perform several operations on him for skin grafting , but his parents are with him all the time , '' nelson said . `` i do n't tell him what happened , '' brewer 's mother , valerie , told cnn affiliate wfor-tv . `` i just tell him he 's in the hospital and he 's safe and he 's getting better . `` and he 'll say , ` am i going to be ok ? ' and i say ` yes , michael . you 're going to be fine . you 're going to be just fine , ' '' she said . investigators believe brewer owed bent $ 40 for a video game . when brewer did not pay , police say , bent stole brewer 's father 's bicycle . brewer reported him to police and bent was arrested , police say . the next day , the group surrounded brewer . according to witnesses , the five boys called brewer `` a snitch '' and set him on fire . the brewer family told wfor that none of the families of the accused boys have tried to contact them , but that it does n't matter . `` we ca n't focus on it . they 'll get theirs is all we can say . i do n't focus on it , '' brewer 's father , also named michael , told wfor . if convicted , each of the three teen suspects could face up to 30 years in prison . a court-appointed psychologist who has examined two of the five boys allegedly involved in the attack told cnn they are competent to take part in legal proceedings and assist their attorney . `` i can describe both of them as being afraid , being fearful , '' said michael brannon , a forensic psychologist , without identifying the boys . `` i can describe both of them as being tearful at various times during the interview , especially when talking about the specific incident which led to the injuries of the victim . '' psychologists are often brought into cases involving teenagers and young adults to judge their mental capabilities to determine their competency to proceed . they must determine whether the alleged attackers understand the charges against them , the court proceedings and potential sentences . psychologists also must evaluate whether the defendants can talk about what happened and communicate effectively with defense attorneys . `` i do n't think they expected to have happened , what happened , '' brannon said . `` it 's a horrible event that occurred , but this was not their conceptualization , in my opinion , of what was going to happen . ''

<t> there is no evidence that the boy intended to set the fire , prosecutors say . </t> <t> he had faced possible charges in juvenile court after admitting to setting blaze . </t> <t> the boy was playing with matches ; the blaze destroyed 21 homes . </t> <t> the buckweed fire started october 21 north of los angeles . </t>

10-year-old wo n't face charges for setting fire , attorneys say<T>

washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- investigators with bomb-making components in their luggage and on their person were able to pass through security checkpoints at 19 u.s. airports without detection , according to the government accountability office . passengers pass through security at o'hare international airport in chicago , illinois . gao officials are expected to testify about the investigation thursday before the house committee on oversight and government reform . the investigators reported that most of the time security officers followed transportation security administration policies and procedures , but investigators were able to take advantage of `` weaknesses in tsa procedures and other vulnerabilities . '' `` these weaknesses were identified based on a review of public information , '' the planned gao testimony says . investigators concluded that if they had attempted the same test at other airports , they would have evaded detection .<doc-sep>but the gao did not detail the weaknesses because they `` are sensitive security information . '' the investigators obtained the bomb-making components at local stores and over the internet for less than $ 150 , according to testimony . watch a tester point out a tsa mistake '' the gao said its investigators also tested the devices that could be built with the components they smuggled and discovered that `` a terrorist using these devices could cause severe damage to an airplane and threaten the safety of passengers . '' the gao investigators devised two types of devices : an `` improvised explosive device '' made of a liquid explosive and a low-yield detonator , and an `` improvised incendiary device '' that could be created by combining commonly available products prohibited in carry-on luggage . the gao said it found the instructions for creating the devices `` using publicly available information , '' including internet searches .<doc-sep>according to the testimony , a transportation security officer barred one of the investigators from bringing an unlabeled bottle of medicated shampoo through the checkpoint . but the security officer allowed a liquid component of the improvised explosive device to pass through undetected , although that item is prohibited by the tsa . in another test , the investigator put coins in his pockets to assure he would get a secondary inspection . but the officer , using a hand-wand and a pat-down , failed to detect any of the prohibited items the investigator was carrying . the gao said it had briefed the tsa on its findings `` to help them take corrective action . '' in testimony to be provided to the same congressional committee , tsa chief kip hawley defends the administration 's policies and procedures , saying that the screening checkpoints are but one of a `` multilayered approach to security . '' `` we recognize that , despite our efforts to make each layer as strong as possible , a concerted effort may target any one layer , '' according to the testimony . `` our ongoing success is a result of the tremendous power in the reinforced , multiple layers . truly , the whole is greater than the sum of the parts -- and together , they are formidable . ''<doc-sep>hawley sketches for members of congress 19 security steps the tsa employs before , during and after checkpoint screening . `` each and every one of these 19 security layers is important and strong in its own right , '' he says . `` linked together , they are effective and daunting . '' although it would not discuss the specific nature of its recommendations , the gao said it recommended establishing special screening lines based on risk and passengers with special needs . the tsa should introduce more `` aggressive , visible and unpredictable '' measures to detect concealed items and develop new technology for screening at checkpoints . hawley 's said the tsa concurs with the gao 's recommendations and specifically discussed several `` new technology '' items that he said were `` greatly improving our effectiveness in detecting prohibited items . '' among the new technology , he said , were whole body imagers , bottled liquids scanners , hand-held explosives scanners and advanced technology x-rays . and , he added , `` our pursuit of new technology is not limited to what i described today . '' he also said the tsa is constantly conducting covert tests of the screening process , including detection of prohibited liquids and ieds . `` the nation 's aviation system remains secure , '' he said , `` but requires ongoing improvement and vigilance to stay ahead of the threat of terrorism . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a contrite head of the federal protective service took the blame wednesday for security lapses that allowed covert investigators to sneak bomb components into 10 federal government buildings . a gao report cites lax security in federal buildings after investigators got bomb components past guards . the government accountability office , which conducted the tests , testified that they showed the service to be `` an agency in crisis . '' plainclothes investigators testing the effectiveness of private contract guards at federal office buildings were able to smuggle in bomb components in all 10 attempts . only one investigator was stopped and questioned , but he was allowed to pass with the components of a liquid bomb . once inside the facilities , the testers assembled the bombs in restrooms , put them in briefcases and `` walked freely '' into government offices , according to the government accountability office . watch undercover agent smuggle bomb '' asked point-blank at a senate hearing wednesday why the security guards had failed , protective service director gary schenkel said , `` it 's purely a lack of oversight on our part . '' he added , `` i take full responsibility . i am the director of the organization . '' schenkel , who assumed his post in early 2007 , said the police force was hampered earlier this decade by major budget cuts , which forced the agency to reorganize how it protects 9,000 federal facilities nationwide . although police officers formerly protected federal buildings , the agency now uses a core cadre of 1,200 sworn federal officers or `` inspectors '' to oversee a small army of about 13,000 private security guards who man the x-ray machines and magnetometers at building entrances .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a new report by the government accountability office says behavior detection techniques failed to lead authorities to at least 16 alleged terrorists who traveled through u.s. airports . the transportation security administration 's program to use special officers to spot suspicious behavior began in 2003 , but the gao questions the scientific basis and effectiveness of the techniques . the unclassified version of the report released thursday did not name the suspected terrorists who the gao says were able to pass 23 times through airports where behavior detection officers work . but officials involved in crafting the report said the cases included that of najibullah zazi , a denver shuttle driver who authorities said plotted to set off bombs in new york city 's subway system . zazi pleaded guilty to providing material support to al qaeda .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a contrite head of the federal protective service took the blame wednesday for security lapses that allowed covert investigators to sneak bomb components into 10 federal government buildings . a gao report cites lax security in federal buildings after investigators got bomb components past guards . the government accountability office , which conducted the tests , testified that they showed the service to be `` an agency in crisis . '' plainclothes investigators testing the effectiveness of private contract guards at federal office buildings were able to smuggle in bomb components in all 10 attempts . only one investigator was stopped and questioned , but he was allowed to pass with the components of a liquid bomb . once inside the facilities , the testers assembled the bombs in restrooms , put them in briefcases and `` walked freely '' into government offices , according to the government accountability office . watch undercover agent smuggle bomb '' asked point-blank at a senate hearing wednesday why the security guards had failed , protective service director gary schenkel said , `` it 's purely a lack of oversight on our part . '' he added , `` i take full responsibility . i am the director of the organization . '' schenkel , who assumed his post in early 2007 , said the police force was hampered earlier this decade by major budget cuts , which forced the agency to reorganize how it protects 9,000 federal facilities nationwide . although police officers formerly protected federal buildings , the agency now uses a core cadre of 1,200 sworn federal officers or `` inspectors '' to oversee a small army of about 13,000 private security guards who man the x-ray machines and magnetometers at building entrances . department of homeland security put out an official statement wednesday focusing on steps the federal protective service is taking to improve the situation , but schenkel was at times more negative , outlining some of the problems the agency faces . the service , he said , used a `` stubby pencil '' system to keep track of guards , and it would take a `` full year , i believe '' for changes being made now to have an effect . `` when i came here , i made an analogy that we were a ship , and it takes 38 miles at sea to turn a ship , an aircraft carrier . i think we are probably on mile six , but we 've certainly initiated the turn , '' he said .<doc-sep>mica noted the agency has been without a permanent leader during the obama administration and the president this week announced his third nomination for the post . two previous candidates withdrew . the gao report said between may 2004 and august 2008 detection techniques led to the arrests of more than 1,100 people but not because of suspected terrorism . instead the people were found to have committed drug or other offenses . a tsa statement called its program `` a vital layer that enhances security at the nation 's airports . '' it also noted the 2008 arrest in orlando , florida , of a person carrying components for a pipe bomb .

<t> gao : investigators took advantage of `` weaknesses in tsa procedures '' </t> <t> gao : those `` weaknesses '' were not detailed for security reasons . </t> <t> gao said terrorists using same items could seriously compromise a flight . </t> <t> transportation security administration : checkpoints only part of total security . </t>

gao : investigators pass security at 19 airports with bomb parts<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- it was n't tibet 's subzero temperatures that nurse practitioner arlene samen found so chilling on a 1997 medical trip , but the haunting stories she was told about mothers and newborns on the brink of death after childbirth . arlene samen , right , helps provide childbirth education and equipment to those in need through one h.e.a.r.t. `` when i came to tibet i heard of so many tragic stories of women dying -- no access to care in remote areas , no history of trained birth attendants , and no knowledge about pregnancy and childbirth , '' samen recalls . it is a problem that stretches well beyond tibet 's borders . according to the world health organization , more than 500,000 women worldwide die each year as a result of complications during pregnancy and childbirth , and nearly 7 million babies are either born dead or die within 28 days of their life . almost all these deaths occur in the developing world . upon her return from tibet , and in association with the university of utah health services center , samen , 54 , created one h.e.a.r.t. -lrb- health education and research in tibet -rrb- to combat the high infant and maternal mortality rates in tibet and around the world . through one h.e.a.r.t. , samen 's mission is to reach remote areas where women have limited access to a safe delivery , distribute the organization 's training model , and debunk any fears toward safe , sanitary birthing practices . `` it 's not uncommon for babies to die from basic things like not cleaning their mouth out to breathe , '' says samen . `` in surveys we 've done , more than 50 percent of babies that died were born alive . this is due to lack of education . '' watch samen talk about the organization 's work '' since 1998 , one h.e.a.r.t has worked to set up centers that teach and educate local nurse practitioners , villagers and expectant mothers on how to deliver and care for newborn babies . a huge part of the organization 's instruction includes hands-on birthing demonstration and distribution of community-tailored birth kits . `` i witnessed deliveries where the infant did not even have a blanket , '' says samen . `` i put a kit together with very simple items and anyone , anywhere can use this kit to keep infants and mothers alive during and after childbirth . '' watch home video of samen in tibet , where she delivered a baby '' the birth kit typically includes a sterilized razor blade , a clean sheet , three towels for the baby , three fleece blankets , a string to tie around the umbilical cord , gloves for the person delivering the baby and soap for hand washing . over the last 10 years , samen 's team has supplied more than 3,400 safe birthing kits to pregnant women and has trained more than 1,000 people in life-saving techniques . for 2008 , one h.e.a.r.t. 's education outreach program has targeted nayarit , mexico , a mountainous terrain in mesoamerica and the native land of more than 50,000 indigenous cora and huichol indians . this past february , accompanied by a team of doctors and translators , samen spent three days embedded within nayarit 's santa theresa communities , using an instructional newborn doll for childbirth training sessions and discussing safe birthing techniques and procedures . `` the traditional birth attendants told us they do n't like to bring the women to the hospital because there 's a fear of c-section and complications . -lsb- the women -rsb- would rather die than to come in and get help , '' samen says . watch samen describe the rigors of bringing a child birthing center to a remote area of mexico '' `` i found that really astounding and would like to look into that further to see if there 's ways that we can cross that barrier and really help them so that they do n't have that kind of fear . '' samen lives in salt lake city , but currently spends several months of the year in tibet . future plans for one h.e.a.r.t. include training local partners on the ground in nepal and ecuador . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>itv has been accused of stoking a fake controversy after last night 's climax to coronation street 's controversial assisted suicide storyline saw the terminally ill character hayley cropper end her own life -- without help from husband roy . critics accused the itv ` publicity machine ' of using a sensitive and emotive issue to generate higher ratings , with some questioning whether the soap had contributed to the debate at all . other critics have raised fears the episode could prompt copycat suicides by vulnerable viewers , particularly because it was shown before the 9pm watershed . scroll down for videos . sparking debate : itv has been accused of stoking controversy after coronation street character hayley cropped , pictured right , took her own life without the help of her husband roy , pictured left . in last night 's episode , the much-loved character explained to roy her determination to die by her own hand rather than succumb to a lingering death from pancreatic cancer . she warned roy not to touch the glass containing a lethal cocktail of painkillers to avoid implicating himself in her death . then , resisting his efforts to take the glass from her hand , hayley died in roy 's arms leaving him consumed by grief . however , the episode had been billed as a contribution to the ` right to die ' debate , brought into the public consciousness by cases such as locked-in syndrome sufferer tony nicklinson , who fought for assistance to end his life in the courts . last night vivienne pattison , director of mediawatch-uk , said : ` this demonstrates why soap operas are such a bad way to conduct debates on matters of public policy . the episode has instead been billed as a contribution to the ` right to die debate ' rather than the assisted suicide debate . ` they turn it into a highly-charged , emotional issue , but fail to engage with the important details . ` itv 's . huge publicity machine has stoked up the debate around this episode . well in advance to get people talking about it and to get people to tune . in . but in fact the storyline is not quite as billed . in the end , it . was not about assisted suicide at all . '<doc-sep>he told the guardian : ` all over the country people are spending their last days and weeks in major discomfort because their medical carers are not willing to accept that it 's the end of the line and to give them the necessary sedation to just speed things up a bit . ` i think a significant proportion of the population would like to feel confident that if it came to the crunch they could call on their doctor to help them out ... if their quality of life is so poor and that it 's only a matter of days or weeks anyway , that they would like to be able to draw down that gift of a -lsb- medical -rsb- practitioner . ' the veteran public health expert , who retired last year , stressed he was speaking in a personal capacity on the subject but said he would be content for doctors ` to stop treatment , to be more ready to prescribe the sort of medication ... that means they will be more likely to -lsb- die -rsb- sooner rather than later . ' professor ashton , who leads more than 3,300 public health experts working in the nhs , local government and academia , added : ` when doctors take this strident view that doctors wo n't get involved in this in any way i do n't think they are in tune with what the public want to be able to get from their advisers . there is a narrow line between actively taking someone 's life and supporting their passing , and that 's the art of medicine .<doc-sep>she may be one of the world 's most scrutinised women , but you 'd be mistaken for thinking gwyneth paltrow spends hours labouring over her looks . the 42-year-old has revealed that she ` is n't the type ' to look in the mirror and study her face and is extremely low-maintenance when it comes to getting ready . speaking to stylist 's joanna mcgarry about her morning beautifying routine , the a-lister said : ` i 'd rather die than be studying my face . i just brush my teeth and try to get dressed and get everyone up . i do n't tend to wear much make-up either . ' scroll down for video . low maintenance : gwyneth paltrow has revealed that she takes a laidback approach to beauty and would rather ` die ' than study her looks in a mirror . the glamorous mother-of-two , who is getting set to launch a goop-branded range of fashion and beauty products , also explains that she 's been on a journey of self-acceptance and is happy with her looks .<doc-sep>a mother fighting cancer has given birth to a healthy baby girl . heather choate of bayfield , colorado learned she had breast cancer while 10 weeks pregnant with her sixth child , and was urged to terminate her pregnancy for her own health . choate however said she would rather die than get rid of her baby , and on january 6 gave birth to a daughter , kiery celeste . scroll down for video .

<t> utah nurse practitioner helps fight high childbirth mortality rates in tibet . </t> <t> one h.e.a.r.t. conducts birthing demonstrations , distributes birth kits . </t> <t> group is working in mexico this year ; future plans include nepal , ecuador . </t>

` they would rather die than get help '<T>

baghdad , iraq -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- iraqi forces detained the suspected leader of a terrorist cell network believed to be funded by saddam hussein 's eldest daughter , who is wanted by iraqi authorities on terrorism charges , the u.s. military announced monday . raghad hussein is currently living in jordan under the protection of the royal family . the raid happened sunday in hussein 's hometown of tikrit . it was carried out by iraqi forces , advised by u.s. special forces , the military said . the network , believed to be funded by raghad hussein , has been `` linked to a series of attacks on coalition forces '' using rocket-propelled grenades and roadside bombs , the military said .<doc-sep>`` these attacks have claimed the lives of numerous soldiers and airmen , '' a military statement said . other leaders of the network have been detained in previous raids , the military said . the international police organization interpol last year issued an alert to authorities across the world that raghad hussein is wanted by iraqi authorities .<doc-sep>the iraqi government has issued an arrest warrant for the 38-year-old daughter of the late iraqi leader on charges of inciting terrorism and crimes against life and health . interpol -- based in lyon , france -- issued a red notice in the case . that is a request to police anywhere to help track her down and extradite her to iraq . she has been living in jordan under the protection of the royal family . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>baghdad , iraq -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- iraqi forces detained the suspected leader of a terrorist cell network believed to be funded by saddam hussein 's eldest daughter , who is wanted by iraqi authorities on terrorism charges , the u.s. military announced monday . raghad hussein is currently living in jordan under the protection of the royal family . the raid happened sunday in hussein 's hometown of tikrit . it was carried out by iraqi forces , advised by u.s. special forces , the military said . the network , believed to be funded by raghad hussein , has been `` linked to a series of attacks on coalition forces '' using rocket-propelled grenades and roadside bombs , the military said . `` these attacks have claimed the lives of numerous soldiers and airmen , '' a military statement said . other leaders of the network have been detained in previous raids , the military said . the international police organization interpol last year issued an alert to authorities across the world that raghad hussein is wanted by iraqi authorities . the iraqi government has issued an arrest warrant for the 38-year-old daughter of the late iraqi leader on charges of inciting terrorism and crimes against life and health . interpol -- based in lyon , france -- issued a red notice in the case . that is a request to police anywhere to help track her down and extradite her to iraq . she has been living in jordan under the protection of the royal family . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- separate federal indictments claim that supporters of the islamic extremist group al-shabaab have funneled money for brutal terrorist operations . in one case , two men were indicted in missouri for allegedly funneling money to the somali group , the justice department said wednesday . the indictment said mohamud abdi yusuf of st. louis discussed al-shabaab in code language and used fictitious names and phone numbers to send money to the group 's supporters through remitting businesses in the united states . yusuf is also charged with conspiring with abdi mahdi hussein , an employee of a licensed remittance company , to structure financial transactions so as to avoid any record . hussein was also indicted and arrested for conspiracy on those transactions . a third man , duwayne mohamed diriye , is accused of helping distribute that money to al-shabaab from inside somalia and kenya . he has also been charged but remains at large in east africa . fbi special agents arrested yusuf in st. louis on monday and hussein on tuesday in minneapolis , minnesota , according to the justice department . both men appeared in federal court tuesday . if convicted , yusuf faces a maximum of 15 years in prison and/or fines of up to $ 250,000 for each count of providing material support to terrorists . yusuf and hussein could each be sentenced to a maximum of five years in prison and/or fines of up to $ 250,000 for conspiring to structure transactions . the indictments were made public a day after three men in san diego , california , were similarly charged with providing support to the al qaeda-linked group . issa doreh and mohamed mohamed mohamud , clad in orange jumpsuits , pleaded not guilty at a federal hearing in san diego on wednesday . a third man named in the indictment , basaaly saeed moalin , was arrested tuesday but was not in court . the five-count indictment alleges conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists , conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization , conspiracy to kill in a foreign country , money laundering and providing material support to terrorists . according to the indictment , the three provided thousands in funding for al-shabaab to purchase weapons , including rocket-propelled grenades and improvised explosive devices . before his death in may 2008 , al-shabaab militant leader aden hashi ayrow had called `` for foreign fighters to join al-shabaab in a ` holy war ' against the ethiopian and other african forces in somalia , '' the indictment states . the defendants , individually or together , funneled about $ 10,000 to somalia , the indictment states , indicating that ayrow told them , `` it is time to finance the jihad . '' each rocket-propelled grenade cost $ 270 , an uncharged co-conspirator told them . a u.s. missile strike killed ayrow . dozens of supporters for the defendants , many in traditional muslim garb , packed the small courtroom of u.s. magistrate judge william gallo , who set a bail hearing for friday morning . assistant u.s. attorney william cole requested that the men be held without bail , alleging that they are flight risks and a danger to the community . prosecutors would not discuss the nationalities of the defendants . al-shabaab has been waging a war against somalia 's government in an effort to implement a stricter form of islamic law , or sharia . somalia has not had a stable government since 1991 , and fighting between the rebels and government troops has added to the impoverished east african nation 's humanitarian crisis . just last week , al-shabaab publicly executed two teenage girls after accusing them of being spies for the somali government , the group said . `` those two girls were evil , and they were spies for the enemy -lsb- the somali government -rsb- , but the mujahedeen caught them and after investigation , they admitted their crime , so they have been executed , '' said sheikh yusuf ali ugas , commander of al-shabaab in beledweyne , a town in central somalia . al-shabaab is one of almost 50 groups that have been designated by the state department as foreign terrorist organizations . cnn 's casey wian contributed to this report .<doc-sep>`` the terrorists started 2014 as they finished 2013 with indiscriminate violence & killings . will only serve to unite somalia against them , '' his official twitter account said . a statement posted to a website associated with the al-shabaab terrorist network thursday morning reads : `` the mujahideen forces carried out the attacks and they will intensify their attacks against the government of somalia and the african union troops in the country . '' last month , another bombing at a hotel in the capital left five people dead and at least 15 wounded , a government spokesman said . a car bomb went off on november 8 outside hotel makkah al-mukarama in central mogadishu , abdikarim hussein guled , the african country 's interior and national security minister , told local media . those killed included abdulkadir ali , the somali government 's former acting envoy to britain better known as `` dhub , '' said abdirahman omar osman , a presidential representative . other somali violence has been traced to al-shabaab , an al qaeda-linked organization that the u.s. government calls a terrorist group and that was behind the deadly siege this fall of a nairobi , kenya , shopping mall .<doc-sep>by . tom worden . published : . 07:26 est , 16 november 2012 . | . updated : . 07:27 est , 16 november 2012 . caught : fugitive spanish terror suspect raul angel fuentes villota who has been on the run for 17 years . a suspected eta terrorist linked to several murders was arrested in britain today after 17 years on the run . raul sanchez fuentes villota , 47 , was held in liverpool in a joint operation by uk and spanish police . the suspected terrorist was detained on an european arrest warrant issued by a judge at the national court in madrid , which deals mostly with terrorist cases .

<t> iraqi forces detain the suspected leader of a terrorist cell network . </t> <t> cell is believed to be funded by saddam hussein 's eldest daughter , raghad . </t> <t> raghad , wanted in iraq on terrorism charges , currently living in jordan . </t>

hussein-linked ` terrorist ' caught<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- as the war in iraq reaches its five-year anniversary this week , two of the world 's leading humanitarian groups issued extensive reports monday describing a crisis of huge proportions with little reason for hope . iraqi women mourn the death of their relative outside the morgue in the restive city of baquba , iraq , on march 12 . `` despite claims that the security situation has improved in recent months , the human rights situation is disastrous , '' amnesty international says in its report , titled `` carnage and despair : iraq five years on . '' in a summary of the report , amnesty writes that `` a climate of impunity has prevailed , the economy is in tatters and the refugee crisis '' keeps escalating . the international committee of the red cross , in a report titled `` iraq : no let-up in the humanitarian crisis , '' writes , `` despite limited improvements in security in some areas , armed violence is still having a disastrous impact . civilians continue to be killed in the hostilities . `` the injured often do not receive adequate medical care . millions of people have been forced to rely on insufficient supplies of poor-quality water as water and sewage systems suffer from a lack of maintenance and a shortage of engineers . '' the bush administration and many republican lawmakers , including presidential candidate sen. john mccain , have frequently praised successes in iraq in recent months , noting improvements in security in key areas . they attribute that in part to the buildup of u.s. troops in iraq ordered by president bush last year . vice president dick cheney described the five year u.s.-led invasion of iraq in a news conference monday during a visit to baghdad . `` this week marks the fifth anniversary , '' said cheney . `` it has been a difficult , challenging , but none the less successful endeavor . '' democrats , including presidential hopefuls hillary clinton and barack obama , have said the government failed to use the downturn in violence to achieve the steps it was supposed to make possible . sen. john mccain met with iraqi prime minister nuri al-maliki on monday where he stressed the united states ' commitment to iraq . `` we recognize that al qaeda is on the run , but they are not defeated . al qaeda continues to pose a great threat to the security and very existence of iraq as a democracy . so we know there 's still a lot more work that needs to be done , '' he said . amnesty writes , `` key political benchmarks have yet to be realized . '' both amnesty and the red cross slam the iraqi government for failing to grapple with the critical needs of their populations . amnesty also says the iraqi government and the u.s.-led multi-national forces are responsible for some nightmarish circumstances . `` civilians are also at risk from multi-national forces and iraqi security forces , with many killed by excessive force and tens of thousands detained without charge or trial , '' amnesty writes in its summary . `` the death penalty was reintroduced in 2004 and hundreds of people have been sentenced to death . at least 33 people were executed in 2007 , many after unfair trials . '' in its report , amnesty says the iraqi government `` has failed to introduce practical measures to deal with the gross and serious human rights violations perpetrated by its security forces . there appears to be no serious willingness to investigate properly the many incidents of abuses , including killings of civilians , torture and rape , and to bring those responsible to justice . `` the government has also been unable to reign in shiite militia groups , such as the mehdi army , or to rid the interior ministry of death squads . the fact that the government is divided along sectarian lines has serious repercussions on its effectiveness and bodes ill for the future . '' the two reports cite a litany of concerns , including severe widespread poverty , a lack of food and water , and broken families left to scrounge for whatever they can find to get by . both reports describe a situation that shows no sign of clear improvement . amnesty also says conditions for women have worsened with the rise of fundamentalist religious groups . many women `` have been forced to wear islamic dress or targeted for abduction , rape or killing . '' the group notes a study by the world health organization in 2006/2007 that found 21 percent of iraqi women had experienced physical violence . amnesty adds that the `` predominantly kurdish region of northern iraq has been more stable with fewer acts of violence , and has seen growing economic prosperity and foreign investment . however , here too there continue to be serious human rights violations , including arrests for peaceful political dissent , torture , ill-treatment , the death penalty and the killing of women in so-called honor crimes . '' the red cross says that despite the struggles in iraq , the organization `` has been able to help hundreds of thousands of the neediest iraqis . '' the group called for a `` renewed effort '' to `` address the needs of everyday iraqis . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a group of 150 iraqi refugees arrived at a paris airport saturday aboard a french aircraft that had delivered aid to the war-ravaged nation . the refugees traveled on a french aircraft that had taken 10 tons of humanitarian aid to iraq . they were welcomed by french foreign minister laurent fabius . france has shipped about 87 tons of humanitarian aid since the start of the crisis in northern iraq , according to the foreign ministry .<doc-sep>u.s. president barack obama said thursday that he 's authorized `` targeted airstrikes '' in iraq to protect american personnel and help iraqi forces . `` we do whatever is necessary to protect our people , '' obama said . `` we support our allies when they 're in danger . '' a key concern for u.s. officials : dozens of american consular staff and military advisers working with the iraqi military in irbil , the largest city in iraq 's kurdish region . obama said thursday he 'd directed the military to take targeted strikes against islamist militants `` should they move towards the city . '' rapid developments on the ground , where a humanitarian crisis is emerging with minority groups facing possible slaughter by sunni muslim extremists , have set the stage for an increasingly dire situation . thousands of families from the yazidi minority are reportedly trapped in the mountains without food , water or medical care after fleeing the rampaging fighters of the islamic state , also known as islamic state of iraq and syria or isis . throngs of refugees , many of them iraqi christians , are on the run -- their largest city , qaraqosh , now occupied by fighters who gave them an ultimatum , `` convert to islam or die . '' obama also said he 'd authorized targeted airstrikes `` if necessary '' to help iraqi forces protect civilians trapped on the mountain . `` when we face a situation like we do on that mountain with innocent people facing the prospect of violence on a horrific scale , when we have a mandate to help , in this case a request from the iraqi government , and when we have the unique capabilities to help avert a massacre , then i believe the united states of america can not turn a blind eye , '' obama said . `` we can act , carefully and responsibly to prevent a potential act of genocide . '' the potential escalation of u.s. military involvement comes two years after obama ended the iraq war and brought home american forces . white house spokesman josh earnest told reporters thursday that there is no chance of ground troops heading back . obama acknowledged that many americans are concerned about military action in iraq . `` as commander in chief , i will not allow the united states to be dragged into fighting another war in iraq , so as we support iraqis as they take the fight to these terrorists , american combat troops will not be returning to fight in iraq because there is no american military solution to the larger crisis in iraq , '' obama said . the president 's announcement that he 'd authorized airstrikes came after the united states airdropped meals and water in iraq , sending humanitarian aid to trapped minority groups . `` the mission was conducted by a number of u.s. military aircraft under the direction of u.s. central command , '' a senior u.s. defense official said . `` the aircraft that dropped the humanitarian supplies have now safely exited the immediate airspace over the drop area . ''<doc-sep>how can the international and regional coalition more effectively address the massive humanitarian crisis in syria , iraq and neighboring countries ? an estimated 3 million syrians are now refugees in neighboring countries , and an additional 6.5 million are displaced inside syria . inside of iraq , millions have been displaced by the multiple waves of conflict inside the country , including the most recent conflict in northern iraq with isis . additional military actions by actors in the region and possible expanded u.s. strikes would have an impact on this already disastrous humanitarian situation . president obama appears ready to engage in a more expansive strategy to deal with the problem posed by isis , and his speech will try to outline the multifaceted nature of his approach . but as we have learned from other speeches by president obama , the key test will come in how well his administration actually follows up on the implementation of its stated policy . obama meets with congressional leaders on isis strategy . cnn poll finds majority of americans alarmed by isis .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- `` mr. speaker , we are being slaughtered , we are being exterminated , '' cried out vian dakhil in a devastating appeal to the iraqi parliament that deserves the attention of the entire world . everyone should watch . the iraqi legislator , a member of the country 's yazidi minority , collapsed at the end of her heartbreaking plea , imploring her country to stop the genocide of her people . `` in the name of humanity , '' she said , `` save us ! save us ! '' the yazidis are caught in the brutal march of the islamic state in iraq and syria , or isis , the extremist jihadi organization . it has called itself the islamic state , and has anointed itself the caliphate and its leader the ruler of all the world 's muslims . isis is carving a path of destruction as it sets its sights on imposing its rule , and its interpretation of islam , on iraq , syria , lebanon , israel and beyond . in the process of achieving its military gains , isis is massing large caches of weaponry , taking over oil fields in iraq , filling its coffers with cash and developing what could eventually become enormous military , economic and political power , if it is able to achieve its objectives . preventing genocide , saving the yazidis , is an imperative humanitarian goal in itself . but stopping isis , the al qaeda offshoot that is too extreme even for al qaeda , is important for preventing an even more disastrous turn in the boiling middle east , and it is indispensable for global stability .

<t> amnesty international and the red cross released reports monday . </t> <t> amnesty report : `` a climate of impunity has prevailed ; the economy is in tatters '' </t> <t> amnesty says conditions for women have worsened with rise of religious groups . </t> <t> vice president dick cheney describes war as success with challenges . </t>

reports : ` disastrous ' iraqi humanitarian crisis<T>

portsmouth , new hampshire -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- hillary clinton became visibly emotional at a new hampshire campaign event monday after a friendly question from a voter . sen. hillary clinton 's eyes welled with tears as she spoke in new hampshire monday . at the close of a portsmouth campaign stop , marianne pernold-young , 64 , asked clinton : `` how do you do it ? how do you keep up ... and who does your hair ? '' clinton said she had help with her hair on `` special days , '' and that she drew criticism on the days she did not . then she added : `` it 's not easy , and i could n't do it if i just did n't , you know , passionately believe it was the right thing to do . `` you know , i have so many opportunities from this country , i just do n't want to see us fall backwards , '' she said , her voice breaking a bit . the audience applauded . `` this is very personal for me , it 's not just political , it 's -lsb- that -rsb- i see what 's happening , we have to reverse it , '' she said emotionally , adding that some `` just put ourselves out there and do this against some pretty difficult odds .<doc-sep>`` but some of us are right and some of us are wrong . some of us ready and some of us are not . some of us know what we will do on day one , and some of us really have n't thought that through enough . '' `` so as tired as i am and i am . and as difficult as it is to try and keep up what i try to do on the road , like occasionally exercise and try to eat right -- it 's tough when the easiest food is pizza -- i just believe so strongly in who we are as a nation . so i 'm going to do everything i can and make my case and you know the voters get to decide . '' watch clinton become emotional as she 's answering a question '' the new york senator is under pressure after some weekend surveys show opponent barack obama with a sudden almost double digit lead , with less than a day to go until the new hampshire primary . at a new hampshire campaign event , presidential rival john edwards told reporters he was unaware of clinton 's emotional reaction and would not respond to it . but he did say , `` i think what we need in a commander in chief is strength and resolve , and presidential campaigns are a tough business , but being president of the united states is also a very tough business . `` and the president of the united states is faced with very , very difficult challenges every single day , difficult judgments every single day . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>`` anyone can start one of these organizations and raise money and then eventually , if they are successful , start running ads , '' said alan abramowitz , an except on super pacs and campaign finance laws . `` having these super pacs support you is a double edged sward . ... the problem is that you ca n't control their message , so someone could go out there and start running ads who thinks they are helping hillary clinton , even though she might not like the message . '' secondly , some representatives from organization 's closer to clinton also question the motives of the smaller groups , especially the idea that starting a super pac is a way to get possible get a job with a hypothetical presidential campaign . angling for campaign jobs ? representatives for hillary 2016 pac played coy about whether they would want campaign jobs . `` at this current moment , that is not an interest of ours , '' williams said when the group launched in april , pausing before he added this caveat : `` but of course we are always open to anything . times change and things change . '' not all agree that the proliferation of pro-clinton groups is a bad thing , though . to some , including burns strider , a senior adviser to correct the record , the process is `` healthy and uniquely `` american . '' `` as long as americans are looking to support her and promote her and encourage her , that is a great thing , '' strider said . he added , however , this caveat : `` when all of this filters out , the pretenders will be outed and they will be out of the way and those who are for real will be there to the bitter end . they will be right there at the end . '' on the other side of the spectrum , anti-clinton super pacs are both experiencing their own splintering and watching the pro-clinton side with amusement . although america rising pac has become the top republican super pac against clinton , there is also stop hillary pac and a handful of other small groups . garrett marquis , the spokesman for stop hillary pac , said while his group is n't focusing on what the pro-clinton groups are doing , he does find it comical that random efforts are beginning to sprout up . `` it is interesting watching all these groups build up around hillary , '' marquis said . `` it is quite curious , if not comical . '' he added that he hopes more republicans will begin to organize anti-clinton efforts and said it will make the overall campaign against her better . `` time will filter out those that are inferior , '' he said . `` this is the same with pro-hillary groups . '' rubio puts himself back into 2016 conversation .<doc-sep>by . michael zennie and thomas durante . published : . 22:54 est , 9 may 2012 . | . updated : . 11:09 est , 10 may 2012 . president obama 's dramatic change of heart on the issue of gay marriage today sent shockwaves through the political world - and a boatload of cash into his campaign war chest . after obama 's shock announcement last night , his re-election crusade saw a massive spike in donations as gay donors lined up to pour money into his campaign . buzzfeed reported that obama 's campaign collected an astonishing $ 1million within 90 minutes after the abc news interview aired . but while gay rights advocates applauded obama 's announcement on wednesday , republicans . accused the commander-in-chief of pulling off a cynical political . manoeuvre . scroll down for video of the interview . change of heart : president barack obama said he once thought civil unions were sufficient rights for gay couples , but he no longer believes that . republican national committee chairman reince priebus accused obama of placating to voters . priebus said in a statement : ` while president obama has played politics on this issue , the republican party and our presumptive nominee mitt romney have been clear . ` we support maintaining marriage between one man and one woman and would oppose any attempts to change that . ' obama 's announcement yesterday opened up the first major battleground in this year 's election campaign . romney himself did not swipe at obama directly , but affirmed his own views on same-sex unions during an oklahoma campaign stop , saying : ' i believe that marriage is between a man and a woman . ' historic : obama is the first sitting u.s. president to publicly support gay marriage . president george w bush opposed it and president bill clinton signed the defense of marriage act into law . obama was also rebuked by log cabin republicans , who also accused the president of playing politics and questioned the timing of his remarks . log cabin republicans executive director r. clarke cooper said in a statement : ` that the president has chosen today , when lgbt americans are mourning the passage of amendment 1 , to finally speak up for marriage equality is offensive and callous . ` log cabin republicans appreciate that president obama has finally come in line with leaders like vice president dick cheney on this issue , but lgbt americans are right to be angry that this calculated announcement comes too late to be of any use to the people of north carolina , or any of the other states that have addressed this issue on his watch .<doc-sep>still 4 hill started her blog after clinton ended her presidential campaign in 2008 . she began to write about clinton 's events at the state department and once clinton stepped down as america 's top diplomat in 2013 , still 4 hill began writing about clinton on the paid speaking circuit . `` i see it as documentation , '' still 4 hill said about her blog . `` i want to be able to go back and look at this speech or look at that speech . '' amid all the glow for clinton , there is also pushback against her critics . when the washington post 's conservative blogger jennifer rubin wrote a lengthy critique of clinton 's time at state , still 4 hill responded to what she called `` repetitive and tiresome ... empty bloviating '' from rubin . there is more to the online response , though : people like magruder and still 4 hill have received a little notoriety for their persistence . ask people within the clinton universe about magruder and they laugh about his exuberance . though he was never paid , ready for hillary sent the clinton devotee to a finance meeting earlier this year to act as an example of a `` grassroots supporter . '' still 4 hill 's blog receives upwards of 10,000 hits a week . as of late -- given clinton 's book tour and regular appearances -- the blog can gets as many as of 2,500 clicks a day . and when still 4 hill met clinton at a new jersey book singing this year , she was sure to mention her blog . according to blogger , clinton responded , `` still 4 hill ! i love it . yeah , i love it . '' there is a downside to all of this , too . both magruder and still 4 hill are building a online record of their thoughts and feelings about clinton and that record -- at some point -- could come back to haunt them . what 's more , in the anything goes nature of a campaign , comments made by clinton followers and fans can blow up into bigger stories . what happens when those fans have years of logs and comments that opposition groups could cull ? `` to the extent that the actors join hillary 's campaign or official groups that support hillary 's campaign , their views and statements online become relevant , '' tim miller , executive director of america rising , an anti-clinton super pac , told cnn . still 4 hill 's post-2008 actions seemed to recognize this . shortly after clinton conceded defeat to barack obama after a bitter primary battle , the blog took a negative , sometimes anti-obama turn , still 4 hill told cnn . after giving it some thought -- and after clinton patched up her relationship with him -- the blogger decided to delete some of those posts . `` i am reading her book now and when i read the first chapter it was like tearing a scab off a wound of something , '' still 4 hill said , capturing how she is still hurt over that campaign . `` that primary season was so brutal . ... i removed a lot of the pages from june 2008 to the general election campaign . '' but clinton 's previous run might not be her last . so what if she runs again , how much work are these devotees willing to commit ? and is all of their internet devotion an audition for something bigger ? `` i would love it if a role is available for me . if there is one , i would love it , '' magruder said . `` but whether or not i get an official role wo n't stop me from doing work on social media . ''<doc-sep>he added : ` that 's sort of the nature of modern campaigns and modern coverage of campaigns . but i tell you , when i 'm traveling around iowa , that 's not what 's on people 's minds . ' on tuesday in danville , virginia , biden told a crowd : ` ` he -lsb- romney -rsb- said in the first 100 days he 's going to let the big banks write their own rules , unchain wall street . ' before an audience that included hundreds of black people , biden added : ` they 're going to put y’ all back in chains . ' palin , who was john mccain 's running mate during his failed presidential bid in 2008 , called the quote ` disgusting . ' shake up : sarah palin has said obama should replace joe biden with hillary clinton as vice president . swap : palin suggested that obama , pictured at a campaign stop on tuesday in iowa , replace biden with his secretary of state , hillary clinton , right . she suggested that the obama campaign would be much better off if it dumped biden for hillary clinton . palin told fox news host greta van susteren on tuesday : ` the strategists there in the obama campaign have got to look at a diplomatic way of replacing joe biden on the ticket with hillary ... joe biden really drags down that ticket . ' she added that she hoped obama would not take such a step because ` an obama/clinton ticket would have a darn good chance of winning . ' palin was joined by another prominent republican , former new york city mayor rudy giuliani , who questioned the vice president 's ` mental capacity . ' giuliani told cnbc : ` i 've never seen a vice president that has made as many mistakes , said as many stupid things . ' questions : former new york mayor rudy giuliani has called biden ` not very bright ' in life of his recent gaffes . ' i mean , there 's a real fear if , god forbid , he ever had to be entrusted with the presidency , whether he really has the mental capacity to handle it . ' i mean , this guy just is n't bright . he 's never been bright . he is n't bright . and people think , `` well , he just talks a little too much . '' actually he 's just not very smart . ' there is , however , very little chance that obama would drop biden as his running mate and it is doubtful that clinton would even want the job . even as obama stuck up for his no. 2 , it did n't stop biden from making yet another gaffe on the campaign trail . he 's at it again : biden made another gaffe on wednesday when he told a virginia crowd when he seemed to mistake this century for the 1900s .

