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(CNN) -- The diabetes drug Avandia is linked with tens of thousands of heart attacks, and drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline knew of the risks for years but worked to keep them from the public, according to a Senate committee report released Saturday.
The 334-page report by the Senate Finance Committee also criticized the Food and Drug Administration, saying that the federal agency that regulates food, tobacco and medications overlooked or overrode safety concerns found by its staff.
"Americans have a right to know there are serious health risks associated with Avandia and GlaxoSmithKline had a responsibility to tell them," said U.S. Senator Max Baucus, a Democrat and committee chairman. "Patients trust drug companies with their health and their lives and GlaxoSmithKline abused that trust."
The bipartisan report also was signed by Sen. Chuck Grassley, the top-ranking Republican on the committee.
GlaxoSmithKline rejected any assertions Saturday that the drug is not safe.
"We disagree with the conclusions in the report," company spokeswoman Nancy Pekarek told CNN. "The FDA had reviewed the data and concluded that the drug should be on the market."
Seven clinical trials on the drug prove that it is not linked to heart attacks, Pekarek said.
"None of that data shows a statistically significant correlation between Avandia and myocardial ischemia or myocardial infarction [heart attack]," she said.
Ischemia is a condition in which blood flow and oxygen are blocked from going to certain parts of the body.
The Senate committee investigation stems from concerns that Avandia and other high-profile drugs put "public safety at risk because the FDA has been too cozy with drug makers and has been regularly outmaneuvered by companies that have a financial interest in downplaying or under-exploring potential safety risks," the report states.
FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg said she is waiting for the recommendations of an advisory committee that will hear reports on the drug this summer.
"Meanwhile," Hamburg said in a statement, "I am reviewing the inquiry made by Senators Baucus and Grassley and I am reaching out to ensure that I have a complete understanding and awareness of all of the data and issues involved."
The Senate report was developed over the past two years by committee investigators who reviewed more than 250,000 pages of documents provided by GlaxoSmithKline, the FDA and several research institutes. Committee investigators also conducted numerous interviews and phone calls with GlaxoSmithKline, the FDA and anonymous whistleblowers.
According to the Senate report:
• FDA scientists estimated in July 2007 that Avandia was associated with approximately 83,000 heart attacks since the drug came to market.
"Had GSK considered Avandia's potential increased cardiovascular risk more seriously when the issue was first raised in 1999 ... some of these heart attacks may have been avoided," the report states.
• GlaxoSmithKline undertook attempts to undermine information critical of Avandia.
"GSK executives attempted to intimidate independent physicians, focused on strategies to minimize or misrepresent findings that Avandia may increase cardiovascular risk and sought ways to downplay findings that a competing drug might reduce cardiovascular risk," the report says.
As an example, committee investigators say they found that GlaxoSmithKline experts verified an outside study showing the cardiac problem, but the company publicly attacked the findings as incorrect.
• Two FDA safety officials sounded a clear alarm in October 2008 writing, "There is strong evidence that rosiglitazone [Avandia] confers an increased risk of [heart attacks] and heart failure compared to pioglitazone [rival drug on market]." They concluded and trials comparing the two would be "unethical and exploitive." Yet, the trial is still under way, the senators say.
GlaxoSmithKline counters that the Senate report relies on outdated information.
"In essence, the report is a compilation of information and events that took place years ago," spokeswoman Pekarek said. "There's no new data there."
The FDA has evaluated at the drug, Pekarek said, and updated product labeling in 2007 to say information on Avandia's relationship to myocardial ischemia is inconclusive.
"The FDA exists to ensure patient safety," she said. "That is their purpose."
Avandia has been under scrutiny | [
"what says senate?",
"What did report say about FDA?",
"What has been linked to heart disease?",
"Who tried to hide risk?",
"Who has tired to hide risks?",
"What is Aviandia linked to?",
"What does the company reject?"
] | [
[
"\"Americans have a right to know there are serious health risks associated with Avandia and GlaxoSmithKline had a responsibility to tell them,\""
],
[
"has been too cozy with drug makers and has been regularly outmaneuvered by companies that have a financial interest in downplaying or under-exploring potential safety risks,\""
],
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"diabetes drug Avandia"
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"GlaxoSmithKline"
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[
"GlaxoSmithKline"
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"tens of thousands of heart attacks,"
],
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"any assertions Saturday that the drug is not safe."
]
] | Avandia linked to heart disease, Senate committee report says .
GlaxoSmithKline tried to hide risks from public, according to report .
Company rejects reports conclusions, denies its drug causes heart problems .
FDA "too cozy" with drug manufacturers, report says . |
(CNN) -- The discovery of HIV, a breakthrough in the treatment of bipolar disorder, the advent of the contraceptive pill ... CNN looks at some of the scientific discoveries that changed the world. HIV was isolated by scientists in 1983 and named in 1986 by an international committee THE DISCOVERY OF HIV/ AIDS Originally called slimmer's disease, as sufferers lost a lot of weight, the first recorded case of HIV occurred in the Congo in 1977. After several infections, a Danish doctor died of pneumonia, which normally doesn't break through the body's immune system. The components of her disease had not yet been placed together, indicating that this was a new form of illness. Other cases spread in following years around Africa and in homosexual men in New York and San Francisco. By 1980, 55 American men had been diagnosed with the disease. Research began in Europe, the U.S. and Africa to ascertain what this new disease could be. The Centers for Disease Control found that the disease was caused by a virus being passed around by bodily fluids such as semen or blood. In 1981 it published its findings, saying the disease attacked T-cells, which help the body fight infection. By 1983 the disease was isolated by teams of American and French researchers. In 1986 an international committee decided the virus should be called human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Education campaigns were unrolled around the world, advising people to avoid risky sexual behavior or sharing needles. By June 1990, 139,765 people had the disease, with a 60 per cent mortality rate. The progress of the disease slowed down in the West with education campaigns and the development of protease inhibitors, which provided sufferers with almost complete remission. But in Africa, the spread and treatment of HIV remains a global concern. THE DISCOVERY OF LITHIUM TO TREAT MOOD DISORDERS Australian psychiatrist John Frederick Joseph Cade once said, "I believe the brain, like any other organ, can get sick and it can also heal." He made huge gains in healing the brain through his work with sufferers of bipolar disorder by discovering that lithium salts -- a naturally occurring chemical - could be used to treat the illness. Previously, electro-convulsive therapy and lobotomies had been the major treatments for bipolar disorder. After having been a prisoner of war in World War II, Dr. Cade served as the head of the Bundoora Repatriation Hospital in Melbourne Australia. It was at an unused kitchen in Bundoora where he conducted crude experiments that led to the discovery of lithium as a treatment of bipolar disorder. After trials on humans, Dr. Cade speculated that bipolar disorder was a "lithium deficiency disease" and that a dose of lithium had a calming effect. Dr. Cade published findings in the Medical Journal of Australia in 1949 entitled "Lithium salts in the treatment of psychotic excitement." He died in 1980. Lithium is still used successfully in the treatment of mental illness to this day. THE DISCOVERY OF BACTERIA Dutchman Antonie van Leeuwenhoek was known as the "father of micro-biology." He drew scientific attention to the many bacteria that he discovered. His research was helped by the different types of microscopes that he developed over his lifetime. From his powerful lenses he was able to ascertain many different types of lifeforms too small for the human eye to see. It was by observing the build-up of plaque on teeth that the Dutch scientist discovered what we now know to be bacteria. His initial observations on bacteria make for amusing reading. On September 17, 1683, Leeuwenhoek wrote to the Royal Society about the plaque between his own teeth, "a little white matter, which is as thick as if 'twere batter." He then observed two women and two old men who had never cleaned their teeth in their lives. Looking at these samples with his microscope, Leeuwenhoek wrote of "an unbelievably great company of living animalcules, a-swimming more nimbly than any I had ever seen up to this time. The biggest sort ... bent their body into curves in going forwards ... Moreover, the other animalcules were in such enormous numbers, | [
"When was it isolated?",
"Who pioneered lithium treatment?",
"When was HIV isolated?"
] | [
[
"1983"
],
[
"Dr. Cade"
],
[
"1983"
]
] | HIV was isolated in 1983 and can be controlled with protease inhibitors .
Psychiatrist John Cade pioneered lithium as a treatment for bipolar disorder .
Dutchman Antonie van Leeuwenhoek discovered bacteria as a build-up on teeth .
Professor Russell Marker's experiments with plant steroids led to the Pill . |
(CNN) -- The discovery of millions of extra ballots proves that President Robert Mugabe intends to rig next week's elections in his favor, Zimbabwe's main opposition party said Sunday. President Robert Mugabe gestures during a pre-election rally in Harare on Saturday. Tendai Biti, secretary general of the Movement for Democratic Change, said that leaked correspondence from the election commission showed it had asked the company that is printing paper ballots to make 9 million. However, the African country has an electorate of 5.7 million registered voters, he said. Also, 600,000 postal paper ballots were requested for soldiers and police officers, Biti said. Postal ballots are usually requested for civil servants serving abroad, and the total number of soldiers and police in Zimbabwe add up to no more than 50,000, he said. "Remember, when they stole this election away from us the last time, they stole it with 350,000 votes," Biti said. "Six hundred thousand is double insurance. They cannot win a free and fair election in this country." The elections are slated for Saturday. Mugabe survived a hotly contested presidential challenge from MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai in 2002 amid widespread accusations of vote rigging. The president's other challenger this time is former Finance Minister Simba Makoni, who recently announced his bid to unseat Mugabe and was promptly booted out of the ruling party. Last week, New York-based Human Rights Watch raised doubts about the elections, saying it was likely to be "deeply flawed." "As the elections near, all indications are that once again the people of Zimbabwe will not be able to freely exercise their civil and political rights and vote for the candidates of their choice," the nongovernmental organization said in a 48-page report. The elections are expected to provide Mugabe with the toughest challenge yet in his nearly 28 years of rule. The report said the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission was partisan toward the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front and had neither the expertise nor the resources to run the elections properly. Watch Mugabe threaten to expel companies under British rule. » That report brought derision from a Zimbabwean official. "What qualifies them to do what they're doing -- policing the world and Africa in particular?" asked Wilbert Gwashavanhu, political consul at Zimbabwe's embassy in Washington. "Why don't they go to America and oversee how America holds its own elections?" he said. "Come on, give me a break! You can't judge the elections before they are held." No matter the final outcome of the election, the international community may never find out whether the vote proved to be free and fair. Independent news organizations are banned from Zimbabwe, and there are no credible monitors in place. Since 1980, the 84-year-old Mugabe has been the country's only ruler. But his odds of winning this time may be handicapped by Zimbabwe's dire economic situation. The rate of inflation reported in January was 100,000 percent, and food and fuel are in short supply, the Human Rights Watch document said. With more than three in four Zimbabweans unemployed, few could afford such food and fuel anyway. The country's downward economic spiral began in 2000, when Mugabe sanctioned the violent seizure of commercial farms, turning some of the land over to insiders and cronies. For his part, Mugabe remains defiant, blaming his country's economic woes on the West. E-mail to a friend CNN's Saeed Ahmed contributed to this report. | [
"How old is Robert Mugabe?",
"Millions of extra what were printed?",
"How long has Mugabe ruled the country?",
"Who is the president?",
"What will Mugabe face on Saturday?",
"What official is suspicious of rigged elections?",
"How old is Mugabe?",
"Who suspects elections will be rigged?",
"Where did the Movement for Democratic Change secretary suspect will happen in the elections?",
"How long has Robert Mugabe ruled Zimbabwe?"
] | [
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] | Zimbabwe's main opposition party says millions of extra ballot papers printed .
Movement for Democratic Change secretary suspects elections will be rigged .
President Robert Mugabe expected to face toughest challenge yet Saturday .
Mugabe, 84, has ruled the African country for nearly 28 years . |
(CNN) -- The drama of the action in-and-around the golf course has enraptured fans of the game through the generations and around the world. But the same drama that pulls in the crowds has also provided rich material for filmmakers too. Stars of the screen including Dean Martin, Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy have all starred in club-themed movies, as have more contemporary celebrities like Adam Sandler, Bill Murray, Chevy Chase and Will Smith. Though the stories committed to celluloid vary in their approach - from The Stooges comedic farce entitled "Three Little Beers," to the Ben Hogan biopic "Follow the Sun," - the central attraction of golf remains at all the film's core. Here is CNN's best ten golf movies ever made - do you agree with our selection? If there is another film you feel should be included then add your comments to the Sound Off below. | [
"What have great material for film?",
"Which actors were on the list?",
"What films are on the list?",
"What sport has been good for film makers?",
"Which two funny films lead the list?",
"What has provided great material for film makers?",
"Which people have all starred down the years?"
] | [
[
"the action in-and-around the golf course"
],
[
"Will Smith."
],
[
"\"Follow the Sun,\""
],
[
"golf"
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[
"\"Three Little Beers,\""
],
[
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] | The drama and comedy of golf has provided great material for film makers .
Funny films Caddyshack and Happy Gilmore lead the list .
Dean Martin, Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn all starred down the years .
SOUND OFF - Do you agree with the ten movies CNN has picked? |
(CNN) -- The dramatic developments in Gaza over the past three days have driven Arab citizens to the streets, where they have displayed anger directed first and foremost at their own governments. A Yemeni protester rips through an Israeli flag in the capital, Sanaa, on Sunday, December 28. In Yemen, thousands of demonstrators gathered in the capital, Sanaa, shouting slogans in support of Gaza and its residents and burning Israeli and U.S. flags. They cried out against the League of Arab States, which delayed discussion on the crisis. One demonstrator told the Al-Jazeera network, "The Arab League is worthless. ... They're all worthless leaders, and they should all go home." Al-Jazeera is based in Doha, Qatar. Israel has been conducting airstrikes in Gaza for three days, in what they say is retaliation for repeated rocket attacks into southern Israel by Hamas. Hundreds of people have died, mostly Hamas militants, according to Palestinian security forces. In Sudan, the scene was similar. A woman wearing a Hamas banner around her forehead told Al-Manar TV, "Where are the Arab leaders? Where are their actions? Enough condemnation and finger-pointing. Show Gaza your support." Students at the University of Qatar boycotted their classes and demonstrated their support for Gaza. Watch a report from CNN's Octavia Nasr » One student spoke about what he saw as his moral responsibility: "Our ancestors claimed that the news about the Palestinian disaster reached them late in 1948. We have a responsibility to our children and the future generations. We can't tell them we heard about the Gaza disaster of 2008 but didn't do anything." Jordan's parliament held a special session in solidarity with Gaza. But one parliamentarian defied the speaker's orders and burned the Israeli flag before stepping on it in the middle of applause from some of his colleagues. The images played repeatedly on Arab media. Egypt has been the recipient of much criticism in this crisis. Hamas supporters say Egypt has sold the Palestinians out by being too close and friendly with Israel and the United States. From Egypt, political analysts retaliated, blaming Hamas for ending the Egyptian-brokered cease-fire, thus inviting the Israeli airstrikes. One expert speaking to the Dubai-based Al-Arabiya blamed Hamas for "presenting Gazans on a silver plate to the Israeli monster." He then blamed Syria and Iran for not taking military action to stop the bloodshed in Gaza. | [
"What did the citizens of Sudan protest?",
"What is Yemen's capital city?",
"Where do thousands demonstrate?",
"Who are the Arabs blaming?",
"Who boycotts their classes in support of Gaza?",
"What do citizens of Sudan also protest?"
] | [
[
"governments."
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[
"Sanaa,"
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"their own governments."
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],
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] | In Yemen, thousands of people demonstrate in capital city of Sanaa .
Citizens of Sudan also protest Israeli airstrikes in Gaza .
Students at University of Qatar boycott their classes in support of Gaza .
Some Arabs blame Egypt, saying it's too cozy with Israel and the United States . |
(CNN) -- The drinking water in the area of last month's coal-sludge spill in eastern Tennessee is safe, but elevated levels of arsenic have been found in the sludge, authorities said. Properties near ground zero of the December 22 Tennessee spill are covered in sludge. A billion gallons of the sludge, made up of water and fly ash from a coal-burning Tennessee Valley Authority steam plant in Kingston, Tennessee, swamped 300 acres of mostly private property when a dike on a retention pond collapsed December 22. All residents in the area were evacuated, and three homes were deemed uninhabitable, according to the TVA. About a dozen other homes were damaged. Preliminary results from water samples taken in the spill area show no unsafe levels of toxins, said Leslie Sims, on-scene coordinator for the Environmental Protection Agency. The testing includes municipal supplies and private wells, he said. Kingston Mayor Troy Beets said he let his grandchildren drink and bathe in city water at his house over the holidays and didn't worry about it. At a Friday news conference, he drank a cup of water he said was straight from the tap in his home. View a map of where the spill occured » "I'm gonna be fine," he quipped. However, samples of the fly ash scooped up along roadsides and river banks show elevated levels of arsenic that normally would trigger an EPA response, Sims said. "These are levels that we consider harmful to humans," he said. But the EPA is not responding because the TVA is taking action to fix the problem, he added. Arsenic is a natural element found in soil and minerals, but exposure to it can cause sickness, the National Institutes of Health says. Learn more about arsenic » The arsenic is in the sludge but not in the air in significant amounts, said Alan Nye, a scientist with the Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health, a private scientific consulting company based in Arkansas. "The bottom line is that the air quality is very good and continues to be so," Nye said. That's not good enough for Suzanne Solomon, who rents a home about 2½ miles downwind from the spill zone. She and her family are moving somewhere they feel will be safe from fly ash that might blow around once it dries. "We have a 2-year-old daughter whose health is not worth the risk, even if it is a minuscule risk," she said. "I am an opera singer with mild asthma [and] I do not wish to expose [my lungs] to any dust which might become airborne. ... I do not see any way that they can keep all of this out of the air." Rather than try to gather up all the spilled ash, the TVA plans to lock it in place by planting seeds and covering it with mulch, said Bob Summers, the TVA's operations section chief. "We're hearing all kinds of stories," said Tom Vereb, whose formerly picturesque lakefront property is now caked in deep, swirling layers of gray muck and debris. "We're hearing everything from 'This is perfectly fine to be around,' to 'Get away, as far as you can, from it.' So we really don't know what the right answer is there. We're not going to get panicked about it." Howie Rose, director of the Roane County Emergency Management Agency, said the city of Kingston, about 40 miles west of Knoxville, has asked the EPA for long-term environmental monitoring, "and we've got a commitment for that." The TVA also is rebuilding the dike, as well as the roads and railroad tracks that were heavily damaged by the rushing sludge. "It's 40 feet deep of sludge in the middle of a channel, and they're talking about four to six weeks of cleanup," said Travis Cantrell, another local resident. "That'd be a stretch." Whether the plant will continue to store its fly ash -- a byproduct | [
"When did the spillage occur?",
"What does the EPA say?",
"Who operates the coal plant?",
"Who said \"I'm gonna be fine\" after drinking the water?",
"who is moving?",
"what is harmful?",
"What did EPA says about the water?",
"Where have the gallons of fly-ash sludge come from?"
] | [
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"is not responding because the TVA is taking action to fix the problem,"
],
[
"a coal-burning Tennessee Valley Authority steam plant in Kingston, Tennessee,"
]
] | EPA says water safe, but arsenic at levels "considered harmful to humans"
Family moving to avoid potential risk to toddler from arsenic .
Mayor chugs cup of water, says, "I'm gonna be fine"
Billion gallons of fly-ash sludge from TVA coal plant spilled December 22 . |
(CNN) -- The driver of a Toyota Prius says he was taken on a wild ride Monday after the car's accelerator became stuck, reaching speeds in excess of 90 mph on a winding, hilly portion of a southern California interstate. It took the California Highway Patrol to bring the car safely to a stop. The driver, Jim Sikes, said he was traveling east on Interstate 8 outside of the San Diego area when he attempted to pass a slower vehicle. "I pushed the gas pedal to pass a car, and it just did something kind of funny ... and it just stuck there," he said at a news conference outside a Highway Patrol office. "As I was going, I was trying the brakes ... and it just kept speeding up." Sikes said he called 911 for help, and dispatchers talked him through instructions on how he might be able to stop the car. But nothing worked. At one point, Sikes said he reached down to try to pull the accelerator up, but it "stayed right where it was." Alerted by emergency dispatchers, a California Highway Patrol officer was able to catch up to Sikes' Prius and used the patrol car's public address system to instruct Sikes to apply the brakes and the emergency brake at the same time. The tactic worked, and the car slowed to about 50 mph. Sikes said he was able to shut off the car, and it rolled to a stop. The responding officer, Todd Neibert, positioned his patrol car in front of the Prius as a precaution to prevent it from moving again. Toyota recently issued widespread recalls due to problems related to the accelerator pedal in several of its auto models. One theory behind the sticky accelerators is the vehicles' floor mats. But Sikes said "my mat was perfect. There was nothing wrong with my mat." Sikes said he took his 2008 Prius into a local Toyota dealership about two weeks ago for service and gave workers there his recall notice. He said he was told his car wasn't on the recall list. "I'll be back there tomorrow," he said Monday, visibly shaken up. CHP spokesman Brian Pennings said the ordeal lasted just over 20 minutes. "We are extremely thankful that there was a safe end to this," Pennings said. A Toyota spokesman issued a statement Monday night saying the automaker had been notified of the incident. "Toyota has dispatched a field technical specialist to San Diego to investigate the report and offer assistance," the statement said. | [
"What did Jim Sikes say?",
"Who did Sikes get help from?"
] | [
[
"he was traveling east on Interstate 8 outside of the San Diego area when he attempted to pass a slower vehicle."
],
[
"Todd Neibert,"
]
] | "I pushed the gas pedal ... and it just stuck there," said Jim Sikes .
Sikes had to get help from the California Highway Patrol to stop his car .
A Toyota spokesman said the automaker had been notified of the incident . |
(CNN) -- The driver of a charter bus that overturned on a Minnesota freeway, killing two women, may have had a medical emergency, a spokesman for the State Patrol said Thursday. "One factor being considered is whether the driver suffered a medical episode while behind the wheel," Patrol Capt. Matt Langer said. The driver, 52-year-old Edwin Erickson of Elgin, was hospitalized in serious condition, authorities said. Langer said he had a valid driver's license. The women who died, both from Minnesota, were identified Thursday as Rhonda Hill, 52, of Plainview and Pamela Holmquist, 56, of Kasson. The accident happened Wednesday after the bus left a casino in Rochester, Minnesota, headed for Northwood, Iowa, Langer said. Watch video of tour bus crash site Erickson and 21 passengers were injured when the bus went out of control outside Austin, Minnesota, authorities said. They said two people were in critical condition, and one person was unhurt. Andy Skoogman, spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, said the bus was eastbound on Interstate 90 when it veered across a median and westbound lanes before overturning and landing in a ditch on the side of the road. The wreck happened three miles west of Austin. No other vehicles were involved. Authorities said weather conditions didn't appear to be a factor in the accident. | [
"Where was the bus overturned?",
"How many were on board?",
"How many women get killed?",
"How many women were killed?",
"In which state did the charter bus overturn?",
"Where was the bus going to?",
"What condition is the driver in?",
"What was officials looking into?"
] | [
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"\"One factor being considered is whether the driver suffered a medical episode while behind the wheel,\""
]
] | Charter bus overturned on Minnesota freeway, killing two women .
