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(CNN) -- Investigators searching for a missing 8-month-old boy began an intensive excavation and search effort Tuesday at a Texas landfill. "Let me say this, that we do remain hopeful that baby Gabriel is alive," William McManus, chief of the San Antonio Police Department, said at a news conference at the landfill. "We are, however, conducting both a missing persons investigation as well as a homicide investigation," he said, adding that aspects surrounding Gabriel Johnson's disappearance involve elements of a possible homicide. Gabriel has been missing since December 26 and was last seen in San Antonio, with his 23-year-old mother, Elizabeth Johnson, who has refused to disclose information on his whereabouts. She told Gabriel's father she killed the boy and has also said she gave him away to a couple in San Antonio, police say. Johnson drove Gabriel to San Antonio from Tempe, Arizona, and she went to Florida a week later, according to investigators. Johnson was arrested in Florida and extradited to Maricopa County, Arizona, where she remains behind bars, charged with kidnapping, custodial interference and child abuse. A lead prompted investigators to focus on the landfill, which is owned by Republic Services, a waste and environmental services company based in Phoenix, Arizona. The part of the landfill that will be searched has been pinpointed, according to McManus. First, it will take at least six days to remove 45 feet of garbage that has piled up since the time investigators believe evidence may have been dumped in the area. "Once we have removed the debris and have searched our target area, we will begin the arduous task of sifting through layers in the search for possible evidence," McManus said. "This phase will be a long and repetitive cycle. Search teams will be looking for anything of evidentiary value." Cadaver dogs will assist the search teams in the effort, which will be conducted weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., McManus said. He estimated more than 20 people will be involved. Rain would not compromise any evidence but could cause dangerous toxic runoff, which Fire Department and hazardous materials experts would work to contain. San Antonio police have been working with the FBI and Tempe police. They have been looking at every lead and "chasing them down very, very vigorously," McManus said. "We are doing everything that we can to try to track down baby Gabriel, and hopefully we will find that baby alive."
[ "Who said that she had killed him and that she gave him away?", "What cities police are excavating the landfill ?", "What say his mother?", "Who has been missing since December 26?", "Who killed the baby?", "Who is excavating landfill?" ]
[ [ "Elizabeth Johnson," ], [ "San Antonio" ], [ "She told Gabriel's father she killed the boy and has also said she gave him away to a couple in San Antonio," ], [ "8-month-old boy" ], [ "Elizabeth Johnson," ], [ "Investigators" ] ]
8-month-old has been missing since December 26 . His mother has said she killed him and also that she gave him away . San Antonio police are excavating landfill in search after getting a lead .
(CNN) -- Iran could see widespread protests this weekend, as a day of mourning for the most prominent cleric to oppose the regime coincides with the major Shiite holy day of Ashura. Iran -- whose regime exists as an explicitly Shiite Muslim leadership -- may find it politically and culturally difficult to put a lid on the marking of Ashura this year. It falls on Sunday -- which happens to be a week to the day since the death of Grand Ayatollah Hussein Ali Montazeri, a key figure in the 1979 Iranian revolution. Montazeri, who went on to become one of the government's most vocal critics, died December 20. The seventh day after a death is a traditional time for mourning in Islam, giving Iran's opposition two reasons to demonstrate on Sunday, both with impeccable religious justification. But what exactly is Ashura and why does it draw such passionate crowds, some of whom beat themselves until they bleed? The holy day commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, who died in 680 fighting to lead the religion based on the teachings of his grandfather, the Prophet Mohammed. The battle is one of the defining points in the split between the two main branches of Islam, the majority Sunnis and the minority Shiites. Hussein was badly outnumbered when he was killed fighting Yazeed near the city of Karbala, in modern-day Iraq. Shiites commemorate the death of Hussein each year, climaxing on Ashura -- the 10th day of the month of Muharram -- after a 40-day mourning period. While Shiites are a minority among Muslims worldwide, they are the majority in Iraq and Iran, where the day sees tens or even hundreds of thousands of faithful out on the streets. Some of the most dramatic scenes take place in Karbala itself, as Shiites congregate to do symbolic penance for failing to come to Hussein's aid in his uprising against Yazeed. Believers chant, beat their breasts, cut themselves with daggers or swords and whip themselves in synchronized moves. In Iraq under Saddam Hussein, the marking of Ashura was banned for 30 years. (The former dictator was a Sunni.) The first public Ashura demonstrations in Karbala after his fall, in 2004, came under attack by Sunni militants.
[ "in what year its revolution?", "What may Iran find difficult this year?", "What falls one week to the day after the death of Grand Ayatollah?" ]
[ [ "1979" ], [ "put a lid on the marking of Ashura" ], [ "Ashura." ] ]
Iran may find it difficult to put a lid on the marking of Ashura this year . It falls one week to the day after the death of Grand Ayatollah Hussein Ali Montazeri . Montazeri, a key figure from the 1979 revolution, was an opponent of the current regime . Ashura marks the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, grandson of Mohammed .
(CNN) -- Iran has detained six documentary filmmakers on accusations that they worked for the British Broadcasting Corporation's Persian service, activists said on Monday. The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran urged authorities to end the "ongoing intimidation and arrest of filmmakers and journalists" and called on diplomats and journalists in New York to press President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on his country's rights record during his reported visit to New York this week. "These arrests prove yet again that President Ahmadinejad and his intelligence apparatus have no tolerance for independent filmmakers and journalists," Aaron Rhodes, a spokesman for the group, said in a statement. "If the president expects the international community to respect his right to speak in New York, then he should be forced to explain why filmmakers and media are subject to repression in Iran," he added. Citing sources, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said the six documentary filmmakers were detained over the weekend and taken to prison. It said a pro-government news agency accused the filmmakers of working for BBC Persian and spying for the service. The BBC said Monday that no one works for the Persian service inside Iran and noted that the arrests came one day after the service broadcast a documentary on Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. The documentary was an in-house production and none of the detained filmmakers worked on it, the BBC reported. In a news story posted on its website, the BBC quoted its language service chief, Liliane Landor, as saying the arrests are part of the "ongoing efforts by the Iranian government to put pressure on the BBC." Also Monday, the Iranian minister of culture and Islamic guidance told the semiofficial Iranian Students' News Agency that the intelligence ministry is responsible for providing details on the filmmakers' case. "BBC Farsi was a major actor in the disturbances during and after the elections," Seyed Mohammad Hosseini told the agency, referring to the 2009 presidential elections. "It agitated and guided the people in the hopes to create problems for the country. This is why the representative office of the BBC was shut down in Tehran at that time. Those who are working legally in Iran must now pay close attention and be very careful. We do not plan on supporting a network that engages in anti-Iran activities and works against the interests of the country," he said. That office of the BBC was reopened and remains open. CNN's Shirzad Bozorgmehr contributed to this report.
[ "Which news service were the filmmakers accused of working for?", "What did rights activists say?", "What does the BBC say?" ]
[ [ "British" ], [ "has detained six documentary filmmakers on accusations that they worked for the British" ], [ "no one works for the Persian service inside Iran" ] ]
Filmmakers accused of working for the BBC's Persian service . BBC says no one works for it inside Iran . Rights activists say Iranian government can't tolerate independence .
(CNN) -- Iran is to send a female skier to the Winter Olympics for the first time at next year's Games in Vancouver, Canada, the head of the Islamic Republic's ski federation told state media Monday. Fatemeh Kiadarbandsari, competing at last month's World Ski Championships, in France. The chosen competitor will ski in "full Islamic dress," Iran's National News Agency reported. Three women Fatemeh Kiadarbandsari, Mitra Kalhor and Marjan Kalhor are vying for the place on the national team alongside three male skiers, said Iranian Ski Federation head Isa Saveh-Shemshaki. Trials for the team will be held in December, two months ahead of the event. Iran has sent male athletes to every Winter Games since 1956. Skiing is hugely popular in Iran with some of the region's best slopes in the Zagros Mountains just a two-hour drive from the country's capital Tehran. At weekends during the seven-month ski season it is common to see long queues of traffic on routes to resorts. With a growing ski tourism industry, the price of the sport has steadily increased. But with fewer social restrictions on the pistes than in other areas of Iranian life, the sport remains a popular pursuit for the country's youth. Until recently, many slopes were strictly segregated with men and women skiing on different sides of the mountain. But while it is still illegal to travel in the same chair lift or gondola, the country's strict religious laws are visibly more lax at 3,000 meters. Iran took just three women among 53 athletes to last year's Beijing Olympics but the choice of 19-year-old female rower Homa Hosseini to carry the flag during the opening ceremony infuriated strict Islamists. Current president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who faces an election this year, was forced to back down from an initiative ealry in his current term to encourage female participation in sport because of criticism from the country's religious leaders. One mullah reportedly said that women should not ski because the movement of their knees looked "more like dancing than sport."
[ "what country does she represent", "What is hugely popular?", "who is going to the olympics" ]
[ [ "Iran" ], [ "Skiing" ], [ "Fatemeh Kiadarbandsari," ] ]
Iran set to send female athlete to next year's Winter Olympics for the first time . One female skier, three male skiers will be selected for Iranian Olympic team . Skiing is hugely popular in Iran with resorts just a two-hour drive from Tehran . Male, female skiers allowed to share slopes though not chair lifts, gondolas .
(CNN) -- Iran on Sunday released on bail four journalists and a retired professor whom it had held for two months, the semiofficial Iran Labour News Agency reported. The five prisoners had been held since they were arrested during a December 27 protest, according to ILNA. The journalists are Abdolreza Tajik, Mashallah Shamsolvaezin, Behrang Tonkaboni and Mohammad Javad Mozafar, who is also a prisoners' rights activist, ILNA said. The news agency reported that the retired professor is Mohammad Sadeq Rabani. Separately, ILNA reported that Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafari Doulatabadi said Sunday that "detainees of recent unrest will be released due to the upcoming Iranian new year," which falls on March 21. At the same time, ILNA quoted Doulatabadi as saying that those arrested on the Muslim holy day of Ashura, when the five prisoners freed on bail Sunday were rounded up, could face stiff penalties later. "The judiciary will imply more strict policies, and those who were arrested on Ashura Day will be confronted heavily by the judiciary," he said. Mozafar and Tajik were released on $100,000 bail, according to Parleman News, the Web site of the minority reformists of the parliament. It did not mention the bail amount for the other two journalists. CNN was not immediately able to independently verify the bail amount. The protests around Ashura were Iran's deadliest clashes since protests broke out last summer after incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claimed more than 62 percent of the vote in national elections. At least seven people were killed and hundreds were arrested on Ashura, witnesses said. The Iranian government has denied that its security forces killed anyone, blaming reformists for the violence. Doulatabadi, the Tehran prosecutor, said Sunday that the judiciary and police forces will be on high alert near the Iranian new year. The judiciary and police will "confront those who disturb the norms of society with high explosives," he said. The five prisoners were released Sunday from Tehran's Evin prison. ILNA did not release the professional affiliations of the journalists, but they were listed on opposition Web sites. According to some main opposition Web sites, Tajik is an editor for Farheekhtegan, a weekly magazine, and a freelance journalist. Shamsolvaezin has edited many of post-revolutionary Iran's first independent newspapers, including Kayhan, Jame'eh, Neshat and Asr-e Azadegan, according to opposition sites. Many of those have been closed down. Tonkaboni is the editor of the magazine Farhang va Ahang, or Culture and Music, according to opposition sites. Javad Mozafar is publishing director of Kavir, a publishing house, and vice president of the Committee for the Defense of Prisoners' Rights, according to opposition sites. Sadegh Rabbani is a retired science professor at the University of Tehran, according to opposition sites.
[ "On what date did the protests take place?", "for what reason wer they held", "Who was released on bail", "Who was held since arrest", "What did the prosecutor suggest would happen to the detainees?", "what were they protesting", "How many journalists were released on bail?" ]
[ [ "December 27" ], [ "protest," ], [ "four journalists and a retired professor" ], [ "The five prisoners had been" ], [ "will be released" ], [ "Ashura" ], [ "four" ] ]
Four journalists, professor released on bail, Iran Labour News Agency reports . Five held since arrests during a December 27 protest, ILNA reported . Report: Prosecutor suggests detainees of 'recent unrest' will be released .
(CNN) -- Iran should release seven Baha'i prisoners accused of espionage because it does not have any evidence against them, their lawyer Shirin Ebadi told CNN on Saturday. Attorneys Abdolfattah Soltani, left, and Shirin Ebadi, shown in Tehran in 2004. "In the files, in the case basically, there is nothing, no reason that basically convicts them," said Ebadi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. The trial will begin Tuesday despite the fact that one of their lawyers is behind bars and Ebadi is outside the country. Other attorneys can be appointed, Hassan Haddad of the Prosecutor's Office in Tehran told the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency. But the court must recognize the replacements, who are colleagues of Ebadi at her Tehran-based Defenders of Human Rights Center, not appoint other lawyers, Ebadi said. The imprisoned lawyer, Abdolfattah Soltani, is a well-known advocate with the human rights center. He was arrested in the aftermath of Iran's disputed June 12 presidential election and is being held at Evin prison, the same place where his clients are detained, according to the International Campaign for Human Rights. He is being held on charges of taking "measures against national security," Ebadi said. "Mr. Soltani is completely innocent." Soltani had an opportunity to leave prison, but under conditions he chose not to accept, Ebadi said. Along with not giving any interviews after his release, Soltani would also have to end his work with the human rights center and no longer support Ebadi, she said. In another attack on the law firm, a lawyer was arrested after agents entered the center with guns, searched each room and then declared that they found opium on the premises, Ebadi said. That lawyer, whose family had been harassed by police, accused the agents of planting the opium, she said. Ebadi was on a speaking tour when Soltani was arrested and has not returned to Iran. The firm founded by Ebadi took up the case of the seven Baha'is last year. They are accused of spying for Israel, spreading propaganda against the Islamic republic and committing religious offenses. The Baha'i International Community, which has a delegation to the United Nations, denies the allegations. The evidence against the defendants includes communication from Israel, but that is because the Baha'i World Center has its headquarters in Israel, said Kit Bigelow, director of external affairs at the American Baha'i Community. Prosecutors are calling that communication espionage, she said. Human rights groups have demanded the release of the prisoners and accused the government of targeting them because of their religious beliefs. The Baha'i faith originated in 19th-century Persia, and while modern-day Iran does not recognize it, the government denies any mistreatment of the members of the largest non-Muslim religious minority. The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran has reported a rise in persecution of Baha'is in recent years, including cemetery desecration, arbitrary detention, home raids, property confiscation, work expulsion and denial of basic civil rights. The case of the seven Baha'is has drawn global attention. Roxana Saberi, the Iranian-American journalist freed from Evin prison earlier this year, spoke on their behalf, as have Human Rights Watch and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent bipartisan federal commission. The defendants face the death penalty if convicted. Six of the defendants were arrested in May 2008 at their Tehran homes, and one was arrested in the eastern city of Mashad in March 2008, said Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations. The defendants were held under solitary confinement for the first five months of their incarceration, she said. The investigation into the charges against the prisoners concluded months ago and the trial was initially scheduled to start in July. Iran has continued to hold them in Evin prison without access to their lawyers and with minimal contact with their families, Ala'i said. CNN's Moni Basu contributed to this report.
[ "Who is to go to trial on Tuesday in Iran?", "What are the Baha'is accused of?", "What day will the prisoners go to trial?", "Where are the defendants' attorneys?", "Where are the defendants?", "What has drawn global attention?", "Who is accused of spying for Isreal?", "What case called the world's attention?", "How many are accused of espionage?", "Case of the seven Baha'is has drawn what?", "What are seven Baha'i prisoners been accused of", "Seven Baha'i prisoners accused of espionage to go on trial when?" ]
[ [ "seven Baha'i prisoners" ], [ "espionage" ], [ "Tuesday" ], [ "at" ], [ "were held under solitary confinement for the first five months of their incarceration," ], [ "The case of the seven Baha'is" ], [ "seven Baha'i prisoners" ], [ "of the seven Baha'is" ], [ "seven" ], [ "global attention." ], [ "espionage" ], [ "Tuesday" ] ]
Seven Baha'i prisoners accused of espionage to go on trial Tuesday in Iran . Baha'is are accused of spying for Israel, spreading propaganda against Iran . One of defendants' attorneys is in jail; another is outside the country . Case of the seven Baha'is has drawn global attention .
(CNN) -- Iran tested a missile-launching system and several types of short- and medium-range missiles Sunday, the state-run Press TV said. A short-range missile is test-launched during war games in Qom, Iran, south of Tehran, on Sunday. Earlier, the country's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had said it would stage missile exercises beginning Sunday to promote the armed forces' defense capabilities. The tests, which are expected to last until Monday, are code-named "Payghambar-e Azam 4" or "The Great Prophet 4," Press TV said. The missiles, fired at targets around the country Sunday, included the Fateh-110, a short-range ground-to-ground missile, and Tondar-69, a short-range naval missile, the station said. Several models of medium-range Shahab missiles were tested at night, Press TV reported. Watch Iranian missile tests » The final stage of the tests will be held Monday morning, when Iran plans to test the long-range Shahab missile, the station said. In May, Iran said it tested a surface-to-surface missile that is capable of reaching parts of Europe. At the time, a White House official said actions in Iran were noteworthy. "Of course, this is just a test, and obviously there is much work to be done before it can be built and deployed. But I see it as a significant step forward in terms of Iran's capacity to deliver weapons," said Gary Samore, special assistant to the president on nonproliferation. The latest test follows Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's disclosure Friday that Iran was building a second uranium enrichment facility. Watch analyst's view on missile tests, nuclear tensions » The United States and Israel believe that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian nuclear energy program. Iran has denied the allegation.
[ "Where can the missile reach?", "What are the code names of the tests?", "What has Iran admitted?", "What did Iran do?", "Who is testing several types of missiles?", "What has Iran fired?", "When did the tests take place?", "What did Iran admit?", "What is the code name for the missile tests?", "who tested the missiles?", "What type of missiles is Iran test firing?", "In which month did Iran test surface-to-surface missiles able to reach Europe?", "Which country are the surface-to-surface missiles capable of reaching?", "what is the code name of the tests?", "What type of range missiles has Iran included in their tests?" ]
[ [ "capable of reaching parts of Europe." ], [ "\"Payghambar-e Azam 4\"" ], [ "tested a surface-to-surface missile that is capable of reaching parts of Europe." ], [ "tested a missile-launching system and several types of short- and medium-range missiles" ], [ "Iran" ], [ "short- and medium-range missiles" ], [ "Sunday," ], [ "it tested a surface-to-surface missile that is capable of reaching parts of Europe." ], [ "\"Payghambar-e Azam 4\" or \"The Great Prophet 4,\"" ], [ "Iran" ], [ "medium-range" ], [ "May," ], [ "parts of Europe." ], [ "are code-named \"Payghambar-e Azam 4\" or \"The Great Prophet 4,\"" ], [ "short- and medium-range" ] ]
NEW: Iran test-fires several types of short- and medium-range missiles . NEW: Tests are code-named "The Great Prophet 4," state-run Press TV says . Missile tests come days after Iran admits existence of second nuclear facility . In May, Iran tested surface-to-surface missile capable of reaching parts of Europe .
(CNN) -- Iran will not send its partially enriched uranium abroad to be turned into material for medical research, its foreign minister said Wednesday, rejecting a key plank of a deal designed to ease international fears that Tehran aims to build nuclear weapons. Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Iran might allow its nuclear material to be reprocessed inside Iran, the semi-official ISNA news agency reported. The deal hammered out last month with the help of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog agency aimed to reduce the amount of raw material Iran has to build a nuclear bomb. Tehran denies that it wants to do so, saying its nuclear program is to produce civilian nuclear energy and do medical work. The watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency said Wednesday that it could not confirm or deny that Iran had rejected any part of the proposal. U.S. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said, "This is the IAEA's proposal, and Iran has to give their response to the IAEA, and that's what we're waiting for. That's what the IAEA is waiting for." But, he said, "until the IAEA gets the response and formally says this is ... Iran's response, I don't consider a statement to the press necessarily a response." On October 1, the IAEA proposal "was accepted in principle by all the parties including Iran," Kelly said. "And there was also an agreement that each of the parties would provide a written response to the proposal. "Russia, France and the United States have provided a written response," he said. "We expect Iran to provide a written response. And we expect the IAEA to pronounce on that response. So we will wait for the IAEA to make a formal response to this." In a report published Monday, the IAEA expressed concerns about Iran's nuclear program. The Islamic republic's disclosure of a previously secret nuclear facility near Qom raised questions about the existence of other such facilities, and its delay in acknowledging the facility "does not contribute to the building of confidence" in Tehran, the IAEA said in the report. Tehran has not convinced the agency its nuclear program isn't military, said the report, published on the Institute for Science and International Security Web site. A source with direct knowledge of the report confirmed its authenticity to CNN. Tehran shocked the international community in September by revealing the existence of the nuclear enrichment facility. On Monday, Kelly said in a statement that the report "underscores that Iran still refuses to comply fully with its international nuclear obligations." IAEA inspectors visited the newly revealed facility last month, according to the report. During a meeting in Tehran, Iranian officials told the inspectors that construction of the site had begun during late 2007, the report said, and it would not be operational until 2011. However, the IAEA inspectors told Iran that "it had acquired commercially available satellite imagery of the site indicating that there had been construction at the site between 2002 and 2004, and that construction activities were resumed in 2006 and had continued to date," the report said. IAEA member states also allege that design work on the facility, the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, began in 2006, the report said. Iranian officials told inspectors that the nation has no other undisclosed nuclear facilities either under construction or in operation, the report said, and promised that any future facilities would be disclosed. A letter sent this month asks Tehran to confirm that it has not decided to construct or authorized construction of any undisclosed facility, the report said. Iran remains bound by the terms of a 2003 agreement under which it must provide information to the IAEA regarding nuclear facilities as soon as the decision to build is made or construction is authorized. "Even if, as stated by Iran, the decision to construct the new facility at the Fordow site was taken in the second half of 2007, Iran's failure to notify the agency of the new facility until September 2009 was inconsistent with its obligations," the IAEA said. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has
[ "who says proposal \"was accepted in principle by all parties including Iran\"?", "what Proposal was key part of deal brokered by U.N.?", "Who is the EU concerned will develop nuclear weapons?", "What does the US say about the proposal?", "Which countries are concerned about Irans intentions?", "What is used for medical research?", "Which country won't send partially enriched uranium abroad?", "who says it won't send partially enriched uranium abroad for medical research?" ]
[ [ "U.S. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly" ], [ "aimed to reduce the amount of raw material Iran has to build a nuclear bomb." ], [ "Iran" ], [ "and Iran has to give their response to the IAEA," ], [ "\"Russia, France and the United States" ], [ "partially enriched uranium" ], [ "Iran" ], [ "Iran" ] ]
Iran says it won't send partially enriched uranium abroad for medical research . Proposal was key part of deal brokered by U.N. nuclear watchdog . U.S. says proposal "was accepted in principle by all parties including Iran" U.S., EU nations concerned Iran intends to develop nuclear weapons .
(CNN) -- Iran's parliament on Thursday approved the Cabinet nominations of a suspected terrorist and the first woman minister in the Islamic republic's 30-year history. Iran's first woman minister Marzieh-Vahid Dastjerdi. She will head the health ministry. Lawmakers approved the nomination of Ahmad Vahidi for its defense minister post. He is a former leader of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and one of six former and current Iranian officials sought by Interpol for the bombing of a Buenos Aires Jewish center 15 years ago. Of those Cabinet choices approved by parliament, Vahidi won the highest number of votes. Argentina's Foreign Ministry has deplored the nomination of Vahidi, who is accused of working with Lebanon's Hezbollah militants in carrying out the 1994 attack. Marzieh-Vahid Dastjerdi was approved as the nation's health minister. She is the first female minister since the Islamic republic was founded. Iranian lawmakers gave their votes of confidence to 18 of the 21 nominees proposed by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad -- who entered a second term of office after a disputed presidential election. Two of those who failed to get the required majority votes enabling them to start work officially were female nominees: Sousan Keshavarz for the education ministry and Fatemeh Ajorlou for welfare and social security. Hundreds of thousands of Iranians took to the streets for more than two weeks to protest the June 12 election results, calling them fraudulent after Ahmadinejad was declared the overwhelming winner. More than 1,000 people were arrested in a government crackdown, and Iran said at least 30 people were killed in post-election violence.
[ "What is the name of the Islamic Republic's first woman minister?", "Who is a former leader of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard?", "Which post was Ahmad Vahidi nominated for?", "What is Vahidi suspected of?", "Who also approved nomination of Ahmad Vahidi?", "Who appointed it's first ever woman minister?" ]
[ [ "Marzieh-Vahid Dastjerdi." ], [ "Ahmad Vahidi" ], [ "defense minister" ], [ "bombing of a Buenos Aires Jewish center 15 years ago." ], [ "Lawmakers" ], [ "Iran's" ] ]
Islamic Republic appoints its first ever woman minister Marzieh-Vahid Dastjerdi . Lawmakers also approve nomination of Ahmad Vahidi for its defense minister post . Vahidi, a former leader of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard is a suspected terrorist .
(CNN) -- Iran's supreme leader on Sunday blasted U.S. plans to overhaul the setup for a missile defense shield in Europe, calling the Obama administration's intentions "anti-Iranian," state-run media reported. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says the U.S. president is following "anti-Islamic and anti-Iranian" policies. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also called Western concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions -- which Tehran says are only for energy purposes -- "purely a fabrication by the United States," according to the Islamic Republic News Agency. "This is something that is in the doctrine of anti-Iranianism, since the policy and the 30-year-old history of the Islamic Republic has proven that Iran wants to live in peace and under the spirit of equality and fraternity, with its Muslim neighbors and the rest of the world," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said. On Thursday, President Obama said the United States is significantly overhauling Bush-era plans for a missile defense shield in Europe, based partly on the latest analysis of Iran's offensive capabilities. The "new missile defense architecture in Europe" will be ready faster, work with existing technology and provide better missile defense than the program proposed by former President George W. Bush, Obama said. Obama said the change of gears was based on an "updated intelligence assessment" about Iran's ability to hit Europe with missiles. The Islamic republic's "short- and medium-range" missiles pose the most current threat, he said, and "this new ballistic missile defense will best address" that threat. Khamenei, speaking on the first day of Eid al-Fitr, a festive end to the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, countered by comparing Obama to his predecessor. "America, under its former president, spared no efforts against the Muslim world as well as against Iran," Khamenei said. "Even the current administration -- with the apparently friendly words and messages -- follows that same anti-Islamic and anti-Iranian policy of the past." The Bush-era proposal called for the United States to set up a radar site in the Czech Republic and 10 missile interceptors in Poland to counter the threat of Iran launching long-range missiles at America's allies in Europe. The new system will have "hundreds" of missile interceptors instead, a Pentagon official said last week. It also will have mobile radars, including some in space, "that can move to wherever the threat actually emanates and wherever we feel we need to defend ourselves," said Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
[ "What did Obama say change is based on?", "What was change based on?", "What did Khamenei say is a fabrication by U.S.?", "What did Khamenei say about Western concerns?", "What is the full name of the organization with the initials \"IRNA\"?" ]
[ [ "the latest analysis of Iran's offensive capabilities." ], [ "\"updated intelligence assessment\" about Iran's ability to hit Europe with missiles." ], [ "Western concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions" ], [ "\"purely a fabrication by the United States,\"" ], [ "Islamic Republic News Agency." ] ]
New U.S. plan is "anti-Iranian," Khamenei says, according to state-run media . Obama: Change was based on updated assessment of Iran's missile capabilities . IRNA: Khamenei says Western concerns over nuclear program "fabrication" by U.S.
(CNN) -- Iran's supreme leader took verbal jabs at the United States Saturday in his first public reaction since the United States accused Iran of plotting to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to Washington. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei labeled the allegations "meaningless and absurd." "They (the U.S.) want to isolate Iran," Khamenei said over chants of "down with America" in a speech before thousands in the western Iranian city of Gilangharb. Also, an Iranian official said claims by the United States that a high-level U.S. diplomat had met Wednesday with an Iranian counterpart over the plot were untrue. "There were no kinds of negotiations between the two countries, and there was not such a contact," said Alireza Miryousefi, press secretary for the Iranian Mission to the United Nations. The United States had reported having had "direct contact with Iran" about the alleged plot. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland disclosed the contact to reporters. A senior administration official told CNN it occurred Wednesday and was initiated by the United States. Two State Department officials said U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice met with Mohammad Khazai, Iran's permanent representative to the United Nations. Ahead of Saturday's rebuttal of the claims of diplomatic contact, Iranian officials had previously declined to confirm the meeting. U.S. authorities have accused Iran of being involved in a plot to kill the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United States, Adel Al-Jubeir, in spring 2012. The alleged scheme involved a connection to the Quds Force, a branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, which formally answers to Khamenei. Manssor Arbabsiar, a 56-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen, and Gholam Shakuri, an Iran-based member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, are accused of conspiring to hire hit men from a Mexican drug cartel to bomb a restaurant, where the ambassador would have been. Authorities developed the case against the suspects with the help of an undercover informant posing as an associate of a Mexican drug cartel, according to officials and an FBI agent's affidavit. Reza Aslan, a religious scholar and author, told CNN on Saturday that the described plot "just does not fit the Quds Force's M.O. (modus operandi)." Using a drug cartel would be risky and a Quds Force agent would be more reliable than Arbabsiar, a used-car salesman in Texas, he said. "It's sloppy. It's uncharacteristic," said Aslan. "It really does not serve Iran's interest in any legitimate way." Iran could more easily target Saudi diplomats in the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere, Aslan said. "Doing so on U.S. soil is unmistakably an attack on the United States, not on Saudi Arabia." CNN's Mitra Mobasherat and Hala Gorani contributed to this report
[ "What does the U.S. allege?", "Scholar says plot does not fit what?", "Does Iranian diplomat say claims are true?", "Ayatollah Khamenei calls the U.S. allegations what?", "What does Khamenei think about the allegations?", "The U.S. alleges Iran was involved in what?", "What does scholar say?" ]
[ [ "accused Iran of plotting to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to Washington." ], [ "the Quds Force's M.O." ], [ "untrue." ], [ "\"meaningless and absurd.\"" ], [ "\"meaningless and absurd.\"" ], [ "plotting to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to Washington." ], [ "Using a drug cartel would be risky and a Quds Force agent would be more reliable than Arbabsiar, a used-car salesman in Texas," ] ]
NEW: Scholar says plot does not fit Quds Force "M.O." Ayatollah Khamenei calls the U.S. allegations "absurd" Iranian diplomat: U.S. claims of a meeting with Iran are not true . The U.S. alleges Iran was involved in a plot to kill a Saudi official in the United States .
(CNN) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday that a new Middle East -- one "without Zionists and without colonialists" -- was quickly emerging as regional bonds grow stronger by the day. The hard-line leader made the comments after a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on Thursday. "The whole world should know that Iran will stand behind the Syrian nation to the end," Ahmadinejad said in remarks aired on Iran's state-run Press TV. "Regional bonds are very strong." His comments came during a two-day visit to Damascus that follows efforts by the United States to weaken ties between Iran and Syria. President Obama recently nominated veteran diplomat Robert Ford to be the new ambassador in Damascus, ending a five-year diplomatic hiatus there and sparking talk of a renewed relationship. But Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has tempered the thawing of relations by saying that Washington remains concerned with Syria's close ties to Iran. "No one has enlightened her to comment on regional issues," Ahmadinejad said, slamming Clinton's statements as interfering. "The whole U.S. government has no impact whatsoever on regional relations." Tensions between Washington and Tehran have risen over Iran's nuclear program, which Iran insists is intended for civilian use but the United States believes is intended for developing weapons. Assad voiced strong support for Iran and brushed off U.S. sentiment. "I find it strange how they talk about Middle East stability and at the same time talk about dividing two countries," he said. The meeting between Assad and Ahmadinejad sparked a harsh reaction from Israeli President Shimon Peres. "The time has come to speak the truth," he said in a written statement. "The problem in the Middle East is not the Palestinians. The Palestinian problem will be resolved through the peace process in Israel. The central problem in the Middle East is Iran's attempt to reach hegemony over the Arab lands." "The source of the problem is Ahmadinejad's megalomania. Assad must choose what he wants -- to join the Iranian camp of evil and terror or to make peace with Israel," he said. He called on Assad to sit down with Israel to reach a peace agreement.
[ "Who is interferring?", "What did Clinton do?", "Who has pledged support?", "Where did U.S. recently send ambassadors?", "What does Assad say about U.S. policy?", "Where did the US send its ambassador?" ]
[ [ "Hillary Clinton" ], [ "tempered the thawing of relations by saying that Washington remains concerned with Syria's close ties to Iran." ], [ "Assad" ], [ "Damascus," ], [ "Middle East stability and at the same time talk" ], [ "Damascus," ] ]
Iran's Ahmadinejad, Syria's Assad pledge mutual support . U.S. recently sent ambassador to Syria for first time in five years . Clinton interferes in the two nations' relations, Ahmadinejad says . U.S. policy is contradictory, Assad says .
(CNN) -- Iranian authorities confiscated the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize given to human rights activist Shirin Ebadi, Norway said Thursday. "The medal and the diploma have been removed from Dr. Ebadi's bank box, together with other personal items. Such an act leaves us feeling shock and disbelief," Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store said in a written statement. Norway did not explain how it had learned of the alleged confiscation, and there was no immediate reaction from Iran. Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a written statement that it "has reacted strongly" and summoned the Iranian charge d'affaires on Wednesday afternoon to protest the move. During the meeting with the Iranian charge d'affaires, State Secretary Gry Larsen also expressed "grave concern" about how Ebadi's husband has allegedly been treated. "Earlier this autumn, he [Ebadi's husband] was arrested in Tehran and severely beaten. His pension has been stopped and his bank account has been frozen," the statement from Norway said. Store said in the statement that it marked the "first time a Nobel Peace Prize has been confiscated by national authorities." The peace prize is one of five awarded annually since 1901 by the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm, Sweden. The other four prizes are for physiology or medicine, physics, chemistry and literature. Starting in 1969, the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel also has been awarded. While the other prizes are awarded by committees based in Sweden, the peace prize is determined by a five-member panel appointed by the Norwegian parliament. Ebadi received the prize for her focus on human rights, especially on the struggle to improve the status of women and children. A statement from the Nobel committee at the time said, "As a lawyer, judge, lecturer, writer and activist, she has spoken out clearly and strongly in her country, Iran, and far beyond its borders."
[ "What was removed from Dr. Ebadi's box?", "Who received a prize for their focus on human rights?", "Who did not explain how they learned of the alleged confiscation?", "Did Norway provide an explanation?", "What has been removed from the bank box", "Who received a prize for her focus on human rights", "What did ebadi get the prize for?" ]
[ [ "\"The medal and the diploma" ], [ "Ebadi," ], [ "Norway" ], [ "not explain" ], [ "\"The medal and the diploma" ], [ "Ebadi" ], [ "her focus on human rights, especially on the struggle to improve the status of women and children." ] ]
Shirin Ebadi received prize for focus on human rights, especially women and children . Norway did not explain how it had learned of the alleged confiscation . The medal and the diploma have been removed from Dr. Ebadi's bank box, say officials .
(CNN) -- Iranian media outlets have "systematically stirred up" widespread contempt toward the country's 300,000-strong Baha'i religious minority, the group says. The Baha'i International Community issued a report Friday entitled "Inciting Hatred: Iran's media campaign to demonize Baha'is." The report "documents and analyzes more than 400 media items over a 16-month period." The result, the Baha'is say, is an "insidious state-sponsored effort" to discredit the Baha'is with "false accusations, inflammatory terminology, and repugnant imagery." Iranians officials at the United Nations and in Tehran could not be reached for comment. Among "recurring themes" in media coverage about Baha'is, the report said, is that they are "anti-Islamic," a "deviant" and "cult-like" sect, agents of Zionism, spies for Israel and the West, morally corrupt and an influence in the shah's government, toppled in 1979. New themes have emerged in recent months, the report says. The report says the Baha'is have instigated opposition to the regime, influenced "anti-regime" Iranian human rights activists, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi, controls or influences foreign broadcasters, such as the BBC and Voice of America, and helped plan and participated in the 2009 Ashura protests against the presidential elections earlier that year. The group also said the media "uses brainwashing to entice Muslims away from their faith," and "security attractive young women to lure converts." "This anti-Baha'i propaganda is shocking in its volume and vehemence, its scope and sophistication," said Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations. "It's all cynically calculated to stir up antagonism against a peaceful religious community whose members are striving to contribute to the well-being of their society," she said. "The parallels between the campaign of anti-Baha'i propaganda in Iran today and other state-sponsored, anti-religious campaigns of the past are undeniable. History shows us that such campaigns are among the foremost predictors of actual violence against religious minorities -or, in the worst case, precursors of genocide." The Baha'i faith, founded during the 19th century in Iran and now with 5 million to 6 million adherents worldwide, is a monotheistic religion that focuses on the spiritual unity of humanity. But Iran's Shiite Muslim ruling ayatollahs regard the faith as blasphemous because its founder, Bahaullah, declared himself to be a prophet of God. Muslims believe the Prophet Mohammed was the last prophet of God. The group said the anti-Baha'i messages are "originates with and are sanctioned by the country's highest levels of leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei." Iran, however, claims that international media are an arm of a Baha'i conspiracy. Those claims are "both ludicrous and funny, if it wasn't so sad," said Mohamed Abdel Dayem, the program coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists' Middle East and North Africa program. "Any international media outlet that carries news that is not identical to the Iranian government's line is accused of being an agent of fill in the blank: The Baha'is, the Americans, the Mossad." The U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom -- an independent, bipartisan federal agency -- regularly documents the Iranian regime's actions toward the Baha'is. A USCIRF official said the Iranian government's media campaign to denigrate and vilify the Baha'i community is part of its long-standing policy to not only incite violence against Baha'is but also to seek a slow death of the community's very existence in the country. "The longer you wear down a community by demonizing them, intimidating them, depriving them, and arresting and imprisoning them - the hope is that you achieve your goal of total eradication," said Dwight Bashir, deputy director for policy and research at USCIRF. The Baha'i report cities more than 200 "specious and misleading articles" by the semi-official Kayhan newspaper. USCIRF also singles out Kayhan. "Among those responsible for this media initiative has been Hossein Shariatmadari, managing
[ "Whose faith is blasphemous?", "what is the media impact?", "Who said the Iranian media are demonizing them?", "who is being demonized?", "What do they believe?", "What do Iran's rulers believe" ]
[ [ "The Baha'i" ], [ "\"systematically stirred up\" widespread contempt toward the country's" ], [ "300,000-strong Baha'i religious minority," ], [ "Baha'is.\"" ], [ "the media \"uses brainwashing to entice Muslims away from their faith,\" and \"security attractive young women to lure converts.\"" ], [ "international media are an arm of a Baha'i conspiracy." ] ]
The Baha'is say Iranian media are demonizing them . Rights groups underscore the report's contentions . Iran's rulers believe the Baha'i faith is blasphemous .
(CNN) -- Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Moussavi plans to form a new political party aimed at reining in the power of the Islamic Republic's leadership, a leading reformist newspaper reported Sunday. Mir Hossein Moussavi is reportedly seeking to form a new political party in Iran. Moussavi told supporters the party will be focused on upholding "the remaining principles of the constitution," according to Etemad-e Melli, a newspaper aligned with fellow opposition candidate Mehdi Karrubi. He is expected to file papers with Iran's Interior Ministry to establish the party before hard-line incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is sworn in for a new term, the newspaper reported. The announcement comes after weeks of protests over Iran's disputed presidential election and an attempted clampdown by Iran's clerical leadership. The clerical leadership has declared Ahmadinejad the winner of that vote. Moussavi, a former prime minister, was the leading challenger to Ahmadinejad in the June 12 balloting. The official results showed Ahmadinejad winning with more than 62 percent of the vote. Moussavi and Karrubi have consistently rejected those results as fraudulent and demanded a new vote. Their supporters turned out in crowds estimated in the hundreds of thousands to demand the results be overturned. Iran's Guardian Council, which oversees the elections, has declared the official count will stand.