<t> clinton begins talking about how others have criticized her , gets emotional . </t> <t> she was with mostly female voters in new hampshire on a campaign stop . </t> <t> `` it 's not easy , '' she told them . </t> <t> the new york senator is trailing sen. barack obama in polls . </t>

clinton chokes up , is applauded , at campaign stop<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- solid support from registered democrats and women in new hampshire were crucial tuesday as sen. hillary clinton rebounded from her third-place finish in last week 's iowa caucuses . sen. hillary clinton has spent the past few days saying she has the experience to change washington . she narrowly defeated sen. barack obama in the new hampshire primary , with 39 percent of the vote to obama 's 37 . `` last week , i listened to you , and in the process i found my own voice , '' the new york senator said after her victory . `` now let 's give america the kind of comeback that new hampshire has just given me . '' forty-three percent of self-styled independents said they voted for obama , and 31 percent said they backed clinton . independents made up 43 percent of all voters polled . addressing his roaring supporters after the race was called , obama congratulated clinton . but he was a candidate determined to draw a distinction between clinton and himself . `` but the reason our campaign has always been different , the reason we began this improbable journey almost a year ago , is because it 's not just about what i will do as president , '' he said . `` it is also about what you , the people who love this country , the citizens of the united states of america , can do to change it . that 's what this election is all about . '' but clinton was ahead of obama 45 percent to 34 percent among those who said they were registered democrats . those voters made up a majority -- 54 percent -- of all respondents . clinton also claimed the majority of women 's votes , according to the polling . that 's in contrast to last week 's iowa caucuses , in which obama surprised observers by stealing the female vote from clinton . analysts say that shift among female voters was crucial to the clinton turnaround . `` if i had a single word , the word would be ` women , ' '' said cnn political analyst bill schneider . `` she got the women back . '' and schneider said the support of union voters that put clinton over the top . `` union voters have her a 10 point lead , '' he said . cnn projected former sen. john edwards to finish third . college graduates , who made up 29 percent of the electorate , opted narrowly for clinton -- 38 percent to obama 's 37 percent , according to the polling . those polled who called themselves very liberal , and moderate , went with clinton over obama -- although by less than 2 percentage points in each -- and those who said they are somewhat liberal were evenly split . pundits also were citing the role of former president bill clinton in helping his wife recover from what pre-primary polls were suggesting was a deficit of 9 percentage points to obama in new hampshire . the former president spent tuesday in hanover -- home to dartmouth college -- where obama had been expected to win handily . `` they dispatched him to the area that obama was surging , '' said cnn analyst donna brazille , who managed former vice president al gore 's campaign in 2000 . `` i think it had the effect of tamping down obama support and giving senator clinton a real reason to come back in this race . '' new hampshire was considered crucial to clinton 's campaign . if obama had been able to sweep iowa and new hampshire -- after months of clinton being considered the front-runner among democrats -- it could have given him powerful momentum going into future primaries . `` age is also playing a big factor -- older voters are overwhelmingly outnumbering younger voters -- a proportion that is clearly benefiting clinton , '' schneider said . `` sixty-seven percent of democratic primary voters are over the age of 40 , and they are breaking heavily for clinton over obama . '' over the past several days , clinton has trumpeted her experience , saying that she has delivered change as both first lady and as a senator . after losing to obama in last week 's iowa caucuses , it was unclear whether she could overcome what appeared to be obama 's ability to electrify american voters who had previously taken a sour and skeptical view of politicians and the political process . the duel between the obama and clinton campaigns grew especially testy monday and tuesday . she said she had more experience than he , and was therefore more qualified . he accused her of representing the status quo of washington . and on the eve of the new hampshire primary , bill clinton criticized the media for not pressing obama more fully on iraq , and accused the illinois senator of shifting his position to reflect changing attitudes about the war in iraq . then , there was an issue unto itself -- hillary clinton 's almost-tears . clinton 's eyes welled up this week while responding to a voter 's question about her health and appearance . pundits and voters alike questioned whether clinton 's emotions were sincere or faked as part of some strategy to diminish criticism that she is too steely , too cold . in front of the crowd of mostly female new hampshire voters , an admittedly fatigued clinton responded to a question by saying : `` this is very personal for me , it 's not just political , it 's -lsb- that -rsb- i see what 's happening , we have to reverse it . '' her voice broke , and she was then applauded by the crowd . polls indicated the show of emotions fared well with male voters , according to cnn 's john king , but turned off some female voters . edwards was followed in votes by new mexico gov. bill richardson and ohio rep. dennis kucinich . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>manchester , new hampshire -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- sens. hillary clinton and john mccain received much-needed boosts from new hampshire tuesday . clinton , coming off a disappointing third-place finish in iowa , rebounded to overcome rival sen. barack obama in the state 's democratic primary . supporters at her headquarters chanted `` comeback kid '' as the results came in . clinton trailed obama by 9 points in recent polls . on the republican side , mccain easily won his party 's primary . the results mark a resurgence for the arizona senator , whose campaign was all but written off this summer . what do the results mean ? '' clinton and mccain embraced their comeback positions in addressing supporters tuesday night . `` over the last week , i listened to you , and in the process i found my own voice , '' clinton said to a crowd of young supporters . watch clinton thank new hampshire '' `` now together , let 's give america the kind of comeback that new hampshire has just given me . '' mccain , a 71-year-old , four-term senator , was met by a crowd shouting , `` mac is back . '' watch mccain celebrate his win '' `` i 'm past the age when i can claim the noun ` kid , ' no matter what adjective precedes it , but we sure showed them what a comeback looks like , '' he said . mccain pinned his win on `` one strategy '' -- telling the people of new hampshire what he believes . watch a slideshow of the candidates ' speeches '' `` when the pundits declared us finished , i told them , ` i 'm going to new hampshire , where the voters do n't let you make their decisions for them , ' '' he said . '' ` i 'm going to new hampshire , and i 'm going to tell people the truth . ' '' female voters and older voters helped hand clinton the democratic win , according to exit polls . in iowa , clinton lost out to obama among women 35 percent to 30 percent . in new hampshire , however , 45 percent of female democratic primary voters picked clinton , compared to 36 percent who went for obama . older voters also overwhelmingly outnumbered younger voters , a proportion that benefited clinton . sixty-seven percent of democratic primary voters were over the age of 40 , and they were breaking heavily for clinton over obama . mccain overcame former massachusetts gov. mitt romney to seal the win in new hampshire with 37 percent of the vote . romney had led most polls in iowa and new hampshire before the votes there and held a 12-point lead in new hampshire shortly before christmas . he finished second , as he did in iowa , five points behind mccain . romney won saturday 's wyoming caucus . former arkansas gov. mike huckabee -- winner of the iowa caucuses -- finished third with 11 percent .<doc-sep>unity , new hampshire -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the day began with a kiss . sen. hillary clinton and sen. barack obama leave washington on friday for a rally in new hampshire . sen. barack obama , on the tarmac at reagan washington national airport , reached out to shake sen. hillary clinton 's hand and leaned down to kiss her cheek . it went on from there . wearing a tie that matched her suit , he put his hand on her back , guiding the way up the plane steps . they sat side-by-side for the flight up to manchester , new hampshire , chatting amiably . one overheard conversation was about the plane . clinton had used it during the primary season . they hopped on a souped-up bus for the 1 1/2 - hour ride to unity , new hampshire . the honorary mayor of unity introduced the pair , admitting that he was a republican who voted for john mccain in the primary . he did n't seem so sure about the general election . they walked onstage to the tune of `` beautiful day . '' arms around each other 's waists , they smiled and waved at the crowd . every camera angle had unity signs , big and little , in the backdrop . she said she wants to help elect him president . he gave an ode to hillary : `` she rocks . '' watch more from unity '' one woman stood at the back , periodically yelling , `` hillary for vp ! '' a few others , older women , stubbornly held up tattered hillary for president placards . but the vast majority cheered her , `` thank you , hillary ! '' and him , `` yes , we can ! '' they held new signs for the new times : `` unity for change . '' as the dynamic duo glowed onstage , a clinton staffer circulated through the press corps with word that hillary and bill clinton had gone online to give the maximum contribution allowed by law to the obama for president campaign . it was the picture-perfect day of togetherness that barack obama had wanted . it was not entirely believable , but politics is the art of pragmatism .<doc-sep>touting her support for female-friendly policies , clinton again claimed that ` women 's rights , here at home and around the world , are like the canary in the mine ' . ` you start taking away , you start limiting women 's rights , who 's next ? ' she asked . the new hampshire republican party pushed back on clinton 's speech on sunday and attempted to tie both her and shaheen to the democratic party 's beleaguered leader , president barack obama . the women ` share one thing in common -- they have both supported obama 's failed leadership ' , new hampshire republican state committee chairwoman jennifer horn said in a statement after the event . she similarly told the boston herald that obama 's policies ` have failed , and they have failed with particular pain here in new hampshire ' . especially when it comes to the effects of obamacare , which has cost 20,000 new hampshire residents their healthcare , and the economy , which is ` sluggish at best ' in the granite state , she elaborated . former massachusetts sen. scott brown , who is now the republican candidate for the u.s. senate in new hampshire , is pictured here at his campaign headquarters in manchester on friday . brown rallied volunteers at his campaign headquarters by doing push ups . a poll released today shows brown leading shaheen by a single digit , while another survey that came out this morning has shaheen two points ahead of him . horn also disputed reports that the clinton spoke before a packed house . if just 700 people attended the event , that ` must have been disappointing , ' she told the herald , because the democratic party ` booked a space that could hold at least twice as many . ' ` certainly i think that everybody in the community is surprised at the turnout , and it does n't seem to have created quite the energy that maybe they had hoped for , ' she continued . ' i would suggest that having hillary clinton there is the next best thing to having barack obama there . she 's spent the past six years supporting his policies , executing his policies , and she is a voice for the policies of barack obama . ' a key attack on shaheen this election cycle has been her backing of obama while serving in the senate . the democratic lawmaker has voted with the president 99 percent of the time , brown and the state republicans have said .<doc-sep>new hampshire remains clinton country . sixty-two percent of democratic primary voters in new hampshire say that if the primary were held today , hillary clinton , the prohibitive favorite for the democrats ' 2016 presidential nomination , would be their top choice , according to a bloomberg politics/saint anselm college poll released monday . the number is a whopping 49 percentage points higher than second-place finisher sen. elizabeth warren of massachusetts . independent sen. bernie sanders of vermont finishes in third with 6 % and vice president joe biden finishes in fourth with 5 % . although clinton has not declared her second run at the presidency , the former secretary of state has admitted she is considering a run and many close aides see a campaign as all-but-certain at this point . new hampshire has always been welcome ground for the clinton family . bill clinton 's surprising second place finish in the 1992 primary provided his campaign with a symbolic victory and re-energized the arkansas governor as `` the comeback kid . '' likewise , in 2008 , after finishing a disappointing third in the iowa caucuses , hillary clinton used her new hampshire primary win to right her campaign . despite her huge lead , even clinton 's most ardent new hampshire supporters have cautioned her to not take the granite state as already in the bag . `` inevitability is not a message , it is not something you can run on . and in new hampshire , we have a long history of -lrb- frontrunner -rrb- train wrecks , '' terry shumaker , a longtime clinton aide in new hampshire , said last week during a meeting of pro-clinton democrats . shumaker , who was with bill clinton when he filed his presidential bid papers in 1991 , added : `` as i caution all presidential candidates in new hampshire , taking new hampshire for granted is very dangerous . last time i believe hillary clinton had an almost 30-point lead in the polls in our state in the summer and that lead melted like an ice sculpture on the mall in washington in july . '' monday 's poll , however , is not all good news for clinton . in a 2016 general election matchup between clinton and mitt romney , the failed 2012 republican nominee , clinton 's one point lead is within the polls margin of error . when matched up against jeb bush , the former republican governor , or rand paul , the senator from kentucky , clinton enjoyed a 8 and 7 point lead , respectively . for clinton democrats , the end of the pre-campaign comes with concerns . the poll also has good news for kentucky sen. rand paul . in a 10-person field that includes 2012 gop romney , paul 's the only other potential candidate to break double-digits , taking 11 percent support and coming in second to romney 's 30 percent support among gop primary voters . with romney out of the picture -- though the former massachusetts governor has left the door open , a third bid seems unlikely for him -- paul ties for first place with new jersey gov. chris christie . both take 16 percent support among gop primary voters , and former florida gov. jeb bush comes in a close third , with 14 percent . the rest of the field takes single-digit support . paul 's strength in the state comes as no surprise , as its libertarian-leaning population drove his father , former rep. ron paul , to a second-place finish in the 2012 gop presidential primary there . indeed , the results may be more heartening for christie , who 's considered paul 's main challenger in the state but has suffered significant damage over the past year due to the scandal surrounding the george washington bridge lane closures that cast a pall over his administration . the bloomberg poll suggests , however , christie remains competitive in his home region , and that the two will have a fierce fight for the all-important early primary state if they both decide to run , as expected .

<t> sen. barack obama has electrified younger voters . </t> <t> sen. hillary clinton has maintained favor with voters older than 40 . </t> <t> cnn has projected sen. john edwards will finish in third place . </t>

clinton wins back women , narrowly takes new hampshire<T>

denver , colorado -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- on a good day , keri christensen spends the day watching her children . she prepares their meals , gets them ready for school and helps them with their homework . keri christensen was nearly a victim of a roadside bombing in iraq when the convoy in front of hers was hit . but this housewife and mother of two is far different than most of the women living in her denver , colorado , suburb . she 's an iraqi war veteran , among the first women in the united states to be classified as combat veterans . even though she 's been home from the war for more than 2 1/2 years , she 's now fighting another battle -- this one with depression , nightmares , sleeplessness and anger . she says all of it is caused by her time in iraq . `` i start feeling those feelings of ` i 'm not worthy . i ca n't raise my family , ' '' christensen said . women have made up about 11 percent of the military force in iraq and afghanistan in the past six years , according to the department of defense ; that 's an estimated 180,000 women in the war zone . the figure dwarfs the 41,000 women deployed during the persian gulf war and the 7,500 who served during the vietnam war , mostly as nurses . unlike past wars , women are assigned to combat support roles . many are seeing violence firsthand in an unconventional war . watch cnn 's randi kaye report on female veterans '' as a member of the national guard , christensen transported tanks in iraq . she says she was shot at and was nearly a victim of a roadside bomb when a convoy in front of hers was hit . `` you have this fear , ` oh , my god , i still have to go through there , ' '' she recalled . '' ` am i going to make it ? ' '' christensen says that she was sexually harassed by a superior while serving in iraq and that the harassment added to the pressure created by just being in a war zone . `` i just know it took a big toll on me because i was trying to deal with it myself . just trying to be a soldier , '' christensen said .<doc-sep>in 2007 , the department of veterans affairs found that women are reporting signs of mental health issues when they return home at a higher rate than their male counterparts . the va diagnosed 60,000 veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder . of those , 22 percent of women suffered from `` military sexual trauma , '' which includes sexual harassment or assault , compared with 1 percent of men . christensen , who has been diagnosed with ptsd , says she does n't like leaving her comfort zone . she does n't drive more than two miles from her home . `` when i get outside my familiar safe territory , i start to feel overwhelmed , '' christensen said . `` it gets foggy . not sure where i 'm really going . something comes over me where i do n't feel like i have control over it . '' `` ptsd is actually something that shows up over time , and so the natural recovery process does n't happen , '' said dr. darrah westrup , who counsels female veterans at the va-run women 's health clinic in menlo park , california . `` so three months out or so , you find yourself still not sleeping , still with nightmares , still having intrusive thoughts , '' westrup said . westrup says another factor contributing to poor mental health is the high amount of sexual trauma reported by women screened by the veterans administration . she says many women have trouble reporting the trauma to their superiors out of fear of retribution . `` when you are in a war zone , your survival depends on people watching your back and on unit cohesion , '' westrup said . `` the same individuals who attacked you are those who will be protecting you , or you 'll be fighting alongside the next day . '' christensen receives counseling and group therapy sponsored by the va. . however , the military has said there is no merit to her claims that she suffered military sexual trauma . like many who suffer from post-traumatic stress , christensen still has her ups and downs . she says she 's just working to get past the feelings of guilt , shame , loss of control and low self-esteem . `` i do n't think we 'll ever be the same . i think that you can learn to cope with it , and that 's what i 'm learning right now , '' she said . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- more than a quarter-million american women served honorably in the iraq and afghanistan wars . these brave women sacrificed much to keep us safe . now that they are home , or soon to be home , our country has a solemn obligation to help them transition back to civilian life . yet there is mounting evidence that america is not fulfilling this obligation . based on data gathered by the veterans affairs and defense departments , a recent report by disabled american veterans finds it clear that our country is n't fully meeting the unique physical , emotional and employment needs of women who served in uniform . although they served in equal capacities in combat environments , when they return home they receive less support than their male counterparts from government programs primarily designed for men . today , nearly one in five women who are veterans have delayed or gone without necessary health care in the past year . one in 11 is unemployed . former servicewomen experience homelessness at between two to four times the rate of their civilian counterparts . it 's unacceptable that the women who honorably served our countryâ $ '' our mothers , spouses , sisters and daughtersâ $ '' are at risk . the dav report finds that the federal , state and community programs to support women making the transition out of military service have serious gaps that put some of them in jeopardy . consider medical care . today , one-third of the department of veterans affairs medical centers lack a staff gynecologist and 18 % of va clinics have yet to hire at least one doctor specializing in women 's health . mental health services for women are severely lacking . twenty percent of female patients in the va health system have been diagnosed with a condition resulting from military sexual trauma , which can have devastating , long-term consequences . nonetheless , one in three va health centers does not have enough sexual trauma specialists on staff . sadly , we are not doing much better when it comes to helping women gain post-military employment . former servicewomen are highly skilled , with unique life experiences that give them valuable leadership qualities and the know-how to operate effectively in high-stress situations . yet the unemployment rate for female veterans has steadily climbed for most of the past decade , and is now higher than for male veterans . what 's more , two-thirds of women report that the career service help offered by federal agencies has been sub-par . these problems could soon get worse . the military has started on a major drawdown of personnel . as a result , more than 200,000 servicewomen are expected to rejoin the civilian workforce in the next five years . now is the time for action . in our report , `` women veterans : the long journey home , '' dav outlines 27 key policy and program recommendations that congress , the administration , va and the departments of defense , labor , and housing and urban development can take to strengthen the safety net for female veterans . for starters , veterans ' health centers must meet their obligation to provide specialists in women 's health . at a minimum , every va medical center must hire a gynecologist . and efforts to treat and help stamp out sexual assault within the military need to be expanded . officials must intensify their efforts to change any remnants of a culture that comes at the expense of women 's dignity and safety . to help combat unemployment among female veterans , the department of defense must take a hard look at the primary program designed to help veterans go into the civilian labor force : the transition assistance program . the department does not collect data on participation , satisfaction , and outcomes by gender and race . simply put , the department of defense can not tell us if the transition assistance program actually helps female veterans find jobs . also , the va and defense department need to develop career guidance programs specially designed for women . finally , as the va and defense work to strengthen services to servicewomen , these agencies need to invest in improved child care options . inadequate child care is proving to be a major obstacle for many women transitioning home . for example , many are unable to take part in specialized mental health services , such as post-traumatic stress disorder support groups , because child care is unavailable . thousands of women answered the call of duty and put themselves at risk to preserve our nation 's security . they served this country faithfully . serving them with greater respect , consideration and care must become a national priority .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a study released thursday claims that troops who report suffering post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of sexual trauma -- namely for rape , assault or harassment -- are much less likely to get benefits than troops claiming to suffer from ptsd because of other causes . the report from the service women 's action network and the american civil liberties union looked into what is called military sexual assault trauma . specifically , how did troops -lrb- male or female -rrb- who claim to have experienced `` sexual violence '' fare in getting disability benefits ? not well for many of them , the advocates claim , calling the `` often unsuccessful '' effort to get such benefits `` an unfair fight . '' `` they face a broken bureaucracy , with protracted delays and inaccurate adjudications , '' the report 's authors write . `` and ... it is clear that veterans who survive in-service sexual trauma also face discrimination in seeking compensation . ''<doc-sep>they point to data , obtained following lawsuits from the department of veterans affairs , that show a persistent gap in the success rate of those troops seeking benefits for ptsd tied to sexual trauma compared to those who say they got ptsd for other reasons . the department of veterans affairs responded in a statement , saying it is `` committed to ensuring that veterans have access to military sexual trauma-related health care and disability benefits . '' the aclu/swan report goes through the 2012 fiscal year and does not include fy 2013 , which ended september 30 . data for the more recent fiscal year , the va points out , shows a 6-percentage point gap in benefits grant rates for those with sexual trauma ptsd claims and all ptsd claims . even without this data , those claiming ptsd due to sexual trauma have had increasing success in getting benefits . the claims of 56.8 % of them went through in fiscal year 2012 , much higher than the 30 % success rate in fiscal year 2008 .<doc-sep>chiquita chavis is an army reservist who served in afghanistan and is waiting to see if she 'll be deployed for a second time . but since returning from her first tour in 2010 , she has fallen on hard times . she came back to find that the civilian job she left had been restructured , and with only part-time work , she struggled to make ends meet for herself and her young daughter . they ended up living in a friend 's garage . `` i never had to live in the street , '' said chavis , 30 . `` but i -lrb- was -rrb- not in a situation where i could support myself on my own . '' chavis is not alone . while the department of veterans affairs reports that overall veteran homeless rates are going down , female rates are going up . in fact , female veterans are the fastest-growing segment of the u.s. homeless population and are more at risk than their male counterparts , according to the report . read the report on veterans ' homeless rates -lrb- pdf -rrb- . the va says veterans become homeless for many reasons , including mental health issues and substance abuse . but it notes that female veterans can face additional challenges , such as sexual abuse . female veterans are also more likely to be single parents , the va says , which can make it more difficult to find adequate housing . chavis ' luck changed at a job fair when she met jaspen boothe , a captain with the army national guard . within days , boothe had helped chavis and her daughter move to a transitional home where they could stay until they got back on their feet . boothe , 35 , considers it her mission to help her female comrades who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless . since 2011 , she has provided transitional housing or financial assistance to more than 50 female veterans and their children through her nonprofit , final salute .

<t> dept. of veterans affairs diagnosed 60,000 veterans with ptsd . </t> <t> women have comprised 11 percent of military force in iraq and afghanistan . </t> <t> va : 22 percent of women , 1 percent of men suffered sexual trauma in military . </t> <t> expert says women afraid to report sexual harassment for fear of retribution . </t>

female veterans report more sexual , mental trauma<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- investigators have found the bodies of three small children and the father who allegedly abducted them from their home in columbus , georgia , two weeks ago , the fbi said wednesday . eddie harrington threatened to kill his children before disappearing with them , police say . `` it is my sad duty to report that deceased bodies of these children and eddie harrington were located this afternoon , '' said fbi special agent gerald green . a coroner would confirm the identities , he added . the remains were discovered in a wooded area of columbus by a person walking nearby , green said . watch the fbi say the bodies were in a car '' eddie harrington , 28 , whom police described as depressed , took the children march 5 , police said .<doc-sep>before he left , harrington sent a letter indicating his intent to kill his twin 23-month-old girls , aliyah and agana battle , and his son , cedric harrington , 3 , officials said . the day before wednesday 's grisly discovery , the children 's mother told cnn 's nancy grace that harrington had threatened them before . `` he 's just told me he 'll do anything to keep me at that time , and he said that he was going to take them and ... kill himself and the kids , '' agena battle said . `` but then later on , he told me that it was just to prove to me that , you know , what he 'll do for me . '' battle also described the moment earlier this month when she knew something was wrong .<doc-sep>`` i got home and i realized that the kids were n't there , and eddie was n't there either , and when i looked on the dresser and read the note , that 's when i realized that my kids are in trouble , '' she said . a week ago , a tearful battle publicly begged her boyfriend not to harm the children . `` i am asking the public to please help me . i want my children home where they belong , with me , '' she said at an fbi news conference . `` please , if you see eddie , the car or the children , please call 911 . please help me and keep them in your prayers . '' watch the mother 's tearful plea '' a child abduction alert was issued in georgia after the children disappeared . `` we have great concern for the safety of these children , '' green said at the time . it was unclear what sparked harrington 's decision to take the children , authorities said . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>by . jessica jerreat . published : . 09:05 est , 20 december 2013 . | . updated : . 17:43 est , 20 december 2013 . a manhunt for a georgia father suspected of abducting his four-year-old son has ended after police found two bodies on friday . the bodies of a male child and man were found in woodland close to the atlanta apartment where sandra rivera ruiz was found seriously injured on thursday . the cause of death was not immediately available but police believe the deaths are a murder-suicide . victim : jesus dominguez , 4 , is believed to have been killed by his father . police had issued an amber alert to . try to find jesus dominguez , after they found his mother severely beaten . and unresponsive in the family 's apartment . they believed his life was in danger and that he had been taken by his father , carlos alberto dominguez , according to roswell police officer lisa holland . ms . ruiz is still in hospital and has not yet regained consciousness .<doc-sep>a grandmother and two parents face felony child abuse charges after police found two toddlers locked in metal dog kennels at a gulfport , mississippi home . narcotics division officers discovered the children , aged one and two , while serving a search warrant on their father in an unrelated narcotics case at the house last month . the toddlers were locked in the cages at the home , according to police . two toddlers , aged one and two , were found locked -lrb- above the kennels the children were in at the time -rrb- in metal dog cages at a gulfport , mississippi home . the father , patrick braddock -lrb- above -rrb- , 35 , was arrested at the time on charges related to the drugs investigation . he remains in custody at the harrison county jail on a $ 100,000 bond .<doc-sep>scene : garcia 's uncle came across the bodies at their queens , new york home in january . fears : neighbors said that couple fought and police had responded to domestic violence complaints before . investigation : the home , which is above a drug store , was cordoned off on sunday night after the discovery . all three were pronounced dead at the scene with stab wounds to the chest . the apartment , which is above a drug store , was cordoned off by police . people who knew the victim from church say that garcia had previously been married but they did n't see the father around much . ` she was a quiet but happy person . she always had a smile on her face . she was a good mom , ' mario sanchez , 16 , told the daily news . video : mother , two toddlers found stabbed to death in queens .<doc-sep>by . lydia warren for mailonline . a father has shot dead his wife and their toddler son before turning the gun on himself , police have said . brian miller , 41 , was overheard arguing with his wife of five years , 29-year-old kara miller , at their home in spaulding county , georgia on friday , wsbtv reported . when relatives did not hear from the couple over the weekend , they asked the sheriff 's office to perform a welfare check and the three bodies were discovered inside the house on sunday . it appears that miller - who was described by relatives as a religious man - shot his wife and their 21-month-old son paxton in the heads with a handgun before turning the weapon on himself . scroll down for video . murdered : kara miller , left , and 21-month-old paxton were shot in the head by brian miller , right , before he shot himself . their bodies were found in their home on sunday . isbelief : family members and neighbors said they are shocked miller killed his ` perfect ' wife and son . police could not say how long the three bodies had been inside the home . an autopsy will be conducted on the family at the georgia bureau of investigation crime lab on monday , authorities said . brian miller 's daughter from a previous relationship told wsbtv that she did not believe her father could be responsible for the killings .

<t> new : children 's mother says eddie harrington had threatened the kids before . </t> <t> harrington was last seen in columbus , georgia , march 5 . </t> <t> police say he was depressed , threatened to kill kids . </t> <t> he took twin girls , 23 months , and boy , 3 , from their home . </t>

bodies of toddlers , father found in georgia<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- kuwait 's leader dissolved parliament on wednesday and called for early elections , after the cabinet resigned this week following a power struggle with the government . kuwait 's emir has dissolved parliament following conflict between the cabinet and govenrment . the emir , sheikh sabah al-ahmad al-sabah , said he was forced to dissolve parliament to safeguard kuwait 's national unity , citing the fragile political situation in the region and his primary concern for internal security and stability .<doc-sep>new elections have been set for may 17 , according to kuwait 's state-run news agency , kuna . according to kuwait 's constitution , elections must be held within 60 days of dissolving parliament . kuwait 's parliament , made up mostly of opposition politicians , has been locked in a feud with the government which it accuses of corruption and abuse of power .<doc-sep>parliament has continuously called for some government members to be investigated , which is what prompted the cabinet to resign this week . al-sabah said he tried to get lawmakers and government ministers to reconcile their differences , but they only inflamed the situation through their statements to the media . e-mail to a friend . cnn senior arab affairs editor octavia nasr contributed to this report .<doc-sep>by . olivia williams . published : . 14:06 est , 10 june 2013 . | . updated : . 01:42 est , 11 june 2013 . a teacher has been sentenced to 11 years in prison today for tweets that insulted kuwait 's ruler and encouraged his overthrow . huda al-ajmi , 37 , received the longest known sentence for online dissent in the gulf state , according to kuwaiti opposition groups . she reportedly faced three separate charges that included insulting the emir , sheikh sabah al-ahmad al-sabah , . which carries a one-year sentence in itself . insult : disparaging sheikh sabah al-ahmad al-sabah , the emir of kuwait , carries a one-year prison sentence . sheikh sabah al-sabah is described as ` immune and inviolable ' in the constitution . the other two five-year prison terms were given for inciting rebellion against the regime and violating laws on public discussions . although kuwait is more liberal than many gulf states , authorities are increasingly cracking down on perceived dissent over social media . last month mussallam al-barrak , a former mp , was sentenced for five years for insulting the emir but he managed to overturn the decision on appeal . mr al-barrak had warned the emir in a speech that he would not be allowed to ` take kuwait into the abyss of autocracy ' . ` inviolable ' : the kuwaiti constitution describes the emir , sheikh sabah al-ahmad al-jaber al-sabah pictured with barack obama , as ` immune and inviolable ' however , it is unusual for a woman to serve jail time for political crimes in kuwait . recently two female activists were punished with lighter jail terms but ended up with suspended sentences . kuwait has not seen the same scale of pro-democracy uprisings as other arab states but dozens of people across the gulf region have been sentenced to jail for twitter and blog posts in the past year . unrest flared up in kuwait in december last year after the emir changed an electoral law in the run-up to a public vote . opposition parties said the move was intended to deny them a majority and they boycotted . ms al-ajmi will be able to appeal her three sentences .<doc-sep>u.s. state department deputy spokesman mark toner said kuwait has a history of `` political freedom and cooperation '' and that it should respect peaceful protests . protests in kuwait have taken place at times throughout the year , since before the arab spring brought about demonstrations throughout the arab world . but the anti-corruption protests have turned more violent recently , after members of the kuwaiti opposition saw revolutions in tunisia , egypt , and libya , and fighting between protesters and government forces in syria . prime minister sheikh nasser al-mohammad al-sabah has had six previous governments brought down by opposition elements over the years . the kuwaiti opposition is now pushing not only for the downfall of his government , but for the prime minister himself to step down . many chanted that they want to `` overthrow '' him , using iconic slogans of the arab spring . the emir , however , is firmly committed to keeping al-sabah , a member of the royal family , in office . government representative ali fahad al-rashid warned thursday that the country will be taking new steps against the protesters . `` the actions witnessed yesterday are unfamiliar to the kuwaiti society and threaten the security and stability of the country 's general system , '' he said , according to kuna . `` therefore , national responsibility calls for stricter measures to confront this chaotic behavior . ''<doc-sep>kuwait city -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- kuwait 's leaders met in emergency session thursday , vowing to clamp down on violence after protesters forced their way inside parliament . `` the adoption of such a chaotic approach by the rioters '' risked the country 's security and `` is considered to be an unprecedented step on the path to anarchy and lawlessness , '' the emir of kuwait , sheikh sabah al-ahmad al-jaber al-sabah , said in comments quoted by state-run news agency kuna . the protests late wednesday led to the injury of five police and kuwait national guard officers , the interior ministry said . members of the opposition vow to step up their protests . `` the popular opposition will escalate , '' saad alajmi , former minister of information and now a prominent opposition figure , told cnn . `` this is a people 's opposition , '' he added . alajmi called for the parliament to dissolve .<doc-sep>the emir , who last met charles during a state visit to the uk in 2012 , appeared to be quite a fan of the queen and solicitously asked about her health through his official interpreter . ` she is in remarkable form , ' replied charles , adding : ` my father will turn 94 and he has very good eyesight . he is still out shooting . ' his remark prompted approving laughter from the emir , who looked even more delighted when charles told him : ` they remember with great affection your visit in 2012 to the uk ' . not so fast : before he was driven away , he was introduced to local dignitaries at the airport . greeting : he was met by kuwaiti crown prince sheikh nawaf at the private vip terminal at the airport . inspection : an honour guard of troops in red uniform were lined up in the arrivals hall to meet him . the emir replied , with obvious pride : ' i will not forget the remarkable happiness and generosity of her majesty . i was living next door to her , i was her neighbour . ' by that point , charles may have been forgiven for thinking the formalities were over but in accordance with arab tradition , he was then ushered into a lavish lunch attended by 150 dignitaries , each of which he was required to greet and shake hands with . inside the dining room , the future king , a notoriously light eater who prefers to skip lunch , was offered dish after dish of fish and lobster delicacies . impressed : charles and his kuwaiti counterpart inspected the troops before driving off in the convoy . meeting : charles met the emir of kuwait who asked him about the health of his mother , the queen . charles will stay overnight in kuwait , a country he has visited on six previous occasions , before travelling onto the saudi arabia , qatar and the united arab emirates . the prince is undertaking the tour at the request of the british government , just a year after he last visited the region . sources said it is a sign of how important arabia is to the uk and of how significant charles 's role is in fostering good relations . saying goodbye : charles ' arrival in kuwait came after he made a ceremonial departure from jordan . royal wave : charles waved goodbye to his jordanian hosts from the doorway of the jet .

<t> kuwait 's leader dissolves parliament and calls for early elections after conflict . </t> <t> cabinet resigned earlier this week after a power struggle with the government . </t> <t> the emir said he was forced to act to safeguard kuwait 's national unity . </t> <t> new elections have been set for may 17 according to state-run news agency . </t>

emir steps in to stem kuwait 's conflict<T>

paris , france -- goals from juninho and sidney govou gave lyon a 2-0 home win over valenciennes and enabled the six-time champions to stay four points ahead at the top of the french league . juninho opened the scoring for lyon five minutes before the break . brazilian midfielder juninho nudged in a karim benzema cross five minutes before the break and govou lobbed in the second three minutes from time . lyon , who are at home to german champions vfb stuttgart in the champions league group stage on wednesday , have 31 points from 13 matches . second-placed nancy celebrated their 40th anniversary with a 1-0 win over girondins bordeaux .<doc-sep>nancy , who have a game in hand , scored in the 29th minute when midfielder chris malonga headed in a cross from youssouf hadji . bordeaux stay fourth with 22 points from 13 games after their first away defeat of the season . third-placed stade rennes slumped to a 1-0 home defeat against monaco , who had only picked up a point from their six previous league outings . frederic piquionne headed home from a nene corner kick for the visitors two minutes into the second half . troubled paris st germain clinched a 2-1 victory at racing strasbourg thanks to a rodrigo own goal and 20-year-old midfielder loris arnaud 's effort after 19 minutes .<doc-sep>olympique marseille were held to an embarrassing goalless draw by lorient and remain third from bottom . coach eric gerets said : `` the public have a right to be unhappy as the level of play in the second half was n't worthy of marseille . `` taking the match as a whole you can have a harsh judgement . we made a few chances in the first half but we had a problem constructing moves from the back . `` in the second half we should have lost the match with the counter-attacks . `` we have to look at ourselves in the mirror , fight and work . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>lyon appeals as he takes the wicket of murali vijay with the game turning rapidly on day five . lyon finished with stunning figures of 7 for 152 as india blew their advantage away on the final day . virat kohli trudges off after being dismissed during his first test match as india captain . but lyon , a former groundsman at adelaide oval , turned the match the home team 's way with his offspinners , as india 's tail collapsed and the tourists were bowled out for 315 . lyon finished with 7-152 , giving him 12 wickets for the match , a career-best , and giving the australians the early advantage in the four-match series , which resumes in brisbane next week .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- paris saint-germain and lyon are seemingly headed in different directions . with millions pumped into the squad by its qatari owners , psg ended a 19-year title drought in france last season and looks set to challenge for league honors and on the european front for some time . after winning seven consecutive league titles from 2002-2008 , lyon , meanwhile , is now finding it difficult to break into the top two . it also crashed out in champions league qualifying this week having been a fixture in europe 's most prestigious club tournament for years . and on saturday , while lyon fell 2-1 at evian to suffer a fourth straight defeat in all competitions , psg scored twice in injury time to see off a spirited guingamp and move a point behind idle league leader marseille . just when it appeared as if newly promoted guingamp would snatch a point in paris , substitute adrien rabiot pounced on a rebound when keeper mamadou samassa could n't hold on to alex 's header . zlatan ibrahimovic doubled the advantage for his first league goal this term to give laurent blanc 's men two wins and two draws from four outings . the host was full value for all three points , hitting the post , crossbar and dominating possession . guingamp 's only shot on target , though , was a good one . salvatore sirigu stopped mustapha yatabare on a one-on-one approaching the 80th minute . two first-half goals from kevin berigaud were enough for evian to see off lyon , which again played without influential attacking duo bafetimbi gomis and jimmy briand -- lyon wants to sell both players . there was more misery for lyon when star midfielder yoann gourcuff left the game with a leg injury before halftime . `` a lot of disappointment with this loss and this bad start to the game , '' lyon midfielder fares bahlouli told the club website . `` it 's becoming a habit . '' marseille and monaco , along with psg the only other unbeaten teams in ligue 1 , face off sunday . rampant juventus . in italy , defending serie a champion juventus thumped lazio for the second time this season , winning 4-1 in turin . arturo vidal scored twice and carlos tevez continued to find the back of the net since his move from manchester city , getting juventus ' final goal in the 80th minute . lazio , routed by juventus 4-0 in the italian super cup , had midfielder hernanes sent off in the 63rd minute for a handball offense , although juventus was already leading 3-1 . juventus and napoli each have the maximum six points through two games in serie a.<doc-sep>in-demand argentine striker sergio aguero made it 3-1 in the 70th minute but panathinaikos substitute sebastian leto closed the gap four minutes later to give the greek side some hope . in the night 's other matches , french side lyon stormed closer to a 10th successive group stage appearance with a tumping 5-1 victory over anderlecht . the ligue 1 outfit had the match sewn up before half-time with miralem pjanic , a lisandro lopez penalty , michel bastos and bafetimbi gomis giving them a four-goal cushion . anderlecht , beaten in champions league qualifying for the last two seasons , pulled one back through matias suarez in the 58th minute , but claude puel 's lyon side restored their four-goal advantage inside five minutes with gomis grabbing his second of the night . swiss side fc zurich took a giant step closer to playing in the competition for the first time in 28 years by claiming a 3-0 lead at latvian side ventspils .<doc-sep>by . chris waugh . follow @@ chrisdhwaugh . click here to register - for free - and start picking your # 100m squad now ... as part of the build-up to the start of mailonline 's fantasy football season , we will be taking a look at players new to the premier league with the potential to light up england 's top tier over the coming campaign . bafetimbi gomis in a nutshell . it is extremely rare for a club to get a proven goalscorer on a free transfer , but that is exactly what swansea city have achieved with the signing of bafetimbi gomis on a four-year deal . the striker 's contract had expired at ligue 1 side lyon and , despite being a long-term target of newcastle united , swansea took advantage of the uncertainty over his situation and brought him to south wales . with 12 france caps and three international goals , gomis ' talents have been utilised on the big stage and he is a big , bulky forward who also has pace . the 29-year-old can hold the ball up , although his touch is not necessarily his strong point , and he knows where the goal is . gomis is perfect at leading the line and is a danger particularly in the air , but also on the deck . bargain : swansea city striker bafetimbi gomis will cost you just # 6.9 million in mailonline 's fantasy football . power : gomis is a big centre forward who can hold the ball up well , but he is also pacey in attack . last season gomis scored 14 goals in 33 ligue 1 appearances for lyon .

<t> lyon beat valenciennes 2-0 to stay four points clear on top of the french table . </t> <t> nancy stay second by beating bordeaux 1-0 . </t> <t> third-placed rennes flop to a 1-0 home defeat against struggling monaco . </t>

lyon retain four-point advantage<T>

united nations -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- u.n. secretary-general ban ki-moon is `` urgently dispatching '' a special envoy to myanmar , a statement from his office said wednesday , following reports of violent clashes in that country between security forces and protesters . protests at the crackdown have taken place overseas , including one outside the myanmar embassy , london . `` he calls on the senior leadership of the country to cooperate fully with this mission in order to take advantage of the willingness of the united nations to assist in the process of a national reconciliation through dialogue , '' said a u.n. statement . the envoy , ibrahim gambari , is scheduled to lead a briefing on the situation in myanmar for the u.n. security council wednesday afternoon . `` noting reports of the use of force and of arrests and beatings , the secretary-general calls again on authorities to exercise utmost restraint toward the peaceful demonstrations taking place , as such action can only undermine the prospects for peace , prosperity and stability in myanmar , '' ban 's statement said . there 's been no official word yet if the military junta ruling myanmar will accept the offer from the u.n. secretary-general . speaking at the labour party conference wednesday , british prime minister gordon brown underscored that any trampling on human rights would not be accepted . `` the whole world is now watching burma and this illegal and oppressive regime should know that the whole world will hold it to account , '' he said . u.s. president george w. bush , speaking to the u.n. general assembly 's annual session tuesday before the crackdown , said his administration would impose stiffer sanctions against the country 's military regime . `` the united states will tighten economic sanctions on the leaders of the regime and their financial backers . we will impose an expanded visa ban on those responsible for the most egregious violations of human rights , as well as their family members , '' he said . `` we will continue to support the efforts of humanitarian groups working to alleviate suffering in burma -lrb- the country 's traditional name -rrb- and urge the united nations and all nations to use their diplomatic and economic leverage to help the burmese people reclaim their freedom . '' his comments were echoed by french president nicolas sarkozy , also at the u.n. general assembly . `` i 'm deeply concerned about the situation in burma and myanmar , and i would like to appeal for the peaceful , spontaneous demonstrations which are expressing just political and social concerns that they not be repressed by force in any way , '' sarkozy said . soe aung , national council of the union of burma spokesman , called for the world to take action . `` there should be some action -- decisive action -- taken by the international community . at least there should be an urgent meeting of the security council level , '' he said . aung also commented that the demonstrators do not seem content to back down . `` the monks are very determined that they are going to go ahead with the demonstrations unless their demands are met , '' he said . such demands include an apology from ministry authorities for the mistreatment of monks in central myanmar , a reduction in the price of gasoline -- which originally sparked protests in late august -- and the release of protesters detained since demonstrations began , aung said . u.s. ambassador to the united nations zalmay khalilzad . `` we are concerned about the situation , particularly now , because we see a worsening of the political situation and that is affecting the well-being of the people of burma . `` we have urged mr. gambari and he plans to visit burma as soon as possible , '' khalilzad said , referring to ibrahim gambari , the u.n. special envoy to burma . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>but the strong police reaction , coming less than two weeks after u.s. president barack obama visited myanmar and emphasized the need to improve human rights in the country , has fueled doubts about the government 's commitment to lasting reform . `` the crackdown showed once again that the government , which claims to have turned over a new leaf and to listen to public opinion , is only really protecting its own interests and those of foreign investors , '' said an article by the irrawaddy , a magazine run by exiles from myanmar based in thailand . read more : aid group warns of difficulties treating victims of myanmar violence . visiting monywa later thursday , suu kyi said she hoped the situation could be resolved `` peacefully . '' without commenting directly on the early morning violence , she said she had met with representatives of the mine and also planned to talk to local residents and protesters to try to help negotiate a solution .<doc-sep>many uyghurs , most of whom live in the far-western province of xinjiang , decry beijing 's influence and the creep of ethnic han culture into their lives . separatists want the creation of an independent state called east turkestan . the central government say that they have done much to improve the lives of those in the remote region . q&a : china 's restive far west . tiananmen connection ? the international media has been reporting on the high-profile crackdown in beijing as the 25th anniversary of the 1989 crackdown on tiananmen square approaches . the connection was not highlighted by chinese media , as mentions of the incident have been scrubbed . several activists , including the prominent humans-rights lawyer pu zhiqiang , have been detained ahead of the anniversary , which takes place on june 4 . china 's porous borders . meanwhile , china 's minister of national defense has highlighted the country 's borders with myanmar , laos and thailand as a weak point in the fight against violent uyghur separatism . '' -lrb- we must -rrb- strictly control the border and , according to law , crack down on violent terrorism , drug manufacturing and trafficking and other criminal activities , '' chang wanquan said on the ministry 's website . the state-run newspaper global times reported that last month , security checks were lacking at key transport hubs and that passengers had been carrying `` caged livestock , hammers and knives '' when they boarded shanghai 's subway .<doc-sep>the humanitarian rights situation in myanmar has been a cause for the first lady in the past few months as the crisis there worsened . myanmar state media has reported that 2,000 people were detained during the demonstrations and the crackdown against them -- under an emergency law imposed on september 25 banning assembly of more than five people -- and that 700 of those people have been released . the official death toll from myanmar 's leadership is at 10 , but there are reports that hundreds were killed and thousands arrested in the wake of the demonstrations that peaked late september , which were led by myanmar 's buddhist monks . on tuesday morning , bush received a phone call from u.n. secretary-general ban ki-moon to update her on the efforts of his special envoy to myanmar , ibrahim gambari . a representative of the secretary general said the call was a follow-up to a conversation they had weeks ago .<doc-sep>the buddhist faith has given kovida a quiet determination that eventually the military regime in myanmar will be overthrown , but he has also called on the united nations to step into the political fray where most citizens and monks dare to go no more . `` our blood is on the street , most of the monasteries are empty . i ca n't estimate how many people in prison . when will u.n. security council take action ? '' asked kovida . the u.n. has already sent ibrahim gambari , the special envoy for myanmar , and he is expected to return to myanmar this week . the enovy met earlier in october with the military junta leadership as well as with suu kyi , who has been the voice of democracy since 1989 , when her national league for democracy won the country 's first free multiparty elections . the military junta refused to hand over power and has kept her under tight wraps ever since . in addition , u.n. envoy pinheiro has been cleared to visit myanmar for a fact-finding mission into reports of human rights violations during the september crackdown .