Driver hospitalized in serious condition; officials looking into possibility of "medical episode"
22 people were aboard bus en route to Iowa casino; only one unhurt . |
(CNN) -- The driver who collided with a vehicle driven by Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps will be cited for failure to stop at a red light, police said Friday. Michael Phelps' black Cadillac Escalade collided with another vehicle at an intersection, police say. But the gold medal winner will also be cited -- for failure to present a valid driver's license and for failure to establish a Maryland residency and obtain a Maryland driver's license -- in connection with his involvement Thursday in a car wreck, police said Friday. At the scene, he presented a Michigan driver's license, which police determined "was not valid," said Baltimore, Maryland, police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi. Phelps was driving one of two vehicles that collided at an intersection about 9 p.m., Guglielmi said. The female driver of the second vehicle was transported to a local hospital as a precaution, Guglielmi said. Phelps and his two passengers were uninjured. Video from CNN affiliate WBAL showed Phelps' black Cadillac Escalade at the crash site. Watch wrecked cars at the intersection » Phelps won a record eight gold medals at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Earlier this year, he was suspended from organized competitive swimming after a photo of him holding a bong -- a device commonly used to smoke marijuana -- surfaced in February. CNN's Scott Spoerry contributed to this report. | [
"how many vehicles is driving the olympic champ in Baltimore crash?",
"what does the police say about the female driver?",
"How many vehicles were involved in the crash?",
"What will Michael Phelps be cited for?",
"what's the name of the person that will be cited for failure?",
"What will Phelps be cited for?"
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"two"
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"failure to stop at a red light,"
]
] | Michael Phelps will be cited for failure to present a valid driver's license .
Olympic champ driving one of 2 vehicles in Baltimore crash .
Female driver of 2nd vehicle taken to a hospital as a precaution, police say .
Crash is under investigation, police spokesman says . |
(CNN) -- The economic downturn may take its toll at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, which opens Wednesday night. But as always, the show will go on. Eli Roth and Brad Pitt are men on a mission in Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds." Studios are cutting back on parties and all the glitz that goes with them, according to news reports. Moreover, there will be fewer people around to cover Cannes, as news organizations around the world trim costs. (Several, in fact, have tightened up by eliminating their movie reviewers.) Nevertheless, those who attend may see a bumper crop of good and intriguing films, Variety's Jay Weissberg told Reuters. "We've all been hoping Cannes would pull something out of the bag to make us feel good again. On paper, they have." Leah Rozen, film critic for People magazine, said there are several promising contenders for the Palme d'Or, Cannes' top prize, as well as a number of notable movies premiering out of competition. "What Cannes really is, is an international festival, and you really see world cinema," she said. "This year, there are 52 films that are going to be represented, of which 20 are in competition." See Rozen talk about some of this year's promising works » Two of the films in competition are American: Quentin Tarantino's World War II movie, "Inglourious Basterds," and Ang Lee's "Taking Woodstock," a tale about the 1969 music festival. Tarantino told The New York Times that he's been hoping to do a war movie for years. "You've got to make a movie about something, and I'm a film guy, so I think in terms of genres," he said. However, the maker of "Pulp Fiction" and "Jackie Brown" added, that doesn't mean what he ends up with resembles what he started with: "It's simply the spark that starts the fire." "Inglourious Basterds" was inspired by a 1978 Italian film that starred Bo Svenson ("Walking Tall, Part 2") and football player-turned-actor Fred Williamson ("Black Caesar"). Tarantino's film, which he characterized to the Times as "not a remake," stars Brad Pitt and Mike Myers. Cannes has been good to Tarantino; he won the Palme d'Or for "Pulp Fiction" 15 years ago. Buzz has been high on "Basterds" since Tarantino announced the project several years ago. "Taking Woodstock," the new film by "Brokeback Mountain" director Lee, is based on the book by Elliot Tiber, whose hotelier parents owned a musical festival permit in Bethel, New York, where Woodstock was held. The cast includes Liev Schreiber, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Emile Hirsch, Imelda Staunton and Eugene Levy as Max Yasgur, on whose farm the festival was finally held. Other films in competition include Lars von Trier's "Antichrist," Jane Campion's "Bright Star" and Pedro Almodovar's "Broken Embraces." Gallery: Some of Cannes' recent winners » But this year's Cannes festival is attracting plenty of attention for its out-of-competition films as well. The festival is opening with "Up," the latest animated work from Pixar. "That sort of breaks convention to open with what is, basically, a fancy cartoon," Rozen said. Also at Cannes will be Heath Ledger's last film, "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus." The Oscar-winning "Dark Knight" actor died during the making of the Terry Gilliam film; Gilliam managed to complete it by doing some rewriting and casting other actors -- including Jude Law, Colin Farrell and Johnny Depp -- to play Ledger's part. Despite the interest in seeing Ledger, the film is still struggling to find a buyer, though Entertainment Weekly recently reported that a Los Angeles screening went over well. Cannes, which also functions as a huge film marketplace, may widen the net in attracting distributors. But much | [
"What opened famed French festical?",
"What was the name of the Pixar's film?",
"Who made the film \"Inglourious Basterds\"?",
"What is the name of Tarantino's new film?",
"Name Heath Ledger's last film",
"What film played in Cannes?",
"What was Heath Ledger's last film?"
] | [
[
"The festival is opening with \"Up,\" the latest animated work from Pixar."
],
[
"\"Up,\""
],
[
"Quentin Tarantino's"
],
[
"\"Inglourious Basterds.\""
],
[
"\"The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus.\""
],
[
"\"Inglourious Basterds,\""
],
[
"\"The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus.\""
]
] | Quentin Tarantino's new film, "Inglourious Basterds," playing Cannes .
Heath Ledger's last film, "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus," also to be shown .
Pixar's "Up" to open famed French festival, which begins Wednesday . |
(CNN) -- The economy of Thailand -- whose growth this year so far has belied its political ails -- is now seeing more of a direct impact as protests grow increasingly violent.
Thai Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij told CNN the protests have taken between 0.3 percent and 0.5 percent off the nation's gross domestic product so far this year and have had an "incalculable impact on investor confidence."
The protests could shave as much 2 percent of GDP if it continues through the rest of the year.
"The longer it lasts, the greater the risk of violence breaking out -- which has proven to be the case," said Korn. "Once violence breaks out, the potential impact on the economy is all the more greater."
One person died from clashes Friday and two were in critical condition, a local hospital director said. All three were shot. A rebel red shirt leader who was shot Thursday while being interviewed by Western journalists was also in critical condition.
On Friday afternoon, government troops were tightening around a protester encampment as shots rang out around the area.
The typically bustling downtown area of Bangkok has shuttered its businesses as Red Shirt protesters occupied a 3-kilometer wide area near the business district. The 1,700 shops and 10 hotels in the area are losing an estimated $6 million a day. One in six of Thailand's 61 million citizens live in the Bangkok area.
Tourism, which makes up about 6 percent of the Thai economy and employs more than one million people, has been hardest hit by the protests that began in March.
Banyan Tree Holdings, which owns several resorts in Thailand, projects that bookings and residential sales will take a hit this year.
"Unless there is a resolution to the Thai political situation soon, there is no clear visibility on the Group's performance for the rest of the year," Chairman Ho KownPing said Thursday in a statement.
"Clearly the impact on the economy has been the impact on tourism," Korn said. "Obviously pictures that are appearing on TV screens across the world has obviously spooked potential tourists. Several governments have issued travel warnings for Thailand as a whole and we've seen bookings disappear at least for the months of June and July."
The government still predicts the Thai economy will grow at least 4.5 percent this year. The World Bank had earlier predicted that Thailand -- the second largest economy in Southeast Asia -- will grow 7 percent this year.
Foreign investors had been bullish on the Thai economy. But in recent weeks, the investment tide has turned. Overseas investors shed $130 million in the month of April, according to the Thai Stock Exchange.
That sell-off has escalated in the past week as foreign investors sold off $584 million in Thai shares the past six sessions, Reuters reported.
Korn said there was little disruption to business outside the immediate vicinity of the protests.
"Those who invested in Thailand generally invested in areas outside of Bangkok, and they have been in no way undermined by the ongoing protests ... so from that perspective it's been pretty much business as usual," Korn said.
"That's why the economy has kept humming along for that reason," Korn said. "But the protests definitely have an impact on confidence and will definitely have an impact on the decision-making process for investors."
CNN's Dan Rivers, Andrew Stevens, Pamela Boykoff and Kevin Voigt contributed to this story | [
"What are the estimated losses?",
"how much is Bangkok business losing?",
"is the economy of Thailand losing steam?",
"Where is the economy losing steam?"
] | [
[
"$6 million"
],
[
"$6 million a day."
],
[
"shave as much 2 percent of GDP"
],
[
"Thailand"
]
] | The economy of Thailand is losing steam as protests grow increasingly violent .
Once the darling of foreign investors, there is now a massive sell-off of Thai shares .
Downtown Bangkok businesses are estimated to be losing a total of $6 million a day . |
(CNN) -- The eldest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, in a rare television interview Tuesday, shed some light on who might eventually take over leadership of the country. Kim Jong Nam, 35, in southern China's casino haven of Macau on January 30, 2007 Kim Jong Nam told TV Asahi in Macau that he does not care about politics or succeeding his father. "Personally, I am not interested in this issue (succession)," he said in an interview with the Japanese television network. "Sorry, I am not interested in the politics." The rules governing transfer of power in the secretive communist nation are unclear. Kim Jong Il rules without challenge and has built a cult of personality around himself and his family. He is widely reported to have suffered a stroke in August and has been absent from many public functions in recent months. In April, he named his son Kim Jong Un and brother-in-law, Jang Song Thaek, to the country's powerful National Defense Commission, suggesting his third son may be his heir. "I hear that news in the media," Kim Jong Nam said. "I think it's true ... however, it is my father's decision. So once he decides, we have to support him." iReport.com: How should the U.S. approach North Korea? There has been speculation that Kim Jong Nam would defect from North Korea and that a purge of his supporters was under way. He told Asahi he saw no reason for leaving his homeland. | [
"Who tells TV Asahi he has no interest in leading North Korea?",
"What is Kim Jong Il reported to have suffered last year?",
"What did Kim Jong Nam tell TV Asahi?",
"Who has no interest?",
"Who is the father of Kim Jong Nam?",
"What is the name of the eldest son?",
"What remains unclear?",
"Who is widely reported to have suffered stroke last year?",
"Who is the eldest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il?"
] | [
[
"Kim Jong Nam"
],
[
"stroke"
],
[
"he does not care about politics or succeeding his father."
],
[
"Kim Jong Nam"
],
[
"Il,"
],
[
"Kim Jong Nam,"
],
[
"The rules governing transfer of power in the secretive communist nation"
],
[
"Kim Jong Il"
],
[
"Nam,"
]
] | Kim Jong Nam tells TV Asahi he has no interest in leading North Korea .
Kim Jong Nam is eldest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il .
Rules of succession in secretive communist state unclear .
Kim Jong Il widely reported to have suffered stroke last year . |
(CNN) -- The election victory of Massachusetts Sen.-elect Scott Brown is expected to be certified Thursday, which could allow him to be sworn in as early as Thursday afternoon to replace the late Sen. Ted Kennedy. Brown's win stripped Democrats of their 60-seat, filibuster-proof majority in the U.S. Senate and raised fears among many congressional Democrats about a potential GOP landslide in November's midterm elections. Brian McNiff, spokesman for Massachusetts' secretary of state, said the final election returns from last month's special election were delivered to the governor's office Wednesday. Brown had asked for immediate certification. In a letter to Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and Secretary of State William Galvin, Brown's attorney says the Republican senator-elect had planned on being sworn in on February 11, but he has been told that several Senate votes will be held before then. "For this reason, he wants certification to occur immediately," attorney Daniel Winslow wrote. | [
"On what Thursday could the senator-elect be sworn in to replace late Sen. Ted Kennedy?",
"When will he be sworn in?",
"What is being certified on Thursday?",
"What kind of election is this?",
"Where was the Senator from?",
"When will results be delivered?",
"Who is being replaced?",
"What is the name of the Massachusetts senator who is expected to take the late Senator Ted Kennedy's seat?"
] | [
[
"February 11,"
],
[
"Thursday afternoon"
],
[
"election victory of Massachusetts Sen.-elect Scott Brown"
],
[
"midterm"
],
[
"Massachusetts"
],
[
"Thursday,"
],
[
"the late Sen. Ted Kennedy."
],
[
"Scott Brown"
]
] | Victory of Massachusetts senator-elect is expected to be certified Thursday .
He could be sworn in Thursday afternoon to replace late Sen. Ted Kennedy .
Final returns from special election delivered to governor's office Wednesday . |
(CNN) -- The emergence of a purported statement from al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden about U.S. policy in Pakistan as the U.S. president embarks on a major trip to Muslim countries is no coincidence, the White House spokesman and a counterterrorism official say. Osama bin Laden is seen in an image taken from a videotape that aired on Al-Jazeera in September 2003. "I think the reports we've seen are consistent with messages we've seen in the past from al Qaeda threatening the U.S. and other countries that are involved in counter-terrorism efforts," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters Wednesday. "But I don't think it's surprising that al Qaeda would want to shift attention away from the president's historic efforts and continued efforts to reach out and have an open dialogue with the Muslim world." A U.S. counterterrorism official, asked about the statement, said bin Laden "has timed the release of tapes to major events so it is not surprising that he picked this particular week." Al Jazeera, the Arabic-language TV network that aired the message on Wednesday, said the statement was "a voice recording by bin Laden." As for the tape's authenticity, a CNN analysis said the voice does indeed sound like the leader of the terrorist network that attacked the United States on September 11, 2001. The counterterrorism official said "there has never been a fake Bin Laden tape." The message comes as Obama begins his trip to the Middle East, visiting Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and, in Egypt on Thursday, making a major speech to the Muslim world. Zeroing in on the conflict in Pakistan's Swat Valley, where Pakistan's troops are taking on Taliban militants, the message asserts that Obama is proving that he is "walking the same road of his predecessors to build enmity against Muslims and increasing the number of fighters, and establishing more lasting wars." The message said U.S. policy in Pakistan has generated "new seeds of hatred and revenge against America." The remarks -- which would be bin Laden's first assessment of Obama's policy -- were believed to have been recorded several weeks ago at the start of a mass civilian exodus because of fighting in northwestern Pakistan. The speaker cites strikes, destruction, and Obama's "order" to Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari "to prevent the people of Swat from implementing sharia law." "All this led to the displacement of about a million Muslim elders, women and children from their villages and homes. They became refugees in tents after they were honored in their own homes," the message says. "This basically means that Obama and his administration put new seeds of hatred and revenge against America. The number of these seeds is the same as the number of those victims and refugees in Swat and the tribal area in northern and southern Waziristan." And, the message says, "the American people need to prepare to only gain what those seeds bring up." Watch what the speaker says on the tape » The speaker also says Zardari and Pakistan's military chief, Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, continue to divert the army's main role from protecting the nation to fighting Islam and its followers. He says the war is also hurting Pakistan's economy, endangering the country's religion and security and "fulfilling an American, Jewish and Indian plot." "Most of the Pakistani people reject this unjust war. Zardari did this in response to the ones paying him in the White House -- not 10 percent but multiple folds of that," the message says. The message points to India's aspirations, saying it is "easy for India to subject the disassembled territories of Pakistan, one after another, for its own benefit, like the case of eastern Pakistan before, or even worse." "This way, America eases its worry towards Pakistan's nuclear weapons," the message says. Eastern Pakistan is a reference to Bangladesh, which had been part of Pakistan until it became an independent country in 1971. Pakistan and India have also been at odds over the disputed territory | [
"What does message say?",
"What does White House say?",
"What does the message say?",
"Who is the message purpoted to have been made by?"
] | [
[
"U.S. policy in Pakistan has generated \"new seeds of hatred and revenge against America.\""
],
[
"\"I think the reports we've seen are consistent with messages we've seen in the past from al Qaeda threatening the U.S. and other countries that are involved in counter-terrorism efforts,\""
],
[
"asserts that Obama is proving that he is \"walking the same road of his predecessors to build enmity against Muslims and increasing the number of fighters, and establishing more lasting wars.\""
],
[
"Osama bin Laden"
]
] | NEW: White House says timing of tape is not a coincidence .
Analysis of tape indicates that voice sounds like Osama bin Laden's .
Purported tape from terror leader surfaces as President Obama visits Mideast .
Message says U.S. policy on Pakistan has generated "seeds of hatred" |
(CNN) -- The ever-changing cast of "Saturday Night Live" is getting two new faces, but losing a couple of current members. Michaela Watkins was known for her impressions of Barbara Walters and "Today" show co-host Hoda Kotb. Michaela Watkins and Casey Wilson have been dropped from the show, while Jenny Slate and Nasim Pedrad are joining the cast, Entertainment Weekly reports. Watkins -- who joined "SNL" mid-season last year and was known for her hilarious impersonations of Barbara Walters and Kathie Lee Gifford's suffering "Today" show co-host Hoda Kotb -- said she was shocked by the firing. In an interview with EW, she recalled getting the news from Lorne Michaels, the creator and executive producer of "Saturday Night Live." "I don't think anyone knows what Lorne Michaels was thinking," Watkins told the magazine. "The only explanation I got from him -- and he's not known to say things just to make people feel better -- was that he felt deep down that I should have my own show. And I agreed. 'SNL' was a dream come true for me. It was a fantastic year. I don't have any regrets." Watkins told EW she thinks the new hires will be "exquisite" on the show and said she would take Michaels' advice to pursue her own show. Meanwhile, "SNL" veteran Darrell Hammond is still negotiating for a return to the show, Variety reports. "Saturday Night Live" kicks off its 35th season on September 26. | [
"What season will this be for \"Saturday Night Live\"?",
"Who where dropped from the show?",
"what was a dream come true",
"What did Watkins tell Entertainment Weekly",
"When will start 35th season of `Saturday Night Live` ?",
"What two have been dropped from the show?",
"who was dropped from the show",
"What Watkins tell to Entertainment Weekly?"
] | [
[
"35th"
],
[
"Michaela Watkins and Casey Wilson"
],
[
"'SNL'"
],
[
"said she was shocked by the firing."
],
[
"September 26."
],
[
"Michaela Watkins and Casey Wilson"
],
[
"Michaela Watkins and Casey Wilson"
],
[
"Lorne Michaels was thinking,\""
]
] | Michaela Watkins, Casey Wilson have reportedly been dropped from the show .
"'SNL' was a dream come true for me," Watkins tells Entertainment Weekly .
"Saturday Night Live" kicks off its 35th season on September 26 . |
(CNN) -- The expulsion of a U.N. official from Sri Lanka is final and he has to leave the country by September 21, the government has told the agency. James Elder, spokesman for UNICEF in Sri Lanka has until September 21 to leave the country. Officials with the United Nations Children's Fund met with Sri Lankan officials on Monday in hopes of keeping James Elder inside the country. But Sri Lanka stood firm in its decision, and has issued UNICEF an expulsion notice for Elder, said Sarah Crowe, the agency's spokeswoman for South Asia. The Sri Lankan government has accused Elder of spreading propaganda supporting Tamil rebels. Ann Veneman, UNICEF's executive director, said the agency was "extremely concerned and disappointed" with the decision. "Through Mr. Elder, UNICEF has consistently spoken out against the suffering of children on both sides of the intense hostilities earlier this year and called for their protection. UNICEF unequivocally rejects any allegation of bias," she said in a statement Monday night. Elder has often spoken to the media about the agency's concerns about children caught up in the country's civil war and the conditions they endure at camps for the displaced. "Mr. Elder's role for UNICEF was to reflect how the conflict gravely impacted upon children," Crowe said. "He did this based on concrete information that the United Nations attained and verified." Crowe called Sri Lanka's allegations regarding Elder "outrageous" and "contradictory." "They are bordering on the ludicrous," she said. The Sri Lankan military finally defeated the Tamil Tigers earlier this year, after a conflict that began in 1983. The rebels -- formally known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) -- were waging war for an independent state for minority Tamils in Sri Lanka. As many as 70,000 people were killed in the conflict. In February, Elder told CNN that children as young as 4 months old were being treated in hospitals for shrapnel injuries and other wounds of war. The fighting created a "nightmarish" situation for civilians in the conflict zone, Elder said at the time. CNN's Saeed Ahmed contributed to this report. | [
"When is UNICEF's South Asia spokesman ordered to leave Sri Lanka?",
"UNICEF's spokesman has to leave Sri Lanka by which date?",
"what propoganda was he spreading",
"What does the Sri Lankan government accuse James Elder of?",
"What has Elder often spoken about?",
"James Elder is accused of spreading what?",
"Elder has often spoken about UNICEF's concern for who?"
] | [
[
"September 21,"
],
[
"September 21,"
],
[
"supporting Tamil rebels."
],
[
"spreading propaganda supporting Tamil rebels."
],
[
"children caught up in the country's civil war and the conditions they endure at camps for the displaced."
],
[
"propaganda supporting Tamil rebels."
],
[
"children caught up in the country's civil war"
]
] | UNICEF's South Asia spokesman order to leave Sri Lanka by September 21 .
Sri Lankan government accuses James Elder of spreading propaganda .
Elder has often spoken about UNICEF's concern for children in Sri Lanka . |
(CNN) -- The fallout from Adam Lambert's risqué American Music Awards performance keeps coming with "Good Morning America" canceling the singer's live performance scheduled for Wednesday morning. ABC was flooded with more than 1,500 complaints, and the network sent an e-mail to potential concert goers letting them know that Lambert would not be performing on Wednesday. "Given Adam Lambert's controversial live performance on the AMAs, we were concerned about airing a similar concert so early in the morning," a spokesperson for the network said. "The Early Show" on rival network CBS was quick to announce that they have booked Lambert to perform and discuss the controversy on Wednesday morning. Lambert shocked viewers with his sexually suggestive dance sequence that included simulated oral sex as well as Lambert kissing his male keyboardist. The Parents Television Council, a Media watchdog group, also attacked the show as vulgar and urged its members on Monday to contact ABC, Dick Clark Productions and the show's advertisers with complaints about the content. "Last night's 'American Music Awards' broadcast was nothing short of tasteless and vulgar. Adam Lambert, the second-place finisher in last season's 'American Idol' competition, chose to treat American families to simulated oral sex and other demeaning behavior," the PTC posted on its Web site. Melissa Henson, director of communications and public education for the PTC, said the council wasn't concerned about Lambert's gay kiss. Its issue and focus are on the simulated oral sex, she said. "The gender has nothing to do with it," Henson said. "It would be true if it had been a woman's face that was thrust into his crotch." Henson also noted that this is not an anti-Adam Lambert campaign and said the council would have had no problem with Lambert performing live on "Good Morning America." "As long as he keeps it clean," Henson said. | [
"What shocked viewers during Lambert's performance at the AMA's?",
"who is shocked with sexually suggestive dance sequence on the AMAs?",
"who did received complaints after the AMA's?",
"Who shocked viewers with his sexually suggestive dance sequence?",
"How many complaints did ABC receive after the AMA's?",
"Who cancels Adam Lambert's live performance?",
"Who cancelled Adam Lambert's live performance?",
"what did adam lambert's cancels?",
"What did ABC receive?"
] | [
[
"sexually suggestive dance sequence that included simulated oral sex as well as"
],
[
"viewers"
],
[
"ABC"
],
[
"Adam Lambert's"
],
[
"1,500"
],
[
"\"Good Morning America\""
],
[
"\"Good Morning America\""
],
[
"singer's live performance scheduled for Wednesday morning."