[ "who won the election", "who lost in the election", "What does reformist newspapers report?", "Who did Moussavi lose to?", "What did Moussavi's loss lead to?", "Who is to be sworn in?", "What sparked a mass protest?" ]
[ [ "Ahmadinejad" ], [ "Moussavi" ], [ "leader Mir Hossein Moussavi plans to form a new political party aimed at" ], [ "Ahmadinejad" ], [ "form a new political party" ], [ "Mahmoud Ahmadinejad" ], [ "Iran's disputed presidential election" ] ]
Mir Hossein Moussavi seeks to curb power of clerics, reformist newspaper reports . He's expected to file papers to form party before Ahmadinejad is sworn in . Moussavi's loss to President Ahmadinejad in election sparked mass protests in Iran .
(CNN) -- Iranian student Puyan Mahmudian scored the sixth highest marks in his year group in his entrance exam, but was rejected for a Masters degree in chemical engineering at Amirkabir University in Tehran. The problem was not his academic record, but his political background, according to human rights groups, which note that Mahmudian had previously been jailed for being editor of a student magazine that was critical of the government. Mahmudian, now 25, believes he is one of hundreds of so-called "starred students," whom campaigners claim are denied access to university or expelled because of their religious or political beliefs. A report called "Punishing Stars" by the non-governmental organization International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran names 217 students who it says have been deprived of education because of their religion or political activism in the last five years. It says the real number is much higher as many did not want to be named. Many of those listed are members of the Baha'i Faith, the largest religious minority in Iran, with around 300,000 members, according to the official website of the faith in the United States. It says Baha'is have been persecuted in Iran since the faith started there in the mid-19th century. The conservative clergy considers followers of the Baha'i faith to be part of a wayward sect and apostates. Other "starred students" are human rights activists, supporters of women's rights, members of the political opposition and student journalists, campaigners claim. Now, a grassroots campaign, which began in Germany and has spread to other countries around the world, is drawing attention to alleged denial of education in Iran. The campaign, called "Can You Solve This?" publicizes a QR code which, when scanned by smart phones, directs people to a website with an animated video. The QR code has been printed on flyers, banners, pavements and t-shirts in coffee shops, streets and university campuses. In Germany, the QR code was used without any other information to build up mystery around the campaign. Ruha Reyani, a second generation Iranian living in Germany and one of the architects of the campaign, said: "We are at the start of the university year and there's a big push from the Iranian government to use denial of education as a tool of persecution. "We want people to come to take action by sending letters to their political leaders." Events to support the campaign have already been held in Germany, the United Kingdom, Brazil, India and the Netherlands, and are planned for Canada, the United States, France, Italy and other countries. Esra'a Al Shafei, founder of Mideast Youth, one of the organizations supporting the campaign, said: "It's a creative and dynamic campaign that appeals to young people everywhere. The video has had more than 70,000 views and more than 5,000 letters have been sent through the website." Mahmudian, now living in Germany, was arrested and jailed in 2007 while editor of a student magazine at Amirkabir University of Technology in Tehran. In a case highlighted at the time by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the Committee to Protect Journalists, Mahmudian and seven other students were arrested, accused of defaming Islam in their publications. Mahmudian said the members of the information ministry had circulated forged editions of their publications containing offensive articles. Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, said in a press release at the time: "The Iranian authorities are using the flimsiest of pretexts to arrests student journalists and activists. "Even the Judiciary has admitted that these students had nothing to do with the forged publications." Mahmudian said: "I spent more than 50 days in solitary confinement. They used physical and mental torture. I went on hunger strike for 11 days to be allowed to make one phone call to my mother to tell her I was okay. "After 80 days of extreme pressure they got a videotaped confession from us inside prison. We apologized to the president and were released and allowed to go back to university." It was after his undergraduate studies finished
[ "What is the name of the campaign?", "What is the student's name?" ]
[ [ "\"Can You Solve This?\"" ], [ "Puyan Mahmudian" ] ]
Report: Hundreds of Iranian students rejected from university for political or religious beliefs . "Can You Solve This?" campaign using QR code and video raises awareness . Puyan Mahmudian one of so-called "starred students" for editing student magazine .
(CNN) -- Iraq has banned all Turkish flights from landing in the country in response to a dispute over millions of dollars owed by an Iraqi government oil company to Turkey. Iraqi transportation ministry spokesman Karim al-Nuri said the decision to block Turkish planes from Iraq, including the semi-autonomous Kurdish region, was in response to a similar ban in Turkey against Iraqi flights. However, a Turkish government official denied that Ankara blocked Iraqi planes. The official did say that Turkey warned that if Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) does not pay the $3 million owed to his country, then the country would ban Iraqi aircraft. "They owe the money and they wish to freeze Turkish flights ... Talks are ongoing. But the way out is for SOMO to pay its debts," the Turkish official said. Al-Nuri said Baghdad did not make "a political decision." "Iraq will reverse its decision if Turkey reverses its decision, too," al-Nuri said. After years of the U.S.-led war in Iraq, Turkey's flagship carrier Turkish Airlines was one of the first international companies to begin direct flights to Baghdad. Increasingly, Turkey has grown as a major international gateway for commerce and travel to and from its Iraqi neighbor.
[ "What is the dispute over?", "Does Turkey admit to banning flights?", "Where all flights to all Turkish cities banned?", "Which flights did Iraq say that Turkey banned from landing?", "What kind of company's debts have caused the dispute?", "What company owes the money?", "Which country has banned Iraqi flights from landing?", "How much money does the company owe?" ]
[ [ "millions of dollars" ], [ "a Turkish government official denied that Ankara blocked Iraqi planes." ], [ "Iraq" ], [ "Iraqi" ], [ "Iraqi government oil" ], [ "Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO)" ], [ "Turkey" ], [ "$3 million" ] ]
Iraq claims Turkey has banned Iraqi flights from landing . Turkey denies making such a decision . The dispute is over money owed by an Iraqi oil company to Turkey .
(CNN) -- Iraq scored in injury time Friday to beat 10-man China 1-0 and all but end their opponent's hopes of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup finals. The Asia Group A match in Doha was a mirror image of the side's earlier clash in China a month ago, with Younis Mahmoud, who scored the only goal in Shenzhen, coming up trumps again in injury time. China were handicapped by a red card for Zhang Linpeng and paid for missed chances. Iraq, coached by former Brazil legend Zico, have moved into a strong position in the qualifying section, which is led by Jordan, who confirmed their place in the second stage by beating Singapore 2-0. Jose Camacho's China would have to win their final two games and see Iraq lose by a heavy margin to Jordan and Singapore to claim an unlikely second in the group. "China played bravely, but we won the match and the result has almost guaranteed our place in the last ten," Zico told the official FIFA website. "The game went as we predicted. We knew China would attack, so we focused on defending in the first half before sealing victory late on." Japan and Uzbekistan joined Jordan in clinching qualification Friday, continuing their domination of Group C. Japan routed Tajikistan 4-0 and Uzbekistan beat North Korea 1-0 with Timur Kapadze scoring the only goal of the match for the hosts. The big surprise of the day was the 1-0 defeat for Group D leaders Australia in Oman with Amad Ali scoring the winner in the 18th minute. Australia will still be expected to progress after four earlier wins, with Frank Rijkaard's Saudi Arabia moving into second in the group after a 3-0 win over Thailand. In Group B, South Korea stayed top by beating the UAE 2-0 and Mahmoud El Ali grabbed the only goal of the game as Lebanon shocked hosts Kuwait 1-0 to move into second. Iran held on to top spot in Group E but needed an injury-time equalizer from Mojtaba Jabari to scramble a 1-1 draw in Bahrain. Iran lead Qatar, who recorded a 4-0 home win over Indonesia, on goal difference. In the first round of African qualifying, the outstanding result Friday was 3-1 win for the Congo DR in Swaziland with Togo held 1-1 in Guinea Bissau. Totttenham's Emmanuel Adebayor is set to return for Togo in the second leg next Tuesday. A star-studded Argentina side were held to a disappointing 1-1 home draw by Bolivia in their third match of qualifying from South America. Argentina, boasting the likes of Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuain, found the visitors hard to break down and even fell behind as Martins Moreno scored in the second half. It needed an equalizer from Ezequiel Lavezzi to salvage a point, with Argentina booed from the field.
[ "What country was booed off the field in South America?", "Who got booed off field?", "Who was last gasp winner to beat china?", "what was iraq's score", "Who clinched places in second round?", "who took the second place", "What country did Iraq beat?", "who scored 3-1", "What countries had places in the second round of Asia qualifying?" ]
[ [ "Argentina" ], [ "Argentina" ], [ "Iraq" ], [ "1-0" ], [ "Japan and Uzbekistan" ], [ "Saudi Arabia" ], [ "China" ], [ "Congo DR" ], [ "Jordan," ] ]
Iraq score last-gasp winner to beat China 1-0 in World Cup qualifying . Japan, Uzbekistan and Jordan clinch places in second round of Asia qualifying . Congo DR score fine 3-1 win over Swaziland in African first round qualifier . Argentina booed off field after being held 1-1 by Bolivia in South America group .
(CNN) -- Iraq's presidency council Thursday approved the U.S.-Iraq security agreement -- the final step for the agreement to be ratified by the Iraqi government, a council spokesman said. The pact allows the presence of American troops in Iraq for three more years. U.S. soldiers gather at the "Crossed Swords" in Baghdad's secure Green Zone on Tuesday. The three-member presidency council -- Kurdish President Jalal Talabani, Shiite Vice President Adel Abdul Mehdi and Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi -- approved the agreement unanimously a week after the Iraqi parliament passed the measure. Under the Iraqi constitution, unanimous approval by the presidency council is required for ratification of a law or agreement. The security pact will replace a U.N. mandate for the U.S. presence in Iraq that expires at the end of this year. The agreement, reached after months of negotiations, sets June 30, 2009, as the deadline for U.S. combat troops to withdraw from all Iraqi cities and towns. The date for all U.S. troops to leave Iraq is December 31, 2011. The agreement -- which stresses respect for Iraqi sovereignty -- "requests the temporary assistance" of U.S. forces, but severely restricts their role. The pact says that all military operations are to be carried out with the agreement of Iraq and must be "fully coordinated" with Iraqis. A Joint Military Operations Coordination Committee will oversee military operations. Iraq has the "primary right to exercise jurisdiction" over U.S. forces "for grave premeditated felonies," the agreement says. Suspects can be held by U.S. forces but must be available to Iraqi authorities for investigation or trial. Iraq also will have the "primary right to exercise jurisdiction" over U.S. contractors and their employees under the agreement. Also, the pact says that "Iraqi land, sea and air shouldn't be used as a launching or transit point for attacks against other countries." The presidency council also approved a U.S.-Iraqi bilateral pact called the strategic framework agreement, which covers a wide range of bilateral cooperation efforts and which was approved by the Iraqi parliament last week. U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan C. Crocker and Gen. Ray Odierno, the top U.S. military official in Iraq, issued a statement welcoming the council's ratification of the measures. "We look forward, under these agreements, to the continued reduction in U.S. forces and the normalization of bilateral relations as two sovereign and co-equal nations," the two said in their statement. "We will undertake initiatives to strengthen our cooperation in the fields of economics, energy, health, the environment, education, culture, and law enforcement. The United States will support Iraq's request to the U.N. Security Council to continue protection of Iraqi assets," the statement said.
[ "What does the agreement do?", "What pulls out troops?", "U.S. officials welcomed what country for approval of pact?", "What was the council's approval the final step for?", "When are all US Forces scheduled to entirely exit Iraq by?", "U.S. troops will pull out of Iraqi cities by what date?", "What did officials welcome?", "U.S. forces will exit Iraq fully by what date?" ]
[ [ "allows the presence of American troops in Iraq for three more years." ], [ "the U.S.-Iraq security agreement" ], [ "Iraq" ], [ "the agreement to be ratified by the Iraqi government," ], [ "December 31, 2011." ], [ "December 31, 2011." ], [ "the council's ratification of the measures." ], [ "December 31, 2011." ] ]
NEW: U.S. officials welcome Iraqi council's approval of security pact . Presidency council's approval was final legal step for enactment . Agreement pulls U.S. troops out of all Iraqi cities by June 30 . U.S. forces would exit Iraq entirely by December 31, 2011 .
(CNN) -- Ireland --- once Europe's 'Celtic Tiger' -- was last year felled by its black hole of a banking sector, and forced to tap Europe's bailout fund. The country continues to live off bailout funds -- yet in September internet giant Twitter announced its intention to set up headquarters in Dublin. It will join Facebook and Google, which both have their headquarters in the Irish capital. The move suggests Dublin could again become a major player in the technology industry, despite the country's financial woes. According to Noel Ruane, head of Dogpatch Labs Europe -- which likens itself to a 'frat house for geeks' -- the city has enough of an internet community to rival Silicon Valley. Dogpatch Labs was created by the U.S.-based venture capital company Polaris Venture Partners, and provides a space for aspiring entrepreneurs to brainstorm with like-minded people. The center has also chosen to call Dublin its European home, with Ruane as its entrepreneur in residence. Ruane believes Dublin is a good base for emerging companies, despite their consumers being located elsewhere. Many companies are web based, and don't need to be near their customers, he says. He acknowledges language barriers can prove more difficult for companies in Europe than in other parts of the world, such as the U.S. "There is a localization requirement; we don't have one homogenous market like the U.S. where there are 300 million plus people that companies can target." But he says the nature of the web means businesses can be successful from wherever they're located, including Dublin. But while Dublin's reputation as an internet hub is growing, many developers are still honing their skills in the U.S first before establishing themselves in Europe. "I meet companies all the time where the founders have returned home after perhaps graduating from Stamford University and spending some years with the large internet companies in Silicon Valley," explains Ruane. "They have all that experience so that they can set up business back in Europe." CNN's Emily Smith contributed to this story.
[ "Who can Dublin rival?", "Where are headquartered Google and Facebook?", "What companies have their headquaters in Ireland?", "What provides Dogpatch Labs Europe?", "Who already has headquarters in Ireland?", "Who provides space for entrepreneurs?", "What did Twitter announce?" ]
[ [ "Silicon Valley." ], [ "Dublin." ], [ "Facebook and Google," ], [ "a space for aspiring entrepreneurs to brainstorm with like-minded people." ], [ "Facebook and Google," ], [ "Dogpatch Labs" ], [ "its intention to set up headquarters in Dublin." ] ]
Twitter announced in September it would set up shop in Dublin . Google and Facebook have their international headquarters in Ireland . Dogpatch Labs Europe provides space for entrepreneurs . Its head Noel Ruane believes Dublin can rival Silicon Valley .
(CNN) -- Ireland opened the defense of their Six Nations rugby title with a 29-11 victory at home to Italy, while England repelled the challenge of Wales to win 30-17 in Saturday's other match. Ireland, who won all five matches last year to complete a Grand Slam, led 23-8 at halftime in Dublin but could not run away with victory against a determined visiting team. Recalled flyhalf Ronan O'Gara became the first player to score 500 points in the tournament as he was successful with all six kicks at goal, while Jamie Heaslip and Tomas O'Leary crossed for first-half tries. Italy's only try came just before halftime, despite the sin-binning of center Gonzalo Garcia meaning coach Nick Mallett's team were reduced to 14 men, after a charge-down of Rob Kearney's kick by Kaine Robertson. "It's not easy to click immediately having only been together for two weeks and not having played together since November," Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll told reporters. "There is plenty to improve on. It's the first one and job done. We'll take the positives out of it and move on. We showed an ability in the first half to turn defense into attack and the amount of lineout ball we won was a big plus. "We made some good line breaks but didn't finish them off. Maybe we need to improve our support play." England flanker James Haskell scored two tries to lift the pressure on head coach Martin Johnson, as Wales paid the price for Alun-Wyn Jones' sin-binning with 17 points conceded while the lock was off the field at Twickenham. The match was level at 3-3 when Jones was yellow-carded for leg-tripping England hooker Dylan Hartley, and the hosts subsequently scored a penalty and two converted tries, Haskell's first in Tests and another five minutes after halftime by scrumhalf Danny Care. Wales battled back to 20-17 down with eight minutes left as Jones made some amends by setting up prop Adam Jones for a try and then James Hook crossed for another. But four minutes later Haskell went over again thanks to Delon Armitage's interception, and then Jonny Wilkinson kicked his third penalty, this one from the halfway line to give the flyhalf 15 points for the match. Wales coach Warren Gatland was furious after Jones' indiscipline cost his side dear. "We are frustrated and disappointed. We felt that was a game that has slipped from our grasp," the New Zealander told reporters. "The yellow card has cost us 17 points -- it was one of those things, stupid. It was massive. Sometimes those things are very, very costly, and it was for us today. "We had stressed discipline over the past two weeks and talked about giving nothing soft away, and it is frustrating we have done that. He has made an impulsive decision, and hopefully it is a learning experience for him and he doesn't do it again." France travel to Scotland for the opening round's other match on Sunday.
[ "Who is Dylan Hartley?", "Who defeated Italy?", "Who defeated Wales 30-17 at Twickenham?", "What was the score between England and Wales?", "Who was the first player to score 500?", "Who was the first player to score 500 points in the tournament?", "What team won the Six Nations rugby title?", "Flyhalf Ronan O'Gara becomes first player to do what?", "Did England defeat Wales?" ]
[ [ "England hooker" ], [ "Ireland" ], [ "England" ], [ "30-17" ], [ "Ronan O'Gara" ], [ "Ronan O'Gara" ], [ "Ireland" ], [ "score 500 points in the tournament" ], [ "win" ] ]
Ireland open defense of Six Nations rugby title with 29-11 victory at home to Italy . Flyhalf Ronan O'Gara becomes first player to score 500 points in the tournament . England defeat Wales 30-17 at Twickenham as visitors pay for Alun Wyn-Jones' sin-binning . Hosts score 17 points while lock is off field for leg-tripping England's Dylan Hartley .
(CNN) -- Ireland's government-backed "bad bank" is taking on 16 billion euros ($21.5 billion) in debt from five troubled Irish banks -- a first step toward buying 81 billion euros ($109 billion) in bad loans, the government announced. The National Asset Management Agency, as the "bad bank" is officially known, will pay 8.5 billion euros ($11.4 billion) for the first 16 billion euros in debt, it said Tuesday. The move takes 1,200 loans off the books of Irish Nationwide Building Society, EBS Building Society, Bank of Ireland, Allied Irish Banks and Anglo Irish Bank. The first two banks' debts were taken over on Monday and the other three institutions' bad loans should be transferred by early April, NAMA said. Irish Finance Minister Brian Lenihan gave a sobering assessment of the banks' health Tuesday. "I understand why many want us to close" Anglo Irish Bank, which lost huge sums in property lending, he told lawmakers. "I understand the impulse to obliterate it from the system." But, he said, "the sums required to rescue the bank are enormous but the costs of winding it down are even greater." The government has already replaced the management of the bank. Lenihan hinted broadly that the government will take over Allied Irish Bank, which he said must raise "additional equity capital of at least 7.4 billion euros ($9.9B) by the end of the year." "If sufficient private capital is not available, it is probable that the state will have a majority shareholding in Allied Irish Bank as a listed entity, but this is much more preferable than an under-capitalized or only adequately-capitalized entity," he said. The government is seeking to sell Irish Nationwide or merge it with another entity as soon as possible, after having taken it over earlier, he said. The Bank of Ireland "expects to be able to raise private capital and is well advanced in its actions to address its capital needs," and EBS is in talks with "a private party" about raising market capital, he added. The move is part of an Irish government response to the global financial crisis, which hit Ireland particularly hard. The government expects to complete the purchase of the 81 billion euros in debt by February of next year, a deadline set by the European Union, NAMA said. Borrowers whose loans have been acquired by NAMA will be required to submit a comprehensive business plan in accordance with NAMA's template within one month outlining how they propose to honor their loan commitments, NAMA chief executive Brendan McDonagh said in a statement. If the plans are not submitted or not approved, "NAMA will take whatever actions it considers necessary to protect the interests of the taxpayer," he said. CNN's Jim Boulden and Eve Parish contributed to this report.
[ "Who will purchase debt in february?", "what does move do?", "What does the move do?", "How much debt will be purchased?", "When will debt be purchased?", "How many loans will be taken off?" ]
[ [ "The National Asset Management Agency," ], [ "takes 1,200 loans off the books of Irish Nationwide Building Society, EBS Building Society, Bank of Ireland, Allied Irish Banks and Anglo Irish Bank." ], [ "takes 1,200 loans off the books of Irish Nationwide Building Society, EBS Building Society, Bank of Ireland, Allied Irish Banks and Anglo Irish Bank." ], [ "81 billion euros ($109 billion)" ], [ "by February of next year," ], [ "1,200" ] ]
Move takes 1,200 loans off books . NAMA: Government expects to complete purchase of 81 billion euros in debt by February .
(CNN) -- Ireland's top Catholic cardinal is using the "Nuremberg defense" in the face of public outrage at his role 35 years ago in investigating one of the country's most notorious child-abusing priests, an activist said Tuesday. Cardinal Sean Brady has been under fire over the investigation into the Rev. Brendan Smyth. The latest scandal comes on the heels of a huge government-backed report that found the Archdiocese of Dublin and other Catholic Church authorities in Ireland covered up child abuse by priests from 1975 to 2004. Child sexual abuse was "widespread" then, the report found. Brady's office said Tuesday that the cardinal, then a priest and teacher with a doctorate in canon law, had been asked to investigate two complaints against Smyth in 1975, but had no decision-making power. He reported his findings to Bishop Francis McKiernan, his office said, and McKiernan recommended Smyth get psychiatric help. But John Kelly, the founder of Irish Survivors of Child Abuse, said Brady should not have remained silent about what he learned in the course of investigating Smyth, who was later convicted of dozens of counts of child abuse in both Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. He died in prison. "He's basically using the Nuremberg defense, he was carrying out orders," Kelly said, in reference to the justification many Nazis used in their war crimes trials after World War II. There has been particular outrage over the revelation that two boys who filed complaints against Smyth were asked to sign confidentiality statements as part of Brady's investigation. The oaths of secrecy were "to avoid potential collusion" between the two boys as church officials investigated the case, Ireland's Catholic Communications Office said Tuesday. Despite his criticism of Brady, Kelly said it would not necessarily do any good for the cardinal to resign. "He's lost all moral authority to lead, but by replacing him, it won't resolve the problem," he said, arguing that the Vatican would "just replace guys with other guys." The best solution, he said, would be for the Roman Catholic Church to let secular authorities deal with accusations of abuse, rather than trying to handle them itself. "They have to accept secular authority, and they can get on with the business of religion," Kelly said. "It would be in the church's own interest. Resignations in themselves aren't the answer." Four Irish bishops tendered their resignations in the wake of the government-backed report, and Pope Benedict XVI is expected to make a formal statement, or pastoral letter, on the Irish abuse issue by Easter. The pope himself has been under fire since it was revealed that a priest suspected of abusing children was allowed to move into his diocese when he was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in Germany in 1980. The Archdiocese of Munich and Freising said in a statement Monday it must have been clear at the time that the priest, whom multiple sources identified to CNN as Peter Hullermann, was coming to get therapy for allegedly molesting children. He was convicted of abuse in 1986, after Ratzinger moved to Rome. Hullermann was suspended on Monday. Hundreds of allegations of sexual or physical abuse of children by Catholic clergy have come to light in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands this year. CNN's Frederik Pleitgen in Berlin, Germany, contributed to this report.
[ "How many boys filed complaints?", "What did Brady investigate?", "Who was the cardinal that was fired?", "what has sean brady been under fire for", "What is the number of those who complained?", "Who were complaints filed against?", "What is the name of the cardinal?", "what were two boys asked to do" ]
[ [ "two" ], [ "Rev. Brendan Smyth." ], [ "Sean Brady" ], [ "the investigation into the Rev. Brendan Smyth." ], [ "two" ], [ "Rev. Brendan Smyth." ], [ "Sean Brady" ], [ "to sign confidentiality statements as part of Brady's investigation." ] ]
Cardinal Sean Brady has been under fire over the investigation . Brady investigated two complaints against Rev. Brendan Smyth . Two boys who filed the complaints were asked to sign confidentiality statements .
(CNN) -- Islamist fighters battling for control of Somalia have threatened to close Mogadishu's only airport, warning all airlines to stop flights into the Somali capital by early Tuesday. African Union peacekeepers keep guard recently at the international airport in Mogadishu, Somalia's capital. "Any plane which uses or lands at the airport, we will consider it a military plane and we will not be held responsible for what happens to it," the Al-Shaabab militia said in a Web posting. The statement said the airport would be closed at 1 a.m. Tuesday (6 p.m. ET Wednesday). The statement was posted on www.kataaib.net, a Web site frequently used by Al-Shaabab. A graphic posted along with the statement shows a plane about to land at Mogadishu's international airport. As the plane approaches, a man with a shoulder-fired missile appears and a red-circle target is placed over the plane. The Somali word for "Warning!" flashes at the same time. Nairobi, Kenya-based Daallo Airlines, which operates flights four times a week into Mogadishu, is "monitoring the situation," the company's chief executive officer told CNN. "We haven't received any warning directly," Howard Leedham said. He said he was made aware of Al-Shaabab's warning through the local media, and would not say if any of the four weekly flights would be canceled or rescheduled as a result. "All I can say is we're monitoring the situation very closely," Leedham said. "We have employees down there, and so we're monitoring the situation." Maj. Barigye Ba-Hoku, a spokesman for African Union forces in Somalia -- many of whom are based at Mogadishu's airport -- said he has not received an official warning from Al-Shaabab about the airport's closure, but "we take the warning seriously." "We have taken precautionary measures, but that's all we can do," Ba-Hoku told CNN. Al-Shaabab is an Islamic militia that has launched a bloody battle to seize control of Somalia and oust Ethiopian forces, which are helping Somali government forces try to rout the Islamic fighters. It is a splinter group of the Islamic Courts Union, which pushed out Somalia's transitional government in 2006. The ICU was deposed in December of that year following Ethiopia's military intervention. In its statement, Al-Shaabab said it has been forced to shut down the airport because it is being used by a variety of "infidel forces," including Ethiopia, Burundi, and Uganda. Burundi and Ugandan forces make up the bulk of the AU mission in Somalia. Al-Shaabab also said U.S. and Israeli security officials "regularly" land at the airport. "So based on all these issues, we -- Al-Shaabab fighters -- are notifying all business people in Mogadishu, particularly to those of the airlines, that the airport is officially closed from the date on 16th September," it said. Journalist Mohamed Amiin Adow contributed to this report.
[ "What is the Al-Shaabab group seeking to do?", "What has Africal Union forces spokesman say he's not received?", "Who threatened flights?", "What does the airline CEO say?", "What forces does the Al-Shaabab group want to oust?", "Who said that the situation is being monitored?", "The CEO of what airline says the situation is monitored?", "Where does the Al-Shaabab group seeking to oust Ethiopian forces from?", "What is the name of the CEO who refrained from commenting?" ]
[ [ "seize control of Somalia and oust Ethiopian forces," ], [ "an official warning from Al-Shaabab about the airport's closure," ], [ "Islamist" ], [ "is we're monitoring the situation very closely,\" Leedham said. \"We have employees down there, and so we're monitoring the situation.\"" ], [ "Ethiopian" ], [ "company's chief executive officer" ], [ "Daallo" ], [ "Somalia" ], [ "Howard Leedham" ] ]
NEW: Airline CEO says situation being monitored, doesn't comment on flights . Al-Shaabab militants threaten flights with statement, graphic on Web . African Union forces spokesman says he's not received official warning . Al-Shaabab group is seeking to oust Ethiopian forces from Somalia .
(CNN) -- Islamist fighters in Somalia have made significant gains in the country, according to the latest statement purportedly from al Qaeda's second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahiri. Ayman al-Zawahiri, pictured here in 2006, also spoke about Yemen, Gaza, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The 25-minute audio recording, titled "From Kabul to Mogadishu," focuses primarily on the "important developments" in Somalia, which al-Zawahiri called "a step on the path of victory of Islam." CNN cannot authenticate the message, which was released on Sunday and was interspersed with television news reports and statements from various al Qaeda-linked commanders. CNN analysts who listened to the recording say the voice is consistent with his intonation and accent. This is the third message from al-Zawahiri espousing the views of the al Qaeda terror network in 2009; the other two focused on Israel's recent military operation against Hamas leaders in Gaza. In addition to Somalia, al-Zawahiri also addresses the situations in Yemen, Gaza, and Afghanistan and Pakistan. Al-Zawahiri praised Al-Shabaab fighters in Somalia who recently seized control of Baidoa, where the U.N.-backed transitional government had been based. He warned the newly installed government, under President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, not to squander those gains by submitting "to American demands" and not abiding by sharia, or Islamic law. "I call on my Muslim brothers in beloved Somalia ... to not be deceived by those who agree to the secularist constitutions which vie with the sharia in its right to rule," he said. Al-Zawahiri also addressed the "awakening" in Yemen, where many suspected al Qaeda militants wanted in neighboring Saudi Arabia are believed to have fled. That group includes several former detainees of the U.S. military detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The al Qaeda leader accused Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Salih and his government of being "servants and slaves" to the United States by allowing Yemen to be used as "a supply center ... against Muslim countries." "How can you agree to let the ruling authority in Yemen be the CIA?" al-Zawahiri asked the people of Yemen. Al-Zawahiri spent the last eight minutes addressing the situation in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Gaza. His focus on Somalia and Yemen -- which accounted for more than 17 minutes of the 25-minute address -- is a departure from the topics of his previous messages. CNN terrorism analyst Peter Bergen suggested that is a reflection of al Qaeda's recent losses as a result of U.S. missile strikes along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. "There were three in 2007 and 34 in 2008 by my count," Bergen said. "These strikes are causing al Qaeda leaders to consider their options." Al Qaeda has considered relocating its base to Somalia or Yemen, according to a former U.S. official who is familiar with the intelligence. Other analysts have suggested that it would be difficult for al Qaeda to gain a stronghold in Somalia because its radical agenda is unpopular in the moderate Islamic country. John Prendergast, who studies the Horn of Africa for the Center for American Progress think tank, said he expects Al-Shabaab's overseas ties to dry up after the recent withdrawal of Ethiopian forces, which was its only basis of support in Somalia. J. Anthony Holmes, director of the Africa program for the Council on Foreign Relations, said it is unlikely Somalia will emerge as "a breeding ground for terrorism" because of its clan-based society. But Bergen noted that both Somalia and Yemen lack a strong central government and "therefore (are) attractive locations for al Qaeda." "Al Qaeda also has had an on-and-off presence in Somalia since 1992 and even earlier in Yemen," he said. "As we have seen also, Yemen's weak government and permissive attitude to jihadists have made it an increasingly attractive venue for Saudi members of al Qaeda." Bergen said that is most likely why al-Zawahiri chose to focus more than half of his latest message on Yemen and Somalia.
[ "How long is the recording?", "Where are they considering relocating to?", "How long was the audio?", "Where were they considering movine base to?", "Who does Ayman al-Zawahiri praise?", "Who are the voices?", "Where did Al Qaeda consider relocating the base to?", "Which person is the voice supposed to be of?", "Which contry's fighters are being praised in the recording?" ]
[ [ "25-minute" ], [ "Somalia or Yemen," ], [ "25-minute" ], [ "Somalia or Yemen," ], [ "Al-Shabaab fighters in Somalia" ], [ "al-Zawahiri" ], [ "Somalia or Yemen," ], [ "Ayman al-Zawahiri," ], [ "in Somalia" ] ]
The 25-minute audio recording is titled "From Kabul to Mogadishu" Voice claiming to be Ayman al-Zawahiri praises Al-Shabaab fighters in Somalia . Third message from al-Zawahiri espousing views of al Qaeda network in 2009 . Al Qaeda considered relocating base to Somalia or Yemen, ex-U.S. official says .
(CNN) -- Israel has issued a rare statement of "regret" for the recent deaths of several Egyptian security personnel, hours after Egypt said it was recalling its ambassador. Egypt's government posted a statement Saturday saying its ambassador would be withdrawn until Israel conducted an investigation into what it called "indiscriminate shelling" that led to the deaths of at least three security forces in its Sinai region on Thursday. Later in the day, the statement was taken down without explanation. Top-level Israel security officials met Saturday with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who quickly issued a statement vowing that Israel would conduct a military investigation, followed by a joint examination with the Egyptian military, of the incident. "We regret the deaths of members of the Egyptian security forces during the terror attack on the Israeli-Egyptian border," Barak said. "The Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty has great importance and much strategic value for the stability of the Middle East." The tense situation between Israel and Egypt comes amid heightened tensions in the region following Israeli strikes in Gaza after a series of attacks in southern Israel on Thursday that targeted buses, cars and soldiers. An Egyptian military official said Israeli forces may have been targeting militants near Egypt's border with Gaza when they struck and killed the Egyptian security personnel. On Saturday, the Mideast Quartet -- the United Nations, the United States, Russia, and the European Union -- condemned Thursday's "premeditated terrorism" attacks on Israel, and warned that it remains concerned about the situation in Gaza. It also expressed concern about the security situation in Egypt's Sinai peninsula. "Recent commitments by the Egyptian government to address the security situation in the Sinai are important, and the Quartet encourages the Egyptian government to find a lasting resolution to the issue of Sinai security," it said. No one in Israel's armed forces intentionally acted to harm Egyptian security personnel, Amos Gilad, a defense official involved in maintaining Israel's relationship with the Egyptian military, told Israeli Radio on Saturday. He also stressed the strategic importance of the 1979 peace treaty between the two countries. Outside the Israeli Embassy in Cairo, hundreds of demonstrators gathered Saturday to protest the killings and demand Egypt sever its ties with Israel. Egyptian state-run TV showed protesters burning Israeli flags and chanting "Egyptian blood is not cheap." Israel believes that the attacks had their roots in Gaza, but were coming out of the neighboring Egyptian region of Sinai. "The Egyptian control over Sinai is weakening and this is probably the reason that this attack that originated in Gaza has made it all the way down here," Barak said Thursday. The Egyptian claims of Israeli forces killing three of its security members and injuring four surfaced Thursday, the same day Israel launched airstrikes on Gaza. Senior Egyptian military and security forces told CNN that two members of the Central Security Force and one military officer were killed in clashes east of Ras Al-Naqab, 13 kilometers north of Taba. At the time, an Israeli helicopter was in the area chasing militants in the aftermath of the attacks on Israelis, said Gen. Saleh Al Masry, head of security in North Sinai Province. "The Israeli ground troops engaged with armed militants 200 meters from the Egyptian border which may have also led to casualties on the Egyptian side," said Lt. Col. Amr Imam, the Egyptian army spokesman. "We have reinforced our border guards and raised the level of alert." The rising tensions also come as questions are being raised in Israel about the Egyptian military presence in the demilitarized zone in Sinai, which was created under the terms of the Camp David Agreement signed in 1978 between Egypt and Israel. Since the overthrow of Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak, the security situation in Sinai has deteriorated. Senior Egyptian officials said several weeks ago that more than 23,000 prisoners escaped from prisons in Egypt in late January and February because of the breakdown in regime authority. Additionally, travel between Egypt and Gaza has become much easier since the Military Council reopened the border crossing at Rafah in late May.
[ "What does the quartet say?", "when is Egypt posted a statement saying it would recall its ambassador?", "What did Egypt post?", "who is Israeli defense minister?", "What did Israel issue?" ]
[ [ "\"Recent commitments by the Egyptian government to address the security situation in the Sinai are important, and the" ], [ "Saturday" ], [ "its ambassador would be withdrawn until Israel conducted an investigation into" ], [ "Ehud Barak," ], [ "a rare statement of \"regret\"" ] ]
NEW: Quartet warns Egypt to 'address the security situation' in Sinai . Israel issues rare statement of 'regret' over Egyptian security forces' deaths . Israeli defense minister: Military investigation, and joint probe with Egypt, will take place . Egypt posted a statement saying it would recall its ambassador; statement later removed .
(CNN) -- Israel may have to retire its title as the only democracy in the Middle East. With Sunday's free and fair national election, Iraq joins the honor roll as one of the very few Islamic democracies. Other Middle Eastern countries hold elections too, of course. But those elections fall into two broad categories. The first category is the blatantly rigged: Iran, most spectacularly, but also Algeria, Egypt, and Yemen, among others. In the second category, elections are more or less honest -- but fail to exert much control over the actions of the government: Lebanon, Morocco, and Jordan. In Iraq, despite violence, votes are honestly counted. Once counted, votes decide who rules. For all the country's well-known problems, that record is a remarkable achievement. The brave Iraqi democrat Nibras Kazimi posted this firsthand account on his important blog, Talisman Gate: "I voted. It felt great, but the greatest thing about it was how normal it felt; elections have become a ho-hum, commonplace occurrence. That's quite a feat for a country with Iraq's past and current challenges. The voting procedure itself was very well organized and speedy. The election site had seven polling stations, with about 400 registered voters allowed to vote there. Everyone's name was posted outside, along with information about what polling station they were supposed to use. Once inside, IDs were checked against name lists, and one had to sign next [to] one's name to indicate that this name has voted. All in all, there are reasonable mechanisms in place to contain incidents of fraud. ... "The Western media is hyperventilating about mortars and katyushas. ... This was a logistical failure for the jihadists; hardly any successful suicide bombers or sniper attacks near the polling stations. Lobbing mortars indiscriminately around Baghdad is BS intimidation. It certainly didn't deter voters. "The fact that the security authorities allowed vehicular traffic around 11 AM was both surprising and bold. It showed confidence in their security precautions, and the fact that there were no car bombs shows that they were right." Iraq's elected government has consolidated power over the whole country, including the formerly Iranian-run southern city of Basra. It has presided over a remarkable decline in violence. The Brookings Institute's Iraq index estimates that there were 34,500 Iraqi civilian casualties in 2006. In 2009, 2,800 Iraqi civilians died violently. Attacks on coalition forces have dwindled from almost 2,000 per week at the end of 2006 to a little over 100 per week. Iraq is not yet a stable place -- but a future of stability seems at last at hand. Maybe the surest sign of success is that those who once opposed the surge are now scrambling to grab credit for it. Iraq "could be one of the great achievements of this administration," boasted Vice President Joe Biden to CNN's Larry King last month. Next we'll hear how we owe the Marshall Plan and the Panama Canal to the Obama administration. Well, that's not how those who were there remember it. A stable Western-oriented Iraq at peace with itself and its neighbors would be a great prize. If that future does take hold, we'll learn the answer to another great question. Speaking on the eve of war in 2003, President George W. Bush told the guests at the American Enterprise Institute's annual dinner that he discerned "hopeful signs of a desire for freedom in the Middle East. Arab intellectuals have called on Arab governments to address the 'freedom gap' so their peoples can fully share in the progress of our times. "Leaders in the region speak of a new Arab charter that champions internal reform, greater politics participation, economic openness, and free trade. And from Morocco to Bahrain and beyond, nations are taking genuine steps toward politics reform. A new regime in Iraq would serve as a dramatic and inspiring example of freedom for other nations in the region." Will he be vindicated? In the January issue of the Journal of Democracy, Larry Diamond offers grounds for hope
[ "What did Bush say about the area?", "Which country had a free election?", "What did President Bush say about the election?", "What could Iraq become for the Arab world?", "Where did election happen" ]
[ [ "discerned \"hopeful signs of a desire for freedom in the Middle East." ], [ "Iraq" ], [ "\"hopeful signs of a desire for freedom in the Middle East. Arab intellectuals have called on Arab governments to address the 'freedom gap' so their peoples can fully share in the progress of our times." ], [ "dramatic and inspiring example of freedom" ], [ "Iraq" ] ]
Iraq held a free and fair election for parliament on Sunday, says David Frum . He says Iraq can be a model democracy for the Arab world . President George W. Bush spoke of "hopeful signs of a desire for freedom" in the region . Frum: Biggest obstacle to democracy in Middle East is the influence of oil wealth .