<t> u.n. to send special envoy to myanmar amid reports of crackdown . </t> <t> world leaders condemn events in myanmar , call on regime to desist from force . </t> <t> uk pm brown underscores that any trampling on human rights not acceptable . </t> <t> pres. bush says tuesday that the u.s. will increase sanctions . </t>

myanmar crackdown : global reaction<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- steven spielberg led the fbi straight to a stolen $ 700,000 norman rockwell painting someone snatched from a missouri gallery . it was in his collection in california . the original of this norman rockwell reproduction was found in the collection of steven spielberg last year . spielberg was n't the thief , and he does n't know who took rockwell 's `` russian schoolroom '' -- an oil of 16 pupils looking at a bust of lenin . all the a-list director knows is he paid about $ 200,000 for the 16 x 37 canvas in a legitimate purchase . the fbi says its just one example of how pilfered art lands in respectable places . and it was an uncommon ending for stolen art -- someone found it . recovering masterpieces happens in less than 5 percent of cases , said bonnie magness-gardiner , the fbi 's art theft program manager . usually , expensive pieces go missing . no one knows who took them . no one gets prosecuted , and everyone wonders , `` why steal something you ca n't turn to cash quickly ? '' art thieves do a simple risk versus reward evaluation , said corine wegener , associate curator of the minneapolis institute of arts . thieves know that `` even if they receive only a fraction of the work 's market value , the cash gained was at low risk of death or injury -- museums can be a relatively soft target , '' said wegener , who 's teaching a university of minnesota class this month on art theft . but it could be years -- or never -- before the thief sees even a small payoff . in 1990 , robbers took $ 300 million worth of certified masterpieces -- among them rembrandt 's `` storm on the sea of galilee '' and vermeer 's `` the concert '' -- from the isabella stewart gardner museum in boston , massachusetts . no one 's seen them since . on sunday , robbers made off with one of the biggest art hauls in european history , grabbing four paintings worth an estimated $ 163 million from the e.g. buehrle collection in zurich , switzerland . they took works by paul cezanne , edgar degas , claude monet and vincent van gogh . see what robbers grabbed in switzerland '' `` these paintings are extremely valuable on the open market , but they 'll never go onto the open market . so at the same time they 're both priceless and worthless , '' said charles hill , the former chief of scotland yard 's art and antiques unit . `` some thieves may buy into the myth that a wealthy but unscrupulous collector will contact them and offer to take the art off their hands , '' wegener said . `` when this does n't happen , the thieves often try to ransom the art back to the museum or the insurance company . '' one london art dealer , who said he has handled stolen works , told cnn on condition of anonymity that an insurance company would rather get art back at a fraction of its original price than pay the owner its insured value . watch how art thieves operate '' ransoming art to an insurance company through an intermediary adds `` up to 10 percent of the market value , which ... given the art market , is quite a lot of money , '' the dealer said . david vuillaume , secretary general of the swiss museums association , told time magazine that ransom may be what the thieves behind the swiss heist want . `` we are thinking that maybe in a week or two there will be a ransom demand . but we just have to wait and see , '' time quoted him as saying . the museum has offered $ 90,000 reward for information leading to their recovery , time reported . options for art thieves . julian radcliffe , chairman of the art loss register , which operates a database to help recover lost and stolen art , said ransom or reward are unlikely to bring results . `` it is very seldom that people have been able to undertake a ransom , '' he said . `` this gang might think that a reward has been offered , and that they 'll get the reward . '' but in fact , `` the reward wo n't be paid unless someone is arrested , or there is proper criminal intelligence , '' and that 's unlikely to happen , radcliffe said . he said the thieves may just be patient , willing to get their payoff decades later . or the art may move through an underground network , gradually increasing in value , before being slipped back onto the legitimate market . take spielberg . he bought `` schoolroom '' in an above-the-board transaction . `` usually , these pictures will change hands in the criminal underworld at a fraction -- 1 percent or less -- of their true market value , '' radcliffe said , before someone tries to get them back into the international market . in such an effort , the seller may hope the work has been forgotten over time or they may disguise it as a copy or student re-creation . `` they may try and sell them not as being by degas , but as being a copy , or school , or by a follower of one of the great artists . and that is the ways in which they try and get them on the market , '' radcliffe said . the original thieves rarely face justice , the fbi 's magness-gardiner said . `` the stolen items turn up years , sometimes decades , after the theft , '' she said . `` because a work of art does not require a title document in order to be transferred from one owner to another , a stolen object easily enters the legitimate stream of commerce . `` it is impossible to trace them back to the original thief in most cases . even if the original thief can be identified , there is also a statute of limitations on prosecution for theft , '' magness-gardiner said . what happens to stolen art ? even if the art is recovered , original owners may not get it back . while museum pieces are likely to go back to their collections , private owners may not be so lucky . `` russian schoolroom '' remains in spielberg 's possession while courts determine the rightful owner , a spokesman for the director said . but art stolen from a los angeles mansion and sold in sweden remains with its swedish purchasers , according to a case file posted on the web site of the los angeles police department 's art theft detail . even though the thief was caught , `` the swedish government refused to return the paintings , claiming that according to swedish law , the auction buyers had purchased the paintings in good faith , '' according to the web site . in the case of rockwell 's `` russian schoolroom , '' someone took it from a gallery in clayton , missouri , a st. louis suburb , in 1973 , according to an fbi synopsis of the case . in 2004 , the fbi 's art crime team found out that the piece had been for sale at a new york rockwell exhibition 15 years earlier and posted a picture and description of the painting on its art recovery web site . spielberg 's staff learned of the search and told the fbi that spielberg had it in his collection in los angeles . he had purchased it from a legitimate dealer in 1989 , an fbi press release said . the agency also determined the painting was auctioned in new orleans in 1988 , but it has yet to determine who took the painting or its whereabouts from 1973 to 1988 . whoever took `` russian schoolroom '' from the suburban st. louis gallery in 1973 , or the masterpieces from the boston museum 1980 , or the works lifted in zurich this week , should n't be mistaken for a high-society , tuxedo-wearing , `` thomas crown affair '' kind of thief , radcliffe said . `` these people are the worst sort of criminal . they are just like the criminals who traffic individuals or sell children , or murder . `` they are thoroughly unpleasant people . there is no romanticism in anyway that should be connected to it . '' e-mail to a friend . cnn 's paula hancocks and teresa martini contributed to this report .<doc-sep>the fbi believes it knows the identities of the thieves who stole art valued at up to $ 500 million from boston 's isabella stewart gardner museum in 1990 they announced today in a stunning new development in the greatest art heist in modern history . richard deslauriers , the fbi 's special agent in charge in boston , said the thieves belong to a criminal organization based in new england , though did not offer any names . he added that authorities believe the art was taken to connecticut and the philadelphia region in the years after the theft , and offered for sale in philadelphia about a decade ago . during the infamous heist , rare works from masters such as rembrant , degas , and vermeer were stolen , sometimes cut from their frames . scroll down for video . the empty frames from rembrandt 's ` storm on the sea of galilee ' and vermeer 's ` the concert ' remain on display in the museum as a constant physical reminder of the heist and the missing masterpieces . irreplaceable : chez tortoni , painted by manet , shows a man wearing a top hat at a jaunty angle ; it was one of the last paintings to be stolen from the museum . dutch master : the thieves stole two rembrandts - ` the storm on the sea of galilee , ' left , believed to be the only seascape the master painted , and ' a lady and gentleman in black , ' right . in progress : left , degas ' three mounted jockeys , and right , a self-portrait of rembrandt . most valuable : jan vermeer 's the concert is one of approximately 35 known works by the great dutch painter . during the 1990 robbery , thieves . disguised as police officers struck as boston finished celebrating st. patrick 's day , binding two guards , before stealing masterworks by . rembrandt , vermeer , degas and manet . while the fbi has had several promising leads in the 23 years following the heist , no one was ever charged with stealing the works . according to an fbi release sent out today , investigators believe that the original thieves transported the stolen art to parts of connecticut and philadelphia . ` some of the art was taken to philadelphia , where it was offered for sale by those responsible for the theft , ' deslauriers said in a statement . ` with that same confidence , we have identified the thieves , who are members of a criminal organization with a base in the mid-atlantic states and new england . ' at a loss : left , a visitor looks at the empty frame from a rembrandt work , and right , the museum in 1990 following the heist , the empty frame of rembrandt 's oil painting ' a lady and gentleman in black ' lies on the floor and a space on the wall remains bare where his ` the storm on the sea of galilee ' once hung . landscape : govaert flinck 's ` landscape with an obelisk , ' painted in 1638 , was originally attributed to rembrandt , but was later found to be the work of his assistant , flinck . heist of the century : the thieves also made off with degas ' ` la sortie du pelage , ' a watercolor and pencil sketch . black and white : two degas sketches from 1884 , entitled ` program for an artistic soirée ' monochrome : degas ' ` cortège aux environs de florence ' proud : this bronze eagle-shaped finial from c. 1813 originally sat on the top of the pole support of a silk napoleonic flag in the short gallery ; the thieves likely thought it was gold . the fbi said that following an attempted sale of one of the works more than a decade ago , they could only piece together small bits of information on the whereabouts of the masterpieces -- and the thieves . because of the high-profile nature of the case , the government agency released as much information about the heist as they could , in hopes that someone would flag a suspicious art purchase . they also continue to highlight the $ 5 million , no-questions-asked reward . announcement : special agent-in-charge of the fbi 's boston field office richard des lauriers , center , along with united states attorney carmen ortiz , left , and boston fbi special agent geoff kelly , right announce investigative developments today . last year the fbi has actively offered a $ 5million reward to anyone who had information that led to the painting 's safe return to the museum . anthony amore , who is the gardner museum 's chief of security , said that anyone could claim the reward , even if they did not have the paintings . ` we hope that through this media campaign , people will see how earnest we are in our attempts to pay this reward and make our institution whole , ' he said in a statement . when the thieves , disguised as two security officers , sneaked into the boston institution , they cut some of the works of art right out of the frames . the empty frames continue to be hung in the museum as a constant physical reminder of the heist and the missing masterpieces . the thieves , once publically identified , will be prosecuted by a special fbi department , the art crime team , which is comprised of 14 special agents . the team of agents , along with trial lawyers , investigates art theft , fraud , and lootings in both national and international scope . police line : a security guard , pictured on march 21 , 1990 , stands outside the dutch room of the gardner museum where robbers stole more than a dozen works of art by rembrandt , vermeer , degas , manet and others , in an early morning robbery .<doc-sep>said in 2013 that the tip was so fruitful - leading to the announcement . that investigators know the identities of the thieves and could trace . the art from boston to connecticut and philadelphia - that the fbi has . since rededicated significant resources to investigating the heist . ' i do believe there are people out there who can give us information that will get us to the paintings , '' amore , who has worked closely with federal investigators , told the globe last year . he added , ` assistance from the public is essential . ' the theft has captivated the public 's imagination in large part because of the boldness with which it was carried out . at a loss : left , a visitor looks at the empty . frame from a rembrandt work , and right , the museum in 1990 following the . heist , the empty frame of rembrandt 's oil painting ' a lady and . gentleman in black ' lies on the floor and a space on the wall remains . bare where his ` the storm on the sea of galilee ' once hung . landscape : govaert flinck 's ` landscape with an obelisk , ' painted in 1638 , was originally attributed to rembrandt , but was later found to be the work of his assistant , flinck . heist of the century : the thieves also made off with degas ' ` la sortie du pelage , ' a watercolor and pencil sketch . black and white : two degas sketches from 1884 , entitled ` program for an artistic soirée ' monochrome : degas ' ` cortège aux environs de florence ' proud : this bronze eagle-shaped finial from c. 1813 originally sat on the top of the pole support of a silk napoleonic flag in the short gallery ; the thieves likely thought it was gold . two men dressed as boston police officers conned their way into the museum in the early morning hours of march 18 , 1990 , telling the two guards on duty that they were responding to a disturbance . they tied the guards up with duct tape , left them in a basement , and made their way through the museum , walking off with 13 artworks , including three rembrandts , a vermeer , and a manet . they cut some of . the works of art right out of the frames - the empty frames continue to be hung in the museum as a constant physical reminder of the heist and the missing masterpieces . the artworks were valued at $ 500 million , though they are essentially priceless in that they have become so legendary . anthony amore , who is the gardner museum 's chief of security , said last year that anyone could claim the reward , even if they did not have the paintings . ` we hope that through this media campaign , people will see how earnest we are in our attempts to pay this reward and make our institution whole , ' he said in a statement . the thieves , once publically identified , will be prosecuted by a special fbi department , the art crime team , which is comprised of 14 special agents . the team of agents , along with trial lawyers , investigates art theft , fraud , and lootings in both national and international scope . last year the fbi has actively offered a $ 5million reward to anyone who had information that led to the painting 's safe return to the museum . police line : a security guard , pictured on march 21 , 1990 , stands outside the dutch room of the gardner museum where robbers stole more than a dozen works of art by rembrandt , vermeer , degas , manet and others , in an early morning robbery .<doc-sep>los angeles , california -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- authorities are looking for art thieves who made off with a collection of andy warhol paintings from a private residence last week , police in los angeles , california , said friday . three of the andy warhol works stolen from a private collection : chris evert , muhammad ali and pele . the stolen pieces included large pop-art portraits of several famous athletes , including tennis pro chris evert , basketball great kareem abdul-jabbar , soccer legend pelé and major league baseball pitcher tom seaver , police said . the multimillion-dollar collection had been displayed in the dining room of richard weisman , a los angeles businessman whose portait is among the missing items , police said . the theft was discovered by one of weisman 's employees and occurred between september 2 and 3 , police said . a $ 1 million reward has been offered for information leading to the recovery of the art .<doc-sep>value : the petroglyphs are probably worth only about $ 500 to $ 1,500 on the illegal art market but are priceless to american indians . volunteers have stepped up surveillance at the site , which is listed on the national register of historic places . the blm is offering a $ 1,000 reward for information leading to arrests . a first-time felony conviction for damaging or removing petroglyphs can carry a one-year prison sentence and a $ 20,000 fine . meanwhile , federal officials and american indian leaders plan to mark the damage with signs noting that it was done by , as haverstock put it , ` malicious , selfish individuals . ' missing : this photo shows where a portion of the rock was cut out by the daring thieves .

<t> stolen art can be lost for decades . </t> <t> soft targets like museums entice thieves , experts say . </t> <t> stolen rockwell found in steven spielberg 's collection decades after theft . </t> <t> nothing glamorous about art thieves , expert says . </t>

reward beats risk for art thieves<T>

-lrb- lifewire -rrb- -- colleen hiltbrunner spent two years researching her dream trip to south africa . but she was n't looking for the perfect safari lodge . she was hunting for the right cosmetic surgeon . when she told her family , it was n't an easy sell . `` south africa ? you 're going to get some kind of witch doctor , '' she recalls her father saying . `` but i told him they perfected some of the first heart surgeries down there . to me , south africa had the most reputable surgeons . '' hiltbrunner , of colorado springs , colorado , traveled to johannesburg in 2004 for a face-lift , upper arm lift and eyelid surgery . and she and her husband -- who had n't taken a vacation in 20 years -- went on a luxury safari , included in the package by medical-travel agency surgeon and safari . `` medical tourism '' may sound strange , but patients are discovering they can get some cosmetic surgeries abroad for less than the u.s. price . and many surgeries include sightseeing packages . the roster of countries in which hospitals and surgeons are marketing their services to foreigners is growing . south africa , argentina , thailand , brazil , costa rica , india and singapore have become major players . robert painter , a travel writer from albuquerque , new mexico , journeyed last year to argentina for dental surgeries -- and tango lessons : `` if i 'm going to be stuck somewhere for two weeks at a time , twice , buenos aires has got to be the best possible place , '' he says . painter 's procedures were organized by plenitas , a medical-travel facilitator in buenos aires , which booked him at a hotel with a dance studio in the back . he was n't the only guest getting surgery : `` while i was there , there was a young lady who was also having implants -- though not of the dental type . '' cost-cutting pros and cons .<doc-sep>cosmetic , or elective , procedures are n't covered by insurance , so cost remains the motivating factor for most medical tourists . surgeries in many countries cost half or even one-fifth what they would in the u.s. -- including airfare , hotel and excursions . `` a full face-lift that would cost $ 20,000 in the u.s. runs about $ 1,250 in south africa , '' a 2005 article in u-daily , the university of delaware 's online news service noted . faith richter , of hope sound , florida , got a face-lift in bangkok , thailand . her trip was organized by new york city 's med journeys . `` in the u.s. , it would have cost $ 20,000 for the procedure alone , with no time in the hospital , '' she says . in bangkok , richter was in the hospital four days , and the total cost of her 19-day trip , including sightseeing and airfare for two , was $ 10,600 . painter estimates he saved $ 18,000 on his surgeries . `` cost was the primary factor , '' he says . `` the only factor . '' medical costs abroad are less than in the u.s. for many reasons -- favorable exchange rates , lower salaries and fewer medical lawsuits , which means lower malpractice-insurance costs . but the international society of aesthetic plastic surgery warns against low-cost surgery . `` get bargains on your shoes and laundry detergent , not on your face , '' says spokesman tony staffieri . `` researching the quality of doctors should be a patient 's primary consideration , but it is n't always , '' he says . `` some people think ` tummy tuck and shopping . ' this is not makeup ; it 's somebody cutting you . '' some medical professionals fear that patients will overlook the severity of invasive surgeries and fail to ask the right questions . more casual attitudes toward plastic surgery -- spurred by lunch-break botox treatments and same-day liposuctions , paired with temptingly cheap alternatives and vacation packages -- increase the risk of bad outcomes . even stateside , cosmetic surgery can have tragic results . `` first wives club '' author olivia goldsmith died during a chin-tuck in 2004 , and this year kanye west 's mother , donda , died after a tummy tuck and breast reduction . however , a 2004 study published in the official medical journal of the american society of plastic surgeons , plastic and reconstructive surgery , found that `` deaths occurring at office-based surgery facilities -lrb- in the u.s. -rrb- are rare -- less than a quarter of a percent . '' quality surgeons .<doc-sep>medical tourism experts counter criticism by saying that cheaper prices do n't necessarily mean lower quality of care . `` in general , it is the hospitals and facilities that have justifiable claim to ` world-class ' status or to meeting or exceeding u.s. standards that are competing for patients from the united states and other countries , '' says jeff schult , author of `` beauty from afar : a medical tourist 's guide to affordable and quality cosmetic care outside the u.s. '' the authors of a 2006 `` new england journal of medicine '' article confirm the high standards of internationally accredited hospitals : `` we doubt -lrb- ... -rrb- that the average u.s. hospital can offer better outcomes for common complex operations . '' `` almost 80 percent of the doctors we use have been trained in the u.s. or u.k. , '' says tim wallace , vice president of sales and marketing for med journeys . `` it gives the american consumer a degree of confidence . '' richter , a registered nurse , agrees that standards are high abroad . `` after the surgery , the nurses were there for me 100 percent , '' she says . `` at home , we 're so understaffed and overburdened , and inundated with paperwork . '' when painter visited u.s. dentists , `` i felt like i was being processed for a home loan , '' he says . `` in argentina , i had three dentists working on me at once . '' while medical tourism continues to increase in popularity , it 's still not mainstream . when richter left for bangkok , she `` did n't tell a soul , not even my seven children , who are almost all in the medical field . they would have had a stroke . `` at thanksgiving , though , they were all saying , ` you really do look good . ' '' e-mail to a friend . lifewire provides original and syndicated content to web publishers . neil edward schlecht writes about travel , food and wine . he lives in litchfield county , connecticut .<doc-sep>a mansion described as the ` finest newly constructed house in london ' has had its asking price slashed by # 30 million in a staggering cut-price deal . the luxury home in st john 's wood , just a stone 's throw from lord 's cricket ground , has 11 bedrooms , 10 bathrooms , five reception rooms and a leisure complex . it boasts a marble-lined entrance , a ten-passenger lift , flamed mahogany panelled study and an underground car park with enough room for five vehicles . bargain : the mansion at 40 avenue road in st john 's wood , pictured , has 11 bedrooms and ten bathrooms . marble-lined : guests enter through a marble-lined entrance , ten-person lift and a mahogany-panelled study . the property is spread across five floors and measures an enormous 21,600 sq/ft - more than 20 times the size of the average new uk home . it was originally listed for sale with an asking price of # 65 million . but this has now been reduced by a staggering # 30 million , with the home now being marketed for ` in excess of # 35 million ' . the reduction prompts fears the . high-end property bubble is about to burst , with one expert saying the . queue for buyers has ` reduced to a trickle ' . high end : the property is built to the ` highest imaginable specification ' with deluxe gold sofas and chandeliers . cinema : the homeowner can treat their guests to a film in the cinema with space to seat 10 comfortably . relax : the # 35m house has a leisure complex with hot tub -lrb- pictured -rrb- and geometric sofas to recline on . buying . agent henry pryor revealed there are a number of multi-million pound . homes for sale on the same road , including one which has been reduced by . 24 per cent over the past 12 months . he said : ` the market has softened in . the past year and people ca n't be so cavalier with their asking prices . it can punish those who are over-ambitious . ` canny . buyers now appreciate that you no longer have to pay ticket price and . the queue of potential buyers for these mega-sales has reduced to a . trickle . plush : the entire house , including the master bedroom , is coated in gold satin and velvet with art and flowers .<doc-sep>forced out : lotto rapist iorworth hoare has put his mansion up for sale at a bargain price after death threats forced him to move . lotto . rapist iorworth hoare has put his mansion up for sale at a knockdown price after death threats forced him to move out . hoare , 59 , became notorious when he won # 7.2 m on the lottery in 2004 after buying a ticket on day . release from prison while serving a sentence for rape . three . months ago he was forced to leave the exclusive darras hall estate in . newcastle after the words ` leave or die ' were spray-painted on the gates . of his home . hoare bought the six-bedroom detached house for # 700,000 following his release from a life sentence in 2005 . according to the daily mirror , it is now up for sale at the bargain price of # 595,000 . after leaving darras hall , hoare rented a luxury flat . on the city 's expensive quayside - much to the horror of residents . however , .<doc-sep>this summer , it won a bronze medal at international wine & spirit competition -- an event considered the oscars for the wine and champagne industry . tesco 's champagne buyer charlie craven said : ` this is a quality , award-winning champagne and to find something this good for # 8 on british high streets you 'd have to go back at least 10 years . aldi 's bargain veuve monsigny , left , priced # 9.99 , and lidl 's cheap comte de senneval , right , at # 11.99 have been flying off the shelves . ` we 're delighted that we can bring this to our customers at such a fantastic price . ' and many major shops are offering deals on moet & chandon , including sainsbury 's who have discounted the popular bubbly by # 10 - from # 35 to # 25 . morrisons is offering nicolas feuillatte brut champagne for half price , slashing the cost from # 29.99 to # 14.99 . discount emporiums aldi and lidl 's cut-price bubbly has sent the cost of champagne to a ten-year low . this year has seen the cut-price retailers attract new shoppers with delicacies and luxury ranges offered at bargain prices .<doc-sep>by . sadie whitelocks . published : . 15:57 est , 10 january 2013 . | . updated : . 16:56 est , 10 january 2013 . luxury goods tycoon francois pinault has snapped up vidal sassoon 's former los angeles home for a bargain price of $ 16.5 million . the modern five-bedroom property - which boasts spectacular mountain , desert and city views - was carefully renovated by the late hairdressing legend sassoon and his wife , ronnie . it originally hit the market last november priced at $ 17.99 million just months after sassoon passed away aged 84 .

<t> tummy tuck tourism is on the rise as companies make arrangements . </t> <t> most cosmetic procedures not covered by insurance . </t> <t> prices overseas are cheaper . </t> <t> company : 80 percent of doctors they use are trained in u.s. </t>

face lift , luxury safari -- bargain price<T>

mexico city , mexico -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- buses that carry women only are experiencing a smooth ride with passengers in mexico 's capital . a woman rides on a bus exclusively for female passengers last month in mexico city . fans of the new service call their daily commutes more pleasant now that bus rides steer clear of too-close-for-comfort contact with men .<doc-sep>`` we 're not just talking about sexual harassment , about rapes or about incidents of violence , '' said ariadna montiel , director of the network of passengers ' transportation for the government of the federal district . `` but also about touching , staring , which is what generally occurs on public transport . '' the single-sex service , which started in january , is available on four major lines in the city , and it 's expected to expand to another 15 . other plans include replacing male drivers with women .<doc-sep>one woman described the service as `` excellent , '' saying it 's `` more comfortable too because it does n't make as many stops . '' another passenger said she feels more comfortable and safer . last year , the government received seven complaints of sexual abuse aboard the city 's buses , which provide 200 million rides each year , officials said . authorities said that a single complaint is enough to justify taking such measures .<doc-sep>juan flores , who has driven buses in mexico city for 15 years and now steers one for women only , said he even notices a difference . `` i feel more tranquil , i work more peacefully and the interior of the bus is cleaner , '' he said . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's mario gonzalez contributed to this report .<doc-sep>mexico city , mexico -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- buses that carry women only are experiencing a smooth ride with passengers in mexico 's capital . a woman rides on a bus exclusively for female passengers last month in mexico city . fans of the new service call their daily commutes more pleasant now that bus rides steer clear of too-close-for-comfort contact with men . `` we 're not just talking about sexual harassment , about rapes or about incidents of violence , '' said ariadna montiel , director of the network of passengers ' transportation for the government of the federal district .<doc-sep>latin american cities have the most dangerous transport systems for women , according to a new survey . colombia 's capital bogota , that has no city train system but a network of red buses , was found to have the most unsafe public transport in a poll conducted by yougov . the poll of 15 of the world 's largest capitals and new york , the most populous us city , found bogota was followed in the list by mexico city , lima , and then delhi . scroll down for video . colombia 's capital bogota , a city that has no city train system but a network of red buses , was found to have the most unsafe public transport for women in a poll conducted by yougov . the survey of more than 6,550 women and gender experts ranked moscow as the worst european capital , coming ninth in the list , with women lacking confidence that authorities would investigate reports of abuse . paris came 11th , with those questioned saying they had little confidence that other passengers would help a woman in trouble . new york was rated the best of the 16 cities , followed by tokyo , the world 's largest capital with 38 million people , then beijing and london . the study was commissioned by the thomson reuters foundation , with a minimum of 380 responses from each city between august and september this year . more than six out of 10 women in mexico city , 64 percent , said they had experienced some type of physical harassment on public transport . the female participants were asked six questions focussing on their experiences of travelling alone at night on buses , trains or trams . they were asked about the risk of being verbally harassed by men , the risk of being groped or physically harassed , their trust in whether other passengers would assist a woman being abused , trust in authorities to investigate reports of sexual harassment or violence and the availability of safe public transport . the yougov survey of more than 6,550 women and gender experts ranked peru 's capital lima as the third worst city when it came to women 's safety on public transport . mexico city , the world 's third largest capital with 21 million people , fared worst when women were asked if they were at risk of verbal or physical abuse on public transport . more than six out of 10 women in mexico city , 64 percent , said they had experienced some type of physical harassment on public transport . after the latin american cities and delhi , the fifth worst in the list was jakarta , followed by buenos aires , kuala lumpur , bangkok , moscow , manila , paris and seoul . by contrast only three out of 10 women surveyed in new york said they had suffered any kind of verbal or physical harassment while using the city 's extensive subway system and buses . after the latin american cities , new delhi was the next worst on the list of the world 's largest cities with the most unsafe transport systems for women . the female participants were asked six questions focusing on their experiences of travelling alone at night on buses , trains or trams . jakarta in indonesia came fifth in the survey . women in moscow ranked the russian capital as worst when it came to confidence in authorities investigating harassment . seoul in south korea ranked 12th in the overall survey but fared worst when women were asked how confident they were that other passengers would assist a woman in trouble . new york has transformed its subway and bus system in the past 25 years and the metropolitan transit authority figures released this year showed subway usage at 1.7 billion in the preceding 12 months , the highest in 60 years . the city was hailed for its growing network of cctv security cameras on streets and transit lines , interactive help point communications kiosks , and obvious police presence . women in moscow ranked the russian capital as worst when it came to confidence in authorities investigating harassment . the study was commissioned by the thomson reuters foundation , with a minimum of 380 responses from each city between august and september this year . buenos aires came sixth on the list . the chow kit monorail station in kuala lumpur . malaysia are among the countries who have introduced women-only sections on public transport along with indonesia , egypt and the philippines . tokyo was rated second for safety , which experts attributed to a raft of measures taken in the city in recent years to combat groping of women in often overcrowded buses and trains . 1 . bogota , colombia . 2 . mexico city .<doc-sep>last year , the government received seven complaints of sexual abuse aboard the city 's buses , which provide 200 million rides each year , officials said . authorities said that a single complaint is enough to justify taking such measures . juan flores , who has driven buses in mexico city for 15 years and now steers one for women only , said he even notices a difference . `` i feel more tranquil , i work more peacefully and the interior of the bus is cleaner , '' he said . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's mario gonzalez contributed to this report .<doc-sep>a crowd of 300 angry protestors forced three buses carrying 140 undocumented migrant children and their parents to turn around in murrieta , california , on tuesday after they blocked the road . the dramatic confrontation between the flag waving protestors and the homeland security buses came one day after mayor alan long urged residents to resist the federal government 's plan to transfer the central american migrants to california to ease overcrowding of facilities along the texas-mexico border . holding up banners that said ` return to sender ' and suggesting the children should be sent to the white house instead , the irate protestors succeeded when the buses turned around and headed to a customs and border facility in san diego - within sight of mexico . scroll down for video . fury : protestors stop three buses outside murrieta , california after they arrived to attempt to drop off undocumented migrants . demonstrators picket against the possible arrivals of undocumented migrants who may be processed at the murrieta border patrol station . border patrol agents watch as demonstrators picket against the possible arrivals of undocumented migrants who may be processed at the murrieta border patrol station . the illegal immigrants had been flown from texas to california on tuesday and arrived at 2pm to face many murrieta residents furiously protesting the processing of the migrants to the riverside county city us customs and border protection facility . it was the first flight planned for california under the federal government 's effort to ease the crunch in the rio grande valley and deal with the flood of central american children and families fleeing to the united states . many of the immigrants were detained while escaping violence and extortion from gangs in guatemala , el salvador and honduras . the government is also planning to fly migrants to texas cities and another site in california , and has already taken some migrants to arizona . unequivocal : the protestors did not hold back with their strident opinions outside of murrieta . patriotic : flag waving protestors prevented three buses from dropping off 140 illegal immigrants on tuesday in murrieta . murrieta resident , bryan escobedo , pickets against the possible arrival of undocumented migrants who may be processed at the murrieta border patrol station in murrieta . buses packed with undocumented migrants who were scheduled to be processed at the murrieta border patrol station retreat up the road after being stopped in their tracks by demonstrators . more than 52,000 unaccompanied children have been detained after crossing the texas-mexico border since october in what president barack obama has called a humanitarian crisis . as the caravan neared its destination , a group of 150 protesters waiving american flags and shouting ` go home - we do n't want you here , ' filled a street leading to the access road for the border patrol station , blocking the buses from reaching the facility . the demonstrators disregarded orders shouted by local police to disperse , but officers did not attempt to intervene physically to break up the demonstration . after about 25 minutes , the buses backed up , turned around and left . a board member of the union representing border patrol agents , chris harris , said the buses would likely be rerouted to one of six other border patrol stations in the san diego sector . lois haley , a spokesman for the immigration and customs enforcement agency , or ice , declined to say where the buses were headed . ` for the security of everybody ... we 're just not saying anything about any contingency plans now . ' many of the migrants are under the impression that they will receive leniency from us authorities . another flight was expected to take 140 migrants to a facility in el centro , california , on wednesday , said lombardo amaya , president of the el centro chapter of the border patrol union . the border patrol would not confirm that arrival date . mayor alan long has warned his citizens to expect busloads of people every 72 hours for the next several weeks , while mayor pro-tem harry ramos has warned that tuesday 's standoff could be repeated in the coming days .

<t> passengers on female-only buses describe their commutes as more pleasant . </t> <t> seven complaints of sexual abuse aboard mexico city buses made last year . </t> <t> single-sex service is available on four major lines in mexican capital . </t>

` for ladies only ' a new stop for mexico city buses<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- danish authorities said tuesday they have arrested three people who allegedly were plotting a `` terror-related assassination '' of a cartoonist whose drawing of the prophet mohammed sparked rage in the muslim world two years ago . the cartoons of the prophet mohammed provoked widespread outrage in the muslim world two years ago . the danish security and intelligence service said police arrested a 40-year-old dane of moroccan origin and two tunisians . the danish citizen is charged with a terrorism offense , the intelligence service said , and the tunisians will be deported . police have not yet released the names of the three . the operation took place in the aarhus area of western denmark at 4:30 a.m. local time following lengthy surveillance , the intelligence service said . the target of the plot , the intelligence service said , was the cartoonist for the danish newspaper morgenavisen jullands-posten , which first published the controversial drawings in september 2005 . the paper identified the cartoonist as kurt westergaard . watch how threats have targeted cartoonists '' `` not wanting to take any undue risks -lsb- the intelligence service -rsb- has decided to intervene at a very early stage in order to interrupt the planning and the actual assassination , '' the statement by jakob scharf , the agency 's director general , said . `` thus , this morning 's operation must first and foremost be seen as a preventive measure where the aim has been to stop a crime from being committed . '' the uproar over the cartoons ignited after the danish newspaper published caricatures of islam 's prophet mohammed . some muslims believe it is forbidden by the quran to show an image of the prophet . demonstrations erupted across the world in early 2006 after other newspapers reprinted the images months later as a matter of free speech . some turned deadly . many protesters directed their ire at denmark , prompting the closure of several danish embassies in predominantly muslim countries , including indonesia and pakistan . westergaard 's cartoon depicted the prophet wearing a bomb as a turban with a lit fuse .<doc-sep>westergaard said he wanted his cartoon to say that some people exploited the prophet to legitimize terror . however , many in the muslim world interpreted the drawing as depicting their prophet as a terrorist . `` of course i fear for my life after the danish security and intelligence service informed me of the concrete plans of certain people to kill me , '' westergaard said in a statement posted on the newspaper 's web site . `` however , i have turned fear into anger and indignation . it has made me angry that a perfectly normal everyday activity which i used to do by the thousand was abused to set off such madness . '' cnn 's paula newton said the arrests reinforced growing fears in europe that radical islam was trying to suppress free speech . `` more and more europeans feel that islam is a threat to their way of life , '' newton said . a recent gallup poll for the world economic forum showed a majority of europeans believed relations between the west and the muslim world were worsening . according to the poll this sentiment was strongest held among danish . westergaard remains under police protection and does not know whether it will continue . `` i could not possibly know for how long i have to live under police protection ; i think , however , that the impact of the insane response to my cartoon will last for the rest of my life , '' he said . `` it is sad indeed , but it has become a fact of my life . '' carsten juste , the paper 's editor-in-chief , said staffers have been `` deeply worried '' for several months . `` the arrests have hopefully thwarted the murder plans , '' he said on the newspaper 's web site . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's saeed ahmed contributed to this report .<doc-sep>`` keeping our community and the country safe are a top priority of this office , '' said u.s. attorney zane david memeger , who lauded `` the importance and success of international collaboration when fighting terrorism . '' last month , larose pleaded guilty at a federal change-of-plea hearing in philadelphia after being indicted in 2009 on four counts , including conspiring to support terrorists and kill someone overseas . she was allegedly part of a plot to murder swedish cartoonist lars vilks , who outraged some by depicting the prophet mohammed with the body of a dog in 2007 . but paulin-ramirez 's attorney jeremy ibrahim denies the broader conspiracy claim .<doc-sep>nine men were jailed in london thursday on terror charges , four of them over `` an al qaeda-inspired plot '' to bomb the london stock exchange , uk police said . abdul malik miah , gurukanth desai , shah mohammed lutfar rahman and mohammed moksudur rahman chowdhury had pleaded guilty last week to the london stock exchange plot , police said . five others , abdul bosher mohammed shahjahan , mohibur rahman , nazam hussain , omar sharif latif and usman khan , also admitted terror offenses , police said . all nine were sentenced at woolwich crown court thursday to terms ranging from five to nearly 17 years , with some given indeterminate sentences with at least eight years to serve .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- newspapers across europe wednesday reprinted the controversial cartoon of the prophet mohammed that sparked worldwide protests two years ago . the move came one day after danish authorities arrested three people allegedly plotting a `` terror-related assassination '' of kurt westergaard , the cartoonist behind the drawing . berlingske tidende , was one of the newspapers involved in the republication by newspapers in denmark . it said : `` we are doing this to document what is at stake in this case , and to unambiguously back and support the freedom of speech that we as a newspaper always will defend , '' in comments reported by the associated press . newspapers in spain , sweden and the netherlands also republished the drawing wednesday as part of their coverage of tuesday 's arrests . the image , by morgenavisen jullands-posten cartoonist westergaard , was one of 12 cartoons about the prophet mohammed originally published in september 2005 . westergaard 's cartoon depicted the prophet wearing a bomb as a turban with a lit fuse . violent demonstrations erupted across the world in early 2006 after other newspapers reprinted the images as a matter of free speech . the uproar came as some muslims believe it is forbidden by the quran to show an image of the prophet .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a somali man believed to have ties to terrorist groups was shot as he allegedly tried to enter the home of danish political cartoonist kurt westergaard -- known for his controversial depictions of the muslim prophet mohammed -- on friday , police said . the 27-year-old man , who was not identified , wielded an ax and a knife and cracked a window at westergaard 's home in aarhus , said police spokesman morten jensen . a home alarm alerted police to the scene at 10 p.m. , and they were attacked by the man , he said . the officers shot the man in the right leg and left hand . he was hospitalized , but was not seriously injured , police said . danish intelligence officials said the suspect is connected to al-shabaab , al qaeda 's ally in east africa . the incident `` once again confirms the terrorist threat that is directed against denmark and against cartoonist kurt westergaard , in particular , '' said jakob scharf , spokesman for the danish security and intelligence service , in a statement . westergaard 's caricature of mohammed -- which depicted the prophet wearing a bomb as a turban with a lit fuse -- sparked an uproar among muslims in early 2006 after newspapers reprinted the images months later as a matter of free speech . the cartoon was first published by the danish newspaper morgenavisen jyllands-posten in september 2005 . at the time , westergaard said he wanted his cartoon to say that some people exploited the prophet to legitimize terror . however , many in the muslim world interpreted the drawing as depicting their prophet as a terrorist . over the years , danish authorities have arrested other suspects who allegedly plotted against westergaard 's life . after three such arrests were made in february 2008 , westergaard issued a statement , saying , `` of course i fear for my life after the danish security and intelligence service informed me of the concrete plans of certain people to kill me . however , i have turned fear into anger and indignation . it has made me angry that a perfectly normal everyday activity which i used to do by the thousand was abused to set off such madness . '' scharf said authorities have taken measures to ensure westergaard 's safety , and that the protection has `` proven effective . ''

<t> danish police say several arrested for plotting `` terror-related assassination '' </t> <t> agency reports that suspects include two tunisians and a dane of moroccan origin . </t> <t> newspaper says the target was its cartoonist kurt westergaard . </t> <t> prophet mohammed drawings sparked protests in the muslim world two years ago . </t>

` terror plot ' to kill mohammed cartoonist<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- two graduate students were found shot to death thursday night in an apartment a block off the louisiana state university campus , officials said . lsu chancellor sean o'keefe briefs reporters on the fatal shootings of two international graduate students . no suspects have been identified in what police are investigating as a double homicide . neighbors told police three strange men were seen in the area . the bodies of chandrasekhar reddy komma and kiran kumar allam , both ph.d. candidates from india , were found inside allam 's apartment at the edward gay complex near the lsu band 's practice field . the complex houses graduate and married students . a task force of lsu campus police and the baton rouge police department is investigating , university chancellor sean o'keefe said . `` if anybody can find them , they can , '' o'keefe told reporters friday . watch o'keefe discuss `` a tragic situation '' '' o'keefe said campus police responded to a 911 call at 10:37 p.m. and encountered `` a very , very tragic scene . '' both men had been shot in the head . one was bound with phone cable and the other was lying near the door . the apartment was cluttered and items were strewn about , so it has been difficult to determine whether anything was taken , o'keefe said . emergency text messages were sent to students and faculty across the lsu campus late thursday , but the campus remained open on friday . o'keefe said officials decided against a campus lockdown after police determined that the slayings were not part `` an escalating pattern . '' people were warned in the text messages to use caution , but not all of the 8,000 students who had signed up for them received them , o'keefe said . officials are looking into what went wrong . the associated press reported that allam 's pregnant wife found the bodies and called 911 . although police have indicated they suspect the slayings occurred during a home invasion robbery , o'keefe told reporters no motive has been determined . 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>new york -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- sunday 's graduation ceremony at hofstra university was a bittersweet affair marked by a moment of silence for a 21-year-old student killed by a police officer two days ago . many students at the university in east garden city , new york , wore white ribbons on their gowns in tribute to andrea rebello , cnn affliate wcbs reported . `` i want to express our community 's collective grief and our sorrow over the senseless and tragic death of a very young member of the hofstra family , '' university president stuart rabinowitz said . `` our hearts and our thoughts and our prayers are with andrea 's family , and with her friends and classmates , many of whom are in this room this afternoon . '' she was killed by police gunfire during a confrontation between a home invasion suspect and authorities friday night , a police spokeswoman said saturday . an officer fired eight shots at the intruder , who authorities say was holding a gun to rebello 's head during a home invasion robbery at an off-campus house in uniondale . one shot hit rebello in the head , maureen roach , a spokeswoman with the nassau county police , said . the intruder , whom authorities identified as dalton smith , 30 , of hempstead , was struck seven times and died .<doc-sep>new york -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a 21-year-old hofstra university junior was fatally shot early friday in an exchange of gunfire between a suspected home invader and police who came to the house , officials said . andrea rebello lived with her twin sister in an off-campus house in uniondale , new york . a male suspect wearing a black ski mask forced his way into the residence , which the sisters shared with two other students , according to police . at some point during the night , the twins ' female roommate was able to leave the home and call police , a nassau county police spokesman told cnn on friday . when police arrived , there was an exchange of gunfire that left andrea and the suspect dead . police say the source of the gunfire that killed rebello is still under investigation . it was not immediately known whether the suspect knew the students . armed robbery was believed to be the motive for the home invasion . andrea 's high school principal , carol conklin-spillane , said the girls ' home community in westchester , new york , was heartbroken . she described andrea as a fun-loving , personable and self-aware young woman . the sisters were a perfectly complemented `` match set . ''<doc-sep>new york -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a hofstra university student who died during a confrontation between a home invasion suspect and authorities was killed by police gunfire , a nassau county , new york , police spokeswoman said saturday . police fired eight shots at the intruder , who authorities say was holding a gun to the head of andrea rebello , 21 , during a home invasion robbery friday at an off-campus house in uniondale . one of the shots hit rebello in the head , killing her , police spokeswoman maureen roach said . also killed was the intruder , whom authorities identified as dalton smith , 30 , of hempstead . he was struck seven times . authorities say smith was wearing a mask . he invaded the home rebello shared with her twin sister and two others during the predawn hours on friday . at some point , a female roommate of the twins was able to leave the home and call police , a police spokesman told cnn on friday .<doc-sep>a senator took an unorthodox approach to appeal to voters on saturday as she helped college students do keg stands at a football game . louisiana democrat mary landrieu , who is up for re-election , joined in the wild antics during a louisiana state university tigers game against mississippi state university 's bulldogs . the 58-year-old senator , who attended lsu , joined those tailgating in the parking lot and even helped one fraternity brother , who was lifted upside down on the keg , by holding the nozzle to let him chug beer . louisiana democrat mary landrieu -lrb- pictured right -rrb- helped lsu college football fans on saturday as they performed keg stands . ms landrieu holds the beer-keg nozzle for lsu football fan as he does a keg stand at a tailgate party on the louisiana state university campus before the game on saturday . ms landrieu , who is up for re-election against republican representative bill cassidy , appeared to be popular among students , who chanted : ` mary ! mary ! ' , nbc reported . she did not take part in her own keg stand challenge .