],
[
"1,500 complaints,"
]
] | "Good Morning America" cancels Adam Lambert's live performance .
Lambert shocked viewers with his sexually suggestive dance sequence on the AMAs .
ABC received more than 1,500 complaints after the AMAs . |
(CNN) -- The family behind a dramatic flight of a helium balloon that floated free appeared on a reality show that highlighted concerns about the children's safety.
The Heene family appeared on two episodes of ABC's "Wife Swap."
Richard and Mayumi Heene and their three sons were featured on the ABC show "Wife Swap," in which the mothers of two often opposite families switch places for two weeks.
Mayumi Heene traded places with Karen Martel, whose husband runs a child-proofing business intended to keep children safe, according to a recap posted on Reality TV Magazine.
In listing information on the Heene family, ABC's "Wife Swap" Web site described them this way: "When the Heene family aren't chasing storms, they devote their time to scientific experiments that include looking for extraterrestrials and building a research-gathering flying saucer to send into the eye of the storm."
The description of the episode from ABC that appears on the Web site said "[Martel] is shocked as the Heene kids jump off banisters and run wild, and appalled by Richard's attitude to women."
"Meanwhile at the Martels', Mayumi Heene sees safety gates everywhere and wonders how the family have fun. She asks the kids about their anxieties and confronts Jay about the climate of fear in his house."
The Heenes reportedly allowed their children to accompany them as they tracked Hurricane Gustav.
A YouTube video of the family appearing on Denver, Colorado's KMGH local newscast features two of the Heene sons briefly discussing chasing the Hurricane.
"What my kids learn from these storms and what they walk away with is the fact that these storms can be very deadly," Richard Heene told the KMGH reporter.
According to the newscast, the family track 30 to 40 weather activities a year.
The family was invited back by ABC to appear on the 100th episode of "Wife Swap," where Mayumi Heene switched places with Sheree Silver, a psychic.
A Los Angeles Times story documented the show by saying "The Heene family, with its three rowdy boys, is anchored by father Richard, whose anger arrives in sudden bolts between his fringe science projects."
"The Silvers, who have two quirky, artistically inclined sons, revolve around the mother, Sheree, who is a psychic and who initially fails to impress Richard. 'Sheree's like a clogged drain, OK? Things aren't happening,' he barks. 'I'll bet you the heaviest thing she lifts is the fork to her mouth.' "
Mayumi Heene reportedly found it difficult on the show to adjust to Silver's household.
"It's their spouses who struggle most," the Los Angeles Times story said. "Richard's wife, Mayumi, finding Sheree's 'househusband,' Sam Castiglia, to be 'a very feminine husband' and finds it tough to even tolerate the quirks of the Silver children, who are so unlike her own, seeming less like a parent than a conspirator against the alien family. So much for learning."
A balloon that was set adrift from the Heenes' Fort Collins, Colorado, home was empty when it landed, and authorities later found one of the Heene sons -- who initially had been thought to be in the balloon -- safe on the ground. Officials said he had been hiding in the attic of the family's garage.
What appears to be the three Heene boys are featured in a YouTube rap music video that seems to spoof overprotective parents. | [
"What does a child-proofing business do?",
"Where does the Heene family live?",
"What is the name of the family who appeared on wife swap twice?",
"Who appeared on wife swap twice?",
"What does the Heene family chase?",
"What show has the family appeared on?",
"What does the Herne family do together?"
] | [
[
"keep children safe,"
],
[
"Fort Collins, Colorado,"
],
[
"The Heene"
],
[
"The Heene family"
],
[
"storms,"
],
[
"\"Wife Swap.\""
],
[
"chasing storms,"
]
] | The Heene family of Fort Collins, Colorado, appeared on "Wife Swap" twice .
One episode had mother trading places with wife of child-proofing business owner .
That mother reportedly "shocked" by the Heene kids' behavior .
Heene family chases storms together . |
(CNN) -- The family behind a dramatic flight of a helium balloon that floated free appeared on a reality show that highlighted concerns about the children's safety. The Heene family appeared on two episodes of ABC's "Wife Swap." Richard and Mayumi Heene and their three sons were featured on the ABC show "Wife Swap," in which the mothers of two often opposite families switch places for two weeks. Mayumi Heene traded places with Karen Martel, whose husband runs a child-proofing business intended to keep children safe, according to a recap posted on Reality TV Magazine. In listing information on the Heene family, ABC's "Wife Swap" Web site described them this way: "When the Heene family aren't chasing storms, they devote their time to scientific experiments that include looking for extraterrestrials and building a research-gathering flying saucer to send into the eye of the storm." The description of the episode from ABC that appears on the Web site said "[Martel] is shocked as the Heene kids jump off banisters and run wild, and appalled by Richard's attitude to women." "Meanwhile at the Martels', Mayumi Heene sees safety gates everywhere and wonders how the family have fun. She asks the kids about their anxieties and confronts Jay about the climate of fear in his house." The Heenes reportedly allowed their children to accompany them as they tracked Hurricane Gustav. A YouTube video of the family appearing on Denver, Colorado's KMGH local newscast features two of the Heene sons briefly discussing chasing the Hurricane. "What my kids learn from these storms and what they walk away with is the fact that these storms can be very deadly," Richard Heene told the KMGH reporter. According to the newscast, the family track 30 to 40 weather activities a year. The family was invited back by ABC to appear on the 100th episode of "Wife Swap," where Mayumi Heene switched places with Sheree Silver, a psychic. A Los Angeles Times story documented the show by saying "The Heene family, with its three rowdy boys, is anchored by father Richard, whose anger arrives in sudden bolts between his fringe science projects." "The Silvers, who have two quirky, artistically inclined sons, revolve around the mother, Sheree, who is a psychic and who initially fails to impress Richard. 'Sheree's like a clogged drain, OK? Things aren't happening,' he barks. 'I'll bet you the heaviest thing she lifts is the fork to her mouth.' " Mayumi Heene reportedly found it difficult on the show to adjust to Silver's household. "It's their spouses who struggle most," the Los Angeles Times story said. "Richard's wife, Mayumi, finding Sheree's 'househusband,' Sam Castiglia, to be 'a very feminine husband' and finds it tough to even tolerate the quirks of the Silver children, who are so unlike her own, seeming less like a parent than a conspirator against the alien family. So much for learning." A balloon that was set adrift from the Heenes' Fort Collins, Colorado, home was empty when it landed, and authorities later found one of the Heene sons -- who initially had been thought to be in the balloon -- safe on the ground. Officials said he had been hiding in the attic of the family's garage. What appears to be the three Heene boys are featured in a YouTube rap music video that seems to spoof overprotective parents. | [
"DId the Heene kids behave?",
"The mother traded places with who?",
"Who appeared on \"Wife Swap\" twice?",
"Who is shocked by the Heene kids' behavior?",
"What does the Heene family chase together",
"What show has the Heene family appeared on?",
"What did the Heene family appear on?",
"Who chase storms together?",
"What does the Heene family chase?"
] | [
[
"the"
],
[
"Karen Martel,"
],
[
"The Heene family"
],
[
"Karen Martel,"
],
[
"storms,"
],
[
"\"Wife Swap.\""
],
[
"\"Wife Swap.\""
],
[
"Heene family"
],
[
"storms,"
]
] | The Heene family of Fort Collins, Colorado, appeared on "Wife Swap" twice .
One episode had mother trading places with wife of child-proofing business owner .
That mother reportedly "shocked" by the Heene kids' behavior .
Heene family chases storms together . |
(CNN) -- The family of a Somali-American man who died in Somalia have said they want to know who is responsible for recruiting him to join an al Qaeda-linked Islamist insurgency. Militia soldiers hold weapons as they train to prepare an attack in Mogadishu earlier this month. Jamal Bana is the third Somali-American from the city of Minneapolis to head to Somalia and die there. He is one of more than a dozen missing Somali-American men whose families believe have gone back to fight. "Someone must have put something in his mind," Omar Jamal of Minneapolis' Somali Justice Advocacy Center said at a Sunday news conference with Bana's family. "He must have been somewhat disillusioned and indoctrinated because he didn't have any clue about Somalia at all. So someone somewhere must be responsible for his disappearance." Watch as Bana's family seeks answers » The same day as the family's news conference, Somalia's president -- a former member of the Islamist movement himself -- issued a plea to Somali-Americans not to join the fight in his country. "I call on the Somali-American community not to send their youth to Somalia to fight alongside al-Shabaab," President Sheik Sharif Ahmed said on Sunday. "I am saying to those young men from abroad: 'Your families fled your home to America because of insecurity. You should not return here to ferment violence against your people.'" Al-Shabaab, a group that is on the U.S. government's terror watch list, remains entrenched in the northeast and sections of the south of Somalia's capital, Mogadishu. It has ties to al Qaeda and has recruited foreign fighters to join its battle to overthrow the Somali government. The U.S. government announced last month that it is providing weapons to Ahmed's government as it tries to quell the insurgency. Fighting has uprooted more than 200,000 people in Mogadishu since early May, according to the United Nations. Many of the missing Somali-Americans are believed to have left for Somalia when Ethiopian forces were still on the ground. The presence of these foreign forces was an outrage to most Somalis, and became a rallying cry of al-Shabaab. But the Ethiopians have now withdrawn. Bana, who was one of those who heeded the call to return to fight, was only 1 when his parents left Somalia and eventually brought him to the United States. The oldest of seven children, Bana was a top student at Washburn High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was studying engineering at two area colleges before he went missing in November. On Saturday, his family learned of his fate: a photo of his body appeared on a Web site, a casualty of the ongoing conflict in Somalia. Jamal spoke for the family with one arm around Bana's distraught mother, who quietly wept, covering her face with her headscarf. The father was too upset to attend the news conference, Jamal said. The family is asking the United States government to help them bring his body back home. In October, Shirwa Ahmed, 27, a Somali-American believed to have been radicalized by al-Shabaab, traveled from Minneapolis to Somalia and blew up himself and 29 others. The incident -- the first-ever suicide bombing by a naturalized U.S. citizen -- raised red flags throughout the U.S. intelligence community and sparked an investigation by the FBI. Burhan Hassan, a 17-year-old Somali-American high school student in Minneapolis, went missing eight months ago around the same time as Bana. Last month, his family learned that he was killed in Somalia. Neither family has any idea why the young males left the United States -- where they came as young boys -- or who is responsible for their deaths. Bana's family believes he was being held against his will. "Only one time he placed a phone call (in mid-November), he didn't say much," Omar Jamal said. "He spoke as if he was being held hostage. He couldn't be speak freely. They asked him to cut the | [
"Who is Jamal Bana",
"Where did bana go?",
"What does President Sheik Sharif Ahmed say?",
"What do they want to know?"
] | [
[
"the third Somali-American from the city of Minneapolis to head to Somalia and die there."
],
[
"Somalia"
],
[
"\"I call on the Somali-American community not to send their youth to Somalia to fight alongside al-Shabaab,\""
],
[
"responsible for recruiting him"
]
] | Jamal Bana is third Somali-American to head to Somalia and die there .
Bana's family want to know who recruited him to join Islamist insurgency .
President Sheik Sharif Ahmed says U.S.-Somalis joining Islamist rebels .
Many Somalis went to U.S. after 1992 American intervention in Somalia . |
(CNN) -- The family of a woman who faces charges of killing an 8-year-old playmate of her daughter's said Sunday the accusations are "completely out of character." The Tracy, California, family offered their prayers to the victim's family. Melissa Huckaby was charged with kidnapping and murder in the death of 8-year-old Sandra Cantu. "We are deeply saddened by the loss of this beautiful girl," said a man who would not give his name, identifying himself only as a relative of suspect Melissa Huckaby, 28. He was referring to Sandra Cantu, who was last seen alive March 27 in the mobile home park where she lived with her family -- the same mobile home park where Huckaby lives with her own 5-year-old daughter. The two children were close friends and played together frequently, Tracy police Sgt. Tony Sheneman said. Sandra's body was found Monday, stuffed into a suitcase and submerged in a pond at a dairy farm. Huckaby was arrested late Friday after she was questioned by police. She faces kidnapping and murder charges in Sandra's death. Watch police discuss the arrest » Sheneman told reporters Saturday he "couldn't begin to theorize" a motive. Family members went to visit Huckaby in jail Sunday, but were told they could not see her, the relative told reporters. "We do know that the information we've been given regarding the charges against Melissa Huckaby are completely out of character for her," he said. Relatives are in "absolute shock" at Huckaby's arrest, he said. Huckaby is the granddaughter of Clifford Lane Lawless, pastor of Clover Road Baptist Church near the mobile home park, and she taught Sunday school at the church, police have said. The church was searched as part of the investigation into Sandra's disappearance and death. Lawless was at the press conference, but declined to speak. "We are distressed at the possibility that such a tragedy might have happened in a place of worship," the relative said Sunday, adding that the family asks the press and the community to "understand the church's desire to continue their worship and ministry outreach." Watch neighbors remember slain girl » The church "is a community of loving people," he said. "They love God. They love their community and they have ministered to the people of this community for many, many years." Huckaby's family expressed appreciation for the support and prayers received from other churches. Although it has been difficult, the church has "done everything that we can to be cooperative" with the investigation, the man said. The family thanked law enforcement for what the man said was "gracious treatment." "Our prayers are with Sandra's family and the community for God's comfort and mercy as we work through the process of healing for such a tragic event," the man said. "We trust in God's peace." The church was planning to hold Easter services at noon Sunday, he said. "We're very shocked," said a woman, who also identified herself only as a family member. "It's very out of character for Melissa. We love her dearly." She described Huckaby as "a fantastic mother, very loving. ... This is a very difficult time for us and it's very difficult to express to you right now how we're feeling." Huckaby's relatives know no more on the investigation than what has been reported by the media, the relatives said, and were not told why police were searching the church. "The only reason why our family is making it through this at all is because of our faith in God and because of his mercy," the woman said. Asked whether she believes Huckaby is innocent, she declined comment. In a Friday interview with the Tracy Press newspaper, Huckaby acknowledged owning the black rolling suitcase in which Sandra's body was found, but said she reported it missing the day before the child's body was found. She said the suitcase disappeared at about | [
"What is Melissa Huckaby known for?",
"Who was arrested?",
"When Sandra disappeared?",
"what are the charges?",
"What charges does Huckaby face?",
"When did Sandra disappear?"
] | [
[
"kidnapping and murder in the death of 8-year-old Sandra Cantu."
],
[
"Melissa Huckaby"
],
[
"March 27"
],
[
"of killing an 8-year-old playmate of her daughter's"
],
[
"was charged with kidnapping and murder in the death of 8-year-old Sandra Cantu."
],
[
"March 27"
]
] | Relatives are in "absolute shock" at arrest of Melissa Huckaby, they say .
Huckaby faces murder charges in death of Sandra Cantu, 8, her daughter's friend .
Police sergeant says he "couldn't begin to theorize" about a motive .
Sandra disappeared March 27 after going out to play; body found Monday . |
(CNN) -- The family of boxing great Joe Frazier on Wednesday announced details of his Philadelphia funeral services and said he died as "one of God's men."
Frazier, who handed the legendary Muhammad Ali his first defeat, died Monday, just a month after being diagnosed with liver cancer.
The 67-year-old athlete's remains will be in public view at the Wells Fargo Center from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday, the family said. "This will be an opportunity for his many fans, supporters and boxing lovers from around the world to pay their final respects to Joe Frazier."
The service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church.
"The Family of Joe Frazier continues to stress that they want everyone to know that Joe Frazier was a man of God and a man who loved all of his family," relatives said in a statement.
Star boxer Floyd "Money" Mayweather offered to pay for Frazier's funeral. The family said donations in Frazier's memory can be made to the American Cancer Society.
The former heavyweight champion became a legend in his own right and personified the gritty working-class style of his hard-knuckled hometown, Philadelphia -- a fitting setting for the "Rocky" film series, starring Sylvester Stallone as hardscrabble boxer Rocky Balboa. Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter called Frazier the "quintessential Philadelphia boxer."
"You could hear him coming, snorting and grunting and puffing, like a steam engine climbing a steep grade," Bill Lyon wrote in a Philadelphia Inquirer column about Frazier, nicknamed "Smokin' Joe."
Frazier used his devastating left hook with impunity during his professional career, retiring in 1976 with a 32-4-1 record and staging one last comeback fight in 1981.
Frazier bested Ali at 1971's "Fight of the Century" at Madison Square Garden. In the 15th round, Frazier landed perhaps the most famous left hook in history, catching Ali on the jaw and dropping the former champ for a four-count, according to Frazier's bio at the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Frazier left the ring as the undisputed champ and handed Ali his first professional loss.
Ali won a 12-round decision in a January 1974 rematch, setting the stage for the classic "Thrilla in Manila" just outside the Philippine capital in 1975. Ali took the early rounds, but Frazier rebounded before losing the last five rounds. By the end of the 14th, Frazier's eyes were nearly swollen shut, and his corner stopped the bout, according to the biography.
Frazier, a two-time heavyweight champion for nearly three years until he lost in January 1973 to George Foreman, ran a well-known boxing gym in Philadelphia for years. | [
"When will the public attend?",
"What was Frazier diagnosed with?",
"When are services taking place?",
"In what city are the services to be held on monday",
"When may the public view his remains?",
"When are the services scheduled for?",
"what form of cancer was Frazier diagnosed with",
"When can the public view his remains?"
] | [
[
"10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday,"
],
[
"liver cancer."
],
[
"11 a.m. Monday"
],
[
"Philadelphia"
],
[
"10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday,"
],
[
"11 a.m. Monday"
],
[
"liver"
],
[
"from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday,"
]
] | Services are scheduled for Monday in Philadelphia .
Frazier was diagnosed with liver cancer only recently .
Public may view his remains Friday, Saturday . |
(CNN) -- The family of deceased Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi will file a war crimes complaint against NATO with the International Criminal Court, a lawyer representing the family said Thursday.
Members of the family believe NATO's actions led to Gadhafi's death last week, said Marcel Ceccaldi.
"All of the events that have taken place since February 2011 and the murder of Gadhafi, all of this means we are totally in our right to call upon the International Criminal Court," Ceccaldi, a French attorney, said.
NATO responded that it "conducts its operation in strict conformity with the relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions." In a statement Thursday, a NATO official said, "At no time during Operation Unified Protector has NATO targeted specific individuals."
The ICC had previously issued a warrant for Gadhafi's arrest, accusing him of crimes against humanity.
The ICC still has warrants for the arrest of Gadhafi's son, Saif al-Islam Gadhafi, and his brother-in-law Abdullah al-Sanussi.
Questions surround the death of Moammar Gadhafi, who eluded forces loyal to the National Transitional Council for months. Video shows Gadhafi was alive when captured by the opposition.
He died from a shot in the head, officials said, but the circumstances surrounding the shot remain unclear.
The United States said it supports an independent investigation, as called for by the United Nations and by Libya's new leadership.
Ceccaldi said the Gadhafi family's complaint will be filed in the coming days.
"Now we will wait and see if the ICC is a judicial system which is independent and impartial," he added.
Lt. Gen. Charles Bouchard, commander of the NATO military operation, said earlier this week that NATO "did not get involved in anything beyond what was our legal mandate and we remain well within the mandate assigned to us by the North Atlantic Council."
While Gadhafi survived an airstrike in the Sirte area shortly before he died, Bouchard said NATO did not know the former Libyan leader was in the convoy.
"We saw a convoy, and in fact we had no idea that Gadhafi was on board," Bouchard said. Some vehicles in the convoy were carrying weaponry, and seemed to present a potential threat to the population, he said.
The news came as the U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Thursday to end NATO's military operations in Libya. | [
"Which family blames NATO for Gadhafi's death, the lawyer says?",
"What did NATO respond with?",
"Who blamed NATO?",
"What did the lawyer says?",
"Who had a warrant for Gadhafi's arrest?",
"Who responds that it never targeted specific individuals in the operation?",
"Who blames NATO for Gadhafi's death?"
] | [
[
"of deceased Libyan strongman Moammar"
],
[
"it \"conducts its operation in strict conformity"
],
[
"family of deceased Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi"
],
[
"family"
],
[
"ICC"
],
[
"NATO"
],
[
"family of deceased Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi"
]
] | NEW: NATO responds that it never targeted specific individuals in the operation .
The Gadhafi family blames NATO for Gadhafi's death, the lawyer says .
The family will file the complaint with the ICC, the lawyer says .
The ICC had a warrant for Gadhafi's arrest . |
(CNN) -- The father of American figure skater Nancy Kerrigan is dead and her brother is behind bars, accused of assault and battery against 70-year old Daniel Kerrigan, according to Massachusetts authorities.
Daniel Kerrigan died Sunday after being taken by emergency personnel from his family home in Stoneham, Massachusetts, to a hospital, authorities said. His son Mark, 45, was arraigned Monday and pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from an alleged assault.
According to Middlesex County Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Keeley, police responded to a 911 call at approximately 1:30 a.m. Sunday from Brenda Kerrigan, wife of Daniel and mother to Mark and Nancy Kerrigan.
Keeley told Middlesex District Court Judge Mark Sullivan during the arraignment Monday for Mark Kerrigan that there was a violent argument and struggle between the father and his son, resulting in the elder Kerrigan falling or collapsing on the kitchen floor. Keeley said that Mark Kerrigan told authorities "that he did in fact have an argument with his father, the argument became physical, he grabbed his father around the neck, and at some point the father collapsed to the floor."
The Middlesex District Attorney's office said Monday that authorities were still investigating the "entirety of the circumstances of the incident," along with the cause and manner of death. The county medical examiner is expected to release a report within a couple of weeks.
According to Keeley, police found Mark Kerrigan in the basement of the house, "clearly intoxicated" and "extremely combative." He refused to comply with police officers, said Keeley, and they had to subdue him with pepper spray before forcibly removing him from the home.
Mark Kerrigan wept softly during Monday's arraignment. His attorney, Denise Moore, told the judge that Kerrigan was in grief and "quite distraught about his father's death." Through his attorney, Mark Kerrigan denied any responsibility in the death.
Moore said in court that Mark Kerrigan was unemployed, was recently released from a correctional facility and was living at home with his parents. He is taking medications and seeking psychological help for post-traumatic stress, apparently from his time in the Army, Moore said.
Despite appeals from his attorney, Sullivan ordered Kerrigan held on $10,000 cash bail. His next court appearance is expected to be February 24.
Nancy Kerrigan first gained prominence by winning a bronze medal at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France. In 1994 she earned an Olympic silver medal in Lillehammer, Norway. But she is perhaps best remembered for surviving an attack before the 1994 Winter Games by skating rival Tonya Harding's ex-husband and an accomplice.
Through a spokeswoman on Tuesday, the Kerrigan family released a statement saying: "Dan Kerrigan was a wonderful husband for 47 years, a caring and loving father to his daughter Nancy and two sons, Michael and Mark, and a grandfather of eight. ... The family's focus is on mourning Dan and honoring his life and many contributions."
CNN's Vanessa Juarez contributed to this report. | [
"Who denies responsibility in the fathers death",
"What did it result in elder Kerrigan falling?",
"What did Judge order?",
"Did Mark Kerrigan deny responsibility in his father's death?",
"is Mark kerrigan intoxicated?",
"What judge ordered a cash bail"
] | [
[
"Mark Kerrigan"
],
[
"a violent argument and struggle between the father and his son,"
],
[
"Kerrigan held on $10,000 cash bail."