(CNN) -- Israel said Wednesday it may expel Venezuela's top diplomat from the country in a tit-for-tat gesture after the South American nation ordered the Israeli ambassador to leave over the increasingly bloody ground war in Gaza. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called the Israeli army "cowards." The decision on whether to expel Venezuela's charge d'affaires will be taken later Wednesday, said Yigal Palmor, the spokesman for the Israeli foreign ministry. On Tuesday, Venezuela expelled Israel's ambassador to Caracas and accused Israel of attempting to carry out "genocide" against the Palestinian people. "In this tragic and indignant hour, the people of Venezuela manifest their unconditional solidarity with the heroic Palestinian people, share in the sadness that overcomes thousands of families through the loss of their loved ones, and extends to them a hand by affirming that the government of Venezuela will not rest until it sees those responsible for these criminal atrocities severely punished," the Venezuelan foreign minister said in a statement read by an anchor on state television. The statement added that the government "condemns strongly the flagrant violations of international law" by Israel and "denounces their planned utilization of state terrorism." "For the above-mentioned reasons, the government of Venezuela has decided to expel the ambassador of Israel and some of the personnel of the Israeli Embassy in Venezuela," it added. In a news conference broadcast by state-run Venezuelan television, President Hugo Chavez blasted the Israeli military. "They are cowards," he said. "It's as though a boxing professional were to come here and challenge you to box. Well, how courageous! How courageous is the Israeli army!" It said that Chavez "makes a fraternal call to the Jewish people throughout the world to oppose these criminal policies of the state of Israel that recall the worst pages of the history of the 20th century. "With the genocide of the Palestinian people, the state of Israel will never be able to offer its people the perspective of a peace that is both necessary and long-lasting." Mark Regev, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, was unswayed. "I haven't heard the details yet, but you know the regime in Venezuela has been one of the few countries in the world that gives automatic support to the Iranian extremists, and it doesn't surprise me that they have affinity with groups like Hamas and Hezbollah," he told CNN. He predicted that other countries would not follow suit, even in the Middle East. "I think, even in the Muslim and Arab countries, there is a fair amount of understanding for what Israel has had to do here," he said.
[ "What did Chavez call the Israeli army?", "Who called Israeli army 'cowards\"?", "Why was the ambassor for Israel ordered to leave?", "Who may be expelled?", "What did Hugo Chavez call the Israeli army?", "Why did Venezuela expel the Israeli ambassador?", "Who is the president of Venezuela?", "Who may be expelled in tit-for-tat gesture?" ]
[ [ "\"cowards.\"" ], [ "Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez" ], [ "over the increasingly bloody ground war in Gaza." ], [ "Venezuela's top diplomat" ], [ "\"cowards.\"" ], [ "the increasingly bloody ground war in Gaza." ], [ "Hugo Chavez" ], [ "Venezuela's top diplomat" ] ]
NEW: Top Venezuelan diplomat may be expelled in tit-for-tat gesture . Venezuela ordered Israeli ambassador to leave over the ground war in Gaza . Venezuelan government statement condemned "flagrant violations" by Israel . President Hugo Chavez calls Israeli army "cowards" Israeli spokesman says Venezuela has given "automatic support" to extremists .
(CNN) -- Israel was founded on democratic principles with the Jewish state's declaration of independence in 1948 including a commitment to the "complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex." It has remained a continuous democracy ever since. The 120-seat Knesset is the Israeli seat of government. The seat of Israeli government is the Knesset, the country's national parliament, located in Jerusalem, which Israel claims as its capital. The Knesset's 120 lawmakers are elected by universal suffrage with all Israeli citizens over the age of 18 entitled to vote. Knesset seats are divided according to each party's proportion of the overall vote. But parties must poll at least two percent nationally to gain a seat. Participation in elections, including among Arab Israelis who constitute around 20 percent of the population, has traditionally been high at around 80 percent turnout, according to Israeli government figures. Israel currently has around 5.3 million eligible voters. Israel usually holds national elections every four years. But this year's poll on February 10 was called early -- less than three years since the last vote -- by Israeli President Shimon Peres following the resignation of prime minister Ehud Olmert amid allegations of corruption and his Kadima Party successor Tzipi Livni's failure to form a coalition. Olmert has continued to serve as caretaker prime minister in the interim. Coalitions of two or more parties are common in Israel; in fact no party has ever won enough votes to form a government by itself. Those remaining outside the ruling coalition make up the opposition. Thirty-four parties will participate in the 2009 elections, including major parties such as Kadima, Likud and Labor and also three Arab parties. The task of forming and leading a government is charged by Israel's president to the Knesset member and party leader considered to have the best chance of forming a viable coalition. The prime minister-designate then has 28 days, extendable by 14 days, to build a coalition commanding the support of at least 61 Knesset members. Officials results are due to be published on February 18 with the new Knesset convening on March 2.
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Israel goes to the polls in national elections on February 10 . 34 parties bidding for 120 seats in the Knesset, Israel's parliament . Turnout among Israel's 5.3 million eligible voters expected to be high . Election follows collapse of Kadima-led coalition, resignation of ex-PM Ehud Olmert .
(CNN) -- Israel's Shahar Peer continued her superb run at the Dubai Open by beating Li Na of China to reach the semifinals of the WTA Tier One tournament on Thursday. Peer progressed to a match-up with Venus Williams as Li, who reached the semifinals of the Australian Open, retired with a back injury when trailing 5-7 0-3. Peer, who was refused entry to the United Arab Emirates for last year's tournament, is posing a security problem for organizers, who have scheduled her matches on an outside court with restricted access. With tensions high after last month's assassination of a senior Hamas official in Dubai, placing Peer on the 5,000 capacity Center Court for her last four clash is a step they may be unwilling to take. Peer, who has been in fine form in 2010, beat top seed Caroline Wozniacki to reach the quarterfinals and said after the match that despite the controversies in the past she was receiving a good reception. "I get really amazing treatment here and they are so nice to me, all the people around me that are taking care of me," she told the official WTA Tour Web site. Against world number 10 Li, she was always on top as she headed for her fourth straight win in the tournament and her first over the highly-rated Chinese player. Defending champion Venus Williams showed her liking for the venue with a straight sets 6-3 6-4 win over promising young Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in their quarterfinal later on Thursday. In other quarterfinal action, seventh seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland saw off Russian qualifier Regina Kulikova in three hard-fought sets, 3-6 6-4 6-3. She will play fourth seed Victoria Azarenka of Belaus who brushed aside Russian Vera Zvonareva 6-1 6-3 to reach the last four.
[ "What is the tournament called?", "Who will now face Peer?", "Who played all her matches on a restricted access outside court?", "Who reached the semi finals?", "Which country is the championship in?", "Who reached the semifinals of the Dubai Tennis Championship?", "Who reached the semi finals of the Dubai tennis championship?" ]
[ [ "WTA Tier One" ], [ "Venus Williams" ], [ "Peer," ], [ "Shahar Peer" ], [ "United Arab Emirates" ], [ "Shahar Peer" ], [ "Shahar Peer" ] ]
Israel's Shahar Peer reaches the semifinals of the Dubai Tennis Championship . Peer defeats eighth seed Li Na of China who is forced to quit in the second set . Peer has played all her matches on a restricted access outside court amid security fears . NEW: Defending champion Venus Williams into semifinals where she will face Peer .
(CNN) -- Israeli President Shimon Peres said he had an amicable phone conversation with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a day after Erdogan stormed offstage during an angry exchange with Peres at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan leaves the stage Thursday, as Israeli President Shimon Peres sits, left. Peres said he and Erdogan did not take the spat personally. "I called him up and said, yes, it's nothing against you, nothing against Turkey. We consider you as a friend," Peres said. He said Erdogan reciprocated. Although there was no mention of an apology, Peres said there was a polite exchange between the two leaders. "I didn't take it personally. I didn't go for a personal fight. I answered unfounded accusations. It was my duty. And they didn't change my mind," he said. Watch Shimon Peres on the Gaza conflict » Turkey, a predominantly Muslim nation, has long been the Jewish state's closest military and economic partner in the region, and Turkey recently mediated indirect peace talks between Israel and Syria. But many Turks have been incensed with Israel over its three-week military operation that ended there earlier this month. And in Davos, Erdogan was angered after Peres said that Israel is committed to peace and blamed Hamas for the fighting in Gaza, where Israel staged a three-week military operation that ended earlier this month. When Erdogan began responding, a moderator cut him off, saying the debate had run over its allotted time. Erdogan patted the moderator on the arm until he was granted one more minute to respond. Watch commentary on Erdogan's angry exchange » "I know the reason behind raising your voice is because of the guilty psychology," he said to Peres. "My voice will not be that loud. You must know that. When it comes to killing -- you know killing very well. I know how you hit, kill children on the beaches." He then left the stage, complaining that Peres was receiving preferential treatment. "From now on, Davos is finished for me," Erdogan said. "I will not come back. You won't let people talk. You gave him 25 minutes, but you gave me 12 minutes. This is not right." Erdogan had described the military campaign against Hamas fighters in Gaza as "barbaric" and accused Israel of using excessive force. He said: "The Palestinian Territories are like an open-air prison, isolated from the world. I have always been a leader who said anti-Semitism is a crime against humanity. But so is anti-Islamism." Peres had said Hamas was responsible for the "tragedy," accusing the Islamist militants of creating a "dangerous dictatorship." "Israel left Gaza completely -- no occupation," Peres said. "I want to understand why they throw rockets at us." On Friday, after his outburst, Erdogan returned home to a hero's welcome. Thousands of people lined up at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, cheering and waving signs. A large banner read, "You Will Never Walk Alone," and smaller signs bore phrases including "Davos Conqueror." People also were seen waving Turkish and Palestinian flags and throwing flowers on the road leading to Erdogan's home. Despite the glowing response at the airport, there has been some criticism in the Turkish media of Erdogan's exchange with the Israeli president. CNN Turk's Deniz Bayramoglu said the issue was still "hot" with Erdogan's secularist political opponents speaking out against the prime minister. "They also say that Israel's behavior in Gaza is unacceptable but they are very critical of Prime Minister Erdogan's behavior," Bayramoglu said. "Some are saying they are really proud of Prime Minister Erdogan and some are saying it is a diplomatic scandal." Erdogan explained whom he was directing his anger at during a news conference at the airport. "My words were only to the Israeli government, not the Israeli
[ "What country is Istanbul in?", "Who is the Israeli president?", "What did the Israeli president say about the spat?", "Who called Israel's Gaza campaign barbaric?", "Erdogan called what country's campaign barbaric?", "What did Recep Tayyip Erdogan call the Gaza campaign?", "Who was angered during the debate on Gaza?", "Who is Shimon Peres?", "Where did Erdogan go for a hero's welcome?", "Where was the World Economic Forum held?", "The prime minister of what country was angered?" ]
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Turkish Prime Minister angered during debate on Gaza at World Economic Forum . Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Israel's Gaza campaign "barbaric," stormed off stage . Israeli president Shimon Peres said he and Erdogan did not take spat personally . Erdogan returned home to a hero's welcome in Istanbul .
(CNN) -- Israeli President Shimon Peres said he had an amicable phone conversation with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a day after Erdogan stormed offstage during an angry exchange with Peres at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan leaves the stage Thursday, as Israeli President Shimon Peres sits, left. Peres said he and Erdogan did not take the spat personally. "I called him up and said, yes, it's nothing against you, nothing against Turkey. We consider you as a friend," Peres said. He said Erdogan reciprocated. Although there was no mention of an apology, Peres said there was a polite exchange between the two leaders. "I didn't take it personally. I didn't go for a personal fight. I answered unfounded accusations. It was my duty. And they didn't change my mind," he said. Watch Shimon Peres on the Gaza conflict » Turkey, a predominantly Muslim nation, has long been the Jewish state's closest military and economic partner in the region, and Turkey recently mediated indirect peace talks between Israel and Syria. But many Turks have been incensed with Israel over its three-week military operation that ended there earlier this month. And in Davos, Erdogan was angered after Peres said that Israel is committed to peace and blamed Hamas for the fighting in Gaza, where Israel staged a three-week military operation that ended earlier this month. When Erdogan began responding, a moderator cut him off, saying the debate had run over its allotted time. Erdogan patted the moderator on the arm until he was granted one more minute to respond. Watch commentary on Erdogan's angry exchange » "I know the reason behind raising your voice is because of the guilty psychology," he said to Peres. "My voice will not be that loud. You must know that. When it comes to killing -- you know killing very well. I know how you hit, kill children on the beaches." He then left the stage, complaining that Peres was receiving preferential treatment. "From now on, Davos is finished for me," Erdogan said. "I will not come back. You won't let people talk. You gave him 25 minutes, but you gave me 12 minutes. This is not right." Erdogan had described the military campaign against Hamas fighters in Gaza as "barbaric" and accused Israel of using excessive force. He said: "The Palestinian Territories are like an open-air prison, isolated from the world. I have always been a leader who said anti-Semitism is a crime against humanity. But so is anti-Islamism." Peres had said Hamas was responsible for the "tragedy," accusing the Islamist militants of creating a "dangerous dictatorship." "Israel left Gaza completely -- no occupation," Peres said. "I want to understand why they throw rockets at us." On Friday, after his outburst, Erdogan returned home to a hero's welcome. Thousands of people lined up at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, cheering and waving signs. A large banner read, "You Will Never Walk Alone," and smaller signs bore phrases including "Davos Conqueror." People also were seen waving Turkish and Palestinian flags and throwing flowers on the road leading to Erdogan's home. Despite the glowing response at the airport, there has been some criticism in the Turkish media of Erdogan's exchange with the Israeli president. CNN Turk's Deniz Bayramoglu said the issue was still "hot" with Erdogan's secularist political opponents speaking out against the prime minister. "They also say that Israel's behavior in Gaza is unacceptable but they are very critical of Prime Minister Erdogan's behavior," Bayramoglu said. "Some are saying they are really proud of Prime Minister Erdogan and some are saying it is a diplomatic scandal." Erdogan explained whom he was directing his anger at during a news conference at the airport. "My words were only to the Israeli government, not the Israeli people,
[ "What city did it take place in?", "Who is the Israeli president?", "During which debate was the Turkish Prime MInister angered?", "Who got a hero's welcome?", "Did Peres and Erdogan take the spat personally?", "Who was angered during debate on Gaza?", "Who called Israel's Gaza campaign barbaric?" ]
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Turkish Prime Minister angered during debate on Gaza at World Economic Forum . Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Israel's Gaza campaign "barbaric," stormed off stage . Israeli president Shimon Peres said he and Erdogan did not take spat personally . Erdogan returned home to a hero's welcome in Istanbul .
(CNN) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel could accept a peace agreement with a "demilitarized Palestinian state" as its neighbor. Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu said he would agree to peace with Palestinians. In his first speech accepting the concept of a two-state solution for the Middle East conflict, Netanyahu set rigid conditions for moving forward. Among them: unequivocal Palestinian recognition of Israel as the Jewish national state with Jerusalem as its capital, and full demilitarization for a Palestinian state -- no army, no rockets or missiles, no control of airspace. "I say this in a clear voice -- if we receive a guarantee of this demilitarized unit, we will be prepared to reach agreement to a demilitarized Palestine side by side with the Jewish state," Netanyahu said, according to a direct translation of his speech at Bar-Ilan University's Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies in Ramat Gan, Israel. Initial Palestinian reaction was negative, with Palestinian legislator Mustafa Barghouti saying Netanyahu was calling for creation of a ghetto state. "He is proving there is no partner for peace in Israel," Barghouti told CNN. Chief Palestinian Negotiator Saeb Erakat said Netanyahu "left us with nothing to negotiate as he systematically took nearly every permanent status issue off the table." "He announced a series of conditions and qualifications that render a viable, independent and sovereign Palestinian state impossible," Erakat said. "This speech fell far short of every single one of the benchmarks required of Israel in line with international law and existing agreements," he said, including the 2003 Roadmap for Peace. Netanyahu's speech, billed as a major statement on the peace process, follows President Obama's recent high-profile speech to the Muslim world and a visit to the region by Obama's Middle East envoy, former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell. Obama welcomed Netanyahu's speech as "an important step forward" and said the president remained committed to a two-state solution that would ensure Israel's security and provide the Palestinians "a viable state," according to a White House statement. Obama pledged to continue working with all parties "to see that they fulfill their obligations and responsibilities," the statement said. Netanyahu, of the center-right Likud party, previously refused to endorse a two-state solution. Netanyahu sounded themes popular with his conservative followers, repeatedly referring to Israel as the Jewish national homeland and demanding recognition of that by all Arab foes, including the Palestinians, for any chance at a peace agreement. He prompted applause with his statement that "the land of Israel is homeland to the Jewish people, and that is the basis of our right to it." "The Palestinian leadership must rise up and say in a very straight way that we are tired of this conflict, we will recognize the right of the Jewish people to have a national homeland in this part of the world," Netanyahu said, according to the direct translation. He said Jerusalem would remain the capital of Israel -- refusing to yield on a sensitive issue for Palestinians -- and that a Palestinian state would have to be fully demilitarized to ensure the safety of Israel. Obama, in his June 4 speech in Cairo, Egypt, endorsed a two-state solution and urged compromise between "two peoples with legitimate aspirations." He repeated his call for both Israel and the Palestinians to fulfill all obligations under the 2003 Roadmap for Peace, including a halt to any expansion of West Bank settlements by Israel. Obama called America's bond with Israel "unbreakable" but said Palestinians have suffered in pursuit of a homeland. He also called for an end to Palestinian incitement against Israel and greater security in Palestinian territories. On Sunday, Netanyahu acknowledged the suffering on both sides from the continuing Middle East conflict, but insisted the roots of the conflict came from the Arab world's refusal to accept Israel's right to exist.
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NEW: President Obama calls Benjamin Netanyahu's speech "important step forward" Palestinian legislator accuses Netanyahu of calling for creation of ghetto state . Demilitarized state could not have army or control its airspace, he says . Before Sunday, Netanyahu had not endorsed a two-state solution .
(CNN) -- It all sounds eerily familiar. A new iPhone. Massive sales. Then, an apparent glitch that, while it doesn't affect everyone, is prevalent enough to irk customers and catch the eyes of tech journalists everywhere. Poor battery life on the iPhone 4S, released on October 14 to great fanfare and record sales, has been the new model's Achilles' heel in the minds of many users. While complaints about the perceived problem haven't reached the fevered pitch that last year's iPhone 4 release saw about its so-called "death grip" problem, they don't seem to be going away. There were, of course, the expected number of early-adopter quibbles with the phone: from troubles with new carrier Sprint, to a sometimes slow-moving camera, to limits on the voice-activated Siri "personal assistant" outside the United States. But as most of those gripes either got sorted or users got used to the limitations, complaints about the phone's battery life have persisted. A post on the Apple support forums, begun on October 15 to discuss battery problems, was still active Tuesday -- two weeks and 185 pages worth of comments later. "I purchased what I thought was a top-of-the-line product only to be terribly disappointed," one user wrote Tuesday. "This is my first iPhone and may well be my last." Battery life was a frequent complaint about the iPhone 3GS, but concerns about the phone's short battery life seemed to have been addressed on the next-generation iPhone 4. According to Apple's official specs, the iPhone 4S should have enough juice in the battery for up to eight hours of talk time, six hours of Internet surfing, 10 hours of video viewing and 200 hours on standby. (All activities on a 3G connection -- 2G and wireless have different figures). All of those numbers are within an hour or so of the iPhone 4, except for one. The older phone's specifications promise 300 hours of standby power: a full 50% more than the 4S. Users complaining on the Apple forum and elsewhere say that their phones aren't lasting anywhere near even that reduced length of time. Various independent tests of the new phone have suggested that some phones have problems with poor battery life, while others don't. The general consensus among tech-inclined owners is that the problem may not lie with the battery itself, but with the way the phone utilizes Apple's latest mobile operating system, iOS 5. Specifically, the theory goes, its location-based services are a power drain. If the phone is constantly trying to pinpoint where it is, it will suck power even when the user isn't actively doing something with the phone. (For a comparison, think about how quickly your battery drains when you forget to turn off Wi-Fi searches while you're driving.) The new phone also has a more powerful processor -- the same one that's in the iPad 2. That could cut battery life, even though Apple CEO Tim Cook specifically said that it wouldn't during the iPhone 4S unveiling event last month. Apparently, reading from the well-worn Apple playbook, the company has not commented publicly about the battery complaints. Messages and e-mails to Apple seeking comment on these complaints were not returned. It's unclear whether the company acknowledges there's a battery problem (although there have been reports that Apple is contacting iPhone 4S users to try to get to the bottom of it). And while it's too early for direct comparisons, the extended silence looks remarkably like the public-relations two-step that was Apple's handling of the iPhone 4's antenna issues. (As you may recall, Consumer Reports and others said the iPhone 4 had antenna problems that caused it to drop calls. People dubbed the situation "Antennagate.") First, the company refused to publicly acknowledge the issue. Then, there was a software patch apparently aimed at fixing it (although Apple never explicitly said so
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Complaints about iPhone 4S battery life mount . Some iPhone owners say their batteries drain much faster than advertised . Apple has not publicly acknowledged the concerns . Comments on a post on Apple's support forums go for 185 pages .
(CNN) -- It arrived in Rich Stevens' mailbox a few weeks ago: the notice that Citibank had "rate-jacked" the Visa cards belonging to him and his wife. Some credit card holders have seen their interest rates go up dramatically, a practice called "rate-jacking." "In my case, from 9.5 percent to 16.99," the 54-year-old nurse from the Long Island hamlet of Merrick, New York, told CNN. And his wife's rate zoomed from 7.95 percent to 16.99 percent, he said. Stevens said he did not know why the rates had soared; his credit rating is great. But, like thousands of other credit card customers around the nation, he has been notified his rate is skyrocketing. "It almost borders on loan-sharking, from my perspective," he said. In the blogosphere, writers are livid at the instant rate hikes -- called "rate-jacking." Citigroup seems to be the target of most bloggers' venom -- partly because Citigroup issues so many credit cards and partly because Citi began sending the notices at about the same time it was getting a $20 billion, taxpayer-financed government bailout. No one at Citigroup would talk on camera to CNN about the matter. Instead, the company issued a written statement, which said: "To continue funding in this difficult credit and funding environment, Citi is repricing a group of customers." Citi told CNN that anyone unhappy with the new rates can opt out and continue paying the lower interest, but they must close their account when their card expires. It's all in the fine print. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, said she is sick of the fine print. She agreed that credit card companies get away with whatever they want, as long at they put their desires into the fine print. "They have this provision that says they can raise the rate -- any time, any reason," she said. In September, Maloney got the House to pass by an overwhelming margin of 200 votes the "credit card holders' bill of rights," which would have stopped rate-jacking and the imposition of other fees by banks. But the bill has languished in the Senate since September. "There's a lot of pushback from the financial industry," she said. Watch how card companies are trying to woo customers » Critics say that pushback is linked to donations from the banking industry to the politicians responsible for regulating credit cards. The chairman of the Senate Banking Committee is Christopher Dodd. His staff said the Connecticut Democrat has his own credit card bill containing tough language to stop things like rate-jacking and shortening of billing cycles -- two issues that anger consumers. But even Dodd's own bill has failed to gain traction -- it has sat since July. Dodd himself received more than $4 million from the financial sector during the last campaign, according to campaign records. His office did not respond to CNN's questions about that. It did say that he has tried repeatedly to protect consumers, but added, "legislation has been met with stiff opposition by the credit card industry." On Thursday, the Federal Reserve is expected to vote on its own new rules regarding credit cards, rules in the works for four years that could clamp down on rate-jacking. Whatever is passed, Maloney said, probably would not take effect until 2010.
[ "What kind of company is Citigroup?", "Who is target of blogger's ire?" ]
[ [ "credit cards" ], [ "Citigroup" ] ]
One man's rate went from 9.5% to 16.99%: "It almost borders on loan-sharking" Citigroup, recipient of bailout funds, seems to be the target of most bloggers' ire . U.S. House passes "bill of rights" for customers, but legislation stalls in Senate . Citi says anyone unhappy with rate can opt out and close account when card expires .
(CNN) -- It certainly isn't your average help wanted ad. A publication in Denver, Colorado, is looking for a journalist to review marijuana dispensaries. "Do you have a medical condition that necessitates marijuana? Do you have a way with words? If so, Westword wants you to join the ranks as our freelance marijuana-dispensary reviewer." The local "burgeoning medical marijuana scene" in Denver, Colorado, is growing and the weekly publication Westword wants to be on the forefront, said Joe Tone, the paper's Web editor. "We want someone who can get in and relay to our readers what it is like inside these dispensaries." It's not exactly like a food critic job. The online-only reviewer won't be showing up anonymously and sampling the wares. "They are to review the places, not the weed," Tone said. "We can't have our reviewer be stoned all the time," he quipped. But, he said, the ideal applicant should have "the ability to write and be in the position of holding a state medical marijuana card." The reviewer, he said, should know his or her way around dispensaries and be "passionate about the issue of medical marijuana." Colorado is one of 14 states where medical marijuana is legal by state law -- federal law still bans its use. But this week, the Obama administration announced a new policy loosening the rules regarding prosecuting criminal activity associated with medical marijuana. The Justice Department now says that prosecutors can go after traffickers but not medical marijuana patients and their caregivers. Though Westword is no longer accepting applicants for its dispensary reviewer position, they are actively working through the 120 they received and have culled the list down to under 20. The applicants run the gamut of 20-something stoners to well-educated engineers in their 50s. Some have even offered to work for free, Tone said, adding "We won't accept that." The pay is "meager," he said, but it's legitimate.
[ "How many states have legalised medical maijuana?", "What does the paper want to cover?", "In how many states is medical marijuana legal?", "Where is weekly publication Westword found?", "where medical marijuana legal", "What does federal law say about marijuana?" ]
[ [ "14" ], [ "marijuana dispensaries." ], [ "14" ], [ "in Denver, Colorado," ], [ "Colorado is one of 14 states" ], [ "still bans its use." ] ]
Weekly publication Westword in Denver, Colorado, marijuana-dispensary reviewer . Paper wants to cover "burgeoning medical marijuana scene" says Web editor . Colorado is one of 14 states where medical marijuana is legal by state law . Federal law still bans its use .
(CNN) -- It doesn't matter that they can be feverishly hot. Or that crowds make for long food lines or the tickets may be hard to come by. Bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding performed at this year's New Orleans Jazz Fest. Music festivals worldwide attract thousands of fans wanting to hear their favorite artists live or discover under-the-radar musicians. Each major festival has its own special twist, specific to the event and city that hosts it. From the notorious mud baths at Glastonbury, England, to the breath-taking mountains surrounding Fuji Rock in Naeba, Japan, these are events that festival-goers wait for all year. Experience the New Orleans Jazz Fest » Our guide prepares music fans worldwide for the best festivals this summer and later in the year. GLASTONBURY, Somerset, England June 24-28 ($255) Glastonbury has been around since dairy farmer Michael Eavis first held a free two-day festival on his farm in 1970, and it's long been the festival in England for seeing the biggest and best bands in the world. It also may be the muddiest -- heavy rain in several years, most notably 1997, turned Glastonbury into a muddy bog. Everyone from Radiohead to Jay-Z has headlined the festival, and with more than 700 acts each year, there is something for everybody. Some of the proceeds from the festival go to Oxfam and Greenpeace. This year's headliners include Franz Ferdinand, Blur, and Bruce Springsteen. ROCK AL PARQUE, Bogota, Colombia June 27-29 (free) The Rock al Parque festival, launched in 1995, has become South America's biggest rockfest in recent years -- some 320,000 people traveled to Simon Bolivar Park in 2006 for a weekend of Colombia's top rock bands and renowned international headliners. Funded by Colombia's culture secretary, the free festival has included some of rock's biggest names, including Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Manu Chao, and Bloc Party. In the days leading up to Rock al Parque, the festival organizers host a series of panel discussions on music production, management, and the recording industry. ROSKILDE, Denmark July 2-5 ($220) Since 1971, the rock festival in Roskilde has hosted the top names in music, from Bob Marley to Bob Dylan. It is the biggest summer festival in northern Europe, and the "Arena" stage boasts a 17,000-capacity tent, the largest in Europe. The festival has a daily newspaper and a 24-hour live radio station and is also home to the annual "Naked Run," where the first naked person to cross the finish line receives a free ticket for next year's festival. Some 80,000 will travel to Roskilde to see headliners including Coldplay, Oasis and Nine Inch Nails. EXIT, Novi Sad, Serbia July 9-12 ($105) Created in 2000 by three university students as a protest against former Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic, the electro-focused festival in the heart of Serbia was named Europe's best festival in 2007 by fans voting in the UK Festival Awards. Over 200,000 people attended Exit last year, dancing at all-night raves in the gorgeous surroundings of Petrovaradin Fortress, an 18th-century castle near the Danube River. Some of techno's biggest names will be on hand to celebrate Exit's 10-year anniversary, including Moby, Kraftwerk, and The Prodigy. THISDAY, Abuja/Lagos, Nigeria Dates tba The THISDAY festival in Nigeria -- launched in 2006 by the editor-in-chief of Thisday newspaper, Nduka Obaigbena, to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the end of slavery -- is the biggest music and fashion festival in Africa. According to Obaigbena, the festival is meant to highlight the positive progress being made in Africa, and find sustainable solutions for the continent's problems. The theme of last year's festival was "Africa Rising," and it showcased some of the world's best-known artists including Jay-Z, Rihanna, and Usher. Stay tuned for this year's lineup. FUJI ROCK, Naeba, Japan July 24-26 ($410)
[ "Where is the castle?", "What can people enjoy in Bonnaroo, Tennesee?", "Where can you dress to kill?", "What can you dance all weekend with?", "Where are the festivals held?", "What is the competition" ]
[ [ "near the Danube River." ], [ "the best festivals" ], [ "New Orleans Jazz Fest." ], [ "Music festivals" ], [ "New Orleans" ], [ "New Orleans Jazz Fest." ] ]
CNN has put together a list of some of the best upcoming music festivals . You can dress to kill at England's Bestival's fancy dress competition . Enjoy the music, comedians and silent disco at Bonnaroo in Tennessee . Dance all weekend in the shadows of a 300-year-old Serbian castle .
(CNN) -- It has been 20 years since best-selling crime writer Patricia Cornwell began work on her first novel in the series chronicling the cases of forensic analyst Dr. Kay Scarpetta. Now, both have found celebrity. Cornwell's latest novel, "The Scarpetta Factor," places her enduring heroine in a role the author knows all too well, a pop culture celebrity sought-after for her expertise. In an interview with CNN.com, Cornwell discussed the challenges of staying fresh, the need for happy endings and the merits of the History Channel and the movie "White Chicks." CNN: The title of your new book, "The Scarpetta Factor," has many meanings. Can you tell me about some of them? Cornwell: On the one hand, it's a very direct reference to the fact she's the chief forensic analyst for CNN in this book. But while she's doing the on-air spots, they decide they want her to have her own show and that's what they call it, "The Scarpetta Factor," which is a reference to a cliché that's beginning to float around, that there's one element that she can add that will solve the case like she's Sherlock Holmes. This becomes very upsetting to her, first of all, because it's a cliché and the scientist in her doesn't think she has a special factor, she's a scientist. It begins to pose problems for her because even some colleagues and friends start to wonder if she's begun to believe her own legend and make mistakes. With her years of experience and high level of visibility and exceptional grasp of the criminal world, she would be asked to be on major shows. When someone like Michael Jackson dies or Caylee Anthony disappears, that's the obvious thing that would happen. People would say, I wonder what Scarpetta has to say. I'm trying to put her in the world we live in. CNN: Why did you choose CNN? Cornwell: It would make perfect sense that she would sit on the set with Anderson Cooper or Wolf Blizter and be asked relevant questions from a hard news angle. It's one [network] she would go on and there's lots she wouldn't go on. CNN: How have things changed since you published your first novel? Cornwell: When I was shopping my first book around, it was rejected by the major publishing houses and that was because a lot of people didn't think morgues and labs were interesting, and that's a huge statement about how things have changed. I remember one time, I called my literary agent at that time, and I said I was in a toxicology lab, and she said, I hate talking to you because you're always in these awful places. Forensic science was not viewed as cool, as it is today. CNN: Are there any on-air personalities we might recognize in "The Scarpetta Factor?" Cornwell: When she is up at CNN for a scene when she's on a fictitious show, she walks past posters of Nancy Grace and Lou Dobbs and Wolf Blitzer because she's up on that floor, so I do make real references to people, but the characters, the producers, none are real and they're not based on anybody I met or know. CNN: How much of yourself do you see in Kay Scarpetta? Over the years, have you grown into her or has she grown into you? Cornwell: Only insofar as we have the same values and sensibilities and perhaps the same approach to solving cases. I'm imposing the way my mind works in terms of connecting the dots, but beyond that, there are huge differences between us. She's a standalone character. I would feel very self-conscious and bored if she was a projection of me. I have certain things in common with all my characters. Like Marino, I can be a slob and sometimes say stupid things and rush to judgment. CNN: You're known for doing a lot of research on the ground to give your
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[ [ "best-selling crime writer" ], [ "Dr. Kay Scarpetta." ], [ "Kay Scarpetta?" ], [ "forensic analyst" ], [ "Patricia Cornwell" ], [ "Dr. Kay Scarpetta." ], [ "discussed the challenges of staying fresh, the need for happy endings and the merits of the History Channel and the movie \"White Chicks.\"" ], [ "discussed the challenges of staying fresh, the need for happy endings and the merits of the History Channel and the movie \"White Chicks.\"" ], [ "Dr. Kay Scarpetta." ] ]
Author Patricia Cornwell talks about Kay Scarpetta, fame and forensics . In latest book, Scarpetta is CNN's chief forensic analyst . Cornwell says she works hard to keep up with scientific advances . She says she doesn't watch crime shows or scary movies .
(CNN) -- It has been a piece of Berlin history for 80 years, a symbol of Nazi power but also of Germans' desire for freedom after World War II. The giant Tempelhof Airport in Berlin will shut it doors for good on Friday. Friday, Berlin's Tempelhof Airport will shut its doors for good. Tempelhof was where American and British pilots touched down after the war when Soviet Forces blockaded West Berlin. The allied pilots flew in millions of tons of food, fuel and medication for an ailing population, earning themselves the title "candy bombers," for dropping candy as they flew over the city. "Through Tempelhof, we stayed alive," said Hedi Koenig, 83, who lived near the airport in West Berlin after the war. Without the air drops, she said, the people would have starved to death. The airport rapidly became Berlin's only hub for supplies, eventually carrying almost 2.5 million tons of goods into the city. Tempelhof's massive main building -- originally designed to represent Nazi Germany to visitors -- remains one of the largest structures in the world. The U.S. Army later built a basketball court and firing range at Tempelhof, and hid an entire command center in the vast network of tunnels under the buildings. These days, however, its runways are too short for most modern civilian aircraft. City officials said the airport was not profitable and needed to be shut down as Berlin builds a major new airport, Berlin-Brandenburg International. Moves to close Tempelhof have sparked protests from residents and aviators who thought more should have been done to preserve such an important part of the city's history. See archive photos of the airport "The people want it, private enterprise wants it, all national arguments are in favor of it," Friedbert Pflueger, a local opposition leader, said last year. More than 100 private pilots staged a "fly-in" in September 2007 to protest the plans. Koenig said Berliners were still angry with city officials who allowed the closure. She blamed business leaders for putting pressure on the city to close the airport by arguing it cost too much and didn't make enough money. "For business people, the airport doesn't mean anything," said Koenig. She said they were too young to remember how important Tempelhof has been for the city. Koenig is among many who believe the airport should be turned into a cultural memorial. A memorial already exists outside the airport to remember the candy bombers, dozens of whom died flying in during bad weather or after being harassed by Soviet fighter planes. "The success of the airlift made sure that the communist ideology lost its impetus, lost its thrust, because people began to realize that democracies can defend their way of life," said Helmut Trotnow of the Berlin Allied Museum. The allied pilots, Koenig said, were responsible for saving the city amid the Russian blockade. "The Russians tried with all their might to break us," she said. Koenig snuck into West Berlin from the East after the war. That meant she didn't have a visa and couldn't receive official food rations, so she literally scraped by during her night job at a bakery. Koenig said she cleaned the pans and would try to scratch off whatever food remained stuck to the sides. Her boss would check to make sure she wasn't eating any of the remnants, but Koenig said she did it anyway, whenever her boss wasn't looking. Tempelhof's beginnings date to September 4, 1909, when American aviation pioneer Orville Wright flew an engine-powered plane for a few minutes on the airfield there. It ushered in the era of aviation in Germany, and Tempelhof eventually became Berlin's central airport and the biggest hub in Europe. The airport also became the home of Lufthansa, which was founded in Berlin in 1926. Civilian traffic declined during the second world war and the Soviet Army occupied the airport. The Americans took it over in July 1945. The Soviet blockade of West Berlin began in May 1948 as an attempt to force the
[ "where is the airport located", "what is to close", "When was the Tempelhof Airport built?", "What was the Tempelhof Airport used for?", "what size is the airport", "when is it going to close" ]
[ [ "in Berlin" ], [ "The giant Tempelhof Airport in Berlin" ], [ "September 4, 1909," ], [ "American and British pilots touched down after the war when Soviet Forces blockaded West Berlin." ], [ "giant" ], [ "Friday." ] ]
The giant Tempelhof Airport, once a symbol of Nazi power, is to close . Airport was also used by British and Americans to break Soviet blockade . Pilots flew in millions of tons of food, fuel and medication for ailing population .
(CNN) -- It has been a rough couple of months for Netflix. The company that virtually defined online movie rentals was swamped by an unprecedented wave of customer ire two months ago when it raised prices for both its DVD mailing and online streaming services. Netflix announced this week that it's splitting itself in two and rebranding its movies-by-mail service as "Qwikster." Based on initial online responses, this latest effort didn't make things much better. In fact, it seems to have, in the best cases, re-opened old wounds and, in the worst, given customers a whole new set of issues to be angry about. "Reed, thanks for reminding me that I should go somewhere else for my DVD rentals. It was an insult enough that you raised the price on me last month, right in the middle of the biggest recession since the Great Depression, but now instead of a sincere apology, all we get is excuses and a flimsy new name." That's from a customer named Jonathan Ortega and it's one of more than 23,000 comments on a blog post by Netflix CEO Reed Hastings explaining the latest changes. In the post, Hastings announced that the service that made Netflix famous, mailing DVDs in those iconic red wrappers, is being spun off and renamed Qwikster, while Web streaming video will continue to be called Netflix. Not all the posts took the same flamethrower approach as Ortega's. But even some of the more evenhanded messages raised questions. "While I appreciate the explanation (and e-mail) and I guess I understand your reasoning for doing this, the thing I'm having the hard time about is the separation of websites," wrote a user named Tellier Killaby Booth. "I don't understand why I will now have to go to two separate websites to manage my queues. The only reason that I have both services is because half the things I watch aren't available yet on streaming." Chris Taylor of Mashable (a CNN content partner), questioned whether the spin-off of Qwikster was "the worst product launch since New Coke." "As any marketer will tell you, there are some truly awful times to launch a new product -- like August, when few potential customers are paying attention, or January, when they're all shopped out from the holidays," Taylor wrote. "And then there's launching your new product in the 10th paragraph of an apology for some previous poor communication, as Netflix CEO Reed Hastings did late Sunday with Qwikster. ..." Taylor, who says he has met and interviewed Hastings several times, calls him "one of the smartest and most amiable minds I've ever met." But he lays out a laundry list of problems, from the odd spelling of Qwikster to creating unnecessary confusion for customers who keep both streaming and DVD service. And, yes ... that name. Plenty of folks were chiming in about that name -- from its lack of savvy (who's going to remember how to spell that?) to the fact the Twitter handle is already taken to simply mocking yet another random-seeming, oddly-spelled tech startup title. "It is as though Hastings and the Netflix crew sat in a room and brainstormed the dumbest possible names they could think of and knew they were really onto something truly stupid when they came up with Qwikster ... ," said Huffington Post writer Jason Gilbert in what can only be described as an aggressively snarky post. "My first reaction, when I heard the news, was, "Hey Qwikster, 1991 called, it wants its radical new company name back." The Internet wasn't unanimously down on Netflix's move, however. Venture capitalist Mark Suster, who focuses on early stage tech companies, had a more positive take, calling Hastings' explanation "simply brilliant." (Worth noting: His company, GRP Partners, does not list Netflix as one of its investments.) "[M]any short-termists will think it's a bad idea. Indeed, my Twitter stream tells me so,
[ "how many customers commented?", "What is Netflix's DVD by mail going to be called?", "How many customers commented about the changes?", "what is Responses to latest changes ?" ]
[ [ "23,000" ], [ "\"Qwikster.\"" ], [ "23,000" ], [ "Netflix announced this week that it's splitting itself in two and rebranding its movies-by-mail service as \"Qwikster.\"" ] ]
Responses to latest changes announced by Netflix have been mostly negative . More than 23,000 customers comment on a blog by Netflix CEO about the change . Under changes, Netflix's DVDs-by-mail service will be re-branded as "Qwikster" Many customers already were upset over price increases in July .