<t> pregnant woman reportedly found husband , other man dead in apartment . </t> <t> slain students were international ph.d. candidates . </t> <t> apartment is on edge of university campus . </t> <t> in text-message alert , campus officials urge students to be careful . </t>

lsu students killed in home invasion , police say<T>

atlanta , georgia -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- it was an image that got the nation talking : two giggling young women in oversized sunglasses robbing a bank . the `` barbie bandits '' helped their hometown earn the dubious distinction as the nation 's bank robbery capital . here one of the so-called `` barbie bandits '' is captured on surveillance video at a surburban atlanta bank . atlanta 's fbi field division topped los angeles in reporting the most bank heists , with 350 for the 12 months ending september 30 , 2007 , according to the fbi , which annually names areas most prone to bank robberies . the los angeles area was no. 2 with 338 heists , followed by philadelphia with 316 . just thursday , two suspects overpowered a security guard at an atlanta , georgia , bank , took his gun , robbed the bank and fled with money in hand , police said . eventually , police shot one of the suspects in an exchange of gunfire . two more armed bank robberies took place in metro atlanta friday . the fbi says violent crime is up across the nation , especially in major metro areas like atlanta . so it 's no surprise atlanta has become a prime target for bank robberies , fbi spokesman stephen emmett told cnn . watch hotlanta or heistlanta ? '' `` this goes hand in hand with those figures , '' emmett said . atlanta 's rapid growth over the last decade has also been a factor . a recent atlanta business chronicle article reported that metro atlanta has 26 more banks than in all of north carolina -- roughly one bank for every 3,500 people in the region . see photos of bank heists in metro atlanta '' `` we would attribute a lot of that -lsb- bank robberies -rsb- to the growth and the fact that the banking industry has matched that growth with an increase in bank branches throughout the area , '' emmett said . atlanta 's rise in bank heists comes just as los angeles has aggressively countered once out-of-control bank robberies . los angeles has gone from more than 500 bank robberies in the mid-2000s to this year 's 338 , the fbi stats show . according to the fbi , its atlanta field division reported 350 bank robberies in the last year -- the most notorious of which were the `` barbie bandits '' and `` grandpa bandit '' robberies . the fbi says 122 of the heists were armed robberies , or robberies where a weapon was visibly used . emmett said many more of the robberies were what law enforcement officers classify as `` note jobs '' -- where a robber gestures as if he or she has a gun on them in a demand note handed over to the teller . also factored into the total number of robberies were atm heists and a record nine armored car robberies . those armored car robberies are particularly disturbing to emmett . `` anyone that would confront an armored car courier knowing that he 's already armed and in somewhat of a defensive posture , that mindset is very troubling for law enforcement , '' he said . while emmett said there is no `` typical '' bank robber , he said he has seen some trends , most notably that they are often people battling drug addictions . he also said bank robbers are often repeat offenders . two recent high-profile cases in atlanta seem to confirm that . two women dubbed the `` barbie bandits '' were arrested after working with a bank employee to rob a bank of america in the atlanta suburb of acworth . they both later admitted to police to having drug addiction problems . recently apprehended 69-year-old bobby joe phillips , dubbed the `` grandpa bandit , '' is suspected to have robbed seven banks in tennessee and the atlanta area and had a criminal history . emmett says typically very little money is taken in a bank heist . joe brannen , president of the georgia bankers association , agrees , saying `` the average is $ 2,000 to $ 3,000 . it 's not as big a payoff as most people think it is . '' with the holidays in full swing , authorities are steeling themselves for a spate of bank robberies with robbers looking for quick holiday cash . `` i would make the assumption that a large part of it is the increased -lsb- financial -rsb- pressures this time of year , '' said brannen . the fbi advises banks to be extra vigilant this time of year and to keep a close eye on jittery individuals donning gloves , hats and sunglasses . but brannen says profiling people like that can be problematic . `` we 've chosen not to go there . here in atlanta , lots of people wear head coverings for religious purposes . this is a free and open society , '' he said . he said customers want to come into a bank unimpeded -- that 99.9 percent are just customers , not bank robbers . brannen says banks do all they can to balance convenience for their customers and the bank 's need for security . `` there is no good , magic solution . '' he says . emmett said as long as metro atlanta continues to grow , so will the number of bank robberies . `` this is something that is part of growth . we have more banks . we have more people . we 're a big city now . '' e-mail to a friend . cnn 's rusty dornin contributed to this report .<doc-sep>by . mia de graaf . and ashley collman . published : . 16:06 est , 28 december 2013 . | . updated : . 02:16 est , 29 december 2013 . authorities say the man suspected of killing a police officer in a tupelo , mississippi bank robbery last monday has been killed trying to carry out another heist in arizona . according to ajc.com , the agency made the connection late sunday and announced that the bank robber subject of a nationwide search was shot and killed outside a phoenix bank yesterday . his name was not released . on exiting the bank the man encountered a police detective and shots were fired , cnn reported , it is not believed the detective was wounded . the new and final development in the case came just hours after the fbi announced that the man was a serial bank thief and had attempted a robbery just hours before his fatal heist in mississippi . twice in one day : the same man suspected of robbing a bancorp south bank in tupelo , mississippi is being tied to a bank robbery that happened just hours earlier in atlanta , georgia . not scared : the man is filmed walking up to the teller to demand money but is ultimately unsuccessful in robbing the bank . wanted man : police had a reward of $ 100,000 on the suspect , who is believed to now be dead . surveillance footage showe the same . suspect entering a bank of america branch in atlanta , armed with a .<doc-sep>an eccentric filmmaker who once held a lecturer position at mit allegedly robbed a new york bank on new year 's eve while filming the heist and said he did it for art 's sake . the new york post reports that joseph gibbons , 61 , was charged with robbery on friday after taking $ 1,000 from a capital one bank in downtown manhattan . according to court documents , gibbons walked into a branch on bowery and grand street armed with a camcorder . hold up : a former mit professor who was charged with robbery after taking $ 1000 from a manhattan bank allegedly told another man waiting to be charged he did it as research for a film . he handed the bank teller a note , which asked for a donation to be made to his church , according to documents filed in court . rhode island police believe that the former professor , who currently lives in a boston suburb , is responsible for a similar heist at a bank in providence .<doc-sep>reign of terror : the robber pulled off two heists in one day before traveling 1,800 miles to phoenix , where he was killed . the alleged robber , garnett , was shot dead by a phoenix police detective during a gun battle with cops on saturday after they intercepted him when he robbed a bank there - his third heist in just a week . the violence ended a week of mayhem that began monday morning in atlanta , georgia , and sparked a nationwide manhunt . a total reward of more than $ 200,000 had been offered to anyone with information leading to the arrest of the suspect . fbi agents are confident that the man who died in phoenix was also responsible for the robberies in atlanta and tupelo because his cell phone records show he was in those places at the times of the crimes . agent daniel mcmullen , also told reporters in in tupelo that there were ` numerous similarities ' between the three bank robberies , including the clothing worn by the suspect , statements he made during the incidents and his ` overall modus operandi . ' wanted man : police had a reward of $ 200,000 on the suspect , who is believed to now be dead . a bancorpsouth surveillance screen shot from monday of a man holding up the bank with a handgun . mcmullen said the fbi believes the suspect killed by phoenix police was the same person from the atlanta and tupelo robberies . also on sunday , the secret service said garnett was arrested in 2010 after making online threats against the president . secret service spokesman max millien said garnett was living in oklahoma city at the time of the arrest . millien would not say how the case was resolved . surveillance photos from the attempted bank robbery in atlanta showed a man wearing a black-and-white patterned jacket tried to rob a bank of america branch around 9:30 a.m. on dec. 23 . he was wearing a black ski mask and black gloves and carrying a handgun . after failing to get any money from a teller , the man demanded and received an undisclosed amount of money from someone who was using an atm in the bank 's lobby . the man was seen leaving in a light gray car with no license plate . later that same day , the suspect stole an undisclosed amount of money from the bancorpsouth in tupelo before fleeing in a gray sedan , the fbi has said . a widow 's tears : beth stauffer praised phoenix police for stopping the man who is believed to have killed her husband . killed and injured : cpl kevin gale stauffer . -lrb- left -rrb- and fellow police officer joseph maher -lrb- right -rrb- were shot by the .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- two people charged in a staged texas bank heist apparently did n't think twice when they typed messages in the `` what 's on your mind ? '' portion of their facebook pages , court documents show . `` get $ $ $ -lrb- ; . , '' wrote bank employee estefany danelia martinez , 19 , two days before $ 62,201 was taken from the international bank of commerce in houston , according to an affidavit from fbi special agent kevin j. katz . according to the affidavit , filed with a criminal complaint in federal court this week , her boyfriend , ricky gonzalez , 18 , wrote on his page on march 24 , the day after the robbery , `` wipe my teeth with hundereds -lrb- sic -rrb- . '' those postings , plus an anonymous crime stoppers tip on march 30 , landed the pair and two others in custody , according to the federal complaint . the tip advised there was information about the heist on facebook . martinez 's attorney said friday the facebook postings may show his client was immature and deserving of a short prison term or probation .

<t> atlanta surpasses la , philadelphia as city with most bank heists . </t> <t> fbi says it 's the result of rising violent crime and increased number of banks . </t> <t> fbi : expect more bank robberies around holidays . </t> <t> bank official says most robbers get away with just $ 2,000 to $ 3,000 . </t>

atlanta : bank heist capital of nation<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- scientists have discovered the remains of a rodent the size of a small car which used to forage the south american continent . the 1-ton creature is believed to have been about 3 meters in length and 1.5 meters tall . the fossilized skull of the new giant rodent . the giant rat 's skull , which measures an impressive 53 centimeters in diameter was found by andrés rinderknecht and ernesto blanco , two scientists from montevideo , uruguay .<doc-sep>the two paleontologists stumbled upon the fossilized remains in a broken boulder in san jose along the coast of uruguay . by looking at the size ratios of the skulls and bodies of existing rodents , scientists determined the bodyweight of the rodent must have approached 1,000 kilograms or a ton , making it the world 's largest rodent to have been discovered to date . the relatively small size of its teeth however , suggests it fed mainly upon soft vegetables and fruit .<doc-sep>`` we can give an educated guess that the rodent would have been 3 meters long -- assuming that it was similar to a capybara -lrb- the largest rodent alive today -rrb- and taking it into account that large mammals generally have relatively smaller heads . it 's tail probably was closer to the one of capybara or guinea pig -lrb- very short -rrb- and not like a rat , '' ernesto blanco says . the scientists believe the rodent , named josephoartigasia monesi , roamed the earth about four million years ago at the same time as other giant creatures , such as terror birds , saber-toothed cats , ground sloths and giant armored mammals . during this period , the now arid region was forested and rich in vegetation . the largest living rodent is the capybara , a 50 kilogram guinea pig found in south america . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>on the run : this capybara was spotted lurking around the eighth hole at north weald golf club in essex . on further investigation the 4ft-long creature was identified as a capybara -- the world 's largest type of rodent which is usually found grazing the plains of south america . assistant club manager angus lloyd-skinner said : ` a group reported seeing a giant rodent on the eighth and when we went to investigate we saw this huge creature the size of a small dog . ` we did n't know what it was until one of our members identified it . but we have no idea what it is doing on the course . '<doc-sep>the rover , about the size of a compact car , weighs 1 ton and has a 7-foot arm that will be used to collect material . `` on mars , if life exists as single cell-organisms , or if it ever existed , we believe it will be under the ground , or inside rocks , '' said mission chief engineer rob manning . the project costs $ 2.5 billion . cnn 's john zarrella contributed to this report .<doc-sep>giant rats , the size of cows or even bigger , could one day fill a ` significant chunk ' of earth 's emptying ecospace . the terrifying scenario could become a reality as super-adaptable rats take advantage of larger mammals becoming extinct , an expert predicts . ` animals will evolve , over time , into whatever designs will enable them to survive and to produce offspring , ' said geologist dr jan zalasiewicz , from the university of leicester . rats could grow to the size of cows or even bigger as they evolve to fill vacant ecological niches , it is claimed . pictured here is the capybara - the largest rodent in the world . rats are one of the best examples of a species that humans have helped spread around the world . they have successfully adapted to many of the new environments they . have found themselves in - they are now on most islands and continue to . prosper and adapt . the . result is that each island that rats are now present on is in effect a . laboratory of future evolution -- and each will produce different . adaptive results over time . dr . zalasiewicz suggests that as ecospace empties , rats will continue to . re-fill a significant chunk of it in the mid to far geological future . given enough time , rats could grow to be at least as large as the capybara , the world 's largest rodent . for instance , in the cretaceous period , when the dinosaurs lived , there were mammals , but these were very small , rat and mouse-sized , because dinosaurs occupied the larger ecological niches . only once the dinosaurs were out of the way did these tiny mammals evolve into many different forms . ` given enough time , rats could probably grow to be at least as large as the capybara , the world 's largest rodent , that lives today , that can reach 80 kilos -lrb- 17lb -rrb- . ` if the ecospace was sufficiently empty , then they could get larger still . ' the . largest extinct rodent known , josephoartegasia monesi , which lived . three million years ago , was larger than a bull and weighed over a .<doc-sep>york scientists say the largest rodent ever -lrb- artist 's impression shown -rrb- had giant incisors that it used like elephant tusks , based on skull analysis . the largest rodent ever to have lived may have used its front teeth just like an elephant uses its tusks , according to a new study . the rodent would have been the size of a buffalo , with the largest incisors of any rodent ever known to have existed . josephoartigasia monesi , a rodent closely related to guinea pigs , lived in south america approximately three million years ago . it is the largest fossil rodent ever found , with an estimated body mass of 2,200 lbs -lrb- 1,000 kg -rrb- , and it was similar in size to a buffalo . the study was led by scientists at the university of york and the hull york medical school . dr philip cox , of the centre for anatomical and human sciences , a joint research centre of the university 's department of archaeology and hyms , used computer modelling to estimate how powerful the bite of josephoartigasia could be - comparable to that of a tiger . speaking to mailonline , he said the only fossil they have is a skull that is around 20 inches -lrb- 50cm -rrb- in length - which makes it the largest rodent ever . but using it was enough to work out how large and powerful the teeth of the rodent would have been . ` like all rodents it had just a single pair of incisors in the upper and lower jaw , and these are large curved structures that grow throughout life , ' he said . ` like most rodents it was herbivorous , and the environment it lived in was something like an estuary or water land , at the margins of water , eating maybe aquatic plant material or something . ' he thinks the incisors were likely used either to dig into the ground to get at roots to eat , or to defend the animal .

<t> rodent the size of small car discovered in uruguay . </t> <t> scientists say the rodent must have weighed 1,000 kilograms . </t> <t> small size of its teeth suggests it fed mainly upon soft vegetables and fruit . </t>

1-ton rodent was size of small car<T>

islamabad , pakistan -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- rawalpindi 's police chief stopped doctors at the hospital where benazir bhutto died from conducting an autopsy , according to a lawyer on the hospital 's board . in a video released sunday , benazir bhutto , far right , appears through the sunroof before shots ring out . it was a violation of pakistani criminal law and prevented a medical conclusion about what killed the former prime minister , said athar minallah , who serves on the board that manages rawalpindi general hospital . however , the police chief involved , aziz saud , told cnn that he suggested an autopsy be done , but that bhutto 's husband objected . the revelation came on monday after new videotape of bhutto 's assassination emerged , showing her slumping just after gunshots rang out . the tape provided the clearest view yet of the attack and appeared to show that bhutto was shot . that would contradict the pakistan government 's account . read bhutto 's full medical report . a previously released videotape showed a man at the right of her vehicle raising a gun , pointing it toward bhutto , who was standing in her car with her upper body through the sunroof . he fired three shots , then there was an explosion . in the video that emerged on sunday , bhutto was standing , and her hair and scarf appeared to move , perhaps from the bullet . bhutto fell into the car , then came the blast . watch new tape showing apparent gunman '' these images seem to support the theory that bhutto died at the hands of a shooter before a bomb was detonated , killing another 23 people . doctors at rawalpindi general hospital declared the 54-year-old dead hours after thursday 's attack , but the cause of her death has been widely debated . pakistan 's interior ministry announced on friday that bhutto died from a skull fracture suffered when she fell or ducked into the car as a result of the shots or the explosion and crashed her head onto a sunroof latch . see the likely sequence of events '' bhutto 's family and political party maintain that the government is lying , and insist she died from gunshot wounds . bhutto 's husband , in an interview with cnn 's wolf blitzer on monday , called for an international investigation into his wife 's death , saying the new video proves the pakistani government `` has been trying to muddy the water from the first day . '' `` everything is now very clear that she was shot , '' asif ali zardari said . zardari also called on the u.s. government to push for an international probe . `` i want them to help me find out who killed my wife , the mother of my children , '' he said of the bush administration . javed iqbal cheema , spokesman for pakistan 's interior ministry , said the government 's conclusion on bhutto 's death was based on `` absolute facts , nothing but the facts '' and `` it was corroborated by the doctor 's report . '' but minallah issued an open letter on monday and released the doctors ' clinical notes to distance them from the government statement , and he also talked to cnn . in the letter , minallah said the doctors `` suggested to the officials to perform an autopsy , '' but that saud `` did not agree . '' he noted that under the law , police investigators have `` exclusive responsibility '' in deciding to have an autopsy . minallah told cnn that he was speaking out because the doctors at the hospital were `` threatened . '' `` they are government servants who can not speak ; i am not , '' he said . he did not elaborate on the threats against the doctors . he said the lack of an autopsy has created `` a perception that there is some kind of cover-up , though i might not believe in that theory . '' `` there is a state within the state , and that state within the state does not want itself to be held accountable , '' minallah said . cheema said the government had no objection to bhutto 's body being exhumed for an autopsy if the family requested it . her widower has said the family was against exhumation because it did not trust the government . minallah said the family could not have prevented an autopsy at the hospital without getting an order from a judge . the three-page medical report , which was signed by seven doctors , described bhutto 's head wound , but it did not conclude what caused it . it noted that x-ray images were made after she was declared dead . the wound was described as an irregular oval of about 5 centimeters by 3 centimeters above her right ear . `` sharp bones edges were felt in the wound , '' it read . `` no foreign body was felt in the wound . '' e-mail to a friend . cnn 's jomana karadsheh contributed to this report .<doc-sep>islamabad , pakistan -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- rawalpindi 's police chief stopped doctors at the hospital where benazir bhutto died from conducting an autopsy , according to a lawyer on the hospital 's board . in a video released sunday , benazir bhutto , far right , appears through the sunroof before shots ring out . it was a violation of pakistani criminal law and prevented a medical conclusion about what killed the former prime minister , said athar minallah , who serves on the board that manages rawalpindi general hospital . however , the police chief involved , aziz saud , told cnn that he suggested an autopsy be done , but that bhutto 's husband objected . the revelation came on monday after new videotape of bhutto 's assassination emerged , showing her slumping just after gunshots rang out . the tape provided the clearest view yet of the attack and appeared to show that bhutto was shot . that would contradict the pakistan government 's account . read bhutto 's full medical report . a previously released videotape showed a man at the right of her vehicle raising a gun , pointing it toward bhutto , who was standing in her car with her upper body through the sunroof . he fired three shots , then there was an explosion . in the video that emerged on sunday , bhutto was standing , and her hair and scarf appeared to move , perhaps from the bullet . bhutto fell into the car , then came the blast . watch new tape showing apparent gunman '' these images seem to support the theory that bhutto died at the hands of a shooter before a bomb was detonated , killing another 23 people . doctors at rawalpindi general hospital declared the 54-year-old dead hours after thursday 's attack , but the cause of her death has been widely debated . pakistan 's interior ministry announced on friday that bhutto died from a skull fracture suffered when she fell or ducked into the car as a result of the shots or the explosion and crashed her head onto a sunroof latch . see the likely sequence of events '' bhutto 's family and political party maintain that the government is lying , and insist she died from gunshot wounds . bhutto 's husband , in an interview with cnn 's wolf blitzer on monday , called for an international investigation into his wife 's death , saying the new video proves the pakistani government `` has been trying to muddy the water from the first day . '' `` everything is now very clear that she was shot , '' asif ali zardari said . zardari also called on the u.s. government to push for an international probe . `` i want them to help me find out who killed my wife , the mother of my children , '' he said of the bush administration . javed iqbal cheema , spokesman for pakistan 's interior ministry , said the government 's conclusion on bhutto 's death was based on `` absolute facts , nothing but the facts '' and `` it was corroborated by the doctor 's report . '' but minallah issued an open letter on monday and released the doctors ' clinical notes to distance them from the government statement , and he also talked to cnn . in the letter , minallah said the doctors `` suggested to the officials to perform an autopsy , '' but that saud `` did not agree . '' he noted that under the law , police investigators have `` exclusive responsibility '' in deciding to have an autopsy . minallah told cnn that he was speaking out because the doctors at the hospital were `` threatened . '' `` they are government servants who can not speak ; i am not , '' he said . he did not elaborate on the threats against the doctors . he said the lack of an autopsy has created `` a perception that there is some kind of cover-up , though i might not believe in that theory . '' `` there is a state within the state , and that state within the state does not want itself to be held accountable , '' minallah said . cheema said the government had no objection to bhutto 's body being exhumed for an autopsy if the family requested it . her widower has said the family was against exhumation because it did not trust the government . minallah said the family could not have prevented an autopsy at the hospital without getting an order from a judge . the three-page medical report , which was signed by seven doctors , described bhutto 's head wound , but it did not conclude what caused it . it noted that x-ray images were made after she was declared dead . the wound was described as an irregular oval of about 5 centimeters by 3 centimeters above her right ear . `` sharp bones edges were felt in the wound , '' it read . `` no foreign body was felt in the wound . '' e-mail to a friend . cnn 's jomana karadsheh contributed to this report .<doc-sep>the three-page medical report , which was signed by seven doctors , described bhutto 's head wound , but it did not conclude what caused it . it noted that x-ray images were made after she was declared dead . the wound was described as an irregular oval of about 5 centimeters by 3 centimeters above her right ear . `` sharp bones edges were felt in the wound , '' it read . `` no foreign body was felt in the wound . '' rawalpindi 's police chief was accused monday of stopping doctors at the hospital where bhutto died from conducting an autopsy . it was a violation of pakistani criminal law and prevented a medical conclusion about what killed the former prime minister , said minallah . however , the police chief involved , aziz saud , told cnn that he suggested an autopsy be done -- but that bhutto 's husband objected . cheema said the government had no objection to bhutto 's body being exhumed for an autopsy if the family requested it . her widower , asif ali zardari , has said the family was against exhumation because it did not trust the government . minallah said the family could not have prevented an autopsy at the hospital without getting an order from a judge . the revelations about the exact cause of bhutto 's death came after new videotape of her assassination emerged , showing her slumping just after gunshots rang out . the tape provided the clearest view yet of the attack and appeared to show that bhutto was shot . that would contradict the pakistan government 's account . a previously released videotape showed a man at the right of her vehicle raising a gun , pointing it toward bhutto , who was standing in her car with her upper body through the sunroof . he fired three shots , then there was an explosion . in the video that emerged on sunday , bhutto was standing , and her hair and scarf appeared to move , perhaps from the bullet . bhutto fell into the car , then came the blast . watch new tape showing apparent gunman '' these images seem to support the theory that bhutto died at the hands of a shooter before a bomb was detonated , killing another 23 people . bhutto 's husband , in an interview with cnn 's wolf blitzer monday , called for an international investigation into his wife 's death , saying the new video proves the pakistani government `` has been trying to muddy the water from the first day . '' see the likely sequence of events '' `` everything is now very clear that she was shot , '' asif ali zardari said . zardari also called on the u.s. government to push for an international probe . `` i want them to help me find out who killed my wife , the mother of my children , '' he said of the bush administration . the reward offer announced : `` the public is hereby informed that the two individuals in the above photograph are the accused terrorists involved in the liaqat bagh , rawalpindi terror attack , which resulted in the death of the mohtarma benazir bhutto and others . '' ` mohtarma ' is a title of respect in the urdu language . `` the person identifying these terrorists will be awarded a cash prize of 5 million rupees -lrb- about $ 81,400 -rrb- and his identity will also be kept confidential , '' said punjab chief minister chaudhry pervaiz elahi -- a total reward available of 10 million . `` the response from the public has been nil so far , '' punjab spokesman ashfaq gondal said tuesday afternoon . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's jomana karadsheh contributed to this report .<doc-sep>islamabad , pakistan -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- pakistan 's interior ministry backtracked tuesday on its statement that benazir bhutto died because she hit her head on a sunroof latch during a shooting and bomb attack . the two suspects -lrb- circled -rrb- who the pakistan government believe were involved in bhutto 's assassination . the government also published a reward offer in several national newspapers to anyone who could identify two suspects from the killing . interior ministry spokesman javed iqbal cheema told cnn the ministry will wait for the findings from forensic investigators before making a conclusion about her cause of death . cheema said he based his statement friday about the sunroof latch `` on the initial investigations and the reports by the medical doctors '' who treated her at rawalpindi general hospital . `` i was just narrating the facts , you know , and nothing less nothing more , '' cheema said . `` there 's no intention to conceal anything from the people of pakistan , '' an interior ministry news release said . the reward offer , which appeared with photographs of the dead suspects , said that `` the person identifying these terrorists will be awarded a cash prize of 5 million rupees -lrb- about $ 81,400 -rrb- and his identity will also be kept confidential '' -- a total reward available of 10 million . `` the response from the public has been nil so far , '' punjab spokesman ashfaq gondal said tuesday afternoon . athar minallah , a lawyer on the board that manages rawalpindi general hospital , told cnn monday that doctors did not make the statements attributed to them by the government . the medical report -- obtained by cnn from minallah -- made no mention of the sunroof latch and listed the cause of death as `` open head injury with depressed skull fracture , leading to cardiopulmonary arrest . '' read bhutto 's full medical report . pakistan 's interior ministry said thursday it was from a bullet or shrapnel wound , but then it announced a day later that bhutto died from a skull fracture suffered when she fell or ducked into the car as a result of the shots or the explosion and crashed her head into a sunroof latch . bhutto 's family and political party maintain that the government is lying , and insist she died from gunshot wounds . several videos show a gunman firing a pistol toward her just moments before a bomb detonated nearby as she left a rally . the u-turn on the sunroof claims will only heighten speculation as to the exact cause of bhutto 's death . minallah issued an open letter monday and released the doctors ' clinical notes to distance them from the government statement . in the letter , minallah said the doctors `` suggested to the officials to perform an autopsy , '' but that saud `` did not agree . '' he noted that under the law , police investigators have `` exclusive responsibility '' in deciding to have an autopsy . minallah told cnn that he was speaking out because the doctors at the hospital were `` threatened . '' `` they are government servants who can not speak ; i am not , '' he said . he did not elaborate on the threats against the doctors . he said the lack of an autopsy has created `` a perception that there is some kind of cover-up , though i might not believe in that theory . '' `` there is a state within the state , and that state within the state does not want itself to be held accountable , '' minallah said .<doc-sep>islamabad , pakistan -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- pakistan arrested two senior police officials wednesday in connection with the assassination of former prime minister benazir bhutto . a court refused bail for the two officials , saud aziz and khurram shehzad , said special public prosecutor chaudhary zulfiqar ali . aziz was the police chief in the rawalpindi district at the time of bhutto 's assassination while shehzad was the head of her security team . the two have been accused of security breaches , covering up evidence by hosing down the crime scene and failing to conduct a post-mortem examination on bhutto . aziz and shehzad said bhutto 's husband and the current president , asif ali zardari , ordered them to not conduct the post-mortem . an audio of that request was played in court wednesday . the court found the two men had failed their legal obligation as police . a united nations panel looking into bhutto 's assassination concluded that pakistan 's military-led former government failed to adequately protect her and that intelligence agencies hindered the subsequent investigation . the panel 's scathing report in april said the suicide bombing that killed bhutto `` could have been prevented '' and that police deliberately failed to pursue an effective investigation into the killings . the government of gen. pervez musharraf said bhutto had been afforded adequate protection . bhutto had returned from a self-imposed , eight-year exile to run in the country 's general elections in 2007 . she escaped one attempt on her life but was killed on december 27 by a 15-year-old suicide bomber while campaigning in rawalpindi , the seat of pakistan 's military . `` no one believes that this boy acted alone , '' the u.n. report said . `` a range of government officials failed profoundly in their efforts first to protect ms. bhutto , and second to investigate with vigor all those responsible for her murder , not only in the execution of the attack , but also in its conception , planning and financing . '' the two police officials are scheduled to appear for a hearing january 7 . cnn 's nasir habib contributed to this report .

<t> new : new video proves bhutto shot , widower says . </t> <t> doctors claim pakistani police prevented an autopsy on benazir bhutto . </t> <t> lawyer athar minallah said the move violated pakistani criminal law . </t> <t> police chief aziz saud said he suggested autopsy but bhutto 's widower objected . </t>

lawyer : police prevented bhutto autopsy<T>

los angeles , california -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- alex trebek , the long-time host of the popular television quiz show `` jeopardy , '' suffered a minor heart attack at his home monday night . alex trebek has hosted `` jeopardy! '' for 23 years . trebek , 67 , was recovering at a local hospital , and it was not clear when he would be released , a representative of the show said . he is expected to resume taping the show in january . the representative added that trebek did not have any previous known condition that would have led to the heart attack . trebek , 67 , is a native of sudbury , ontario . he has hosted `` jeopardy! '' since 1984 . prior to becoming `` jeopardy! '' host , he served as emcee for a number of game shows , including `` high rollers , '' `` the wizard of odds '' and `` battlestars . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>by . joshua gardner . published : . 08:46 est , 15 march 2013 . | . updated : . 10:22 est , 15 march 2013 . long-time ` jeopardy ' emcee alex trebek has been with the quiz show nearly 30 years , but he may be on his way out and this ` today ' show host might just replace him . who is matt lauer ? ratings have plummeted for the ` today ' show , which now plays second fiddle to abc 's ` good morning america ' in the battle for top morning news program . ann curry was the last ` today ' host to face the axe for sinking ratings . now , matt lauer 's popularity has hit an all-time low and he 's facing the blame , too . way out : matt lauer 's claim to the daytime throne may have ended , but some say he could move on to host ` jeopardy ' as alex trebek exits . cue sony pictures television , owner of the popular game show , who are now reported by the new york post to be courting lauer to be their next host . exiting : alex trebek has hosted the popular game show since 1984 , but his age and health complaints mean his current contract , up in 2016 , is his last . current host alex trebek has hosted ` jeopardy ' since it was rebooted in 1984 . he also suffered his second heart attack last summer and it has been reported that he wants to retire . sony has managed to keep trebek onboard for another three years , however . meanwhile , their feelers are now out in search of a new host to replace the man whose name is synonymous with ` jeopardy . '<doc-sep>los angeles -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- alex trebek suffered a mild heart attack saturday , but the `` jeopardy! '' host should make a full recovery and return to the game show next month , a sony television spokeswoman said sunday . trebek , 71 , checked into cedars-sinai medical center in los angeles saturday and remained there sunday , sony 's paula askanas said . `` trebek is in good spirits and is currently under observation and undergoing further testing , '' askanas said . '' he is expected to fully recover and be back at ` jeopardy! ' when production begins taping in july for the new season , the show 's 29th . '' the show won the best game show emmy at the daytime emmy awards saturday .<doc-sep>what is a new record for hosting a single show , alex ? `` jeopardy! '' host alex trebek should be giving that answer himself -- since he 's the man who set the record . on friday , trebek entered the guinness world records for `` most game show episodes hosted by the same presenter -lrb- one show -rrb- '' with a hefty 6,829 . that 's 30 seasons of the answer-and-question landmark , which will begin its 31st season in september . trebek , 73 , has hosted `` jeopardy! '' since its return in 1984 as a syndicated program , and he 's also hosted some prime-time incarnations . before trebek , `` jeopardy! '' was part of nbc 's daytime schedule and hosted by the late art fleming . a : this game show is celebrating 50 years . q : what is `` jeopardy! '' ?<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- alex trebek , longtime host of the television quiz show `` jeopardy , '' was injured while chasing a burglar out of his hotel room early tuesday . the 71-year-old tv personality revealed his condition at the national geographic world championship in san francisco . footage shot by cnn affiliate kgo showed trebek taking the long way to the stage , hobbling on crutches up the disabled-access ramp . he placed his crutches to one side and hopped over to the podium , where he told his story with the dry wit `` jeopardy '' fans have come to love . `` i deal with answers and questions , '' trebek told the crowd . `` and today i 'm going to start with the answer to a question i suspect is on many of your minds right now . the answer is ` at 2:30 yesterday morning , chasing a burglar down the hall ... until my achilles tendon ruptured and i fell in an ignominious heap , bruising my other leg in the process . '' trebek did not address the injury again except to say that he was fine and expected surgery to take place friday . but when reached for comment , a communications director for the show confirmed the incident . `` it 's true ! '' said phil zimmerman , a spokesman for `` jeopardy '' at sony . `` alex is fine and all the details in this story are true . alex is n't going to be making any official statement or commenting any further than what he said at the national geographic world championship this morning . ''

<t> alex trebek suffered heart attack at home monday . </t> <t> trebek has hosted `` jeopardy! '' for 23 years . </t> <t> trebek is recovering at l.a. hospital . </t>

alex trebek has heart attack<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- disgraced former nfl star michael vick declared that `` i am not the bad person or the beast i 've been made out to be '' in a letter to a judge asking for leniency . michael vick wrote he was `` forever a changed man . '' `` i have been talked about and ridiculed on a day to day basis by people who really do n't know michael vick the human being . they only knew the football player which is unfair , '' vick said in a handwritten letter released this week . u.s. district judge henry e. hudson sentenced vick on monday to serve 23 months in prison for financing a dogfighting ring and helping to kill pit bulls that did not fight aggressively . vick wrote the judge that he had accepted responsibility for his actions , would pay restitution and never again use `` a single dollar that i have earned for anything but to help people . '' read letters from vick , his mom , sports stars ''<doc-sep>the former atlanta falcons quarterback said he grew up not knowing the severity of the crime of dogfighting and asked hudson for `` a second chance . '' other letters supporting vick were sent by his mother , his seventh-grade teacher and children he had met since becoming a star and one of the nfl 's most highly paid players . brenda vick boddie said her son fell victim to friends who took advantage of vick 's inability to `` say no . '' `` please your honor give my baby michael another chance . -lsb- h -rsb- e 's never been in trouble with the law before , please ! please ! one more chance , '' she pleaded in her own handwritten letter . former falcons teammate warrick dunn , atlanta mayor shirley franklin and two sporting legends -- former home-run king hank aaron and former two-time boxing heavyweight champion george foreman -- also wrote letters on vick 's behalf . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- michael vick , recently reinstated to the nfl after being freed from federal prison after a dogfighting-related conviction , has signed a two-year deal with the philadelphia eagles , according to his agent , joel segal . michael vick is set to join his new team on friday , according to his agent . the former atlanta falcons quarterback reports to philadelphia on friday , segal told cnn . details of the deal were not immediately available thursday night . the league suspended vick indefinitely in august 2007 after he pleaded guilty to a federal charge of bankrolling a dogfighting operation at a home he owned in virginia . vick , 29 , was freed from federal prison at leavenworth , kansas , on may 20 and returned to his home to serve the last two months of his 23-month sentence in home confinement . ireport.com : is this a good move ? the pennsylvania society for the prevention of cruelty to animals said thursday night in a statement it was `` incredibly disappointed '' at the news of vick 's signing . `` philadelphia is a city of dog lovers and most particularly , pit bull lovers , '' said susan cosby , the organization 's chief executive officer . `` to root for someone who participated in the hanging , drowning , electrocution and shooting of dogs will be impossible for many , no matter how much we would all like to see the eagles go all the way . '' however , ed sayres , president and ceo of the american society for the prevention of cruelty to animals , said in a statement that `` commissioner roger goodell and the philadelphia eagles have granted michael vick a second chance , and the aspca expects mr. vick to express remorse for his actions , as well as display more compassion and sound judgment this time around than he did during his previous tenure with the nfl . '' `` we hope that mr. vick uses his stature for the betterment of the community and the advancement of the issue of animal cruelty , '' sayres said . eagles head coach andy reid told reporters he knows there are some fans that will not accept vick . `` i understand how that works , '' he said . `` but there 's enough of them that will , and then it 's up to michael to prove that that change has taken place . i think he 's there . that 's what he wants to do . '' he said vick `` seems very focused , and he wants to get his career back on track . '' it is unclear what role vick will play in the eagles ' offense . but it was clear that the move had the blessing of current eagles starting quarterback donovan mcnabb . `` i pretty much lobbied to get him here , '' mcnabb said . `` because everybody deserves a second chance . '' the nfl reinstated vick on a conditional basis last month . vick `` will be considered for full reinstatement and to play in regular-season games by week 6 based on the progress he makes in his transition plan , '' the nfl said in a statement last month . week 6 of the nfl season is in october . vick may participate in practices , workouts and meetings and may play in his club 's final two preseason games under the conditions of his reinstatement , the league said last month . `` i fully understand that playing football in the nfl is a privilege , not a right , and i am truly thankful for -lsb- the -rsb- opportunity i have been given , '' vick said in a statement last month upon his reinstatement . `` as you can imagine , the last two years have given me time to re-evaluate my life , mature as an individual and fully understand the terrible mistakes i made in the past and what type of life i must lead moving forward , '' he said in last month 's statement . former indianapolis colts coach tony dungy has agreed to continue working with vick as an adviser and mentor , the nfl said . nfl commissioner roger goodell told reporters last month that vick underwent tests , including a psychiatric evaluation , after requests from animal rights groups . vick has also filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy . at a hearing in that case , he told the judge he earned 12 cents an hour as an overnight janitor while in prison . court documents released in vick 's case showed that two of his co-defendants , who also pleaded guilty as part of a plea deal , said vick helped kill dogs that did n't fight well , and that all three men `` executed approximately eight dogs '' in ways that included hanging and drowning . the dogs were killed because they fared poorly in `` testing '' sessions held at vick 's property . the humane society of the united states has said vick offered to work with the organization on anti-dogfighting campaigns . wayne pacelle , the organization 's president , has said vick was to work on programs aimed at preventing youths from getting involved in dogfighting and on programs to assist youths who have already been involved . in testimony before the bankruptcy judge , vick acknowledged committing a `` heinous '' act and said he should have acted more maturely . in november , vick pleaded guilty to a state dogfighting charge and received a three-year suspended sentence . the eagles are scheduled to play vick 's former team , the falcons , in atlanta on december 6 .<doc-sep>atlanta , georgia -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the atlanta falcons have `` relinquished their contractual rights '' to michael vick , one of the highest-paid players in professional sports before his conviction on dogfighting charges , the falcons manager said friday . michael vick will be confined to this hampton , virginia , house for the rest of his sentence . in a statement posted on the football team 's web site , general manager thomas dimitroff said , `` michael remains suspended by the nfl -lsb- national football league -rsb- . however , in the event nfl commissioner roger goodell decides to reinstate michael , we feel his best opportunity to re-engage his football career would be at another club . `` our entire organization sincerely hopes that michael will continue to focus his efforts on making positive changes in his life , and we wish him well in that regard , '' dimitroff said . the quarterback was drafted by the falcons in 2001 , and played six seasons with the team . vick , who will turn 29 on june 26 , pleaded guilty in august 2007 to a federal charge of bankrolling a dogfighting operation at a home he owned in virginia . he was freed from the u.s. penitentiary at leavenworth , kansas , on may 20 , and returned to his home in hampton , virginia , the following day . he will serve the last two months of his 23-month sentence in home confinement , his publicist , judy smith , said after his release . vick could have returned to professional football as soon as september if reinstated by the nfl , said the sports agent who negotiated vick 's 10-year , $ 140 million contract with the falcons . now , however , he has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy . a federal bankruptcy judge recently denied a plan presented by vick and urged him to offer another plan to handle his debts . the original plan called for vick to come up with $ 750,000 to $ 1 million in cash to be paid to creditors , u.s. bankruptcy judge frank santoro said , but he said he saw no evidence vick could come up with that much . santoro suggested vick 's next plan not call for him to keep two houses and three cars , as did the rejected proposal . vick , who acknowledged failing to handle his money well , told the judge he was earning 12 cents an hour as an overnight janitor in prison . he has offered to work with the humane society of the united states on anti-dogfighting campaigns , humane society president wayne pacelle has told cnn . he was to work on programs aimed at preventing youths from getting involved in dogfighting , and on programs to assist young people who have already been involved in the blood sport . in testimony before the bankruptcy judge , vick acknowledged committing a `` heinous '' act and said he should have acted more maturely .<doc-sep>newport news , virginia -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a federal bankruptcy judge has denied the chapter 11 bankruptcy plan presented by suspended nfl quarterback michael vick . football player michael vick listens as his lawyers make the case for chapter 11 bankruptcy . u.s. bankruptcy judge frank santoro urged vick , 28 , to offer the eastern district of virginia bankruptcy court another plan for emerging from bankruptcy . `` put together a plan that 's doable , '' santoro said . `` this plan does not work . '' santoro said the plan called for vick to come up with $ 750,000 to $ 1 million in `` good , hard cash '' to be paid to creditors on the day it would go into effect , but he saw no evidence that vick could come up with that much money . `` your plan puts you below zero , '' santoro told vick . he suggested vick liquidate some of his assets , including two houses and three cars , which vick said he was going to keep in the rejected proposal . vick tried to sell one of his mansions in the upscale sugarloaf country club community in georgia earlier this month . the home was up on the auction block , but no one submitted the minimum $ 3.2 million bid . vick is scheduled to return monday to the federal penitentiary in leavenworth , kansas , but his lawyers said they need him in virginia to help devise another plan . the judge 's ruling comes a day after vick 's lawyer said the suspended quarterback will go to work for a construction company in newport news , virginia , after he leaves federal prison for bankrolling a dogfighting operation . the details emerged in a chapter 11 confirmation hearing in virginia eastern bankruptcy court to determine how vick , 28 , will work his way out of bankruptcy . vick 's 23-month sentence ends in july , but he is expected to be released from the federal penitentiary in leavenworth , kansas , in may and serve the remainder of his sentence in home confinement , most likely in virginia . he is a native of newport news .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- former atlanta falcons quarterback michael vick arrived at his home in hampton , virginia , on thursday morning . michael vick , left , arrives at federal court with attorney billy martin in richmond , viriginia , in 2007 . `` he is happy to be reunited with his family , '' said chris garrett , a spokesman for vick . vick was released from a federal prison in leavenworth , kansas , on wednesday . he will serve the last two months of his 23-month sentence in home confinement in virginia , his publicist judy smith said . vick is a native of newport news , virginia . watch a panel discuss his release '' vick , 28 , pleaded guilty in august 2007 to a federal charge of bankrolling a dogfighting operation at a home he owned in virginia . he could return to professional football as soon as september if reinstated by the nfl , according to the sports agent who negotiated vick 's 10-year , $ 140 million contract with the falcons . meanwhile , vick 's attorneys have said he will work at a newport news construction firm after his release and he has also agreed to participate in a documentary for $ 600,000 . last month , a federal bankruptcy judge denied a chapter 11 bankruptcy plan presented by vick and urged him to offer another plan . the original plan called for vick to come up with $ 750,000 to $ 1 million in cash to be paid to creditors , u.s. bankruptcy judge frank santoro said , but he said he saw no evidence vick could come up with that much . santoro suggested vick 's next plan not call for him to keep two houses and three cars , as did the rejected proposal .

<t> michael vick wrote five-page letter to judge seeking leniency . </t> <t> former nfl star said he was wrong and promised to make amends . </t> <t> vick 's mom , atlanta mayor and sports legends also sent letters to judge . </t> <t> vick sentenced monday to 23 months in prison in dogfighting case . </t>

michael vick to judge : ` i am not the beast '<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- mohammed alshaya owns more high street brands than most fashion addicts could stuff in their closets . mohammed alshaya , ceo of alshaya 's retail division , tells mme he sees a new mindset in the gulf . topshop , coast , next and river island are just some of the big names he 's imported from the united kingdom to shopping centers in the middle east . as chief executive of m.h. alshaya , he knows what sells : tried and tested western brands that will appeal to local shoppers . and his empire is not limited to clothing . in the past month , he 's taken mothercare and the body shop to central eastern europe . with the addition of the czech republic , hungary and slovakia , m.h. alshaya now operates in 16 markets including saudi arabia , kuwait , united arab emirates , bahrain , qatar , oman , lebanon , jordan , egypt , cyprus , turkey , poland and russia . john defterios spoke with mohammed alshaya , and started by asking him for his thoughts on the gulf cooperation council -lrb- gcc -rrb- plans for a single currency . -lrb- jd -rrb- : i would imagine as a retail operation you 'd be a huge proponent of a single currency within the gcc . is it realistic within the next 4 to 5 years ? -lrb- ma -rrb- : i think it can be , as long as there is a will of the leaders to get together and decide . it is a huge leap towards efficiency , conciliation , getting closer between the six countries . one single central bank that governs and regulates is much better than the current six , i believe . -lrb- jd -rrb- : have you ever done any calculations of what impact it would have on your back office operations ? -lrb- ma -rrb- : not yet , but it will be great , i think . -lrb- jd -rrb- : you 're one of the largest retail operations throughout the arabian peninsula . with all this growth that we 're seeing right now , it must have a direct impact on the retail sector . what sort of annual growth are you experiencing ? -lrb- ma -rrb- : we 're experiencing close to 25 percent annual growth , if not 30 percent in some cases , like in dubai . -lrb- jd -rrb- : do you have any sort of concerns that this is going to be a bubble like the 1970s where the money was not deployed correctly ? it seems different from my vantage point , do you share that view ? -lrb- ma -rrb- : there is a new generation of people from the region that are leading businesses and strong leadership in the government that have mitigated any concern . and if you see now the statistics , the gulf is the seventh largest economy in the world . in ten , in 15 years time , it will be the fifth . so i see a new mindset , a new attitude . -lrb- jd -rrb- : one of the other things i wanted to ask you about is your moves into other countries . the alshaya group is very well known throughout the arabian peninsula , but you 're moving into other markets , into eastern europe , specifically into russia . do you have the expertise to go into these markets ? -lrb- ma -rrb- : well , yes . we have the expertise , and the expertise is by really retaining good management , and traveling with them into new markets . i 'm not going to open shops myself . we have a very strong team in russia ; russians that are taking our investment into good projects like starbucks which we opened two months ago , two stores . we acquired a business there . so we have plans like mothercare , bodyshop , next . -lrb- jd -rrb- : so you can basically move this group into any city and have that potpourri of offers ? -lrb- ma -rrb- : we have the software . we have the software to launch the retail portfolio into a new market . -lrb- jd -rrb- : obviously you 're a family business . you feel quite strongly about preserving culture and the family structure , and the need for family businesses to create jobs , because they represent 75 percent of all turnover in the gulf . -lrb- ma -rrb- : we have a social responsibility toward our people . we have to make sure we have jobs for them if the government is not going to compete , and is going to take away some of the people who would be relevant to our business . another issue that might challenge us to do that is the wealth creation -- whether -lrb- potential employees -rrb- would be attracted to be in a department store selling or in a coffee shop making coffee -- that , we will see . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- mohammed alshaya owns more high street brands than most fashion addicts could stuff in their closets . mohammed alshaya , ceo of alshaya 's retail division , tells mme he sees a new mindset in the gulf . topshop , coast , next and river island are just some of the big names he 's imported from the united kingdom to shopping centers in the middle east . as chief executive of m.h. alshaya , he knows what sells : tried and tested western brands that will appeal to local shoppers . and his empire is not limited to clothing . in the past month , he 's taken mothercare and the body shop to central eastern europe . with the addition of the czech republic , hungary and slovakia , m.h. alshaya now operates in 16 markets including saudi arabia , kuwait , united arab emirates , bahrain , qatar , oman , lebanon , jordan , egypt , cyprus , turkey , poland and russia . john defterios spoke with mohammed alshaya , and started by asking him for his thoughts on the gulf cooperation council -lrb- gcc -rrb- plans for a single currency . -lrb- jd -rrb- : i would imagine as a retail operation you 'd be a huge proponent of a single currency within the gcc . is it realistic within the next 4 to 5 years ? -lrb- ma -rrb- : i think it can be , as long as there is a will of the leaders to get together and decide . it is a huge leap towards efficiency , conciliation , getting closer between the six countries . one single central bank that governs and regulates is much better than the current six , i believe . -lrb- jd -rrb- : have you ever done any calculations of what impact it would have on your back office operations ? -lrb- ma -rrb- : not yet , but it will be great , i think .<doc-sep>when la senza collapsed into administration in 2012 , there were 1,300 redundancies and the closure of more than 100 outlets . however , 1,100 jobs were saved when 60 of its stores were sold by kpmg to the uk arm of kuwait-based alshaya . the uk business changed its name to marnixheath in january .<doc-sep>repeated its warning that there were ` material uncertainties ' which may . cast doubt on the group 's ability to continue . freddie george , a retail analyst at seymour pierce stockbrokers , said the update was marginally better than expected . an arabian retail group is poised to buy part of high street lingerie chain la senza , its owner said today . alshaya , which owns stakes in a number of british retailers including next , debenhams and mothercare , is in advanced talks to buy part of the business - understood to be 60 stores - as part of a pre-pack administration deal . around 80 shops remain under threat of closure after la senza , which is owned by private equity firm lion capital , announced its intention before christmas to appoint an administrator , which is now expected to be kpmg . as well as tough trading conditions , the chain has been weighed down by leases agreed by sister lingerie chain contessa with which it merged in 2007 . a spokeswoman for lion capital said : ` we can confirm that alshaya , a leading international retail franchise operator , is in advanced discussions with la senza regarding a potential acquisition of part of the uk la senza business . ' theo paphitis , dragons ' den star and former owner of la senza , disclosed the pending deal on his twitter feed over the weekend . he said : ` good news and bad news re @lasenzauk heard that lion has done a deal to sell the business with about 60 shops to alshaya group . ' he added : ` the bad news re @lasenza is that the other 80 shops will be closed down or put in the hands of admin kpmg with resulting job losses.sad ! ' but chief executive simon fox added : . ` undoubtedly trading conditions and the consumer environment remain . challenging , but we remain confident in hmv 's future prospects . ' he added : ` it is encouraging that the hmv retail business has seen an improvement in trading although the like-for-like sales were still negative . ` we remain concerned , however , that net debt levels are high at # 160 million following the disposal of waterstone 's and hmv canada . ' elsewhere , hmv reported a 9.7 per cent decline in group like-for-like sales in the nine weeks to december 31 . the group said its previously announced strategic review of hmv live , which runs 13 venues and a number of festivals including lovebox in london and global gathering near stratford-upon-avon , was making good progress . the chain has felt the pressure of the consumer spending squeeze as cash-strapped customers turn to cheaper deals on the internet for music and film . hmv disclosed a bottom-line pre-tax loss of # 45.7 million in the 26 weeks to october 29 , compared with # 27.4 million the previous year , while like-for-like retail sales fell 13.2 per cent in the seven weeks to december 17 . the group previously announced the closure of up to 40 stores in a bid to make millions of pounds of cost savings , with 15 shut in the first half of the year . meanwhile , the sale of waterstone 's and hmv canada raised the group # 55 million and ensured a # 220 million refinancing deal with its lending banks . hmv was the first of many retailers to report this week on their performance over the christmas break with marks & spencer , argos owner home retail group , chocolatier thorntons and supermarkets tesco and sainsbury all publishing updates .<doc-sep>he was ` walled ' -- pushed around in a small room so that his shoulder blades hit the plywood walls with a ` boom . ' interrogators grabbed him by the collar and yanked him -- the ` attention grab . ' they squeezed his face been their hands and held it still -- the ` facial hold . ' and they slapped him in the face , specifically between the chin and the bottom of the earlobe -- the ` insult slap . ' finally he was waterboarded -- water was poured on his face while he was tied down , simulating drowning . operatives did this 183 times . the 30 other cia detainees broke down much more easily , usually the first time an interrogator slapped them . al-qaeda operatives were trained that their american captures would never touch them , the post reported . but none of those techniques ever broke mohammed , a kuwaiti who studied in greensboro , north carolina . he still claimed he did n't speak any english and knew only urdu , the language of muslim indians and pakistanis . finally , the cia resolved to keep mohammed awake . he was restrained in stress positions , being forced to stand or squat in an uncomfortable and tiring pose . interrogators told him he would be allowed to sleep as soon as he politely asked them if he could lay down . it took 180 hours , rodriquez said , but mohammed finally broke and began spilling information in torrents . still , rodriquez says mohammed was treated better than an american could have expected in the hands of al-qaeda . ` it was much kinder than anything he would have done to an american captive , like danny pearl , ' he told the post . pearl , a wall street journal reporter , was kidnapped in pakistan by 2002 . he was beheaded on video by mohammed . the intelligence collected from mohammad because of the interrogation techniques led to several terrorist plots because uncovered , including a 2003 plan to replicate the september 11 attacks on the west coast -- this time with southeast asian shoe-bombers aboard planes .