],
[
"pleaded not guilty"
],
[
"\"clearly intoxicated\""
],
[
"Mark Sullivan"
]
] | Violent argument and struggle between father and son results in elder Kerrigan falling .
Mark Kerrigan, who denies responsibility in his father's death, is "quite distraught"
Police find Mark Kerrigan in the basement "clearly intoxicated" and "extremely combative"
Judge orders Mark Kerrigan held on $10,000 cash bail; court appearance February 24 . |
(CNN) -- The father of Haleigh Cummings, a Florida girl who disappeared in February, plans to file for divorce from the girl's stepmother, a key witness in the case, his attorneys told HLN's "Nancy Grace." Ronald Cummings plans to divorce his wife, Misty, his attorney says. The move follows weeks of reported tension between Ronald and Misty Cummings during the search for Haleigh, who was 5 when last seen. In papers expected to be filed Tuesday, Ronald Cummings, 25, cites irreconcilable differences in ending his short marriage to his 17-year-old wife, said Terry Shoemaker, Ronald Cummings' attorney. Haleigh went missing from her father's home in Satsuma, Florida, on February 9. Cummings has made several public pleas for information in her disappearance. Misty Cummings, then known as Misty Croslin, was the last person known to have seen Haleigh the night she disappeared from the family's rented mobile home. The teenager said she tucked Haleigh and her 4-year-old brother into bed about 8 p.m. and went to sleep herself two hours later, but awoke at 3 a.m. to find the girl missing and a cinder block propping open a back door. Ronald Cummings called police and reported his daughter missing when he returned from work at dawn. Investigators have said they do not feel Misty Cummings has told them everything she knows. "The police have been telling me that I've been keeping Misty under my wing and that's why she hasn't talked to the cops," Ronald Cummings told a "Nancy Grace" producer Tuesday. "So now, here you go, I divorced her. So now go find my baby." Watch Ronald Cummings speak to Nancy Grace » The Putnam County Sheriff's office said in August that "the evidence and investigatory effort has minimized the likelihood that Haleigh's disappearance is the work of a stranger." Ronald Cummings and Crystal Sheffield, Haleigh's mother, are not considered suspects, police said. "Investigators believe that Misty Croslin-Cummings continues to hold important answers in the case," the sheriff's office said in a written statement. "She has failed to provide any sort of detailed accounting of the hours during the late evening and early morning of Haleigh's disappearance. Furthermore, physical evidence at the scene contradicts Misty's sketchy account of her evening activities." Shoemaker said his client told Misty Cummings he wanted a divorce on Sunday, and that the a divorce agreement was drawn up Monday. The agreement was sent to Misty Cummings' lawyer for her signature. "He really didn't come to us and say, 'I want to file for divorce,'" said another of Ronald Cummings' attorneys, Brandon Beardsley. "My understanding is that this is something that he and Misty have been discussing for the last few days and they're contemplating it because they ultimately feel that it is in the best interest for both of them." Misty Cummings' attorney, Robert Fields, told CNN he has not talked with his client and doesn't know her thoughts regarding the divorce. Fields said he had received the papers via e-mail but had not had a chance to review them. Asked what he thought the divorce would mean for the search for Haleigh, he said, "Probably nothing." "You have to understand that ever since Haleigh went missing, they have been scrutinized," Beardsley said of the Cummingses. "They can't go out to dinner, can't even go to the convenience store to get a drink. ... The pressure of everything that is going on, the allegations and speculation, has been a stress on the relationship. The two lived together for about six months before marrying in March. The divorce agreement provides no financial terms, according to Shoemaker. On Monday, Misty Cummings left Satsuma to stay with a friend in Orlando, 50 miles south, Shoemaker said. | [
"Who is filing for divorce?",
"Who plans to file for divorce?",
"Where in Florida did the girl go missing?",
"Who went missing in Florida?",
"What do investigators think?",
"What do investigators say?",
"Who went missing?",
"Who is Haleigh Cummings?",
"Who is Misty Cummings?"
] | [
[
"Ronald Cummings"
],
[
"Ronald Cummings"
],
[
"her father's home in Satsuma,"
],
[
"Haleigh Cummings,"
],
[
"not feel Misty Cummings has told them everything she knows."
],
[
"they"
],
[
"Haleigh Cummings,"
],
[
"a Florida girl"
],
[
"his wife,"
]
] | Haleigh Cummings' father plans to file for divorce from the girl's stepmother .
Haleigh went missing from father's home in Satsuma, Florida, on February 9 .
Misty Cummings was Ronald Cummings' girlfriend when Haleigh went missing .
Investigators said they think Misty Cummings has not told them everything . |
(CNN) -- The father of a 6-year-old girl, one of four relatives who police say were killed by another family member on Thanksgiving Day, said it was "unbelievable" how a tip from a television viewer brought about the arrest of the suspect. "Before the show even came on, Paul was being surrounded by the people behind me," Jim Sitton said Tuesday in Jupiter, Florida, standing in front of police officers. Paul M. Merhige is accused of fatally shooting his twin sisters, Sitton's 6-year-old daughter Makayla -- Merhige's cousin -- and a 79-year-old aunt at a family home in Jupiter, Florida, on November 26. One of his sisters was pregnant. Police said Merhige also wounded two other family members during the shooting rampage. A viewer of the television show "America's Most Wanted" recognized descriptions of Merhige and his car and called police. Officers responded to the tip late Saturday, surrounding a small motel in the Florida Keys and taking Merhige into custody. Sitton said the tip came in from a promotional announcement before the show aired, not the show itself. The couple at the hotel who called police went outside and lifted a tarp to look at Merhige's license plate and verify it was the vehicle sought, he said. "So many people don't make the call, and they made the call," Sitton said. "The monster's in a cage and now we can get out of protective mode and begin the process of healing." He said he's not "jumping for joy" at the arrest, "because our daughter's room is still empty. There's dresses and shoes in there that will never be worn again." While the arrest won't bring his daughter back, he said, "this is the first step toward justice. ... If there's anyone that deserves the death penalty, it would be someone who would go and execute my 6-year-old daughter while she is sleeping in her bed." Merhige made a first appearance in court on Sunday. He is charged with four counts of premeditated murder and attempted first-degree murder. His next court appearance is February 1. He is being held without bond at the Palm Beach County jail. "America's Most Wanted" host John Walsh told reporters he got involved in the case after his wife called him and told him she had been seeing news reports on it, and pushed him to air information on the suspect, who had been at large since Thanksgiving. "I really believed that the public would make the difference," said Walsh, who met with the Sittons on Tuesday, according to the AMW Web site. He said Sitton's home had been under police protection and Sitton had patrolled his home nights with a shotgun since the incident. Walsh also said Merhige deserves the death penalty. "He killed four people, including a pregnant woman. He needs to pay." He cautioned the media to be gentle with the Sittons, saying, "these are decent, wonderful, good people that are getting ready to go through hell." Walsh has been involved in assisting crime victims since his 6-year-old son, Adam, was abducted and killed in 1981. According to its Web site, "America's Most Wanted" has helped find more than 1,050 fugitives and bring home more than 50 missing children in its 22 years on the air. | [
"When did the shooting take place",
"Where was the man arrested",
"What is the age of the victim",
"who says arrest of relative is first step towards justice?",
"When was the shooting?",
"What is the name of the person that was arrested?",
"What is the age of the girl that was slain?",
"who was arrested Saturday at motel in Florida Keys?"
] | [
[
"Thanksgiving Day,"
],
[
"small motel in the Florida Keys"
],
[
"6-year-old"
],
[
"Jim Sitton"
],
[
"Thanksgiving Day,"
],
[
"Paul M. Merhige"
],
[
"6-year-old"
],
[
"Paul M. Merhige"
]
] | Dad of slain girl, 6, says arrest of relative is first step towards justice .
Viewer tip led to arrest of suspect in fatal Thanksgiving shooting .
Paul Michael Merhige was arrested Saturday at motel in Florida Keys .
Couple who called police lifted tarp to check license plate on Merhige's car . |
(CNN) -- The father of a Florida girl who has been missing for nearly six months was charged Thursday with burglary with assault, police told CNN. Ronald Cummings was arrested on felony charges of burglary with assault, officials said. Ronald Cummings is being held on $12,500 bond for the felony charges, the Florida Putnam County Sheriff's Office said. There were no other details on his arrest available. Cummings' daughter, Haleigh Cummings, went missing from his home in Satsuma, Florida, on February 9. Cummings has made several public pleas for information about his daughter's disappearance, even begging whoever might be holding her to just return her home. Police have said they think Haleigh was abducted but have provided few details. In March, Cummings married his then-girlfriend Misty Croslin, who was the last person known to have seen the 5-year-old child alive, saying it was what Haleigh would have wanted. Croslin, 17, said she tucked Haleigh and her 4-year-old brother into bed about 8 p.m. the night Haleigh disappeared. Croslin said she went to sleep herself at about 10 p.m. but awoke at 3 a.m. to find Haleigh missing and a back door propped open by bricks. Ronald Cummings called police and reported his daughter missing when he returned from work at dawn. CNN's Maria White and John Couwels contributed to this report. | [
"What is the age of Haleigh Cummings?",
"Who is being held?",
"What is Ronald Cummings bail amount?",
"What was Ronald Cummings arrested for?",
"What was he charged for?"
] | [
[
"5-year-old"
],
[
"Ronald Cummings"
],
[
"$12,500"
],
[
"felony charges of burglary with assault,"
],
[
"burglary with assault,"
]
] | Ronald Cummings is being held on $12,500 bond .
He was charged Thursday with burglary with assault .
Daughter Haleigh Cummings went missing from his home on February 9 . |
(CNN) -- The father of a Marine whose funeral was picketed by the Westboro Baptist Church says an order to pay the protesters' legal costs in a civil claim is nothing less than a "slap in the face."
"By the court making this decision, they're not only telling me that they're taking their side, but I have to pay them money to do this to more soldiers and their families," said Albert Snyder, whose son, Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, was killed in action in Iraq in 2006.
Members of the fundamentalist church based in Topeka, Kansas, appeared outside Snyder's funeral in 2006 in Westminster, Maryland, carrying signs reading "You're going to hell," "God hates you" and "Thank God for dead soldiers."
Among the teachings of the church, which was founded in 1955 by pastor Fred Phelps, is the belief that God is punishing the United States for "the sin of homosexuality" through events such as soldiers' deaths.
Margie Phelps, the daughter of Fred Phelps and the attorney representing the church in its appeals, also said the money that the church receives from Snyder will be used to finance demonstrations. But she also said that the order was a consequence of his decision to sue the church over the demonstration.
"Mr. Snyder and his attorneys have engaged the legal system; there are some rules to that legal engagement," said Phelps, a member of Westboro who says she has participated in more than 150 protests of military funerals.
"They wanted to shut down the picketing so now they're going to finance it," she said.
The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday ordered that Snyder pay more than $16,000 in costs requested by Westboro for copies of motions, briefs and appendices, according to court documents.
In a motion filed in October, Snyder's lawyer, who is representing him for free, asked the court to dismiss the bill of costs, or, alternatively, reduce the 50-cent fee per page or charge Snyder only for copies that were necessary to make their arguments on appeal.
"We objected based upon ability to pay and the fairness of the situation," Sean Summers said.
The mostly pro-forma ruling is the latest chapter in an ongoing legal saga that pits privacy rights of grieving families against the free speech rights of demonstrators, however disturbing and provocative their message.
Snyder's family sued the church and went to trial in 2007 alleging privacy invasion, intentional infliction of emotional distress and civil conspiracy. A jury awarded the family $2.9 million in compensatory damages plus $8 million in punitive damages, which were reduced to $5 million.
Westboro in 2008 appealed the case to the 4th District, which reversed the judgments a year later, siding with the church's claims that its First Amendment rights had been violated.
"The protest was confined to a public area under supervision and regulation of local law enforcement and did not disrupt the church service," the circuit court opinion said. "Although reasonable people may disagree about the appropriateness of the Phelps' protest, this conduct simply does not satisfy the heavy burden required for the tort of intentional infliction of emotional distress under Maryland law."
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case to address issues of laws designed to protect the "sanctity and dignity of memorial and funeral services" as well as the privacy of family and friends of the deceased.
The justices will be asked to address how far states and private entities such as cemeteries and churches can go to justify picket-free zones and the use of "floating buffers" to silence or restrict speech or movements of demonstrators exercising their constitutional rights in a funeral setting.
Both Phelps and Snyder's attorney said they were surprised that the 4th District chose to weigh in on the issue of legal costs when they could have waited until after the Supreme Court hearing.
Phelps believes the ruling bodes well for her side.
"It is a good harbinger of the fact that the Supreme Court will remind this nation that you don't have mob rule | [
"What did his father say about the cost ?",
"What was the name of the church ?",
"what is a ''slap in the face",
"Who did Snyder's family sue?",
"who is ordered to pay costs",
"who sued the church"
] | [
[
"nothing less than a \"slap in the face.\""
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[
"Westboro Baptist"
],
[
"an order"
],
[
"Westboro Baptist Church"
],
[
"Albert Snyder,"
],
[
"Snyder's family"
]
] | Father of Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder calls order to pay legal costs "slap in the face"
Westboro lawyer says order consequence of lawsuit, says money will fund protests .
Snyder's family sued Westboro Baptist Church for protesting Marine's funeral in 2006 .
4th Circuit reversed judgments against Westboro in '09; high court will hear case . |
(CNN) -- The father of a New Year's Day baby pleaded guilty Thursday to killing the infant by violently shaking him. Camryn Jakeb Wilson was the first baby born in 2008 in Summit County, Ohio, arriving at 12:33 a.m. January 1. Craig Wilson's guilty plea in Akron, Ohio, to murder and child endangering charges ended a yearlong saga surrounding the death of Camryn Jakeb Wilson, the first baby born in Summit County, Ohio, in 2008. "This type of crime is always difficult to understand, but today I do hope that Camryn's mother has some closure and that today is one step toward healing," Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh said. Camryn's mother, Crystal Wilson, had left the 10-week-old infant in his father's care on March 12, 2008, while she attended a meeting. When she returned to their Cuyahoga Falls home she found Camryn in a baby swing, listless and breathing abnormally while her husband of 10 months sat on a couch. Doctors at Akron Children's Hospital quickly determined that Camryn had suffered traumatic brain injuries and bleeding in his eyes that could only have been caused by violent shaking. Learn about shaken baby syndrome » Camryn died in his mother's arms, surrounded by other family members, on March 25, 2008, shortly after being removed from life support. Craig Wilson, 29, confessed to police that he was frustrated after an argument with his wife over his ex-girlfriend and a child he had with her. He shook and squeezed Camryn before laying him in the swing but hadn't intended to hurt the infant, he told police. The National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome estimates that as many as 1,400 babies annually are injured or killed by shaking. Despite the confession, the case dragged on for a year after an autopsy showed Camryn had suffered broken ribs prior to the fatal shaking. The finding raised the possibility that another person had previously abused Camryn and perhaps contributed to his death, said Jonathan T. Sinn, Craig Wilson's defense attorney. See photos of the family » Craig Wilson's trial was scheduled to begin Monday. Sinn had hoped to negotiate a plea deal with prosecutors that would send Craig Wilson to prison for a flat 20-year term, but in the end, prosecutors wouldn't budge. "From the moment my client was arrested, he took responsibility for his actions and for the killing of his child," Sinn said. "From a human perspective, that's very admirable. From a defense perspective, it makes it difficult to mount a defense when somebody acknowledges completely their guilt." Judge Lynne Callahan sentenced Wilson to 15 years to life. He is unlikely to be paroled in less than 20 years, Sinn said. | [
"when was this taken place",
"trashwhen did this happen?",
"what was the charges",
"Who pleads guilty?",
"What did the autopsy suggested?"
] | [
[
"March 12, 2008,"
],
[
"March 12, 2008,"
],
[
"murder and child endangering"
],
[
"Craig Wilson's"
],
[
"Camryn had suffered broken ribs prior to the fatal shaking."
]
] | Ohio man pleads guilty to murder, endangering children .
Craig Wilson confessed to shaking baby after argument with wife .
Autopsy suggested 10-week-old infant had been abused before . |
(CNN) -- The federal government has instructed BP to scale back its use of oil dispersants in the Gulf of Mexico, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson said Monday.
Jackson said she believes BP's total use of dispersants can be reduced by as much as 80 percent. While the dispersants are successfully breaking up much of the oil being spilled into the Gulf, she said, "we are making environmental tradeoffs" and are "deeply concerned" about potential side effects.
Jackson and Coast Guard Rear Adm. Mary Landry, the federal on-scene coordinator for the oil spill response effort, told reporters that subsea use of dispersants at the source of the leak will continue. But the federal government strongly prefers to eliminate oil on the surface through a combination of burning and mechanical skimming, they said.
The "use of dispersant in the subsea means that you don't need to spray as much (on the surface)," Jackson later explained. "The idea from the very beginning was that if you could use it in the subsea ... you wouldn't need to spray as much on top."
Jackson's announcement came less than a week after EPA ordered BP to find another chemical dispersant to use on the oil spill after concerns arose about the long-term effects of the substance now being used. Federal officials have been seeking an alternative to the hundreds of thousands of gallons of Corexit 9500 that have been sprayed on the oil slick since April. The product has been rated less effective and more toxic than many others on the list of 18 EPA-approved dispersants, according to testimony at a congressional hearing Wednesday.
Corexit 9500 includes petroleum distillates, propylene glycol and a proprietary organic sulfonic salt, and prolonged contact with it can cause eye or skin irritation, according to the manufacturer's material data safety sheet. The document warns that "repeated or prolonged exposure may irritate the respiratory tract."
"I wasn't satisfied with the answer that we got" from BP regarding possible alternatives, Jackson said. While the data compiled so far does "not show a problem with toxicity" as a result of the use of Corexit, it "seems to me that a month into this and with no end in sight ... we need to ask ourselves whether there's a better product out there. And BP seemed to spend a lot of time saying why everything else didn't work."
The EPA is in the process of setting up a series of toxicity tests, Jackson said, "to look at what's going on out there now and to look at whether there's a better choice."
Asked earlier about the company's continued use of an oil dispersant in the face of an EPA request that it use a less toxic alternative, BP official Tony Hayward said, "Everything that we do with dispersants is with the explicit approval of the EPA."
On Monday, Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Allen -- the Obama administration's point man for the spill -- warned reporters at the White House that the "decision to use dispersants doesn't do away with the problem." It simply means "we are willing to accept the effect of the oil in the ocean rather than on land. It is a trade-off of where the impact of the oil is going to be made." | [
"What did the Government instruct BP to scale back?",
"what is BP's response?",
"How many percent can BP scale back the use of dispersants?",
"Where should BP scale back use of dispersants?",
"How much can BP's use of dispersants be reduced?",
"how much can dispersants be reduced?"
] | [
[
"its use of oil dispersants in the Gulf"
],
[
"\"Everything that we do with dispersants is with the explicit approval of the EPA.\""
],
[
"80"
],
[
"of Mexico,"
],
[
"80 percent."
],
[
"as 80 percent."
]
] | Government instructs BP to scale back use of oil dispersants in Gulf .
EPA administrator says BP's use of dispersants can be reduced by 80 percent .
Official unhappy with BP's response to request it consider alternatives to current dispersant . |
(CNN) -- The federal government is starting to deploy full-body scanning machines to 11 airports across the United States, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced Friday.
Forty body-imaging machines already have been put into use at 19 airports nationwide as part of a field test, according the Department of Homeland Security. The Transportation Security Administration expects to deploy 450 units by the end of this year.
"By accelerating the deployment of this technology, we are enhancing our capability to detect and disrupt threats of terrorism across the nation," Napolitano said in a statement.
The first of the new units are being installed Friday at Boston's Logan International Airport, according to a DHS statement.
The list of other airports set to receive the scanners by the end of summer includes Chicago O'Hare International, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International, Mineta San José International, Los Angeles International, Port Columbus International, Oakland International, San Diego International, Kansas City International and Charlotte Douglas International.
The imaging machines are being funded through the Obama administration's $862 billion economic stimulus plan.
Under existing protocols, full-body scans are optional at airport checkpoints. Travelers who decline the scans are funneled to a location where they may be given a pat down and subjected to other tests such as swabs that can detect minute traces of explosives on hands or luggage.
The TSA said most passengers prefer a body scan to a pat down. But others have objected to the body scans, calling them electronic strip searches.
Passenger privacy is maintained during the scannning process by blurring all images, deleting images after they are viewed and placing the screener viewing the images in a remote location, according to DHS officials.
Acting TSA Administrator Gale Rossides testified before Congress on Thursday that the machines will not significantly slow the passenger screening process, saying it will be done at the same time as carry-on baggage screening.
The TSA has spent years testing full-body imagers. Plans to deploy them this year were given added urgency after the arrest of a Nigerian man, Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab, who has been accused of attempting to detonate an explosive sewn into his underwear on a December 25 flight.
Field testing of full-body scanners already is under way at the following 19 airports:
• Albuquerque International Sunport Airport • Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport • Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport • Denver International Airport • Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport • Detroit Metro Airport • Indianapolis International Airport • Jacksonville International Airport • McCarran International Airport • Los Angeles International Airport • Miami International Airport • Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport • Raleigh-Durham International Airport • Richmond International Airport • Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport • San Francisco International Airport • Salt Lake City International Airport • Tampa International Airport • Tulsa International Airport
CNN's Mike Ahlers contributed to this report. | [
"What's expected on Friday?",
"Which government agency is deploying the scanners?",
"How many units are being deployed?",
"What kind of scanners are being deployed?",
"What is LIA expected to get on Friday?",
"What other airports will receive scanners?",
"How many units will be deployed by the end of 2010?",
"What airports are involved?"
] | [
[
"full-body scanning machines to 11 airports across"
],
[
"Transportation Security Administration"
],
[
"450"
],
[
"full-body scanning machines"
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[
"full-body scanning machines"
],
[
"International, Port Columbus International, Oakland International, San Diego International, Kansas City International and Charlotte Douglas International."
],
[
"450"
],
[
"Miami International"
]
] | Boston's Logan International Airport expected to get scanners on Friday .
Chicago and Los Angeles airports also among facilities receiving scanners .
Government plans to deploy 450 units by the end of 2010 . |
(CNN) -- The fiberglass head weighed 600 pounds and resembled Clarabell the Clown from the 1950s "Howdy Doody Show." Bill Ziegler, owner of the Wild Bill's nostalgia store, stumbled across it on an artist's Web site and wondered if it would work for a project he had in mind.
Salem Sue stands watch in New Salem, North Dakota. She measures 38 feet tall and 50 feet long.
Ziegler recruited the artist to help him attach the giant head to his 33-foot farm silo. By October 2008, the pair had built the world's largest jack-in-the-box.
The jack-in-the-box extends 50 feet in the air, moving up and down approximately once a minute. "They love it," Ziegler said of the tourists who come to his store. He's had visitors from as far away as England -- one couple who saw the story of the jack-in-the-box in a British newspaper decided to stop by.
All across the country, roadside attractions like this one bring surprise and delight to travelers who just have to get a closer look.
"In many parts of the country, you can plan an entire road trip where you visit nothing but 'world's largest' attractions," said Doug Kirby, the publisher of RoadsideAmerica.com.