(CNN) -- It has been more than 65 years, but for 93-year-old Anthony Snetro, the image of a Japanese torpedo bomber closing in on him will never go away. Snetro still has vivid memories of the day his life flashed before his eyes. "Our ship was starting to swing around," Snetro softly recalls. "All of a sudden, here comes a Jap torpedo bomber all aflame right at my eye level. I could have reached out and touched the wing." Snetro joined the U.S. Navy in 1942 and was immediately assigned to serve aboard the USS Boston in the South Pacific. He hoped enlisting in the Navy would prevent his younger brother from being drafted. "Let him stay home to help the family," Snetro recalls. "That's why I joined the Navy, I was 25 years old. But finally near the end, they drafted him. He was wounded in Germany but made it home OK." Snetro was a machinist in the Navy during World War II. Although he had experienced many terrifying moments during his four years in the service, nothing compared to that October night during the Battle of Formosa in 1944. Up until now, the World War II veteran has shared the experience of that frightening night with only one other person, his son. "Plainly, I saw the pilot and the gunner in there," Snetro explains as his voice gets louder. "The plane was afire. Good thing we were swinging. It just missed us and went along and crashed in the ocean and exploded." Two other cruisers, the Canberra and the Houston, had already been aerial torpedoed the previous two nights. "I know one thing, I was really scared there," Snetro recalls, slowly shaking his head as his eyes grow wider. "I couldn't do anything. I was stupefied. I was frozen." iReport and Facebook team up to honor veterans The four years that Snetro served were extremely stressful, he says. The heavy cruiser would be at sea for months at a time before finally pulling into port for supplies. When out at sea, there was always a concern, especially during war time. "We never knew how close we came to being torpedoed, " Snetro says. "The engine room was down below the water. You get hit with a torpedo and you're done." Snetro realized he needed something to help cope with the dangers of war. He decided to turn to a sport he had been playing since age 10. "We'd get a few hours off on the beach," Snetro says. "We had equipment, softballs, bats, different things. A bunch of guys would get together and we'd start a little game. It was just for fun. You got a little relaxed." Playing ball helped him during the unnerving days of World War II and it has helped him ever since. Snetro hopes to continue playing ball for at least a couple more years. "I enjoy playing ball. It makes me feel good. Seeing my age, I can still run around." he says, smiling. "I can't play like I used to, but I get a hit once in a while." "Baseball was something that you could keep playing. Just my luck, I came down here (Coral Gables, Florida) and they had a team and I've been playing ever since. It's been great! Otherwise, I'd be sitting at home in a rocking chair!"
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[ [ "\"Baseball" ], [ "torpedo bomber closing in on him" ], [ "South Pacific." ], [ "torpedo bomber closing in on him" ], [ "II." ], [ "machinist in the Navy during World War II." ], [ "Playing ball" ], [ "U.S. Navy" ], [ "\"Baseball" ] ]
Anthony Snetro was a machinist in the Navy during World War II . Snetro, 93, is still haunted by the image of a Japanese torpedo bomber . To cope with the stresses of war, Snetro turned to sports .
(CNN) -- It has been nearly 20 years since Poland's Solidarity movement defeated the Communist Party in an historic election that prompted the fall of communism across central and eastern Europe. Solidarity leader Lech Walesa takes the oath in front of Poland's National Assembly on December 22, 1990. CNN International marks this significant anniversary with "The New Poland," a week of programming examining the transformation of Poland from 1989 to where it sits today on the world stage. The combination of daily live programming and special reports from CNN correspondents in cities across Poland culminates June 4 with "Autumn of Change, an in-depth documentary that takes a retrospective look at the events leading up to the election exactly 20 years ago. Reflecting the tumultuous year of 1989, which changed Europe forever, "Autumn of Change" will mix live programming and documentary programming, unforgettable historical images with interviews past and present, and a huge online audience initiative through Poland, Hungary, Germany, the former Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and Romania, in a comprehensive narrative of events that have helped to shape the Europe of today. "CNN's combination of historic footage, comprehensive reporting and access to Poland's key figures puts us in an unparalleled position to set the scene for how Poland was the catalyst for the Europe of today," said Mike McCarthy, vice president of coverage and feature programming for CNN International. "In step with the anniversaries of the events themselves, CNN will invite viewers to take part in our ambitious account of how Europe has changed over the last 20 years and what the future may hold." About the programming: Just eight months after reporting from Poland for the week-long "Eye on Poland" special, Fionnuala Sweeney returns to the country to anchor the network's live coverage for "The New Poland." She will report on the various commemoration and celebration ceremonies throughout the week from cities across Poland including Warsaw, Krakow and Gdansk. In addition to Sweeney's live reports, CNN correspondent Frederik Pleitgen will take viewers inside the Poland of today looking at the political, cultural, social and economic changes that have taken place in the past 20 years. The programs include: -- Gdansk Today: CNN explores the city of Gdansk, the birthplace of the Solidarity movement. We visit the main shipyard and spend the day with a foreman who has been working there for more than 30 years. He talks about the transformation since Solidarity was born and the challenges the shipyards face three decades on. Finally, CNN heads out to sea with a polish yacht maker and finds out how they are dealing with the economic crisis. -- Catholicism in Poland: CNN looks at the Catholic Church in Poland and the challenges it faces. We visit Religia TV, a new project that aims to attract Catholics as well as viewers from other religions. -- Business in Poland: Solidarity transformed Poland from a communist state into a capitalist economy eventually capable of becoming a democratic member of the EU. During the last 20 years, its economy developed at a thriving pace, but even today there are remnants of the old system. CNN speaks to a family-run business on the local economy. We also visit Poland's biggest copper mining and refining company. We find out how the global market place is impacting the global economy and Polish business. -- Polish Cuisine: CNN speaks to Krakow's top celebrity chef and historian Robert Maklowicz about Polish cuisine and the recent trend to return to its roots. -- Poland's Film School: CNN visits Poland's largest film production Centrex, the National Film, Television and Theatre School in Lodz, and finds out what makes this school so unique. About the documentary: By combining narratives from key players within the Solidarity movement, the Communist leadership, CNN reporters who covered the events and Polish civilians who lived through it all, Autumn of Change charts the individuals, relationships and astonishing chain of events that shook eastern Europe to its foundations. About the online coverage: CNN's television coverage will be complemented by a full interactive companion site. This special site will feature a number of
[ "How long has it been since the Communist Party was defeated?", "How many years has it been since the solidarity movement?", "What is The New Poland?", "Who will anchor?", "Who will anchor CNN's live coverage from Poland?", "What does New Poland culminate in?" ]
[ [ "nearly 20 years" ], [ "nearly 20" ], [ "a week of programming examining the transformation of" ], [ "Fionnuala Sweeney" ], [ "Fionnuala Sweeney" ], [ "\"Autumn of Change," ] ]
20 years since Poland's Solidarity movement defeated the Communist Party . The New Poland is a week of programming examining the transformation of Poland . Culminates in Autumn of Change, a look at the events that led to the election . Fionnuala Sweeney will anchor CNN's live coverage from Poland .
(CNN) -- It has been nearly a year since Haiti held elections, but it was not until late Tuesday night that the troubled nation finally was able to form a new government. Garry Conille, a United Nations development specialist and aide to Bill Clinton, was ratified by the Haitian Senate after debate that lasted more than seven hours. President Michel Martelly, who took office in May, congratulated his new prime minister, saying that the installation of new leadership was a step forward in implementing change in Haiti. Martelly's two former prime ministerial nominations -- businessman Daniel Rouzier and lawyer Bernard Gousse -- were rejected by the Senate. The inability to form a working government had raised concerns about Haiti's ability to move forward after a devastating earthquake in January 2010. However, Conille was welcomed in many corners as someone knowledgeable on development challenges and someone who had experience in working with the global community. Conille, 45, a gynecologist, earned a master's degree in health administration from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. He worked for the United Nations Development Program and was a protege of economist Jeffrey Sachs, director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University. "You need someone like Garry Conille who understands the international community because this is a country which depends on the largesse of the international community," said Garry Pierre-Pierre, editor and publisher of the New York-based newspaper The Haitian Times. Most recently, Conille served as chief of staff for former President Clinton, the special U.N. envoy in Haiti. In that role, he was involved in international aid delivery to Haiti. Martelly and Conille have a tough road ahead. Critics say post-quake progress in Haiti, the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, has not been swift enough. Thousands of people remain displaced from their homes, many still in vulnerable makeshift camps. The new government has to take on recovery. Pierre-Pierre said it will be important for Haiti to choose a finance minister who has experience in the private sector, whose partnership with the government will be key to Haiti's future. "I just hope (Conille) is able to bring in someone who is as high-powered in the financial world as he is the development world," Pierre-Pierre said. "Too often in Haiti, we have loaded the government with good bureaucrats (and) not enough people with private sector experience."
[ "who was ratified as Haiti's next prime minister?", "who did conille serve as an aide to?", "Who was Clintons aide", "Who is the next prime minister" ]
[ [ "Garry Conille," ], [ "Bill Clinton," ], [ "Garry Conille," ], [ "Garry Conille," ] ]
Senators ratified Garry Conille as Haiti's next prime minister . President Michel Martelly had failed to get his first two choices approved . Conille is a development expert who served as an aide to Bill Clinton . The new government must lead post-earthquake recovery efforts .
(CNN) -- It has long been the final destination for terminally ill patients who want to end their lives, offering what many consider to be a dignified way out of their suffering. But now, Switzerland is proposing legislation that would limit the practice of assisted suicide to people who are terminally ill -- or ban it altogether. If either proposal is adopted, people suffering from a chronic illness or who have a mental illness could no longer legally take advantage of assisted suicide. The Swiss Federal Council says it doesn't necessarily want to end the country's liberal laws, which allow someone to assist a suicide as long as they are not motivated by their own interests. But the council says organizations that provide assisted suicide in Switzerland -- such as the well known Dignitas clinic -- are increasingly testing the boundaries of the law, requiring the government to lay out specific guidelines and restrictions. Recent cases have drawn more attention to "suicide tourism," in which people who can't legally seek assisted suicide in their home countries travel to Switzerland, where it is allowed. Dan James, a 23-year-old British rugby player, ended his life at a Swiss assisted suicide clinic last year. He had been paralyzed from the neck down in a rugby accident. His illness was chronic but not terminal. James' case drew headlines when his parents, who accompanied their son to Switzerland, returned home to questions from police. In the end, the Jameses were not prosecuted. Multiple sclerosis sufferer Debbie Purdy won a high-profile battle in June to have Britain's law on assisted suicide clarified. Purdy, who has said she wants the option of assisted suicide if her condition deteriorates, wanted to know at what point her husband might be prosecuted if he accompanied her to an assisted suicide clinic. Purdy's case went all the way to the Law Lords, Britain's highest court, who ordered the director of public prosecutions to issue a new policy on assisted suicide. He did so last month. Multiple sclerosis is chronic disease and some times can be terminal, leaving open the question whether Purdy might qualify if the new Swiss proposals are approved. At least 117 Britons have traveled abroad for an assisted suicide since 2002, at an average of two a month, according to Dignity in Dying, which advocates giving terminally ill adults the option of assisted suicide. Switzerland's Parliament is now considering two proposals from the federal council, the seven-member cabinet that heads the government. Consultations on the proposals will last until March. The first option would ensure that the person committing suicide is doing it of their own free will, and that the person assisting them is not driven by personal gain. It would also make assisted suicide an option only for those suffering from a terminal illness -- not for those suffering from a chronic or mental illness. The suicidal person would have to declare that he has given "long and proper consideration" to his decision," according to the council. That is intended to prevent spur-of-the-moment decisions that have not been thought through, the council says. Patients must also present two different doctor's certificates from two different doctors, one stating that they have the legal capacity to decide their options for themselves, and the other stating that they suffer from an incurable physical illness that will result in death within a short period. For those with chronic or mental illnesses, the council said it supports "comprehensive treatment, care and support, in the sense of palliative medicine" rather than suicide. Those assisting with suicide face criminal charges if they don't make sure of these steps, the council says. They must also discuss alternatives to suicide with the patient, and must not accept payment for their services that would exceed the costs and expenses of the suicide. "This provision ensures that those assisting a suicide are not driven by personal gain, and that their prime motivation is to help the person who wishes to die," the council says. "The Federal Council firmly believes that, by determining these duties of care, the negative aspects and abuse
[ "What country has lax laws on assisted suicide?", "Where do tourists go for assisted suicide?" ]
[ [ "Switzerland" ], [ "Switzerland" ] ]
Switzerland has reputation for lax laws on assisted suicide . Authorities proposing regulations that would put limits on the the practise . Recent cases have drawn attention to "suicide tourism"
(CNN) -- It is midday and Geoff Lawton is hard at work at Zaytuna Farms in New South Wales, Australia. But the real work, he says, is going on inside the center of the compost. Geoff Lawton says that permaculture "revs up" systems of soil creation. "There's lots of things breeding in there," Lawton says. Compost may not seem a sexy subject, but within this steaming pile, life is being created. "There's organisms breathing and dying and reproducing very quickly," he says. "It's all very hot and steamy." That rich soil lays the groundwork for Lawton's revolutionary method of food production. It's called permaculture. Lawton's friend and mentor, Bill Mollison, developed the process back in the 1970s. Since then he and Lawton have traveled the globe preaching the value of permaculture and its aim to create harmony between the landscape and the people who live on it. "Nature exists in an incredibly rich form, and enriching form and does so without any energy inputs from mankind," Lawton explains. "Permaculture does the same thing." "We've taken the systems of soil creation and soil life and we've revved them up. We've speeded up nature itself and we've improved the system." Watch Geoff Lawton at work » So what does it take to improve the system? Lawton says it's about rehabilitating areas that have been damaged by pollution or overuse by recycling nutrients and energy back into the soils. Permaculture also takes all the things we need -- our housing, energy sources, food and water supplies -- and tailors them to fit into the natural rhythms of the ecosystem. The idea is to work with, not against, nature. Lawton says that during the first few weeks and months you don't see the real benefits, but after a year to 18 months you really start to see the difference. "Within two or three years you can see a system that is really something that's got great opportunities and possibilities," he said. The gardens at Zaytuna Farms bear fruit and vegetables of all that hard work. The real measure though isn't how it works, but where. Lawton claims this permaculture method can work anywhere in the world, including the desert. "Almost all the deserts on earth at one point were forested," he said. "They all have different types of oasis systems. What you're doing is picking different points in the desert and turning them into a rich oasis." On a DVD created by the Permaculture Research Institute of Australia, Lawton shows us what happened when he took this method to places like Morocco and Jordan -- just 80 kilometers from the Dead Sea. "People were amazed to see an area that was salty, sandy ground, turn into a lush green forest, that had mushrooms growing from the soil," Lawton said. The ability to "green" the desert is not only having an impact on the communities where these gardens are grown. Interest is also sprouting among young people. Dozens come to Zaytuna Farms every year to learn about the permaculture method. "I've only been doing it a year and once you hit upon the principles it's basically observations," said intern Jonathan Chan. "You have to look at the land and which way the wind is blowing and see where the sun angles are and design around that and it does seem quite simple." For Chan it's as much about cultivating a new way of life as it is about cultivating the land. "I think people are getting to the point where they have to make change and permaculture is a good direction to go," he said. Still, permaculture isn't without its critics. They argue the method is time-consuming in the early stages and that makes the system hard to get off the ground in many places. It can be made even more difficult if the people living around the site aren't familiar with the process. But Lawton
[ "Who is using renewable natural resources?", "what can pemaculture do", "when was the technique developed", "When did Bill Mollison develop the technique?", "What are effects of permaculture?", "When was this technique developed?" ]
[ [ "Geoff Lawton" ], [ "work anywhere in the world," ], [ "1970s." ], [ "back in the 1970s." ], [ "\"revs up\" systems of soil creation." ], [ "1970s." ] ]
Geoff Lawton is using renewable natural resources to enrich ecosystems . Permaculture can turn the most arid, nutrient-free soil into thriving habitats . Lawton's friend and mentor, Bill Mollison developed the technique in the 1970s . Lawton has turned deserts in Jordan and Morocco into rich oases .
(CNN) -- It is the role that every fan of the beautiful game counts on but which few people envy. The much-maligned position of the football referee is a job that attracts criticism, controversy and castigation on an almost weekly basis with little glory in return. Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is the latest to add his voice to the deafening boom of dissent so often aimed at various men in black around the world. Despite a 5-1 victory for his side against Murcia in Spain's Cop del Rey, the Portuguese boss let rip at the referee Paradas Romero's record of showing more then six yellow cards per match. Romero added to this with a red card for Mourinho himself, after the 47-year-old told the official to "Go f*** himself" during the game, according to the ref. The incident follows similar controversy in Britain where Manchester United's game against English title rivals Tottenham last month ended in farce when Mark Clattenburg allowed Portugal winger Nani to score despite his clear handball in the build-up. Should referees be relegated too? Clattenburg's clanger came hot on the heals of referee Dougie McDonald's blooper in Scotland where he awarded a penalty to Celtic against rivals Dundee United, before overturning his own decision before the kick was taken. In honor of all of the above, Fanzone takes a look at the best moments of on-pitch gaffes from soccer's finest: Brazilian ball boy scores equalizing goal Silvia Regina de Oliveira was the first woman to ever referee a match in the Brazilian National Championship, and went on to handle games at the 2004 Olympics. But her career went into decline two years later when she inexplicably awarded Santacruzense a late equalizer against Atletico Sorocaba in a Paulista Football Federation Cup clash. One of the home team's players had fired a shot into the outside of the net, and the waiting ball boy took the chance to cheekily evade the visiting goalkeeper and tap a shot over the goal-line. De Oliveira did not see the incident, but noticed the ball was in the net, so consulted with her linesman and awarded a goal -- sparking scenes of mayhem as the Atletico players protested. Despite the video evidence, the result of the match was allowed to stand. "I should have trusted my own vision," De Oliveira later admitted. Three yellow cards equals one red Top English referee Graham Poll sabotaged his hopes of controlling a World Cup final in 2006 when he made a massive blunder in Australia's 2-2 draw with Croatia in a group-stage game in Germany. Poll booked Josip Simunic after an hour and then in the final minute of regulation time -- but forgot to send the Croatian from the pitch. He had the chance to compound his error in time added on when he handed Simunic a third yellow card. It was third time unlucky for Poll, who had correctly dismissed Croatia's Dario Simic and Australia's Brett Emerton after giving the duo their second respective bookings just minutes earlier. Poll, who later admitted putting Simunic's first yellow card against Australia defender Craig Moore's name in his notebook, was widely mocked as the video spread around the Internet, and the 42-year-old's house was blockaded by media. "It opened my eyes as to who my real friends are and how much my family meant to me," he said. Fabiano one-ups Maradona with double handball French referee Stephane Lannoy was left with egg on his face after allowing Luis Fabiano to clearly handle the ball twice before scoring his second goal in the 3-1 win over the Ivory Coast at the 2010 World Cup. Lannoy was pictured laughing with the Brazil striker when he questioned him about how he had controlled the ball. "I wasn't sure if it was the elbow, the upper arm or the chest. So I decided to have a talk with him, he said it was chest. Thereafter, I could do nothing but allow the goal. It was after the match I realized that Fabiano had been dishonest," Lannoy told L'Equipe newspaper.
[ "who got the goal", "Where was the incident?" ]
[ [ "De Oliveira" ], [ "Britain" ] ]
Incident in Manchester United-Tottenham game puts spotlight on refereeing decisions . Female official in Brazil awards goal after ball boy puts shot into visiting team's net . French referee embarrassed after World Cup incident involving Luis Fabiano . Englishman finally sends off player after giving him three yellow cards .
(CNN) -- It may have a fairy tale ending -- a story of perseverance and second chances that's playing out live on the public stage of online networking. Brianna Karp's trailer now sits outside a friend's home near Los Angeles But 24-year-old Brianna Karp's story started as a nightmare. In a rocky economy, Karp was laid off from her Irvine, California, job as an executive assistant in July 2008. She got by for a while on temp jobs and unemployment benefits. But when her savings dried up, she was no longer able to afford her rent. The only answer she saw then was a trailer she'd inherited from her father -- a man she barely knew who had recently committed suicide. "I was left with a truck and this camper, which I was going to sell but coincidentally this happened to me," she said. "I thought, 'Well, I have this.' " Karp, who writes that she is also estranged from her mother, ended up camped in a Los Angeles-area Walmart parking lot. "The first night, I think, in the Walmart parking lot was the scariest," she told CNN. "I was panicking, and I was just afraid." For comfort, she had her mastiff named Fezzik. And she had her laptop computer. As she spent five months looking for jobs and blasting out resumes, often spending hour after hour at a coffee shop to take advantage of its free Wi-Fi connection, she also started blogging. The result, the Girl's Guide to Homelessness, chronicled the ups and downs of her new life. She reminisced about adopting her dog, named for a character from the movie "The Princess Bride," and mulled the pros and cons of having a pet while homeless. She recounted details from failed job interviews and offered tips for other homeless women. "I was trying to stay positive and cheerful," Karp said. "I started writing the blog in a tongue-in-cheek way to kind of laugh about my circumstances, keep them chronicled. I didn't think anyone would actually read it." Watch CNN's Ted Rowland's report on Brianna. » But people did, including Matt Barnes, formerly homeless himself and running a Web site about his own homelessness issues in Scotland. He asked her to write for his site and would eventually become Brianna's boyfriend. Another big break came through a shot at the weird world of reality television. Karp applied for a show that would offer contestants the chance at a job with Elle magazine advice columnist E. Jean Carroll. She was granted an audition for the show and, by her own account, totally botched it. "I went back and blogged about bombing the interview and made fun of myself," she said. On a lark, she then wrote to Carroll via her column. "Dear E. Jean: I'm currently homeless and living in a Wal-Mart parking lot," her e-mail began. "I'm educated, I have never done drugs and I'm not mentally ill. I have a strong employment history and am a career executive assistant. The instability sucks, but I'm rocking it as best as I can." She told Carroll about her poor interview for the show and finished the note with the question, "How does one get another shot when one screws up a job interview? -- Homeless, but Not Hopeless." Carroll said she was floored by the note. "[The phrase] 'I'm living in a Walmart parking lot' hooked me," she said. "I thought, she's so ready to work, obviously she can write, she's got some skills." Her response appeared in the August issue of Elle -- she offered Karp an internship and a chance to write a fashion blog for the magazine. "I think she's a new voice," Carroll said. "She's a voice we haven't heard, and
[ "What is her blog about?", "The 24-year-old went from being what?", "Who lived in Walmart parking lot?", "Where did Karp live" ]
[ [ "Girl's Guide to Homelessness," ], [ "an executive assistant" ], [ "Brianna Karp's" ], [ "camped in a Los Angeles-area Walmart parking lot." ] ]
24-year-old went from being executive assistant to homelessness after layoff . Karp lived in Walmart parking lot, and her blog started grabbing attention . Elle columnist: "I'm excited for her future" Karp hopes blog will educate people about homelessness .
(CNN) -- It may take a lot of frequent-flier miles, a penchant for cold places, a tolerance of taxes and regular doses of chocolate, but happiness could be within reach. However, it's not where most people might expect. Journalist Eric Weiner says he wanted to explore the relationship between place and happiness. Just ask Eric Weiner, who made it his mission to find the most content places around the globe, uncovering lots of surprises along the way. Hungering for a tropical paradise? A warm climate doesn't necessarily make a happy nation, Weiner said. Thinking of moving to a wealthy state? Money can degrade happiness, he found. Weiner, who wrote the book, "The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World," began his quest for very personal reasons. "I'm an unhappy person, so it's kind of what prompts a hungry person to search for food," he said. Weiner spent 10 years as a foreign correspondent for National Public Radio, a job that took him to some of the least happy places in the world. It was enough to send him on a yearlong journey to look for just the opposite. Weiner mapped out his quest with a combination of scientific and personal methods, choosing some countries because they traditionally score high on happiness surveys and selecting others to see how factors like money play a role. A world map of happiness, based on 100 different studies and produced by Britain's University of Leicester in 2006, listed Denmark as the world's happiest nation. But for Weiner, the place where he felt the most bliss was a toss-up between Bhutan and Iceland, countries that ranked eighth and fourth, respectively, on the happiness map. Weiner's list of favorites also included Thailand, India and Switzerland. See photos of his favorites and listen to him explain why they're happy » His top two picks, though very different countries, have unconventional paths to happiness, he said. "Bhutan is probably the closest thing on Earth to Shangri-La, that fictional paradise," Weiner explained. He pointed out that while other countries focus on their gross domestic product, the Himalayan kingdom proudly touts its policy of "gross national happiness." "The Bhutanese very much believe that happiness should be part and parcel of every government decision," Weiner said. Cold place, warm relationships Thousands of miles away, Weiner found happiness in a very different environment, marveling at the creativity and "coziness" of Iceland. "Everyone in Iceland is a poet," Weiner recalled. He visited the country during winter and said he found a certain beauty in the cold and the darkness. Such a chilly climate usually encourages warm relationships, Weiner found. "The cold inspires people to cooperate, traditionally. If you go back a few hundred years, people in cold climates have to cooperate or they die together. It's that simple," he said. Weiner found a different flavor of happiness in Switzerland, where he discovered people are content partly because everything runs like clockwork. Simple pleasures like trains arriving on time contributed to national happiness, he said. But there may be a much sweeter reason why Switzerland is a happy place. "The Swiss eat a lot of chocolate, and let's not forget that," Weiner said. He was also impressed with how the Swiss view money. "Their attitude is that if you've got it, hide it. While our attitude is if you've got it, flaunt it," Weiner said, comparing the Swiss to Americans. Weiner called the United States, which came in at No. 23 on the University of Leicester's world map of happiness, a nation that "is not as happy as it is wealthy." The impact of wealth and taxes The relationship between money and happiness took Weiner to the Middle East and Qatar, a country with one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, thanks to oil and
[ "what did Self-described \"grump said about chocolate?", "what did the grump say", "who spent a year looking for the world's happiest countries?", "what did the journalists do", "who says Bhutan is probably the closest thing on Earth to Shangri-La?", "what did he say" ]
[ [ "\"The Swiss eat a lot of" ], [ "\"I'm an unhappy person, so it's kind of" ], [ "Journalist Eric Weiner" ], [ "explore the relationship between place and happiness." ], [ "Eric Weiner," ], [ "he wanted to explore the relationship between place and happiness." ] ]
Journalist spent a year looking for the world's happiest countries . Eric Weiner: Bhutan is probably the closest thing on Earth to Shangri-La . He marvels at the creativity and "coziness" of Iceland . Self-described "grump:" chocolate contributes to happiness in Switzerland .
(CNN) -- It says something about the popularity of "Dancing With the Stars" that the show's professional dancers have become almost as famous as the celebrities they're paired with. Mark Ballas and Shawn Johnson celebrate after winning last season's "Dancing With the Stars." Take Mark Ballas, who last season waltzed and tangoed his way to a first-place finish with Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson -- his second mirror ball trophy since he joined the hit series in 2007. At just 23, Ballas is already recognized on the street, he's in a band with fellow "Dancing" pro Derek Hough, and he's thinking about branching out into acting. For the new season of "Dancing With the Stars," which begins Monday, Ballas is paired with Melissa Joan Hart, best known for her roles in the television series "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" and "Clarissa Explains It All." Ballas spoke to CNN about his new celebrity partner, his training routine and whether former "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul could find a new home on the show. The following is an edited version of that interview. CNN: What is Melissa Joan Hart like as a dancer? Mark Ballas: She's doing really well so far. I think she's going to shock a lot of people, and I think they will love her personality. She's really bright and bubbly. CNN: Does she have any dancing experience? Ballas: No, she's never danced before. I mean, she took a couple of ballet classes when she was a child, but everyone's done that. She's never danced like this before, so it's been a bit of a learning curve for her, but hopefully she'll smooth it out. CNN: Did you know who she was before you were matched? Ballas: Oh, yeah. I used to watch her shows all the time when I was younger. I would watch "Clarissa Explains It All" and "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" after school. CNN: Do you get any input in what celebrity you are paired with? Ballas: No, we get no choice whatsoever. It's basically [dependent on] whether they think our personalities will be compatible and also on height. You have to be the right height, because if someone is 6 feet and your partner is 5 feet, it won't work out. CNN: How do you choreograph dances? Do you like to use certain routines over again? Ballas: I start fresh every time. Having a good song is definitely helpful, and when you get a new song, it's really inspiring and makes you want to move, and that's the fun of it. You always want to keep things fresh, and I always keep challenging myself, like how can I outdo what I did last time? CNN: The facial expressions seem so important in ballroom dancing. How do you teach that to your celebrity partners? Ballas: That's something you can't teach. Obviously, you explain what the dance is and how you have to act and what you should be thinking, but you don't choreograph facial expressions. That's got to come from the heart and the soul, and you just have to feel it. CNN: If you have a celebrity partner like Kim Kardashian, who was criticized for being wooden on the dance floor, is there anything you can do? Ballas: The best thing to do is to make them feel comfortable. Kim got very shy when the cameras were on, and she would always dance a lot better off camera. But sometimes, dancing just isn't for certain people. Kim and I had a great time together and still are good friends to this day. But dancing wasn't her thing, she just didn't take to it. CNN: Do you keep in touch with your former partners? Ballas: Yes, I talk to Shawn [Johnson] and Kristi Yamaguchi all the time; I talked to Kim Kardashian about an hour
[ "Who is mark ballas paired up with this season?", "Who finds her \"bright and bubbly\"?", "who finds her bright and bubbly?", "Who is paired with Mark allas?", "Who is paired with Melissa Joan Hart?" ]
[ [ "Shawn Johnson" ], [ "Ballas:" ], [ "Mark Ballas:" ], [ "Shawn Johnson" ], [ "Mark Ballas," ] ]
Professional dancer Mark Ballas is paired with Melissa Joan Hart this season . The two-time champ of "Dancing With the Stars" finds her "bright and bubbly" Ballas: Paula Abdul would be great as a contestant, but isn't needed as a judge . Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Karina Smirnoff's breakup won't affect the show, he says .
(CNN) -- It seems no-one in South Africa can fail to be gripped by World Cup football fever. The running, tackling, shooting, offside-appealing proof comes with a clutch of grannies who have been playing in a fiercely competitive league around the Nkowankowa township, 600 kilometers north of Johannesburg. A squad of 35 nans down domestic duties twice a week to take to the field for their team Vakhegula Vakhegula, and compete against seven other teams in the region. Some of them even credit the beautiful game as having turned their lives around. "I like to play soccer because it helps," said Nari Baloyi, who at 47-years-old, clocks in as one of the youngest players. "We were sick, but now our temperatures, our blood pressures... have gone down ...even our doctors are amazed when we go for a check-up." One of the more elderly members, Nora Makhubela, is convinced that football has given her a new lease of life following the setback of suffering six strokes. "My life has really changed...if I were to run with you I would beat you even though I'm much older," she said, throwing down the gauntlet to the likes of Ronaldo, Messi et al. "My life has improved because of the football. I wish God could bless the person who came up with this great idea." The women contribute around $1 a month each for footballs, kit, and travel to the bi-annual regional tournament. Dozens of noisy fans cheer on the players, with the distinctive sound of the vuvuzelas -- a South African trumpet -- creating an atmosphere that would be welcome at any European Champions League tie. Makhubela is hoping her new-found love of the game extends long enough for her to be able to watch some of the matches when the World Cup begins in June. "I pray every day to God to keep me alive until 2010. I would really love to watch the games," she said. The team was formed three years ago to offer older women a chance to exercise and come together as a group, says community worker Beka Ntsanwisi. "Some of them couldn't even walk properly and if they did something in their free time they would be knitting or sewing and sitting all the time...here they run, shout, fight with you...it keeps them young," she said. David Maake said his job coaching the team is the best he's ever had. "With young boys you need more money to achieve many things...here, I may come with my stress...but I will laugh so much until I forget everything," he said. The team have even suggested they play a curtain raiser for the main event itself, a brainwave the footballing authorities have said they will give serious thought to. If the women do manage to take part as an hors d'oeuvre to the World Cup proper one thing is for sure, what they lack in skill they will make up for in enthusiasm.
[ "What are the Grannies playing?", "Who has taken up football?", "Who may play a match as a curtain raiser to the tournament?", "What inspired the women?", "Where are the Grannies located?", "What tournament?", "What has inspired the women?" ]
[ [ "football" ], [ "older women" ], [ "Vakhegula Vakhegula," ], [ "soccer" ], [ "the Nkowankowa township, 600 kilometers north of Johannesburg." ], [ "World Cup football" ], [ "World Cup football" ] ]
Grannies in a South African township have taken up football . The women have been inspired by World Cup fever in the country . Some women have reported improving health as a result of playing the game . The grannies may play a match as a curtain raiser to the tournament .
(CNN) -- It seems the world of the golf cart is changing if certain industry manufacturers are to be believed. By shedding their normal surroundings, improving their dowdy image and hitting the streets -- "pimped up" carts may increasingly be seen away from the course. Celebrities have been queuing up to jump on the buggy-wagon. The most recent purchase was by pop star Cheryl Cole, who bought husband and Chelsea footballer Ashley Cole a "Mini-Hummer" buggy as a gift, spending $8,000 customizing the cart with gold-plated hub caps, Swarovski crystals and a trunk for his golf clubs. Dominik Jackson, owner of Mini-Hummer says demand for the vehicles has rocketed since 2006: "It started as a glorified golf buggy, but since adapting the look we've had demand from all over Europe and even from royal families in the Middle East." The carts are already on the roads in Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, and the company are planning to launch a new fully enclosed Mini-Hummer in London next year. While Europe is catching up with the trend, there has been a big market for "pimped" golf carts in the United States for some time. "I'd say about 99% of our sales these days are for individual use," says Randy Hopper, owner of Sick 'N' Twisted Designs, one of the largest bespoke golf cart manufacturers in California. "We build customized golf carts to the specific requirements of the customer - we pretty much do everything." And this really means everything. Modern carts are now built with leather seats, wooden dashboard, surround-sound systems, iPod players, lower lighting and air bags, in a variety of themes - street, lifted, off-road and even Limo carts. Sick 'N' Twisted customer Dave Johnson is having his golf cart pimped and modified to match the color of his boat: "It's going to be burgundy with 12-inch wheels, full sound system and air-bags that adjust the height of the cart." Dave insists that in his neighborhood, golf carts are more of an everyday than a luxury item: "They're practical, affordable and it's nice to cruise around and see your neighbors." So is this a case of keeping up with the Joneses? "There's no official competition on our street, but people take notice of things like that. It's definitely seen as a status symbol." While the golf cart remains a staple on the fairways, the souped-up street version is no longer just par for the course.
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Adapted golf carts are growing in popularity across Europe . 99% of sales are for individual use in the USA . Modern carts built with leather seats, airbags and iPod players . 'Pimped' golf carts are seen as status symbol .
(CNN) -- It started with sinus congestion for Shawna Coronado. Then the splitting migraines came. Coronado soon discovered the furry causes: Harrington and Kalamazoo. Shawna Coronado endures headaches and congestion to keep her 30-pound pug, Harrington. Her 30-pound pug and orange tabby scattered dead skin flakes around the house, triggering Coronado's allergic reactions. Her two daughters are also allergic, but their reactions are less severe. Like the 10 million American pet owners with allergies, the Coronados faced a dilemma: Can human and dog co-exist in the same house? "We love them," said Coronado about her family's pets. "They're adorable. They're really our babies. They're part of the family. We could never live without them." Allergies can cause itchy eyes, hives, sneezing, congestion or even asthma. To keep animals around, allergic pet owners get shots, pop antihistamines, squeeze eyedrops, squirt nasal spray, use inhalers or just deal with it. Others try to find a dog that won't trigger the symptoms. President-elect Barack Obama's family has said his family is seeking a "hypoallergenic dog," because of his eldest daughter, Malia's, allergies. Unfortunately, there's no such thing. The belief that certain breeds are hypoallergenic is "a complete misconception," said Dr. Robert Wood, chief of pediatric allergy and immunology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "You can't predict by type or breed, or length of hair." Pet allergies are not caused by dog hair, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology noted in a recent statement. "The allergen is produced in saliva, urine, dander-- it's not just hair," said Dr. Wanda Phipatanakul, an allergist at Children's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. "Even with a hairless dog, there are still allergens." For their next pet, the Coronados are considering a poodle. Although poodles, bichon frises and Malteses are often touted as hypoallergenic dogs, these breeds all produce allergens. There hasn't been sufficient research to determine whether certain breeds are more allergy-friendly, said Dr. Clifford Bassett, an assistant clinical professor of medicine at The Long Island College Hospital in New York. "There is not a lot of research in this area," he said. "There are differences between breeds, but we don't have research to definitively say. They all produce allergens." The key factors are the animal's size and the volume of hair. The fur can collect pollens, mold spore and allergens and bring them indoors, triggering reactions. Even so, reactions vary widely, because everyone's body is different, doctors say. Before committing to a pet, make an arrangement to bring the animal to the home for a trial period to see how the person with allergies fares. "It's always going to be trial and error," Wood said. "Someone might be allergic to one breed, but the main dog allergen that people are allergic to is present in all dogs." It is also possible for someone to develop dog allergies months or years after bringing the animal home. If symptoms arise, doctors recommend getting tested to be certain that the allergy is coming from the animal. Allergic reactions could come from other irritants, such as pollen or dust. A person's allergies can also inexplicably change over time. In the same way that some people outgrow food allergies, there is a rare possibility that pet owners could outgrow their allergies to animals, experts said. Pills and medications are available to treat the symptoms, but the best remedy, said Philatanakul, is to not have pets. "There's nothing that can be done except for avoidance," she said. "There's no cure. You're exposing yourself to high levels of allergens in your home. We generally recommend they should not have a pet. It's not recommended." For many families, having a loving, furry companion outweighs the runny noses, wheezing and water eyes.
[ "how many pet owners have allergies", "are medications available", "How many American pet owners have allergies?", "What is the best remedy?" ]
[ [ "10 million" ], [ "shots, pop antihistamines, squeeze eyedrops, squirt nasal spray, use inhalers" ], [ "10 million" ], [ "is to not have pets." ] ]
10 million American pet owners have allergies . Allergies caused by protein in animal dander, saliva or urine, not by hair . Belief that certain breeds are hypoallergenic is "a complete misconception" Medications available to treat symptoms, but best remedy is not to have pets .