<t> mme speaks with mohammed alshaya , ceo of m.h. alshaya 's retail division . </t> <t> retail division seeing annual growth of 25 percent , up to 30 percent in dubai . </t> <t> group taking starbucks , mothercare , body shop into eastern europe , russia . </t> <t> on gcc single currency : it is a huge leap towards efficiency , conciliation . </t>

face time with mohammed alshaya<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- debra lafave , a former florida middle school teacher convicted of having sex with a student , was arrested tuesday for `` inappropriate but non-sexual contact '' with a teenage coworker , the hillsborough county sheriff 's office said . debra lafave was arrested after talking with a teenager . she is not allowed to have contact with anyone under 18 . the association violated the terms of lafave 's probation , which forbade her to have contact with anyone under 18 , the sheriff 's office said . she was released on her own recognizance . lafave and her mother , joyce beasley , had no comment as they left the jail .<doc-sep>`` i can only characterize this as somewhat of a bizarre and unusual violation , '' said lafave 's attorney , john fitzgibbons . 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 also required to register as a sex offender and abide by numerous conditions . she was arrested after corrections officers interviewed a 17-year-old girl , who worked at a restaurant where lafave had been employed since january 2006 , according to the violation report from florida 's corrections department . watch lafave 's ex-husband discuss the allegations '' the teenager told the officers that lafave discussed `` non-work related issues such as family problems , friends , high school , personal life , boyfriend issues and sexual issues in both private one-on-one conversations '' with her and in group settings , according to the report .<doc-sep>`` i would characterize this simply as ` girl talk , ' or ` guy talk , ' if you will , among fellow employees , that all of us do every day , '' fitzgibbons said . `` this is it . there 's no more , there 's no less . ... i would describe it as simply a workplace friendship . '' the co-worker will turn 18 on january 2 , fitzgibbons said . lafave refused to make a statement regarding the allegations , the document said . she was ordered to quit the restaurant job and now works as a receptionist in her mother 's barber shop , the report said .<doc-sep>lafave says she suffers from bipolar disorder and is receiving treatment . fitzgibbons said his client has done everything required of her , living with her parents and leaving only to go to work . she has done so well on two years of house arrest , he said , that he has been planning to ask that the third year be waived . fitzgibbons said he still intends to make that request , and hopes lafave 's arrest will not hurt that effort -- `` i would hope that the court would be understanding . '' `` she 's really tried hard , so it 's upsetting to her , '' he said of the arrest , but noted it was `` unheard of '' for someone on probation for a sexual offense to be released on her own recognizance . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>hot for teacher : kalyn thompson gave a failing student an a average after having sex with him , police said . an oklahoma english teacher is in trouble for giving a failing student an a - after he told police they had sex multiple times . kalyn thompson , 25 , is accused of having sex multiple times with an 18-year-old student in an english class she taught at kellyville high school until she resigned in mid-april , according to reports . the student in question flunked english during the fall semester , when she started sexting him , but miraculously turned it around to a 98 per cent during the spring semester in which he also turned 18 , according to kjrh . thompson was charged with second-degree rape because a teacher in oklahoma is not allowed to have a sexual relationship with a current or former student until that person reaches the age of 21 despite the age of consent being only 16 , the station noted .<doc-sep>children had been staying with his sister for the past week . the couple . told their children that their mother `` did bad things and might need to . go away . '' cahoots : brittni colleps speaks with a defense lawyer during her trial in fort worth , texas . she was found guilty today . ` anything goes kind of girl ' : colleps allegedly modelled lingerie for the teenagers and showed them sex toys . emotional : colleps appears at a press conference where he husband said he was standing by her . the students , who used . pseudonyms , all testified against the 28-year-old former teacher - but . claimed they had initially hid the relationship because they ` did n't . want her to . get into trouble ' . although all of the students she had sex with are 18 or older , the law protects students from a relationship . with someone in a superior position . the . teenagers said she contacted them through text messages - with one . saying she texted him 100 times in a day - or by ` poking ' them on . facebook . on thursday , one student , john , said he had been to the teacher 's home with friends . and on his own and had sex with her . he told the court that on one occasion , colleps cooked the students spaghetti , showed them sex toys and then modelled lingerie , the star-telegram reported . the group then went to the back yard . where they played a game of truth and dare and one of the boys . was dared to have sex with the teacher . they went to her bedroom , where they had sex . john added that the group had agreed . to ` keep it on the low ' so colleps would not get in trouble , and added . that he did not want to testify against her , and did not consider . himself a victim . when he was asked what should happen to her , he responded : ' i would n't say jail time . ' another student , jordan , . said he learned from friends that the teacher was having sex with . students and he ` just was amazed , ' he told the court . he went to her house twice , where he engaged in group sex , he said . he added that he recorded the last encounter using one of the other boys ' phones .<doc-sep>by . ashley collman . teacher arrested : former greer high school choir teacher jessica bollinger was arrested last week after admitting to having sex with a student ` at least five times ' but insists the affair happened after he graduated . a 31-year-old former choir teacher at a high school in south carolina was arrested this week after admitting to having sex with a student ` at least five times ' . the principal of greer high school confronted 31-year-old teacher jessica bollinger last november , following allegations that she had sex with a former student . bollinger told the principal that she had sex with the student , now 18 , ` at least five times ' but that their relationship started after he graduated .<doc-sep>former teacher joseph prem rajkumar , 42 , was sentenced to 18 months in prison for the sexual assault of a female student at miss porter 's school in farmington , connecticut . police said the allegations date back . to 2010 and involve the former student who said that rajkumar started . groping her when she was 15 and that they had sex in his classroom . closet and sent sexual videos to one another after she turned 17 . the . allegations came out after the former student , who is now in college , . told her boyfriend who went to the police , according to the hartford courant . the . former student said that it had started when she was 15 and that . rajkumar would hug her and run his hands down her back when she was . stressed about big tests . the girl told police that the situation developed and that she and . rajkumar had sex several times during some weeks . they had sex . in a closet in his classroom . miss porter 's is a girls-only , college preparatory school where tuition costs up to $ 52,000 a year .

<t> debra lafave 's probation forbids her to have contact with anyone under 18 . </t> <t> florida 's corrections department : lafave talked with 17-year-old coworker . </t> <t> the two discussed family problems , sexual issues , report says . </t> <t> lafave was ordered to quit the job because of the allegations . </t>

former teacher who had sex with student back in trouble<T>

macau , china -- pete sampras rolled back the years to upset current world number one roger federer in an exhibition match in macau on saturday . sampras enjoyed the spoils of victory in macau after two previous defeats to federer . federer had one the two previous clashes in an asian series in straight sets but was handed a 7-6 6-4 defeat in the finale . american ace sampras downplayed his victory , noting federer was coming off a long season and that he was helped by his big serve and the fast indoor carpet surface . he had only aimed to win one set during the three-match series . `` let 's not get carried away , '' he said at a news conference . sampras ruled out a comeback from retirement , telling the audience after the match , `` i had my time in the 90s . ''<doc-sep>federer tried to put on a positive spin on the loss , saying he was n't embarrassed to lose to his idol , but still showed some disappointment . `` it 's been tough beating my idol the last two times . i 'm happy that he got me at least once , '' he said , but adding , `` i hope we can do it again in the future . i 'd like to get him back . '' the two players have won a combined 26 grand slam titles , but sampras , 36 , retired five years ago after winning the u.s. open in 2002 . federer is coming off another outstanding season in which he won three grand slams and last week 's masters cup in shanghai . `` i 'm sort of surprised . this guy can play tennis , you know , '' the swiss player said after his loss saturday . federer beat sampras 6-4 6-3 in seoul on tuesday and edged the american 7-6 7-6 in kuala lumpur on thursday . in macau , federer was never able able to force a break point on the powerful sampras serve , but had set points at 6-5 and 8-7 in the tiebreak .<doc-sep>but sampras saved both and a run of three points , capped by a forehand winner , gave him the opener . the ninth game of the second second proved vital as a forehand error by federer gave sampras a break point which he gratefully took with another fine forehand . sampras closed out the match as a federer backhand return sailed long . federer said he thought sampras could still beat the world 's top five players on a fast surface . sampras then predicted that federer could beat his record of most grand slam wins -lrb- 14 -rrb- `` if not next year , pretty soon . '' `` he 's a great , great player . he 's got things in his game that i could n't do , '' he 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>london , england -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- former world number one , pete sampras , has described recently crowned french open champion roger federer as the best player in history . roger federer after equalling pete sampras 's record of winning 14 men 's singles titles . the 37-year-old american , nicknamed ` pistol pete ' for his bullet-like serves , won a record 14 grand slam men 's singles titles over a 15-year career , though never captured the trophy at roland garros . in beating sweden 's robin soderling 6-1 , 7-6 , 6-4 to take the french title on sunday , federer equaled sampras 's record and became only the sixth man in history to win each of the four majors . debate : is federer the greatest player ever ? the feat marks the 27-year-old swiss out as the finest player to ever grace the game according to sampras : `` what he 's done over the past five years has never , ever been done -- and probably will never , ever happen again . `` regardless if he won there or not , he goes down as the greatest ever . this just confirms it , '' sampras told the guardian newspaper .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- roger federer is undoubtedly the greatest men 's tennis players of the modern era -- if not of all time -- following his epic victory over andy roddick in sunday 's wimbledon final . reaching for the stars : roger federer ithe best tennis player the world has ever seen . his star had waned somewhat in the past year , losing his no. 1 world ranking to rafael nadal , but his breakthrough victory at the french open last month saw him match pete sampras with 14 titles at major tournaments . with the injured nadal absent at sw19 , federer rolled back time to march relentlessly into the final against roddick , dropping just one set along the way as he reminded fans of the form that saw him top the rankings for a record 237 weeks . then on sunday , federer overtook sampras ' mark with 15 grand slams -- with the american in attendance to view his record finally go . federer still has some way to go before beating sampras ' all-time record of 286 weeks at the summit , but at the age of 27 he has plenty of time to take back his crown from nadal , especially with the spaniard 's career seeming in the balance due to his chronic knee problems . the swiss is already the atp tour 's all-time earner , with more than $ 48 million in prize money . he holds the record for most money earned in one season , $ 10 million in 2007 , and is also second on the list for his $ 8 million the year before . sampras , in comparison , is second on the earnings list with $ 43 million up until his retirement in 2002 after a 14-year career . he won 64 atp tour titles , compared to federer 's 59 , but both are a long way behind the record 109 achieved by jimmy connors , with ivan lendl next on 94 and john mcenroe third with 77 . when it comes to grand slams , sampras won 14 finals and lost four . including sunday , federer has reached the most , appearing in 20 . lendl , who held the world record for 270 weeks at no. 1 before being usurped by sampras , appeared in 19 finals but could only win eight . the great bjorn borg , who shares the record for most successive titles at wimbledon with federer -- who completed his quintet in 2007 - won 11 of his 16 grand slam finals . none of those illustrious names have been able to surpass the efforts of australian legend rod laver , who is the only men 's player to have won all four grand slams twice in the same year . he did it first as an amateur in 1962 , and then again in the 1969 when he became the first -- and only -- player to achieve the feat in the open era .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- roger federer secured a record-equaling seventh wimbledon title to dash the hopes of andy murray and a partisan centre court crowd . federer made it 17 grand slam titles to his name after a two-and-a-half-year drought and matched the haul of american pete sampras at the all england club . the swiss will return to the top of the world rankings as a result of his 4-6 7-5 6-3 6-4 victory , meaning he will match his hero sampras ' record of 286 weeks at no. 1 . for murray , the first briton to reach a men 's singles final at wimbledon in 74 years , it represented his fourth defeat in major finals , and his pain was acutely felt by a fervent crowd at wimbledon . sampras : i hated -lrb- and loved -rrb- wimbledon . federer 's triumph was his first at wimbledon since 2009 , with his last major win coming at the australian open in 2010 when he also beat murray .<doc-sep>federer became the first player to reach seven consecutive wimbledon finals with his 50th win at the all england club in his semi-final victory against tommy haas on friday , but still trails sampras ' record of seven titles at sw19 . his bid for a record sixth successive crown was thwarted in an epic final showdown last year with nadal , who has transformed himself from a clay-court specialist into a fearsome all-round talent . federer , by contrast , has taken a long time to adapt to clay . he did not reach the semi-finals at roland garros until his seventh appearance in paris , then was beaten in the final by nadal for the next three years . his triumph this year came after the olympic champion suffered a surprise early exit , although he had earlier ended nadal 's 33-match winning streak on clay in the madrid open final . the anxiously-anticipated paris win made him just the sixth player to complete the set of major titles , the third in the modern era and the first since andre agassi -- who added the final piece in his jigsaw with victory at the 1999 french open . federer shares the open-era record for most u.s. open victories with sampras and connors , having clinched his fifth crown in 2008 when he beat young pretender andy murray in the final . he has always been generous in his praise of sampras , who never won at roland garros but triumphed twice at the australian open and holds the record for winning eight successive grand slam finals . sampras : federer is the greatest .

<t> pete sampras beats world nunber one roger federer in exhibition in macau . </t> <t> sampras wins 7-6 6-4 but rules out comeback to main atp tour . </t> <t> federer had won their two previous exhibition matches on asian tour . </t>

sampras upsets federer in macau<T>

dubai -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a court in dubai sentenced two men wednesday to 15 years in prison for the rape and kidnapping of a 15-year-old french boy . veronique robert , mother of the 15-year-old french-swiss teen , speaking outside a court in dubai . the boy 's mother , veronique robert , was visibly upset after the sentence was read and promised to appeal . robert , a french journalist , brought the case to the media 's attention in recent months in an effort to shed light on what she deemed to be injustices in the pro-western emirate of dubai . robert said wednesday 's sentence was too lenient for a crime that she believes is tantamount to attempted murder because one of her son 's attackers was knowingly hiv-positive at the time of the rape . she refrained from asking the death penalty for her son 's attackers , but said she hoped the sentence would be much longer . a spokesman for the dubai government , habib al mulla , told cnn the sentence was in accordance with international standards and was not lenient . `` today 's verdict has proven that the system is efficient and is fair to all parties involved , '' al mulla said . the case began in july , when the two men , 36 and 18 , kidnapped and raped the french teenager at knifepoint . robert contacted french diplomats , who took up the allegations with dubai authorities . al mulla said police action was swift and arrests were made within 24 hours . but robert has said the case was botched from the start , beginning with her son 's examination by a doctor who said her son was gay . homosexuality in dubai is illegal , and the teen could have faced as much as a year in prison . robert 's son has since returned to france and was not in court for wednesday 's sentencing . robert has also said dubai authorities repeatedly concealed evidence -- confirmed in court papers -- that one of the attackers was hiv-positive . robert said her son , who is still awaiting test results to find out whether he has the virus , could have gotten treatment much sooner had they known . dubai authorities deny any evidence was concealed . the case has shed light on dubai 's attitudes toward rape and homosexuality , which some western observers have said is outdated . al mulla , however , said wednesday 's sentencing and the government 's handling of the case proves the country 's system works . `` it 's today 's verdict which proves that there is a system , '' al mulla said . `` the system is working properly . however , if there is any room for any improvement in the system , we 'll definitely look into it , consider it , and if there 's any room for improvement , we 'll implement it . '' the mother has already filed suit in courts in paris and geneva , switzerland seeking compensation from sheikh khalifa , president of the united arab emirates , and the prime minister and vice president of dubai , sheikh mohammed al maktoum . she is also suing others , including the dubai police chief . robert started a web site over the summer , boycottdubai.com , demanding better treatment for children who suffer sexual assault there . at a press conference last month , she proclaimed , `` we are here because i just would like first justice for my son ; and second for every girl and boy who was raped and even had no chance to speak . '' robert said she will drop all her pending cases if the government sets up rape clinics , recognizes the status of rape victims , and takes precautions after rape against sexually-transmitted diseases . in the wake of wednesday 's verdict , robert said a dubai government official told her the emirate plans to open its first rape clinic , which she said was a small victory . the government has not yet officially announced its plans to open such a facility . al mulla told cnn that dubai believes a reception center for rape victims is `` a good solution . '' `` we are considering it , '' he said , regarding robert 's request . `` we believe it 's good . it 's good for the victims , and it 's good for the whole system . '' e-mail to a friend . cnn correspondent wilf dinnick contributed to this report .<doc-sep>dubai -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a court in dubai sentenced two men wednesday to 15 years in prison for the rape and kidnapping of a 15-year-old french boy . veronique robert , mother of the 15-year-old french-swiss teen , speaking outside a court in dubai . the boy 's mother , veronique robert , was visibly upset after the sentence was read and promised to appeal . robert , a french journalist , brought the case to the media 's attention in recent months in an effort to shed light on what she deemed to be injustices in the pro-western emirate of dubai . robert said wednesday 's sentence was too lenient for a crime that she believes is tantamount to attempted murder because one of her son 's attackers was knowingly hiv-positive at the time of the rape . she refrained from asking the death penalty for her son 's attackers , but said she hoped the sentence would be much longer . a spokesman for the dubai government , habib al mulla , told cnn the sentence was in accordance with international standards and was not lenient . `` today 's verdict has proven that the system is efficient and is fair to all parties involved , '' al mulla said .<doc-sep>by . simon tomlinson . published : . 09:21 est , 29 april 2013 . | . updated : . 10:03 est , 29 april 2013 . ` very immature ' : court dock officer yasemin ozyukselen -lrb- pictured -rrb- has been jailed for ten months after sharing flirty phone calls with a convicted rapist serving at one of britain 's most notorious prisons . a dock officer who shared flirty phone calls with a serving inmate at one of britain 's most notorious prisons was jailed for 10 months today . serco worker yasemin ozyukselen , 24 , was contacted almost 60 times by convicted rapist shahed ahmed , 22 , while he was held at hmp belmarsh in woolwich , southeast london . ahmed bombarded ozyukselen with calls over a 15-month period in which he called her ` darling ' , ` gorgeous ' , ` princess ' and ` baby ' . he also described her as ` sexy ' and they had a discussion about hairstyles , southwark crown court heard . she responded by agreeing to meet him on his release , when he promised he would take her out and ` spoil ' her . ahmed also contacted ozyukselen 's sister during their illicit relationship , between march 29 , 2011 and june 29 , 2012 . she also engaged in inappropriate mobile phone contact with three other prisoners at hmp pentonville in north london and other jails between november 14 , 2011 and january 23 , 2012 .<doc-sep>alan clune , a convicted rapist with hiv , went on the run but has been spared jail . a convicted rapist with hiv who sparked a nationwide manhunt after going on the run has been spared jail - because of his ill health . as a registered sex offender drifter alan clune , 32 , was required to tell police where he lived after he was released from jail . he went on the run after moving out of a house in lancashire he shared with his partner without telling police . senior officers said he posed a risk . to members of the public and he was at large for 10 days before being . found 300 miles from home in london . it . emerged clune , a former big issue seller , had repeatedly ignored a sex . offender order demanding he tell police of his home address . he . had originally been jailed for four years for the rape an 18-year old . heterosexual man whilst knowing he was hiv positive and had hepatitis b .<doc-sep>a legal bid to end ` slopping out ' in british prisons could force the government to spend hundreds of millions of pounds to upgrade its jails . the lawsuit has been launched by child rapist roger gleaves , who claims that the practice breaches his human rights . if successful , the case will force the government to ensure that in-cell toilets are available 24 hours a day in all the country 's prisons . abolished : but slopping out still happens in some british prisons . slopping out - the use of a bucket as a toilet when there is no in-cell sanitation at a prison - was formally abolished in the uk in 1996 . but a report by the national council of independent monitoring boards published in august last year revealed that 10 uk prisons are still occasionally using the system . convict : roger gleaves claims that being denied access to a toilet breaches his human rights . gleaves , who served time at hmp albany on the isle of wight , claims his human rights were violated by the ` degrading ' process of sometimes having to use a bucket as a toilet in his cell during the night . he is joined in his claim by fellow ex-albany inmates , peter kirby and desmond grant , and should the trio succeed the floodgates will open for more than 300 other ex-cons bringing similar actions . because of the financial difficulty of making alterations to some jails , especially those built in the victorian era , the practice of slopping out still persists in a number of prisons when normal systems break down . but now the claim spearheaded by gleaves , which has reached the high court , is seeking to force the extinction of slopping out , whatever the cost . should it succeed , lawyers say , the government will have to spend many millions ` rebuilding ' the offending jails .

<t> dubai court sentences two men to 15 years for rape , kidnapping of 15-year-old boy . </t> <t> one of the attackers was knowingly hiv-positive at the time of the rape . </t> <t> family of the french victim says this makes attack akin to attempted murder . </t> <t> family say case investigation botched , want more severe sentence . </t>

dubai court jails boy 's hiv rapist<T>

berlin , germany -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- jeffrey jamaleldine took a bullet to his chin that blew out much of his jaw and nearly killed him while deployed in iraq last year . the sacrifice is just part of his job , he says , and he 'd go back to iraq in a second if asked . jeffrey jamaleldine left germany for college in america . in 2006 , he joined the u.s. army . that is something that troubles his family , especially his father . jamaleldine served in the u.s. army as a german citizen , one of an estimated 20,500 `` green-card warriors '' in the military . last month , jamaleldine was awarded u.s. citizenship , but he 's keeping his german passport . bashir jamaleldine says his son is fighting an unjust war for an america that went too far when it invaded iraq five years ago -- a sentiment shared by the majority of germans . he wishes his son would get back to his `` german roots . '' `` it would satisfy me more . why he 's more american than a german , i do n't know , '' he says . of his son 's time in iraq , the father says , `` he went there to receive this bullet . if he would not have gone there , he would n't have been wounded ; he would n't be in the hospital ; he would n't be treated by a doctor . he would be living in peace with his family . '' shaking his head with his son at his side , he adds , `` he is more american than german . '' jeffrey jamaleldine , a 31-year-old u.s. army scout who proudly wears a stetson hat and spurs on his boots , laughs . he says he and his dad have had countless arguments over his decision to join the u.s. military , but the two never budge from their positions . see his shattered jaw and debate with his dad '' `` he hears what i 'm saying , but there 's just no coming through , '' he says . the father came to germany from africa years ago . he says his son should be devoting his energy to fighting hunger and poverty in africa , not fighting in iraq . the son agrees with his father on one thing : his love for america is unwavering . jeffrey jamaleldine moved to the united states to go to college in missouri at the age of 18 and immediately fell in love with the united states and its culture . `` you can go from rags to riches there . people still believe in that . it is not something that has gotten lost , '' he says .<doc-sep>and when the terrorist attacks of september 11 , 2001 , happened , he felt it was time for him to do something . `` a small group of people -lsb- terrorists -rsb- -- i felt -- had a big influence on our way of life and that literally pissed me off , '' he says . by accident , he says he found out that with his green card , he could join the u.s. military . and in 2006 , he did just that . read why a `` green-card '' marine would die for america . last year , he paid a heavy price for his patriotism . pinned down in a firefight with insurgents in the iraqi city of ramadi , jamaleldine was shot in the face . `` i felt like i got hit by mike tyson , '' he says , pointing to a two-inch long scar on his left cheek . the left side his jaw was shattered and now doctors at landstuhl regional medical center in germany are reconstructing his facial bones . `` part of the projectile is still stuck in the right cheekbone , '' dr. edward vanisky says . `` but if it does n't cause you any problems , we 'll just leave it in there . '' while many americans would consider jamaleldine a hero , most in his home country do n't . germans largely oppose the iraq war . the criticism does n't bother him . watch why a german would fight for u.s. '' he says even after getting wounded on the battlefield , he would go fight for america again if ordered back to iraq . `` i still do n't want to die , i love life , i enjoy life , '' he says . `` but i would still make the sacrifice to go to iraq again if i am called . if i have to go , i will -- to stand up for what i believe in , '' he says . his father looks on in disbelief as he listens to his son , now an american citizen . but jeffrey jamaleldine says joining the military was never about that , it was about defending american ideals . `` if we have people who want to change those ideals or take them away , '' he says , `` then there are people like me or my platoon who stand up and fight for those ideals . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>`` what i hope is that one day when she watches it that she understands that her family came here and sacrificed and worked hard to achieve the american dream , '' he said . `` and that this was the moment , the pinnacle of it . and i hope that she 's very proud . and i also hope , like any dad , that she goes further than i did . '' live blog : democratic national convention . -- about what he hopes his speech will mean to his mother , rosie , who a generation ago was active in the raza unida party -lrb- a third party born in the 1970s out of frustration with both democrats and republicans : . `` i hope that my mother takes away that all her generation did , the sacrifices she made , the activism that she engaged in with folks of her generation , led us to this moment , '' castro said . `` this is the wonderful progress that the country has achieved not just for them but for so many americans , that america has lived up to its highest ideals and our family is one example of that . '' -- lastly , about the reaction he 's getting from the large contingent of spanish-language media that is covering the convention , whose audience is more mexican than mexican-american , more immigrant than native-born : . `` the interviews are always very warm , '' he said . `` you can hear in people 's voices a certain pride and aspiration , and of course that feels very good to me . i just want to make sure that i do a great job , and that i do n't let people down . ''<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- vice president joe biden emphasized a `` new tone '' in washington and around the world as he delivered his first major speech saturday in munich , germany . `` america will do more , '' vice president joe biden told the munich security conference in germany on saturday . biden told delegates at a security conference that the united states will work `` preventively , not pre-emptively '' whenever possible to avoid conflict , and will at the same time `` vigorously defend '' the nation 's security . he also said the united states will do everything possible to end the threat posed by extremists . `` we reject as false the choice between our safety and ideals , '' biden told the munich security conference audience , which included german chancellor angela merkel and french president nicolas sarkozy . `` america will vigorously defend our security and our values , and in doing so we will all be more secure . '' that policy will be in force at guantanamo bay detention camp , the u.s. prison that the obama administration intends to close , biden said . watch biden address security conference ''<doc-sep>u.s. diplomats were enthusiastic about hiros -- saying the german satellite program `` has yielded sophisticated and reliable satellite systems that provide an extraordinary amount of product for their investment . '' they waxed lyrical about hiros ' `` daily revisit capability for any spot on the earth 's surface , '' and its projected ability to provide detailed 3d images . german officials also promised that hiros would be able to process `` near real-time '' or in `` milliseconds '' data that currently takes several hours to process . hiros remains in the project phase , despite the intense lobbying by german space agency and intelligence officials -- and optimistic noises in 2009 that they were ready to move beyond the design phase and start `` bending metal . '' cnn has reached out to the german space agency for further comment on the status and funding of hiros . neither the u.s. state department nor the french foreign ministry would comment on the leaked cables , citing policy not to discuss classified information .<doc-sep>the national standards for civics and government -lrb- http://www.civiced.org/index.php?page=stds -rrb- are published by the center for civic education -lrb- http://www.civiced.org/ -rrb- . social studies . standard x. civic ideals and practices . social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of the ideals , principles , and practices of citizenship in a democratic republic . the curriculum standards for social studies -lrb- http://www.socialstudies.org/standards/strands/ -rrb- are published by the national council for social studies -lrb- http://www.socialstudies.org/ -rrb- . keywords . u.s. presidential election , candidates , popular vote , electoral college , campaigning .

<t> soldier was one of more than 20,000 `` green-card warriors '' </t> <t> jeffrey jamaleldine 's dad wonders why his son is more `` american than german '' </t> <t> jamaleldine went to college in the u.s. and fell in love with the american dream . </t> <t> `` you can go from rags to riches there . people still believe in that , '' he says . </t>

german immigrant takes bullet for u.s. ` ideals '<T>

mexico city , mexico -lrb- reuters -rrb- -- archaeologists have discovered what they think are ruins of an aztec pyramid razed by vengeful spanish conquerors in what is now one of mexico city 's most crime-ridden districts . construction workers unearthed ancient walls in the busy iztapalapa neighborhood in june , and government archeologists said wednesday they believe they may be part of the main pyramid of the aztec city , destroyed by conquistador hernan cortes in the 16th century . iztapalapa , now infamous for violent crime and drug dealing , has grown into a sprawling , poor district of the capital , obscuring the ruins . `` we knew the general location but could n't explore because it 's a big urban area , '' said government archeologist jesus sanchez , who is director of the site . iztapalapa 's ruler , cuitlahuac , nearly annihilated cortes and his spanish troops in 1520 in what became known as the sad night . after eventual victory , cortes destroyed the city . sanchez hopes he has found the city 's main pyramid just below the neighborhood 's central plaza and garden . he and his team will spend more than a year investigating before deciding whether to excavate . mexico city is littered with pre-hispanic ruins . in october , archeologists in the city 's central zocalo square unearthed a 15th century aztec altar and a 12-ton stone idol just yards from choking downtown traffic . the aztecs , a warlike and deeply religious people who built monumental works , ruled an empire stretching from the gulf of mexico to the pacific ocean and encompassing much of modern-day central mexico . e-mail to a friend . copyright 2007 reuters . all rights reserved.this material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten , or redistributed .<doc-sep>finished versions would be adorned with green stone to simulate the eyes and accompanied with spiral necklaces , rattles and obsidian knives . the five skulls with holes are believed to have been buried between 1375 and 1427 and archaeologists consider them an offering of consecration to sacrificial stone they lay beneath . some 250 jaw bones were also found . in the usual procedure of the ritual , sacrificial victims would be taken to the top of the temple where four priests would lay them down on a stone slab . the victim 's abdomen would be sliced open by a fifth priest using a ceremonial flint knife to cut right through the diaphragm and split open the chest . the priest would grab the heart and tear it out , still beating . it would then be placed in a bowl held by a statue of the honoured god , and the body thrown down the temple 's stairs landing at a terrace at the base of the pyramid . for the re-consecration of great pyramid of tenochtitlan in 1487 , the aztecs reported that they sacrificed about 80,400 prisoners over the course of four days . historians believe that figure may be an exaggeration . the 45 skulls above the sacrificial . stone were discovered in mid-august as workers carried out . infrastructure work to create a lobby for the archaeological zone and . templo mayor museum . mexico city was once the site of tenochtitland , the capital of the aztec civilisation which dominated much of mesoamerica from the 14th to 16th centuries . the aztecs were finally vanquished in 1521 by spanish conquistadores led by hernan cortes , who were helped by a number of indigenous allies , perhaps uncomfortable with the constant human sacrifices , to overrun tenochtitlan . aztec culture is these days primarily known through archaeological evidence found in excavations such as templo mayor in mexico city ; indigenous bark paper codices ; and eyewitness accounts of spanish invaders . according to mr barrera rodriguez , most of the skulls are from women and men who were between 20 and 35 years old when they died . they may have been dug up from other burial sites and reburied there , he added . he believes they were buried sometime between 1440 and 1469 as work was going on to build a new temple at the site . ` the skulls were found in good condition , as moisture conditions facilitated their preservation , but were fragmented by the weight of the floors and filled with earth above them , a good portion of them are complete , ' said archaeologist estíbaliz aguayo , who added that there may be attempts to restore them . the five skulls with holes are believed to have been buried earlier - between 1375 and 1427 - and archaeologists consider them an offering of consecration to sacrificial stone they lay beneath .<doc-sep>mexico city began as the home of an ancient empire and grew into a massive , modern metropolis . with more than 20 million people pulsing through its streets , it 's one of the world 's largest cities . that big-city bustle brings with it delicious food , massive markets and more cultural events in a day than anyone can ever keep track of . there 's lavish wealth , devastating poverty and a lot to discover in mexico 's sprawling capital : . 1 . looking to set a quirky record ? mexico city might be the world 's best place to do it . one big perk of having so many people in the same place : it 's easy to set a record if you can persuade enough of them to do the same thing at the same time . records for the most people kissing simultaneously -lrb- 39,879 -rrb- , the most people dancing to michael jackson 's `` thriller '' at the same time -lrb- 13,597 -rrb- and the world 's biggest enchilada -lrb- weighing nearly 1.5 tons -rrb- have all been set inside the mexican capital , according to guinness world records . 2 . gays and lesbians are welcome . for years , latin america 's deep-rooted ties to the roman catholic church meant much of the region tended to take a more conservative tack when it came to homosexuality . but that 's started to shift in recent years , and mexico city has been at the forefront . same-sex marriage is legal there . so is adoption by same-sex couples . and the city has marketed itself as a destination for gay tourists . in 2010 , the city offered a free honeymoon to latin america 's first gay couple to wed. . 3 . you might have heard about the smog . they 're working on it . pollution in mexico city used to be so bad that children painting pictures of the sky reportedly would color it gray , not blue . because of its geographic location -- in a valley between mountains -- and the sheer number of cars traveling its streets , smog is a problem the city is still battling . but with government programs that encourage bike-riding and limit the number of days motorists can take to the streets , longtime residents say the pollution problem is much better than it used to be . another innovative solution debuted last year : a hospital tower covered with a facade designed to `` eat smog , '' breaking down pollutants when the sun hits it . designers say the tiles on the facade of the manuel gea gonzalez hospital neutralize the effects of 1,000 cars every day . 4 . the city was built on a lake . it 's hard to imagine now , but much of the sprawling concrete jungle that now makes up mexico city was once a large lake . the aztecs constructed a massive civilization there , with tenochtitlan serving as the capital . that city , which started out on an island and expanded to include reclaimed parts of the lake , thrived until the spanish conquest . after winning the battle for control of the area in 1521 , spaniards destroyed tenochtitlan and built mexico city on top of its ruins , using canals and roads from the aztec city as the basis for new streets and eventually draining the lake . but they did n't entirely erase the past . that 's made for some fascinating ancient finds as mexico city grew into a modern urban metropolis . in 1978 , electrical company workers digging near the city 's central square came upon an aztec relic . that led to archaeologists unearthing ruins of the templo mayor , an aztec temple that 's now a popular tourist destination in mexico city . 5 . it 's sinking . it turns out the dried-out bed of a big lake is n't the best foundation for building construction . if you want proof , take a look at some of mexico city 's most iconic structures . the sloped floor and a swinging pendulum inside the metropolitan cathedral show that the building is decidedly tilted . head up reforma avenue to the angel of independence , and you 'll need to walk up steps that the city built over the years as the area around the 1910 monument sank . government officials have estimated that the city is sinking at a rate of 10 centimeters -lrb- 4 inches -rrb- per year . a recent government report -lrb- pdf -rrb- estimated that mexico city has sunk 10 meters -lrb- 32.8 feet -rrb- in the past 60 years .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . published : . 20:03 est , 5 october 2012 . | . updated : . 10:22 est , 6 october 2012 . mexican archaeologists have uncovered the largest number of skulls ever found in . one offering at the most sacred temple of the aztec empire dating back . more than 500 years . the finding reveals new . ways the pre-colombian civilization used skulls in rituals at mexico . city 's templo mayor , experts said . that 's where the most important aztec . ceremonies took place between 1325 until the spanish conquest in 1521 . the . 50 skulls were found at one sacrificial stone . five were buried under . the stone , and each had holes on both sides - signaling they were hung . on a skull rack . mexican archaeologists have uncovered the largest number of skulls ever found in one offering at the most sacred temple of the aztec empire . experts believe that the skulls will reveal new ways that the aztecs used skulls in rituals . the archaeological site at the templo mayor in the heart of mexico city , where archaeologists have discovered 50 skulls . archaeologist raul barrera of . mexico 's national institute of anthropology and history said the other . 45 skulls appeared to have just been dumped on top of the stone . the . team of archeologists unearthed the skulls and over 200 jaw bones in august . they stumbled on them as they were renovating a section of the templo . mayor in the heart of mexico city . barrera . said they believe the skulls were those of women and men between 20 . and 35 years old and could have been dug up from other sites and . reburied . last august , the mexican government . announced experts had found an unprecedented human burial at another . spot in the same temple in which the skeleton of a young woman , possibly .<doc-sep>by . damien gayle . published : . 05:29 est , 10 october 2012 . | . updated : . 08:26 est , 10 october 2012 . the discovery of 50 decapitated skulls and 250 jaw bones beneath mexico city has offered gruesome evidence of the brutal rituals of the aztecs . archaeologists excavating the ancient aztec city of tenochtitlan , on the site of the modern-day mexican capital , found the 500-year-old remains around a sacrificial stone in the city 's sacred precinct . on such stones victims were offered up for ritual sacrifice by priests who split open their abdomen from belly to throat and then pulled out their still-beating hearts . gruesome : the five skulls discovered by archaeologists beneath a sacrificial stone which have been pierced on the sides to be hung on a rack known as a tzompantli and displayed outside a temple . the find the largest cache of skulls yet discovered at the site and archaeologists say they were likely used in rituals associated with mictlantecuhtli , the aztec god of death . forty-five of the skulls were discovered above the stone , and a further five , more-fragmented specimens were found below which had holes in both sides , suggesting they were once hung on a skull rack . such racks , known as tzompantlis , were used to display the crania of sacrificed people near temples and other important locations . other skulls had been modified in a way that suggested they were to be made into masks , but never completed . brutal : a total os 50 skulls and 250 jaw bones were discovered as archaeologists excavated the old city of tenochtitlan , on the site of modern day mexico city . offering : archaeologists say the skulls were probably buried there during a period of building and renovation as a tribute to mictlantecuhtli , the aztec god of death . rituals : some of the skulls had been modified in a way that suggested they were to be made into masks , but never completed . archaeologist raul barrera rodriguez , head of the urban archaeology programme of mexico 's national institute of anthropology and history -lrb- inah -rrb- , suggested the skulls were deposited in various offerings . ` the skulls were used by the ancient aztecs as elements of consecration or closing of architectural spaces and rituals associated with the worship of mictlantecuhtli , god of death , so perhaps it is a gift that served to close any prehispanic building , ' he said . ` some of the 45 skulls that were above the sacrificial stone , have been manipulated with the intention to prepare `` skull-masks '' that were never finished , ' he added . these kinds of masks , common among the aztecs , were representations of death god mictlantecuhtli , archaeologist ximena chavez said .