Kirby's Web site pays homage to odd attractions -- from Ziegler's jack-in-the-box in Middletown, Connecticut, to the world's largest ketchup bottle in Collinsville, Illinois, to the world's largest sundial in Carefree, Arizona.
"Travelers enjoy the noncorporate, somewhat ragged nature of these eclectic attractions," Kirby said. "They're often free, and you can take a great 'wish you were here' photo." See photos of some "world's largest" attractions »
Kirby picked five world's largest attractions from his Web site. In addition to Ziegler's jack-in-the-box, here are his top recommendations for adventurous road trippers:
Ball of twine
Visitors do more than snap a picture at the world's largest ball of twine in Cawker City, Kansas. Linda Clover, self-described keeper of the ball, gives tourists twine to add it to the attraction.
"People like to be a part of it," Clover said. "It shows that with lots of patience and a lot of people helping out, you can end up with something very big."
Clover ended up in charge of the ball in a roundabout way. Farmer Frank Stoeber started the ball of twine in 1953. When he died, his cousin took over. And when his cousin died, Clover stepped up.
"I know that people like to come and see it. And someone had to take care of it," she said. "My husband used to say that people asked me to do something and I couldn't say no."
Clover keeps twine with her in case an interested tourist gives her a call. The ball measures more than 40 feet across. It contains 7.9 million feet of twine and weighs approximately 19,000 pounds. And every year in August, Cawker City hosts a twine-a-thon event to hold on to the world's largest ball of twine record.
Salem Sue
Salem Sue, dubbed the world's largest cow, is in New Salem, North Dakota. She measures 38 feet tall, 50 feet long and is made up of 12,000 pounds of fiberglass.
Scott Schauer, producer of The Real North Dakota project, features Salem Sue on his Web site, which is dedicated to showing tourists the best of North Dakota. As a kid, Schauer used to drive by the cow with his family. He thinks many people pass similar road trip traditions on to their kids, hence their appeal.
"I remember being mesmerized by their monstrous size. No matter how many times I saw them, I always looked forward to seeing them again and again," Schauer said. "As an adult, I still look forward to seeing them. I guess some | [
"What began in 1953?",
"What offers surprise and delight to travelers?",
"where was the largest ball of twine"
] | [
[
"the ball of twine"
],
[
"roadside attractions"
],
[
"Cawker City, Kansas."
]
] | World's largest roadside attractions offer surprise and delight to travelers .
Largest ball of twine in Cawker City, Kansas, began in 1953 .
Freedom Worship Baptist Church is home to world's largest horseshoe crab .
Expert: Recognition is main reason people build world's largest attractions . |
(CNN) -- The figure peers down silently from an upper floor of the ruins of a Scottish castle, wearing what looks like an outfit from the Middle Ages. Could this be a long-dead Scottish earl, or just a random, modern-day visitor?
The mysterious image captured by Chris Aitchison at Tantallon Castle in eastern Scotland.
The eerie image is captured in a photograph taken by tourist Christopher Aitchison in May 2008 at Tantallon Castle, which sits on a rocky outcrop along the Scottish coast, east of Edinburgh. The "person" appears to be wearing an old-style greenish ruff around the neck.
Aitchison insists he did not tamper with the image and cannot explain it.
"I was not aware of anyone, or anything, being present in my picture, only noticing the anomaly when I got home," Aitchison said. "Staff have verified that there were no sinister dummies in period costume or historical reenactments going on that day at the castle. I did not notice any nice old ladies wearing ruffs walking around the stairs!"
The picture was made public Friday by Richard Wiseman, a professor of psychology at the University of Hertfordshire who also studies the paranormal. Wiseman said he was looking for "photographic evidence for ghosts" ahead of a session on the subject at the Edinburgh International Science Festival next week. See gallery of haunted photographs »
Wiseman solicited such photos from around the world and collated them for the conference. He said the majority of images showed mysterious-looking orbs, mists, figures and faces.
In one picture, a face appears in the side-view mirror of a parked Mercedes convertible. The photographer insists no one was around when he took the picture; skeptics say the mirror could be reflecting the headrest or be the result of digital manipulation.
Another photo of a person walking through a creek in the woods appears to show a second person wearing a hooded sweatshirt, standing on a rock nearby. Skeptics say the "figure" is an illusion created by tree branches and the rock formation in the background.
Two friends raising a drink to the camera in a third photograph are joined by a ghostly third figure in the background with a face that looks like a Halloween monster mask.
"Many of the photographs can be easily explained," said photographer Gordon Rutter, who also examined the pictures. "Orbs can be caused by the camera flash reflecting off tiny dust particles, mists can result from condensed breath in front of the lens, long exposures can create ghostly figures, and apparent faces are often people seeing patterns in random shapes."
But the "ghost" in the Scottish castle has generated the most attention. What do you think about the image?
Tantallon Castle was built in the 1350s by a nobleman and soon became the stronghold of the Douglas dynasty. For 300 years, the Douglas earls of Angus held sway at the castle as one of the most powerful families in Scotland, according to Historic Scotland, which looks after historic sites for the Scottish government.
The castle also was the scene of violence, enduring three great sieges: in 1491, 1528 and 1651. The last, by Oliver Cromwell's army, resulted in such destruction that the fortress was abandoned.
It remains the "last truly great castle" built in Scotland, with enormously thick and high stone walls enclosing large courtyards, and high stone towers.
That stonework could explain the mysterious figure in the photograph, having caused unusual shadows. It is also possible that a member of the public was standing there when the picture was taken, Wiseman said -- in which case, he hopes they will come forward.
"I think it's probably a person who's been caught in slightly odd dress," Wiseman told CNN. "We know the day it was taken ... so somebody might come forward to say, 'That was me.'"
He added, "If they can explain it, e-mail me. Or indeed, if they have photos they think are better, e-mail them to me."
A similar mystery | [
"Who is Christopher Aitchison?",
"Was the picture ever public?",
"Who took this photograph?",
"Where is Tantallon Castle?",
"what Picture made public by a psychology professor?",
"What does the person appear to be wearing?"
] | [
[
"tourist"
],
[
"The"
],
[
"Christopher Aitchison"
],
[
"eastern Scotland."
],
[
"mysterious image captured"
],
[
"an outfit from the Middle Ages."
]
] | Photograph taken by Christopher Aitchison in May 2008 at Tantallon Castle .
The "person" appears to be wearing an old-style greenish ruff around the neck .
Aitchison insists he did not tamper with the image .
Picture made public by a psychology professor who studies the paranormal . |
(CNN) -- The first bodies to be recovered from the crash of Air France 447 arrived at a Brazilian Air Force base in Recife, Brazil, Wednesday, the air force announced. Brazilian pilots and a medical team bring one of the first bodies ashore at Fernando de Noronha island. The 16 bodies were taken to the Legal Medical Institute in Recife for identification, the statement said. Police will perform DNA tests at their lab in the capital, Brasilia, if necessary, they said. Another 25 bodies have been found and will go through the same procedure starting Thursday, the air force said. Official identification of the bodies will be made only by the Legal Medicine Institute, even if any of the bodies could have been identified while on Fernando de Noronha, the islands where they were first brought after being recovered. A French nuclear submarine joined the hunt Wednesday for the flight data recorders and other wreckage from Air France Flight 447 as Brazilian air force and navy crews continued to pull bodies from the Atlantic. Bad weather and poor visibility are expected in the search area, Brazilian Air Force spokesmen said. France is leading the investigation into what caused last week's accident when the Paris-bound flight from Rio de Janeiro plunged into the sea off the Brazilian coast with 228 passengers and crew on board. The French nuclear submarine Emeraude began patrolling the area Wednesday morning, the French defense ministry said. Around 400 French military personnel are involved in the salvage effort. France has also sent two tugs towing 40 tons of recovery equipment, a surveillance ship and a ship equipped for amphibious operations. Fourteen aircraft -- 12 Brazilian and two French -- are participating, along with five Brazilian ships. The U.S. Navy will contribute two high-tech acoustic devices to listen underwater for the emergency beacons that are attached to the voice and data recorders. The "towed pinger locators," which help search for emergency beacons on downed aircraft to a maximum depth of 6,000 meters (20,000 feet) -- will be placed aboard the French tugs. Watch challenges faced by search crews » Brazilian officials emphasized earlier this week that finding bodies was their main priority. The French are in charge of finding the voice and data recorders. The 16 bodies retrieved Tuesday from the Atlantic were taken to the island of Fernando de Noronha for transport by helicopter to Recife. The 25 bodies previously found were put aboard a Brazilian frigate. Watch bodies being returned to land » The first bodies were recovered about 320 kilometers (200 miles) northwest of the Brazilian archipelago of Saint Peter and Saint Paul; Tuesday's recoveries were 80 kilometers (50 miles) away. See photos of bodies arriving at Fernando de Noronha » It was not clear whether the bodies had drifted in the 1-2 knot currents or whether their separation suggested that the jet may have broken apart in the air. The location of the crash has not been determined, because ocean currents have moved the bodies and debris. The search area covers 200,000 square km (77,220 square miles), Brazilian officials said. Map of Flight 447's flight path » The ocean depth where the debris and bodies have been found varies, but averages about 3,000 meters (nearly 9,900 feet) deep, according to the University of New Hampshire/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association Joint Hydrographic Center. Brazilian officials said the plane debris will be taken to France for investigation but the bodies would undergo forensic tests in Recife. The cause of the crash is still not known, but investigators are looking at the possible role of airspeed sensors known as Pitot tubes, among other factors. Did plane's tail fin snap off? » Air France has agreed to replace the sensors on its Airbus A330 and A340 jets, a pilots' union said Tuesday. The airline said Saturday that it began replacing its fleet's sensors last month. Another Air France pilots' union, ALTER, has advised its pilots not to fly planes until their Pitot tubes are replaced. ALTER, the smallest of three Air France pilots' unions, would not say what percentage of the carrier's pilots it represents. | [
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] | 16 bodies retrieved from crashed airliner arrive in mainland Brazil .
Bodies taken to police laboratory in Brasilia for DNA testing .
French nuclear submarine joins hunt for wreckage from Air France Flight 447 .
Location, cause of crash off Brazilian coast have not been determined . |
(CNN) -- The first guests checked back into the Taj Mahal Palace and the Oberoi-Trident hotels Sunday, marking the reopening of the two luxury venues damaged by terrorist attacks in Mumbai last month.
Guests arrive Sunday at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai.
Along with new guests, the hotels' five restaurants were booked with diners, representatives of the Taj Mahal said.
"Today has been an incredibly moving day. The Taj has been reopened, after a massive concerted effort, in dedication to all of those who lost their lives in the attacks on Mumbai," said Ratan Tata, the chairman of the company that owns the the Taj Mahal Palace hotel.
Representatives at the Oberoi-Trident marked the reopening of that hotel with a multi-religion prayer meeting. Watch as the Taj Mahal hotel reopens
"All the 550 guest rooms, including the executive floors, of the hotel are ready to receive guests," a hotel spokesman said, adding the business was reopening with "heightened security,"
There were still portions of both hotels that could not reopened because of damage, including the Heritage wing of the Taj Mahal and the Oberoi wing of the Oberoi-Trident.
The scene Sunday is a far cry from November 26 when the hotel and many other locations in Mumbai were paralyzed by a mass of coordinated attacks.
Terrorists using bombs, gunfire and fire caused the deaths of more than 160 people over three days of sieges throughout the city that is India's commercial capital. They took hostages at the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower and Oberoi-Trident hotels.
The assaults also targeted a historic train station, a Jewish cultural center and other landmarks.
CNN's Harmeet Singh contributed to this report. | [
"how many people died",
"How long were the sieges?",
"When were they closed?",
"Who targeted them?",
"how long was the siege",
"what hotel has reopend"
] | [
[
"more than 160"
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"three days"
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"November 26"
],
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"Terrorists"
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"three days"
],
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"Taj Mahal Palace"
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] | Mumbai's Taj Mahal Palace Tower, Oberoi-Trident luxury hotels reopen .
Both were targeted by gunmen in last month's attacks in which around 160 died .
Parts of both hotels still closed because of damage suffered during three-day sieges . |
(CNN) -- The first nine months of this year has seen more pirate attacks than all of last year. And more than half of those attacks were carried out by suspected Somali pirates, an international maritime watchdog group said Wednesday. The increase in attacks has forced many countries to patrol pirate hotspots such as the Gulf of Aden. "The increased activity in Somalia is the major reason for the spike," said Cyrus Mody, manager of the International Maritime Bureau, which monitors shipping crimes. From January 1 until September 30, pirates worldwide mounted 306 attacks, compared with 293 in all of 2008, the Bureau said. Of the incidents this year, Somali pirates accounted for 54 percent: they launched 168 attacks. Most of them took place off the east coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden, a major shipping route between Yemen and Somalia. They successfully hijacked 32 vessels and took 533 hostages. Eight others were wounded, four more killed and one is missing, the Bureau said. Somali pirates are still holding four ships for ransom with 80 crew members as hostages. Somalia's transitional government, which has a tenuous grip on power, has been unable to stop the pirates -- many of whom are based in the port cities. This has prompted Europe and other Western countries to step up maritime patrols. "In the Gulf of Aden, the number of attacks have gone up. But because of the presence of naval vessels, the success rate of the pirates have decreased," Mody said. "The navies are responding very very effectively." Today's pirates are a far cry from the eye-patched, peg-legged swashbucklers of Hollywood. They don night-vision goggles, carry rocket launchers and navigate with global positioning devices. Many pirates are trained fighters; others are young thugs enlisted for the job. Experts say they often sail out to sea in a mother ship and wait for a target. When they find one, the pirates board smaller boats and move in, typically with five to seven armed hijackers per boat. Two recent trends have led to a rise in piracy: access and opportunity. As global commerce picks up, more and more of the world's fuels, minerals and other crucial commodities travel by ship. Ninety-five percent of America's foreign trade, for instance, moves by water, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration. That cargo is an easy target for robbers in countries that lack the resources to secure their shorelines, such as Somalia. Those who have tracked pirate activity say it started in Somalia in the 1980s, when the pirates claimed they were aiming to stop the rampant illegal fishing and dumping that continues to this day off the Somali coast. Piracy accelerated after the fall of the Somali government in the early 1990s and began to flourish after shipping companies started paying ransoms. Those payments started out being in the tens of thousands of dollars and have since climbed into the millions. With the ransoms they collect, pirates can earn up to $40,000 a year, analysts say. That's a fortune for someone from an impoverished country. Some analysts say companies are simply making the problem worse by paying the piracies. "Yes, the ransoms have probably caused the piracy to become a bit more rampant. But at the same time, from the owner's point of view, there is no other way currently to secure the safe release of the vessel along with the crew and the cargo," Mody said. "It's basically a cycle." Other trouble spots this year were waters off Nigeria, with 20 attacks; Malaysia with 14; and Bangladesh with 12. | [
"What number of ship are still held?",
"Where did the attacks occur?",
"who are still holding?",
"Where did the attacks take place?",
"Which other places have trouble spots?",
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"how much was the percent?",
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] | [
[
"four"
],
[
"Gulf of Aden."
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[
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"off the east coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden,"
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"Somali pirates"
]
] | Somali pirates accounted for 54 percent of all attacks this year .
Most of them took place off east coast of Somalia and in Gulf of Aden .
Somali pirates are still holding four ships for ransom .
Other trouble spots were waters off Nigeria, Malaysia and Bangladesh . |
(CNN) -- The first passenger plane equipped with a system to repel shoulder-fired missiles successfully completed its flight, a British defense and aerospace company announced Wednesday.
The system aims to protect against fire from missile launchers like these, which were used to fire at an Israeli plane.
The JetEye infrared missile-defense system was tested on an American Airlines flight that took off July 11, according to a statement from BAE Systems.
The plane flew from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport in California, the company said.
The JetEye system works by detecting the heat-seeking missiles and then firing a laser, which diverts the missile.
American Airlines refused to make the system mandatory on all trips but agreed to cooperate with the tests.
The flight represents the final phase of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Counter-Man-Portable Air Defense System program, designed to test the suitability of missile-protection equipment for commercial aircraft.
Previously, the technology was successfully evaluated on an American Airlines test aircraft and an ABX Air Inc. cargo aircraft.
The missile-protection equipment will be installed on two more American Airlines 767-200 aircraft for daily cross-country flights through March. Engineers will evaluate the system's maintainability and reliability, as well as its suitability for the airline industry. No missiles will be fired at these flights.
"BAE Systems worked closely with DHS and the airline industry to develop an effective response to potential terrorist threats," said Burt Keirstead, JetEye program director for BAE Systems in Nashua, New Hampshire.
Homeland Security officials said in January that there is no specific threat of these weapons being fired at planes.
However, Taliban forces successfully used shoulder-fired missiles against Soviet helicopters in Afghanistan. Terrorists tried in 2002 to shoot down an Israeli passenger jet in Kenya with them.
Insurgents hit a cargo plane in Baghdad the following year, but the plane landed safely.
Experts say that about 500,000 to 700,000 shoulder-fired missile weapons have been produced worldwide, and some have been purchased in Middle Eastern and Central Asian arms markets for as little as $5,000.
Since 2003, Congress has pressured Homeland Security to adapt military anti-MANPADS technology to commercial aviation.
BAE Systems, based in Farnborough, England, works with American Airlines Maintenance and Engineering Services, which provided the test aircraft and engineering services for the development of JetEye.
DHS awarded BAE Systems a $29 million contract in January for this final evaluation phase of the program, which calls for the planes to log about 7,000 flight hours.
Northrop Grumman, a defense company with its own system to protect planes from portable missiles, urged the Defense Department in March to install its system on commercial flights that take soldiers and equipment to war zones.
Jack Pledger, a Northrop Grumman executive, said in March that 27 terrorist groups are believed to possess shoulder-fired weapons, that aircraft are vulnerable to the missiles within 25 miles of airports and that one missile incident could have catastrophic effects on the U.S. economy.
In March, the Northrop system concluded a 14-month test during which anti-missile systems were installed on 11 FedEx cargo planes that flew 4,500 flights. | [
"what does jeteye do",
"What was the goal?",
"What project did American Airline?"
] | [
[
"protect against fire from missile launchers"
],
[
"protect against fire from missile launchers"
],
[
"JetEye infrared missile-defense system"
]
] | System detects heat-seeking missiles, then emits a laser to divert the missile .
American Airlines flight becomes first passenger plane to test out "JetEye" system .
JetEye will be installed on at least two more American Airlines flights .
Goal is to have an effective response to terrorist threats . |
(CNN) -- The first person ever convicted in Idaho of knowingly spreading the HIV virus is facing new charges for the same offense, authorities said Thursday.
An Ada County, Idaho, grand jury on Tuesday returned an indictment charging Kerry Thomas, 45, with seven counts of knowingly transferring the HIV virus, Jean Fisher, Ada County deputy prosecutor, told CNN.
In 1990, Thomas was charged with four counts of HIV transmission and two counts of statutory rape, Fisher said. As part of a plea agreement, he pleaded guilty only to the rape charges.
According to Fisher, Thomas received a 12-year sentence and had to serve three years before being eligible for parole. He was later granted early release.
In 1996, however, Thomas was again charged with one count of HIV transmission, and a jury convicted him, Fisher said. He received a 15-year sentence with a seven-year minimum.
Now out on parole, Thomas faces possible life in prison on the new charges because prosecutors are seeking his designation as a "persistent violator."
It was not immediately known whether Thomas was in custody Thursday. He was not listed online among the inmates in the Ada County Jail.
Asked why Thomas would continue to spread the virus, which causes AIDS, Fisher said, "That's the $64,000 question, for a person who has been to prison twice." | [
"What was Kerry Thomas charged with?",
"What happened in 1990?",
"What happens if Thomas is convicted?",
"What happened to Kerry Thomas?",
"When was he charged?",
"What could he face?",
"What was he indicted for a second time?",
"What is the likely sentence?",
"When as Thomas charged?"
] | [
[
"seven counts of knowingly transferring the HIV virus,"
],
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"was charged with four counts of HIV transmission and two counts of statutory rape,"
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],
[
"possible life in prison"
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"knowingly spreading the HIV virus"
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[
"possible life in prison"
],
[
"1990,"
]
] | Kerry Thomas was indicted for second time for knowingly transferring HIV virus .
In 1990, Thomas was charged with four counts of HIV transmission .
If convicted, Thomas could face life in prison . |
(CNN) -- The first person ever convicted in Idaho of knowingly spreading the HIV virus is facing new charges for the same offense, authorities said Thursday. An Ada County, Idaho, grand jury on Tuesday returned an indictment charging Kerry Thomas, 45, with seven counts of knowingly transferring the HIV virus, Jean Fisher, Ada County deputy prosecutor, told CNN. In 1990, Thomas was charged with four counts of HIV transmission and two counts of statutory rape, Fisher said. As part of a plea agreement, he pleaded guilty only to the rape charges. According to Fisher, Thomas received a 12-year sentence and had to serve three years before being eligible for parole. He was later granted early release. In 1996, however, Thomas was again charged with one count of HIV transmission, and a jury convicted him, Fisher said. He received a 15-year sentence with a seven-year minimum. Now out on parole, Thomas faces possible life in prison on the new charges because prosecutors are seeking his designation as a "persistent violator." It was not immediately known whether Thomas was in custody Thursday. He was not listed online among the inmates in the Ada County Jail. Asked why Thomas would continue to spread the virus, which causes AIDS, Fisher said, "That's the $64,000 question, for a person who has been to prison twice." | [
"What year was he charged?",
"Kerry Thomas was indicted for what?",
"when was he charged",
"What penalty will he face if convicted?",
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"what happens if convicted",
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] | [
[
"In 1990, Thomas"
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"with seven counts of knowingly transferring the HIV virus,"
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],
[
"knowingly transferring the HIV virus,"
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[
"a 12-year sentence and had to serve three years before being eligible for parole."
],
[
"Kerry Thomas,"
]
] | Kerry Thomas was indicted for second time for knowingly transferring HIV virus .
In 1990, Thomas was charged with four counts of HIV transmission .