(CNN) -- It takes seven minutes to execute a death row inmate, according to the state of Texas. Mike Graczyk poses outside the Texas death chamber prior to an execution in January. At that rate, Mike Graczyk has spent about 40 hours of his life watching men -- and a few women -- die. Graczyk, a correspondent for The Associated Press, is believed to hold a macabre record. He's almost certainly watched more executions than anyone else in the United States. "I can't possibly imagine there's been someone present at more than Mike," said Michelle Lyons, the spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, which uses lethal injection at its execution chamber in Huntsville. Since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, no state has executed more inmates than Texas. And no one has witnessed more of them than Graczyk. He's on the witness list for 315 of the state's 439 executions -- more than any other reporter, prison employee or chaplain -- and no records were kept for another 80. Interactive map: See how Texas compares with other states » In his early days, he kept count. But he eventually stopped. He didn't want to know. "In one circle, I was perceived as putting notches on my gun belt," the 59-year-old reporter said. "I didn't like that." Prison regulations in Texas require The Associated Press to be given one of the five designated media witness passes for each execution. Graczyk works in the AP's Houston bureau -- it's closest to the state's execution chamber in Huntsville. Since the early 1980s, he's made the hourlong drive north almost every time an inmate has faced the needle. The first was March 13, 1984, for the execution of James "Cowboy" Autry, convicted of shooting a female store clerk between the eyes with a .38-caliber revolver while arguing over a six-pack of beer. She died, along with a former Catholic priest that Autry killed at the crime scene. "The first time definitely leaves an impression on you," Graczyk said. There are others that stand out along the way. Graczyk remembers Bob Black, convicted of killing his wife and trying to collect the insurance money. "I walked into the death house, and he was strapped to the table and he said, 'Hey Mike, how are you doing?' It threw me for a loop." Graczyk said it's normal for him to know the name of the condemned and not uncommon for the reverse to be true. There have been others who greeted Graczyk by name with a needle in their arm. Once, while waiting to be let into the death house, a prisoner phoned him in the media holding area. It was the inmate whose execution Graczyk was about to witness. "He said, 'I just wanted to call and make sure you were OK.' I was flabbergasted." Over the years, the inmate's name has slipped from Graczyk's memory, but not the unexpected phone conversation. "I don't think he had any family to call," he said. There was Ponchai Wilkerson, who once nearly escaped from death row and, years later, coughed up a handcuff key as he lay dying from his injection. There was the "Candy Man," Ronald Clark O'Bryan -- convicted of poisoning his child's Halloween candy with cyanide -- and the gauntlet of college students wearing Halloween masks who showed up to cheer. And Karla Faye Tucker, the first woman executed in Texas since the 1800s. He remembers a network correspondent crying after her death -- and another blow-drying his hair. Of the entire death chamber ritual, Graczyk said, it's the final statements that stick in his mind. Some have been confessions. Others were denials. Poetry. Prayers. Bible verses. Curses. Emotions ranging from defiance to resignation. There was Jonathan Nobles, an electrician who stabbed two people to death. He sang "Silent Night.
[ "who was covered executions in texas?", "what did Graczyk not want?", "How long has the Texas reporter covered executions for?", "who didn't want notches on his belt", "what does the texas reporter cover" ]
[ [ "Mike Graczyk" ], [ "In his early days, he kept count. But he eventually stopped. He didn't" ], [ "40 hours of his life" ], [ "Mike Graczyk" ], [ "executions" ] ]
Texas reporter has covered executions in Texas since the early 1980s . Graczyk stopped counting, didn't want "notches on my gun belt" Inmates waiting to die have greeted him by name, called to check up on him . He says he doesn't worry about the mental toll and has declined counseling .
(CNN) -- It took about 110 years and some delicate surgery on his most private parts, but Henry -- a lizard-like creature from New Zealand -- is now a dad. Henry, the oldest tuatara to mate at Southland Museum, enjoys a cold shower in his home in New Zealand. Henry, a tuatara who, as far as curators at Southland Museum in New Zealand know, had never mated before, hooked up with Mildred, a younger woman of about 80, in March. In July she laid 11 healthy eggs and, this week, all 11 of them hatched -- the last one on Wednesday. "Eleven out of eleven," curator Lindsay Hazley said Friday morning. "Bloody brilliant. We had a champagne breakfast to celebrate." Henry was the oldest tuatara ever to mate at the museum, on New Zealand's South Island, Hazley said. Tuataras are the only living descendants of an order, related to dinosaurs, that flourished 200 million years ago. They're endangered, only living on a handful of islands in New Zealand, which makes Henry's happy news all the more important to supporters of the species. But it didn't come easy. Until about six years ago, Henry was a nasty, irritable fellow who showed no interest in mating and would attack females when they were introduced. Hazley, who has been breeding tuataras for the past 35 years, eventually had to put him in "solitary confinement." But in 2002, veterinarians discovered that a lump in Henry's nether regions was a cancerous tumor. They removed it and, over the next few years, his mood -- and interest in the ladies -- improved. Now, Henry lives peacefully with Mildred and two other females. Breeders are hoping he'll show interest in Lucy, who is about the same age as Mildred, later this year. Female tuataras only lay eggs every two or three years, so Mildred likely won't be interested. Watch a curator take care of the reproducing dinosaur kin » Henry's newfound libido does have some limits, however. Hazley said Juliet, a youthful 22 year old, appears to be too hot to handle for the centenarian -- who could live to be 200 years old if he stays healthy. "I think he's a bit shy to mate with such a young woman," Hazley said. "After a bit of experience with Mildred and Lucy, maybe he'll be interested in Juliet next year." Maxing out at about two-and-a-half feet long, tuataras are much smaller than their ancestors. The word "tuatara" is derived from a Maori word meaning "spiny back." In Maori legend, they are messengers of Whiro, the god of death and disaster, and they were featured on one side of a New Zealand five-cent coin that was phased out in 2006. It's been a baby boom at Southland Museum lately. Hazley said another 10 babies were born to another couple recently -- swelling the ranks of the 50 or so tuataras that were already there. Friday morning, Hazley was working to install a camera so Henry's international fan base can watch him and other tuataras on the Internet. But they shouldn't expect any images of the proud dad playing with his batch of hatchlings. "If it's small and it moves, it's food," Hazley said. "He'd have them for lunch."
[ "what did henry have removed", "How many eggs did Henry and his near 80 year old mate Mildred produce?", "What did Henry and Mildren produce?", "how many eggs did henry and mildred produce", "What did Henry do for the first time in forty years?", "what is the name of henry's mate", "What changed things for Henry?" ]
[ [ "cancerous tumor." ], [ "11" ], [ "11 healthy eggs" ], [ "11" ], [ "mated" ], [ "Mildred" ], [ "cancerous tumor." ] ]
110-year-old endangered male tuatara dinosaur descendant produces offspring . Henry and his near 80-year-old mate Mildred produced 11 eggs -- all hatched . Henry, disinterested in sex for four decades, lashed out at females . But his reptile dysfunction changed when a cancerous lump was removed .
(CNN) -- It turns out going to the moon is a tough act to follow. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin walks on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. For all their Buck Rogers, "Right Stuff," history-making achievements, the question for many of the 12 astronauts who walked on the lunar surface starting four decades ago ultimately became "one giant leap to where, exactly?" "You have your peak experience at 38 or 39," says space historian Andrew Chaiken, summing up their collective experience, "and [they] have a hard time coming up with something to do for an encore." Apollo 11 lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on July 16, 1969. Four days later, the first two humans walked on the lunar surface; 10 more Americans followed by the end of 1972. In the 40 years since the Apollo program first took humans to the moon, the astronauts' lives have taken diverse paths. Almost all had been military test pilots before joining NASA; in later life, they found themselves ministers, politicians and conspiracy buffs. Some struggled with common issues: Many of their marriages fell apart and alcoholism affected at least one. In possibly the most extreme case of post-Apollo readjustment, Buzz Aldrin -- the second human being to set foot on the moon -- became a car salesman in Texas. "Not very successfully," the 79-year old Aldrin quickly acknowledges. The Apollo 11 lunar module pilot's post-flight battles against depression and alcoholism have been well-documented, most recently in his own memoir, "Magnificent Desolation." As for a brief stint hawking Cadillacs in the late 1970s, Aldrin told CNN Radio, "Most people who have received a degree of public recognition find themselves financially pretty well off. Doesn't happen to be the case with astronauts." Others took more existential, even spiritual, approaches to dealing with their lunar experiences. Apollo 15 Lunar Module Pilot Jim Irwin left NASA and became a Baptist minister. Apollo 14 crewman Edgar Mitchell spent years investigating possible extraterrestrial life; in April, he went public with claims of a government cover-up. Apollo 12 moonwalker Alan Bean, now 77, has spent the intervening decades since his 1969 landing putting his impressions of the lunar experience on canvas. "That's How It Felt To Walk on the Moon" is the title of one his paintings, which now fetch starting-prices of $20,000. "These paintings are the only paintings in history from anywhere else but this Earth," Bean told CNN. Not all the Apollo astronauts' post-flight journeys have been so ethereal. America's first man in space, Alan Shepard, who later walked on the moon in 1971's Apollo 14 mission, became a millionaire businessman. Apollo 17's Harrison Schmitt -- a geologist at the time, and the only scientist to make the lunar journey -- served a term as U.S. senator from New Mexico, but was defeated in a run for re-election in 1982. Apollo 11 command module pilot Michael Collins served as a top official at the Smithsonian Institution and its National Air and Space Museum. And the first man to leave footprints in the lunar dust, Apollo 11 Commander Neil Armstrong -- aside from geologist Schmitt, the only other civilian in the collection of moonwalkers -- later sat on several corporate boards and the presidential commission that investigated the 1986 Challenger space shuttle disaster. Armstrong is also known for a series of disputes over autographs, which he long ago stopped signing because he discovered his signature was being sold for profit. He also sued Hallmark in 1994 for featuring his famous "One small step" quote in a space-themed Christmas ornament. News reports say the suit was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount. Armstrong's haircuts also became famous. In 2005, he threatened legal action after learning his longtime barber had sold a lock of his hair for $3,000. All part of the territory, says Chaiken. His book "Voices From the Moon" is based upon interviews
[ "How many men have walked on the moon?", "Where did Buzz Aldrin briefly work?", "when Buzz Aldrin briefly worked as a car salesman in Texas?", "Who sued Hallmark?", "Who walked on the moon?" ]
[ [ "12" ], [ "became a car salesman in Texas." ], [ "late 1970s," ], [ "Apollo 11 Commander Neil Armstrong" ], [ "Buzz Aldrin" ] ]
A dozen men walked on the moon, and each later followed a different path . Historian says they have a "hard time coming up with something to do for an encore" Buzz Aldrin briefly worked as a car salesman in Texas . Neil Armstrong sued Hallmark over its use of his "one small step" quote .
(CNN) -- It used to be called "the love that dare not speak its name" -- particularly in Hollywood, where the revelation of homosexuality was believed to be a career-killer. Clay Aiken recently announced he was gay on the cover of People magazine. Now, out gays and lesbians are as casually visible as the cover of People magazine, which has recently run stories on Ellen DeGeneres' wedding to Portia de Rossi and Clay Aiken's decision to discuss his sexuality. So, in a time when self-declared bisexual Tila Tequila can have a highly rated MTV show on looking for a partner of either sex, Lindsay Lohan talks about her relationship with DJ Samantha Ronson and "Star Trek's" George Takei can have a very public wedding with his longtime partner, is coming out still a big deal? Publicist Howard Bragman, author of the forthcoming "Where's My Fifteen Minutes" (Portfolio), says that it is. "Every person that comes out is another barrier coming down," Bragman, who is openly gay, told CNN.com. Acceptance by the mainstream public, he observes, is easier but by no means automatic, particularly when issues such as gay marriage are at stake. "I look at it as a long-term process. The revolution is over -- now it's an evolution." Watch "American Morning's" Lola Ogunnaike look at changing attitudes » Bragman was around when a performer revealing his or her homosexuality could still shock. He helped guide Dick Sargent when the "Bewitched" star came out of the closet in 1989, and remembers when it was difficult to get support for movies such as "Philadelphia," the 1993 film that won Tom Hanks an Oscar as a lawyer dying of AIDS. Now, he observes, there are gay actors -- "How I Met My Mother's" Neil Patrick Harris may be the most notable -- playing straight roles, something that would have been almost unthinkable even a few years ago, since studios have often been nervous casting known gay performers in straight roles. " 'We'll buy Hanks as a gay man but not the opposite,' " Bragman describes the industry thinking. Indeed, there are now more gay characters in prime-time television than ever. Shows such as "Ugly Betty," "The Office" and "Grey's Anatomy" feature gay or bisexual characters, and this fall, five more will hit the airwaves, bringing the total to 16, according to a study by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). "It's certainly positive that there is such a dramatic increase," GLAAD's president, Neil Giuliano, told CNN. "Number one, it reflects society, and the fact that we are more visible, and it also makes good television. Portrayals are almost more honest and real." Peter Sprigg, vice president of policy for the conservative Family Research Council, doesn't agree. "I'm convinced that for the most part, these characters are placed on television for propaganda purposes, in order to persuade people to be more accepting of homosexual conduct," he told CNN. "In that sense, the result for society is likely to be negative." But Bryan Batt, the gay actor who plays the closeted Salvatore Romano on the Emmy-winning "Mad Men," says that viewers are more accepting of gay characters today, though concerns linger. "Yes, I did think maybe this going to hurt me career-wise [to come out], but I come from Broadway and a lot of theater background. So, you know, no one really cares ... you don't have to be straight to act straight. You don't have to be gay to play gay," he told CNN. Watch Batt talk about the challenges of a gay actor » But, he adds, "There is, I think, a little bit of homophobia. I do believe that through education and seeing good, honest, positive gay role models, it will just educate. I think we are
[ "Where are gay characters more prominent than ever?", "what do gay characters do", "what did clay aiken do", "Who admitted to being gay?", "what is more prominent on tv ?" ]
[ [ "Hollywood," ], [ "are placed on television for propaganda purposes, in order to persuade people to be more accepting of homosexual conduct,\"" ], [ "announced he was gay" ], [ "Clay Aiken" ], [ "gay characters" ] ]
Stars such as Clay Aiken admitting they're gay not shocking anymore . Gay characters more prominent on TV than ever . Still, challenges remain: privacy, industry concerned about earning power .
(CNN) -- It was an odd sight in Ethiopia's capital this week: a standing ovation for Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, the man whom Ethiopian forces had removed from power in neighboring Somalia two years ago. Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Somalia's new president, answers questions at the African Union summit in Addis Ababa. He once led the Islamic Courts Union, which ruled much of Somalia in 2006 before it was routed by the Ethiopians. Now, Ahmed is the leader of Somalia's U.N.-backed transitional government -- and two days after his election to the post of president, he was welcomed with open arms at an African Union summit in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa. Two years after the invasion and the guerrilla war it provoked, Somalia has in some ways come full circle. Islamist militias control the country's capital and other key cities; the transitional government is trying to establish a foothold from outside the country; and Ahmed -- commonly known as "Sheikh Sharif" -- is in a position of power. But several analysts who have studied the region say the new government is in a much stronger position to establish itself inside Somalia and restore order to a country that has been mired in chaos for the past two decades. "The ascendancy of Sheikh Sharif provides an opportunity to create an inclusive coalition governing from the center outwards," said John Prendergast, co-chairman of the Enough Project, who studies the Horn of Africa for the Center for American Progress think tank. The transitional government is currently stranded in Djibouti, unable to return to Somalia after its base in Baidoa was seized last week by Al-Shabaab, a radical Islamist militia with ties to al Qaeda. Ahmed now stands at a crossroads between quelling the militia, which once was aligned with the ICU, and including more moderates in his future government, Prendergast said. "The fulcrum for change is in the hands of Sheikh Sharif's government," he said. "If he is able to put together an inclusive government -- even if it's only on paper, even if it's only in Djibouti -- I think it will quickly defuse any fervor of support for Shabaab." See a list of Somalia's key players » Rise of Al-Shabaab Al-Shabaab fighters took control of Baidoa hours after the remaining Ethiopian forces withdrew under a June 2008 cease-fire deal. Rashid Abdi, a Somalia analyst for the International Crisis Group, said the loss of Baidoa is "a clear indication that the transitional federal government has lost any grip -- whatever grip it had -- in Somalia." But Prendergast said the radical Islamist militia will most likely lose support among Somalis now that its "rallying cry" of getting the Ethiopian forces out of Somalia is gone. "What the Islamists did was, they wrapped themselves up in the mantle of Somali nationalism and, for the last two years, they have hitched their star to throwing the Ethiopians out," he said. Prendergast predicted that Al-Shabaab fighters "will sustain themselves for awhile and temporarily expand, but I don't envision it to be a long-term prospect at all." Last year, the United States put Al-Shabaab -- which means "The Youth" -- on its list of terrorist groups. Analysts say Al-Shabaab models itself after the Taliban's puritanical Islamic rule. See a timeline of recent events in Somalia » Stig Jarle Hansen, a Nairobi, Kenya-based expert on Somalia for the Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research, said Al-Shabaab fighters have been trained in Afghanistan, and the group has "clear connections" to al Qaeda. There has been evidence that the group has extended its reach into the United States, as well. The FBI is investigating what appears to be a massive recruitment effort by Al-Shabaab in the United States' Somali communities, particularly in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where more than a dozen young men of Somali descent have gone missing in recent months. One member of Minneapolis' Somali community, Shirwa Ahmed, 27, blew himself up in an apparent suicide bombing in
[ "Who still controls parts of Somalia?", "What did Islamists lose?", "Who is the new leader?", "Who is the new leader of war-torn Somalia?", "Who will lose their rallying cry?", "Radical Islamists lose rallying cry when who departed?", "What groups are fighting in Somalia?", "What event de-energized radical Islamists?" ]
[ [ "Islamist militias" ], [ "support among Somalis" ], [ "Sharif Sheikh Ahmed," ], [ "Sharif Sheikh Ahmed," ], [ "the radical Islamist militia" ], [ "Sharif Sheikh Ahmed," ], [ "Ethiopian forces" ], [ "Ethiopian forces out of Somalia is gone." ] ]
Moderate Islamist is new leader of war-torn Somalia . Moderate leader has chance to form inclusive government, analyst says . Radical Islamist group still controls parts of Somalia . With departure of Ethiopian troops, radical Islamists lose rallying cry .
(CNN) -- It was the best of times in 2004, when attorney Dave Dineen graduated from Boston University School of Law and landed a job at a top Massachusetts corporate firm, Foley Hoag LLP. Attorney Dave Dineen at his new job at Greater Boston Legal Services. By 2007, the National Association for Law Placement was reporting the most promising year in two decades. Nearly 92 percent of graduating attorneys were employed, and the median starting salary at private practices had increased by $13,000 --to a total of $108,500 a year. But times have changed. In the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the legal industry is taking an unprecedented beating from the sputtering economy and housing meltdown. Dineen, 37, lost his job as layoffs and salary freezes have spiked at law firms across the country during the past three months. Rather than just hand out a severance package with the pink slip, Foley Hoag gave Dineen an option. He could work for Greater Boston Legal Services, a legal aid group serving people living in poverty. The firm agreed to pay Dineen about a quarter of his former salary for a year. Dineen, who needed to support his wife and a newborn daughter, accepted. "This gave me a chance to do something different with my legal career, and help out people who generally don't have access to public service," said Dineen, who now works on foreclosure cases helping victims of predatory lending. Foley Hoag is among many megafirms across the country using the economic slump as an ideal time to lend a hand to cash-strapped public interest and legal aid firms. The massive corporate layoffs and program cuts could redirect thousands of young graduates and experienced attorneys from corporate firms into the public sector, legal experts say. Once insulated, law firms are shedding young and mid-career associates at extraordinary rates. This is especially true at large corporate firms that overestimated their growth and extended too many offers to associates last fall. White & Case LLP, a leading global firm with headquartes in New York, made a second round of cuts last week. In addition to about 70 associates laid off in November, the firm last week let go of another 400 people, including 200 attorneys. Other well-known firms such Heller Ehrman LLP and Thelen Reid & Priest LLP on the West Coast have gone bankrupt in recent months. At least 2,149 attorneys have been laid off in 2009, bringing the total to 3,045 since January of last year, according Lawshucks.com, an industry Web site tracking the slump. Hundreds more associates set to start jobs this fall are bracing themselves for rescinded offers and deferred start dates. Some students are finding their summers wide open as law firms like Luce Forward, based in California, have canceled internship programs. Amid all this dark news, there might be a silver lining. It could transform the legal profession. "There is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity coming out of a difficult situation," said Esther Lardent, president of the Pro Bono Institute in Washington D.C., who began discussions this month with at least 15 corporate firms nationwide about placing unemployed attorneys in public interest firms. The project will get under way in a few months, she said. Other firms have already encouraged attorneys to go into the public sector. Just last week, one of the largest firms in the country -- Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -- announced it will pay deferred associates graduating in 2009 a $5,000 monthly stipend for one year if they secure a job in the public interest field. International law giants Latham & Watkins LLP and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP offered incoming associates who defer employement until October 2010 a $75,000 compensation package. While working in public service isn't mandatory for Latham & Watkins associates, the firm said there was a "sincere hope" the deferred associates would "use the intervening period to pursue a community service or other public advocacy projects of their choosing." Such deferral plans can save the companies about $100,000 per associate, and law experts expect the list of firms enacting deferral
[ "According to Lawshucks.com at least how many attorneys have been laid off in 2009?", "How many attorneys were laid off in 2009?", "One firm will pay deferred associates how much to work in the public sector?", "Where are private firms trying to place unemployed attorneys?" ]
[ [ "2,149" ], [ "At least 2,149" ], [ "$108,500 a year." ], [ "public sector," ] ]
At least 2,149 attorneys have been laid off in 2009, according to Lawshucks.com . Private firms are trying to place unemployed attorneys in public interest firms . One firm will pay deferred associates $60,000 a year to work in the public sector . Harvard Law School assistant dean: Tough times can be "tremendous opportunity"
(CNN) -- It was the best of times in 2004, when attorney Dave Dineen graduated from Boston University School of Law and landed a job at a top Massachusetts corporate firm, Foley Hoag LLP. Attorney Dave Dineen at his new job at Greater Boston Legal Services. By 2007, the National Association for Law Placement was reporting the most promising year in two decades. Nearly 92 percent of graduating attorneys were employed, and the median starting salary at private practices had increased by $13,000 --to a total of $108,500 a year. But times have changed. In the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the legal industry is taking an unprecedented beating from the sputtering economy and housing meltdown. Dineen, 37, lost his job as layoffs and salary freezes have spiked at law firms across the country during the past three months. See the law firm layoffs for the past year » Rather than just hand out a severance package with the pink slip, Foley Hoag gave Dineen an option. He could work for Greater Boston Legal Services, a legal aid group serving people living in poverty. The firm agreed to pay Dineen about a quarter of his former salary for a year. Dineen, who needed to support his wife and a newborn daughter, accepted. "This gave me a chance to do something different with my legal career, and help out people who generally don't have access to public service," said Dineen, who now works on foreclosure cases helping victims of predatory lending. Foley Hoag is among many megafirms across the country using the economic slump as an ideal time to lend a hand to cash-strapped public interest and legal aid firms. The massive corporate layoffs and program cuts could redirect thousands of young graduates and experienced attorneys from corporate firms into the public sector, legal experts say. Once insulated, law firms are shedding young and mid-career associates at extraordinary rates. This is especially true at large corporate firms that overestimated their growth and extended too many offers to associates last fall. White & Case LLP, a leading global firm with headquartes in New York, made a second round of cuts last week. In addition to about 70 associates laid off in November, the firm last week let go of another 400 people, including 200 attorneys. Other well-known firms such as Heller Ehrman LLP and Thelen Reid & Priest LLP on the West Coast have gone bankrupt in recent months. At least 2,149 attorneys have been laid off in 2009, bringing the total to 3,045 since January of last year, according to Lawshucks.com, an industry Web site tracking the slump. Hundreds more associates set to start jobs this fall are bracing themselves for rescinded offers and deferred start dates. Some students are finding their summers wide open as law firms like Luce Forward, based in California, have canceled internship programs. Amid all this dark news, there might be a silver lining. It could transform the legal profession. "There is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity coming out of a difficult situation," said Esther Lardent, president of the Pro Bono Institute in Washington, who began discussions this month with at least 15 corporate firms nationwide about placing unemployed attorneys in public interest firms. The project will get under way in a few months, she said. Other firms have already encouraged attorneys to go into the public sector. Just last week, one of the largest firms in the country -- Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -- announced it will pay deferred associates graduating in 2009 a $5,000 monthly stipend for one year if they secure a job in the public interest field. International law giants Latham & Watkins LLP and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP offered incoming associates who defer employement until October 2010 a $75,000 compensation package. While working in public service isn't mandatory for Latham & Watkins associates, the firm said there was a "sincere hope" the deferred associates would "use the intervening period to pursue a community service or other public advocacy projects of their choosing." Such deferral plans can save the companies about $100,000 per
[ "What kind of attorneu's have been laid off?", "how many attorneys?", "Who can become a lawyer?", "What are private firms trying to do?" ]
[ [ "associates" ], [ "92 percent" ], [ "Dave Dineen" ], [ "lend a hand" ] ]
At least 2,149 attorneys have been laid off in 2009, according to Lawshucks.com . Private firms are trying to place unemployed attorneys in public interest firms . One firm will pay deferred associates $60,000 a year to work in the public sector . Harvard Law School assistant dean: Tough times can be "tremendous opportunity"
(CNN) -- It was the kind of phone call military families dread receiving from Iraq and Afghanistan -- not from Texas. Peggy McCarty's daughter called Thursday afternoon to say she had been wounded by a gunshot in her left shoulder. Keara Bono, 21, assured her mother that she was OK, but McCarty's heart skipped. She knew she had much to fear when Bono, an Army specialist, arrived at Fort Hood to prepare for an early December deployment to Iraq. But McCarty never thought she would have to worry about her child getting wounded on American soil. "I thought I was more worried about her going over to Iraq than here, just doing training in Texas. She just got there yesterday," McCarty told CNN affiliate KSHB-TV in Kansas City, Missouri. Bono was one of 30 people hurt when a soldier opened fire on a military processing center at Fort Hood, the place where soldiers report before they head to war. They get medical and dental checkups there. They settle finances and even make out their wills. Thursday, the center turned into a killing field, and 13 lives were abruptly cut short. America watched in horror the news of the shootings, the deadliest ever on a military base. Some of the victims, such as Bono, were preparing to head to Iraq or Afghanistan. They were felled instead in the place they called home. When the shouts of "Shots fired! Shots fired!" started, one soldier pushed and shoved people to get out the back of the readiness center. And run. The soldier, who did not want to be identified, heard more screaming. Soldiers were dragging bodies away from the shooter. They snatched tablecloths off tables, cut up their own sage-green digital combat uniforms, even their tan undershirts, and turned them into tourniquets and pressure bandages. Everyone tried to render CPR and medical aid. Some were medical personnel. Others were simply friends helping friends. They were soldiers, after all, and trained as combat lifesavers, though they could not have imagined having to use their skills at home. But soldiers never abandon wounded comrades on the battlefield. Most of the injured were awake and alert, witnesses recalled. They just weren't talking. About a mile away at Darnall Army Medical Center, Army medic Spc. Eric Blohm waited for mass casualties. If the emergency rooms filled up, Darnall would put victims in rooms where usually babies are brought into the world. It felt too much like Blohm's tour of Iraq. "I'm pretty shocked and bewildered," he told CNN's Anderson Cooper. "Going to war and experiencing combat overseas and then ... to have your sense of security shattered, that's just kind of unreal." Watch Blohm describe the scene The shooting suspect, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, was a psychiatrist who had an office at Darnall. Now, the hospital was taking in the doctor's alleged victims. Sirens, installed after the September 11, 2001, attacks, sound routinely at Fort Hood during emergency drills. Pam Stephenson, the wife of a Judge Advocate General officer, was used to the blaring noise. Early afternoon, she was about to make a quick trip to the grocery with Megan, her 5-year-old who stayed at home sick on Thursday. But then she heard the whirring of choppers overhead and warnings on the loudspeakers: "Take cover. Stay away from windows. Lock your doors." Her husband called and told her not to leave the house. She turned on the television and learned the grim news. The gunman, she discovered, was a soldier. "When you hear it's soldiers gone crazy -- you don't know what kind of ammunition or guns they have," she said. She wanted to fetch Patrick, 2, stuck at day care, but the sprawling post was under lockdown. No one knew then if there were killers on the loose. The streets were deserted. A mass of cars, waiting to get out, piled up at the gates
[ "Parents worry about dangers where?", "Where do parents worry about dangers?", "Mother worries about what?", "What do soldiers use on home soil?", "Parents worry about what?", "What organization is covering the shootings?" ]
[ [ "Iraq" ], [ "Iraq and Afghanistan" ], [ "her child getting wounded on American soil." ], [ "their skills" ], [ "child getting wounded on American soil." ], [ "(CNN)" ] ]
Parents worry about dangers overseas, not in Texas . Soldiers use battlefield medical training on home soil . Mother worries about son in day care as post is locked down . Watch a CNN investigation on the shootings at Saturday 8 p.m. ET on CNN TV .
(CNN) -- It was two years late and billions of dollars over budget, but this week the Singapore Airline-owned A380 completed its maiden passenger journey between Singapore and Sydney. Making history: the first double bed on a commercial jet On board were nearly 500 passengers who had bid thousands of dollars for the historical experience. This was a turning point in aviation history as Airbus' superjumbo became the world's largest aircraft. And the time had finally come for it to receive some admiration. Singapore Airlines' CEO, Chew Choon Seng named the jetliner the "queen of the skies". Tom Enders, CEO of Airbus said he would like to celebrate his 25th wedding anniversary on one of its double beds. And CNN's Richard Quest, who was on board the maiden flight, said there was "nothing quite like it". The luxury on board, he said, sets a new standard for air travel. It's the quietest large passenger jet ever built (inside and out), it has a low fuel-burn to reduce fuel use and emissions, it can carry 40 percent more passengers than other large aircraft and in greater comfort. But the feature that has attracted greatest interest on the Singapore Airlines A380 is its ''beyond first class" cabins. Behind the sliding doors of the Singapore Airlines Suites, the well-heeled can luxuriate in a private cabin designed by leading French yacht designer, Jean-Jacques Coste. There's a wide leather seat and alongside that, a standalone bed. This is two meters long with Givenchy duvets and cushions. And for couples traveling, the beds on the middle two suites can be converted into double beds. From bed or chair, travelers can catch a movie on a 23-inch widescreen LCD. Laptops can be plugged into an in-seat power supply and business travelers with just a thumb drive can plug this into a USB ports and access a suite of office tools on Singapore Airlines' in-flight entertainment system. Celebrity chefs including Britain's Gordon Ramsay and Georges Blanc were behind the first class menu that can be eaten off Givenchy tableware. Unlike other airlines, that have considered offering casinos, gyms and showers on their future A380s, Singapore Airlines has opted instead for a configuration that, whilst offering luxury, also makes money. As Chew Choon Seng, CEO of Singapore Airlines reminded reporters last week, the first Boeing 747s soon ditched the lounges and bars on the upper decks in favor of seats that could generate cash. Behind the 12 luxury suites there are 399 economy seats, ranked 10-abreast on the upper and lower decks, as well as 60 business class seats that are the biggest yet at 87 centimeters wide. Singapore Airlines has ordered 19 superjumbos for an estimated price tag of $5.7 billion. The second is due to arrive next February with further deliveries later in 2008. Tickets for the A380's first return commercial flight between Singapore and Sydney were sold at auction on eBay. One passenger paid $100,000 for the experience, with the majority paying between $1,500 and $5,000. The $1.4 million raised has gone to charities in Singapore, Sydney and a global humanitarian organization. From Sunday 28 October, Singapore Airlines will commence its scheduled service between Singapore and Sydney on one of the three daily flights in each direction. The jetliner to be delivered next spring will be used on one of the three daily flights between Singapore and London's Heathrow Airport. It's been a long road to this point for Airbus, but the journey is by no means over. The airline has a tough delivery schedule ahead to fulfil its 185 orders to 15 customers (see figures below). Next year it plans to deliver 13, a further 25 in 2009 and 45 in 2010. Tom Enders, Airbus' CEO doesn't underestimate the scale of challenge ahead. "This is not a piece of cake," he told CNN, "but we have learned our lessons and we are very confident today that we can deliver to our customers." It hasn't just been Airbus that has been frantically preparing for the A380 launch
[ "What cabin has leather seats and double beds?", "Which Singapore Airlines plane completed its historic maiden flight?", "what Singapore plane made its maiden flight", "What are in first class cabins", "What trip did one passenger pay $100,000?", "What superjumbo completed it's historic maiden flight?", "what is the price for the trip?", "What is that luxury first class cabins have?", "Which flight completed its historic maiden flight?", "What amount of money would a passenger pay for a first flight from Singapore to Sydney?", "have the first class doubles beds?", "was the A380 superjumbo completes the flifht?" ]
[ [ "''beyond first class\"" ], [ "A380" ], [ "A380" ], [ "There's a wide leather seat and alongside that, a standalone bed. This is two meters long with Givenchy duvets and cushions. And for couples traveling, the beds on the middle two suites can be converted into double beds." ], [ "A380's first return commercial flight between Singapore" ], [ "A380" ], [ "between $1,500 and $5,000." ], [ "23-inch widescreen LCD. Laptops can be plugged into an in-seat power supply and business travelers with just a thumb drive can plug this into a USB ports and access a suite of office tools on Singapore Airlines' in-flight entertainment system." ], [ "Singapore Airline-owned" ], [ "between $1,500 and $5,000." ], [ "on the middle two suites can be converted into" ], [ "completed its maiden passenger journey" ] ]
Singapore Airlines A380 superjumbo completes historic maiden flight . Luxury first class cabins have separate leather seats and double beds . One passenger paid $100,000 for the first Singapore to Sydney trip .
(CNN) -- It wasn'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. (Health Education And Research in Tibet) 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 don't like to bring the women to the hospital because there's a fear of C-section and complications. [The women] 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 don'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
[ "What is H.E.A.R.T?", "Where is the group working this year?", "what can one heart do", "what is the group working on", "what did the nurse do", "Where does the Utah nurse practitioner help fight high childbirth mortality?", "What is the name of the nurse practitioner?", "What part of Mexico?", "Who conducts birthing demonstrations and distributes birth kits?", "What does One H.E.A.R.T. distribute?", "Where is the nurse practitioner from?" ]
[ [ "(Health Education And Research in Tibet)" ], [ "Tibet." ], [ "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" ], [ "combat the high infant and maternal mortality rates in Tibet and around the world." ], [ "created One H.E.A.R.T. (Health Education And Research in Tibet) to combat the high infant and maternal mortality rates in Tibet and around the world." ], [ "Tibet" ], [ "Arlene Samen" ], [ "Nayarit," ], [ "One H.E.A.R.T" ], [ "community-tailored birth kits." ], [ "Samen lives in Salt Lake City," ] ]
Utah nurse practitioner helps fight high childbirth mortality rates in Tibet . One H.E.A.R.T. conducts birthing demonstrations, distributes birth kits . Group is working in Mexico this year; future plans include Nepal, Ecuador .
(CNN) -- It will take NATO-led military forces "another 25 to 30 days to secure that which needs to be secured" in Afghanistan's Helmand province, and a further three months after that to be sure insurgents are being kept out of the area, British Maj. Gen. Nick Carter said Thursday. But Operation Moshtarak has reached "the end of the beginning," he said in a briefing from Afghanistan broadcast by the Pentagon Channel. "The insurgent was entirely dislocated within 24 hours" of the insertion of troops by helicopter, he said. The Nad Ali district is "broadly secure," he said, but there is still Taliban resistance in Marjah. "It will be some days before we can be completely confident that Marjah is secure," he said. Ten civilians were killed on the second day of the operation, he said. Reports at the time said 12 were killed. More coverage on Afghanistan Crossroads blog
[ "how much need wait to be sure?", "What has Afghan offensive reached?", "How many days do NATO troops need to secure areas in Helmand province?", "What the Afghan offensive reached?", "What do they need three more months for?", "How long will it take to be sure insurgents stay out ?" ]
[ [ "a further three months" ], [ "\"the end of the beginning,\"" ], [ "30" ], [ "\"the end of the beginning,\"" ], [ "to be sure insurgents are being kept out of the area," ], [ "\"another 25 to 30 days" ] ]
NATO troops need 25-30 days to secure areas in Helmand province, UK general says . Three more months needed to be sure insurgents stay out, says Maj. Gen. Nick Carter . But Afghan offensive has reached "end of the beginning," he says .
(CNN) -- It would be hard to claim surprise at the array of sanctions which were finally imposed on the Syrian regime in the last weeks, following months of seemingly endless warnings from friends and foes alike. Yet, judging by the reaction of various officials in Damascus, the regime does seem stunned by this shock to its system, having been living in denial about the evolving situation it created. From the apex of its fortunes only a couple of years ago to the most severe isolation modern Syria has ever witnessed, the regime of President Bashar al-Assad regime has single-handedly managed the feat which no other detractor achieved: bringing the entire country, and of course the regime itself, to a dead-end from which it can no longer extricate itself. While accustomed to U.S. sanctions since 1979, Syria had never been simultaneously cut off from Europe, Turkey and the Arab world, while also facing the most determined popular uprising the Arab world has yet seen. For refusing to stop its mass military campaign of repression throughout the country, which none of the neighbors or friendly nations could continue to ignore while urging for the proverbial promised reforms, the Syrian regime is now faced with a heavy bill it has no way of paying. Taken separately, the various sets of sanctions could have been manageable, even if the hardships would still be passed on to the population under the usual empty slogans of sovereignty and resistance in the face of a global conspiracy. In response to the first set of EU sanctions, in fact, Foreign Minister Walid Muallem had told a press gathering that Syria would "forget that Europe was on the map" and turn eastward for its business. When the sanctions reached the oil sector, the Syrian regime boasted it would sell its crude to China, India and other "non-aligned" countries. However, with the increasing difficulties of dealing with a Central Bank under sanctions, even countries sympathetic to the Syrian regime have been unwilling to go through so much trouble just to acquire Syrian oil, which, to boot, is mostly a low-grade crude needing special refineries. With Europe wiped off the map, the 150,000 barrels per day output which used to be exported across the Mediterranean will be difficult to sell, with very significant financial repercussions for the regime - and that was before the Arab League finally decided to tighten the screws. It is possible that repeated warnings followed by recurring extensions of deadlines convinced the Syrian regime that Arab countries were bluffing, and that the legendary impotence of the Arab League would prevent real pressure from materializing; this could explain al-Assad's bloody intransigence, and his erroneous interpretation that he really still had a carte blanche to kill, literally, the growing popular uprising which was now supplemented by armed resistance from an increasing number of defected soldiers, grouping themselves to form the Free Syrian Army. When the announcement of sanctions finally fell on November 12, even with additional deadlines allowing the regime to accept a set of conditions (including Arab monitors) which could save it from isolation, al-Assad and his advisers seemed unprepared. Instead of astutely accepting the offer to avoid greater seclusion, they decided to retreat into the usual conspiracy rhetoric while trying to buy time with complaints about protocols: this merely allowed the Arab League to ensure near unanimity in its decision to isolate al-Assad. All that remained was for Turkey to close the loop, and to carry out its own promise to punish the Syrian regime if it did not desist in what the UN has since described as crimes against humanity. As of this week, the Syrian regime is completely isolated, politically and financially. Even the reluctance of Lebanon and Iraq to apply full sanctions will be unlikely to make a big difference in Syria's fortunes, especially as international pressure continues to mount. The impact of this isolation cannot be exaggerated. While powerful allies such as Iran and Russia will try, for the time being, to pull their weight as they attempt to save the regime from its own folly, perhaps lending it limited financial support, a solid geographical reality imposes itself, cutting off Syria from most of the
[ "On what purpose was the ban?", "The regime is now isolated politically and economically?" ]
[ [ "save it from isolation," ], [ "the Syrian" ] ]
Syrian officials appear shocked by sanctions, despite endless warnings . The ban on oil sales will have significant financial repercussions . The regime is now isolated politically and economically . The sanctions, coupled with state brutality, could lead to unrest .