<t> ruins of an aztec pyramid uncovered in iztapalapa neighborhood , mexico city . </t> <t> iztapalapa is a sprawling , crime-ridden district . </t> <t> the aztecs ruled an empire stretching from the gulf of mexico to the pacific ocean . </t>

aztec pyramid ruins found in mexico city<T>

washington , illinois -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- ty ziegel peers from beneath his marine corps baseball cap , his once boyish face burned beyond recognition by a suicide bomber 's attack in iraq just three days before christmas 2004 . ty ziegel , a marine , was badly wounded in iraq . he battled the va over disability benefits when he returned . he lost part of his skull in the blast and part of his brain was damaged . half of his left arm was amputated and some of the fingers were blown off his right hand . ziegel , a 25-year-old marine sergeant , knew the dangers of war when he was deployed for his second tour in iraq . but he did n't expect a new battle when he returned home as a wounded warrior : a fight with the department of veterans affairs . `` sometimes , you get lost in the system , '' he told cnn . `` i feel like a social security number . i do n't feel like tyler ziegel . '' his story is one example of how medical advances in the battlefield have outpaced the home front . many wounded veterans return home feeling that the va system , specifically its 62-year-old disability ratings system , has failed them . watch ziegel display his model skull '' `` the va system is not ready , and they simply do n't have time to catch up , '' tammy duckworth -- herself a wounded veteran who heads up the illinois department of veteran affairs -- told the senate veterans affairs committee in march . va acting secretary gordon mansfield said cases like ziegel 's are rare -- that the majority of veterans are moving through the process and `` being taken care of . '' he also said most veterans are fairly compensated . `` any veteran with the same issue , if it 's a medical disability , ... it is going to get the same exact result anywhere in our system , '' he said . more than 28,500 troops have been wounded in operation iraqi freedom , including about 8,500 that have needed air transport , according to the u.s. military . see photos of these iraq war heroes '' a recent harvard study found that the cost of caring for those wounded over the course of their lifetime could ultimately cost more than $ 660 billion . in ziegel 's case , he spent nearly two years recovering at brooke army medical center in texas . once he got out of the hospital , he was unable to hold a job . he anticipated receiving a monthly va disability check sufficient to cover his small-town lifestyle in washington , illinois . instead , he got a check for far less than expected . after pressing for answers , ziegel finally received a letter from the va that rated his injuries : 80 percent for facial disfigurement , 60 percent for left arm amputation , a mere 10 percent for head trauma and nothing for his left lobe brain injury , right eye blindness and jaw fracture . `` i do n't get too mad about too many things , '' he said . `` but once we 've been getting into this , i 'm ready to beat down the white house door if i need to . '' `` i 'm not expecting to live in the lap of luxury , '' he added . `` but i am asking them to make it comfortable to raise a family and not have to struggle . ''<doc-sep>within 48 hours of telling his story to cnn this summer , the office of then-va secretary jim nicholson acted on ziegel 's case . the va changed his head trauma injury , once rated at 10 percent , to traumatic brain injury rated at 100 percent , substantially increasing his monthly disability check . duckworth , the illinois va chief , knows exactly what ziegel and other severely wounded vets are going through . she lost both her legs when a rocket-propelled grenade struck her blackhawk helicopter on november 12 , 2004 . her right arm was also shattered . watch how duckworth 's wounds changed her life '' she told cnn she received `` incredible care '' at walter reed for 13 months , but soon realized the transition to the va would n't be as smooth . `` i started worrying about the fact that maybe this country wo n't remember in five years that there are these war wounded , '' duckworth said . garrett anderson with the illinois national guard , for example , has been fighting the va since october 15 , 2005 . shrapnel tore through his head and body after a roadside bomb blew up the truck he was driving . he lost his right arm . the va initially rejected his claim , saying his severe shrapnel wounds were `` not service connected . '' watch anderson describe `` my arm was hanging there '' '' `` who would want to tell an iraqi or afghanistan soldier who was blown up by an ied that his wounds were not caused by his service over there ? '' said anderson 's wife , sam . after pressure from sen. dick durbin of illinois , the va acted on anderson 's case . he has since been awarded compensation for a traumatic brain injury . `` it upsets me that the va system operates in a way that it takes people of power -- and who you know and what you know -- to get what you want , '' said anderson , who is now retired . when asked about anderson 's case specifically , the va 's mansfield said such cases make him `` more dedicated '' to fixing the system . in july , president bush and a commission appointed to review the care of veterans returning from war announced the need for a complete overhaul of the disability ratings system , which dates back to world war ii . the va is now considering action on the commission 's recommendations . ziegel eventually won his battle . still he feels for so many others he believes are getting cheated by the system . `` we 're feeding the war machine , but you never think of the war machine that comes home and needs , you know , feeding back home , '' he said . his family hopes they do n't have to fight the va again . in august , ty ziegel 's brother , 22-year-old zach ziegel , was deployed to iraq . `` i want to make the va system better because if he has to go through anything i went through , that 's really going to upset me . that 'll make my fuse real short and hot , '' ty ziegel said . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- veterans groups are angry after president obama told them monday that he is still considering a proposal to have treatment for service-connected injuries charged to veterans ' private insurance plans . president obama , with veterans affairs secretary eric shineski , spoke with leaders of veterans groups monday . leaders of the country 's most prominent veterans groups met monday at the white house with obama , veterans affairs secretary eric shinseki , white house chief of staff rahm emanuel and steven kosiak , the director in charge of defense spending for the office of management and budget . some of the veterans groups were caught off guard when the president said the administration is still thinking about the idea as a way of generating $ 540 million for the department of veterans affairs in 2010 . the groups and some members of congress have been very vocal in opposing the idea . the message , according to some of the people in the room , was that if the groups do not like this idea , they need to come back with another way of saving or raising revenue for the va. . `` i got the distinct impression that the only hope of this plan not being enacted is for an alternative plan to be developed that would generate the desired $ 540 million in revenue , '' cmdr. david rehbein of the american legion said in a written statement . but the chairman of the senate committee on veterans ' affairs vowed tuesday that the plan would never gain the panel 's approval . `` va 's sacred duty is to care for veterans injured in honorable service to our nation , and the department should not turn to wounded warriors ' private insurance to pay for combat injures , '' said sen. daniel akaka , d-hawaii . `` under my chairmanship , the veterans ' affairs committee will not advance any such legislation . '' white house spokesman robert gibbs said no decision has been made . `` the president and the -lsb- veterans service organizations -rsb- had a good conversation , and veterans can be assured that the president understands any concerns that they would have , '' gibbs said . `` the budget the president has proposed represents an historic increase in discretionary spending to take care of our wounded warriors : those that have been sent off to war , have protected our freedom and have come back wounded . '' he added , `` this president takes very seriously the needs of our wounded warriors that have given so much to protect our freedom on the battlefields throughout the world . '' obama did most of the talking for the administration in the session with veterans representatives , participants said . shinseki did not speak much in the meeting , which was described as `` professional '' by david gorman , executive director of disabled american veterans . the president was sympathetic to the needs of veterans , gorman said , but insisted that the insurance companies are getting away with not paying for anything . `` the vets are paying premiums to insurance companies , and that is a free ride that needs to stop , '' gorman said in describing the president 's message to the group . the groups oppose the idea because they believe that the government has a moral obligation to pay for service-connected injuries for the men and women who risked their lives serving the country . `` this flies in the face of the va 's covenant to cover all service-related health-care expenses , '' said jay agg , a spokesman for amvets . the groups also say that the cost of treating service-connected injuries could lead to veterans quickly maxing out their benefits in third-party insurance , risking coverage for not just them but their families , who are also covered under the plans . in addition , they foresee premiums rising to cover the cost of treating the service-connected injuries . `` we are going to go back in and fight this thing tooth and nail , '' gorman said . he said the president complained that instead of commending the significant budget increase for the va -- an 11 percent increase in 2010 and $ 25 billion over five years -- the groups are complaining about this proposal . but gorman said that the issue of third-party billing is fundamental to the va and that it is a `` distraction '' from discussing the budget increases . another group , the iraq and afghanistan veterans of america , said that although it is encouraged by the increase in money for veterans ' health care , the billing proposal is not acceptable . `` veterans of all generations agree that this proposal is bad for the country and bad for veterans . if the president and the omb want to cut costs , they can start at aig , not the va , '' said paul rieckhoff , the group 's executive director , in a written statement . the opposition is not a surprise to the white house . the groups had sent a letter opposing the idea when it was just a rumor . last week , congress weighed in when members of both the house and senate veterans affairs committees told shinseki at separate meetings that they objected to the plan . shinseki was told by sen. patty murray , d-washington , that it would be `` dead on arrival . '' rep. mike michaud , d - maine , said that if it were presented , he would oppose the entire budget . it is unconscionable , and it is an insult to our veterans who have been hurt overseas , '' michaud said . `` it is just unbelievable that anyone would ever think of doing that in this budget . '' at the time , shinseki would say only that the idea was under consideration but no decision had been made . the groups have another meeting with the white house on thursday to suggest other options . both amvets and disabled american veterans believe that the va could raise more revenue by being more aggressive about pursuing billings for non-service-connected treatments . increasing third-party billing for non-service related injuries by 10 percent , suggested agg , would free up more money to help service-related injuries . another idea that will be presented would be to bill medicare . `` this , we believe , would more easily meet the president 's financial goal , '' said rehbein , of the american legion . gorman said his group is willing to concede some money in the va budget to avoid the insurance proposal . `` if it comes down to this issue , which is fundamental to the va and what it should do , we are willing to give up a couple billion to salvage this issue , '' gorman said . a va spokesman deferred all questions to the white house . white house officials were not immediately available for comment . cnn 's rachel streitfeld contributed to this report .<doc-sep>while most young couples are focused on building careers and starting a family , the keils were focused on learning to live in their new roles : him as paraplegic , her as caregiver . they were determined to not let the injury define them . they would have a full and productive life , but it would take determination and hard work . `` i think matt and i were more prepared as a couple for death than for an injury like this , '' tracy says . `` we had talked about a lot of things , but we have never talked about this . '' so they turned to the department of veterans affairs for help . the keils say the va has taken good care of matthew 's primary medical concerns , but there was no help for tracy . she longed for support and to be recognized for her role as matthew 's caregiver . in the army , matthew loved the feeling of being part of a team . but the keils felt abandoned . then , in may 2010 , a new federal law passed that promised to help caretakers like tracy . under the law , caregivers would receive a financial stipend , health care , training and -- perhaps most importantly -- respite care . trained health care providers would come into the home and give the caretaker a break . obama signs $ 3.6 billion veterans caregiver bill . the law was supposed to take effect on january 31 , but so far , none of the new benefits have been implemented . the va says it is unable to provide a timeline for when the benefits will be available , but in a statement , the agency says it 's working as quickly as possible . `` va understands that every day is a challenge for the caregivers of our most critically injured or ill veterans . that 's why va is working to move forward with deliberate haste to implement this complex act . different benefits will have different implementation timelines based upon the law 's requirements and the complexity of the benefit . '' during the signing ceremony in may , president obama hailed the legislation as `` a major step forward in america 's commitment to families and caregivers who tend to our wounded warriors every day . ''<doc-sep>by . associated press . and daily mail reporter . michelle obama took the first family 's dogs sunny and bo along as she visited walter reed national military medical center on monday . during the visit , mrs obama said she wanted to shine a light on military families who are her heroes and the medical facility that treats them . the first lady visited the fisher house at walter reed national military medical center as families decorated easter cards . time to decorate the first lady 's face ! mrs obama wanted to bring some easter cheer to the families of the wounder warriors being treated at the facility . toddler lily oppelt decided to get crafty with some stickers on the first lady 's face . dog day : michelle obama brought along dogs sunny and bo as she made an appearance at walter reed medical center on monday . are n't you cute : the first lady meets six-month-old kyleigh garmon , and her mother megan garmon , from alabama , during her visit to the wounded warriors being cared for at the fisher house . she thanked the fisher house for providing military families with ' a home away from home ' during tough times . the . foundation gives free temporary housing to military and veterans '<doc-sep>-lrb- on screen graphic -rrb- . may 6 , 1915 - george herman `` babe '' ruth hits his first major league home run . may 6 , 1937 - the hindenburg , the largest airship ever built , explodes as it arrives in new jersey . may 6 , 1954 - roger bannister becomes the first person to run the mile in less than four minutes . shoutout . tomeka jones , cnn student news : today 's shoutout goes out to ms. neal at tarkanian middle school in las vegas , nevada ! which of these events takes place in the month of may ? you know what to do ! is it : a -rrb- armed forces day , b -rrb- veterans day , c -rrb- armistice day or d -rrb- flag day ? you 've got three seconds -- go ! armed forces day is a salute to all branches of the u.s. armed forces , and it falls on may 15 . that 's your answer and that 's your shoutout ! wounded warriors . azuz : from tanks to humvees and even back to cavalry horses , troops are used to riding into battle . but the soldier ride is something that happens after the fighting is over . it 's part of the wounded warriors program , which honors and helps members of the military who have been injured . last week marked the fourth cycle of the annual soldier ride . you can have a look at it right here . -lrb- begin video -rrb- . ted wade , wounded warrior : it 's like the doors are opening and you 're walking outside for the first time . unidentified male : come on . you can do it . keep going , man . unidentified male : all cyclists , you must stay in the lane the cruiser is in when you 're over there for them to accept the responsibility of the escort .

<t> ty ziegel lost an arm , part of his skull when he was attacked in iraq . </t> <t> va initially rated his brain injury at 0 % , meaning he got no compensation for it . </t> <t> another vet : va rejected his claim , saying his wounds were `` not service connected '' </t> <t> ziegel : `` i want to make the va system better '' </t>

wounded warriors face home-front battle with va<T>

columbia , south carolina -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- oprah winfrey delivered her `` favorite '' candidate in the presidential race something his campaign hoped for sunday : the largest crowd yet of any event in the race to ' 08 , according to the obama campaign . oprah campaigned with obama this weekend in iowa , new hampshire and south carolina . although exact figures were not immediately available , campaign officials estimated more than 30,000 people packed into columbia , south carolina 's williams-brice stadium to hear the talk-show queen explain why she believes obama is the man with the `` vision '' for america . `` dr. king dreamed the dream . we get to vote that dream into reality by supporting a man who knows not just who we are but who we can be , '' she told the crowd . south carolina is one of the first states in the nation to hold its presidential primary , making it key to the success of any presidential candidate . winfrey gave a similar speech saturday in the first stop of a two-day , three-state tour with her fellow chicagoan . she discussed on sunday stepping out of her `` comfort zone '' by entering the political scene on behalf of a candidate , and praised obama 's `` ear for eloquence and tongue for unvarnished truth . we need politicians to tell the truth and be the truth . '' watch what issues are important to iowans '' she also said obama would bring `` a sense of statesmanship '' to the white house . watch winfrey endorse obama '' after extensive thank-yous to his wife michelle and to winfrey -- and acknowledging that the crowd was largely there to see winfrey , not him -- obama launched into his stump speech . `` i am running because of what dr. king called ` the fierce urgency of now , ' '' he said . covering ground from the iraq war to the economy to health care , he said , `` there is such a thing as being too late -- and that hour is almost upon us . ''<doc-sep>his campaign worked the crowd , passing out cards to sign up supporters and verifying that those who showed up are registered to vote . they handed out cards asking fans to provide their mailing addresses and phone numbers . the cards also featured an `` optional '' pledge to vote for obama on january 26 . in his speech , obama did not mention his chief rival by name . but he clearly referred to sen. hillary clinton , saying that if he gets the democratic nomination , his republican competitor wo n't be able to say he ever `` supported the iraq war . '' watch how winfrey 's campaigning could give obama a boost '' clinton was among the democrats who supported a resolution authorizing force in iraq in 2002 , though in a speech on the senate floor she said she believed supporting the resolution could ultimately make war itself less likely . obama was not in the senate at the time , but gave a speech opposing the possibility of war with iraq . clinton has held a lead over obama in south carolina , where the democratic primary consists largely of african-american voters . clinton had a star of her own on the campaign trail for her sunday in south carolina -- her husband , former president bill clinton , who addressed a church in the morning . check out some other celebrities who are endorsing candidates '' `` she has the best combination of mind and heart and strength of leadership and feeling for ... the problems of ordinary people of anybody i 've ever worked with , '' the former president said sunday . clinton was on the campaign trail with her mother and daughter . e-mail to a friend . cnn 's peter hamby and suzanne malveaux contributed to this report .<doc-sep>` i 'm 100 percent behind our president . i actually love our president , and have the utmost respect for him and that office and what it takes to be there , ' winfrey said . ' i will not be out there because i 'm trying to fix a network . ' at the time of winfrey 's announcement , own had just laid off 30 employees . oprah and michelle attend time 's 100 most influential people in the world gala at rose hall - jazz at lincoln center on may 5 , 2009 in new york city . oprah and the obamas appeared to be on good terms earlier this year . winfrey hosted michelle 's 50th birthday party at her maui , hawaii , home in january . while oprah 's decision keep her head down during the election is supported by her own statements , claims that her decision was rooted in anger at the obamas does n't jive with previous or subsequent events . in august 2010 , more than a year and a half after barack took office , winfrey attended the president 's 49th birthday party in chicago . at a kennedy center honors reception at the white house that december , president obama had nothing but nice things to say about the billionaire businesswoman . ` michelle . and i love oprah winfrey - personally love this woman , ' he said . ` and the more you know oprah , the more spectacular you . realize her character and her soul are and the more you appreciate what a . wonderful , gifted person she is . ' the month before winfrey announced she would n't campaign for obama again , she attended a $ 35,800 a plate fundraiser for the president a at tyler perry 's home in atlanta , georgia . there , obama told party guests : ` when oprah decides she likes you , then other people like you , too . ` she continues to be not just a friend but somebody michelle and i seek out in thinking about not just the day to day issues ... but in trying to keep our focus on the big picture . ` and what she 's done for so many people not just in america but around the world is extraordinary , ' he said . barack the backstabber ? : a friend of oprah 's told klein obama cast oprah aside soon after he took office . president barack obama shakes hands with supporters after speaking at his town hall meeting today at minnehaha park , in minneapolis . just this past january winfrey hosted michelle 's 50th birthday party at her home in maui , hawaii . regardless of how the star-studded event . appeared on the outside , michelle obama and her gal pal valerie jarret were no longer in . oprah 's inner circle at that point , klein 's book claims . ' `` on one level , oprah enjoyed michelle 's visit to maui and their girly talk , '' ' a friend of winfrey 's told klein of michelle 's visit . ' `` they had fun together . '' ' but michelle , jarrett and oprah also had a serious discussion about barack 's sagging popularity , the source said . ' `` valerie and michelle thought they could charm oprah back in their camp and get her to use her megawattage to help them dig out of the hole they 're in . '' ' what they did n't realize was that they already ' `` blew it , '' ' said winfrey 's friend . ' `` once you p * ss oprah off , she she stays p * ssed . '' '<doc-sep>cedar rapids , iowa -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- saying she felt compelled to support `` the man i believe has a new vision for america , '' oprah winfrey spoke passionately about democratic presidential hopeful barack obama at two rallies in iowa saturday . oprah winfrey joins democratic presidential candidate barack obama at a rally in des moines , iowa , saturday . `` i 've never taken this kind of risk before nor felt compelled to stand up and speak out before because there was n't anyone to to stand up and speak up for , '' winfrey told thousands of people in cedar rapids saturday evening . `` we need a president who can bring us all together , '' she said . `` i know -lsb- barack obama -rsb- is the one . '' earlier in des moines , she focused on world affairs . watch winfrey endorse obama '' `` these are dangerous times , you can feel it . we need a leader who shows us how to hope again in america as a force for peace , '' winfrey told the enthusiastic crowd . `` i believe barack obama will bring statesmanship to the white house , '' she said . `` he 's a man who knows who we are and knows who we can be . '' winfrey said she has voted for as many republicans as she has democrats over the years , so her endorsement was n't about partisanship . `` this is very , very personal . i 'm here because of my personal conviction about barack obama and what i know he can do for america , '' she said to applause . winfrey also told the crowd that she 's looking for more than a candidate with `` experience in the hallways of government . '' `` i challenge you to see through those people who try to convince you that experience with politics as usual is more valuable than wisdom won from years of serving people outside the walls of washington , d.c. , '' she said . obama thanked winfrey for drawing a big crowd and coming out to the event . `` there are some people here who are here to see oprah . i 'm sort of a by-product of that and i appreciate that , but what i know is that for her to take the risk of stepping out of her comfort zone is extraordinary , '' the senator from illinois said . before winfrey 's speech in des moines , her best friend and fellow talk show host gayle king , tried to quietly slip into the rally . she walked up to the set of bleachers behind the stage and asked some women if she could scoot in .<doc-sep>sixties-inspired electric scooter by jetson bike , which boasts a price . tag of $ 1,800 . ` one charge of this sleek-looking . electric bike 's ` green ' battery provides 40 miles of easy riding , but . you can also pedal - which recharges the battery , gets you some . exercise , and keeps you away from the gas pump , ' says oprah . the competition will launch on november 18 on oprah 's new television network own , which she launched last year . favorite things : a jetson bike worth $ 1,800 . this beautiful ring is just one of the many expensive prizes on the list . during the two-hour special , titled oprah 's favorite things : 2012 , she will also pull off a top-secret giveaway for an unsuspecting group of military wives . viewers will also have the opportunity to ` watch and win ' select items featured during the show . one fan wrote on her site , oprah.com : ` thanks so much oprah for putting smiles on the face of a lot of people , during these trying times . while another added : ` what an amazing list of products for our friends & loved ones . i 'm always anticipating your list , as it helps me with my gift giving . ' oprah launched her favorite things giveaway in 1996 . a corkcicle -lrb- left -rrb- and a set of oil cans are among the rage of designer household goods oprah included on this year 's favorite things . one of the biggest prizes has included a seven-day stay on the world 's largest cruise ship . ` cruising , of course , is one of my favorite things , ' oprah told the audience at the time . ` and you are going to have the time of your lives . ' more information on this year 's contest will be included in o 's december issue , on newsstands november 6 .<doc-sep>after winning the iowa democratic caucus in january 2008 , obama told the rabid crowd that the country was choosing unity over division and that `` this was the place , this was the moment where america remembered what it means to hope . '' six years later , a gallup poll found fewer iowans approve of the job obama 's doing than the national average -- 38 % to 43 % . what will history say about the man who encouraged immigrants to dream big and then left them hanging for the sake of the midterm election ? who has overseen 54 consecutive weeks of private-sector job growth , the longest stretch in history . who pledged to close guantanamo bay . who ok 'd the mission that led to the death of osama bin laden . who promised to be transparent . in 2007 , oprah winfrey gave a speech in support of obama . she said , `` we need a new way of doing business in washington , d.c. and in the world . ... i 'm tired of politics as usual . '' and yet here we are . george w. bush left afghanistan and iraq for obama to sort through , and now it is likely obama will leave behind iraq and syria for his successor . opinion : america 's wartime president . at the u.n. , obama explained in detail why it was important to defeat isis . instead of a soaring delivery , he spoke plainly about the choices that lie in front of us all , intelligently shifting the point of emphasis from destroying terrorist groups to derailing their instruments of recruitment , funding , and their very philosophy . `` no god condones this terror , '' he said . `` there can be no reasoning -- no negotiation -- with this brand of evil , '' he said . `` the only language understood by killers like this is the language of force . '' and then he reiterated that he is prepared to lead in this force for the remainder of his presidency .

<t> new : largest crowd yet in the race to ' 08 , said obama campaign . </t> <t> new : officials estimate more than 30,000 people attended event in s. carolina . </t> <t> `` oprah-bama '' hit iowa on saturday ; south carolina , new hampshire on sunday . </t>

thanks to oprah , obama camp claims biggest crowd yet<T>

washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- president bush vetoed an expansion of the federally funded , state-run health insurance program for poor children for a second time wednesday , telling congress the bill `` moves our country 's health care system in the wrong direction . '' in his veto message , president bush calls on congress to extend funding for the current program . in his veto message , bush said the bill is almost a duplicate of the proposal he spiked in october . `` because the congress has chosen to send me an essentially identical bill that has the same problems as the flawed bill i previously vetoed , i must veto this legislation , too , '' he said in a statement released by the white house . the bill would have expanded the state children 's health insurance program by nearly $ 35 billion over five years , the same as the measure bush vetoed october 3 . track recent and historical presidential vetoes '' the president 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 addressed 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 . though the measure had strong bipartisan support , it fell short of the two-thirds majorities needed to override a presidential veto in the house and senate . house minority leader john boehner , r-ohio , said democrats were more interested in scoring political points with the veto than in reaching a compromise with republicans . `` we could have resolved the differences in his program in 10 minutes , if the majority had wanted to resolve the differences , '' boehner said . `` this has become a partisan political game . '' 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 wanted to extend the program to another 4 million , paying for it with a 61-cent-per-pack increase in the federal tax on cigarettes . `` what a sad day that the president would say that rather than insuring -lsb- millions of -rsb- children , ' i do n't want to raise the cigarette tax , ' '' said house speaker nancy pelosi . she called for a january 23 vote on whether to override the veto . meanwhile , bush called on congress to extend funding for the current program to keep the 6 million now covered on the rolls . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>in his veto message , bush complained that congress added about $ 8 billion in projects to the bill in committee after each house had passed its own version . `` american taxpayers should not be asked to support a pork-barrel system of federal authorization and funding where a project 's merit is an afterthought , '' he said . in a statement issued after thursday 's vote , the white house said , `` no one is surprised that this veto was overridden . '' but , white house spokeswoman emily lawrimore said in the statement , `` it 's obvious that the bill does n't make difficult choices and does n't set spending priorities . we do n't believe it 's a responsible way to budget . '' bush 's veto of the water projects bill was the fifth veto of his presidency . all of those came in his second term , according to senate data . bush has vetoed fewer bills than any president since james a. garfield , who issued no vetoes during his seven months in office in 1881 . congress unsuccessfully attempted to override three of the president 's previous four vetoes . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the senate on thursday handed president bush his first veto override -- authorizing $ 23 billion in new water projects . the army corps of engineers works on levee improvements in new orleans , louisiana . the vote was 79-14 . approval by two-thirds of the senate , 67 members , was required for passage . bush spiked the measure friday despite its overwhelming bipartisan support , calling it too costly and complaining that the 900 projects it authorized would overtax the army corps of engineers . but the house of representatives passed it again tuesday on a 361-54 vote -- well beyond the two-thirds margin needed for an override -- and the white house said it was resigned to seeing the bill become law . see a chart of recent and historical vetoes '' supporters said the projects authorized under the water resources development act are necessary to rebuild the gulf coast after the devastation of hurricane katrina , restore the everglades and great lakes fisheries and build flood-control projects nationwide .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- congress enacted a $ 300 billion farm bill thursday over president bush 's objections , but questions remain about whether a clerical error will keep the bill from going into effect . congress voted to override president bush 's veto of a $ 300 billion farm bill . the senate voted 82-13 to override the president 's veto of the bill thursday , a day after the house voted 316-108 to override the veto . both override votes exceeded the two-thirds majority required by the constitution . a portion of the bill , however , remains in legal limbo . before the house override vote wednesday night , lawmakers discovered that the version sent to the white house last week was missing a part . the discovery raises questions about whether that section of the bill , which dealt with authorized trade and food aid , would become law . the discovery of the missing section , `` title iii , '' prompted concerns from house republicans that the override vote was improper . democrats said the matter stemmed from a clerical error . but republicans pounced on the `` fiasco , '' which they said would require a temporary extension of the current farm bill . `` what 's happened here raises serious constitutional questions -- very serious , '' said minority leader john boehner , r-ohio . `` i do n't see how we can proceed with the override as it occurred . '' however , house speaker nancy pelosi said thursday that the override votes in both chambers of congress would allow the sections of the bill that were sent to the president to become law . `` so , the farm bill minus title iii would be enacted '' after the override votes , pelosi said . `` but i 'm optimistic that we will be able to get title iii as well , either on its own or by sending the full bill again . '' `` obviously , we want the complete bill . but ... we have obviously consulted with those who are expert on the constitution and congressional action and presidential signatures , vetoes and overrides . '' in order to start the process of title iii to become law , the house passed the entire farm bill again thursday by a vote of 306-110 . it is unclear what the senate will do . it could pass the entire bill again , as the house did , or it could pass the portion not sent to the president as a free-standing bill . two-thirds of the $ 300 billion in spending for the farm bill would go for nutrition programs such as food stamps . another $ 40 billion would go toward farm subsidies , and $ 30 billion is allocated for payments to farms to keep land idle and other environmental programs . after vetoing the farm bill , bush said it `` continues subsidies for the wealthy and increases farm-bill spending by more than $ 20 billion , while using budget gimmicks to hide much of the increase . '' the president said it would hurt efforts to improve american farmers ' access to overseas markets . congress has passed one bill over bush 's objections : a $ 23 billion water-project legislation that the president vetoed in 2007 . cnn 's deirdre walsh and ted barrett contributed to this report .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- house democrats on thursday failed to override president bush 's veto of a children 's health insurance bill that opponents said was too expensive . musician paul simon , left , joins house speaker nancy pelosi to oppose bush 's veto of the schip bill . by a vote of 273 to 156 , the measure fell 13 votes short of the two-thirds majority needed for an override . forty-four republicans voted for the override . `` now is the time for congress to stop playing politics and to join the president in finding common ground , '' said a white house statement after the vote . bush was `` pleased , '' the statement said , that the `` misguided legislation '' was defeated . democrats , sensing earlier that they did n't have the votes , vowed to continue the fight , despite a defeat . the issue has ignited an intense two-week struggle on capitol hill after bush vetoed the proposed five-year expansion and $ 35 billion spending increase . bush proposes increasing the program by $ 5 billion . before the vote , house speaker nancy pelosi spoke of a middle-class family caring for a child with a birth defect , asking lawmakers : `` so when the president wants to have 4 or $ 5 billion for children in this initiative , is he the one , the decider , who wants to go to that family and say , ` your child is out ' ? '' `` we 're lobbying for all of the children , '' said the california democrat . watch democrats pull out all the stops '' minority leader rep. john boehner explained his and other opponents ' stance on the bill . `` what we 've been working towards is trying to find a way to say that we ought to insure poor children first , '' said the ohio republican . `` let 's not let this become another washington program that starts with one principle of mind and then becomes something for everyone . '' it was the fourth veto of bush 's term . see veto record '' on its first go-round , the house passed it with 45 republican votes -- about two dozen votes short of the two-thirds majority .

<t> president bush : measure is `` essentially identical '' to the proposal he vetoed before . </t> <t> bill would have expanded the state children 's health insurance program . </t> <t> bush : measure `` moves our country 's health care system in the wrong direction '' </t> <t> program covers 6 million children whose parents do n't qualify for medicaid . </t>

president bush vetoes child health bill again<T>

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 .<doc-sep>one painful lesson from years of mideast peacemaking is that even when the elements that will constitute an accord may seem clear from the outside , the compromises and choices that will make it possible are difficult to accept , sequence and execute . time in sudan is short and the stakes are high . although the sudanese themselves will own their future , america must now help north and south sudan to find a peaceful path forward . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of john kerry .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a group of student protesters were arrested sunday after they called on president bush to end the humanitarian crisis in darfur , sudan , and refused to leave the front gates of the white house . the protesters shouted , `` hey bush , you ca n't hide ! help us end this genocide ! '' and `` president bush ! no more excuses ! '' federal police arrested 18 of them after they marched to the white house . sunday 's protest was one of many scheduled around the world for `` global day for darfur '' to mark five years of ethnic cleansing in sudan . the conflict has killed more than 200,000 people , and it has made refugees of more than 2 million others . in london 3,000 protesters gathered at the sudanese embassy . also , british prime minister gordon brown called for darfur peace talks . watch a report from the protest in london '' in the u.s. , scott warren , national student director of the student anti-genocide coalition , said the students were bringing specific demands to the president , including bolstering the united nations peacekeeping force in sudan and stepping up pressure on china , sudan 's trading partner . `` in your last seven months , you can make peace in sudan , and this is how you can do it , '' he said .<doc-sep>in addition , police seized injured protesters from hospitals and detained them , according to the united nations . `` tear gas , rubber bullets , live ammunition and other heavy-handed suppression will not resolve the frustrations and grievances of the people regarding shortcomings in their enjoyment of economic , social , civil and political rights , '' u.n. human rights chief navi pillay said thursday . `` genuine dialogue with government critics is far more effective than arbitrary detention and violence if the government wishes to create a stable and successful society . '' u.s. officials also condemned the clampdown and arrests . `` a government that respects the rights of its citizens to freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly in order to raise their grievances does not respond to such protests by using unnecessary force , '' said victoria nuland , a state department spokeswoman . government officials were not immediately available for comment . growing numbers of protesters have rallied in the capital with some demonstrations turning violent as crowds burned police trucks , cut off roads and hurled rocks at authorities . in return , police have fired rubber bullets and struck protesters with batons , witnesses said . `` leave , bashir , leave ! '' protesters chanted . `` khartoum , please revolt against humiliation and dictatorship . '' al-bashir has played down the protests and urged citizens to understand the new austerity measures , which lifted fuel subsidies and cut the cabinet by half to reduce expenses . in a televised speech on state media this month , he said the measures are necessary to help mend the economy . sudan has faced soaring inflation since it separated with south sudan a year ago -- taking with it more than 70 % of sudan 's oil reserves . sudan relied on its crude production for revenues and exports . the nation 's inflation has gone up by 30 % , according to sudanese finance minister ali mahmud . protesters vowed to hold more rallies saturday when the ruling party celebrates 23 years in power . organizers are calling for mass action using social media sites such as twitter and facebook , where they are posting pictures and details of upcoming protests . in similar protests in january last year , students sought to replicate the arab spring that has swept over the middle east . the government quashed those protests . sudan , south sudan prepare for peace talks .<doc-sep>sudan . demonstrators have clashed with authorities on several recent occasions in sudan . human rights watch has said that `` authorities used excessive force during largely peaceful protests on january 30 and 31 in khartoum and other northern cities to call for an end to the national congress party rule and government-imposed price increases . '' witnesses said that security forces used pipes , sticks and tear gas to disperse protesters and that several were arrested , including 20 who remain missing . the sudanese embassy said that people in sudan have the right to `` demonstrate as they wish '' but that `` some opportunists capitalize '' on incidents `` to inspire chaos or smear sudan 's image . '' tunisia . the european union 's top foreign policy official , catherine ashton , met monday with government and civil society leaders in tunisia , the north african country where protests in december sparked unrest that has spread across north africa and the middle east . after weeks of demonstrations that started in december , longtime president zine el abidine ben ali fled the country . since then , italy has complained about a wave of migrants from tunisia coming into its territory . yemen . clashes broke out between pro- and anti-government protesters in yemen 's capital , sanaa , for at least the third day in a row monday . about 200 anti-government protesters were confronted by about 300 counter-demonstrators , and the two sides threw rocks at each other and brandished daggers and knives . several protesters were arrested . on sunday , hundreds of anti-government protesters marched toward the presidential palace , but were blocked by security forces . protesters attempted to reach the palace on side streets , and riot police reportedly used force in attempting to disperse them . human rights group amnesty international condemned the use of force in a statement issued monday . clashes also erupted friday night and saturday . yemen 's embassy in washington said the opposition coalition had announced its intention to hold a dialogue with the administration . yemeni president ali abdullah saleh has been in power for 32 years and has pledged not to run for re-election when his current term ends in 2013 .

<t> some demonstrators demand execution of gillian gibbons , 54 . </t> <t> gibbons found guilty of insulting religion , sentenced to 15 days in jail . </t> <t> teacher arrested after her class named teddy bear `` mohammed '' </t>

sudan protesters : execute teacher<T>

santiago , chile -lrb- reuters -rrb- -- chile called home its ambassador in peru on monday , as a dispute flared over disputed maritime territory between the south american neighbors . they have bickered over the rich pacific coast fishing waters for years , and peru published a new map on sunday that pushes its bid to negotiate a new sea border . chile 's government protested the move and said it was calling home its ambassador in peru , cristian barros , for consultations . `` we feel that this type of publication -lrb- map -rrb- and this position certainly make more difficult a fluid bilateral relationship with the peruvian government , '' spokesman ricardo lagos weber said on monday . `` chile will continue to fully exercise its rights and competencies over chilean territory , '' he said .<doc-sep>peruvian president alan garcia said in june his country would take chile to the international court at the hague to resolve the case . peru 's foreign minister , jose antonio garcia belaunde , sought to downplay the row . `` it is an absolutely common diplomatic practice in novel situations like this that garner attention that ambassadors are called -lrb- back to report -rrb- , '' he said . `` the channels of dialogue and communication must be kept open , and the countries must work toward a positive agenda , '' garcia belaunde said .<doc-sep>the sea border , set in the 1950s , starts close to the land border and cuts due west across the ocean . but peru says it was non-binding and rob it of 14,630 square miles -lrb- 37,900 sq km -rrb- of fishing waters . its proposed border is a southwestern sloping line that follows the diagonal land border into the pacific ocean . analysts say peru will have its day in court and the hague is the only venue for the issue to be resolved , unless something happens to escalate the debate . `` the only thing that could happen , which would be very worrisome , would be if some autonomous group carried out some kind of act of sovereignty -lrb- in those waters -rrb- now that peru officially claims them . that would be a shame , '' said ricardo israel , a political analyst in chile .<doc-sep>chile defeated peru in the 1879-1883 war of the pacific and seized a chunk of mineral-rich territory from its northern neighbor . the two countries have strong economic ties but relations are still rocky . the dispute over their sea border has bubbled anew over the past two years and comes in addition to less serious disputes over the origins of everything from a dessert and a fruit to pisco , a grape liquor . peru and chile are the world 's top producers of fish meal , a cattle feed , and fishing is one of the engines of peru 's economy . e-mail to a friend . copyright 2007 reuters . all rights reserved.this material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten , or redistributed .<doc-sep>the cultural dispute comes at a time of political disagreement between the countries relating to maritime access at the border between chile and peru . peruvian president alan garcia has accused chile and land-locked bolivia of negotiating an under-the-table deal that would leave peru out . on monday peru said it was taking its own case to the international court of justice over the maritime dispute .<doc-sep>torrential rains washed long-buried landmines onto a heavily traveled highway near chile 's border with peru this week . no one was injured , but activists say the incident is a reminder of the risks such explosive devices pose . `` they are a constant threat . ... this is just reinforcing the need for all governments to clear all contaminated land , or seek assistance in doing so if you 're struggling to clear it , '' said kate wiggans , a spokeswoman for the geneva-based international campaign to ban landmines . in the 1970s , chile placed mines along the south american nation 's borders with peru , argentina and bolivia as regional tensions rose during gen. augusto pinochet 's military dictatorship , which lasted until 1990 . decades later , more than 120,000 antipersonnel mines remain in chile , according to the chilean nonprofit centro zona minada -lrb- mined zone center -rrb- . this week 's appearance of landmines on the pan-american highway forced authorities to close a busy border crossing for two days while teams detonated the explosives .<doc-sep>lurking off the coast of chile and peru lives a sea creature that blends in so naturally with the rocks on which it lives you 'd be forgiven for missing it . however , if you were to accidentally stand on this living rock it will burst to expose a mass of blood-red hermaphrodite creatures considered a delicacy in the nearby central american countries . the creature is called pyura chilensis - also known as piure in spanish - and it belongs to a class of sac-like marine life known as sea squirts . scroll down for video . this bizarre sea creature called the pyura chilensis lives off the coast of chile and peru is often called a living rock or sea squirt . it is born a male before developing female organs which means it can breed with itself . the unusual mass of organs feeds on algae and microrganisms by inhaling them through seawater . the pyura chilensis , pictured , is fished commercially from the pacific ocean . fisherman have to cut into the camouflaged living rock in which the creatures hide using a sharp knife or even a handsaw . the piure is known as a tunicate , so-called because it is covered in a layer - or ` tunic ' - of animal cellulose called tunicin . inside the living rock is a mass of organs surrounded by a layer of skin and muscle .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- joran van der sloot , the dutch man once considered a suspect in the 2005 disappearance of alabama teenager natalee holloway , is the suspect in the killing of a woman in peru , peruvian police officials said wednesday . authorities in neighboring chile are on a manhunt for van der sloot , who fled there , chile interpol deputy prefect eugenio buines arevalo told cnn . chilean police are looking for van der sloot in various hotels and other overnight accommodations in the border region with peru , he said . van der sloot will be extradited to peru if captured , he said . police also are checking border and customs checkpoints . as of wednesday there were no sightings of the suspect , and police were investigating if van der sloot went deeper into chile , buines said . there is `` incriminating evidence '' linking van der sloot to the killing of 21-year-old stephany flores ramirez , who was found with multiple stab wounds in a lima hotel room wednesday , cesar guardia vasquez , of the criminal investigations unit , said at a news conference . the hotel room where flores was found was registered in van der sloot 's name , he said . a hotel guest and an employee witnessed the pair entering the hotel room together at 5 a.m. on sunday , guardia said . police have video of the previous night , may 29 , of van der sloot and flores together at the atlantic city casino in lima , he said . according to immigration officials , van der sloot fled to chile over land on monday , guardia said . `` we have all the evidence to show that the killer is this man , '' the victim 's father , businessman and race-car driver ricardo flores told cnn en español . but van der sloot 's attorney , joseph tacopina , told cnn it was too early to make any conclusions . `` if history teaches us any lesson from van der sloot/holloway case , it 's that there have been way too many false facts that have been leaked and rumors that have been proven untrue , '' tacopina said . `` we need to take a step back . i have not been contacted and the family has not been contacted . joran has not been asked by anyone to surrender . ''

<t> peru 's foreign minister sought to downplay the row . </t> <t> sea border dispute has bubbled anew over past two years . </t> <t> less serious disputes involve dessert , fruit and a grape liquor . </t>

chile and peru in sea border row<T>

cnn student news -- june 29 , 2007 . transcript . this is a rush transcript . this copy may not be in its final form and may be updated . carl azuz , cnn student news anchor : thanks for checking out our latest summer edition of cnn student news , where today 's show , all about tech . i 'm carl azuz . a college professor has found a way for his students to listen to his lectures even when they 're not in the classroom . and we talk to students and experts to find out some of the ways technology is being used in schools . first up : gadget gifts . azuz : it 's better to give than to receive . you 've probably heard it a hundred times . but when that gift is for a techie , there 's a gaggle of gadgets to go through . so how do you know which present to pick ? reynolds wolf is here to help with the breakdown on some cool tech toys . -lrb- begin video clip -rrb- . reynolds wolf , cnn reporter : are you searching for that perfect gift , but you are just a little bit stumped ? well , no worries . brian cooley from cnet.com is here to help us out , steer us clear and hopefully give us some great ideas . and i know you have some great ideas for us . brian cooley , editor-at-large , cnet.com : look at these beauties . first of all , for gaming , you know the nintendo wii is hot , but you ca n't find one ? the nintendo ds light is a pretty good placeholder . the dual screen that it 's known for , they 've slimmed it down from its original ds . and of course that great legacy of all those great nintendo games . and pretty cheep . for $ 130 or less you can get one of these . that 's very affordable . check out this music player , reynolds . it 's gon na be the next kind of ipod . it 's from sandisk . it 's called the sansa connect . that little bump is a wifi antenna . this can connect wirelessly to the internet or to other devices like it to share music , download music and stream internet radio . that is really the future of ipod-like devices . if you want to give a phone , but you also want to give a music player , this one does both . nokia 's 5300 music express is a great music player . it 's not an ipod , but it 's not bad . transport controls and volume buttons out here tell you that it 's something different . and then for a camera , i like this very flat sony t100 . it 's pocket-size , which is very hot these days . nice slide-down door . 8 mega pixels , image stabilization and a great big screen for sharing photos . wolf : brian cooley of cnet.com , thank you so much . cooley : you bet . -lrb- end video clip -rrb- . shoutout . george ramsay , cnn student news : time for the shoutout ! when did the first ipod debut ? if you think you know it , shout it out . was it : a -rrb- 1997 , b -rrb- 1999 , c -rrb- 2001 or d -rrb- 2003 ? you 've got three seconds -- go ! if you guessed c , you 've got the right tune . the popular portable players first made the scene in the fall of 2001 . that 's your answer and that 's your shoutout ! tech in the classroom . azuz : whether it 's an ipod , sony , samsung or zune , it seems like you ca n't go anywhere these days without seeing people plugged in to some type of mp3 player . and if you 're on a college campus , you might think students walking around with their ear buds in are listening to music . but do n't be fooled . they could just be studying up for class . -lrb- begin video clip -rrb- . azuz : walk around any college campus and those famous white earplugs seem to be everywhere . but sometimes the playlist is n't quite what you 'd expect . lectures on computer science instead of american idol . not so much sum 41 as history 101 . some teachers have used the audio ipod in their lessons , but at the georgia institute of technology , professor jim foley hopes to transfer his visual web lectures to the video ipod . professor foley , user interface design teacher : the students who did web lectures earned grades that were about 10 % better -- we did that three years ago . azuz : as mp3 players become essential parts of students ' lives , they have the potential to rival the laptop as learning tools in the classroom . with a graduate student 's help , foley records lectures before class , so that students can raise questions when they arrive . students from foley 's user interface design course say they find it valuable to review lectures when convenient . kathy pham , student in professor foley 's user interface design class : it takes 15 minutes to walk from one side of campus to the other side of campus . and to be able just to download the mp3 to my ipod and just walk across campus , would be very beneficial . scott gilliland , student in professor foley 's user interface design class : a lot of people ca n't get to a full desktop computer whenever they need to listen to the lectures , and it 's nice to be able to take them with you . azuz : although students show enthusiasm towards mp3 players , there are limitations because they 're small . foley : the screen resolution is smaller and navigating between pages will be a little bit slower than on the computer because on the computer i just use the mouse . with the ipod i have to use the scrollwheel and scroll around . azuz : like the laptop , the mp3 player is a popular and revolutionary way to gather and disseminate information . regardless of what teachers decide to use , players and laptops will remain allies . besides , you need a laptop to operate an ipod and vice versa . -lrb- end video clip -rrb- . podcast promo . azuz : and if downloading lectures is n't enough , we 've got another cool thing you can do with an mp3 player : watch cnn student news ! that 's right , you can download our podcast at cnnstudentnews.com or at itunes . so you wo n't miss out on the news when you 're on the go . now and then . ramsay : with cell phones , thin is in . but you had to flex some muscle to handle its oversized ancestor . an ipod can hold your whole music library . but a vintage walkman let you jam out one cassette at a time . microchips keep getting smaller and smaller . but old school computers took up a lot more space . and game controllers have buttons for every possible move . but the retro version ? one button , one joystick , tons of fun . learning with technology . azuz : it 's not just slimmer cell phones and smaller computers . advances in technology are changing the world we live in all the time . and one of the places where those changes are taking place is schools . so we talked to some students and experts to hear what they have to say about teaching with tech . -lrb- begin video clip -rrb- . trina davis , president , international society for technology in education : we started off , when we were first starting to integrate technology , kind of at that basic level . matthew lewis , junior , greenside high school : we of course use laptops and computers . each teacher is assigned a laptop . and also , we have computer labs and a media center with computers inside . don knezek , ceo , international society for technology in education : certainly just dropping technology into a learning environment does n't necessarily improve it unless you are sure that the activities that you are doing align with the expectations that you have for learning . ammarah mahmoud , junior , salem high school : i think many careers today require for people to know how to use technology , so it 's important to learn that in school . knezek : so you ca n't convince me that a student without basic fundamental technology skills is on equal footing for employment . mahmoud : i do n't think schooling should be technology dependent , because i think that , at the same time , we should n't rely on something that does n't have a mind of its own . knezek : you can certainly abuse technology . you can abuse the printed word . you can abuse access to external resources . certainly if teachers and school leaders and parents use the same standards that they would use for any resource for technologies , then we 're in fine shape . lewis : i can see people in the future having something where you just scan , and all of your , you know , personal information comes up and everything about you can come up on a screen , and i think that 's really cool . davis : customization , very innovative , lots of gaming , lots of 3-dimensional spaces and just social spaces that feed on the needs of young learners . -lrb- end video clip -rrb- . goodbye . azuz : and that is the last word in this special edition of cnn student news . we 'll see you back here soon for our next summer show . and of course we thank you for watching everyone . i 'm carl azuz . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn student news -rrb- -- march 21 , 2014 . covered this friday on cnn student news : a brain drain threatens china , scientists discover a glint of truth behind the `` 5-second rule '' involving food and germs , a hacker uses a drone to expose cell phone insecurities , and technology is used to help victims of south sudan 's civil wars . on this page you will find today 's show transcript , the daily curriculum , and a place for you to leave feedback . transcript . click here to access the transcript of today 's cnn student news program . please note that there may be a delay between the time when the video is available and when the transcript is published . daily curriculum .<doc-sep>january 28 , 2015 . this is one of the most science-oriented shows we 've produced . from the imperfect science of forecasting the weather to the phylum of sea urchins , we 're touching on meteorology , astronomy , technology , cartography , and biology in our wednesday edition of cnn student news . so take a 10-minute break from the textbook to watch science come alive on your screen ! on this page you will find today 's show transcript and a place for you to request to be on the cnn student news roll call . transcript . click here to access the transcript of today 's cnn student news program . please note that there may be a delay between the time when the video is available and when the transcript is published . cnn student news is created by a team of journalists who consider the common core state standards , national standards in different subject areas , and state standards when producing the show . roll call . for a chance to be mentioned on the next cnn student news , comment on the bottom of this page with your school name , mascot , city and state . we will be selecting schools from the comments of the previous show . you must be a teacher or a student age 13 or older to request a mention on the cnn student news roll call ! thank you for using cnn student news !<doc-sep>january 8 , 2015 . today is a day of national mourning in france . our show begins a report on a terrorist attack at a satire magazine , and we show how thousands of people took a stand afterward in support of democracy and free press . also covered : a revolutionary war hero 's time capsule is unearthed in boston , and cutting-edge technology is introduced in las vegas . on this page you will find today 's show transcript and a place for you to request to be on the cnn student news roll call . transcript . click here to access the transcript of today 's cnn student news program . please note that there may be a delay between the time when the video is available and when the transcript is published . cnn student news is created by a team of journalists who consider the common core state standards , national standards in different subject areas , and state standards when producing the show . roll call . for a chance to be mentioned on the next cnn student news , comment on the bottom of this page with your school name , mascot , city and state . we will be selecting schools from the comments of the previous show . you must be a teacher or a student age 13 or older to request a mention on the cnn student news roll call ! thank you for using cnn student news !<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn student news -rrb- -- december 1 , 2014 . preliminary sales from black friday indicate changes -- both in what americans spent and how they spent it . we 're exploring some economics of u.s. shopping at the start of today 's show . we update you on events concerning the town of ferguson , missouri and iran 's controversial nuclear program . and we tell you how modern technology is helping clean up a historic waterway . on this page you will find today 's show transcript and a place for you to request to be on the cnn student news roll call . transcript . click here to access the transcript of today 's cnn student news program . please note that there may be a delay between the time when the video is available and when the transcript is published . cnn student news is created by a team of journalists who consider the common core state standards , national standards in different subject areas , and state standards when producing the show . roll call . for a chance to be mentioned on the next cnn student news , comment on the bottom of this page with your school name , mascot , city and state . we will be selecting schools from the comments of the previous show . you must be a teacher or a student age 13 or older to request a mention on the cnn student news roll call ! thank you for using cnn student news !