If convicted, Thomas could face life in prison . |
(CNN) -- The following are excerpts from the Heather Mills-Paul McCartney divorce ruling, issued by the Honorable Mr. Justice Bennett. Dollar figures are based on the current exchange rate of approximately two dollars per British pound: Heather Mills' case "boils down to the syndrome of 'me, too,' " said the judge. On Mills' finances: "I have to say I cannot accept the wife's case that she was wealthy and independent by the time she met the husband in the middle of 1999. Her problem stems from the lack of any documentary evidence to support her case as to the level of her earnings. I do not doubt her commitment to charitable causes ... [but] I find that the wife's case as to her wealth in 1999 to be wholly exaggerated. The assertion that she was a wealthy person in 1999 is, of course, the first step in her overall case that her career, which in 1999 she says was one producing rich financial rewards, was thereafter blighted by the husband during their relationship. It is therefore connected to the issue of 'compensation.' " On her stature as "business partner": "In my judgment the picture painted by the husband of the wife's part in his emotional and professional life is much closer to reality than the wife's account. The wife, as the husband said, enjoys being the center of attention. ... I am prepared to accept that her presence was emotionally supportive to him but to suggest that in some way she was his 'business partner' is, I am sorry to have to say, make-belief." On gifts to Mills from McCartney: "[McCartney] asserted (and there is no dispute) that he made substantial capital payments to the wife over and above an annual allowance of £360,000 ($720,000) per annum. He lent her monies in respect of his purchase and renovation of [the house] Angel's Rest. In 2002 and 2003 he gave her cash totaling £500,000 ($1 million). He lent [Heather's sister] Fiona Mills £421,000 ($842,000) to buy a property and purchased a house for [Heather's relative] Sonya Mills for £193,000 ($386,000). In 2005 he purchased jewelry for the wife worth £264,000 ($528,000)." On some paintings in Angel's Rest: "[Mills] asserted in her cross-examination of the husband that some 30 paintings done by [McCartney], which are hanging in Angel's Rest, were given to her by the husband. The husband strongly disagreed. The husband told me that when the wife bought Angel's Rest she had nothing to hang on the walls and so he lent her 30 of his own paintings. He told me they were his, that he may leave them in trust for Beatrice and his other children, and that he wants them back save for the flower photographs and the Isle of Man stamp design, both given to the wife by the husband. The husband, I find, was generous towards the wife but his generosity did not extend to giving her 30 valuable paintings (of his own creation.) I accept the husband's evidence. In my judgment he is entitled to have them back." On the size of McCartney's fortune: "It is unnecessary in the instant case to arrive at a precise figure for the total wealth of the husband, given its enormous size. As he has always accepted, he can pay any sum which the court considers appropriate as for financial provision for the wife. Nevertheless I find that the husband's total wealth amounts to approximately £400 million ($800 million). I reject the wife's case that he is worth £800 million ($1.6 billion). There is absolutely no evidence at all to support that figure or any figure anywhere near it." On living style: "In my judgment the wife's attitude, ... her open offers, her oral and written evidence, and her submissions is that she is entitled for the indefinite future | [
"what judge says on Mill's case?",
"whre Judge: Mills' case \"boils down to?",
"what the judge says on Heather Mills?"
] | [
[
"\"boils down to the syndrome of 'me, too,'"
],
[
"the syndrome of 'me, too,'"
],
[
"\"boils down to the syndrome of 'me, too,'"
]
] | Judge on Heather Mills: Level of premarital wealth "exaggerated"
McCartney gave Mills several hundred thousand dollars each year .
Judge: Mills' case "boils down to ... 'if he has it, I want it too' " |
(CNN) -- The forthcoming trial in Germany of John Demjanjuk could be the last occasion on which a Nazi war crimes suspect faces prosecution. German officials claim John Demjanjuk was an accessory to 29,000 murders in a Nazi death camp. But the legacy of decades-old efforts to bring the perpetrators of World War II atrocities to justice means that those who commit similar offences in the 21st century will not be able to hide from their past so easily, according to a leading war crimes prosecutor. Many leading Nazis such as Hermann Goering, Rudolf Hess and Albert Speer were prosecuted by the main allies -- the U.S., the Soviet Union and the UK -- shortly after the end of the war at the Nuremberg Trials. South African judge Richard Goldstone, formerly the chief U.N. prosecutor for war crimes in Yugoslavia and Rwanda, told CNN that Nuremberg had been the "first attempt of any importance to hold war criminals accountable" and had laid the foundations for the development of modern humanitarian law. Yet many lower-ranking servants of the Nazi regime and its allies were able to escape punishment for their crimes, assuming new identities, fleeing Europe or even finding employment with Soviet or western security agencies as determination to bring them to justice waned with the advent of the Cold War, according to Rabbi Marvin Hier of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. "These murderers walked into small cities and killed men, women and children and walked away without a trace," Hier told CNN. "The sad thing is that had the world wanted to prosecute Nazi war criminals after Nuremberg, and had (countries) put up the budget and the resources then every one of these elusive criminals would have been brought to justice." But Goldstone said that the creation in 2002 of the International Criminal Court marked a "very important step forward" to ensure that future atrocities would not be so quickly forgotten. While previous tribunals investigating crimes in Rwanda and Yugoslavia were ad hoc creations set up by the U.N. Security Council, the ICC is a permanent institution with a specific remit to investigate and prosecute cases of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Goldstone said that developments in humanitarian law and the evolution of international justice meant that modern institutions were more sophisticated and fairer than Nuremberg had been, recognizing the rights of victims to representation but also ensuring a fair trial for defendants. "Modern international law requires trials that are a lot fairer than the trials that were put on at Nuremberg," he said. The jurisdiction of the ICC is currently recognized by 108 countries -- though not by the U.S., Russia or China. But Goldstone said the court was "moving quickly" towards universal ratification and said U.S. President Barack Obama's new administration was likely to be more cooperative and friendlier to the ICC than predecessor George W. Bush had been in office. "I'd love to see the day when there is universal ratification because when that happens there will be nowhere for war criminals to run to," he said. Demjanjuk, an 89-year-old native Ukrainian deported from the U.S. this week, is alleged to have been a guard at the Sobibor death camp in Nazi-occupied Poland and is accused of being an accessory to the murder of more than 29,000 people. Hier said Demjanjuk's extradition marked the culmination of greater efforts in the U.S. since the late 1970s to send suspected war criminals to face trial. An Office of Special Investigations was established in 1979 to hunt for war criminals on U.S. soil, while legislation allowed even suspects who had acquired U.S. citizenship to be extradited for lying on their naturalization papers about their Nazi pasts. But he said Demjanjuk's trial could be the last of its kind -- and not just because of the age of suspected war criminals still at large. "You can't just have a trial with documents. You have to have living witnesses," Hier said. "Most of those witnesses are very old, most of them are well into their 80s and beyond and they have to be in sufficient good health that they can be questioned and travel to take part in the trial." But Hier said | [
"What could be the last of its kind",
"What happened to many lesser Nazis at Nuremberg?",
"What is ICC's remit?",
"What struggle help create International Criminal Court",
"Who is being tried for war crimes?",
"Who has escaped justice?",
"Who has the remit to probe war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity",
"What is the remit of the ICC?"
] | [
[
"Demjanjuk's trial"
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[
"assuming new identities, fleeing Europe"
],
[
"investigate and prosecute cases of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes."
],
[
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],
[
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],
[
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],
[
"to investigate and prosecute cases of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes."
]
] | Expert: Trial of Nazi war crimes suspect John Demjanjuk could be last of its kind .
Leading Nazis prosecuted at Nuremberg but many lesser Nazis escaped justice .
Struggle to prosecute Nazis influenced creation of International Criminal Court .
ICC has remit to probe war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity . |
(CNN) -- The future of Iceland's elected government was in question Sunday after another weekend of street protests and the resignation of the government's commerce minister -- both responses to the country's financial mess. Iceland's Prime Minister Geir Haarde, left, talks with business minister Bjorgvin Sigurdsson in October. The minister, Bjorgvin Sigurdsson, resigned Sunday, saying the government had failed to restore confidence in the three months after the collapse of several of the country's leading banks, currency and stock market. Senior government officials from the two parties that make up Iceland's coalition government -- the prime minister's Independence Party and the Social Democrats party -- met Sunday to discuss the government's future but nothing was resolved, a spokesman for the prime minister said. Another meeting was scheduled for Sunday night and it was "highly likely" that the parties would decide whether the current government would remain, the spokesman, Kristjan Kristjansson, said. Sigurdsson's resignation followed Saturday's demonstration in which about 6,000 to 7,000 people in front of the parliament building called for the government of Prime Minister Geir Haarde to step down. Protests have been staged regularly since the collapse, but Saturday's was one of the biggest to date, a spokesman for the prime minister said. Saturday's demonstration was peaceful, the spokesman, Kristjansson, said. Watch iReport of Saturday demonstration Riot police intervened during protests earlier in the week, using pepper spray and arresting some demonstrators. In his resignation letter to the prime minister, Sigurdsson said he was taking his part of the responsibility for the economic situation in the country. But he also said that there were many more who shared responsibility, Urdur Gunnarsdottir, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told CNN. No other officials were named. The night before he resigned, Sigurdsson dismissed the head of the country's financial supervisory authority and requested the authority's board resign. Haarde announced Friday he has a malignant tumor on his esophagus and would not run for re-election as chair of the Independence Party. He also proposed that early elections be held on May 9, two years ahead of schedule. The country's five-party parliament has not yet taken up the proposal, Kristjansson told CNN. Iceland's financial system and currency collapsed in October following a series of bank failures, forcing the International Monetary Fund to intervene. Iceland sought IMF help after its government was forced to nationalize three banks to head off a complete collapse of its financial system. Trading on the country's stock market was suspended for nearly a week, and inflation jumped to more than 12 percent. The IMF announced in November it would pump about $827 million into the Icelandic economy immediately, with another $1.3 billion coming in eight installments. Iceland's Nordic neighbors -- the governments of Finland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden -- announced they would lend Iceland another $2.5 billion. In his resignation letter, Sigurdsson said after the country's financial crash, he hoped the government would re-create trust and restore the country's finances. But he said the effort failed, and he was resigning to help facilitate a restoration of public trust. Sigurdsson is legally entitled to keep receiving his salary for several months after his resignation, but said in his letter he would not accept it. CNN's Per Nyberg in London contributed to this report. | [
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"Who was the minister?",
"Which country is involved in the story?",
"Who resigned after the collapse of the country's leading banks?",
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"Who is the business minister?",
"Who resigned after the collapse of leading banks and stock market?"
] | [
[
"Bjorgvin Sigurdsson"
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[
"Bjorgvin Sigurdsson,"
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"minister, Bjorgvin Sigurdsson,"
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] | NEW: Leaders meet to discuss future of Iceland's coalition government .
Business minister resigns after collapse of the country's leading banks, stock market .
Business minister Bjorgvin Sigurdsson says many share responsibility for problems . |
(CNN) -- The games begin Thursday, and March Madness buzz will soon take over the lunchroom. Everywhere you turn, co-workers will chat about their favorite teams, the upsets, the injuries.
Maybe you will watch the games. Maybe you won't. But maybe, irrespective of whether you plan to follow the tournament, you've ponied up to be part of the office pool.
And you don't have to worry about explaining how you made your picks while filling out out your bracket. Everyone is hoping to choose that one team that comes from behind to win.
So what if you always pick Gonzaga just because you like saying the name? Should it matter if you take Louisville out of the running just because that jerk who once strung you along came from there?
You are in the running like everyone else, and, heck, you might surprise yourself and actually win.
In these coming weeks, though, you don't want to sound like an idiot. It would be nice, you think to yourself, if you actually appeared to know what you were talking about.
CNN reached out to Stewart Mandel, a senior writer at SI.com who covers basketball, as well as sports fans in the CNN.com newsroom to get some tips for how you can bluff your way through the tournament. With their sage advice, we offer this wisdom:
• Be careful not to talk about a "buzzer beater" unless it's actually happened. When they do happen, when a player scores at the buzzer (in the last second) to change the game's outcome, throw the term around wildly. It'll be what everyone is reliving, and if you feel especially bold, you can try to give someone a high-five while saying, "How about that buzzer beater?"
• Discussing injuries in vague terms is always safe, since most every team has suffered some. Ideas: "They really can't afford any more injuries this season." Or, "Didn't they have a big injury this year?" You don't have to know the answer, but it's an easy way to engage with a sports nut who will gladly tell you more about some stranger's ankle than you ever wanted to know.
• Tell people around the water cooler that you really admire a team's "tenacity." Mandel says that's "a good fastball no one can argue with," because by virtue of making it to the tournament, a team's got to have some serious tenacity. Other terms you can throw around to describe a team: "smart," "experienced" and "well-coached."
• Something called "guard play" is apparently very big this time of year. You might shake your head and mutter, "I don't know if their guard play is good enough." Or, conversely, you can say, "Oh, yeah, I think they have a good chance because they've got good guard play."
• There are some things you might say that could be risky, as they may prompt others to ask you a question in return. For example, if you were to say, "Gosh, that was a big shot," someone might ask, "Which one?" This would be a good time to spill your coffee, diverting attention.
• In basketball, the word "press" (short for pressure) is used when discussing defense. So you might want to express your heartfelt concern about a team "having trouble with the press."
• There are different conferences that make up the NCAA. The Big East dominated this year. You can talk about how the "Big East ruled," but make sure you don't misspeak and talk about the Big North, because no such thing exists. There is a Big 10, but it's made up of 11 teams.
• "Ball movement" refers to how a team passes a ball. Any team that's made it to the "tourney," as some insiders like to say, must be | [
"What are some tips for the clueless?",
"What is a tip for the clueless?",
"What begins on Thursday?",
"When does the tournament begin?"
] | [
[
"Be careful not to talk about a \"buzzer beater\" unless it's actually happened."
],
[
"Be careful not to talk about a \"buzzer beater\" unless it's actually happened."
],
[
"games"
],
[
"Thursday,"
]
] | NCAA basketball tournament begins Thursday, as does workplace obsession .
Among tips for the clueless who want to take part in chatter, use terms shared by experts .
"Buzzer beater," "Cinderella," "ball movement," "press" are good gems to consider . |
(CNN) -- The gigolo former lover of Germany's richest woman has been jailed for six years after confessing to blackmailing her and other women out of millions of dollars, a court official said Monday. Helg Sgarbi has admitted blackmailing Germany's richest woman, Susanne Klatten. Susanne Klatten, the BMW heiress, complained to police last year that Helg Sgarbi had threatened to release pictures of them if she did not pay him nearly $60 million. Munich's state prosecutor Anton Winkler said Sgarbi, who was accused of blackmailing several wealthy woman, had made a written confession which was read by his lawyer to the court. "He confessed that he blackmailed the victims, told them untrue stories," Winkler told CNN. However, Sgarbi had not revealed what had happened to the estimated $12.5 million he had taken from his victims nor where the pictures had gone. "It is really only half a confession. We asked him about where the money is, about accomplices and videos... and he refused to say anything about that," Winkler said. Authorities said Klatten, who is married with three children, had an affair with Sgarbi. He started to ask her for money, and she paid several million at first, but when she refused to provide more he threatened to send compromising videos to her husband and the media. Klatten went to the police in January 2008, telling them she was the victim of a fraud and blackmail. At the time, her spokesman, Joerg Appelhans, told CNN that Sgarbi's goal had always been to con her. "She rigorously notified authorities even in light of the uncomfortable public repercussions this would have for her," Appelhans said. Sgarbi's lawyer, Egon Geis, said he was surprised by all the media attention. "This is all because of Mrs. Klatten, take the same amount of money and any other person and no one would care." Sgarbi allegedly maintained relationships with a number of woman, telling them he was a special Swiss representative in crisis zones. Klatten, the daughter of the late BMW chief Herbert Quandt, holds a 12.5-percent stake in the German carmaker and a 51.1-percent share of chemical company Altana. Forbes magazine lists her as the world's 55th richest person, with a personal fortune of $13.2 billion. CNN's Fred Pleitgen contributed to this report. | [
"What did the lover of BMV heiress threaten to release?",
"What admission did Sgarbi make?",
"What amount of money was the woman blackmailed for?",
"Who told the police she was being blackmailed?",
"Who is the wealthiest woman in Germany?",
"What was the name of the blackmailer?",
"What did the ex-lover threaten?",
"What did the heiress's former lover threaten?",
"Who is Germany's richest woman?"
] | [
[
"pictures of them"
],
[
"blackmailing Germany's richest woman,"
],
[
"$60 million."
],
[
"Susanne Klatten."
],
[
"Susanne Klatten."
],
[
"Helg Sgarbi"
],
[
"to release pictures"
],
[
"to release pictures of them"
],
[
"Susanne Klatten."
]
] | Germany's richest woman told police she was being blackmailed for millions .
BMW heiress said former lover threatened to release images of them .
Helg Sgarbi's admits trying to blackmail BMW heiress and others . |
(CNN) -- The gigolo former lover of Germany's richest woman has been jailed for six years after confessing to blackmailing her and other women out of millions of dollars, a court official said Monday. Helg Sgarbi has admitted blackmailing Germany's richest woman, Susanne Klatten. Susanne Klatten, the BMW heiress, complained to police last year that Helg Sgarbi had threatened to release pictures of them if she did not pay him nearly $60 million. Munich's state prosecutor Anton Winkler said Sgarbi, who was accused of blackmailing several wealthy women, had made a written confession which was read by his lawyer to the court. "He confessed that he blackmailed the victims, told them untrue stories," Winkler told CNN. However, Sgarbi had not revealed what had happened to the estimated $12.5 million he had taken from his victims nor where the pictures had gone. "It is really only half a confession. We asked him about where the money is, about accomplices and videos... and he refused to say anything about that," Winkler said. Authorities said Klatten, who is married with three children, had an affair with Sgarbi. He started to ask her for money, and she paid several million at first, but when she refused to provide more he threatened to send compromising videos to her husband and the media. Klatten went to the police in January 2008, telling them she was the victim of a fraud and blackmail. At the time, her spokesman, Joerg Appelhans, told CNN that Sgarbi's goal had always been to con her. "She rigorously notified authorities even in light of the uncomfortable public repercussions this would have for her," Appelhans said. Sgarbi's lawyer, Egon Geis, said he was surprised by all the media attention. "This is all because of Mrs. Klatten, take the same amount of money and any other person and no one would care." Sgarbi allegedly maintained relationships with a number of women, telling them he was a special Swiss representative in crisis zones. Klatten, the daughter of the late BMW chief Herbert Quandt, holds a 12.5-percent stake in the German carmaker and a 51.1-percent share of chemical company Altana. Forbes magazine lists her as the world's 55th richest person, with a personal fortune of $13.2 billion. CNN's Fred Pleitgen contributed to this report. | [
"Germany's richest woman is an heiress from which famous German corporation?",
"Who is the BMW heiress?",
"What company is the woman an heiress to?",
"Which nations richest woman was blackmailed",
"What did Germany's richest woman tell police?",
"Who admitted to the blackmail?",
"Who tried to blackmail the heiress?",
"Who was being blackmailed?",
"Who was blackmailing the BMW Heiress?"
] | [
[
"BMW"
],
[
"Susanne Klatten,"
],
[
"BMW"
],
[
"Germany's"
],
[
"Helg Sgarbi had threatened to release pictures"
],
[
"Helg Sgarbi"
],
[
"Helg Sgarbi"
],
[
"Susanne Klatten."
],
[
"The"
]
] | Germany's richest woman told police she was being blackmailed for millions .
BMW heiress said former lover threatened to release images of them .
Helg Sgarbi's admits trying to blackmail BMW heiress and others . |
(CNN) -- The girlfriend of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair had grown frustrated with their relationship and was struggling with financial difficulties in the days before she killed him and herself in July. Steve McNair, former NFL quarterback, was a married father of four when he was killed last summer. Details of their relationship were revealed in a case summary released by Nashville police Monday. McNair, 36, and Sahel Kazemi, 20, were found fatally shot in a condominium in downtown Nashville on July 4. Police have since ruled their deaths a murder-suicide. "My life is just s--- and I should end it," Kazemi said the night before the couple were found dead, according to Sonya New, her shift manager at a Dave & Busters restaurant. New also said Kazemi was not her usual self and seemed down. Though McNair was a married father of four, he was seeing Kazemi and at least one other woman, Leah Ignagni, according to Nashville police. McNair had spent the night at Ignagni's apartment on July 2, two nights before he was killed, Ignagni told police. On the morning of July 4, Kazemi texted McNair, saying she was stressed and needed money to pay bills. "Baby I might have a break down im so stressed," Kazemi said in one text message. "baby i might need to go to the hospital. baby whats wrong w(ith) me i can hardly breath(e)." Chris Wall, who provided security for McNair and his family, told police he knew about McNair's relationship with Kazemi. McNair was tired of her calling when he was with his family, Wall said. Kazemi continued to text McNair throughout the day, asking for money and when she could see him next. "baby what are u doing," Kazemi asked. "At the pool with the kids. I got the guy transferring the money," McNair replied. At 4:04 p.m. on July 3, Kazemi said, "baby I have to be w(ith) u 2nite. I dnt care where." The messages continued for more than eight hours before McNair said he was on his way to the condo. He had told Kazemi earlier that he wouldn't leave the house "til the kids fall asleep." McNair and Kazemi exchanged a final series of messages early July 4, when he asked her to leave the front door to the condo open for him. A final message, sent at 1:14 a.m., simply said, "its open." About 12 hours later, a friend of McNair's found their bodies. | [
"Who were found to have been fatally shot in a Nashville condo?",
"When were they fatally shot?",
"What did the text messages indicate?",
"What did the last text messages say about the door?",
"Who were fatally shot?"
] | [
[
"McNair, 36, and Sahel Kazemi,"
],
[
"July 4."
],
[
"she was stressed and needed money to pay bills."
],
[
"\"its open.\""
],
[
"McNair, 36, and Sahel Kazemi, 20,"
]
] | McNair and Sahel Kazemi were found fatally shot in a Nashville condo on July 4 .
Text messages show Kazemi's financial stress, desperation .
Last message said door was open; hours later, the pair's bodies were found . |
(CNN) -- The global economic crisis has caused a spike in world hunger that has left more than a billion undernourished, United Nations agencies said in a new report. The report says the stabilization of financial markets has meant less investment in agriculture, food distribution. "It is unacceptable in the 21st century that almost one in six of the world's population is now going hungry," said Josette Sheeran, executive director of the World Food Programme. "At a time when there are more hungry people in the world than ever before, there is less food aid than we have seen in living memory." The report by the WFP and the Food and Agriculture Organization was released Wednesday, ahead of World Food Day on Friday. Nearly all the world's undernourished live in developing countries, according to the report. An estimated 642 million people are suffering from chronic hunger in Asia and the Pacific. An additional 265 million live in sub-Saharan Africa while 95 million come from Latin America, the Caribbean, the Near East and North Africa. The final 15 million live in developed nations. Should developed economies be doing more to eradicate hunger, poverty? The number of hungry spiked as the global economic crisis took hold and governments pumped resources into stabilizing financial markets. The move meant smaller investments in agriculture and food distribution. "World leaders have reacted forcefully to the financial and economic crisis, and succeeded in mobilizing billions of dollars in a short time period. The same strong action is needed now to combat hunger and poverty," said Jacques Diouf, director-general of the FAO. "The rising number of hungry people is intolerable." The report calls for greater investment in agriculture to tackle long and short-term hunger by making farmers productive and more resilient to crises. "We know what is needed to meet urgent hunger needs -- we just need the resources and the international commitment to do the job," Sheeran said. | [
"What is the ratio of hungry to not hungry people in the world?",
"What do they need to tackle long and short-term hunger?",
"How much of the world's population is going hungry",
"Where do most of the undernourished live?",
"who are hungry",
"What kind of measures have been called for to tackle hunger, long term?",
"When did the number of hungry spike?",
"How many people are going hungry?",
"Where do most of the world's undernourished live?",
"Where do the majority of the world's hungry live?",
"What caused a spike in the number of hungry people?",
"How many people in the world are going hungry?",
"Greater investment in agriculture could do what?",
"What is the solution in long and short term hunger?",
"Where live the undernourished?"
] | [
[
"one in six"
],
[
"greater investment in agriculture"
],
[
"one in six of the"
],
[
"in developing countries,"
],
[
"almost one in six of the world's population"
],
[
"greater investment in agriculture"
],
[
"as the global economic crisis took hold"
],
[
"642 million"
],
[
"developing countries,"
],
[
"Asia and the Pacific."