(CNN) -- It's Sunday night during TNT's coverage of the NBA playoffs, and announcer Kenny Smith, aka "The Jet," is doing push-ups. TNT's Kenny Smith tries to connect personally with NBA fans through his Twitter feed. Not on camera, but on Twitter. "Hawks look hot! CWebb, my boy Fabian and I doing 30- pushups P90X style every commercial.. getting summeer [sic] ready," writes Smith to his followers on Twitter, the microblogging site where you can "tweet" brief messages of up to 140 characters. Five hours later, Smith (@TheJetOnTNT) tweets a follow-up: "Man, i think im gonna be sore." By Monday morning, though, he seems raring to go again: "Im not sore today! the workout didnt kill me... Im back!!" Welcome to today's intersection of sports and social networking, where college athletes, professional players and even broadcasters use tools like Facebook and Twitter to share their thoughts and experiences with fans. "Sports personalities are tweeting now. They are giving fans a reason to tune in to see their comments," says Adam Ostrow, managing editor of Mashable, a blog devoted to online social media. Ostrow believes social networking sites like Twitter allow athletes to connect directly with fans without the filter of the traditional media. And while many athletes and teams have blogs and Facebook profiles, Twitter allows for a more personal connection between fan and sports, he says. NBA All-Star Shaquille O'Neal (@THE_REAL_SHAQ) is both a prolific scorer and a prolific twitterer. His more than 700,000 followers get his tweets about everything from his diet to his recent trip to Graceland. Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong (@lancearmstrong) has more than 650,000 Twitter followers for such updates as "Eating pizza at home w/ the family. Good test today, kids go home tomorrow (sad), and a hellacious week of training coming up." Hockey players also are getting into the act. Washington Capitals ace Alex Ovechkin (@ovi8) was on Twitter during the NHL All-Star game in January, tweeting about the festivities and responding to fan questions and comments. One athlete, Milwaukee Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva (@CV31), even got into hot water after tweeting during halftime of a game last month. Villanueva's entry read: "In da locker room, snuck to post my twitt. We're playing the Celtics, tie ball game at da half. Coach wants more toughness. I gotta step up." He did. Villanueva finished with a team-high 19 points, and the Bucks won. Now sports announcers are using Twitter to talk to fans about everything from game action to what they do when the cameras are off. Fox Sports (@MLBonFox) baseball commentators and reporters are using Twitter to share tidbits from players and behind-the-scenes moments that the normal fan may not even think about. Fox play-by-play announcer Joe Buck, one of the network's wittier twitterers, shared this recent tender moment from the broadcast booth: "Joe Buck: Cold in the booth in STL. Tim [McCarver] and I are bundled up. And snuggling. Hard to type. I think hypothermia is starting to set in!" TNT is using the same approach to connect with basketball fans during the current NBA playoffs. Eleven members of the network's broadcast team have joined Twitter to provide insight into games, offer nuggets from players and solicit fan opinions. "TNT is an interesting experiment if they add analysis they don't give on TV," said Ostrow of Mashable. "More interesting if they give more non-basketball info." And they are. When Kenny Smith started on Twitter, he wasn't really sure what it was or how it would work. So he just answered the default question on his page: What are you doing? "I want to have some fun with it," Smith told CNN. "I love scavenger hunts. I
[ "what Sports announcers use Twitter to share behind-the-scenes?", "what do pro athletes use to share their thoughts?", "Which sports use twitter?", "Who are some prolific twitterers?", "Who uses twiter?" ]
[ [ "Kenny Smith" ], [ "tools like Facebook and Twitter" ], [ "baseball commentators and reporters are using" ], [ "Lance Armstrong" ], [ "TNT's Kenny Smith" ] ]
More pro athletes are using Twitter to share their thoughts and experiences with fans . Popular and prolific twitterers include Shaquille O'Neal and Lance Armstrong . Sports announcers use Twitter to share behind-the-scenes details with fans . TNT has 11 broadcasters tweeting during the current NBA playoffs .
(CNN) -- It's a Tuesday morning and Dr. Eric DeJonge is headed to work. But unlike most physicians, DeJonge's office is his car and his patients are waiting for him in their homes, not in a large waiting room. As part of the Medical House Call Program, Dr. Eric DeJonge visits one of his group's 600 patients. DeJonge, a geriatric specialist at Washington Hospital Center, runs the hospital's "Medical House Call Program." Sharing duties with program co-founder Dr. George Taler and two other doctors, DeJonge criss-crosses the nation's capital, checking on patients in their homes. Armed with a black bag and blackberry, DeJonge visits mostly the elderly who either can't get to a hospital or are so ill that moving them would prove life-threatening. He usually sees them once a month to check on their status, to make sure their medications are working, and to let them know he's there for them. DeJonge says the one-on-one care is invaluable. "We know the patients, their families," he says. "We know when they change medically, what has to happen to prevent them from making an ER visit." Terry Carter's father, Aubrey, has been homebound since he suffered a stroke over 20 years ago. For most of those years, Carter ran back and forth to doctors' offices and the ER, making sure his father got the best medical help. It got to be expensive and time consuming and, as the years progressed, it became increasingly difficult to care for his dad. Carter says it was tough because "I really don't have very much help to take him out." Now, with DeJonge making regular visits, Carter's father doesn't have to be moved from his home and his health has improved. "He's only been in the hospital twice in the last three years," says Carter. "Before that he was in the hospital every other month." Dr. Gupta: Watch more on the return of the house call » House calls, once popular in the 1930s, began to drop off as medical technology improved. According to a recent article in the Clinics of Geriatric Medicine, home visits by doctors dropped from 40 percent of physician encounters in 1930 to 10 percent by 1950; by 1980 home visits represented less than 1 percent of physician encounters. Many patients, the article stated, felt they could get better care at hospitals and clinics, and shied away from having a doctor come to their home. And over the years, billing and paperwork for medical professionals became so overwhelming that many spent hours at their desks with calculators instead of spending time with their patients in their homes. And then, there was the financial disincentive: most insurance companies didn't pay for house calls. It was easier and more lucrative for doctors to see more patients in their office than fewer patients in their homes. Reimbursement was spotty and in order to survive doctors had to put house calls on the back burner. But that has begun to change. Ten years ago, Medicare made it a bit easier for physicians to receive payments for house calls by modifying the way doctors bill for their procedures. And this month, a new "Independence at Home" bill -- designed to coordinate benefits for Medicare's most expensive beneficiaries, like Aubrey Carter -- will be reintroduced, making it easier and less expensive to carry out house calls. "Our current health care system does a poor job caring for seriously ill Americans, who often are 'lost in transition,'" says Massachusetts Congressman Edward Markey, author of the bill. "This bipartisan, bicameral bill holds great promise for improving quality of care, reducing hospitalizations, lowering costs and lifting the spirits of those who, after a lifetime of contributions to our society, deserve the dignity and peace of mind that comes with living independently." From the doctors' perspective, DeJonge says it will make all the difference in how he and his partners practice, and everyone would benefit. "Those savings would be shared with the health
[ "When did Medicare make is easier to get paid for house calls?", "When were 40 percent of physician encounters were house calls ?", "Is there a bill before congress which would make physician house calls easier to arrange and less expensive?", "Who prefers clinics?", "What percentage of physician visits were house calls in 1980?" ]
[ [ "Ten years ago," ], [ "1930s," ], [ "\"Independence at Home\"" ], [ "Many patients," ], [ "less than 1 percent" ] ]
In 1930s, 40 percent of physician encounters were house calls; 1 percent by 1980 . Financial disincentives and patient preference for clinics contributed to decline . 10 years ago, Medicare made it easier for physicians to get paid for house calls . Bill before Congress would make house calls less expensive, easier to arrange .
(CNN) -- It's a blog where people post, and make fun of, pictures of out-of-shape, poorly dressed and otherwise awkward people shopping at Wal-Mart. The "People of Walmart" blog features photos taken by users at the mega-chain. And, in less than a month, with no marketing to speak of, it's become the toast of the Internet. "People of Wal-Mart," a gag started by two 20-something brothers and their buddy to share crazy pictures with their friends, has gone viral. Promoted largely on sites like Digg and Funny or Die -- and linked ad nauseam on Facebook and Twitter -- the site picked up enough traffic to crash its servers on Wednesday. "I'm still baffled -- I really am," said Andrew Kipple, 23, one of the creators of the site, who said his team was frantically working Wednesday to add enough server space to handle the surge in traffic. Photos on the site, sent in by viewers all over the United States, frequently feature overweight people wearing tight clothes, bizarre hairstyles (with versions of the short-in-front, long-in-back "mullet" leading the pack) and fashion crimes ranging from furry leg warmers to miniskirts that leave absolutely nothing to the imagination. There's a guy enjoying a can of beer outside a Wal-Mart, a guy dressed as Captain America and another guy with a goat. Yes, a live goat. Andrew and his brother Adam, 25, said they thought of the site after a visit to a South Carolina Wal-Mart where they saw a woman they believed to be a stripper, wearing an obscene T-shirt and leading a toddler in a harness. Around the next corner was a man with a beard reminiscent of the rock band ZZ Top. "It's kind of like the light bulb went off," Andrew said. "We get the e-mails already from people who are like, 'Why didn't I think of this?' We just happened to be fortunate enough to have the ability to actually follow through on it." Their site was keeping up when it was getting about 500,000 views a day, but got swamped by a new spike in traffic late last week. The brothers, along with partner Luke Wherry, 23, say response has been largely positive -- with only a handful of complaints out of every 100 e-mails they get. A post on the group's Facebook page Thursday morning said they had gotten more than 1.2 million page views on Wednesday, even though the site was down for much of the day. The site was getting two or three photo submissions a day until last week they said -- when all of a sudden hundreds of e-mails, most with pictures, started rolling in. But not everyone appreciates the humor -- saying the site goes out of its way to mock poor and rural patrons of the store, reinforcing stereotypes along the way. "American culture likes to single out people who appear to be different," said Tim Marema, vice president of the Whitesburg, Kentucky-based Center for Rural Strategies. "Whether it's a joke or not, all depends on which side of the camera you're on." Furthering stereotypes can strengthen the rifts between rural, urban and suburban residents and, in the worst-case scenario, can affect the way some people are treated by government and industry, he said. Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer with more than 4,200 U.S. stores and over $400 billion in annual sales, may be more prominent in rural areas, Marema said, but to use that to stereotype its shoppers doesn't make sense. "The reality is that everybody shops at Wal-Mart," he said. "If you want to find the guy in the golf shirt and khakis, he's there too." A spokesman for Wal-Mart Stores Inc. declined to comment for this story. The brothers say they don't mean for their site to
[ "what do critics feel about the site", "Which blog went viral last week?", "What does the site feature?", "What is a common criticism of the site?" ]
[ [ "Furthering stereotypes can strengthen the rifts between rural, urban and suburban residents and, in the worst-case scenario, can affect the way some people are treated by government and industry, he said." ], [ "\"People of Walmart\"" ], [ "photos taken by users at the mega-chain." ], [ "goes out of its way to mock poor and rural patrons of the store, reinforcing stereotypes along the way." ] ]
"People of Wal-Mart" blog went viral last week . Site features photos of unusual haircuts, fashion at the stores . Critics say site reinforces stereotypes, misrepresents Wal-Mart shoppers . Site's creators say they have standards, won't mock everyone .
(CNN) -- It's a familiar scenario: A major crime is committed. Police investigate possible leads while the media asks for information. Soon, authorities say they have a "person of interest." Raymond Clark was named a person of interest, and then charged with murdering Yale grad student Annie Le. But what does this term mean? "The 'person of interest' tells you nothing," says Cynthia Hujar Orr, president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. "They are suspicious of that person, but the police don't have the evidence they need." Investigators named Raymond Clark a "person of interest" after 24-year-old Yale University graduate student Annie Le was found dead in the basement of an off-campus lab. Officer Joe Avery, of the New Haven Police Department, said Clark was a "person of interest" because he worked in the same highly-secured lab where Le was last seen. Authorities detained Clark, 24, on Tuesday, took his DNA and searched his home. They released him, and his lawyer said Clark was fully cooperating with authorities. Then, on Thursday, Clark was arrested and charged with Le's murder. Watch police announce the arrest » But not everyone who is called a person of interest becomes a suspect. In the last decade, law enforcement authorities have increasingly used the phrase -- but the label didn't necessarily mean the person would be charged. According to one analysis of 40 cases, half of the "persons of interest" were released without charges. The exact origin of the phrase "person of interest" is unknown. But several criminology professors and attorneys who spoke with CNN said they believe the phrase became widely used after the 1996 Olympic Park bombings in Atlanta, Georgia, when media outlets called security guard Richard Jewell a suspect. Jewell was never charged, and was eventually cleared. Several years later, Eric Rudolph was arrested and convicted for the crime. Jewell died in August 2007. Jewell sued the FBI and several media organizations -- including CNN, NBC and the Atlanta Journal Constitution -- for libel and slander. The CNN and NBC suits were settled. The U.S. Attorney's Office gave him an unprecedented government acknowledgment of wrongful accusation. Law enforcement officers and the media began using the term "person of interest" as a shield against civil litigation. But some attorneys, criminologists and media experts say using the loose term "person of interest" can tarnish the person's reputation, mislead the public, and possibly hurt the investigation. Using the phrase is a way for authorities to draw attention to the person without formally accusing them, they say. Watch a discussion of the phrase 'person of interest' » "It's a really bad term to use, because the public reads 'suspect,' " said Kelly McBride, ethics group leader at the Poynter Institute, a national journalism training institute in St. Petersburg, Florida. Donna Shaw, a journalism professor at The College of New Jersey, said she believes federal law enforcement officials invented the phrase in the mid-1990s to satiate journalists hounding them for information. Soon, local law enforcement officers began to pick up on the phrase. Shaw studied a year's worth of stories with the term "person of interest" in 2006, interviewing representatives from local police departments on why the term was utilized. "Some of the police told me, ' We don't know what it means but it makes reporters happy,' " Shaw said. Her research found that fewer than half of the people identified as "persons of interest" were ever charged with the crimes, yet their stories remained ingrained on the Internet after their exoneration. In the U.S. Attorney's Manual, a guidebook used by federal criminal prosecutors, the phrase "person of interest" doesn't exist. It is not a legal term used by attorneys. Police are trained to use lingo like "suspect," "subject" and "target." James Alan Fox, a criminologist at Northeastern University, said the expression "person of interest" is closest in meaning
[ "what says Experts?", "What is the term \"person of interest\" intended to do?", "When did police start using \"person of interest\"?" ]
[ [ "using the loose term \"person of interest\" can tarnish the person's reputation, mislead the public, and possibly hurt the investigation." ], [ "\"They are suspicious of that person, but the police don't have the evidence they need.\"" ], [ "believe the phrase became widely used after the 1996 Olympic Park bombings in Atlanta, Georgia," ] ]
Police began widely using "person of interest" after 1996 Olympic Park bombing . It does not mean the same thing as "suspect" Experts say the phrase came into use to reduce media pressure . It can deceive the subject of an investigation, expert says .
(CNN) -- It's a good thing he didn't go with "@andrew." Drew Olanoff wants to benefit the LiveStrong charity because of the support the foundation has given him. Drew Olanoff, cancer-fighter and blogger, is auctioning off his enviable Twitter username "@drew" to benefit the LiveStrong foundation. Since Tuesday, its value has already been raised to $1 million, thanks to that other Drew -- last name Carey. "I thought we would find a Drew who would bid $10,000 on the last day and that was it," Olanoff said. "I certainly didn't think Drew Carey would get wind of it." Get wind he did. The Cleveland comedian raised the stakes on Saturday, first tweeting an initial bid of $25,000 only to quadruple it, offering up $100,000 if his Twitter followers totaled 100,000 by the auction's closing at midnight on November 9. Olanoff was taken back by Carey's generosity, whom he's never met nor spoken to, but it seems Carey wasn't done yet. In the middle of an interview yesterday with CBS (the corporation writing Carey's checks, as he's the host of the network's "The Price is Right"), he upped the ante from $100,000 to a cool $1 million if he gets the same amount of followers by midnight on December 31. Judging by how quickly the follower count increases every time his @DrewFromTV Twitter page is refreshed -- on Thursday evening, he was rapidly approaching 66,000 followers -- Carey is well on his way to doing so. Of course, if he doesn't reach a million followers, the donation will be prorated: If there are 500,000 followers when the clock strikes midnight, then $500,000 will be given to LiveStrong. It may seem like Carey's gotten himself into some sort of popularity game, but it's not about amassing millions of followers or the Twitter name, Olanoff said. "There are obviously going to be skeptics, but Drew Carey is new to Twitter. Celebrities can get followers; Ashton Kutcher has 3 million," Olanoff told CNN. "What he's saying is, 'Follow me; you're worth a dollar, and it's going to LiveStrong.' " This isn't the first time Olanoff's stirred up the "Twitter-verse." From the minute he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease in late May, he decided his cancer was of the social variety, and turned to Twitter to air his frustrations. "I'm a very public person, I'm a geek, and I've been on Twitter for years," Olanoff said. "I realized this is serious, and I started to blame things on my cancer. I'm not a whiny person and I didn't want to get negative [so the site] it was a nice way for me to focus all of my anger and being upset and worrying. " With the help of a friend who's also suffered from Hodgkin's disease, Olanoff set up BlameDrewsCancer.com, where tweeters can blame his cancer for any and everything that's gone wrong, in 140 characters or less. Lance Armstrong, LiveStrong's founder, blamed a broken collarbone on it, while Alyssa Milano found Drew's cancer to be at fault for her inability to resist chocolate drizzled popcorn; she then tweeted an offer to help out Drew's cancer awareness campaign in whatever way she could. Famous or not, Olanoff found comfort in those tweets. "When I would go through my chemo treatments every two weeks, for me it felt like I had a huge support group, because when you're diagnosed with [cancer] you can feel alone," he said. As a result, Olanoff has decided to keep blaming cancer even though signs are pointing towards improved health; his last chemo treatment is November 2. Until midnight on November 9, his 30th birthday, Olanoff's resolved to round up as many @DrewFromTV followers as he can, and maybe accept Carey's invitation to meet up when Olanoff's back in Los Angeles. For now, Olanoff is resting up
[ "how much money drew is going to donate?", "For what purpose was the @BlameDrew'sCancer username created?", "What is the Twitter username being placed up for auction by Drew Olanoff?", "Where is the blogger based?", "What charity will benefit by Drew Olanoff placing his Twitter username up for auction?", "Who has placed Twitter username up for auction?" ]
[ [ "$500,000" ], [ "to benefit the LiveStrong foundation." ], [ "\"@drew\"" ], [ "Cleveland" ], [ "LiveStrong" ], [ "Drew Olanoff" ] ]
Drew Olanoff has placed his Twitter username up for auction to benefit charity . Drew Carey said he'd donate $1 million if he gets 1 million followers by Dec. 31 . Olanoff never expected his auction to get attention from other Drews like Carey . The L.A.-based blogger is also behind the @BlameDrew'sCancer username .
(CNN) -- It's a high-tech, high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse. Ryan Kelly, a Web designer from London, England, says his software was used to attack an Iranian Web site. As the Iranian government seeks to crack down on the online networks being used by protesters who question the nation's election results, a community of Net-savvy users -- both inside and outside the country -- are working to try to stay one step ahead. "To the Iranian government hackers who keep attacking the places they see as a threat, you are wasting your time," wrote one anonymous poster to a message board loaded with eyewitness accounts of violence, plans for protests and notices about people reported missing or dead. "You are completely outnumbered. There are thousands of Iranians who want to be free and people who support them for every one of you there is." That site, with a server in California, was unable to be accessed for a couple of hours Wednesday afternoon. The error could have been caused by too many people trying to access the site at the same time. The same error would be caused by a so-called "denial of service" attack -- using a program to flood a site with thousands of hits in a short time. Access to networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter and photography site Flickr have been blocked in Iran, where the government also has been accused of blocking text-messaging, launching denial of service attacks and spreading misinformation to protest communities online. Watch CNN's Octavia Nasr explain how voices of dissent are getting out » But Web users have been able to get around those roadblocks by the thousands, thanks to Internet proxies -- Web servers set up in other countries that allow Iranians to hide their computer's Internet Protocol address from censors within the country. "I think the filters and the restrictions have been going on for so long in Iran that the experienced people are already prepared for this," said Jon Pincus, a former Microsoft project manager and digital activist who works on projects promoting online freedom. The networking sites have been crucial in sharing information among protesters. Equally important, they've helped spread word to news organizations now barred from covering massive anti-government demonstrations and the violence that reportedly has led to the deaths of an untold number of demonstrators. Many blogs, message boards and Web pages sharing information from inside Iran are urging users to log on through programs such as Tor, a free Web page designed to allow users to surf the Web and communicate with each other anonymously. The Web page bounces a user's information through relays -- other networks provided by volunteers all over the world -- preventing someone monitoring an Internet connection from seeing what sites are visited on that connection. The measures haven't always been successful. In Twitter posts and on various Web sites, protesters in Iran on Wednesday described having their online access shut down. Pincus compared it to Chinese dissidents trying to crack their country's stringent rules for Internet use. iReport: Share your photos, video and stories from Iran "Word continues to get through, but basically it's very, very difficult," Pincus said "Many people who try are caught." In Iran, "there's been a noticeable decline already in the amount of photos and video that's coming down," he said. "That says that, thus far, the government is succeeding." Early Thursday morning, a Twitter user with a new account and who was not following anyone else on the site was posting false information -- including a report that opposition candidate Mir Hossein Moussavi had conceded the election and that a demonstration had been canceled because government tanks were in the street. The Twitter user posted the phone number of a "safe house" and urged other demonstrators to call it. Other users quickly began spreading word that they think the user is a government agent. But the fight is ever-changing and moving on, proponents said. On Twitter, users all over the world were changing their personal information and time
[ "What is Iranian government doing?", "Who is working to try to stay online?", "What are users using to cover Iranians?", "What is the Iranian government trying to stop?", "Where are Iranians getting help?" ]
[ [ "seeks to crack down on the online networks being used by protesters who question the nation's election results," ], [ "a community of Net-savvy users" ], [ "Internet proxies" ], [ "online networks being used by protesters" ], [ "Internet proxies" ] ]
Iranian government trying to stop Internet communication from protesters . Community of Net-savvy users are working to try to stay online . Iranians getting help from people around the world with foreign servers . Twitter users change settings to appear they're in Iran to give Iranians cover .
(CNN) -- It's all tied up in Texas. Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are running a tight race in Texas. A new CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll suggests the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination between Sens. Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois is a statistical dead heat in Texas, which holds primaries March 4. In the survey, out Monday, 50 percent of likely Democratic primary voters support Clinton as their choice for the party's nominee, with 48 percent backing Obama. But taking into account the poll's sampling error of plus or minus 4½ percentage points for Democratic respondents, the race is a virtual tie. Watch Democrats target Texas. » Two recent polls by other organizations also show the race statistically even. Map: National and state polling "One reason the race appears to be tight is that Texas Democrats are having a hard time choosing between two attractive options," says CNN polling director Keating Holland. "Likely Democratic primary voters would be equally happy if either candidate won the nomination, and they don't see a lot of difference between them on several top issues. "Roughly a quarter of likely voters say they could change their minds in the next two weeks -- and not surprisingly, those people are splitting roughly equally between Clinton and Obama." Many political strategists and analysts consider Texas and Ohio -- which also holds a March 4 primary -- must-win states for Clinton. Obama has won the past eight contests and is now ahead in the overall battle for delegates, 193 of which are at stake in Texas. The new survey indicates Arizona Sen. John McCain is the clear favorite for the Republican presidential nomination. Among Republicans, 55 percent of likely Texas GOP primary voters support McCain as their choice for nominee. Thirty-two percent back former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and 11 percent support home-state congressman and former Libertarian standard-bearer Ron Paul. The poll's sampling error for Republican respondents is 4 percentage points. The CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll was conducted by telephone from Friday through Sunday. Pollsters talked to 1,506 adults in Texas, including 553 likely Republican primary voters and 529 likely Democratic primary voters. McCain is the overwhelming front-runner in the fight for the Republican presidential nomination and party leaders have rallied around the candidate in an attempt for party unity. The poll was released on the same day the only living former Republican president -- George Herbert Walker Bush, the current president's father -- endorsed McCain at an event in Houston. Watch McCain get a big boost » But McCain has had trouble winning conservative voters. Just last week, McCain lost the conservative vote to Huckabee in the Virginia primary, according to exit polls. The new survey, though, suggests McCain may have better luck in Texas. "It looks like McCain has made some inroads with conservative Republicans," Holland said. "McCain is picking up a bare majority among conservative likely voters in the GOP primary. The McCain campaign probably wishes that number were higher, but it does mean that a McCain victory in Texas would not be based on the votes of moderates and independents, as has happened in several states in the past few weeks." Texas Democrats and Republicans may not see eye to eye on the issues, but the poll suggests they do agree on what's the most important issue. Thirty-five percent of Democrats and an equal number of Republicans said the economy was the most important issue in their choice for president. The second most important issue for Democrats was health care, at 23 percent, followed by the war in Iraq at 22 percent, illegal immigration at 10 percent and terrorism at 7 percent. Nineteen percent of Republicans said illegal immigration was their most important issue, putting it in second place, followed by the war in Iraq and terrorism at 17 percent and health care at 8 percent. Sixty percent of Republicans say they'll definitely support the candidate they are now backing. That number climbs to 76 percent for Democrats. Likely Democratic primary voters view Clinton and Obama on roughly
[ "Who is the clear front-runner on the Republican side?", "when does texas voters vote", "When do Texas voters go to the polls?", "who is the runner of the republicans", "Who is on an eight-state winning streak?", "which state is a must win for clinton", "when do texas voters vote", "Which state do some strategists see as must-win for Hillary Clinton?" ]
[ [ "Sen. John McCain" ], [ "March 4." ], [ "March 4." ], [ "Sen. John McCain" ], [ "Obama" ], [ "Texas and Ohio" ], [ "March 4." ], [ "Texas." ] ]
Texas voters go to the polls March 4 . Sen. John McCain is the clear front-runner on the Republican side . Sen. Barack Obama is on an eight-state winning streak . Some strategists see Texas as a must-win state for Sen. Hillary Clinton .
(CNN) -- It's amazing how a huge global phenomenon can begin. Tetris, the simple puzzle video game, has been addicting players for 25 years. In 1984, Russian mathematician Alexey Pajitnov was playing with one of his favorite puzzles when he had an inspiration: How about creating a computer version? Pajitnov wrote the program in his spare time, simplifying the idea to make it easier for those of us who aren't math geniuses. He used shapes made of four squares -- hence "Tetris," which comes from the Greek word for four, "Tetra." In the game, players must position and stack blocky shapes to fill a grid without leaving spaces in between. Successfully completed sections disappear. The more sections the player completes without reaching the top, the higher the score. iReport: 25 years of Tetris Steadily, the game worked its way around the world. Millions of people found themselves glued to their computers and game players -- hearts racing and screaming in frustration -- all over getting a simple horizontal line of digital squares to disappear. "I would just play it for hours and hours," said iReporter Joel Vetsch of New Haven, Connecticut, who got addicted to Tetris on a Game Boy when he was 10. "I'm 29 now, and I still love it." See Vetsch's iReport here Vetsch became so obsessed with Tetris that the game even showed up in his dreams. "I'd go to sleep and in my head I'd see blocks. . .going into each other," he told CNN. "It was weird." More than 125 million Tetris products have been sold, and Guinness World Records' 2009 Gamers' Edition book ranked Tetris No. 2 on its list of the top 50 console games of all time, behind Super Mario Kart. Twenty-five years to the month after Tetris was born, CNN spoke with Pajitnov and Henk Rogers, CEO of Blue Planet Software, the company that manages the exclusive licensing rights to the game. The two men talked about what makes Tetris so addictive, how they believe the game can help unite the world, and -- no joke -- why they want a Tetris competition in the Olympics. See Josh Levs' interview with Pajitnov and Rogers » CNN: Alexey, I want to start with you. When you first dreamed up this scenario all those years ago, did you ever imagine it would turn into a global phenomenon? Alexey Pajitnov, Tetris creator: The very first time when my small game started working even without scoring or leveling, I couldn't stop playing. It's a really good game, but I [couldn't] imagine that it would be that big. Henk Rogers, CEO of Blue Planet Software: When I first found it at the Consumer Electronics Show in 1988, I kept on coming back and playing more. And that was a for sure sign that this was going to be a good game. CNN: There are stories of people going in to work on the weekends just to sit at their computer and play for hours. They even dream the Tetris shapes if they play for too long. Could one of you explain to me why it's so addictive and what goes on when you play it? Pajitnov: First of all, it's a very simple game and it has a really strong creative spirit in it. So instead of destroying something, you kind of build up the profile out of those small pieces and enjoy doing it. And that's probably the very important addictive factor. CNN: The simplicity and also the immediate satisfaction -- but then immediately it's time to work for the next one. Pajitnov: Yes. CNN: Henk, tell us some of the stunning statistics. Rogers: Over 70 million products have been sold as a box product, and more recently on the mobile [market] we're almost reaching 80 million downloads worldwide. Last year 10 percent of all games on mobile phones in this country were Tetris. CNN: We have some videos of takeoffs -- turning
[ "Who is game's creator?", "How many years old is Tetris turning?", "What percent of mobile games are Tetris?", "Who did CNN talk to?", "What kind of game is Tetris?", "What percentage of all games was Tetris?", "What is Tetris?", "What game turned 35?" ]
[ [ "Alexey Pajitnov" ], [ "25" ], [ "10" ], [ "Alexey Pajitnov," ], [ "the simple puzzle video" ], [ "10 percent" ], [ "simple puzzle video game," ], [ "Tetris," ] ]
Tetris, the addictive building-block video game, turns 25 this month . CNN speaks with Alexey Pajitnov, the game's creator, about its popularity . Last year, 10 percent of all games on mobile phones in the U.S. were Tetris . Pajitnov: "It's a very simple game and it has a really strong creative spirit in it"
(CNN) -- It's bad enough to be sick and miserable. But adding insult to injury for many a patient is having to hack through a veritable jungle of often-confusing paperwork to make health insurance claims. Dr. Val Jones is part of a practice in Virginia that has lowered its fees and quit taking insurance. Consumers' frustrations with health insurance paperwork are well-known. But it's also a frustrating tangle for doctors and their staffs. AC360° correspondent Tom Foreman has a report about one innovative practice that has decided to take on the insurance paperwork monster -- by completely avoiding it. Dr. Val Jones joined a small practice, DocTalker Family Medicine in Vienna, Virginia, where the doctors do not even take insurance. They charge a simple, relatively low fee for each service. That's it. The doctors at DocTalker grew tired of seeing patients struggle with baffling insurance paperwork while both their health and wealth were on the line. "They don't know why they're getting these questions asked," Jones said. "They don't know what the forms mean. And ... their compensation is dependent on it." This innovation has been good news for Carol "Yogi" Yogan of McClain, Virginia. She said she broke her wrist ice skating, and her insurance company initially told her that her injury would not be covered. After persistent effort, she eventually convinced them otherwise. The company paid. But Yogan is certain without her dogged efforts, her claim would have been forever lost in the "paperwork jungle" of the insurance trade. Watch Yogan's struggle with bureaucratic red tape » Yogi Yogan has pretty much lost all faith in insurance companies. She has enough insurance to cover a catastrophic illness, but for routine care, she's now going to that nearby fee-for-service medical office where Jones works. "It's seamless," Yogan said. She knows precisely what she is getting and what it costs. Jones does not believe the insurance industry set out to cultivate the paperwork jungle. She thinks it just grew over time. But now that it is there, she suspects they are making so much money off of it, that there is no real incentive to clear it up. Former insurance industry executive Wendell Potter agrees. He said one way insurers make money is by allowing confusion to reign. "And people often just give up," Potter said, "and don't pursue payment when a claim has been denied or been paid inappropriately or not adequately. And the same is true with doctors and hospitals." He believes billions of dollars are at stake. The insurance industry, while acknowledging the existence of the paperwork jungle, denies it is a trap for extra profits. Robert Zirkilbach is with a national trade association for insurers called America's Health Insurance Plans. "The health insurance industry is one of the most regulated industries in America, and particularly at the state level there are all kinds of requirements of information that needs to be provided to patients in paper and through the mail," Zirkilbach said. But he adds, insurers are just as worried as customers about the confusion that causes. "We agree that reform is needed. In fact, that's why we've been working very hard to develop reforms to make the system more efficient," Zirkilbach said. AC360° correspondent Tom Foreman contributed to this report.
[ "What are they trying to do with the system?", "what is lower for the practice in virginia?", "who is trying to make system more efficient?", "What is the name of the practice in Virginia that has lowered and simplified its fees and quit taking insurance?", "What in Virginia has lowered and simplified fees?", "What generates profit?" ]
[ [ "more efficient,\"" ], [ "its fees" ], [ "Zirkilbach" ], [ "DocTalker Family Medicine" ], [ "DocTalker Family Medicine in Vienna," ], [ "paperwork jungle," ] ]
Practice in Virginia has lowered and simplified its fees and quit taking insurance . Patient frustrated with insurance paperwork thrilled with new method: "It's seamless" Ex-insurance industry executive says confusion, paperwork help generate profit . Industry spokesman counters that they're trying to make system more efficient .
(CNN) -- It's been 30,000 years since Neanderthals walked the earth, but now we can hear what they sounded like, according to a Florida anthropologist. Neanderthal man apparently sounded like a frog croaking or a human burping when talking. Robert McCarthy of Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton reconstructed Neanderthal vocal tracts to simulate their voice with a computer synthesizer. The result is a single syllable that sounds strange and unremarkable: part croaking frog, part burping human. But McCarthy says that's because Neanderthals lacked the "quantal vowels" modern humans use. "They would have spoken a bit differently," McCarthy said at the annual meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists in Ohio this month. "They wouldn't have been able to produce these quantal vowels that form the basis of spoken language." New Scientist magazine discussed McCarthy's findings and linked to his vocal simulation on its Web site. Listen to Neanderthal man speak McCarthy used 50,000-year-old fossils from France to make his reconstruction, New Scientist said. He plans to simulate an entire Neanderthal sentence, the magazine reported. To reconstruct the vocal tracts, McCarthy teamed with linguist Phil Lieberman, who worked in the 1970s to deduce the dimensions of a Neanderthal larynx based on its skull. E-mail to a friend
[ "What does the result sound like?", "What do the results sound like?", "What does an anthropologist reconstruct?", "What are they simulating?", "What does the anthropologist reconstruct?", "What are the plans?", "What did the Anthropologist do?", "What sounds like a croaking frog?", "What has been reconstructed?", "What is the plan?" ]
[ [ "a frog croaking or a human burping" ], [ "a frog croaking or a human burping when talking." ], [ "Neanderthal vocal tracts" ], [ "an entire Neanderthal sentence," ], [ "Neanderthal vocal tracts" ], [ "simulate an entire Neanderthal sentence," ], [ "reconstructed Neanderthal vocal tracts" ], [ "Neanderthal man" ], [ "Neanderthal vocal tracts" ], [ "simulate an entire Neanderthal sentence," ] ]
Anthropologist reconstructs Neanderthal vocal tracts to simulate their voice . Result sounds like a part croaking frog or a human burping . Plan is to eventually simulate an entire Neanderthal sentence .
(CNN) -- It's been a year since Steve Irwin, the environmentalist and TV host best known as the "Crocodile Hunter," died. He was killed September 4, 2006, by a stingray barb to the chest while filming an underwater documentary off Australia's northern coast. Joseph Krygier shot this photo of a memorial in August 2007 at the Australia Zoo in Beerwah, Australia. Irwin's death prompted a global outpouring of grief from fans, children and hundreds of early I-Report contributors, who shared photos, videos and memories with CNN shortly after he died. A year since, we asked CNN.com readers what they think his legacy will be, and how they are remembering him this year. Here is a selection of their responses: Carol Shahan of Wilmington, Delaware In April, my Girl Scout Service Unit held an encampment. The event lasted Friday-Sunday and over 350 girls and leaders attended. Our theme was "Crikey! Let's go camping -- a tribute to the conservation legacy of Steve Irwin." The girls learned about how they can help conserve their part of the world and contributed funds to the Wildlife Warriors through a coin drive. Patrick Rodrigue of Montreal, Quebec We met Steve and his wife and small entourage at an elephant safari park in Bali, Indonesia, in June 2004 during our honeymoon. We were having lunch when we saw him at the table next to us. He was on vacation and he still came over to our table to say "Hello Mates!" and pose for a picture. Helen Osada of Hong Kong I never get tired of watching Steve Irwin and his family on Animal Planet even though they are all reruns. He had real charisma unlike most other wildlife enthusiasts. And that he shared so much with us including his family says a lot about his generosity. His death was a great loss to us all. I really miss him. Melissa Amundsen Wells of Greensboro, North Carolina Steve Irwin taught my daughter and myself that all animals deserve respect and protection, not just the furry cute ones. Every animal on the planet has a unique purpose and he conveyed that better than anyone else. His love for his work was a real inspiration to my whole family. We miss you Steve. Mirad Maglic of Sarajevo, Bosnia In my opinion, his unorthodox style, love for all things living and dedication to wildlife preservation made Steve a hero with a legacy that compares to what Elvis did for the rock music. I just hope that others will follow in his tracks, just as his wonderful daughter is doing. Donna Beckum of Orab, Ohio It was a great honor to watch Bindi's show several times this past weekend. She is sure a chip off the ol' block! I will never forget Steve and his remarkable quest. I will continue to watch Bindi and all of the "Crocodile Hunter" episodes that are rerun. You just never get tired of watching them. I pray that God blesses Terri and her children and that Bindi continues to carry on where her daddy left off. Steve Irwin was an icon and certainly made a difference. He will never be forgotten! John Hock of Alpharetta, Georgia Met him in March of '06. He was on his motorbike in the zoo with his son on the front of the bike. He had is hat and sunglasses on. We were over by the camels. I yelled "Steve ..." He said "G'Day" to me. Then he was off to the pens behind the crocoseum. Even that brief meeting had an effect on me. To meet someone larger than life is an honor. Michael Yang of Singapore Steve and Terri have been a big part of my life. I can't believe a year has flown by so fast. I was very sad at the misfortune of a stingray barb directly in Steve's heart. Without a doubt, Steve has helped make the world a better place both for people and animals. Jenna Barnaby of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania ... I can't believe it's only been a year. I was so sad when he died and so
[ "Who asked for thoughts on the anniversary?", "Who was the Crocodile Hunter?", "Who died one year ago today?", "Who died from Crocodile Hunter?", "Who asked readers for their thoughts on the anniversary?", "What happened after his death?", "When did Irwin die?" ]
[ [ "CNN.com" ], [ "Steve Irwin," ], [ "Steve Irwin," ], [ "Steve Irwin," ], [ "CNN.com" ], [ "prompted a global outpouring of grief from fans," ], [ "September 4, 2006," ] ]
'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin died one year ago today . Worldwide vigils, memorial services after his death . CNN.com asked readers for their thoughts on the anniversary . Share your own memories and stories through I-Report .