<t> get a glimpse at the next generation of gadgets . </t> <t> how the teaching role of mp3 players is growing . </t> <t> what officials say about tech on campus . </t>

cnn student news transcript special : technology<T>

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>although there is no ban in the quran on images of allah or the prophet mohammed , islam 's founder , some muslims consider likenesses highly offensive . the sources said they have confirmed the account with gibbons . defense attorneys confirmed that it was khawad who launched the initial complaint against gibbons , not a parent as originally thought . khawad also testified at gibbons ' trial . before approaching sudan 's education minister , the two sources said khawad tried to enlist two parents , who were also teachers at the school , to join in her protest against the teddy bear 's name , but they declined . gibbons had 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 , said the head of unity high school , robert boulos . she had asked her class of 7-year-olds to come up with a name for the toy as part of a school project , he said .<doc-sep>classmates took turns taking the teddy bear home with them , accompanied by a diary with the bear 's name written in the front of it , he said . she was taken into custody on november 25 and tried days later in a sudanese court . she was cleared of other charges of inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs . gibbons had initially faced the possibility of 40 lashes and a six-month jail term for insulting islam . the incident sparked a diplomatic row , with british foreign secretary david miliband calling on his sudanese counterpart to dismiss the charges . two british lawmakers , both muslims , traveled to khartoum to help secure her release . it also resulted in angry protests in khartoum , with some calling for the british woman 's execution . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>a grandmother has defender her toyboy lover who was jailed for beating a stranger unconscious - and wants to marry him behind bars . christopher bradbury , 25 , was drunk when he punched , kicked and stamped on simon bloor in stoke in august last year . bradbury , 25 , pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm and three counts of dealing heroin , but his fiancee wendy hulme , who is twice his age , says she wants to marry her ` teddy bear ' before he is released from prison . christopher bradbury , 25 , was jailed for beating a man unconscious and for dealing heroin , but his fiancee wendy hulme , who is twice his age , says she wants to marry him in prison . bradbury admitted three charges of supplying heroin , as well as the vicious attack , at stoke-on-trent crown court on friday . he was caught dealing the class a drugs by an undercover police officer . jailing bradbury for three years and four months , judge david fletcher said : ` this was a sustained and serious assault on a vulnerable victim where you used your foot as a weapon . ` the assault was an assault that you have little memory of because of your abuse of alcohol . you were unable to know what sparked this confrontation but it was prolonged attack . ` the reason you stopped was because members of the public felt they needed to intervene and quite rightly called the police . ` the injuries were not as serious as they might have been but there are ongoing effects of this assault . ' but miss hulme , who has two children and two grandchildren , today defended her toyboy lover , saying that he is a ` little teddy bear really ' . toyboy lover : bradbury , who drunkenly assaulted a stranger , is a ` little teddy bear really ' , miss hulme said .<doc-sep>classmates took turns taking the teddy bear home with them , accompanied by a diary with the bear 's name written in the front of it , he said . she was taken into custody on november 25 and tried days later in a sudanese court . she was cleared of other charges of inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs . gibbons had initially faced the possibility of 40 lashes and a six-month jail term for insulting islam . the incident sparked a diplomatic row , with british foreign secretary david miliband calling on his sudanese counterpart to dismiss the charges . two british lawmakers , both muslims , traveled to khartoum to help secure her release . it also resulted in angry protests in khartoum , with some calling for the british woman 's execution . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>meanwhile , sharon shazza morris uploaded a picture of a stuffed brown teddy bear , alongside the caption : ` my dad passed 7 years ago , i recently made this little bear from his jacket . ' i hope to make 10 more for my siblings , children , niece and nephew and mum . it still smells like him . ' ashley albers shared an image of bear and pillow made out of her passed father 's t-shirt and denim jacket , writing : ` my dad passed away 11 years ago . in all colors : rachel sweeney , from belfast , uk , shared this picture of colorful teddy bears lined up on a bed . a lovely gift : alongside the picture , uploaded to parendish canada 's facebook page , miss sweeney wrote : ` my dad passed away in may this year and my sister is law got us all teddy bears made out of his pyjamas ' cute : sharon shazza morris uploaded this picture of a stuffed brown teddy bear -lrb- left -rrb- , alongside the caption : ` my dad passed 7 years ago , i recently made this little bear from his jacket . right , another memorial bear . ` my mom just recently got this bear and pillow made completely of his clothes ! even the eyes of the bear are from his jean jacket . ' and rachel sweeney , from belfast , uk , posted a picture of a line of teddy bears , saying : ` my dad passed away in may this year and my sister is law got us all teddy bears made out of his pyjamas ' other photos on the page feature a pillow with a touching note ` from papa ' , a quilt created from ties , a duvet stitched together with t-shirts and a teddy bear made from a late mother 's floral blouse .<doc-sep>the photograph is not to dissimilar to that of the essex lion -- which sparked a huge search in clacton august 2012 amidst fears there was a big cat in the wild . however , after a huge manhunt by police , it turned out the essex lion was in fact a three-year-old domestic cat called teddy bear . today , essex police confirmed no calls had been made to the force reporting any big cat sightings over the last few days . a huge manhunt was launched in clacton , essex , in august 2012 after this photograph of a ` big cat ' was feared to be a lion on the loose . the animal turned out to be a three-year-old domestic cat called teddy bear . it is not the first time locals have claimed to have spotted big cats in the area though . in 2009 , a train driver reported spotting a big cat on the outskirts of bishop 's stortford , just three miles from great hallingbury , and in 2008 a milkman said he spotted a giant cat nearby . in 2007 , one of celebrity chef gordon ramsey 's lambs was savaged at beckingham palace , the former home of david and victoria beckham , in nearby sawbridgeworth - six miles from the most recent sighting . local simon turner , 39 , said : ` the beast is back ! everyone is having a laugh about it , but when it rips your throat it i doubt you 'll see the funny side . '

<t> disgruntled ex-employee said teacher let class name teddy `` mohammed '' </t> <t> sources : sarah khawad trying to shut down khartoum 's unity high school . </t> <t> briton gillian gibbons convicted of insulting religion released from jail . </t> <t> gillian gibbons taken to british embassy in khartoum to await flight home . </t>

grudge sparked teddy bear crisis<T>

algiers , algeria -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- rescuers are sifting through the rubble of the united nations headquarters in algiers hoping to find survivors after a powerful bomb ripped off the building 's facade and leveled nearby u.n. offices . rescuers and bomb experts search for survivors in the rubble of a destroyed building . it was one of two suspected car bombs that struck algiers within 10 minutes of each other . the death toll is unclear : the official government count is at least 26 , but hospital sources in algiers told cnn affiliate bfm-tv that 76 people were killed in the two blasts . a statement from the united nations said 45 people were reported killed . algerian interior minister noureddine yazid zerhouni blamed a militant islamic group with ties to al qaeda for the attacks , which also targeted a building housing algeria 's constitutional council and supreme court . in a posting on an islamist web site , the group al qaeda islamic maghreb claimed responsibility . cnn could not immediately corroborate that claim , but the web site is known to carry messages , claims and videos from al qaeda and other militant groups . in the posting , the bombers were identified as sheikh ibrahim abu othman and abdel rahman abu abdel nasser al-asimi . it said two trucks were filled with `` no less than 800 kg -lrb- 1,763 pounds -rrb- of explosives . '' the group called the operation `` another successful conquest and a second epic that the knights of faith have dictated with their blood , defending the wounded islamic nation and in defiance to the crusaders and their agents , the slaves of america and the sons of france . '' at least 10 u.n. staffers were among those killed , according to u.n. spokeswoman marie okabe . the offices of the un high commissioner for refugees -- located across the street from the u.n. headquarters -- were leveled by a blast that struck about 9:30 a.m. -lrb- 3:30 a.m. et -rrb- tuesday . `` our offices are basically destroyed now , nothing works , '' unhcr spokesman ron redmond said from its geneva headquarters . watch his full interview . he said rescuers are working into the night trying to get to the trapped u.n. workers . `` it 's a very serious situation still with the u.n. in algiers , '' he said .<doc-sep>in a strongly worded statement , u.n. secretary-general ban ki-moon condemned what he called `` an abjectly cowardly strike against civilian officials serving humanity 's highest ideals under the u.n. banner . '' `` the perpetrators of these crimes will not escape the strongest possible condemnation -- and ultimate punishment -- by algerian authorities and the international community , '' ban said in the written statement . he said he has sent senior advisers and other top u.n. officials to head to algiers to assist in the investigation and rescue effort . most of those killed in the coordinated attacks were victims of the first suspected car bombing near the constitutional council -- which oversees elections -- and supreme court in the algiers neighborhood of ben aknoun , according to the state-run algeria press agency . that blast struck a bus outside the targeted building , killing many of those on board , the news agency reported . one man said he heard the first blast then the second exploded in front of him . `` i saw the trees falling and the glass shattering in front of me . i had to run away from the car , '' he said . zerhouni said the attack was the work of the salafist group for preaching and combat -lrb- gspc -rrb- , the same group that took responsibility for an attack in april in downtown algiers that killed 33 people . that group also uses the name al qaeda islamic maghreb after merging with al qaeda earlier this year . it abandoned small-scale attacks in favor of headline-grabbing blasts after it joined with al qaeda . cnn international security correspondent paula newton said the merger combined the expertise of algerian guerrillas with the operational ability of al qaeda in north africa , enabling the group to penetrate the usually extensive security in high-profile areas of algiers . she said the group 's goal is to destabilize countries like algeria , morocco and tunisia , which it sees as enemies of the islamic state . zerhouni said police interrogations of gspc members arrested in the wake of the april attack revealed that algeria 's constitutional council and supreme court were on a list of gspc targets . algeria , which has a population of 33 million , is still recovering from more than a decade of violence that began after the military government called a halt to elections which an islamist party was poised to win . tens of thousands of people died in the unrest . although the country has remained relatively peaceful , recent terrorist attacks have raised fears of a slide back to violence . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>algiers , algeria -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- rescuers are sifting through the rubble of the united nations headquarters in algiers hoping to find survivors after a powerful bomb ripped off the building 's facade and leveled nearby u.n. offices . rescuers and bomb experts search for survivors in the rubble of a destroyed building . it was one of two suspected car bombs that struck algiers within 10 minutes of each other . the death toll is unclear : the official government count is at least 26 , but hospital sources in algiers told cnn affiliate bfm-tv that 76 people were killed in the two blasts . a statement from the united nations said 45 people were reported killed . algerian interior minister noureddine yazid zerhouni blamed a militant islamic group with ties to al qaeda for the attacks , which also targeted a building housing algeria 's constitutional council and supreme court . in a posting on an islamist web site , the group al qaeda islamic maghreb claimed responsibility . cnn could not immediately corroborate that claim , but the web site is known to carry messages , claims and videos from al qaeda and other militant groups . in the posting , the bombers were identified as sheikh ibrahim abu othman and abdel rahman abu abdel nasser al-asimi . it said two trucks were filled with `` no less than 800 kg -lrb- 1,763 pounds -rrb- of explosives . '' the group called the operation `` another successful conquest and a second epic that the knights of faith have dictated with their blood , defending the wounded islamic nation and in defiance to the crusaders and their agents , the slaves of america and the sons of france . ''<doc-sep>british aid workers were last night involved in a desperate search for survivors after landslides destroyed a remote town in afghanistan , killing an estimated 2,100 people . the team from the department for international development -lrb- dfid -rrb- joined forces with united nations and red crescent workers after torrents of mud and earth swept through the town of aab barik in badakshan province in north eastern afghanistan on friday . the deadly landslides , which followed days of heavy rain , also left 4,000 people requiring shelter and food . the dfid team is providing the homeless with tents , clean water and medical supplies . scroll down for video . search : villagers in argu , afgnaistan were seen today digging through debris for traces of their relatives and homes . struggle : only villagers armed with basic tools kept up the search , as officials in the disaster zone focussed on helping survivors . no hope : more than 2,100 deaths were confirmed , as rescuers gave up hope of pulling anybody from the destruction alive . displaced : some 4,000 people have been left with nowhere to live as a result of the ladndslide . depths : the village has been covered with as much as 300ft of mud , prompting the use of heavy machinery . villagers prepare to search for survivors of a landslide in the argo district of badakhshan , afghanistan which has trapped more than 2,000 people . shovelling : desperate villagers kept up the search after official rescuers turned their attention to helping survivors . international development secretary .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- rescuers in china had pulled a total of 31 bodies from the wreckage from a landslide the size of a small town that rushed down a mountain earlier in the week . state-run cctv reported on friday that the number of people missing in and around the city of dujiangyan was 166 , up from 107 the previous day . the flooding that caused the landslide has destroyed 5,100 houses and damaged another 90,000 . rescuers continued digging through the debris in search of survivors and victims . the forecast calls for less rain , which should make the search easier .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- rescuers were scheduled to resume their search friday morning for survivors of a ferry that sank off the tanzanian island of zanzibar , killing 60 people and leaving more than 80 people unaccounted for , the red cross said . as night fell thursday , crews halted their search until the next morning , the red cross said . the vessel with about 290 people aboard -- including 31 children -- capsized near zanzibar on wednesday , according to a spokesman for the agency 's office in tanzania . about 145 people have been found alive , and rescue operations are ongoing , said raymond kanyambo , a spokesman for the agency . rescuers search for bodies after indian ferry disaster . authorities intensified efforts thursday by using army helicopters , government troops and boats .

<t> two bombs explode in algerian capital near government and u.n. buildings . </t> <t> algeria blames group linked to al qaeda . </t> <t> official death toll is 26 , but some sources say as high as 76 . </t> <t> u.n. officials say five of its staff killed and 14 missing . </t>

rescuers search for bomb survivors<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- delta air lines and american airlines announced thursday the cancellations of hundreds of flights so the companies can conduct inspections on bundles of wires in some of their jets . delta cancellations will affect flights up until early friday , according to a statement from the airline . the cancellations will affect flights through friday , according to statements by both companies . a spokeswoman for delta earlier said 325 flights would be canceled thursday , but later said 275 flights were cut . `` delta apologizes in advance for any inconvenience this may cause and is working to proactively contact and reaccommodate affected customers . customers should call ahead to check flight status , '' a delta statement said . wednesday , american airlines canceled 318 flights , said company spokesman tim wagner . the airline canceled 132 of its estimated 2,300 flights scheduled for thursday , wagner said , about 6 percent of the daily schedule . the cancellations forced dozens of people to spend the night in the atrium of atlanta 's hartsfield-jackson international airport . they slept wherever they could -- on couches , on the floor , some on non-moving baggage carousels . kelly said the airline rebooked flights and covered the cost of hotel and food for passengers on canceled flights . it was initially believed that delta 's md-90 planes were part of the inspection but it was determined that the md-88 planes were the only ones that needed to be inspected , a spokeswoman said . the airline said the checks are voluntary and are expected to be completed by week 's end . american airlines , meanwhile , is examining wiring secured to its md-80 aircraft . in atlanta , the cancellations caused grousing among passengers who missed job interviews , connecting flights and the comfort of their beds , cnn affiliate wxia reported . `` they told us 6:45 -lrb- p.m. -rrb- . then they told us 7:30 . then 8 , so on and so forth and they just canceled , '' passenger fred billizon told wxia . `` so they had about 200 people just waiting on flights . and that 's not a lot of happy people . '' this latest round of inspections was prompted by questions raised by the faa and american safety officials about how a certain bundle of wires is secured to the md-80 aircraft . the md-80 is the workhorse of the american fleet . american 's web site says the aircraft accounts for 300 of the airline 's fleet of 655 jets . the jet debuted in 1980 from mcdonnell-douglas , which was purchased by rival boeing in 1997 . boeing discontinued production of the aircraft in 1999 . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>you 're grounded : flights across the east coast will be cancelled causing grid lock for thousands of travellers . this picture , taken on tueday , shows a noaa p-3 orion turboprop , which photographs hurricanes from above , on the tarmac in tampa , florida . as irene swirls in the atlantic , . americans have been warned to start preparing for travel chaos up and down the east coast as airlines . began to cancel flights and get planes out of the way in preparation for . the storm 's entrance onto the u.s. mainland . new york officials said most major bridges , including the george washington and verrazano , will be closed to all traffic if wind speeds exceed 60 mph . the storm has forced hundreds of flights to be cancelled over this weekend and while those in coastal areas will be immediately affected , delays could ripple across the country . adding to the transit woes were the cancellation of more than 1,000 flights , as southwest and american airlines joined jetblue in grounding planes . most of the flights were cancelled from saturday through monday , mostly at john f. kennedy international airport in new york and in boston , bloomberg reported . american airlines and its american eagle affiliate , with an extensive network in the caribbean , cancelled 126 flights on thursday . most were in the bahamas and south florida , including miami , a jumping-off spot for flights to the caribbean and latin america . delta air lines reported four cancellations yesterday , and united just one . airlines have already begun allowing travellers .<doc-sep>call your airline to change your flight . many airlines with flights departing and arriving at hardest-hit cities are offering flexible change policies for delayed customers . check your airline website for more information . delta air lines canceled more than 1,800 delta and delta connection flights tuesday , the vast majority at its atlanta hub , said delta spokesman morgan durrant . the nasty weather forced american airlines to cancel about 350 flights tuesday , mostly regional flights across the gulf coast , mid-atlantic and midwest , an airline spokesman said . while declining to give specific numbers , united airlines is `` reducing operations at houston intercontinental airport and other airports in the mid-south and southeast regions today due to severe weather , '' said spokesman charles hobart , tuesday . citing near-record lows in the midwest , united is also reducing operations tuesday at their chicago and cleveland hubs and other midwest airports .<doc-sep>that was closely followed by the merged american airlines and us airways , canceling 1.9 per cent . southwest airlines and united airlines both canceled 1.1 per cent and delta air lines 0.2 per cent . some of the highest flight cancellation numbers came from smaller regional airlines that are operated by other companies on behalf of the major airlines . expressjet , which flies regional planes for american , delta and united , scrapped 5.1 per cent of its march flights . american eagle canceled 4.1 per cent of its flights and skywest , another subcontractor , nixed 2.3 per cent of its scheduled flights . flight cancellations are seen on an electronic flight board at laguardia airport in new york , february 13 , 2014 .<doc-sep>by . alex ward . published : . 07:04 est , 3 october 2012 . | . updated : . 01:55 est , 4 october 2012 . american airlines has blamed improperly installed clamps for rows of seats coming loose mid-flight , forcing two planes to make emergency landings . seats have come loose on three separate flights in the past week sparking a federal investigation into the airline , america 's third biggest carrier . seats on 36 of the airline 's boeing 757 planes were inspected and fixed with another 11 are still to be checked , the carrier said . hear pilot 's emergency distress call below . inspecting : aviation officials inspect the questionable seats from one of the suspended american planes after seats came loose on three separate flights , causing two to make emergency landings , in the past week . the airline , whose parent amr corp filed for bankruptcy protection in november , said that they have been working with federal safety administrations to make sure that all of their planes are up to par .

<t> new : delta cancelations only related to md-88 , not md-90s . </t> <t> new : 275 delta flights were canceled thursday for safety inspections . </t> <t> american airlines canceled 318 flights wednesday to inspect md-80 aircraft . </t> <t> american cancels 132 of its estimated 2,300 flights scheduled for thursday . </t>

delta , american cancel flights to inspect planes<T>

washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- two u.s. air force f-15s escorted two russian bear long-range bombers out of an air exclusion zone off the coast of alaska , u.s. military officials said wednesday . two u.s. air force f-15s were dispatched to meet the russian bombers . u.s. radar picked up the russian turbo-prop tupolev-95 planes about 500 miles off the alaska coast . the u.s. fighters from elmendorf air force base were dispatched to meet the bombers and escorted them out of the area without incident , the officials said . the united states maintains the air exclusion zone off the coast of alaska , barring unidentified aircraft or aircraft that do n't file flight plans inside that area .<doc-sep>the last case of russian aircraft approaching the u.s. coastline or ships in the pacific was in february . then , four bear bombers flew near the aircraft carrier uss nimitz , with one of them flying about 2,000 feet from the nimitz 's deck . russia 's defense ministry said at the time there was no violation of flight regulations during the incident . a ministry official described the flights as standard operating procedure for air force training . meanwhile , u.s. military officials say the incidents are not a concern . they say it 's the russian military flexing its ability and presence . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>u.s. fighter jets intercepted russian bombers off alaska and california this month , the latest incidents in a string of recent aerial encounters over the pacific . on june 4 , according to u.s. defense officials , four long-range russian tu-95 bear-h bombers , accompanied by an aerial refueling tanker , flew into the u.s. air defense identification zone , an area extending 200 miles from the north american coast , off alaska , where they were intercepted by u.s. f-22 fighter jets . two of the russian bombers peeled off and headed west , while the other two flew south and were identified by u.s. f-15 fighters within 50 miles of the california coast . capt. jeff davis , a spokesman for the north american aerospace defense command , said it was the first time u.s. jets had intercepted russian military aircraft off california since july 4 , 2012 . pentagon spokesman col. steve warren said it is believed the russian planes were on a training mission . davis said the russian planes were entirely within their rights during the flight . `` they followed all the protocols , and it was a very professional encounter on both sides , '' he said . `` there was nothing that they were doing that was contrary to international law . '' the russian planes never entered u.s. territory proper , which by international law extends 13.8 miles -lrb- 22.2 kilometers -rrb- from the u.s. coast . according to the federal aviation administration , any aircraft entering the air defense identification zone , which extends 200 miles from the coasts of the united states and canada , must file a flight plan indicating their intentions , must maintain radio contact with air controllers and must have an operational radar transponder .<doc-sep>u.s. and canadian fighter jets intercepted russian aircraft that were flying near u.s. and canadian air space this week , a military spokesman has confirmed . two f-22 fighter jets intercepted six russian military airplanes that neared the western coast of alaska according to the north american aerospace defense command -lrb- norad -rrb- . lt. col. michael jazdyk , a spokesman for norad , said the jets intercepted the planes about 55 nautical miles from the alaskan coast at about 7 p.m. pacific time on wednesday . scroll down for video . prevention : u.s. air force f-22 raptors are pictured here in this file photo , two f-22 fighter jets intercepted six russian military airplanes that neared the western coast of alaska wednesday . bear long-range bomber tupolev : two canadian cf-18 fighter jets intercepted two of the long-range bombers about 40 nautical miles off the canadian coastline . lt. col. michael jazdyk : the lieutenant colonel said that the jets intercepted the planes about 55 nautical miles from the alaskan coast at about 7 p.m. pacific time on wednesday .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- american fighter jets intercepted two russian bombers , one of which buzzed a u.s. aircraft carrier in the western pacific on saturday , u.s. military officials told cnn monday . russia 's defense ministry said tuesday that there was no violation of flight regulations during the incident . a ministry official said the flights are standard operating procedure for air force training . one of them twice flew about 2,000 feet over the deck of the uss nimitz saturday while another flew about 50 miles away , officials said . two others were at least 100 miles away , the military reported . u.s. defense officials said four f/a -18 a fighter jets from the nimitz were in the air . the russians and the u.s. carrier did not exchange verbal communications . watch u.s. aircraft carrier uss nimitz '' four turboprop tupolev-95 bear bombers took off from ukrainka air base , in russia 's far east , in the middle of the night , japanese officials told the associated press , adding that one of the planes violated japanese airspace . russian bombers have been making flights over the western pacific for several months . there have been eight incidents off alaska since july . among the latest , on september 5 , six f-15s from elmendorf air force base , adjacent to anchorage , alaska , intercepted six russian bombers about 50 miles from the northwest coast of alaska . two similar incidents occurred in august , one near cape lisburne , alaska , and the other near cold bay , alaska , west of the aleutian islands . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>in july , a u.s. air force reconnaissance plane fled into swedish airspace after the russians took the unusual action of beginning to track it with land-based radar . the russians then sent at least one fighter jet into the sky to intercept the u.s. aircraft . and on april 23 , a russian su-27 flanker fighter jet buzzed within 100 feet of the nose of a u.s. air force rc-135u reconnaissance plane over the sea of okhotsk between russia and japan , a defense department official said . also on april 23 , dutch fighter jets scrambled to intercept a pair of russian tu-95 bear bombers that entered a half-mile into netherlands airspace . on june 4 , according to u.s. defense officials , four long-range russian tu-95 bombers , accompanied by an aerial refueling tanker , flew into the u.s. air defense identification zone , an area extending 200 miles -lrb- 320 kilometers -rrb- from the north american coast , off alaska , where they were intercepted by u.s. f-22 fighter jets . two of the russian bombers peeled off and headed west , while the other two flew south and were identified by u.s. f-15 fighters within 50 miles of the california coast . and last month , two alaskan-based u.s. air force f-22 fighter jets intercepted two russian il-78 refueling tankers , two russian mig-31 fighter jets and two russian bear long-range bombers , according to capt. jeff davis of the north american aerospace defense command . more than six hours later , two canadian cf-18 fighter jets intercepted two russian bombers in the beaufort sea , davis said . those russian planes came within about 40 nautical miles of the canadian coastline , he said . earlier this year , a top u.s. air force general said russia was stepping up its military activities in the asia-pacific region as tensions increased over ukraine and russia 's move into crimea .

<t> u.s. radar picks up the russian planes about 500 miles off the alaska coast . </t> <t> the russians entered an air exclusion zone . </t> <t> they are escorted out of the area without incident . </t> <t> russian planes last came near the u.s. coastline in february . </t>

u.s. jets escort russian bombers off alaska coast<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- four crew members died and one was missing in the frigid waters off alaska 's aleutian islands after their fishing vessel sank sunday , the u.s. coast guard reported . a crew member of the alaska ranger is taken on board the coast guard cutter munro . the seattle , washington-based alaska ranger was in 10-foot seas and winds of 30 to 35 miles per hour when it reported water was leaking into its steering gear compartment about 2:50 a.m. sunday . the trawler had 47 people on board , said chief petty officer barry lane , a coast guard spokesman . four of those had been confirmed dead by late morning , lane said .<doc-sep>one person is still unaccounted for , said another coast guard spokesman , lt. eric eggen . watch a report from lt. eggen '' the 180-foot processing trawler was about 120 miles west of dutch harbor , in the remote aleutian islands , when the crew reported being `` overwhelmed by water '' and abandoned ship , eggen said . most of the crew had survival suits to protect them from water that was near-freezing , said cmdr. todd trimpert , a coast guard spokesman . no cause of death was immediately known for the four crew members who died , but `` certainly , they were in the water a long time , '' trimpert said . `` without a survival suit , generally your survival time is less than 30 minutes , '' he said . the company that owned the ship , the fishing company of alaska inc. , identified the four who did not survive as captain eric peter jacobsen , chief engineer daniel cook , mate david silveira and crewman byron carrillo .<doc-sep>`` they were incredibly brave , hard-working men , '' the company said . `` our hearts are broken . '' a nearby ship , the alaska warrior , rescued 25 crew members while the coast guard retrieved the rest of the crew , the company said . `` we do not have sufficient information to determine why the vessel foundered , '' the company said . `` we will do everything possible to find out what occurred with the hope that something can be learned that will be of value to the fishing community . '' amy roman , a niece of daniel cook , told cnn affiliate king-tv that her uncle `` died how he wanted to .<doc-sep>`` if you 're a fisherman , you want to die out at sea , '' she said . `` if you 're a true fisherman , this is how you want to go . '' survivors were being taken aboard the coast guard cutter munro . a helicopter and a c-130 transport plane were also taking part in the effort , the coast guard reported . the sinking left an unknown amount of diesel fuel on the surface of the bering sea , lane said . the fishing industry is perennially among the most deadly in the united states . in 2005 , 48 fishermen died , up from 38 the year before , according to the bureau of labor statistics . that made it the nation 's most dangerous occupation for the year , with a fatality rate of 118.4 per 100,000 -- nearly 30 times higher than the rate of the average worker . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>at least four people are dead and seven others missing after a container vessel collided with a car carrier wednesday evening , the netherlands coast guard said . the carrier baltic ace began sinking immediately after it collided with the container vessel in a busy shipping lane , about 60 kilometers -lrb- 32 miles -rrb- west of rotterdam , according to coast guard spokesman peter verburg .<doc-sep>coast guards are searching for 13 crew members missing from a fishing boat after their vessel collided with a much larger cargo ship in japan 's pacific ocean . the missing 13 were part of a 22-man crew on board the 119-ton horiei maru , which crashed with the 25,000-ton nikkei tiger about 900 kilometres east of sendai at 2.30 am on sunday morning . it is believed the smaller ship - a tuna-fishing boat - might have sunk , officials from the shiogama coast guard said . rescue : coastguards help survivors of the boat crash after their vessel collided with a cargo ship . nine of the fishing boat 's crew were rescued after the coast guard -lrb- pictured -rrb- responded to a distress call . two planes from the coast guard have been sent to look for survivors , osamu nishikawa added . nine of the fishing boat 's crew were rescued at about 7am on sunday after the coast guard responded to a distress call . five of the survivors are japanese and four are indonesian .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . vietnam has accused a chinese vessel of ramming and sinking a vietnamese fishing boat near a controversial oil rig in the south china sea . tensions are already dangerously high after china moved an oil rig near an island chain in the south china sea at the centre of a territorial dispute between the two neighbours . today hanoi accused a chinese vessel of ramming the wooden vietnamese boat and then fleeing the scene . this file picture taken on may 14 , 2014 from a vietnamese coast guard ship shows a chinese coast guard vessel -lrb- l -rrb- sailing near a chinese oil rig in disputed waters in the south china sea . beijing said the vietnamese boat was trying to get close to the oil rig , rammed into one of its vessels , and then sank . the crew was rescued . the clash occurred around 18 miles south-southwest of the large oil rig that china deployed on may 1 in waters both nations claim . the rig deployment infuriated hanoi and set off violent anti-china protests that further soured ties between the neighboring communist countries with close economic relations . a vietnamese coast guard officer taking a picture of a china coast guard ship moving toward the vietnamese ship near to the site of a chinese drilling oil rig -lrb- file photo . vietnam sent patrol ships to confront the rig , and china has deployed scores of vessels to protect it . the two sides have been involved in a tense standoff , occasionally colliding with each other . china and vietnam have long sparred over who owns what in the oil - and gas-rich waters . incidents between fishing crews are quite common , but monday 's incident was the first time a vietnamese boat had been sunk , said tran van linh , president of the fisheries association in the central port city of danang . ' i call this an act of attempted murder because the chinese sank a vietnamese fishing boat and then ran away , ' linh said . ` we vehemently protest this perverse , brutal and inhumane action by chinese side . ' linh said about 40 chinese steel vessels surrounded a group of smaller , wooden vietnamese fishing ships on monday afternoon . he said one then rammed into the vietnamese ship , tossing 10 fishermen into the water and sinking the boat . the fishermen were picked by the other vietnamese boats and there were no injuries . in beijing , the government said that a vietnamese fishing boat had forced its way into the area around the oil rig and rammed into a chinese fishing boat . dispute : a chinese ship , left , shoots water cannon at a vietnamese vessel , right , while a chinese coast guard ship , center , sails alongside in the south china sea , off vietnam 's coast -lrb- file photo -rrb- . ' i think the fact that this incident happened at all shows that vietnam 's illegitimate and illegal harassment and sabotage against china 's regular operations are futile and will only hurt their own interests , ' said foreign ministry spokesman qin gang . since may 1 , vietnam has accused china of ramming into or firing water cannons at vietnamese vessels trying to get close to the rig , damaging several boats and injuring fisheries surveillance officers . they have shown video footage of some of the incidents . china accuses vietnam of doing the same . china claims nearly all of the south china sea as its own , bringing it into conflict with far smaller neighbors like vietnam and the philippines . in recent years it has been more assertive in pressing its claims in the waters and resisting attempts to negotiate . protesters stand on the corner of a street in quan doan 4 , binh duong province , near song than 2 industrial park in vietnam followning china 's planting of an oil platform in contested waters off vietnam in may . philippine president benigno aquino iii said tuesday his country was watching developments in the vietnam-china standoff . ` we 're trying to learn the right lessons and our armed forces and coast guard and other concerned agencies are looking at the possible scenarios and what should be our appropriate response , ' he said . he spoke from a western philippine naval base he said had been equipped with surveillance and better communications to better guard against territorial intrusions . the united states , which shares the concerns of the smaller claimant states about china 's rising military might , called china 's deployment of the rig ` provocative . ' vietnam is trying to rally regional and international support against beijing , but its options are limited because china is the country 's largest trading partner . sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the u.s. coast guard sank a japanese fishing trawler off the coast of alaska on thursday , more than a year after it was swept away by a tsunami off the east coast of japan , authorities said . the trawler capsized hours after the coast guard set fire to it , causing it to begin taking on water , said petty officer 1st class david mosley , a coast guard spokesman . the sinking of the ryou-un maru brought about the end of a journey for the rust-stained ship that drifted across the pacific ocean as part of a giant debris field generated by a tsunami that struck japan following a 9.0 earthquake on march 11 , 2011 . the coast guard determined the trawler posed a threat to other ships navigating the area , and had been broadcasting the unmanned , unlit vessel 's location to mariners to alert them to the hazard . the u.s. geological survey advised the coast guard where the ship 's sinking would have the least environmental impact .

<t> four crew members of seattle-based alaska ranger died , coast guard says . </t> <t> others were rescued , but one person is still unaccounted for , spokesman says . </t> <t> boat was about 120 miles west of dutch harbor in remote aleutian islands . </t>

coast guard : 4 dead , 1 missing in fishing vessel 's sinking<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- efraim diveroli 's father hoped his son would become a doctor or lawyer . efraim diveroli , 22 , is doing his `` patriotic '' duty as an arms dealer , his grandfather says . what he got instead is a 22-year-old international arms dealer who faces a congressional inquiry for allegedly selling old chinese ammunition to the u.s. military to equip allies in afghanistan . diveroli is president of aey inc. , a south florida company which , according to u.s. government documents , has done more than $ 10 million of business with the u.s. government since 2004 . the papers also reveal the company struck it big in 2007 with contracts totaling more than $ 200 million to supply ammunition , assault rifles and other weapons to the afghan national army and police . the company 's contract said it would get the ammunition from hungary . but army investigators found what the afghan military got included corroded ammunition made in china as long as 46 years ago . the new york times reported thursday that aey shopped stockpiles and ammo dumps in old soviet bloc allies , from albania to kazakhstan . albania was a big customer for chinese armaments in the 1960s and '70s , the times reported . angelo diveroli , efraim 's grandfather , told cnn affiliate wplg-tv that his grandson is being targeted by `` jealous competitors '' in the international arms market . since he was a boy , the grandfather said , efraim diveroli has known his way around weapons . read the wplg story .<doc-sep>`` he 's a genius about anything to do with weapons , '' the 72-year-old says . `` ever since he was a little boy , i would take him to gun shows and he could identify every model of guns . people would ask : how can he do that so young ? he has a gift , i would tell them . '' michael diveroli , efraim 's father , told cnn affiliate wfor-tv that he wished his son had turned his intellect elsewhere . he said efraim was `` a boy genius '' who is `` hard to control . '' read the wfor story . `` i would prefer he became a nice jewish doctor or lawyer rather than an arms dealer , '' wfor quoted michael diveroli as saying . watch how father says son runs his own show '' but his son seem to have a good idea of the circles he was running in . `` what goes on in the albanian defense ministry , '' the new york times quoted him as saying . `` who 's clean ? who 's dirty ? do n't want to know about it . '' on a myspace page efraim diveroli last updated in 2005 , he says `` i probably grew up way to -lrb- sic -rrb- fast . '' but in a hint of where the then-19-year-old 's future was heading , he wrote , `` i definately -lrb- sic -rrb- have the desire to be very successful in my business and this does take up alot -lrb- sic -rrb- of my time . '' the myspace page also hints of his need for thrills .<doc-sep>`` i 'm one of those guys who needs to be entertained and having lots of fun all the time so if your -lrb- sic -rrb- also an undiagnosed case of add look me up , '' it says . he lists the weapon-heavy films `` heat '' and `` scarface '' among his favorites . a cnn search of diveroli 's florida criminal record shows arrests , but no convictions , on offenses from misdemeanor battery to felony possession of stolen property . he has yet to appear in court on a march 3 arrest for driving under the influence . for now , relatives say efraim diveroli is out of the country . cnn attempts to contact him have not been successful . his grandfather told wplg that diveroli is now in turkey or albania doing his `` patriotic '' duty . `` he 's all over the world getting what the military needs , '' angelo diveroli says . but in a myspace message exchange with radar magazine , a person thought to be david packouz , a 25-year-old who was aey 's vice president , refers to efraim diveroli as `` my former scumbag partner '' and says he is motivated by money . `` efraim diveroli has a serious psychological illness called ` extreme greed , ' '' radar quotes him as writing in a report on its web site . packouz would not discuss aey with cnn on friday , saying he had no comment `` because of the ongoing investigation . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>angelo diveroli , efraim 's grandfather , told cnn affiliate wplg-tv that his grandson is being targeted by `` jealous competitors '' in the international arms market . since he was a boy , the grandfather said , efraim diveroli has known his way around weapons . read the wplg story . `` he 's a genius about anything to do with weapons , '' the 72-year-old says . `` ever since he was a little boy , i would take him to gun shows and he could identify every model of guns . people would ask : how can he do that so young ? he has a gift , i would tell them . '' michael diveroli , efraim 's father , told cnn affiliate wfor-tv that he wished his son had turned his intellect elsewhere . he said efraim was `` a boy genius '' who is `` hard to control . '' read the wfor story . `` i would prefer he became a nice jewish doctor or lawyer rather than an arms dealer , '' wfor quoted michael diveroli as saying . watch how father says son runs his own show '' but his son seem to have a good idea of the circles he was running in .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- efraim diveroli 's father hoped his son would become a doctor or lawyer . efraim diveroli , 22 , is doing his `` patriotic '' duty as an arms dealer , his grandfather says . what he got instead is a 22-year-old international arms dealer who faces a congressional inquiry for allegedly selling old chinese ammunition to the u.s. military to equip allies in afghanistan . diveroli is president of aey inc. , a south florida company which , according to u.s. government documents , has done more than $ 10 million of business with the u.s. government since 2004 . the papers also reveal the company struck it big in 2007 with contracts totaling more than $ 200 million to supply ammunition , assault rifles and other weapons to the afghan national army and police . the company 's contract said it would get the ammunition from hungary . but army investigators found what the afghan military got included corroded ammunition made in china as long as 46 years ago . the new york times reported thursday that aey shopped stockpiles and ammo dumps in old soviet bloc allies , from albania to kazakhstan . albania was a big customer for chinese armaments in the 1960s and '70s , the times reported .<doc-sep>for dailey , who was stationed at the ohio air national guard base near toledo , the honor was overwhelming . ` it 's incredible being recognized in such a manner , ' he said . ' i look at it -lrb- the note -rrb- every day . ' dailey said the gift , which he gave away , provided him with ' a lifetime direction , for sure . ' he told cbs news he hopes the little green post-it will inspire other people across america to give as generously as myles . tragic : army sgt. andy eckert was killed in iraq , just five weeks after his son myles was born . devastating loss : army sgt. andy eckert got to meet his newborn son myles before he was tragically killed in iraq eight years ago . while little myles was too young to remember his dad , he has learned a lot about him from stories , pictures and dog tags . ' i imagine him as a really nice person and somebody that would be really fun , ' myles said . the boy 's mom , tiffany eckert , said after her son gave away the money he found , he wanted to visit his dad 's grave site . ` he wanted to go see his dad , ' she said . ` and he wanted to go by himself that day . ' eckert captured the moving moment the little boy hugged his dad 's gravestone , showing that the soldier 's legacy lives on in the good deeds of his kindhearted son . devastating : myles 's dad died just five weeks after he was born , but he stays connected to the soldier through pictures , stories and regular visits to his grave site .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . you 'd think that if your father was a millionaire rock star that money would be the least of your worries . but ronnie wood 's son has revealed how he hustled and dealt drugs to earn a few pounds because the rolling stone was so ` tight ' with his cash . jamie wood , who is now an art dealer , was expelled from a somerset boarding school when he was 16 after he was caught selling cannabis to his classmates . tight : jamie wood said his adoptive father ronnie , who is worth # 20million , made him build his own career . asked if his art career was bankrolled by his father , who is said to be worth # 20million , he said : ` dude , what are you thinking ? my old man is tight . i 'd say , `` dad , i 'm going out '' , and he 'd give me a tenner . ` that 's why i was always hustling from a young age , so i would n't have to ask him for nothing . ' i was a hustler . that 's what i did . i 'm into money and making money . ' the gallery owner , now 39 , also told how he would challenge rolling stones band members to games of pool to make extra cash . brother in arms : ronnie brought jamie up as his own alongside his other sons jesse and tyrone wood .