],
[
"global economic crisis"
],
[
"more than a billion"
],
[
"to tackle long and short-term hunger by making farmers productive and more resilient to crises."
],
[
"greater investment in agriculture"
],
[
"developing countries,"
]
] | World Food Programme: One in six of world's population is now going hungry .
Nearly all the world's undernourished live in developing countries .
Number of hungry spiked as the global economic crisis took hold, report says .
Calls for greater investment in agriculture to tackle long and short-term hunger . |
(CNN) -- The government of earthquake-ravaged Haiti must become more visible now, even amid a global outpouring of aid as the impoverished island nation struggles to recover, Brazil's foreign minister said Monday.
"The government, in spite of all the difficulties, should appear more to the people," Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim said in an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour.
"I think it's important because after all, they are the ones who transmit the needs of the Haitian people to us, to the international community."
Amorim, speaking from an international conference on Haiti in Montreal, Canada, said it's important for the world to follow the priorities of the Haitian government.
"We cannot lose sight of the central role of the elected leaders of Haiti," he said. "Haiti is a country that has an elected government."
Amorim was among more than a dozen foreign ministers and leaders, including U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, attending the Montreal conference. Representatives of many international institutions such as the United Nations and the European Union were also there.
Find loved ones in Haiti | Full coverage
Speaking in Montreal, Clinton said, "As part of our multilateral efforts to assist Haiti, we should look at how we decentralize economic opportunity and work with the Haitian government and people to support resettlement, which they are doing on their own, as people leave Port-au-Prince and return to the countryside."
Haiti's Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive was also in Montreal. He said the international aid effort has only just begun.
"I can simply tell you that the population is in need of more and more and more to confront the massive task of reconstruction," Bellerive said.
The aim of the Montreal meeting is to develop a strategy for early recovery and longer-term reconstruction. Once the strategy is set, a donors' conference to secure funding for Haiti would take place.
Amorim told Amanpour he expected the donors' conference is likely to take place at the end of March, possibly in New York, though that was not confirmed at the time of the interview.
"We cannot endure, we cannot see a disaster of the size of Haiti, with the poverty that exists in Haiti, and not do anything," he added.
"If you don't act for development, for emergency now and development immediately, you'll be having an enormous security problem."
Interactive map: Where to find aid
Amorim told Amanpour that as part of his country's efforts to bolster security in Haiti, the Brazilian Congress Monday approved a plan to almost double the number of Brazilian troops in the U.N. force in Haiti, to as many as 2,600 soldiers.
The U.N. force there, known as MINUSTAH, has been led by a Brazilian general since 2004. It lost dozens of its civilian headquarters staff during the earthquake.
Amorim, who has just been to Haiti, said it was also vital to rebuild the country's national symbols.
"I think this is very important so that the Haitian people feel also not only that they are receiving food and water, but also they are recovering their self-esteem," he said. | [
"What did Brazil's foreign minister say about the Haiti Government?",
"What was the goal of the conference in Montreal ?",
"Who was among ministers and leading attending conference on Haiti ?",
"How many foreign ministers are attending the conference on Haiti?",
"How many foreign ministers attended the conference on Haiti?",
"What did the Brazil's foreign minister said ?",
"What country was hit by an earthquake?",
"What does the Conference in Montreal aims to develop?",
"In what Canadian city was the conference held?"
] | [
[
"must become more visible now,"
],
[
"develop a strategy for early recovery and longer-term reconstruction."
],
[
"Celso Amorim"
],
[
"more than a dozen"
],
[
"more than a dozen"
],
[
"\"The government, in spite of all the difficulties, should appear more to the people,\""
],
[
"Haiti"
],
[
"a strategy for early recovery and longer-term reconstruction."
],
[
"Montreal,"
]
] | Government of quake-hit Haiti must become more visible, Brazil's foreign minister says .
Celso Amorim: "We cannot lose sight of the central role of the elected leaders of Haiti"
Amorim was among over a dozen foreign ministers, leaders attending conference on Haiti .
Conference in Montreal aims to develop a strategy for recovery and reconstruction . |
(CNN) -- The great paddlewheel turned the Ohio River water to a froth as the Delta Queen steamboat, a floating National Historic Landmark, departed Cincinnati, Ohio, on its final scheduled voyage this week.
The Delta Queen is the last running steam-driven, paddlewheeled overnight passenger boat.
The boat is a throwback to the 1800s and the era of Mark Twain, when thousands of steam-driven paddlewheelers plied the Mississippi River system.
The Delta Queen is the last of those operating as overnight passenger boats on U.S. waterways, giving riders a 19th-century experience on cruises complete with the carnival-like sounds of the steam-whistle calliope.
But it will dock permanently if Congress doesn't grant a safety exemption.
It left Cincinnati on Tuesday on a 10-day cruise down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to Memphis, Tennessee, where it will unload what could be its final passengers.
"There are so few really authentic things left. Everything is a re-creation or a tied up old dusty museum," said Vicki Webster, leader of the grassroots Save the Delta Queen Campaign. "The Delta Queen is a breathing part of history and we have to keep as many of those as we can."
The frequent riders and steamboat aficionados are being punished, Webster insists.
Sherrin Kraus, 66, admires the Delta Queen as it passes by her home in Hanover, Indiana, each year.
"I've been in love with this boat since I was 5 years old," Kraus told CNN affiliate WLWT-TV when the ship arrived in Cincinnati. iReport.com: Share your photos, videos and memories of the Delta Queen
Kraus and her husband Ken boarded the Delta Queen's possible final voyage to celebrate their 45th anniversary. They told WLWT they decided to celebrate the occasion early out of concern the ship would not get another exemption.
"This was our 45th anniversary trip because we don't know what the future's going to bring, but we're worried," Kraus said. "If she doesn't survive this last onslaught, it's the end of an era."
The Delta Queen will go out of service if Congress does not grant the ship another exemption from a 1960s federal law, the Safety at Seas Act, which bans boats made largely out of wood because of fire hazards.
The current exemption, which expires at the end of October, has been given to the ship nine times over 40 years. See the Delta Queen's life in photos »
Supporters of the boat, which has roamed the nation's waterways since 1927 and helped the Navy ferry survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor to San Francisco hospitals in 1941, are hopeful the ship will not play its famed calliope for the last time. iReport.com: Watch the ship depart as a calliope concert plays
The grassroots campaign is gaining traction and the support of high ranking politicians. House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said in a statement he would work with Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio, to try to get an exemption granted if the House returns for a lame duck session to address economic issues following the election.
Supporters, including several mayors, agree with Webster that granting an exemption to the Delta Queen would be a way to help stimulate the economy without it costing taxpayers a dime.
Lee Powell, director of the Mississippi Delta Grassroots Caucus said the boat provides economic opportunities.
By docking and unloading nearly 200 passengers up to a dozen times a year, the Delta Queen helps to pump money into small cities along the heartland's rivers that are not normally tourist destinations.
Helena, Arkansas, which Mark Twain wrote in Life on the Mississippi "occupies one of the prettiest situations on the river," could suffer if the boat ceases operation.
"There are places in Helena that are essentially at virtually the levels of a third world country," Powell said. "They were impoverished before and now with the economic suffering, to choke off one of the good things they have is ridiculous."
The fight ahead is not uncharted territory for the | [
"When did the Delta Queen first serve?",
"what has been in service",
"What does the boat provide?"
] | [
[
"1927"
],
[
"The Delta Queen"
],
[
"economic opportunities."
]
] | Delta Queen paddlewheeler has been in service since 1927 .
Boat is last steam-powered paddlewheeler providing overnight passenger cruises .
Vessel needs new exemption from 1960s federal law .
Safety of Seas Act bars largely wooden ships from overnight cruises . |
(CNN) -- The growth of the Hispanic population in the United States is outstripping pre-census estimates, the Pew Hispanic Center report released Tuesday says.
"The number of Hispanics counted in the 2010 Census has been larger than expected in most states for which the Census Bureau has released detailed population totals so far," the report says.
The Census Bureau has released its tally of Hispanics in 33 states.
"Those states' combined Census 2010 total of 38.7 million Hispanics was higher by 590,000 people," the report says. Data on the remaining states will be released by the end of March.
Last month, a Pew Hispanic Center report said a two-year decline in the unauthorized immigrant population in the United States had leveled off.
A rebounding economy may be a counteracting force, one of the study's authors, Jeffrey S. Passel, said.
"What we've seen historically is that when employment opportunities have increased, we've seen increased flows" to the United States, he said.
The economy in 2009 was better than in 2008, and indications are that the numbers will be even better for 2010, hinting that illegal immigration numbers could potentially creep back up, he said. | [
"What is The number of Hispanics?",
"What is the estimate of Hispanic number in those states?",
"What is the number of Hispanics in most states?",
"who published the count Hispanics?"
] | [
[
"38.7 million"
],
[
"38.7 million"
],
[
"larger than expected"
],
[
"The Census Bureau"
]
] | The number of Hispanics is 'larger than expected' in most states .
The Census Bureau has released its tally of Hispanics in 33 states .
There are an estimated 38.7 million Hispanics in those states . |
(CNN) -- The guitarist stands in front of a mirror messing with his mohawk. The drummer strikes a wild tempo. The singer rips off his T-shirt and begins to scream the lyrics. Basim Usmani is bassist for The Kominas, a group that blends traditional sounds with punk rock beats. They're young. They're punk. And they're rocking both their Muslim and American worlds with their music, lyrics and style. "A lot of times people say, 'Oh wow, look, brown people playing music' [but] it's more than that," said 25-year-old Pakistani-American Shahjehan Khan, the lead singer for a Muslim punk band, The Kominas. The Boston-based band is one of a handful of Muslim punk bands that emerged in the United States in the past few years. The members of this four-person rock group with South Asian roots hold varying views on religion. One says he's an atheist; three others identify as Muslims -- both practicing and non-practicing. For them, punk music is a way to rebel against their conservative cultural upbringing and the frustrations of growing up a young Muslim in America. "We aren't [just] some alternative to a stereotypical Muslim. We actually might be offering some sort of insights for people at large about religion, about the world," said 26-year-old bassist Basim Usmani. Blending traditional South Asian rhythms with punk rock beats, they sing in both English and Punjabi. (Kominas means "scum-bag" in Punjabi, according to the band.) Their songs can be at once political, serious, satirical and insinuating. Audio slide show: On tour with Muslim punk rockers » Their risqué lyrics and provocative song titles such as "Sharia Law in the USA," "Suicide Bomb the GAP" and "Rumi was a Homo" -- a protest song against homophobia in the American Muslim community -- have drawn the attention of Muslims, non-Muslims, fans and critics alike. "You sort of have to throw it in peoples' faces and be shocking in order to give people a different way to think about stuff," said Usmani. "These punk, metal and rap scenes - so-called extreme music scenes -- are addressing issues that mainstream music doesn't," said Mark LeVine, a professor of Middle Eastern history at University of California, Irvine, who is also a musician and author of "Heavy Metal Islam." "[Punk] allows them to rebel against society and their own culture at the same time," he said. iReport: Is Islam at odds with American values? Before the Islamic punk movement in North America had a voice, it had a story. The Muslim punk scene began to gel in 2003 when novelist and convert to Islam, Michael Muhammad Knight self-published his book, "The Taqwacores" about a fictional Muslim punk scene in Buffalo, New York. The book opens with a poem called "Muhammed was a Punk Rocker" and describes both conventional and unconventional characters including a Shi'ite skinhead, a conservative Sunni Muslim, a burka-wearing feminist punk and a Sufi who sports a Mohawk and drinks alcohol. "The punk rock kids I would hang out with weren't even Muslim," 31-year old Knight recalls. "They were so fiercely individualistic -- I wish that I could be a Muslim in that way: not be ashamed of my confusion, not be ashamed of my doubts. Just be myself and be proud of who I am." The novel's title, "Taqwacore," is a hybrid word stemming from the Arabic "taqwa," meaning "god consciousness," and "core" referring to "hardcore" -- a genre of punk music. It's now a general term for Muslim punk rock. The popularity of the book, which Knight said was born out of a search to find his identity as a Muslim-American, grew in underground youth circles and online. It didn't take long before real-life "taqwacore" bands | [
"What kind of muslim bands have emerged ?",
"How many years did they emerge?",
"What has emerged in the last few years?"
] | [
[
"punk"
],
[
"in the past few"
],
[
"Muslim punk bands"
]
] | A handful of Muslim punk bands have emerged in the last few years .
A fictional portrayal of a Muslim punk scene helped set the real-world stage .
Some conservative Muslims disapprove of the suggestive and irreverent lyrics . |
(CNN) -- The gunman who opened fire at Washington's U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum this week is no better than a suicide bomber, a survivor of the Holocaust said. Sel Hubert, seen here with his wife, says education is the best weapon against bigotry. Sel Hubert, 83, of Rye Brook, New York, said he also fears that through the shooter's "ultimate act of Holocaust denial," he has invigorated others who embrace hate and who might wish to exact violence against others. "By doing this, he gives worldwide notoriety to himself and his ideals of hatred," said Hubert, who at 13 escaped Germany on a transport to England just weeks before World War II erupted. "He chooses martyrdom to glorify his hatred similar to a suicide bomber." Authorities have charged James von Brunn with murdering Stephen Tyrone Johns, 39, a security officer who opened a museum door Wednesday for the 88-year-old reputed white supremacist. Watch more on who von Brunn is » Authorities say von Brunn acted alone, but Hubert says he represents all those who share his views. "This empowers these people to think that this is how you get to be famous, gain notoriety, and they hope other people will mimic him -- and that's scary," he said. Eva Rich Blumberg, 85, of Rockville, Maryland, also worries that the shooting may have emboldened others to attack Jews and symbols of Jewish culture, she said. Blumberg, whose father was killed by Nazis and who spent about a year at Majdanek concentration camp in Poland in 1942, was scheduled to speak Sunday at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, but is now having second thoughts. Watch author discuss importance of combating Holocaust denial » "I lost everyone in the Holocaust. This incident just shook me up so that I don't know what to say," she said. Anytime a group asks Blumberg to speak about the Holocaust, she obliges, she said, out of a sense of duty to educate people so that the atrocities perpetrated by Nazi Germany are never repeated. However, she said Thursday, the shooting at the museum leaves her wrestling with the decision on whether to deliver her speech this weekend. "I'm frightened. I don't know what to do," she said. "I couldn't sleep all night because things keep coming back." Regina Spiegel, 83, also of Rockville, believes education is one of the best weapons against bigotry. She volunteers at the museum on Wednesdays and was there when von Brunn allegedly opened fire with a .22-caliber rifle. See photos from the museum » Fortunately, Spiegel was downstairs and didn't hear the shots, but that did not dampen her anger and disgust over the incident. Spiegel, who met her husband of more than 60 years, Samuel, at a slave labor camp in Auschwitz, teaches children to shun hate in hopes they will blossom into productive adults unfettered by ignorance and prejudices -- "just the opposite of what he is," she said, referring to the museum shooter. "We don't teach hate," she said firmly. "This guy, every time I think about it, it makes me sick that there are such people around." Hubert, who is a board member of the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center, said the Holocaust museum stands as an important educational tool, particularly to young Americans, for providing lessons on the follies of hatred and genocide. Map of museum » "It's an ultimate act of Holocaust denial and I and all Jews -- especially survivors -- feel violated all over again," he said. "To attack that symbol is striking at the very heart of what the museum is trying to do, what America stands for -- the fight against bigotry and hatred." The Southern Poverty Law Center has described von Brunn as a "hardcore neo-Nazi" and Internet postings attributed to von Brunn allege that the Holocaust and Christianity are hoaxes. The postings further state that President Obama is a tool of "Jew owners | [
"What do Holocaust survivors fear?",
"What importance is highlighted?",
"What is Evan Rich Blumberg pondering?",
"Who was pondering whether to deliver the speech?",
"What do the Holocaust survivors fear?",
"What couldn't Blumberg supposedly do?"
] | [
[
"invigorated others who embrace hate"
],
[
"combating Holocaust denial"
],
[
"the shooting may have emboldened others to attack Jews and symbols of Jewish culture,"
],
[
"Eva Rich Blumberg,"
],
[
"denial,\" he has invigorated others who embrace hate and who might wish to exact violence against others."
],
[
"sleep all night"
]
] | Holocaust survivors fear museum shooting emboldens others who embrace hatred .
Shooting leaves Eva Rich Blumberg pondering whether to deliver speech Sunday .
Blumberg: "I couldn't sleep all night because things keep coming back"
Shooting highlights importance of "placing greater emphasis on prejudice, hatred" |
(CNN) -- The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization said Saturday that U.N. nuclear experts can inspect a uranium enrichment plant, according to a report from Iran-funded Press TV. Iranian soldiers are shown in the uranium enrichment facility in Natanz, 300 kms south of Tehran, in 2006. Ali Akbar Salehi said officials are trying to settle on a date for the inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency. GeoEye, a U.S.-based satellite imagery company, released two photos dated Saturday from what it says is the second facility. The image shows quarry equipment, a surface-to-air missile site, and more construction equipment surrounding a mountain, according to image analysis by IHS Jane's, an intelligence firm. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Friday that Iran was building a second uranium enrichment facility near the Shia Muslim city of Qom, about 100 miles southwest of Tehran. He said the plant won't be operational for about 18 months. Ahmadinejad told reporters Friday that Iran had met IAEA requirements by informing it about the plant at least six months before it is slated to begin operating. Watch Ahmadinejad hit back at Obama » The watchdog agency confirmed that it received a letter Monday from Iran revealing the existence of the underground facility on a military base. Iran told the IAEA there is no nuclear material at the site, an agency spokesman said. Iran has denied its goal is to develop nuclear weapons, a concern of the United States and other Western nations. Esmail Kowsari, a senior Iranian lawmaker, said Iran's need for nuclear fuel is outpacing the limited amount of uranium it can enrich at its only other plant in Natanz. But Iran's activities, along with its anti-Western and anti-Israel rhetoric, have troubled international powers working to stop the development of an Iranian nuclear program. The country's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it is planning to stage "massive missile exercises" or war games on Sunday to promote the armed forces' "deterrent power," the semi-official Fars News Agency reported. The tests are code named "Payambar-e Azam 4, or "The Great Messenger," the corps said in its announcement. Iran's announcement came ahead of a planned meeting October 1 between it and the five permanent United Nations Security Council members, plus Germany. Leaders from the United States, France and Britain made a joint announcement, accusing Iran of violating international agreements by keeping the construction plan a secret. "This is a serious challenge to the global non-proliferation regime and continues a disturbing pattern of Iranian evasion," President Obama said Saturday in his weekly radio address. "That is why international negotiations with Iran scheduled for October 1 now take on added urgency," he said. "My offer of a serious, meaningful dialogue to resolve this issue remains open. But Iran must now cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency and take action to demonstrate its peaceful intentions." Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran's ambassador to the IAEA, told Press TV Saturday that Iran is "very disappointed with the hasty, unjustified hostile reaction yesterday by three leaders." He was referring to Obama, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Watch world leaders react to Iran » "What I suspect is a hidden agenda, which is going to jeopardize our excellent cooperation with the IAEA, and perhaps long-term jeopardize the integrity and credibility of the IAEA," he said. "We are working with the agency in a very technical and smooth manner to arrange the inspection to the site." Other Iranians also reacted to the criticism over the new plant. iReport.com: Dissidents discuss Iran enrichment plants "God willing, this plant will be put into operation soon, and will blind the eyes of the enemies," Fars reported Saturday, quoting a senior Iranian official. The senior official, Hojjatoleslam Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani, heads the office of the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Also Saturday, the Web site of the Iran Student News Agency carried comments from an Iranian legislator who warned Western nations not | [
"Where is the plant located?",
"who is planning missle exercies",
"Who is planning missile exercises, according to the report?",
"What did Iran tell IAEA",
"What did the Head of Iran's atomic energy program say"
] | [
[
"Natanz,"
],
[
"The country's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps"
],
[
"Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps"
],
[
"there is no nuclear material at the site,"
],
[
"a uranium enrichment plant,"
]
] | NEW: News agency: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps plans "missile exercises"
Head of Iran's atomic energy program says U.N. experts can inspect plant .
Iran told IAEA there is no nuclear material at the site, IAEA spokesman says .
U.S. has known about unfinished site since Bush administration, officials say . |
(CNN) -- The head of Iran's soccer federation issued a public apology and a member of his staff resigned after the federation mistakenly sent a New Year's greeting to its counterpart in Israel, Iranian officials announced Sunday. "It was a big mistake sending an e-mail to Israel's football federation," Ali Kaffashian, president of the Iran Football Federation, said in a statement carried by the semi-official Mehrs News Agency. "However, I am sure the director of the foreign relations office didn't do it on purpose." Kaffashian said Iran's soccer league routinely sends New Year's greetings to all members of FIFA, the sport's global federation, except for Israel. Iran does not recognize Israel, which it dismisses as the "Zionist entity," and the two countries' teams do not meet in international competitions. Mohammad-Mansour Azimzadeh Ardebili, the head of the league's foreign relations office, resigned over the matter, Kaffashian said. | [
"What did Iran say about the email?",
"what did the head say",
"Who did Iran leave out in greetings?",
"what was a mistake",
"what doesnt iran regocnize",
"when he resigned this man",
"Who does not recognize Israel?"
] | [
[
"\"It was a big mistake sending an e-mail to Israel's football federation,\""
],
[
"\"It was a big mistake sending an e-mail to Israel's football federation,\""
],
[
"Israel."
],
[
"sending an e-mail to Israel's football federation,\""
],
[
"Israel,"
],
[
"after the federation mistakenly sent a New Year's greeting to its counterpart in Israel,"
],
[
"Iran"
]
] | New Year's e-mail to Israel was a mistake, Iranian officials say .
Iran doesn't recognize Israel .
Iran's soccer federation usually sends greetings to all FIFA members except Israel .
Head of the Iranian federation's foreign relations office resigns . |
(CNN) -- The head of JetBlue is apologizing for a "confluence of events" that left a plane filled with passengers stranded on the tarmac at Bradley International Airport near Hartford, Connecticut, over the weekend.
Chief Operating Officer Rob Maruster said in a video posted on the company's blog and its YouTube Channel that the airline had six flights divert to Hartford during the freak weekend snowstorm "due to various runway, congestion and other operational issues at Newark and JFK Airports" and that the airline "did not deplane those aircraft in our target time allotted."
One of those flights, JetBlue 504 from Fort Lauderdale spent nearly eight hours stranded on the tarmac before passengers were allowed to deplane.
"At no point in this weekend was safety ever compromised," Maruster said, stressing that safety was the airline's number one concern.
"But let's face it, you count on us at JetBlue for a lot more -- and we promise a lot more -- and we know we let some of you down over the course of this weekend and for that we are truly sorry."
Maruster said the airline intends to "fully participate with the Department of Transportation and cooperating with their investigation into events over the weekend, and we're also going to conduct an internal evaluation so that we can learn from this event because at the end of the day, you deserve better -- and we expect better from our crewmembers and our operation."
"We can only earn your loyalty and trust one flight at a time and we ask you to give us a second chance."
JetBlue Flight 504 departed Fort Lauderdale at 10:07 a.m. ET Saturday -- 32 minutes late.
The flight made it to Newark -- just not to the runway, thanks to the weather before it was diverted to Hartford. It landed at 1:07 p.m.