(CNN) -- It's been eight years since Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint first hopped on the Hogwarts Express, and the three have done little else since. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint have kept each other "level-headed," said Radcliffe. Now that the ride will soon come to an end, the cast is trying to fathom a life without the Harry Potter films -- an understandable difficulty, considering that they've grown up along with their characters. The other item showing its age is the storyline of the sixth installment, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." Part humor and part horror with a healthy dose of hormones, "Half-Blood Prince" is clearly more attuned for an audience who, like the cast, are no longer in grade school. "On the one hand, we have all this light romance and snogging, and on the other hand, people are getting killed, and bridges are being blown up," director David Yates said. Potter 101: A guide to Harry Potter » Heavy stuff, certainly, but it's a challenge on par with the stars' blossoming careers. Hear, see and read how the characters have grown » One can only imagine that by now, the Potter series feels like home to Daniel Radcliffe, who landed the title role at 11 after playing supporting roles in the BBC's "David Copperfield" and the 2001 film "The Tailor of Panama." "[Without it], to be honest, I don't know what I would've done," said Radcliffe, who turns 20 on July 23. "I had 'Copperfield,' but at that point I wasn't even dreaming about [acting] being a career then." Since then, Radcliffe has grown into international stardom, reportedly earning $25 million per Potter film. Indeed, the actor has gotten raves away from the movie theater: In London and on Broadway, Radcliffe took on the role of Alan Strang, the mentally disturbed stable boy in Peter Shaffer's "Equus," which required him to strip naked in the play's final scene. Radcliffe has also taken on roles in "December Boys" and the TV movie "My Boy Jack," and he is eager to keep at it long after the Potter series wraps. So what about directing, then? Only time will tell, Radcliffe said. "For now, I want to keep acting," the actor said. "I don't think I know enough about the technical sides yet to even consider directing. It would be something that I'm interested in, but it would be a long, long way off." As for Watson, when she's not occupied with filming, she can be found in the pages of fashion magazines -- including the advertisements. Having landed covers for both Teen Vogue and the UK version of Elle within the past few months, it's no wonder that the 19-year-old was chosen to be the face of Burberry's autumn line. Going from tween wizard to fashion icon is quite a leap, but it's one that appears to fit Watson well; how many other Hogwarts students can count Karl Lagerfeld among their friends? Like her co-star Rupert Grint (Ron), Watson didn't have any acting experience when she auditioned for "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" at age 9. She managed to beat out thousands of other girls for the role of Hermione, a part she's said was "life or death" for her. Now that the series is close to its end, the actress is eager to try new things. "I would've told myself not to take it so seriously and to try to have as much fun as you can," Watson said she would've advised her younger self. But similar to her Potter character, Hermione, Watson is eager to hit the books after the series concludes. The actress confirmed that she plans to start college in the United States this fall. For Grint
[ "Who plans to keep acting?", "Who is the face of Burberry", "what college is she going to", "Who stars in the movie?", "What does watson plan on doing?" ]
[ [ "Radcliffe" ], [ "Emma Watson" ], [ "in the United States" ], [ "Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint" ], [ "to start college in the United States this fall." ] ]
With "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," Potter film series almost done . Daniel Radcliffe plans to keep acting; he's gotten raves for stage work . Emma Watson is face of Burberry, planning to go to college . Rupert Grint plans to do more films .
(CNN) -- It's been five days since Hurricane Ike smashed into the Texas coast, but people are still struggling mightily with its effects. Flags of the United States and Texas fly where homes stood in Gilchrist, Texas, before Ike's wrath came ashore. From the destroyed coastline, to far inland where evacuees are seeking shelter, to communities in the Midwest where the storm dumped flooding rains, CNN's affiliates are reporting on the rebuilding of lives. Galveston, Texas Wrecked homes and possessions strewn around the ubiquitous sludge were the sights awaiting residents of Galveston, some of whom were allowed to check their property on Wednesday, KHOU reported. Paula Munoz said although the damage to the family's El Rey restaurant was worse than she could have imagined, they still planned to rebuild. "We spent 10 years paying off this place," she told KHOU. "We'll rebuild, and we'll do it here. Where else would we go? This is our life." But there was some relief for Maria Patina, who was worried she had lost everything. When she saw her house was standing, she rushed inside, grabbed a statue of Jesus and said: "Thank you, God." Read KHOU's report on going back to Galveston Crystal Beach, Texas Frank and Dee Ann Sherman huddled in the attic of their beachfront home in Crystal Beach as Hurricane Ike ripped the house apart -- washing walls out to sea and lifting up what remained only to smash it down, KHOU said. Watch the Shermans tell their amazing survival story » Somehow the roof stayed on and they survived, but they are not being allowed back into the ruins, not even to retrieve the ashes of their dead daughter. The couple said they were frustrated with complaints by people better off than them. "We see all of these people that are crying and moaning because they got some mud on their floor or their lights are out in Houston," Frank Sherman told KHOU. "We don't see anything about our friends that died in Crystal Beach and about the fact that our world is totally devastated. I'm 60 years old and I have to start my life all over again." Read how the Shermans contacted KHOU when they found they couldn't escape Brazoria County, Texas Patty Smith fled Brazoria County and evacuated to Austin before the storm. She still does not know whether she has a home to return to, KVUE said. "It's like a nightmare. You look at your house when you pack up to leave and you're like 'Am I going to see this again'?" she said. Right now she's now relying on donations and just making it through each day. "We don't even know if we're going to have the money to pay our bills. It's that bad. My husband hasn't been able to work since we left," she said. Read KVUE's report on how Austin residents and workers are trying to help Austin, Texas Parents still staying at the Austin Convention Center are trying to stay strong for their kids, News 8 reported, but they say it is getting harder. Watch Homeland Security boss discuss plans to help evacuees » William Jones said the hardest part was trying to talk to his two daughters about their home. "I just tell them the truth and keep it simple," he said. "I don't try to sugarcoat it, so they know this is a real serious situation, but it's just hard on everybody right now," he told the station. Read what young victims are telling News 8 San Antonio, Texas Kevin Green's mind was on laundry as he spent another day in a shelter in San Antonio, Texas, after getting out of Houston to avoid Ike. "I've been washing these clothes out and putting them on every day," he told KSAT. The Salvation Army said there would be enough clothes to hand out to evacuees, but there were concerns about making sure distribution was fair, KSAT said. Read KSAT report on
[ "what is the report of CNN affiliates about?", "What is the name of the Hurricane?", "What are people still battling?", "where is the effects of hurricane ike felt?", "Who is reporting on how communities are struggling to recover?", "Who reports on how communities are struggling to recover?", "The effects of which hurricane are still felt across the US?", "What is still being felt across the United States?", "What do CNN affiliates report?" ]
[ [ "rebuilding of lives." ], [ "Ike" ], [ "Hurricane Ike" ], [ "Texas coast," ], [ "(CNN)" ], [ "CNN's affiliates" ], [ "Ike" ], [ "Hurricane Ike" ], [ "the rebuilding of lives." ] ]
The effects of Hurricane Ike are still being felt across the United States . CNN affiliates report on how communities are struggling to recover . From Texas to Ohio, people are still battling homelessness and power outages .
(CNN) -- It's been nine years since Kim and Curtis Christiansen were married. Since then they've had their ups and downs, but they've remained close. But when Curtis began snoring about three years ago, Kim began sleeping on the couch. After his snoring drove his wife, Kim, to sleep on the couch, Curtis Christiansen saw a sleep specialist. "His snoring was so loud. At first I would just elbow him to wake him up," she said, "But then I became concerned. He would just (she gasps for breath). It would take his breath away." At first Curtis Christiansen figured he was tired, a little run down from his job. He thought the snoring was just a symptom of his exhaustion. But when he started nodding off while waiting at a traffic light, he knew something was wrong. "I became more aware of this choking and waking-up feeling," he said. Kim Christiansen finally persuaded her husband to go to a sleep specialist. The diagnosis: obstructive sleep apnea. According to the National Sleep Foundation, more than 18 million American adults have sleep apnea, and many of them don't know it. Some people think their snoring is just a side effect of a busy lifestyle. Watch more on the difference between sleep apnea and snoring » In some cases, that's true. But the foundation says it's trying to get more people to realize how important it is to know the difference between occasional snoring and apnea. Studies have shown that sleep apnea has some serious side effects. A disorder in which breathing is briefly and repeatedly interrupted during sleep, apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat fail to keep the airway open, despite efforts to breathe. That can cause broken sleep patterns and low blood oxygen levels. Doctors say these side effects can lead to hypertension, heart disease, and mood and memory problems. In a recent study at the University of Maryland Medical Center, researchers found that sleep apnea can cause a rise in depression and that sleep-related breathing disorders can also worsen nightmares and post-traumatic stress disorder. And because sufferers are usually sleepy during the day, apnea can increase the risk of automobile crashes. There's no question it can be life-threatening, doctors say. So how do you know whether your snoring is something more serious? When snoring starts to affect your daily habits, you should see a doctor, said Dr. Thomas LoRusso, director of the Northern Virginia Sleep Diagnostic Centers. "A bed partner may notice that the patient stops breathing and snores loudly, " LoRusso said. "And the daytime symptoms are sleepiness, poor concentration, problems waking up in the morning." LoRusso says a good way to check your sleep habits is to note your levels of fatigue during the day and jot down other symptoms you might be having. And if you have a bed partner, ask whether he or she has noticed any "choking or gasping while you snore," he said. "The person you sleep with, many times, knows your snoring better than you." Specific lifestyle changes can help you avoid sleep apnea, the sleep foundation said. LoRusso agrees. "Cut out the alcohol," he said. "It can make the upper airway muscles to relax." And watch your weight. Losing pounds can "cure" sleep apnea, especially for overweight people, LoRusso said. If you smoke, try to quit, he said. Smoking creates swelling in the upper airway, making apnea worse. These seemingly small changes can have dramatic results. "In some cases, changing these factors can eliminate sleep apnea from some patients," LoRusso said. For Curtis Christiansen, it wasn't that easy. Not only was he thin and a non-smoker, he suffered from high blood pressure and high cholesterol and, because of a previous health issue, had only one kidney. He needed help immediately. His doctor recommended a device called a CPAP, or continuous positive
[ "What are the side affects?", "Who has sleep apnea?", "What are the potential side effects?", "What can help with sleep apnea?", "What can help?", "How many people have sleep apnea?", "What is briefly and repeatedly interrupted?" ]
[ [ "cause broken sleep patterns and low blood oxygen levels." ], [ "more than 18 million American adults" ], [ "hypertension, heart disease, and mood and memory problems." ], [ "Specific lifestyle changes" ], [ "Specific lifestyle changes" ], [ "more than 18 million American adults" ], [ "breathing" ] ]
In sleep apnea, breathing is briefly and repeatedly interrupted . More than 18 million U.S. adults have sleep apnea; many don't know it . Potential side effects: hypertension, heart disease and mood, memory problems . Cutting out alcohol, losing weight, quitting smoking can help .
(CNN) -- It's difficult to overestimate Quincy Jones's contribution to American music. Over the last 60 years he has excelled as a musician, composer, record producer, arranger, conductor and media company executive. Quincy Jones has won 27 Grammy awards during his extraordinary career. In a career studded with landmarks, Jones produced Michael Jackson's multi-platinum albums "Off The Wall," "Bad" and "Thriller" -- the best selling album of all time -- and produced and conducted "We Are The World," one of the biggest-selling singles in history. Quincy Delight Jones Jr., known to his friends as "Q," was born on March 14, 1933, in Chicago. He moved to Seattle as a child and began playing trumpet aged 12. When he was 14 he befriended a young Ray Charles, who taught him how to arrange music, and Jones was soon playing bebop in nightclubs, backing up the likes of Billie Holiday. In 1951, Jones won a music scholarship at prestigious Schillinger House, in Boston, but he abandoned his studies to tour with bandleader Lionel Hampton. By the mid-50s, he was arranging and recording for the likes of Sarah Vaughan, Duke Ellington and his old friend Ray Charles. In 1956 he toured with Dizzy Gillespie's Big Band, recording his first album as a leader in the same year. In 1957, Jones moved to Paris to study music composition and theory, taking a job with Mercury Records' French distributor to pay for his studies. After a European tour proved a financial disaster, the president of Mercury offered him a position at the record label and Jones soon became vice-president at the company. In the 60s, Jones worked as a conductor and arranger for Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. He also began scoring music for films, including "In the Heat of the Night," "In Cold Blood" and "The Pawnbroker," which featured his hit "Soul Bossa Nova," later re-used as the theme to the "Austin Powers" movies. Jones would go on to score 33 movies during his career and he also composed the themes for TV shows such as "Ironside," "The Bill Cosby Show" and "Roots," which earned him an Emmy award. Having made his name as a composer and arranger in the 70s, he moved away from jazz to record a series of hit albums of his own soulful music. See photos of Quincy in Seattle » Jones's career was dramatically put on hold in 1974, when he suffered a severe aneurysm, but it did little to stall his incredible drive. In the 80s, as well as producing three Michael Jackson albums and "We are the World," he co-produced and scored the Steven Spielberg movie "The Color Purple," and formed multi-media company Quincy Jones Entertainment. In his role as CEO he was executive producer of TV series "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air" and published "Vibe" and "SPIN" magazines. His 1989 album "Back On The Block" won Album Of The Year at the Grammys and 1993's "Miles and Quincy Live At Montreux", featuring Jones conducting Miles Davis, earned another Grammy. All in all, Jones has won 27 Grammys, been nominated for seven Academy Awards, and has added to his business interests with Quincy Jones Media Group and Qwest Broadcasting. Perhaps because of his own upbringing in tough neighborhoods in Chicago and Seattle, Jones has long been involved in social activism. He supported Martin Luther King's Operation Breadbasket, which promoted economic development in the inner cities, and worked on Reverend Jesse Jackson's People United to Save Humanity project. Jones founded the Listen Up! Foundation, which has worked on youth projects in Los Angeles and South Africa, and he helped launch the We Are the Future project, which helps children in poor and conflict-ridden areas. He is also one of the founders of the Institute for Black American Music (IBAM), which raises money to establish a national library of African-American art and music.
[ "Who produced some of Michael Jackson's albums?", "Albums that are mentioned?", "How many Grammys has he won?", "What did he produce?", "What has Quincy Jones excelled at?", "How many grammy he won?", "How many Grammys has Jones won?" ]
[ [ "Quincy Jones" ], [ "\"Off The Wall,\" \"Bad\" and \"Thriller\"" ], [ "27" ], [ "produced Michael Jackson's multi-platinum albums \"Off The Wall,\" \"Bad\" and \"Thriller\"" ], [ "musician, composer, record producer, arranger, conductor and media company executive." ], [ "27" ], [ "27" ] ]
Quincy Jones has excelled as a musician, composer and record producer . He produced Michael Jackson's "Off the Wall", "Bad" and "Thriller" albums . He has won 27 Grammys and been nominated for seven Academy Awards . He set up the Listen Up! Foundation, which works on various youth projects .
(CNN) -- It's doubtful there's ever a perfect time or place to end a marriage, but for Dean McDermott, that time and place was in a Palm Springs, California, hotel room after playing a round of golf. Mary Jo Eustace said she's been able to take her 2006 divorce from Dean McDermott and turn it into a positive. The actor told his then-wife, Mary Jo Eustace, that he'd been having an affair with Tori Spelling and that he'd found his soul mate, Eustace recalled Tuesday on HLN's "The Joy Behar Show." "[He said], 'I'm leaving you -- she loves me unconditionally,' " Eustace said. Eustace replied that "you've known her [for] three weeks. I actually thought it was a joke. I thought I was being punked. But it was true," she told Behar. Eustace offers life lessons she learned from the 2006 split with McDermott in her book "Divorce Sucks: What to Do When Irreconcilable Differences, Lawyers Fees, and Your Ex Husband's Hollywood Wife Makes You Miserable," which arrived in bookstores Monday. Watch Eustace describe her shock » Donald Trump's ex-wife Marla Maples; Dina Matos, ex-wife of former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey; and Lance Armstrong's ex, Kristen, also appeared on Behar's show to break down what happens during and after very public breakups. When Eustace found out her 13-year marriage was ending, she said she was "in a really ugly bikini -- missing like padding on one side, holding my daughter in my arms," but at least the bomb wasn't dropped in front of news cameras. Matos was standing right next to her husband when he admitted at a press conference that he'd had an affair with another man. "I was in shock because I had only learned three days before that he had been involved in a relationship," Matos recalled on Tuesday's show. "I was there in the moment. I was there physically but mentally, you know; I was just trying to maintain my composure and not fall apart in front of the cameras." When a marriage ends, "you think this is the end of your life as you know it," Matos said. "And in some ways it is. You feel powerless." Especially once the media picks up on the crumbling matrimony. "The first week that my divorce was announced ... I saw a picture of my ex-husband with his new wife's legs wrapped around his head," Eustace said. "You're in complete survival mode." Although Lance Armstrong's post-marriage flame, Sheryl Crow, wasn't the reason his five-year marriage to Kristen ended, she told Behar it was still difficult to watch. And yet the hardest part for Kristen Armstrong was disliking her former husband's new love. "I really wanted to dislike her," Armstrong said. "I really did. [But] she's beautiful. She's smart. She's funny. She was great with the kids. For as much as I wanted to dislike her and I tried, I couldn't." Matos said it's different when your husband leaves for another man. "When your husband leaves you for another woman, at some point you know there was love in the marriage, and you had something," she said on Tuesday's show. "But when your husband is not the person that you think he is, you know, he's an impostor -- then you start questioning every aspect of your life together. What was real? Did he ever love me? Why did he marry me? Later I found out why," she said. After McGreevey announced his affair, Matos said she found papers that appeared to be the outline for a book that said McGreevey married her "for political gain," she said. "He married me because he wanted to become governor and perhaps president. That's very painful." All of
[ "Onto which show did Joy Behar invite the women?", "Joy Behar is in what show?", "What is Lance Armstrong's ex-wife?", "Who talked about how hard it was to watch Dean McDermott move on?", "Who is an ex-New Jersey Gov.?", "Kristen said she couldn't hate her husband's new what?" ]
[ [ "Show.\"" ], [ "Show.\"" ], [ "Kristen," ], [ "Mary Jo Eustace" ], [ "Jim McGreevey;" ], [ "love." ] ]
Joy Behar invited women who went through public divorces onto her HLN show . Mary Jo Eustace talked about how hard it was to watch Dean McDermott move on . Lance Armstrong's ex-wife, Kristen, said she couldn't hate her husband's new love . Dina Matos said ex-New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey married her for political gain .
(CNN) -- It's early April, and President Obama is on his way to France with the nation's top diplomat at his side. As he and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton converse in a private room aboard Air Force One, a photographer peers through the half-open door and snaps a candid picture of the formerly bitter campaign rivals. President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton share a conversation on board Air Force One. Photographing two of the most powerful people in the country up-close and personal may seem like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to most Americans. But for photographer Pete Souza, it's a common occurrence. "I try to photograph everything. Every meeting that the president does," Souza told CNN's John King on "State of the Union." On leave of absence from his normal post as an assistant professor of photojournalism at Ohio University's School of Visual Communication, Souza is the chief official White House photographer for President Obama, meaning he has an all-access pass to the president's most intimate and private moments. "I look at my job as a visual historian," Souza said on Sunday. "The most important thing is to create a good visual archive for history, so 50 or a hundred years from now, people can go back and look at all these pictures." Watch Souza talk to CNN's John King about his work » While he relishes his unobstructed seat to a historic administration, he knows his limits. "I'm smart enough to know that if he's having a one-on-one meeting with a head of state, I let them have some privacy," he said. "I let him initiate any conversation. I am not there to take up his time in conversation." Souza brings a unique perspective to the job, having also been the official White House photographer during Ronald Reagan's presidency. He acknowledged that Reagan was probably more formal, but told CNN he sees similarities between the two. See some of Souza's photos » "I think they're both comfortable with themselves, which makes them great photographic subjects. The presence of the camera in behind-the-scene situations didn't seem to bother either president, which is good for me," he said. Souza released four never-before-seen photos on "State of the Union," including one of the president and the first lady sharing a moment on the dance floor at the annual Governor's Ball, the couple's first big event at the White House. "Earth, Wind and Fire was the band and I think the president was singing along to the music. I think their intention is to bring some fun to the White House, too," Souza said while reflecting on the picture. Previously a photographer for the Chicago Tribune, Souza began documenting Obama's ascension to the presidency in 2004 after a former colleague asked him to shoot the young politician's first year as a U.S. senator. Last year, Souza published "The Rise of Barack Obama," an extensive book of photos chronicling Obama's rise from junior senator of Illinois to the highest office in the country. When asked to choose one picture as his favorite, Souza selected one of the president and first lady softly butting heads in a freight elevator, surrounded by staffers who appear to be avoiding eye contact with the couple. Michelle Obama is smiling playfully wearing her husband's jacket. "I chose this one because it's a genuine moment. It was chilly in the elevator. He took his coat off, put it around his wife's shoulders and then there is this private moment going on between the two of them," he said. "It's just a complete storytelling picture." Though the historic nature of Obama's presidency is not lost on Souza, he doesn't view Obama any differently than past commanders in chief. "Certainly you feel a sense of history, no question about that. When I look at him, I look at him as the president. I
[ "What is Pete Souza's job title?", "Who is Pete Souza?", "What is Obama's position?", "Who is Obama's chief photographer?", "At which Chicago newspaper did Souza work?", "What does Pete Souza teach at Ohio University?", "When did Souza begin following Obama?", "How long has Souza known President Obama?", "At which university is Pete Souza assistant professor?" ]
[ [ "chief official White House photographer" ], [ "photographer" ], [ "President" ], [ "Pete Souza," ], [ "Tribune," ], [ "photojournalism" ], [ "2004" ], [ "2004" ], [ "Ohio" ] ]
Pete Souza is the chief official White House photographer for President Obama . Souza is assistant professor of photojournalism at Ohio University . Formerly with the Chicago Tribune, Souza began following Obama in 2004 . Souza: "I look at my job as a visual historian"
(CNN) -- It's happened. The build-up and anxiety over whether folks like Chris Christie and Sarah Palin are going to throw their hats in the ring for the GOP presidential primary has reached critical mass. And now, the will-they-or-won't-they game has flipped from fun and energizing to damaging to the party. Christie and Palin now do conservatives more harm than good. With the question marks still lingering in the ether, and pundits on both sides of the aisle still performing their daily trapeze act -- swinging back and forth between "yes, he's running" and "no, she isn't" -- the focus on Christie and Palin has taken valuable resources and attention away from the rest of the field. Because of those question marks, conservatives haven't been able to invest fully in the candidates who are running. They haven't been able to imagine one of them as president. They've held back support, money and endorsements, because they still don't know that the field is settled. And Christie and Palin are not entirely without fault. Though the bombastic New Jersey governor had been emphatic in his promise not to run for months, despite our continued speculation that he was fibbing, now his friends are saying otherwise. And he's certainly been acting like a candidate, traveling the country for big-ticket fundraisers, speaking at the exalted Reagan Library, and telling his supporters that he's "hearing" and "feeling" their pleas. If he really wanted to convince us he wasn't considering it, all he has to do is endorse someone else. It's really very simple. As for Palin, she's been forthright about her contemplation, admitting that she's thinking about it but hasn't yet decided. As formidable and admirable as both Christie and Palin are, it's reached the point where they've both become more than just a distraction. They're now a detriment. How sincere will it look, after all, in two months when the field is set and both are absent from it, and conservatives suddenly try to pretend that they are satisfied and enthusiastic about Rick Perry, Mitt Romney or Michele Bachmann? Sure, we begged Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Paul Ryan, Chris Christie, Sarah Palin and everyone else to run before, but now we're totally behind one of these guys. If there were ever a gift to present to President Obama, it's the gift of obvious apathy. Time's up, governors. If Chris Christie and Sarah Palin want to run, get in there. If not, definitively and convincingly take your names out of the running. Conservatives need to begin the arduous job of whittling down the field and picking their frontrunner. The fact that there have been five GOP straw polls in as many weeks with as many different winners is proof that these unanswered questions are creating a dangerous ambivalence among conservative voters. The breathless speculation has been fun, but now it's time to get to work. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of S.E. Cupp.
[ "What has Christie still to do", "Who have been unable to fully invest", "Who hasn't been able to fully invest in candidates?", "The refusal to answer is damaging to who?", "Who has to endorse someone?" ]
[ [ "endorse someone else." ], [ "conservatives" ], [ "conservatives" ], [ "the party." ], [ "Sarah Palin" ] ]
Are Chris Christie and Sarah Palin running for president, or aren't they? Their refusal to answer definitively is damaging to the GOP, said S.E. Cupp . Conservatives haven't been able to invest fully in the candidates who are running, Cupp said . Cupp: Palin just has to decide, and Christie just has to endorse someone .
(CNN) -- It's hard to imagine Meryl Streep having second thoughts about tackling any role, but the actress admits that she had doubts about "Doubt," her newest project. The cast of "Doubt," from left: Viola Davis, Amy Adams, Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman. The film -- based on a Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning play by the same name -- examines what happens when a strict nun who heads a Catholic school in the Bronx suspects a charismatic priest of having an inappropriate relationship with a student. "I actually didn't think it would ever be a movie," Streep said. "It was so thoroughly realized on stage, and it was so minimal. It was hard to imagine how or why you would make a movie out of it." But Streep, who plays the terrifyingly severe and determined school principal, Sister Aloysius Beauvier, said she changed her mind when she saw the final product. "How did they make the play without any children in it? It is just sort of amazing to me, because to me they are sort of the landscape. They are the lambs of the movie. They are the stakes. They are why everybody is passionate." Her co-stars are passionate about sharing the screen with a Hollywood legend. Philip Seymour Hoffman, who plays the priest targeted by Streep's character in the film, says he "adores" her. Amy Adams calls Streep "a sweetheart." Viola Davis says she's "just fantastic." Davis' performance in the movie is generating Oscar buzz, with Streep advising the actress to pick out a dress for the Academy Awards. Davis, who plays the mother of the student at the center of the sexual abuse allegations at the school, said she drew on the experiences of her mom and other women she knows to bring the role to life. She expressed awe about any suggestion of an Oscar nomination. "It's surreal. I don't know how to respond to that anymore," Davis said. "All I wanted to do was good work. ... Everything else is just the icing on the cake." The movie is set in 1964, but the play was written by John Patrick Shanley after the sexual abuse scandal that rocked the Roman Catholic Church several years ago. Hoffman -- who plays Father Flynn, the priest under fire -- said the lurid headlines about molested children weren't even on his mind when he took on the project. "It is really about something else. If people see it, they will know what I mean about that," Hoffman said. Some have suggested that the play served as a criticism of the Bush administration's dogged belief that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Shanley, who won an Academy Award for his screenplay of "Moonstruck," told Entertainment Weekly that the play did have a political point. "I'm not interested in morality," he told the magazine. "One of my larger premises in doing this play, in what's not said, is that doubt itself is a passionate exercise. I think it's perceived in this culture as something weak or denatured, and that's a huge mistake." Adams said she became "a little obsessed" with the adaptation of the play to the big screen. She plays Sister James, a nun who expresses her suspicions about Father Flynn's relationship with the student to Sister Aloysius. The movie is a departure for Adams, who became famous for sunnier roles in films like "Enchanted" and "Talladega Nights." But she said she doesn't mind being known as an eternally cheerful actress, because that description reflects "75 percent" of her real persona. "There's 25 percent that's probably dark and grumpy and not personable at all, but I keep her at home," Adams said. As for Oscar buzz surrounding her performance, the actress said she's keeping her fingers crossed for Streep and Davis to be nominated for their roles in "Doubt" but has no expectations for
[ "What movie has Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, and Viola Davis?", "Who stars in \"Doubt\"?", "What does the movie examine?", "What is this movie about?", "What is the film \"Doubt\" based on?", "What film does Meryl Streep star in?", "What role does Streep play in \"Doubt\"?", "What is the film Doubt based on?" ]
[ [ "\"Doubt,\"" ], [ "Viola Davis, Amy Adams, Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman." ], [ "happens when a strict nun who heads a Catholic school in the Bronx suspects a charismatic priest of having an inappropriate relationship with a" ], [ "a strict nun who heads a Catholic school" ], [ "Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning play" ], [ "\"Doubt,\"" ], [ "Sister Aloysius Beauvier," ], [ "a Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning play by the same name" ] ]
"Doubt" stars Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Viola Davis . Film is based on a Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning play by the same name . It examines what happens when a nun suspects a priest of abusing a student . Streep advises co-star to pick out a dress for the Academy Awards .
(CNN) -- It's hard to imagine a video of lawyers debating points of constitutional law going viral on YouTube, but the audience for the Proposition 8 trial -- a lawsuit seeking to overturn California's voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage -- is potentially vast. Unfortunately, that audience will have to wait. U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker had decided to allow the proceedings to be taped, then aired on YouTube. But as the trial was set to begin Monday morning, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an order blocking its broadcast. Our camera-phobic high court is making a mistake. Public access should be encouraged, not thwarted, in court cases involving divisive issues -- all the more so when judicial power is invoked in an effort to invalidate the outcome of a vote. Although some Supreme Court justices might worry that cameras in the courtroom undermine the legitimacy of the judicial process, the reality is just the opposite. The Prop 8 trial is a case in point. People on both sides of the same-sex marriage issue are accustomed to a political process coarsened by ideological rhetoric and political posturing. If they can view the Prop 8 trial via YouTube, they will be surprised by what they see: a decision-making process devoid of politics, in which a thoughtful and unbiased judge asks hard questions of both sides' lawyers in search of legal rules reflecting neutral principles, not political fiat. At a time when most Americans have lost confidence in the government's ability to act in the general interest, the potentially huge audience for the Prop 8 trial would see that at least one branch of government tries to make decisions on the merits. Broadcasting the trial will confer legitimacy on the proceedings as nothing else can. Legitimacy matters. If, in the end, Judge Walker upholds Prop 8, rejecting challenges to its constitutionality, opponents of the law will feel angry and aggrieved -- to put it mildly. But if they have viewed the trial online, they are less likely to feel victimized in a process that was politically rigged. Defenders of Prop 8 are against broadcasting the trial because they believe it would infringe on their right to a fair trial. They claim that release of videos on YouTube would expose participants to harassment. The concern about harassment is not trivial. Some financial contributors to the Prop 8 campaign were harassed following voter approval of the law in November 2008. Much as I disagree with their position on same-sex marriage, harassment infringes their First Amendment right to participate in the political process. But the trial judge is sensitive to these issues and would be able to minimize the risk of harassment. Under the camera access procedures adopted by Judge Walker, the court would control the video cameras and can make sure that certain witnesses are not shown on camera, if necessary. In any case, most trial participants are people who, because of their prominence in the electoral campaign, have chosen to have a high public profile on same-sex marriage. They expect to be recognized and identified with this issue. They have, or should have, thick skins. Their First Amendment right to join the political fray must be balanced against the public's First Amendment right to know what transpires in the courtroom. There is no secret justice in the American judicial system. Courts must be open to assure the parties receive a fair trial and to give the public the necessary confidence that the laws are applied justly. To be sure, the First Amendment doesn't require public access to include television broadcast or online distribution. But when judges exercise their discretion to open their courtrooms to cameras, that choice should be upheld. Let's hope the Supreme Court quickly rescinds its order blocking online distribution of the Prop 8 trial video. The opinions in this commentary are solely those of Peter Scheer.
[ "What will youtube viewers see?", "Trial seeking to overturn California's ban on what?", "YouTube viewers will see tough, fair arguments on what?", "What is the trial seeking to overturn?" ]
[ [ "video of lawyers debating points of constitutional law" ], [ "same-sex marriage" ], [ "same-sex marriage" ], [ "California's voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage" ] ]
Peter Scheer: Trial seeking to overturn California's gay marriage ban should be taped . Scheer: YouTube viewers will see tough, fair arguments on merits of case . Discussion will be out in the open and free of political posturing, he writes . He believes the concerns of videotaping opponents can be addressed .
(CNN) -- It's just one thing after another for Richard and Mayumi Heene. They've caused such an uproar after last week's alleged balloon boy hoax that Lifetime won't air a re-run of their "Wife Swap" episode. The Heene family's "Wife Swap" episode has been pulled from Lifetime's programming schedule. Those who pay close attention to TV Guide would have noticed that the Heene family's first episode for the ABC reality show was scheduled to air on Lifetime on Thursday, October 29, at 2 p.m. ET. "It was on the schedule long before the incident," a Lifetime spokesperson said. The incident refers to the giant, homemade balloon that sailed over Colorado on Thursday, purportedly carrying 6-year-old Falcon Heene. The bubble burst when authorities discovered Falcon had been hiding in a box in the attic. During an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, the Heene's asked Falcon why he didn't come out as they searched for him, and the boy replied, "You guys said we did it for a show." That triggered an investigation that revealed the frightful incident was a hoax, police said. Richard and Mayumi Heene are now facing a number of local charges, and the Federal Aviation Administration has begun its own balloon boy investigation, officials said. As a result, Lifetime has decided to erase the family's "Wife Swap" past from the network. "Once we found out" [it was allegedly a hoax], the spokesperson said, "we decided to pull it off the air. At this time, we don't have any plans to air it in the near future." The episode depicted Karen Martel, whose husband runs a child-proofing business, as being shocked "as the Heene kids jump off banisters and run wild, and appalled by Richard's attitude to women," according to the description on ABC's Web site. "Wife Swap" asks its participants to switch places for two weeks. "Meanwhile, at the Martels'," the description continued, "Mayumi Heene sees safety gates everywhere and wonders how the family [has] fun. She asks the kids about their anxieties and confronts Jay about the climate of fear in his house." Lifetime plans on filling the time slot with a "Wife Swap" episode that features another family, but rest assured, the Heene's reality TV debut can still be found on YouTube.
[ "Who has scheduled Wife Swap", "What did a spokesperson said?", "who surfaced on network?", "what month was the episode?", "Did the network removes the episode?", "What episode would the network remove", "What did Lifetime scheduled for October 29?" ]
[ [ "ABC" ], [ "\"It was on the schedule long before the incident,\"" ], [ "Falcon Heene." ], [ "October" ], [ "has been pulled" ], [ "The Heene family's \"Wife Swap\"" ], [ "Heene family's first episode" ] ]
Lifetime had scheduled a Heene "Wife Swap" episode for October 29 . It was scheduled long before the balloon boy incident, a spokesperson says . Now that hoax allegations have surfaced, network removes the episode .
(CNN) -- It's not as achingly hip as Barcelona and it's more manageable than Madrid: Spain's third city has plenty of flavor, an urban edge and uniquely Valencian oddities. From medieval cathedrals to Calatrava's futuristic City of Arts and Sciences, Valancia packs in plenty. Where else could you glimpse the Holy Grail in the morning, gorge on paella on a Mediterranean beach for lunch and then wander along a old river bed transformed into a park and visit architectural blockbusters that look like a Star Trek vision of a colonized planet? After an early morning shot of coffee and, depending on your sugar tolerance, churros, the Cathedral in the heart of the old city is the best place to start the day. Located on the Plaza de la Reina, the cathedral is an impressive mix of gothic, baroque and Romanesque architectural styles. As striking as the many parts of the cathedral are, the sight of the Holy Grail my leave you underwhelmed -- to the unenlightened it resembles something closer to a plastic mug circa. 1973. If you're in town on a Thursday, catch the enactment of a tradition almost as old as the grail. The Tribunal de las Aguas, or Water Court, is the meeting of the city's elders, who gather outside the cathedral's Plaza del Palau for around twenty minutes. It generally involves a number of old men sitting down not doing very much, while one pronounces what has been decided, and it's a bit of a tour-group hot spot. On the other side of the plaza is the octagonal Miguelte Bell Tower, where you can climb 207 steps for a panoramic view of the low-rise old city. Not far through the old city's happy tangle of narrow streets is the Lonja: a fifteenth-century trading house, studded with a fine collection of mugging gargoyles now preserved under UNESCO Heritage status. Bringing yourself out of the city's medieval landmarks, you can feast on modern culture at IVAM, the city's cheap and excellent modern art gallery. But for a vision of the future as designed by local superstar architect Santiago Calatrava, wander along the city's old river bed towards The City of Arts and Sciences. It's made up of four gleaming white architectural confections, including the Palau de Les Arts Reina Sofia concert hall, which is covered in cracked white tiles that glisten in the sunlight. A few minutes away is the final piece of the architectural dreamscape, the Oceanografico -- one of the world's biggest aquariums. With two shark tunnels, beluga whales, walruses and thousands of fish it should sate anyone looking for a glimpse of the life aquatic. The Mediterranean Sea itself is not far away, and public transport in Valencia is a convenient way to get around town when things get out of comfortable walking distance. To get to the beach from the center of town hop on a tram on line 5 from Colon towards Neptu. When there you'll find a beachside strip of hotels and paella restaurants offering versions of the city's most famous culinary dish. The area was scrubbed up when Valencia hosted the Americas Cup, sailing's blue riband event, in 2007. Beyond the rice and seafood delights and the anodyne redeveloped area by the docks, the beach bar of Hotel Neptuno offers some choice classy cocktails. To be extra chilled, snag one of the massage therapists walking along the promenade for a bargain 10 euro beach massage or reflexology session. Back in town, the covered market of the Mercado Central is a must, not just for foodies, but for people-watching. The beautiful modernista building was constructed in 1928 -- look out for the green parrot weathervane. Eating and drinking in the city is a rich experience. Tapas is ubiquitous, but make sure you try horchata -- a sweet local specialty made from a mix of water, sugar and ground tigernut. Among the city's numerous specialist bars serving the cooling drink, the Horchataria de Santa Catalina provides some fine mixes in a traditional tiled interior. For late night drinks the bars and cafes around Barrio del Carmen are popular with locals and visitors -- San Jaume
[ "who's third city?", "Which is the third largest city in Spain?", "what was transformed into a park?", "Which is Spain's third largest city?", "As it is referred to as the third largest city in Spain?" ]
[ [ "Spain's" ], [ "Valancia" ], [ "old river bed" ], [ "Valancia" ], [ "Madrid:" ] ]
Spain's third city has a fun mix of culture and entertainment . City of Arts and Sciences is Santiago Calatrava's architectural masterpiece . Old city center can be explored by foot; city's river was transformed into a park . Chill out with a massage on the beach; light up at the Las Fallas festival .
(CNN) -- It's not exactly the war of the roses, but a New York couple is taking a divorce case to a new level. Dr. Richard Batista (left) and his attorney, Dominick Barbara, says the divorce case is not just about a kidney. Dr. Richard Batista and his wife, Dawnell, are fighting over a kidney he gave her. Batista and his attorney, Dominick Barbara, appeared on CNN's Larry King Live on Wednesday to discuss the case and why he filed a lawsuit. The following is an edited version of the interview. Larry King: When did the wife need the kidney? Richard Batista: Well, she needed three of them. The one that I donated was back in 2001. King: Who else donated? Batista: Her father donated the first kidney in -- well, I'm going to go back -- when she was 13 years old. The second kidney she needed after two years of our marriage and that was back in 1992. Thereafter, we had three children, prompting the third kidney transplant, which took place in 2001. King: How is she doing now? Do you know? Batista: To the best of my knowledge, I understand that her kidney is doing better than mine. King: When did the marriage go bad? Batista: It's hard to say, but it was not on a good foundation around the time of the third transplant. King: What's it like, by the way, to donate a kidney? Batista: Well, it is probably the most wonderful feeling that you can possibly ever imagine on this planet. King: Is the surgery difficult? Batista: The surgery, for me, was performed arthroscopically, so I have several port incisions, with a separate hand incision to allow for the kidney to be extracted. The surgery discomfort and pain itself was not all that horrendous, very tolerable. I was on my feet the following day. King: What was the cause of the divorce? Batista: Well, she has her allegations. King: What were yours? Batista: Infidelity. That's my reason. Dominick Barbara: Actually, Larry, in the state of New York, it's one of the grounds for divorce. When the show started, you mentioned the demand for the kidney or the value. Really, that's not what's going on. We use that as an example of what the doctor wants. What the doctor wants is, A) health to be taken into consideration in the division of the assets, whether or not she'd be entitled to maintenance or not. But most of all, (what's) being done so he can be part of the children's lives. That's what really this case is all about. King: He's not allowed to be part of their lives now? Batista: It is my belief that the influence that the children are under, from the household, has put such a pressure on them that they no longer have visitation time with me, despite my most strongest efforts, both through phone call attempts through their mother and through the court system. King: What is he going to do with a kidney back? Barbara: He doesn't want the kidney. Remember, this is a God-like act when one gives a kidney. You can certainly understand that. No, what he wants the court to do is take into consideration what he's done, what a wonderful thing it is he's done and some understanding from the court. You know, it's so strange; here he does this, and when he says he's allowed to see his children, well, legally he is, but these children have been so alienated from him. By the way, prior to the divorce, you should know that this was a 24/7 dad. The children loved him dearly. He's a broken-hearted man from that
[ "What are the doctor and ex wife fighting over?", "When did the doctor gives his wife his kidney?" ]
[ [ "a kidney he gave her." ], [ "2001." ] ]
New York doctor, soon-to-be-ex-wife fighting over kidney he gave her in 2001 . Doctor tells CNN's Larry King "real issue" is to get his children back . Doctor says he hopes case will not deter organ donation .