<t> 22-year-old arms dealer faces congressional inquiry . </t> <t> company supplied ammunition made in china decades ago . </t> <t> company 's contract called for bullets made in hungary . </t> <t> grandfather says dealer , 22 , had `` gift '' for weaponry . </t>

arms dealer 's dad wanted ` nice ' doctor son<T>

yellowstone national park , montana -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the gray wolf was officially removed from the endangered species act 's `` threatened '' list friday after three decades -- a decision that has stoked controversy among environmentalists and ranchers . federal officials estimate there are 1,500 gray wolves in yellowstone national park . it means the wolves can be shot and killed once they step out of yellowstone national park as soon as the affected states establish a hunting season . however , state fish and wildlife officials can shoot the animals whenever they deem the wolves to be a problem . the government delisted the wolves -- which were eliminated from yellowstone decades ago before being reintroduced in the 1990s -- because they are now thriving in the park that is dominated by bison , elk and bighorn sheep . `` they 're back here in the northern rockies ; they 're back here in yellowstone , '' said doug smith , a biologist for the national park service in yellowstone . `` that 's something to celebrate given their history of human hatred . '' but not everyone is happy about the animal being removed from the endangered list . conservationists believe hundreds of gray wolves straying from yellowstone in search of prey could soon be killed by hunters and ranchers . watch rancher say no wolf is `` sacred '' '' `` we 're not ready to pop the champagne corks and have a party , '' said doug honnold , the managing attorney for earthjustice , a non-profit environmental law firm based in oakland , california , that has threatened to sue the government .<doc-sep>`` my biggest fear is we 're going to go backwards instead of forwards . '' it would n't be the first time . in the early 20th century , wolves were the targets of a massive government extermination campaign . `` it 's harder to find an animal more persecuted than wolves . ... we did wolf extermination with a vengeance , '' said smith . but attitudes began to change in the 1980s . elk and bison populations increased dramatically because there was no natural predator to keep their numbers in check . in 1995 , smith led a team to bring wolves back to the rocky mountain landscape . they transplanted dozens of wolves to yellowstone from canada . see photos of yellowstone 's animals '' the project has been regarded as an overwhelming success . there are now more than 1,500 wolves across wyoming , idaho and montana , according to the government . that number convinced federal wildlife officials to remove them from the endangered species list . federal officials require each of the three states to maintain a population of 100 wolves , meaning a total of 300 wolves across all three states . the states have actually pledged to keep the population higher than that , at a rate of 150 wolves per state . `` we did a thorough analysis , '' said ed bangs , the wolf recovery coordinator for the u.s. fish and wildlife service . `` the consensus -lsb- for recovery -rsb- is a population of 300 wolves and 30 breeding pairs . ''<doc-sep>he added , `` the wolf population is fully recovered . we have more wolves than we ever predicted and we have fewer problems than we ever predicted . '' earthjustice says that 's not nearly enough to ensure a viable population and they want to stop the delisting . `` we 're going to have hundreds of wolves die needlessly , '' said honnold . but many ranchers in the region just do n't understand the fuss about the animals . they have complained for years that the wolves eat their livestock . `` there 's nothing about a wolf that 's sacred , '' said bruce malcolm , a cattle rancher and republican member of montana 's house of representatives . he said he 's lost nearly two dozen cows to the wolves in recent years . `` i would have preferred that they never came here , '' he said . if there 's a winner with the controversy , it 's yellowstone . the wolves have pushed up attendance by more than a 100,000 visitors per year , according to a park study . smith , who has dedicated his life to the wolves , is philosophical about the debate . `` no one says living with wolves is easy , '' said smith . `` living with wolves is a compromise . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the gray wolf population in wyoming has grown enough to be removed from the endangered species list and will stop receiving federal protection next month , the u.s. fish and wildlife service announced friday . the decision means that gray wolf has recovered from near extinction throughout the northern rocky mountains , which includes all of idaho and montana and parts of washington , oregon and utah , officials said . the wolves in wyoming wo n't be protected under the endangered species act effective september 30 , when the packs will be managed by the state , federal officials said . `` the return of the wolf to the northern rocky mountains is a major success story , and reflects the remarkable work of states , tribes , and our many partners to bring this iconic species back from the brink of extinction , '' fish and wildlife service director dan ashe said in a statement . the northern rockies are home to at least 1,774 adult wolves and more than 109 breeding pairs , and the population has exceeded recovery goals for 10 consecutive years , officials said . the vast majority of wyoming 's gray wolves live in the northwest section of the state , where the animals will be managed by state wardens as `` trophy game '' year-round , federal officials said . wyoming officials will regulate the timing , methods and numbers of gray wolves taken through regulated hunting . wolves found to be preying on livestock also may be controlled , federal officials said . environmental and wildlife groups took exception to the federal decision , saying the gray wolf has n't fully recovered . `` today 's decision by the fish and wildlife service allows wyoming to return to the days of random wolf killing that led to the species ' endangerment in the first place , '' said sylvia fallon , wildlife conservation director at the natural resources defense council . the environmental group earthjustice said congress last year gave hunters and trappers in montana and idaho the right to kill wolves that had been once protected , nullifying a court victory by the group that would have prevented the hunts . `` wyoming 's open season on wolves in almost all of the state would allow aerial gunning of wolves and even killing wolf pups in their den , '' earthjustice attorney jenny harbine said . `` wyoming law also allows unrestricted killing of wolves if they are found to be ` harassing ' livestock or domestic animals , even if wolves are intentionally baited into the conflict , '' said harbine . `` these policies could drive wolves back into local extinction . '' last december , wyoming counted 328 wolves , including 48 packs and 27 breeding pairs , the wyoming game & fish department said . that figure included 224 wolves , 36 packs and 19 breeding pairs outside yellowstone national park , state officials said . in areas of wyoming where wolves are designated as predatory , `` no state license is required to take a wolf , and there are no closed seasons or bag limits , '' the state agency said . hunters are required to report the kill to game wardens within 10 days and are n't required to present the skull or pelt , though state officials are encouraging them to do so for genetic monitoring . wyoming wildlife chief brian nesvik said , `` we are taking a conservative approach to wolf hunting seasons during this time of transition from federal to state management . we need time to assume the important responsibilities of wolf population monitoring , sport harvest management and meeting wyoming 's commitments to wolf conservation in our state . '' wyoming officials must ensure population levels of at least 150 wolves and 15 breeding pairs , and the federal wildlife service will monitor the species in wyoming , montana and idaho for at least five years to ensure the animal 's recovery , officials said . the federal agency can put the gray wolf back on the endangered list if necessary , u.s. officials said . `` our primary goal , and that of the states , is to ensure that gray wolf populations in the northern rocky mountains remain healthy , giving future generations of americans the chance to hear its howl echo across the area , '' ashe said . `` no one , least of all idaho , montana and wyoming , wants to see wolves back on the endangered species list . but that 's what will happen if recovery targets are not sustained . '' the gray wolf grows to 2.5 feet in height and up to 6 feet in length , weighing between 80 and 100 pounds . its coat varies from black to white , and the animal is noted for its broad snout , round ears , and long , low howl .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- for the first time in decades , the hunting of the gray wolf is legal again in the united states . and that 's a good thing for ranchers like cindy siddoway of terreton , idaho , whose sheep are threatened every day by wolves . gray wolves were taken off the endangered species list after their population rebounded . `` we have worked very hard to protect what we have , and it 's not very successful , '' she said . `` it is devastating for us to put all of the money and the time and the genetics and work to produce a great product and then just have it half-eaten and left to die . '' but wolf hunting is n't popular with everybody . it has become a controversy in idaho , where the hunt began tuesday , and in montana , where it is scheduled to start september 15 . environmental and animal rights groups are upset by a federal decision this year to remove gray wolves in the northern rocky mountains from the endangered species list , a move that opened the door to permitting the hunts . they are seeking an injunction in u.s. district court in montana to stop the hunts . judge donald molloy is reviewing the case , and it 's unclear when he will rule . after their population dwindled in the rockies last century , in part because of practices like trapping , gray wolves were put on the endangered species list . but the population has rebounded , and the u.s. fish and wildlife service delisted the animals and determined that the populations would be healthy enough for hunts to be permitted in idaho and montana , which manage the wolf populations . there are also gray wolves in wyoming , but hunts are not permitted there because of the state 's weak wildlife management , the u.s. fish and wildlife service said . opponents of the hunt say the population is not large and healthy enough to allow hunting .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- as minnesota gears up for its first wolf hunt , advocates of the once-endangered gray wolf are hoping the court will intervene . last week , the center for biological diversity , a national conservation organization , joined the minnesota group howling for wolves in asking the state 's supreme court to stop wolf hunting and trapping this fall . the state 's first regulated wolf season is expected to start saturday , november 3 . the minnesota court of appeals denied the groups ' motion for a preliminary injunction earlier this month because the groups failed to `` demonstrate the existence of irreparable harm to the wolves , '' and consequently , they are asking the state 's supreme court to review the decision . `` rushing to open a hunt this fall , the department -lrb- of natural resources -rrb- slammed the door on meaningful public participation in a controversial management decision about wolf hunting and trapping , '' collette adkins giese , an attorney with the center for biological diversity , said in a statement . `` only by stopping the hunt can we ensure that these state officials follow the law and do their duty to protect our state 's wildlife . '' in a separate legal issue , the humane society and the fund for animals filed notice of their intent to sue the u.s. fish and wildlife service to restore federal protections for great lakes wolves under the endangered species act . the groups also asked minnesota to postpone wolf hunting until the case is decided . `` this is a hunting season , pure and simple . it is recreational killing , '' said howard goldman , the minnesota state director of the humane society . `` wolves are highly intelligent , complex animals that play a very important role in our natural ecosystem . they are not stalks of corn ; they are n't something you could harvest . people care deeply about wolves in the state , and they do n't want wolves to be taken for sport or recreation . '' in minnesota , gray wolves were added to the endangered species list in 1974 when their population dipped to about 750 , according to the minnesota-based international wolf center . gray wolf back from near extinction . today , the international wolf center lists the gray wolf population in the great lakes area as `` increasing/stable . '' gray wolves were removed from federal protection earlier this year , and as a result , the minnesota department of natural resources assumed state management of the species . the state initially had a five-year waiting period for hunting after wolf delisting , but the minnesota legislature knocked that down . `` the u.s. fish and wildlife service put faith in the state wildlife agencies to responsibly manage wolf populations , but their overzealous and extreme plans to allow for trophy hunting and recreational trapping immediately after de-listing demonstrate that such confidence was unwarranted , '' wayne pacelle , the humane society 's president and ceo , said in a statement . the u.s. fish and wildlife service , which would not comment on the pending legal action , said gray wolves are thriving . `` wolves total more than 4,000 animals in the three core recovery states -lrb- michigan , minnesota and wisconsin -rrb- in the western great lakes area , '' said georgia parham , the u.s. fish and wildlife service spokeswoman . `` the region 's gray wolf population and distribution have exceeded recovery goals since at least 2001 and far exceed minimum population goals in each of the three states , '' she said in an e-mail to cnn . cnn photos : trophy hunters chase african wildlife . the minnesota department of natural resources estimates the state 's wolf population to be about 3,000 wolves and says the target harvest of 400 wolves `` is a conservative approach that does not pose a threat to the conservation of the population . '' the wolf hunting and trapping season closes january 31 or whenever the 400 wolves are hunted , whichever comes first . more than 23,000 hunters entered the lottery to participate in the wolf hunting season , and 6,000 licenses will be given out . `` we are confident state and tribal wildlife managers will continue to effectively manage healthy wolf populations , '' parham said . `` the -lrb- u.s. fish and wildlife service -rrb- , as is required under the endangered species act , is monitoring the western great lakes wolf population , and if it appears , at any time , that the status of the gray wolf may again warrant the protections of the endangered species act , the service can initiate the normal or emergency listing process . '' goldman says the humane society 's research demonstrates otherwise . `` we were given an estimate of 3,000 wolves in our state . we are going to have a harvest of 400 . there will be another 300 wolves that will be killed under the depredation programs , and we are estimating another 300 wolves will be killed illegally , so that 's a total of 1,000 wolves already . that 's a third of the wolf population , and many biologists say that the tipping point of when the population begins to decline is 30 % , so we are right there , '' he said . chris niskanen , the communications director for the minnesota department of natural resources , said the state 's wolf population met federal standards for recovery nearly a decade ago and that they have some of the highest wolf densities they have ever had . as the wolf population rises , so do human-wolf conflicts . in general , wolves mainly prey on deer , moose and beaver , but the international wolf center says that wherever they coexist , wolves may prey on domestic animals . `` we have a stake in making sure that wolves remain on the landscape here . it is a high priority for us , '' niskanen said . `` in addition to that mission , our job is to reduce human-wolf conflicts . '' `` we hope that this first hunting and trapping season will give us a lot of information , '' he added , `` so we can manage the wolves ' population and reduce conflicts at the same time . '' but goldman holds a different opinion . `` the only reason there is a wolf harvest is to satisfy hunters , they are having the hunt for trophies , for sport , '' he said . `` we are saying , stay back , what 's the rush , they were just delisted , study this population . we have to err on the side of the caution . this is a population that was driven virtually to extinction . ''<doc-sep>by . lydia warren . published : . 08:02 est , 30 october 2013 . | . updated : . 09:20 est , 30 october 2013 . cages designed to protect children from mexican gray wolves at new mexico 's bus stops have come under fire for demonizing the endangered animals , which have never attacked anyone in the state . environmentalists argue the wooden and mesh cages erected in the town of reserve a decade ago are only furthering the misunderstanding of the animals , their behaviors and the dangers they pose . but supporters of the cages - including residents and conservative anti-government organizations - insist that the animals , which were reintroduced to the area in 1998 , pose a very real threat . the debate has resurfaced because the u.s. fish and wildlife service proposes to extend endangered species act protections for around 75 wolves left in new mexico and arizona . necessary ? children stand in a wolf cage in reserve , new mexico . environmentalists say the cages , designed to protect against the mexican gray wolf , give the wrong impression about the animals . the fws is also seeking to make it illegal to kill . wolves in most situations and would greatly expand the area . where wolves can exist without interference , foxnews.com reported . to many conservatives in the area , the proposals are simply examples of meddling government officials who do not know what it is like to live with wild wolves . ranchers are now battling the extension , claiming the animals should be hunted . anti-wolf campaigns are underway , portraying the animal as a savage beast that stalks and preys on children . the opinion has led to scores of illegal killings of the wolves over the past two decades . carolyn nelson , a teacher in catron county where the cages have been built , said even more needs to be done to protect the town 's children . danger ? the u.s. fish and wildlife service is proposing to extend endangered species act protections for 75 mexican gray wolves in new mexico and arizona - but residents say they 're a threat . the mexican gray wolf , a subspecies of the gray wolf , is the world 's most endangered wolf . they typically prey on elk and deer , but are also known to eat rabbits and squirrels . after the species was wiped out in the u.s. , they were bred in captivity and reintroduced to the wild in arizona and new mexico in 1998 . there are now only around 75 in the states . in the past four decades , there have been just three documented wolf attacks on humans in north america - and none of these were by the mexican gray wolf . the attacks took place in canada and alaska , not the west . likewise , the incidence of wolves killing cattle and sheep is less common than believed . around a third of sheep deaths across the country are due to predators and just 0.4 per cent of those attacks are by wolves , according to the national agricultural statistics service . interestingly , domestic dogs are responsible for almost 20 times more sheep deaths . in cattle deaths , wolves kill fewer cows than coyotes , domestic dogs , cougars and vultures . nevertheless , residents of new mexico towns such as reserve - where the cages are found - say the animals have stalked and cornered their children , spreading fear in the community . she told the los angeles times that seven years ago her son , then 14 , came across three wolves while out walking and backed against a tree as the animals circled him . he cocked his gun and the wolves ran off , but ` it was a miracle he was n't killed , ' nelson said . caren cowan , the executive director of the . new mexico cattle growers ' association , said that the wolves were bred in . captivity and reintroduced into the wild , leaving them unafraid of people . ` in . catron county , the wolves were following some kids home from schools , . some of them could no longer walk to the bus stop like they used to , ' cowan told foxnews.com . ` they are a constant problem and we spend a . great deal of time and effort on this issue . ' the approximately 20 cages in reserve were installed on the orders of reserve independent schools , catron county sheriff shawn menge said . she explained how earlier this year , one of the wolves frightened a mother and her son near a bus stop . when she tried to make it leave , it moved towards the mother instead , she said . the fish and wildlife service removed the young male wolf by shooting it with an arrow , but the story quickly spread , unsettling residents . but eva sargent , director of southwest programs for defenders of wildlife , said that keeping the cages was politically motivated , rather than based on safety concerns . while there are some - albeit few - reports of animals attacking livestock , they rarely attack humans . even with the livestock , domestic dogs kill 20 times as many sheep as wolves do , data shows . speaking out : david spady , the producer of an anti-wolf film , said the endangered species act was an example of the government meddling in an issue without knowing how it actually affects people . ` there 's been absolutely zero , nada , zilch attacks on humans by wolves in the southwest , so i think these cages are a reaction to a non-problem , ' sargent told fox . ` for some people , it 's a political ploy to bring attention to other things . a lot of the fear stirred up by these kid cages , at the base of it , is an anti-government fear and the wolves are standing in for that . ' yet , still residents in the west say the decision should be up to them , not washington . ` the wolf is symbolic of a larger fact , ' david spady , the producer of an anti-wolf documentary told the la times . ` the federal government is running roughshod over private property . rights . ` we at the local level believe that we understand the . needs of our place , rather than somebody in washington , d.c. '

<t> gray wolves officially no longer considered endangered . </t> <t> environmentalists fear hundreds of wolves could soon be killed by ranchers . </t> <t> rancher tells cnn the animals threaten his way of life . </t> <t> federal wildlife official : `` the wolf population is fully recovered '' </t>

gray wolf : still endangered ?<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a man who is accused of trying to board an air jamaica flight at orlando international airport with apparent bomb-making materials was taken into custody tuesday . witnesses say the man arrested tuesday was `` rocking left and right and up and down . '' officials said kevin brown , a jamaican national , was acting strangely and caught the attention of an air safety officer at the florida airport . brown was arrested on charges of carrying a weapon or explosives onto a plane , according to the fbi . the bureau said brown , who is in his early 30s , had baggage that concealed two galvanized pipes , end caps , two containers of bbs , batteries , two containers with an unknown liquid , a laptop and bomb-making literature . `` he looked rather crazy , '' a passenger told cnn affiliate wkmg . `` he was rocking left and right and up and down . '' transportation safety administration officials said brown caught the eye of a `` behavior identification officer '' about noon tuesday as brown approached a ticket counter for his planned flight to jamaica . lee kair , the tsa 's federal security director in orlando , said the materials in his bags posed no danger to other travelers . initial record checks indicate that brown was in the united states legally , the fbi said . the fbi and the orlando police department are investigating , kair said . airport officials say several ticket counters were shut down during the incident and 11 flights were delayed . airport spokeswoman carolyn fennell said air jamaica , air canada , west jet and frontier flights were among those delayed . `` things are slowly returning to normal , '' fennell said , adding that the terminal where brown was apprehended was operating normally by 3 p.m. kair said that behavior identification officers like the one who spotted brown are plain-clothes officers trained to watch for suspicious behavior at airports . `` when people are doing things that are deceptive , they exhibit behaviors that are involuntary , '' he said . `` our officers are very well trained to identify these behaviors . '' brown is scheduled for an initial appearance in federal court in orlando on wednesday . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the san francisco man arrested after what the fbi says are bomb-making materials were found in his home was charged tuesday with possession of an illegal destructive device . ryan kelly chamberlain ii was unemotional during the 15-minute hearing in u.s. district court in san francisco . judge nathaniel cousins ordered a status conference in the case for wednesday and a detention hearing thursday . chamberlain , 42 , was arrested monday night at crissy field , a scenic waterfront area popular with tourists where golden gate bridge spans the pacific entrance to san francisco bay . authorities had been looking for him after searching his neighborhood saturday on a tip that he had `` items of great concern '' at his home , fbi special agent in charge david johnson told reporters . according to an affidavit filed sunday by agents seeking an arrest warrant , bomb technicians found a glass jar with batteries and a powdery , green substance inside ; a model rocket motor ; ball bearings and screws ; an igniter for home-made bombs ; a conductive wire ; and a circuit board that could act as a remote-controlled receiver . the green powder was explosive material , says the affidavit , signed by special agent michael p. eldridge . the circuit board would have allowed someone to set off the device `` for afar , '' the filing says without elaborating on how far away someone could have been and detonated a bomb . there is no mention of ricin being found , contradicting some media reports .<doc-sep>threatening : geoffrey mcgann , 49 , of rancho palos verdes was arrested at oakland international airport after found wearing a watch that looked like a timing device for an explosive . police claim to have foiled a terror threat after arresting a man as he attempted to board a plane with what they say were bomb-making materials hidden inside a homemade wristwatch . but geoffrey mcgann claims he is an artist and insists the bizarre timepiece is nothing more sinister than an art project . the 49-year-old from the los angeles suburbs was taken into custody at oakland . international airport on thursday night with what appeared to be a . potential triggering device for a bomb . ` the watch had on it a toggle switch , a series of fuses , a series of wires protruding from it , a circuit board and the watch itself was on a direct timer , ' alameda county sheriff 's sergeant j.d. nelson said . tsa agents said they became suspicious of mcgann when he tried to get the object through airport security by putting it in a bin covered by his jacked . sgt nelson said that was just one of many irregularities which led officers to be disturbed by his demeanour and attire . ` he was wearing a military style shirt that has a built-in tourniquet in the sleeves , ' he said . mcgannwas also wearing shoes two sizes too big and packed with layers of insoles - an eery similarity to the explosive device worn by the 2001 shoe bomber , richard reid . scroll down for video .<doc-sep>kiev , ukraine -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- ukraine opened an investigation into a terrorist threat after friday 's hijack attempt by a ukrainian man on a turkish airliner , the country 's chief of investigations , maksym lenko , told reporters saturday . the suspect said there was `` a bomb on board , '' turkish officials said , and he tried to divert the plane to sochi , russia -- the site of the winter olympics . the ukrainian foreign ministry said no explosives or guns were found on board . the man , who was not named by ukrainian authorities , is from the ukrainian city of kharkov , where he bought a plane ticket and boarded the pegasus airlines flight that left for istanbul on friday afternoon with 110 passengers on board , lenko said .<doc-sep>once the plane landed in memphis and manguel was hauled away by authorities as all the passengers were ushered out , bomb-sniffing canines were brought aboard . ` the fbi showed up and put a bomb-sniffing dog on the plane and we were told the plane had to be searched by this bomb-sniffing dog because the passenger had reported that there were some explosives on-board , ' passenger brent mccowan told wreg . all 140 passengers were seriously inconvenienced by the manguel , who 's been charged by federal authorities with interfering with a flight crew . however , mccowan said the flight crew handled the situation perfectly . ` there was no panic . there were no screams . there were no cries , ' he said . ` the flight attendant did a great job with the way he handled the situation . ' manguel now faces federal charges for interfering with a flight crew . the plane eventually made it to new york via newark airport .

<t> new : fbi : kevin brown accused of carrying a weapon or explosives onto a plane . </t> <t> the jamaican national tried to board an air jamaica flight at orlando airport . </t> <t> official says suspicious items posed no immediate danger to other travelers . </t> <t> some ticket counters were shut down , and 11 flights were delayed . </t>

fbi : man tried to board plane with bomb materials<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the dalai lama friday rejected a series of allegations from the chinese government , saying he does not seek the separation of tibet and has no desire to `` sabotage '' the olympic games . chinese authorities have blamed followers of the dalai lama for instigating the unrest that has swept tibet . issuing a statement while traveling in new delhi , india , the spiritual leader of tibetan buddhists called on china `` to exercise wisdom and to initiate a meaningful dialogue with the tibetan people . '' beijing has blamed the dalai lama and his followers for violence that erupted amid protests for tibetan independence earlier this month , but china has drawn international criticism for its crackdown on the protests that began peacefully . president bush said friday he `` urged restraint '' during a phone conversation with chinese president hu jintao earlier this week , and noted `` that it 's in his country 's interest '' for the government to have representatives `` sit down again with representatives of the dalai lama . '' australian prime minister kevin rudd , appearing with bush at the white house , also called for meetings between the two sides . `` it 's absolutely clear that there are human rights abuses in tibet . that 's clear-cut . we need to be up-front and absolutely straight about what 's going on . should n't shilly-shally about it , '' rudd said . tibet 's government in exile has said the death toll from the protests has reached about 140 over the past two weeks , but china 's government restrictions have made it difficult to confirm that number . chinese authorities put the death toll at 19 and said most of those killed were `` innocent victims '' -- han chinese targeted by tibetans . `` i am deeply saddened by the loss of life in the recent tragic events . i am aware that some chinese have also died . i feel for the victims and their families and pray for them , '' the dalai lama said in his written statement friday . he added that there is an `` urgent need to seek a peaceful and mutually beneficial solution through dialogue . even at this juncture i have expressed my willingness to the chinese authorities to work together to bring about peace and stability . ''<doc-sep>he noted repeatedly that he is not a `` separatist . '' `` chinese brothers and sisters , i assure you i have no desire to seek tibet 's separation . nor do i have any wish to drive a wedge between the tibetan and chinese peoples , '' he wrote . instead , protesters seek `` meaningful self-rule '' while remaining a part of china , he added . and , he said , `` despite my repeated support for the beijing olympics , the chinese authorities , with the intention of creating a rift between the chinese people and myself , the chinese authorities assert that i am trying to sabotage the games . '' the protests -- which began on the 49th anniversary of a failed tibetan uprising -- have threatened to overshadow beijing 's role as host of the summer olympic games in august . in his statement , the dalai lama complained the chinese state-run media 's coverage `` of the recent events in tibet , using deceit and distorted images , could sow the seeds of racial tension with unpredictable long-term consequences . this is of grave concern to me . '' china 's state-run media , however , have accused some western news agencies -- including cnn -- of distorting coverage of the riots to make china look bad and the protesters look like innocent victims . a headline friday on the english web site of china 's official xinhua news agency read '' ` anti-cnn ' web site reflects chinese people 's condemnation . '' the article offered a link to a site in which chinese bloggers criticize cnn 's coverage . in a statement , cnn said , `` we have provided comprehensive coverage of all sides of this story , '' adding that the network 's `` reputation is based on reporting global news accurately and impartially . '' read the full statement . earlier this week , china offered some media organizations -- not including cnn -- a carefully managed tour of tibet 's capital , but ran into a public-relations roadblock when a group of buddhist monks began screaming protests at a holy shrine . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>`` the dalai lama stated that he is not seeking independence for tibet and hopes that dialogue between his representatives and the chinese government can soon resume , '' the white house said . american support of the dalai lama has long been a subject of contention in u.s.-china relations . chinese officials view the religious leader as a separatist . the issue of tibet is one that `` involves china 's sovereignty and territorial integrity , '' foreign ministry spokesman hong lei said in a statement released before the meeting . `` we oppose foreign leaders meeting with the dalai lama in any format . '' the strong objection to the meeting continued after it was over .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- president obama met with the dalai lama -- the exiled tibetan spiritual leader -- at the white house on thursday despite strong objections from chinese government officials . the meeting has the potential to further complicate sino-u.s. tensions , which have been rising in recent months . china has warned it would damage beijing 's ties to washington . `` the chinese side expresses strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to this meeting , '' a spokesman for china 's foreign ministry said in a statement afterward . `` china demands the u.s. seriously consider china 's stance , immediately adopt measures to wipe out the adverse impact , -lsb- and -rsb- stop conniving and supporting anti-china separatist forces . '' the dalai lama has said he favors genuine autonomy for tibetans , not independence for tibet . beijing regards the nobel peace prize laureate as a dangerous `` separatist '' who wishes to sever tibet from china . obama 's meeting with the dalai lama `` runs against the repeated commitments by the u.s. government that the u.s. recognizes tibet as part of china and gives no support to ` tibet independence , ' '' chinese foreign ministry spokesman ma zhaoxu said . during the meeting , obama stressed his `` strong support for the preservation of tibet 's unique religious , cultural and linguistic identity and the protection of human rights for tibetans , '' according to a white house statement . the president praised the dalai lama 's `` commitment to nonviolence and his pursuit of dialogue with the chinese government , '' the statement added . he also stressed the importance of having both sides `` engage in direct dialogue to resolve differences , and was pleased to hear about the recent resumption of talks , '' it noted .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- china says it is opposed to an upcoming meeting between the u.s. president and tibetan spiritual leader , the dalai lama , and is calling on barack obama to cancel the visit . obama will meet with the dalai lama at the white house on saturday , according to a statement . the white house statement went on to say that the visit will highlight obama 's support for dialogue between representatives of the dalai lama and the chinese government . but the issue of tibet is one that `` involves china 's sovereignty and territorial integrity , '' foreign ministry spokesman hong lei said in a statement . `` we oppose foreign leaders meeting with the dalai lama in any format . ''<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the chinese government has made life `` hell on earth '' for tibetans during the half-century since a failed uprising against its rule in 1959 , the dalai lama said tuesday . `` these 50 years have brought untold suffering and destruction to the land and people of tibet , '' the 73-year-old spiritual and political leader of tibetan buddhists said from exile in dharamsala , india . `` today , the religion , culture , language and identity ... are nearing extinction ; in short , the tibetan people are regarded like criminals deserving to be put to death . '' but chinese officials blame the 50-year conflict on the dalai lama , accusing him of seeking an independent tibet . `` the dalai side still insists on establishing a so-called greater tibet on a quarter of china 's territory , '' chinese foreign minister yang jiechi told reporters last week . `` they want to drive away the chinese armed forces on chinese territory and ask all non-tibetans to relocate themselves , people who have long spend their lives in that part of the chinese territory . you call this person a religious figure ? '' yang said china 's `` contradictions '' with the dalai lama `` is not about religious , human rights , ethnic or cultural issues but whether or not china will remain unified . '' watch a former chinese government spokesman discuss tibet '' the dalai lama has repeatedly denied china 's accusations . he says he seeks genuine autonomy for the region -- not independence -- and advocates the `` middle way '' of non-violence . the dalai lama has won a nobel prize for advocating peace and is revered as an iconic figure overseas , but the dalai lama has never been allowed to return to tibet , after fleeing his homeland in 1959 . his emissaries have held sporadic talks with chinese officials . but the talks , encouraged by the united states and other countries , have failed to break the impasse . watch an online address by the dalai lama '' `` looking back on 50 years in exile , we have witnessed many ups and downs , '' the dalai lama said . `` however , the fact that the tibet issue is alive and the international community is taking growing interest in it is indeed an achievement . '' `` i have no doubt that the justice of tibet 's cause will prevail , if we continue to tread the path of truth and non-violence , '' he said . china has ruled tibet since 1951 , a year after sending troops to `` liberate '' the region from what it said was serfdom under the dalai lama . china has decreed that march 28 -- the day the dalai lama fled into exile in india -- is to be celebrated as `` serfs emancipation day . '' watch a recent history of tibet '' in recent years , the region has seen an influx of han chinese and other ethnic groups , enticed by business and job opportunities . although some tibetans have benefited from the economic expansion , others have not . china 's critics complain of `` cultural genocide '' and repression of religious freedom . resentful tibetans say they are often treated as second-class citizens . last march , resentment spilled over when a peaceful protest in the tibetan capital lhasa turned violent , as mobs burned vehicles and shops and attacked ethnic chinese . china blames the dalai lama for inciting protesters -- an allegation he has denied . tibetan exiles say more than 200 people died when chinese security forces clamped down , but beijing denies this , saying 22 people , mostly chinese civilians , died during riots . tension was high ahead of the 50th anniversary . china prohibited journalists from traveling into tibet , but there are reports that extra security troops were deployed to the region to avert a repeat of last year 's unrest .

<t> dalai lama : `` i have no desire to seek tibet 's separation '' </t> <t> dalai lama : protesters seek `` meaningful self-rule '' while remaining a part of china . </t> <t> violence erupted amid protests for tibetan independence earlier this month . </t> <t> bush says he `` urged restraint '' during a phone call with china 's president . </t>

dalai lama pleads for peaceful dialogue on tibet<T>

washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- four people said to have acted on behalf of the earth liberation front have been indicted on a charge of setting fire to an agriculture research building on the michigan state university campus more than eight years ago , authorities announced tuesday . three detroit , michigan , residents and a cincinnati , ohio , resident were named in conspiracy and arson counts for a fire at a campus facility that housed federally funded plant genetic research . officials said the december 31,1999 , fire on the east lansing campus caused more than $ 1 million in damage to facilities and the loss of research records . they also are accused of setting fire the next day to commercial logging equipment near mesick , michigan , in order to sabotage lumbering activity .<doc-sep>`` this investigation has been ongoing for almost a decade , and it should be a reminder to all that the fbi does not allow the passage of time to thwart our ability to apply our full resources to a case , '' said fbi special agent in charge andrew arena . michigan state police chief james dunlap called the case `` a significant act of domestic terrorism . '' `` this was more than an attack on a building and the destruction of valuable property , '' msu president lou anna simon said . `` it was an assault on the core value of free and open inquiry at a research university . '' officials said those named in the indictment are marie mason , 46 , of cincinnati ; and frank ambrose , 33 , aren burthwick , 27 , and stephanie fultz , 27 , all of detroit . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>according to the fbi , the earth liberation front claimed responsibility for burning five townhomes under construction on november 20 , 2005 , in hagerstown , maryland . fire officials investigating the scene determined that kerosene was used as the accelerant in the arson , the fbi said . last year , 10 people , including self-proclaimed members of the elf and members of another organization called the animal liberation front , were convicted for a string of arson fires that totaled more than $ 40 million in damage , according to an august statement by the u.s. justice department . at that time , the court case was called the `` largest ecoterrorism case in u.s. history , '' according to the statement . three others charged in the case are at large and considered international fugitives by the justice department . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- fire engulfed five luxury homes monday morning at a subdivision north of seattle in what could be a case of ecoterrorism , officials said . firefighters attack blazes at luxury homes monday in suburban seattle , washington . a sign with the letters `` elf '' was found at the scene of the fires in the `` street of dreams '' development in woodinville , washington , said chief rick eastman of snohomish county fire district no. 7 . eastman did not say if the sign is believed to be from the earth liberation front , which the fbi has called an ecoterrorist group .<doc-sep>military officials say they have captured scores of rebels and handed them over to police . no truce : army , islamic militants fight on in philippines . the unrest has also closed schools and businesses . hundreds of houses have caught fire during the fighting . authorities have accused the rebels of deliberately starting the fires . the rebels are believed to be a faction of the moro national liberation front , a separatist movement founded in 1971 by nur misuari with the aim of establishing an autonomous region for muslims in the mainly catholic philippines . the mnlf signed a peace deal with the central government in manila in 1996 , but some of its members have broken away to continue a violent campaign . last month , misuari issued a `` declaration of independence '' for the moro nation -- referring to mindanao 's indigenous muslim population -- after complaining that the mnlf had been left out of a recent wealth-sharing agreement with another insurgent group , the moro islamic liberation front , which has fought for decades to set up an independent islamic state on resource-rich mindanao . cnn 's elizabeth joseph contributed to this report .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a group cited by u.s. officials as a domestic terrorism threat claimed responsibility friday for knocking down two radio station towers in snohomish county , washington . much of the tower system , owned by radio station krko , was `` flattened like a pancake , '' the manager said . the earth liberation front -lrb- elf -rrb- issued a statement saying opponents of the towers argue that `` am radio waves cause adverse health effects including a higher rate of cancer , harm to wildlife , and that the signals have been interfering with home phone and intercom lines . '' `` when all legal channels of opposition have been exhausted , concerned citizens have to take action into their own hands to protect life and the planet , '' jason crawford , a spokesman for the group , said in a news release . members of elf have been sentenced for acts of domestic terrorism in the past .

<t> 3 michigan residents and an ohio resident named in conspiracy , arson counts . </t> <t> they are said to have set fire to an agriculture research building at michigan state . </t> <t> fire nine years ago caused $ 1 million in damage and loss of research records . </t> <t> michigan state police chief called fire ' a significant act of domestic terrorism ' </t>

officials : earth liberation front members indicted in fire<T>

-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- bolivian president evo morales plans to sign legislation friday scheduling a may 4 referendum on a new constitution , the bolivian information agency reported . bolivians celebrate thursday in la paz after congress decides to call for a referendum on a new constitution .<doc-sep>the move comes after the bolivian congress decided thursday in a raucous session to let people nationwide vote on the controversial plans . the proposed constitution would strengthen the country 's indigenous majority but has faced fierce opposition from nonindigenous bolivians , including those in four provinces whose governors have declared autonomy .<doc-sep>hundreds jammed streets thursday outside the congressional building in la paz to prevent opposition legislators from entering . video footage broadcast on cnn en español showed people pushing , shoving and hitting others . watch as the crowds block the opposition '' congress made its decision to hold a referendum `` with a reduced presence of opposition lawmakers , '' the bolivian news agency said .<doc-sep>opposition legislators decried the move as `` illegal , '' the agency said , but supporters of morales welcomed it . `` now it is the bolivian people who will decide with their vote whether to approve or reject the new constitution , '' said vice president alvaro garcia linera , according to the bolivian information agency . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>morales decreed in 2007 and 2008 that the government should nationalize various petroleum companies . his actions friday came less than 48 hours before bolivians vote sunday on a new constitution that would give the central government more power and control .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- bolivians are widely expected to approve a new constitution sunday that would allow leftist president evo morales to run for another term this year , which he ca n't do under the current document . the new constitution would eliminate term limits and allow president evo morales to run again for president . the new constitution would replace the 1967 charter and give greater voice to the indigenous people who make up most of the country . it would also give more power to the central government . morales , speaking at rallies in la paz and cochabamba this week , said the new document will propel the nation . `` once approved , this will be the refoundation of bolivia and the refoundation of a new state where there will be equality and we will all have the same rights and the same obligations , '' he said . others say the referendum is a way for morales to keep himself in power , a move that could plunge the country into further violence , division and uncertainty . that effort , critics say , is in ample evidence as some regions fight to break away and as the deaths of up to 30 peasant government supporters a few months ago led to accusations of a right-wing massacre . `` what will be opened is a new chapter of violence , '' said carlos toranzo , an investigator in la paz with the friedrich ebert foundation , a policy institute associated with the social democratic party of germany . as campaigning on sunday 's referendum came to a close thursday with massive festive rallies for each side , bolivians gave voice to the chasm that separates them . `` what this constitutional project does is divide us , '' said fernanda san martin , who was at the final opposition rally in the city of santa cruz . `` what it does is feed hate and racism in the country . '' efrain tico quispe , at a rally in favor of the new constitution , sees it from a different perspective . `` for them , it 's division . it does n't benefit them , '' he said . `` but for humble people of our class , it serves us well . '' the referendum has two parts : a straight yes-or-no vote on adopting the new constitution and a question asking bolivians whether the maximum amount of private property that can be owned should be 5,000 or 10,000 hectares -lrb- 12,355 or 24,710 acres -rrb- .<doc-sep>the wide-ranging constitution would give the government a greater role in the economy and more control over natural resources , broaden nationalization of private industries and increase the rights of indigenous people . the new document also would eliminate term limits for all elected offices and would allow the president to run for re-election to a second consecutive five-year term . the current constitution limits the president to one five-year term . under provisions of the new constitution , current terms would not be counted , so morales could run in december and in 2014 . in return for support for the constitution , morales reportedly has agreed not to run in 2014 if he wins this year . but morales , who was elected in december 2005 by the largest margin since civilian rule was restored in 1982 , would still be in office for nine years . that part bothers those who see the vote as a way for morales to keep himself in power . peter hakim , president of the inter-american dialogue policy institute in washington , warns against politicians `` who use democracy to concentrate power . '' sunday 's vote comes after a long and troubled path that saw the referendum postponed three times . morales , who campaigned on a promise to change the constitution , convened a constitutional assembly in july 2006 , with a referendum scheduled for august 2007 . the assembly did not have a draft document ready until december 2007 . after much wrangling and accusations that opponents were locked out of crucial votes , the bolivian congress approved a referendum in february 2008 , scheduling it for may . but the government suspended that vote in march because some of the nation 's nine departments , or states , wanted to hold local referendums on greater autonomy during the may balloting . in august , morales said the referendum would be held in december . that vote also was postponed after unrest in pando department in which pro-government peasants were killed . in october , an agreement was reached to hold the referendum january 25 , 2009 . hakim and others understand why many bolivians are eager for the vote , particularly in a country with 85 percent indigenous or mestizo lineage and only 15 percent white .<doc-sep>la paz , bolivia -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- bolivian president evo morales nationalized the chaco petroleum company friday , taking over the bp subsidiary with the military on standby . bolivian leader evo morales speaks before parliament thursday in the capital , la paz . `` with this decree , '' morales said in a nationally televised address from an oil field in cochabamba , `` we nationalize all the petroleum business in chaco for all bolivians . '' chaco is jointly owned by pan american energy and the bolivian pension fund , each with a 50 percent stake , bp spokesman david nicholas said from great britain . bp owns 60 percent of pan american energy , and bridas corp. owns the other 40 percent , nicholas said . nicholas declined comment on the nationalization . `` we are aware of the presidential decree but can not comment , '' he said . `` we support pan america 's energies with any discussions they have with the bolivian government . '' morales wore a white safety helmet with the words `` chaco nationalized '' printed on the front when he made his announcement . the bolivian president guaranteed the petroleum workers that their jobs will be safe . formed in 1997 , chaco employs about 90 bolivians , the company says on its web site . chaco is dedicated to the exploration and production of hydrocarbons , bp says . morales decreed in 2007 and 2008 that the government should nationalize various petroleum companies . his actions friday came less than 48 hours before bolivians vote sunday on a new constitution that would give the central government more power and control .

<t> bolivian congress decides to let people vote on new constitution on may 4 . </t> <t> proposed constitution would strengthen bolivia 's indigenous majority . </t> <t> bolivian president evo morales is set to sign the legislation . </t> <t> opposition lawmakers with `` reduced presence '' in congress decry move as `` illegal '' </t>

bolivians to vote on new constitution in may<T>

havana , cuba -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- cuban president raul castro is taking over leadership of a country whose government believes its citizens are not working hard enough . raul castro was chosen sunday to take over cuba 's presidency from his brother , fidel castro . the state-run newspaper recently ran an article headlined `` work : option or necessity ? '' the writer pointed out that , judging by the number of people in the streets during the day , many cubans do n't seem to be on the job . they have few motivations to buckle down : salaries average about $ 15 per month on the island , and cubans get monthly food rations even if they do n't work . watch a report on the realities in cuba '' `` there is a strong desire to protect and to gradually increase the incomes and savings of the population , particularly of those least favored , '' said raul castro , 76 . the black market is so widespread that cubans have coined a special term for breaking the law to make ends meet : `` resolver '' -- literally , `` to resolve . '' see cuba through i-reporters ' eyes '' the new president , who took the reins of power sunday from his ailing brother , fidel , 81 , has said the country must become more productive . `` the country 's priority will be to meet the basic needs of the population , both material and spiritual , based on the sustained strengthening of the national economy and its productive basis without which , i 'll say it again , development would be impossible , '' raul castro said in a speech sunday . cubans , too , are calling for reforms , though not all of them related to productivity . in a recent video that has made the rounds on the internet , a student poses tough questions to the president of cuba 's national assembly , asking why cubans can not travel freely to resorts -- a practice derided by critics as `` tourist apartheid . '' though such a public display of discontent is rare , the video echoed sentiments often voiced in private for years , particularly since the fall of the soviet empire in 1991 and , with it , the loss of billions of dollars in subsidies . cuban officials counter that cubans are not granted access to the nation 's most luxurious spots because they do not have the foreign exchange brought by the tourists and needed to run the country 's social programs , such as free health care and education . with a new president steering the island nation for the first time in 49 years , some cubans have allowed their expectations to rise . `` i think those expectations are really very large indeed and it 'll be the achilles heel , potentially , of this new government if it does n't attack them with some vigor , '' said hal klepak , a professor of history and warfare studies at the royal military college of canada in kingston , ontario . indeed , castro has promised to move within a few weeks to improve efficiency by cutting some of the red tape that can frustrate the most fervent of revolutionaries . but wayne s. smith , a senior fellow at the center for international policy in washington and chief of the u.s. interests section in havana from 1979 to 1982 , predicted sunday in an editorial in the atlanta journal-constitution that raul castro will not break strongly from his brother 's policies . `` rather , we will see a peaceful transition and the existing system remain largely intact , '' smith predicted . still , changes are inevitable , he said . `` raul castro has called for a nationwide debate on the country 's economic future and for cubans to propose reforms in group discussions . `` he has also called for new proposals to raise productivity , including discussion of more private ownership of land . the cuban people want change , want reforms that will bring about a better way of life . '' smith credited the younger castro 's leadership over the past 1 1/2 years , while serving as acting president , with having already resulted in `` a greater openness , and open criticism of certain government programs . '' but the degree of change remains uncertain , as does the possibility that `` even from the shadow fidel will try to discourage reforms , '' he said , adding `` the prognosis , nonetheless , is hopeful . '' see a timeline of castro 's rise to power '' the u.s. government 's former man in havana recommended current politicians exert pressure on the island with a light touch . `` we could accomplish far more by reducing tensions and beginning a meaningful dialogue , '' he said . `` raul castro has several times suggested such a dialogue . why not take him up on it ? we have disagreements , yes , but how do we resolve them without talking ? '' e-mail to a friend . cnn 's morgan neill contributed to this story .<doc-sep>havana , cuba -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- fidel castro threw his support behind his younger brother and successor , president raul castro , in some of his most explicit comments yet about the state of affairs in cuba . in a meeting with students , castro said he was `` pleased , because the country is working , despite all of the challenges , '' according to state-run website cubadebate . raul castro has begun a radical shakeup of the soviet-style economic model , announcing the elimination of 1 million state jobs and the expansion of private business . he called for a meeting of the communist party next april , the first congress in almost 14 years - to decide how to `` modernize '' the economy without giving up on socialism .<doc-sep>havana , cuba -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- cuba marked the 58th anniversary of the start of fidel castro 's revolution tuesday , without a speech from his younger brother , current president raul castro . instead , cuba 's vice president took the podium to talk about economic challenges ahead but did not reveal any new details about reforms under way to allow more private enterprises and shrink the role of the state . `` we are not applying patches or improvising , but looking for permanent solutions to old problems , '' 80-year-old vice president jose ramon machado ventura told crowds in the eastern cuban city of ciego de avila . the national day of rebellion has traditionally been used by fidel or raul castro to make major announcements or set policy . but this is the second year in a row that the vice president has delivered the main speech at the celebration , which commemorates fidel castro 's first attack on an army barracks . the attack failed , but it marked the start of his armed revolution .<doc-sep>havana , cuba -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- thousands packed havana 's revolution square on saturday for international workers ' day , drawing hordes of cuban demonstrators , spectators , and trade unionists from around the world -- including the united states and the united kingdom . `` i 've never seen anything like it , '' said brian hattsberger , a british labor unionist in attendance , wiping the sweat from his brow with his red labor hat . `` it 's just amazing . '' for years , since cuba 's bearded revolutionaries toppled dictator fulgencio batista over half a century ago , residents have gathered in havana on may 1 to listen to hours-long speeches from their former president , fidel castro . the elder castro made his last showing in 2006 before stepping down because of illness , at first temporarily and then permanently , leaving the reins to his younger brother , raul . since then , neither castro has made a major speech on may day . this year was no different . in a carefully choreographed show of force , thousands took to the streets , carrying placards with the faces of che guevara , fidel castro and raul castro , and waving cuban flags as they sang and sweated beneath the hot caribbean sun .<doc-sep>havana , cuba -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- raúl castro has lived all his life in the shadow of his older brother fidel . raúl castro has a reputation for ruthlessness but pushed for a move toward more capitalism in cuba . even when fidel castro underwent intestinal surgery in 2006 and raúl castro became cuba 's acting president , raúl did n't make a public appearance for two weeks , until after photos assured the country that fidel was alive . smaller , less imposing and less charismatic than his brother , raúl castro has known for years that he was the man designated to take over . yet the world knows fairly little about the longtime cuban defense minister -- or what he would do as cuba 's new president . `` is there going to be a transition here toward something ? '' raúl castro once commented to reporters asking about post-fidel cuba . `` yes , toward a better form of socialism and -- here 's something you 'll like -- toward a more democratic society . '' what did he mean by `` more democratic society '' ? the world may soon know . watch how raúl castro has helped shape cuba '' on tuesday , fidel castro announced plans to resign as president and commander-in-chief of the country 's armed forces after 49 years in power . it 's widely expected that raúl castro will be named as the country 's new president when the 31-member council of ministers meets sunday . always together . fidel and raúl castro planned the cuban revolution together .

<t> cuban president raul castro says the country must become more productive . </t> <t> castro has promised to improve efficiency by cutting some red tape . </t> <t> expectations rise as a new president leads cuba for the first time in 49 years . </t> <t> rare public displays of discontent show frustrations faced by cubans . </t>

castro 's brother faces big challenges in cuba<T>