(CNN) -- It's not just for French kissing or for showing your dissatisfaction. Besides showing off at concerts, licking lollipops, and teasing, the tongue could help people gain mobility. Aside from everyday functions of chewing, swallowing, talking and tasting, the tongue has new uses such as steering wheelchairs and helping blind people see. Also in Spain last month, doctors transplanted a tongue as part of a face transplant surgery. "The tongue is considered very much like the trunk of an elephant or the tentacle of the octopus. It's the same kind of structure with how many shapes, configurations the trunk or tentacle can assume," said E. Fiona Bailey, an assistant professor of physiology at The University of Arizona in Tucson. "Researchers realize there is a lot of potential there." Transplanting tongues A team of surgeons in Spain last month performed a face transplant, which is considered the first to include the tongue and jaws. A 43-year-old man who lost his jaws and tongue after a cancer battle 11 years ago received a transplant for the bottom third of his face, according to the Hospital La Fe in Valencia, Spain. Dr. Pedro Cavadas, the surgical team leader, said the objective was for the patient to recover feeling in his face and also to swallow, talk, feel and taste with his tongue again. But the first tongue transplant in 2003 had short-lived results. Doctors in Austria transplanted a tongue to a 42-year-old cancer patient. The cancer returned and the patient died 13 months after the surgery, according to a 2008 article written by his doctors in the journal Transplantation. A transplant recipient has to take immune suppressing drugs so he or she won't reject the new organ. But this puts the person at risk for cancer recurrence because of the weakened immune system, said Dr. Douglas Chepeha, a head and neck surgical oncologist at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center in Ann Arbor. Unlike liver or kidney transplants, reconnecting the tongue is also more complex because of its nerves, said Chepeha, who is the director of the microvascular program. "A nerve is not like a single wire in your house," he said. "When we say a nerve, there are literally thousands if not hundred thousands of tiny little fibers. It'll be like taking a fiber optic cable and cutting it -- let's say that cable had 100,000 fibers in it -- how do you realign it?" Chepeha said: "If we can get some way of knowing which way to hook the nerves up, someday it'll work better. Right now, we're not there." Driving wheelchairs A new kind of wheelchair allows people who cannot use their hands and feet to steer using simple tongue movements. This technology can assist people who have spinal cord injuries, said Maysam Ghovanloo, an assistant professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Unlike hands and feet, the tongue has a distinct advantage because it doesn't connect to the spinal cord, he said. To use the wheelchair, a magnet the size of a lentil sits on the driver's tongue affixed by edible glue. When the person in the wheelchair touches a certain tooth with his or her tongue, the wheelchair moves -- for example, a left tooth, the wheelchair will turn left. Magnetic sensors trace the movement of the tongue and transmit the directions to get the wheelchair moving. "The tongue is always moving, but the technology is smart enough to tell the difference between natural movements and the tongue movements [meant to steer the wheelchair]," Ghovanloo said. Researchers conducted clinical trials this summer in which people with spinal cord injuries navigated through an obstacle course using their tongues. Those who had recently been injured were more receptive to driving with their tongues than others who have gotten used to the existing technology, Ghovanloo said. The tongue-driven wheelchair is not available to the public yet, pending more clinical trials in 2010. Aiding vision Researchers devised an instrument to allow users to
[ "Has the wheelchair steered by the tongue been popularly used?" ]
[ [ "is not available to the public yet," ] ]
Researchers turn to the tongue for new ways to help people with disabilities . Spanish doctors performed face transplant including tongue this summer . Engineers are testing a wheelchair that can be steered by the tongue .
(CNN) -- It's not quite the achievement of a lunar landing, but astronaut Mike Massimino made Twitter history with a 139-character post to the micro-blogging site -- the first person to do so from space. A seven-member crew aboard space shuttle Atlantis is headed to the Hubble Space Telescope to make repairs. "From orbit: Launch was awesome!! I am feeling great, working hard, & enjoying the magnificent views, the adventure of a lifetime has begun!" he wrote at 4:30 p.m. ET Tuesday. With the tweet, Massimino kept his promise to file updates from the space shuttle Atlantis as it readies to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. Massimino began tweeting in early April as he prepared for the mission. By early Wednesday, his Twitter feed, astro_mike, had more than 241,000 followers. Atlantis launched Monday afternoon with Massimino and six other crew members. It is NASA's fifth and final repair visit to the Hubble. The crew was expected to arrive at the space telescope on Wednesday. Watch Atlantis launch for Hubble mission » "I'm going to put my spacesuit on, next stop: Earth Orbit!!" Massimino posted on Twitter on Monday morning before the launch. Ironically, another Twitter user, astromike, has tweets that are more down-to-earth: "House-cleaning day. I dusted everything that has a horizontal surface," and "Will make "blender waffles" when the girls wake up. From whole wheat kernels to waffles in 10 minutes!" Another astronaut, Mark Polansky, is posting Twitter updates as he prepares for the next planned space shuttle mission to the International Space Station. Polansky, who is tweeting as astro_127, will be the commander of the mission, scheduled for June.
[ "How many other astronauts were with him?", "What Mike Massimino said on twitter?", "Who posted to Tweeter from space?", "What was the reason they went to Hubble Space Telescope?", "who post to Twitter from space?" ]
[ [ "six" ], [ "\"From orbit: Launch was awesome!! I am feeling great, working hard, & enjoying the magnificent views, the adventure of a lifetime has begun!\" he wrote at 4:30 p.m. ET Tuesday." ], [ "Mike Massimino" ], [ "make repairs." ], [ "Mike Massimino" ] ]
Astronaut becomes first person to post to Twitter from space . Mike Massimino tweets "the adventure of a lifetime has begun" Massimino, six others headed to Hubble Space Telescope to make repairs .
(CNN) -- It's possible no more exotic animals are on the loose after deputies killed 49 lions, tigers and other wild animals freed from a local farm by its suicidal owner, an Ohio sheriff told reporters Thursday. Of the 56 animals released Tuesday night, only a grizzly bear, two monkeys and three leopards were taken alive, Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz said. Killed were two wolves; six black bears; two grizzly bears; nine male lions; eight lionesses; one baboon; three mountain lions; and 18 Bengal tigers, Lutz said Thursday. Six animals were taken to the Columbus Zoo. Lutz said he has been in contact with Jack Hanna, the zoo's director emeritus, and "the animals are doing well. They are eating, they are active and they are being evaluated." One monkey remained unaccounted for Wednesday night, Hanna said. Lutz said Thursday there was one monkey unaccounted for, and acknowledged it could be on the loose, but said there had been no reported sightings and it was believed one of the big cats may have eaten it. It was thought to be in the same area as another monkey which was killed by the cats, he said. There is a concern the monkey could be carrying herpes B, Lutz said. He urged members of the public not to approach a monkey if they see it but to summon authorities. The farm's owner, Terry Thompson, pried open cages and opened the farm's fences before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound Tuesday afternoon, Lutz said. Autopsy results confirmed the shot was self-inflicted, the sheriff said. Thompson also had a bite wound to his head consistent with a bite from a "larger-type cat," Lutz said. The bite is believed to have occurred "within seconds to a minute" after the gunshot wound, he said. Thompson was known to feed the animals chicken parts, Lutz said, and a pile of such items was found in the home's driveway. The only animals left on the property as of Thursday were horses, the sheriff said. The killed animals were buried on Thompson's property, at the request of his wife. The animals, he said, "were like kids to her." Lutz said he does not know who leaked a photo of the dead animals, but told reporters he hopes to serve multiple terms and "I have a few years to find out." He said one person attempted to steal an animal's body. None of his deputies are equipped with tranquilizer guns, Lutz told CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360" And with night falling Tuesday as authorities arrived, he gave the order to kill the escaped animals. Ohio animal owner supplied cub for Heidi Klum "If this had been a 9 o'clock or 10 o'clock incident, in the middle of the day, odds are high that we may have been able to surround the area and keep everything contained," he said. "But our biggest problem that we had was nightfall. We had about an hour, hour and a half of light, and we just couldn't take the chance." "These were 300-pound animals and they were very dangerous," Lutz said Thursday. Hanna, the zoo's director emeritus, said he was upset by loss of "precious" animals, but defended the decision to use deadly force. "To have no one hurt or killed here with 40-something animals getting loose is unbelievable," he told CNN's "The Situation Room." Hanna led a team of experts who arrived with four tranquilizer guns late Tuesday in an effort to corral the animals. He said the drugs take several minutes to subdue an animal even with a good shot, and one tiger had to be killed Wednesday afternoon when it turned on a veterinarian after being hit with a tranquilizer dart. The Humane Society of the United States also said Wednesday it does not fault authorities for using deadly force in such a situation. Both the Humane Society and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals urged Ohio officials to put
[ "What might have happened to the missing monkey?", "Where are the animals now?", "What did the autopsy reveal?", "What did the sherif say?", "What did the autopsy confirm?", "What may have been eaten?", "Which zoo did this incident occur at?" ]
[ [ "eaten it." ], [ "Columbus Zoo." ], [ "shot was self-inflicted," ], [ "Of the 56 animals released Tuesday night, only a grizzly bear, two monkeys and three leopards were taken alive," ], [ "the shot was self-inflicted," ], [ "one monkey" ], [ "Columbus" ] ]
NEW: Autopsy results confirm man shot himself after freeing animals . NEW: Animals taken to the Columbus Zoo are "doing well," sheriff says . A missing monkey may have been eaten, expert says .
(CNN) -- It's that time of year for seasonal trips to the movies, and to celebrate, the Screening Room is taking a look back at our favorite family hits over the years. The best of Spielberg: "E.T." is our perfect family movie and perfectly captures childhood. From blockbuster to blockbuster, these are the films with something for everyone. They've got to be live action -- we've covered animated films before -- and family friendly. Don't agree? Think we've missed one? Post your comments to the Screening Room blog and we'll publish the best. Read other CNN viewers' favorite and worst family films, and tell us yours >> 1. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (Steven Spielberg, 1982) Spielberg's magic captures a perfect moment in childhood. We laughed and wept as his ugly little critter from outer space stole our hearts, while the kids fell firmly on the cute side of annoying. And oh, the music... 2. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (Mel Stuart, 1971) Gene Wilder's whacked-out Willy Wonka adds a pinch of sinister to Roald Dahl's anarchic sweet treat, while the ignoble exits of Veruca Salt, Augustus Gloop and Mike Teevee were delicious. 3. Babe (Chris Noonan, 1995) "That'll do, pig." Babe is wide-eyed with wonder in Dick King-Smith's touching tale of a lonely little sheep-pig. Comic relief from the ewes, subtle special effects and a heartwarming turn from James Cromwell as Farmer Hoggett make this a magical tale for all. 4. Bugsy Malone (Alan Parker, 1976) Jodie Foster and Scott Baio (Yes, Chachi from "Happy Days!") star in this glorious escapade set in a musical world of pint-sized gangsters and mini-molls. Al Capone for the kids; just watch out for the splurge guns... 5. Oliver! (Carol Reed, 1968) Jack Wild is delightful as the Artful Dodger, Ron Moody's devilish Fagin glints with avaricious greed and Shani Willis shines as poor, ill-fated Nancy. But it's Oliver Reed's dark and sinister Bill Sykes who stayed with us -- and left us wanting more. 6. Back to the Future (Robert Zemeckis, 1985) Christopher Lloyd's mad professor, a Delorean-cum-time machine, rock 'n' roll and a convenient bolt of lightning see Biff the bully get his come-uppance. All that, and a skateboarding Michael J. Fox? Mr Zemeckis, you spoil us! 7. Home Alone (Chris Columbus, 1990) Macaulay Culkin's abandoned little boy sees off bungling burglars Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern with a series of eye-watering stunts. It proves just how great a child actor Culkin was; pity the unpopular babysitters who became the victims of copycat pranksters... 8. Ghostbusters (Ivan Reitman, 1984) Bill Murray, Dan Ackroyd and Harold Ramis blast ghostly green monsters to oblivion in this slime-filled romp around NYC, while taking time out to annoy Sigourney Weaver en route. Who you gonna call? 9. The Muppet Movie (James Frawley, 1979) Kermit and Co.'s roadtrip to Hollywood is a fabulously fuzzy tale of friendship and following your dreams, but the Muppet Movie's not just for kids: there's cameos a-plenty (Bob Hope, Steve Martin, Richard Pryor, ORSON WELLES!) for Dad and smart one-liners by the bucketful for Mom. 10. Harry Potter (Various, 2001-present) The Hogwarts trio's wizarding adventures, backed by a cast plump with the best of British actors. Fast-paced plots, spellbinding special effects and magical sets, but be warned: it'll have the li'l critters pestering you to go to boarding school... And our favorite hide-behind-the-sofa moments... The Wizard of Oz (Victor Fleming, 1939) "I'll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too!" Margaret Hamilton's green, cackling Wicked Witch of the West is hell-bent
[ "Which film was first on the list?", "Is E.T. a family film?", "what heads the list?" ]
[ [ "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial" ], [ "movie" ], [ "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial" ] ]
CNN's The Screening Room picks the top 10 live-action family films . "E.T.," "Willy Wonka" and "Babe" head the list . Hide-behind-the-sofa moments include "The Wizard of Oz," "Jurassic Park" Think we've missed one? Post your comments to the Screening Room blog .
(CNN) -- It's the most complex construction project in history. NASA's funding of the international space station is scheduled to end in 2016. Flying 250 miles overhead, the international space station can be seen with the naked eye, orbiting the Earth every 90 minutes, usually carrying a crew of six. Now, before construction of the station is even complete, there is already talk of when the lights will be turned off. NASA is waiting for the Obama administration to decide how much longer the station will fly and exactly which direction the U.S. space agency will take next -- a return to the moon, or maybe a trip to Mars? The initial phase of the international space station was launched in 1998, although the station is still being expanded. The U.S. is one of 16 countries that help build and operate the station, whose laboratory runs a number of science experiments, including measuring the effects of space conditions, such as weightlessness, on humans. The U.S. contribution to the space station so far: $44 billion. (NASA says it does not keep track of contributions from the other 15 partners.) NASA's funding of the space station is currently scheduled to end in 2016. "The general idea that we would spend approximately 11 years building the space station, get it to its full operational capability, and then kind of abandon it a few years later ... doesn't make a lot of sense," said Robert Braun, a former NASA chief engineer. Braun currently is the director of Georgia Tech's Space Systems Design Laboratory. An independent committee reviewing the future of U.S. human spaceflight recently recommended to the White House that the station's life be extended to 2020. Watch more on the future of the space station » "You've got all of these different countries working together on this common project in space. And if we go ahead and stop ... it's going to break up that framework," said Leroy Chiao, a former space station commander and shuttle astronaut who sits on the advisory panel. "The different countries around the world will lose confidence in the U.S. as a leader in space exploration," he said. But the committee also found that the U.S. space program appears to be pursuing goals that exceed current funding levels. So it will be up to the Obama administration to chart a new course. NASA has been planning on retiring the aging space shuttle fleet upon completion of the space station in 2011. That shuttle funding was to be used instead for NASA's next great endeavor -- the Constellation Program, which would take astronauts back to the moon. But that means NASA would no longer have its own spacecraft to ferry astronauts to the space station. Until a new space vehicle is ready to fly, the U.S. will have to hitch a ride on Russia's Soyuz capsule. One of the options the advisory committee has recommended is that NASA fly shuttles on a reduced schedule through 2015 to help close that gap, Chiao told CNN. "That gap is real," he said. "It's going to be there, and the only access we're going to have [to the space station] is to buy seats on the Russian Soyuz." Part of the problem with the U.S. space agency's funding gap, according to some experts, is that NASA's culture is to build. "We're always looking for that next engineering or construction project," said Marco Caceres, a senior analyst on aerospace at the Teal Group. "But the big thing is the science, and you can't sell that to the public. It's not sexy," he said. "So NASA keeps moving on to other things, without putting the really hard work into doing what will benefit the people the most -- doing the things that station was designed to do in the first place." Until now, the majority of the science done in space involves human experiments with microgravity. Such research is considered essential for long-duration missions on the space station, or for future trips to the moon or Mars. Biomedical
[ "Who decides how long to fund the space station?", "When will funding end?", "what person must decide how long to fund the international space station?", "Who will decide how long the funding will continue?", "When is NASA's funding of the international space station ending?" ]
[ [ "Obama administration" ], [ "2016." ], [ "Obama administration" ], [ "the Obama administration" ], [ "2016." ] ]
President Obama must decide how long to fund the international space station . NASA's funding of the space station is currently scheduled to end in 2016 . The station's laboratory can conduct valuable science experiments . Obama may wish to shift NASA funding instead to missions to the moon or Mars .
(CNN) -- It's well known that the secret to Apple's meteoric success in the world of consumer technology was the vision, leadership and creativity of Steve Jobs, the company's celebrity founder. "Steve built a company and culture that is unlike any other in the world and we are going to stay true to that -- it is in our DNA," Tim Cook, Jobs' successor, wrote in a staff memo after Jobs resigned from his post as Apple's CEO in August. What's less talked about is what drove Jobs, who died Wednesday at 56. As with anyone, Jobs' values were shaped by his upbringing and life experiences. He was born in 1955 in San Francisco and grew up amid the rise of hippie counterculture. Bob Dylan and the Beatles were his two favorite musical acts, and he shared their political leanings, antiestablishment views and, reportedly, youthful experimentation with psychedelic drug usage. The name of Jobs' company is said to be inspired by the Beatles' Apple Corps, which repeatedly sued the electronics maker for trademark infringement until signing an exclusive digital distribution deal with iTunes. Like the Beatles, Jobs took a spiritual retreat to India and regularly walked around his neighborhood and the office barefoot. Traversing India sparked Jobs' conversion to Buddhism. Kobun Chino, a monk, presided over his wedding to Laurene Powell, a Stanford University MBA. 'Life is an intelligent thing' Rebirth is a precept of Buddhism, and Apple experienced rebirth of sorts when Jobs returned, after he was fired, to remake a company that had fallen the verge of bankruptcy. "I believe life is an intelligent thing, that things aren't random," Jobs said in a 1997 interview with Time, providing a glimpse into his complicated belief system that extends well beyond the Buddhist teachings. Karma is another principle of the religion, but it didn't appear to be a system Jobs lived by. If he feared karma coming back to bite him, the sentiment wasn't evident in his public statements about competitors and former colleagues, calling them "bozos" lacking taste. Those who worked for Jobs described him as a tyrant they feared meeting in an elevator. "You'd be surprised how hard people work around here," Jobs said in a 2004 interview with Businessweek. "They work nights and weekends, sometimes not seeing their families for a while. Sometimes people work through Christmas to make sure the tooling is just right at some factory in some corner of the world so our product comes out the best it can be." Some engineers who worked tirelessly on the original Mac emerged from the project estranged from their spouses and children. Jobs' relentless work ethic may have been shaped by some of his dysfunctional family affairs as well. 'I've done things I'm not proud of' Jobs was adopted by Clara and Paul Jobs, who promised his birth mother, Joanne Simpson (whom Jobs later tracked down with the help of a private investigator), that they would send him to a university. He dropped out of Reed College after one semester, and he reportedly never was willing to talk to his birth father. Jobs had a daughter, Lisa, out of wedlock with Chrisann Brennan. He denied paternity for many years, swearing in a court document that he was sterile. Later, he had three more kids with Laurene Powell. "I've done a lot of things I'm not proud of, such as getting my girlfriend pregnant when I was 23 and the way I handled that," Jobs said in a statement in 2011 to promote his authorized biography. That youthful indiscretion came before Jobs turned to Buddhism and karma. 'The core values are the same' The Buddhist scriptures, according to tradition, were transmitted in secret, as were many of Apple's business dealings and Jobs' personal struggles. Like the paranoid secrecy that surrounded product development at Apple, Jobs spurned most reporters' interview requests, misled them in statements he did give, refused to disclose details of his cancer to investors until undergoing an operation and became shrouded in
[ "What shaped Steve Jobs' values?", "What were steve jobs values shaped by?", "What sparked his conversion to Buddhism?" ]
[ [ "his upbringing and life experiences." ], [ "his upbringing and life experiences." ], [ "Traversing India" ] ]
Steve Jobs' values were shaped by his upbringing and life experiences . "That's been one of my mantras: focus and simplicity," Jobs said in 1998 . Traversing India sparked Apple co-founder's conversion to Buddhism . Jobs on his goals: "We're here to put a dent in the universe"
(CNN) -- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's energetic response to Monday's earthquake has been generally praised despite his comparison of the ordeal of survivors staying in emergency tents to a camping weekend. An elderly local resident bursts into tears during a visit by Silvio Berlusconi, wearing a fireman's helmet. Berlusconi has visited the town of L'Aquila, the epicenter of the 6.3-magnitude quake, every day this week, talking to survivors and pledging government help to rebuild houses. He scrapped a visit to Russia that was planned for this week. The PM has even been greeted with applause on occasions, according to CNN correspondent Paula Newton, who interviewed him on Wednesday. "He was very tired when I saw him, you could tell he hadn't had much sleep," Newton said. "In general he thrives on these events and politically it will probably give him a boost, if only temporarily." However, she added that his visit to a dormitory where students were buried under rubble had upset some of the parents and relatives. "They were kept well back and he did not meet with them," she said. Watch Berlusconi talk about the disaster » (Italian version) » "One relative, in obvious anger, asked another 'why is he here?' and another replied "he's taking care of elections, of course." And true to form Berlusconi has been unable to avoid putting his foot in it. During a visit to one tent village where thousands who had lost their houses were staying, Berlusconi told German television "they should see it like a weekend of camping." The trademark gaffe sparked predictable outrage. "He is a completely insensitive man who thinks wisecracks can solve every problem," Rina Gagliardi, a former senator of the Refoundation Communist Party, told Agence France-Presse. "He can never be negative, but an earthquake disorients him because he can't blame the left for causing it, so his response is extreme optimism," she said. Berlusconi is of course renowned for such off-the-cuff remarks. In November he described Obama as "handsome and suntanned." He was also forced to issue an apology to his wife, Veronica Lario, in 2007 after she read reports of him approaching several women at an awards dinner and declaring: "If I wasn't married, I would marry you straight away." Lario received the apology after sending a letter criticizing her husband to a newspaper in which she said his behavior was "unacceptable" and "damaging to my dignity." Despite the most recent criticism, Berlusconi has won praise from the media for his limelight-hogging visits to the region. People in the temporary camps also say they are being well looked after by the authorities although they are desperate to collect their own things from their homes. In his interview with CNN on Wednesday Berlusconi said every effort was being made to assess which houses were safe to enter. "This is an aerial view of Onno, and you can see, unfortunately, how the town has been totally destroyed," the prime minister told CNN. "Here, we can go into greater detail and concentrate on individual houses. This helps us to assess the damage right away and tells us how much it will cost to rebuild." The Italian government has said it will cost 1.3 billion euros (1.7 billion dollars) to repair or rebuild about 10,000 buildings damaged in the quake. "We have the plans for reconstruction and intend to start immediately with the building projects," Berlusconi told CNN. "We will build a new town near the capital, L'Aquila, and keep the possibility open for many families to stay, for the time being, in hotels along the coast, less than a hour away, in pleasant and comfortable circumstances." Berlusconi said the plan for the new town would involve low-rate mortgages. "This is not an alternative to the reconstruction," he said Wednesday. "These are additional houses."
[ "who visited town of L'Aquila every day this week?", "What town did PM visit every day?", "Who is Berlusconi?", "What did Berlusconi compare survivors' ordeal with?", "when was Italy PM's response on earthquake?", "to what Berlusconi has compared ordeal of survivors?", "When was the earthquake?", "Which town did the PM visit every day to asses damage?" ]
[ [ "Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's" ], [ "L'Aquila," ], [ "Prime Minister" ], [ "a camping weekend." ], [ "Monday's" ], [ "camping weekend." ], [ "Monday's" ], [ "L'Aquila," ] ]
Italy PM's response to Monday's earthquake has been generally praised . Berlusconi has compared ordeal of survivors in tents to camping weekend . PM has visited town of L'Aquila every day this week, assessing damage .
(CNN) -- Italian champions AC Milan climbed to the top of Serie A for the first time this season on Friday with a 2-0 win over 10-man Genoa that was delayed for 10 minutes due to supporters fighting outside the stadium. The game was only 15 minutes old when tear gas started flowing into Genoa's Stadio Luigi Ferraris as police tried to control clashes between the clubs' supporters. The mid-table home side held out for almost an hour against a Milan team unbeaten in seven previous games -- six of them victories -- but the match turned when Kakha Kaladze was sent off against his former club. The Georgia international defender was booked for the second time after bringing down Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and the Sweden striker netted the resulting penalty for his eighth goal in 10 league games. "In the first half we had three chances that we could have scored from and that would have opened up the game," Ibrahimovic told reporters. "We're playing well, we've got a lot of confidence, also away from home. We're getting a lot of possession and scoring goals. Brazil forward Robinho was guilty of a shocking miss but Antonio Nocerino eventually doubled the lead with 10 minutes to play, scoring his fifth goal this season after being set up by fellow midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng. The victory put Massimiliano Allegri a point above Juventus -- who host second-bottom Cesena on Sunday -- with eight wins and three draws from 13 matches. Third-placed Udinese could join Milan on 27 points with victory away to the Rossoneri's city rivals Internazionale on Saturday. Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen moved up to sixth place in Germany's Bundesliga with a 2-0 win at home to Hoffenheim on Friday. In-form Swiss striker Eren Derdiyok headed his sixth goal this season in the 10th minute, while Sidney Sam lobbed goalkeeper Tom Starke with 11 minutes to play to keep Leverkusen unbeaten in five matches in all competitions -- and 10th-placed Hoffenheim winless in as many matches. Leverkusen now trail Borussia Dortmund and Monchengladbach by four points ahead of the league leaders' clash on Saturday. If that match ends in a draw, third-placed Bayern Munich can return to the top with a draw or better at home to Werder Bremen.
[ "Which team is sixth place in Germany?", "What delayed the match?", "What team beat Genoa?", "Bayer Leverkusen moved up to what place?", "Who did AC Milan beat?", "What Serie is AC Milan in?", "Tear gas was fired for what reason?" ]
[ [ "Bayer Leverkusen" ], [ "supporters fighting outside the stadium." ], [ "AC Milan" ], [ "sixth" ], [ "Genoa" ], [ "A" ], [ "to control clashes between the clubs' supporters." ] ]
AC Milan beat 10-man Genoa 2-0 to go one point clear in Serie A table . Match was delayed by tear gas fired by police trying to stop fans fighting . Zlatan Ibrahimovic opened scoring with penalty after Kakha Kaladze was sent off . Bayer Leverkusen move up to sixth place in Germany with 2-0 win over Hoffenheim .
(CNN) -- Italian champions Inter Milan have unveiled new signing Samuel Eto'o, with the Cameroon striker immediately being forced to deny suggestions from the Italian media that he has ever had a problem with new coach Jose Mourinho. Samuel Eto'o parades his new Inter Milan jersey after completing his move from Barcelona. Eto'o, who completed his switch from Barcelona on Monda, denied he has issues with Portuguese coach Mourinho and insists he never insulted his team's style of play after a Champions League match between Barca and Chelsea. "I never said those words that were attributed to me," he told a press conference. "There is also a tape which proves it and, in any case, that was after an intense game. Top 20 summer transfer targets "Now I am happy to be here, for me it is a great honor to play for a coach like Jose. It has been years that I have been trying to play under Mourinho and I have never managed it." Mourinho also laughed off suggestions the pair do not see eye to eye, insisting they have very similar personalities. "I have met Samuel six times in three years, and I never cared to know if he really said something not very nice about me," said the Nerazzurri coach. "Why? Because he is like me: after losing an important match he doesn't go home happy. The year after this game I wanted to take him to Chelsea, but I wasn't allowed to. I am very happy to have him with us and I'm not talking only as Jose Mourinho but on behalf of the whole squad. Eto'o has signed a five-year contract with Inter as part of a swap deal that saw Zlatan Ibrahimovic move the other way. Inter will also receive 45 million euros ($64m) but the 28-year-old, who only had a season left on his contract with Barca, has shrugged off suggestions this proves Ibrahimovic is the more highly rated of the two. "Ibra is a great player but I am Samuel Eto'o and my past and my victories talk for me," said Eto'o. "I don't like parallels being drawn. "I believe the victories I have earned until now can contribute to giving my name the right value." Eto'o scored 125 goals in 144 games for Barcelona, firing them to a string of titles, including three leagues, two Champions Leagues and a Copa del Rey success, in his five seasons with the club. Eto'o has spent his entire career in Spain since leaving Cameroon in 1997, playing for Real Madrid, Leganes, Espanyol, Mallorca and Barcelona. However, he expects he will adapt easily to the Serie A style. "It's true I have always played in Spain but I have great experience of international matches," continued Eto'o. "Here in Serie A there are big players because great players are in teams where they know they will be able to win things. I am here because it is a very competitive league. "It's true Ibra and Kaka have left Italy, but there are lots of great players in Italy and I am convinced I have made the best choice."
[ "Who signed a five year deal?", "For how long Eto`o signed the contract with Inter Milan?", "who completed transfer from Barcelona?", "What did he sign", "What is the new coaches name?", "Where did Eto'o transfer from", "Who did Inter Milan signed from Barcelona?" ]
[ [ "Samuel Eto'o," ], [ "five-year" ], [ "Samuel Eto'o" ], [ "a five-year contract" ], [ "Jose Mourinho." ], [ "Barcelona." ], [ "Samuel Eto'o," ] ]
Inter Milan unveil Samuel Eto'o after he completes his transfer from Barcelona . Eto'o has signed five-year deal and moves in a swap deal for Zlatan Ibrahimovic . Cameroon striker denies any past dispute with his new coach Jose Mourinho .
(CNN) -- Italian giants Juventus and Roma have suffered blows with the news that star strikers Vincenzo Iaquinta and Francesco Totti have both undergone knee surgery. Junventus revealed that tests on 29-year-old Iaquinta's left knee have revealed damage to his meniscus. "The tests done have indicated the need for the player to undergo surgery," read a statement on the club's official Web site. Iaquinta sustained the injury during training on Saturday and was forced to sit out Sunday's 1-0 victory at Siena. The Italy international, who has scored four goals in eight appearances for the Bianconeri this season, could be sidelined until next year. Meanwhile, Roma captain Francesco Totti has undergone surgery on his right knee. The 33-year-old missed Roma's last two Serie A matches and also their draw with Fulham in the Europa League last week. The club confirmed Totti will start his rehabilitation on Tuesday, but it is not yet known when he will be ready to return to action. A statement on Roma's official Web site read: "The surgery was necessary after the player had problems during training. "In the course of the surgery, no problems of any other nature were found. The player will be discharged and will now begin his rehabilitation. A return date will be determined depending on the player's condition." Roma currently lie 12th in the Serie A table with 11 points from their opening nine matches.
[ "Where did Iaquinta have surgery?", "What is the age of the Juventus striker?", "What is Vincenzo's age?", "Who is the Roma captain?", "What knee does Totti undergo surgery on?" ]
[ [ "knee" ], [ "29-year-old" ], [ "29-year-old" ], [ "Francesco Totti" ], [ "right" ] ]
Vincenzo Iaquinta and Francesco Totti have operations on knee injuries . 29-year-old Juventus striker Iaquinta, 29, undergoes surgery on left knee . Roma captain Francesco Totti has undergone surgery on his right knee .
(CNN) -- Italian giants Juventus have completed the signing of Brazil playmaker Diego from German Bundesliga club Werder Bremen in a $34 million deal. Brazil playmaker Diego, right, has completed his $34 million move to Juventus from Werder Bremen. The 24-year-old, who missed the recent UEFA Cup final defeat against Shakhtar Donetsk because of suspension, has penned a five-year contract with the Serie A giants. "I am enthusiastic and delighted to be a part of such a prestigious club," said Diego, whose contract at Werder Bremen was due to run until June 2011. "I have dreamed of this moment since I was a child. Diego joined three seasons ago from Porto and his Werder farewell will be in the German Cup final against Bayer Leverkusen at the weekend. "After an experience in Portugal and in the Bundesliga, I will be able to prove my worth at a high level but difficult competition," he added. "It is the right time for me to take this important step and I am convinced that at Juventus I will be able to achieve great results." Last week, Juventus announced that Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro is rejoining them after three years at Real Madrid. News of Cannavaro's return came less than 24 hours after the club sacked coach Claudio Ranieri and replaced him with former player and youth coach Ciro Ferrara. Ferrara's appointment had an immediate impact and Juventus are now level on points with AC Milan in second position after a 3-0 weekend victory at Siena. It was their first win in eight matches and guaranteed them Champions League action next season. The 35-year-old Cannavaro was voted world player of the year after leading Italy to World Cup glory in 2006 and has helped Real to achieve two title triumphs during his stay in Spain.
[ "What have Juventus completed?", "What club did Diego leave to join Juventus?", "What did Juve say last week?", "Who will rejoin Real Madrid?", "which is the name of Juventus captain?", "what age He has the player?", "What was the signing of Juventus?", "What is he leaving?" ]
[ [ "the signing of Brazil playmaker Diego" ], [ "Werder Bremen" ], [ "Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro is rejoining them after three years at Real Madrid." ], [ "Fabio Cannavaro" ], [ "Fabio Cannavaro" ], [ "24-year-old," ], [ "$34 million deal." ], [ "Werder Bremen." ] ]
Italian giants Juventus have completed the signing of Brazil playmaker Diego . The 24-year-old is leaving German club Werder Bremen in a $34million switch . Juve said last week Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro will rejoin from Real Madrid .
(CNN) -- Italian manager Gianfranco Zola has been sacked by English Premier League club West Ham, while former England boss Steve McLaren has joined German side Wolfsburg. The Hammers announced in a statement on their official Web site that they had terminated Zola's contract after a season in which they finished just one place above the relegation zone. West Ham's new owners, David Gold and David Sullivan, who took control of the club in January, made clear there would be changes at the end of the season, and they have been true to their word. The official statement read: "West Ham United confirm that they have terminated the contract of Gianfranco Zola. "The Board of Directors would like to thank him for his contribution and wish him well for the future. The Club will now be focusing its efforts on seeking a replacement." Meanwhile, ex-England coach Steve McLaren has been confirmed as Wolfsburg's new coach. McLaren led Dutch side FC Twente to their first ever league title last season and will become the first English coach to take charge of a German side. A statement on Wolfsburg's official Web site said: "Steve McClaren is to take over as new trainer at VfL Wolfsburg. The 49 year old will start work on July 1st under a two year contract to keep him in Wolfsburg until June 30th 2012." Former Netherlands and Ajax coach Marco van Basten has ruled himself out of the running to become the next boss of Italian giants AC Milan. Media reports in Italy claim current coach Leonardo will leave the club in the summer but according to the UK Press Association, Van Basten told Italian television that a serious ankle injury would rule him out of contention. He said: "I am still not ready. I still have an ankle problem and I must resolve it. I can't do a big job like that of a coach as for that your mind has to be clear. "I have read the reports about Milan and me. It's a good idea. Milan and the people of Milan are kind to me, but right now I have this problem with my ankle and it doesn't seem right to see a coach limp on the pitch."
[ "What did the Italian media claim?", "Who has left FC Twente?", "Ex-England coach Steve McLaren left FC Twente for who?", "What does the media in Italy say?", "What does Italian media claim?", "Who has been sacked by West Ham United?", "Who did West Ham United get rid of?" ]
[ [ "current coach Leonardo will leave the club in the summer" ], [ "Gianfranco Zola" ], [ "German side Wolfsburg." ], [ "claim current coach Leonardo will leave the club in the summer" ], [ "current coach Leonardo will leave the club in the summer" ], [ "Gianfranco Zola" ], [ "Gianfranco Zola." ] ]
Gianfranco Zola has been sacked by West Ham United . Ex-England coach Steve McLaren has left FC Twente for German club Wolfsburg . Italian media claims Marco Van Basten has ruled himself out of the AC Milan job .
(CNN) -- Italian newspapers, an archbishop and civil liberties campaigners expressed shock and revulsion on Monday after photographs were published of sunbathers apparently enjoying a day at the beach just meters from where the bodies of two drowned Roma girls were laid out on the sand. Photographs of the dead Roma girls on a beach caused outrage in Italy. Italian news agency ANSA reported that the incident had occurred on Saturday at the beach of Torregaveta, west of Naples, southern Italy, where the two girls had earlier been swimming in the sea with two other Roma girls. Reports said they had gone to the beach to beg and sell trinkets. Local news reports said the four girls found themselves in trouble amid fierce waves and strong currents. Emergency services responded 10 minutes after a distress call was made from the beach and two lifeguards attended the girls upon hearing their screams. Two of them were pulled to safety but rescuers failed to reach the other two in time to save them. Watch why the photos have generated anger » The Web site of the Archbishop of Naples said the girls were cousins named Violetta and Cristina, aged 12 and 13. Their bodies were eventually laid out on the sand under beach towels to await collection by police. Photographs show sunbathers in bikinis and swimming trunks sitting close to where the girls' feet can be seen poking out from under the towels concealing their bodies. A photographer who took photos at the scene told CNN the mood among sunbathers had been one of indifference. Other photos show police officers lifting the bodies into coffins and carrying them away past bathers reclined on sun loungers. "While the lifeless bodies of the girls were still on the sand, there were those who carried on sunbathing or having lunch just a few meters away," Italian newspaper La Repubblica reported. Corriere della Sera said that a crowd of curious onlookers that had formed around the bodies quickly dispersed. "Few left the beach or abandoned their sunbathing. When the police from the mortuary arrived an hour later with coffins, the two girls were carried away between bathers stretched out in the sun." The incident also attracted condemnation from the Archbishop of Naples, Cardinal Crecenzio Seppe. "Indifference is not an emotion for human beings," Seppe wrote in his parish blog. "To turn the other way or to mind your own business can sometimes be more devastating than the events that occur." Recent weeks have seen heightened tensions between Italian authorities and the country's Roma minority amid a crackdown by Silvo Berlusconi's government targeting illegal immigrants and talk by government officials of a "Roma emergency" that has seen the 150,000-strong migrant group blamed for rising street crime. That has provided justification for police raids on Roma camps and controversial government plans to fingerprint all Roma -- an act condemned by the European Parliament and United Nations officials as a clear act of racial discrimination. Popular resentment against Romanies has also seen Roma camps near Naples attacked and set on fire with petrol bombs by local residents. In a statement published on its Web site, the Italian civil liberties group EveryOne said Saturday's drowning had occurred in an atmosphere of "racism and horror" and cast doubt on the reported version of events, suggesting that it appeared unusual for the four girls to wade into the sea, apparently casting modesty aside and despite being unable to swim. "The most shocking aspect of all this is the attitude of the people on the beach," the statement said. "No one appears the slightest upset at the sight and presence of the children's dead bodies on the beach: they carry on swimming, sunbathing, sipping soft drinks and chatting." CNN's Jennifer Eccleston contributed to this report.
[ "What photos showed about dead Roma girls?", "What did the photos show?", "Where Roma girls drowned?", "What newspapers reported about the time when bodies had been carried away?" ]
[ [ "of sunbathers apparently enjoying a day at the beach just meters from where the bodies of two drowned" ], [ "sunbathers in bikinis and swimming trunks sitting close to where the girls' feet can be seen poking out from under the towels concealing their bodies." ], [ "Torregaveta," ], [ "ANSA" ] ]
Italian outrage over photos of sunbathers at a beach where two Roma girls drowned . Photos showed girls' bodies lying on sand covered in beach towels . Newspapers report beach goers eating lunch, sun bathing as bodies carried away . Incident occurred amid heightened tensions between authorities, Roma minority .