What came next was an eight-hour ordeal for passengers -- and crew -- as the plane sat stuck on the tarmac with little food or water.
"I got a problem here on the airplane. I'm going to need to have the cops onboard," a flight crew member told the tower in a conversation posted on LiveATC.net, a website that monitors air traffic control conversations. "I need some air stairs brought over here and the cops brought onboard the airplane."
Passenger Roseann Kozma explained the situation in a phone interview with CNN affiliate WTIC-TV from the plane.
"A couple passengers are fighting and there's a baby on here that's been crying the whole time," she said.
"We cannot go to the bathrooms anymore. There's no running water," said Todd Bailey, another passenger. "They tell us that we're going to be going in soon, going in soon, going in soon -- and it just never happens."
Adding to the frustration and tension were passengers with medical conditions.
"I have a paraplegic that needs to come off," the pilot said. "I have a diabetic here that's got an issue ... I've just got to get some help."
But the plane was still not at a gate, further frustrating the pilot.
"Look, you know, we can't seem to get any help from our own company," the pilot told the tower. "I apologize for this, but if there is any way you can get a tug and a tow bar out here to us and get us towed somewhere to a gate or something. I don't care, take us anywhere."
The pilot, though frustrated, offered thanks to Bradley International officials.
"Listen, I just want to put in my two cents worth in for whatever it worth. Thank you very much," he said. "It's Capt. Thompson over here on (Flight) 504 ... I think we've got more help from you guys than our own people."
The passengers broke into applause when the door finally opened, saying "Let us out! Let us out! Let us out!"
Passengers deplaned around 9 p.m., according to | [
"Whats the name of the companys head?",
"What did the head say",
"Did the company apologize?",
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"what caused tension to ramp up",
"what caused the backlog",
"Who asks for a second chance"
] | [
[
"Rob Maruster"
],
[
"apologizing for a \"confluence of events\""
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[
"we are truly sorry.\""
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],
[
"JetBlue"
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[
"passengers with medical conditions."
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[
"freak weekend snowstorm"
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[
"head of JetBlue"
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] | JetBlue head says the airline let some of its customers down .
Rob Maruster asks for a "second chance"
Pilot: Crying baby, fighting, two passengers' medical conditions ramped up tension .
JetBlue apologizes, saying weather and size of airport contributed to backlog . |
(CNN) -- The heady days of New York epitomized by Wall Street excess and rampant wealth may seem a far-flung memory, but the city still retains its buzz, its high-octane spirit that is the essence of its magical personality as a place where anything can happen. The original 24 hour city, but still the best? You can turn a trip to NYC into anything you want it to be. New York remains firmly in first place as the world's 24 hour city, with nearly anything accessible at any hour. There is a frustratingly vast number of sights to see, places to eat, shopping, partying and serious cultural gems dotted throughout the place. So many films, books, television shows and musicians have personified New York that it's hard not to feel you already know it before you arrive. While many of those stereotypes ring true, entering the city -- whether the first or twentieth time -- with an open mind will make each visit seem an adventure. At first, the glittering, noisy and even rude aspect of the city may send timid visitors running. Look below the surface and you may see more than just shimmering skyscrapers and neatly manicured inhabitants but a multifarious bunch of people somehow co-existing astonishing well within the city's grid structure. Despite their sometimes alarming candor, New Yorkers are as much a part of the city's entertainment as catching a Broadway show. A starting point for 24 hours in the city should begin with breakfast or brunch New York style: eggs (however you'd like) and some good strong coffee to charge you up for the day. Almost every corner of Manhattan has a local diner, otherwise head downtown to breakfast stalwarts Bubby's or Kitchenette in Tribeca, or more recent favorite New French in the West Village. Continue south to Lower Manhattan, with an excursion on the free, 25-minute (each way) Staten Island ferry. The views of downtown, the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island give a closer glimpse of what it must have been like to arrive in the city as an immigrant in days past. Next head up to lively Chinatown to shop and bargain for knock-off designer handbags and various tat around Canal Street. If feeling peckish, have dim sum at New Green Bo Restaurant, known for its no-frills decor and delicious dumplings. Or continue on to Nolita (via Little Italy) to lunch at cool, low-key Café Gitane, or in SoHo at the beautiful French restaurant Balthazar (often a hangout of celebs). Shoppers will want to save time for the boutiques of Nolita and the higher-end designer shops in SoHo. If strolling is your thing, don't miss the opportunity to wander the leafy, village-like streets of the West Village. Loads of tiny boutiques (many of which have gone high-end in years past), inviting sidewalk cafes and the general laid-back style of the place seem the perfect antidote to otherwise hectic areas of town. Art enthusiasts should head straight to West Chelsea next, where there are enough galleries to spend several days. The Chelsea Gallery District is home to New York's contemporary art scene and sits over near the Hudson River, spanning several streets going north. Outdoor lovers will also be enticed to the West Chelsea neighborhood as the New York High Line is opening in June 2009. The former elevated railroad has been converted into a park including floating ponds, sundecks and lookout spots over the Hudson River and Manhattan. One of the city's most exciting recent projects, the public park will span 22 blocks (once it's all open in 2010), a huge accomplishment after many locals fought for years to turn it into green space. After a rest in the park, take in Midtown for its neck-wrenching skyscrapers. Admire the Chrysler Building, the city's homage to art deco, and gape up at the city's tallest building, the Empire State Building. Stop in Grand Central Terminal, taking note of its Beaux Arts beauty and its constellation-inspired ceiling, where you may have time to sneak a drink in the | [
"Where is the original 24-hour city?",
"Where should you head?",
"What does the original 24-hour city offer?",
"Which city is being discussed?",
"What can be seen in mid-town?"
] | [
[
"New York"
],
[
"lively Chinatown"
],
[
"anything accessible at any hour."
],
[
"New York"
],
[
"neck-wrenching skyscrapers."
]
] | The original 24-hour city has plenty of offer for first- or tenth-time visitors .
Fuel up for the day with a typical NYC breakfast and head to lower Manhattan .
Mid-town sights and shopping can provide plenty to delight and distract .
It remains an international city where you can make your own adventures . |
(CNN) -- The health care bill's passage has struck such an emotional chord that more than 10,000 people have posted comments and sometimes deeply personal stories about it on CNN.com.
Under the bill, which President Obama is expected to sign Tuesday at the earliest, most Americans will now be required to have health insurance or pay a fine. Larger employers will be required to provide coverage or risk financial penalties. Total individual out-of-pocket expenses will be capped, and insurers will be barred from denying coverage based on gender or pre-existing conditions.
Democrat Alison Victoria, who was a financial manager at a hospital for 15 years, supported the bill. As it's written, the bill "isn't perfect, and it's not everything I wanted, but it will save lives," Victoria said in an iReport video.
"Doctors, nurses and financial officers see a part of our health care system that many Americans don't, if they're lucky," she said.
"We have seen benefits denied based on false allegations that the treatment is not medically necessary. We have seen families and whole small businesses dropped from insurance coverage because one person on the plan got sick. We have seen people unable to find insurance because of a pre-existing condition," she said, likening the bill to a form of "justice" promised in the Constitution.
See complete coverage of the health care bill
Another reader used sarcasm to suggest that people will find a way around paying premiums. "This is cool. I'm just going to drop my insurance now, pay the $700 yearly fine, and then pickup insurance when I get sick since insurance companies can't deny me," he wrote on the Sound Off section of a CNN.com news story published after the bill passed. "I'll save a bundle of money every year."
"I suspect this is what most 'smart' Americans will do," he continued. "And then guess what? Insurance companies will collapse because they'll have no pool of money to pay for the claims that start coming in, and we'll be in a world of hurt again."
What will health care reform mean to you?
Many people who responded to CNN's coverage said they were happy the bill passed simply because the current system was not working. Government-backed health care is "the best compromise possible," Egberto Willies said. He's relieved that his wife, who has lupus, and his daughter, a pre-med student, won't have to worry about health care as much under the new bill, he said. "America has joined the civilized world," he said in his iReport video.
iReporter Cameron Harrelson, however, said he is afraid that his generation will end up paying for the bill. "We're going to have to endure it the longest," the 15-year-old from Georgia said.
Cliff Olney's daughter was born premature, and he's had to spend more than two decades caring for her with Medicaid, the U.S. health program funded by state and federal governments available to low-income people or people with disabilities.
"After 22 years of fighting health insurance companies, me and my daughter have vindication," he told iReport. But he also thinks the fight is far from over. "You know what's going to happen now ... the insurance companies will begin to cut people who are sick as quickly as they can before the window of opportunity is over ... they'll also increase premiums as the banks did after legislation was passed for credit card reform."
Michael Ingram, of Milford, Pennsylvania, says he's in good health and feels like he doesn't need health insurance. As a Navy veteran, he goes to a Veterans Affairs hospital when he's ill, he said.
"Forcing me to take a health care package that I may not need is dictatorial and not in keeping with the spirit or a free nation," Ingram wrote in his iReport. He said he's written to his representatives about the bill and said | [
"What will the bill do according to a hospital manager?"
] | [
[
"save lives,\""
]
] | Former hospital financial manager says bill "isn't perfect ... but it will save lives"
Navy vet who uses VA system says it would be unfair to force him to pay for health care .
Recent college graduate who's on chemotherapy hopes "this bill will help our situation"
Others worry about cost, potential to cheat system . |
(CNN) -- The hefty last meal ordered but not eaten by an executed Texas inmate brought a complaint from a state senator and the end Thursday to the practice of special menus.
Sen. John Whitmire, chairman of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, wrote Thursday that he opposed the practice of providing a last meal of choice to the condemned.
"It is extremely inappropriate to give a person sentenced to death such a privilege. One which the perpetrator did not provide to their victim," Whitmire wrote.
The Democrat, who represents Houston and parts of north Harris County, said "enough is enough" after Lawrence Russell Brewer ordered two chicken fried steaks smothered in gravy with sliced onions, a triple-meat bacon cheeseburger, a cheese omelet with other ingredients, a large bowl of fried okra with ketchup, three fajitas, a pint of Blue Bell ice cream and a pound of barbecue with a half-loaf of white bread.
The meal request also included a slab of peanut butter fudge with crushed peanuts, a pizza and three root beers.
Brewer declined to eat the last meal Wednesday, said Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman Jason Clark.
Whitmire, in asking the state to stop special requests, said he would seek the change by law if necessary.
"I believe Senator Whitmire's concerns regarding the practice of allowing death row offenders to choose their last meal are valid," Brad Livingston, executive director of the Department of Criminal Justice, said in statement released Thursday. "Effective immediately, no such accommodations will be made. They will receive the same meal served to other offenders on the unit."
Brewer, 44, was executed for his involvement in the infamous racially motivated 1998 dragging death of James Byrd Jr.
CNN's Phil Gast contributed to this report. | [
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"What did State senator say?",
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State senator said allowing such a request was "ridiculous"
Chief of criminal justice department orders change to protocol .
Brewer was executed for the 1998 dragging death of James Byrd Jr. |
(CNN) -- The highest-level talks between the United States and North Korea since President Barack Obama took office unfolded Wednesday in Pyongyang, with a virtual lock-down on information.
The top U.S. envoy for North Korea, Stephen Bosworth, is on a three-day visit for meetings to determine whether North Korea will return to six-party talks on its nuclear program.
The veteran diplomat is the first senior official from the Obama administration to hold direct talks with Pyongyang.
The White House offered no new details about the talks, and North Koreanstate media only acknowledged Bosworth's arrival in a one-line report.
North Korea abandoned the six-party talks last April, declaring them "dead," in anger over international criticism of its nuclear and missile tests. But the North also sent signals that it wanted to pursue bilateral talks with the United States instead of a multilateral dialogue.
Meanwhile, the North also has cooled its tough rhetoric against the United States.
Many are wondering what's behind the North's latest moves.
"The visit gives North Korea a lot of 'face,' a sense of importance," said Wenran Jiang, political science professor at the University of Alberta in Canada.
Some analysts say North Korea might just be trying to buy time. Earlier reports in Seoul claimed that North Korea is in the final stages of restoring its Yongbyon nuclear plant, which Pyongyang had begun to disable before walking away from the six-party talks in April. Given the secrecy of the North, those reports could not be verified.
Analysts say North Korea is also desperate to break out of its diplomatic isolation and ease its economic pain, especially after the U.N. Security Council imposed tougher sanctions on the communist country in response to Pyongyang's nuclear and missile tests earlier this year.
Another reason for Pyongyang's moves, analysts say, is neighboring China.
When Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited Pyongyang in October, China pledged much-needed economic, trade and military aid to its communist ally.
During the three-day visit, President Kim Jong Il indicated that North Korea was willing to return to the stalled six-party talks -- on condition that there would be progress in direct talks between North Korea and the United States.
China has hosted several rounds of the six-party talks, which bring together the United States, North and South Korea, Japan, Russia and China. The talks aim to negotiate a deal for North Korea to abandon its nuclear program in exchange for security guarantees and aid.
In the end, Pyongyang wants direct talks with Washington that will eventually lead to diplomatic ties, a peace treaty and economic and trade relations.
"China can only act as a go-between, but in the end, the U.S. and North Korea will have to resolve critical issues between themselves," Jiang said.
A U.S. State Department official said Bosworth would not carry any new proposals or new initiatives on his visit.
"Our goal here is, of course, the resumption of the six-party talks and to secure North Korea's reaffirmation of the September 2005 joint agreement," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said a few days before Bosworth's trip.
He added: "The complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula ... will be the focus of Ambassador Bosworth's trip to Pyongyang."
Some observers point to a wide difference in the United States and North Korea's negotiating positions.
Selig Harrison, an expert on North Korea who has visited the North many times said, "the U.S. side always says we don't want to buy the same horse twice. Defense Secretary (Robert) Gates actually said that several months ago, meaning that we keep giving North Korea things to get results which we don't get and we feel that we've been cheated and we're making the same deal over and over again. But actually the North Koreans feel that they're the ones who don't get what we have promised."
Bridging their differences, observers say, will not be easy.
"If Bosworth can persuade the North Koreans to | [
"Where are the high-level talks taking place?",
"Who condemned North Korea's missile launches and nuke test?",
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] | [
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] | Highest-level talks between U.S. and N. Korea since President Obama took office unfold in Pyongyang .
U.S. envoy Stephen Bosworth will try to determine if North will return to six-party talks on its nuclear program .
U.S. officials maintain Bosworth does not know in advance Pyongyang's position .
North Korea's missile launches and nuke test in April brought U.N. Security Council condemnation . |
(CNN) -- The homeless Florida woman who made a tearful plea for help from President Obama earlier this year is still jobless and struggling financially.
President Obama greets Henrietta Hughes during a town hall meeting in Fort Myers, Florida, on February 10.
Henrietta Hughes caught the nation's attention in February when she cried for help during one of Obama's town hall meetings.
After her plea, Hughes was given a free home to live in temporarily, but she is still struggling to find a job and might soon lose that home, CNN affiliate WINK reported Thursday.
Hughes, who is in her 60s, faithfully goes to an employment center in Fort Myers in hopes of finding a job.
"It's almost our second home," Hughes told WINK.
She and her son have taken a computer class at the center to help land work. Hughes said she has applied for as many jobs as possible but has struck out. Her son has had no luck either.
Now Hughes says she feels time is running out. The home she lives in was donated by the wife of a Florida lawmaker, Chene Thompson, who has been trying to sell the vacant home in the Fort Myers suburb of Lavelle since 2006. Once the house sells, Hughes will have to leave.
But Thompson told CNN that she will do everything in her power to make sure Hughes is not back out on the streets even if her house sells.
"I've told Miss Hughes ... she will never again be homeless, even if I have to personally assist her with her rent," said Thompson, who is a longtime advocate of the homeless.
Thompson said Hughes reminds her of her grandmother and that she and her son are "upstanding, good-hearted people."
"Her concern is that she doesn't want to be a freeloader," Thompson said, but Hughes and her son have helped deter vandals who have targeted vacant homes in the area.
"They really are a blessing for me," Thompson said.
But Hughes told WINK that she worries that she could end up living in her truck again if she has to move without a job.
Her plea to Obama came as he promoted his economic stimulus plan at a town hall meeting in southwest Florida.
After talking about the plan, the president opened the floor to questions from the crowd.
"I have an urgent need -- unemployment and homelessness, a very small vehicle for my family and I to live in," Hughes said at the time. "The housing authority has two years' waiting lists, and we need something more than the vehicle and the parks to go to. We need our own kitchen and our own bathroom. Please help."
Hughes said her son had lost his job, leaving them homeless.
Obama gave Hughes a kiss on the cheek and a promise: "We're going to do everything we can to help you, but there are a lot of people like you." | [
"What did Obama tell her?",
"What did Hughes do?",
"what says Obama?"
] | [
[
"\"We're going to do everything we can to help you, but there are a lot of people like you.\""
],
[
"cried for help"
],
[
"\"We're going to do everything we can to help you, but there are a lot of people like you.\""
]
] | Homeless Henrietta Hughes made tearful plea for help from President Obama .
Hughes still jobless, was given a free home but fears she will lose it .
Hughes and son striking out on jobs despite retraining, visits to job center .
Obama told Hughes he would help, "but there are a lot of people like you" |
(CNN) -- The international draw of its star players, the huge sums paid for rights to broadcast live action and the loyal nature of its consumers have long made the English Premier League an attractive home for investors.
In recent years this has included a number of American billionaires who, having made their money with sport franchises in the United States, saw ownership of teams including Manchester United (Malcolm Glazer), Liverpool (Hicks and Gillett) and Aston Villa (Randy Lerner) as the best way to expand a global portfolio.
Stan Kroenke -- owner of the Denver Nuggets basketball team, the National Hockey League's Colorado Avalanche and Major League Soccer's Colorado Rapids -- could be the next to join this elite group after a major shareholder at London-based Arsenal confirmed that she is looking to sell her stake.
Kroenke already owns 29 percent of the Champions League quarterfinalists, and needs only one more percent to trigger a complete takeover.
Blog: Should Stan Kroenke buy Arsenal?
But with the economic downturn compounding both Liverpool and Manchester United's struggles with debt and growing fan unrest -- coupled with Kroenke's recent confirmation of a takeover bid for the St Louis Rams -- would it be wise for the American to aim his sights on owning Arsenal now?
CNN's business correspondent Jim Boulden helps break down Kroenke's decision.
Why invest in the English Premier League?
The recent sale of their overseas television rights amounted to over $1.5 billion, while the domestic rights went for much more. This means the Premier League clubs can sign expensive players on big wages, according to Boulden. "A lot of the league's strength is to do with Sky and its multi-billion dollar deal to show the games around the world," he said. "Sky gives an enormous amount of money to Premier League clubs."
Could Kroenke expect much profit from Arsenal?
Boulden says the main way to maximize profit is to keep a club healthy, and deliver success on the pitch before selling it on down the line for a profit. He said: "I look upon Stan Kroenke like these other guys in America: the Glazers own a NFL team, the guys who own Liverpool own hockey clubs in America. They only make money if they hold onto them for a really long time and sell them."
Is Arsenal a financially healthy club?
Yes, according to Boulden. He says the club had to take out a big loan to build its new stadium -- the Emirates, which opened in 2006 -- but that is being chipped away. He explained: "There is a small section of seats at Arsenal's new ground that generates as much money on a match day as the entire former ground did. All other seats are gravy, so the amount of money they make per game is phenomenal." The site of the former ground has been turned into flats, which has also generated a considerable amount of money, Boulden said.
Boulden believes Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger's model of investing time and money into youth players is also a shrewd move. "Arsene Wenger's theory is to buy someone when they are young and other clubs haven't even noticed them. By the time they come good, and most of them do, he would have to pay $20 million to get these guys." He says these players can also be sold on for huge profit, like in the case of France striker Nicolas Anelka, who came through the Arsenal youth system before being sold to Real Madrid for $35 million.
Would Kroenke put the club in debt to buy it, as did the owners of Manchester United and Liverpool?
The Glazer family bought Manchester United by putting the debt onto the club, and their most recent accounts show they are over $1 billion in debt. Boulden says any similar move at Arsenal may not do the club any good. "Arsenal already has a debt from the building of the new stadium, so it would be hard to see how Kroenke would get a bank to agree to give them more debt," he said.
Does Kroenke's extra investment in | [
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] | [
[
"Stan Kroenke"
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"Stan Kroenke"
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"do the club any good."
],
[
"Stan Kroenke"
],
[
"Stan Kroenke"
],
[
"Stan Kroenke"
]
] | U.S. businessman Stan Kroenke is largest shareholder at English soccer club Arsenal .
Kroenke has just signaled his intention to buy NFL side the St Louis Rams .
CNN's Jim Boulden says Kroenke's Rams move means he may not buy Arsenal . |
(CNN) -- The intrusive voices popped into William "Bill" Garrett's head. "They're coming for you," the voices told the 18-year-old. "Find somewhere to hide; they're going to get you." In the left shows William "Bill" Garrett in high school, and the right is a 2007 photo of the Maryland teenager. They told the Johns Hopkins University freshman that his father had poisoned the family dog, his sister had injected crystal methamphetamine into his pet lizard and his grandmother had put human body parts into his food. As schizophrenia took hold, the Maryland teenager became lost within his own mind and had to leave college after winning a full, four-year scholarship. Garrett's experience echoes the teenage years of Nathaniel Ayers, a promising string bass player whose musical training at the Juilliard School was cut short by schizophrenia, a brain disorder that blurs a person's ability to distinguish between reality and delusions. Ayers became homeless and played Beethoven pieces on a broken violin in the streets of Los Angeles, California. His struggles with schizophrenia and his friendship with a Los Angeles Times columnist inspired the movie "The Soloist," which releases Friday. His sister, Jennifer Ayers-Moore, hopes the movie will raise awareness about schizophrenia and has established the Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Foundation for the artistically gifted mentally ill. "I know there are thousands of Nathaniels, and they deserve a chance, too," said Ayers-Moore, an Atlanta-based social worker. Teen interrupted Schizophrenia is the result of disrupted brain development. Males typically get symptoms during their teens or early 20s, as Ayers and Garrett did. "It's a critical time for the brain," said Dr. Jon McClellan, the medical director of the Child Study and Treatment Center at Seattle Children's Hospital. "It's the CEO part of the brain that pays attention, makes decisions and filters. The prefrontal cortex, that's the last area of the brain to develop. As that area comes online, that's when the illness presents." In high school, Garrett won elected offices in student government and headed the lacrosse and cross country teams. A gifted student, he wanted to study political science and biology at Hopkins. At home, he cooked family dinners, helped his little sister with homework, and surprised his mother with pancakes on her birthday. "People likened him to the perfect child before he got sick," said his mother, Kristan Kanyuch. In 2007, the unusual behaviors started. He slept a lot. He emptied an entire can of bug spray in his bedroom. When he came home for a weekend from college, he pointed to a blister on his hand that had formed from playing lacrosse. "Look, I have gangrene," he said. "My hand is going to rot." Then he tried to cut off his hand with a paring knife. His family stopped him and took him to an emergency room for a psych evaluation, but Garrett refused to wait and left. A week later, Kanyuch got a call from the university. Her son was failing every class. When confronted, Garrett looked at the F's and calmly replied, "I'm not failing anything." In the 1970s, Ayers-Moore saw the symptoms when her family picked her brother up from Juilliard to head home to Cleveland, Ohio, for summer. "The look in his eye was so different," she said. "It was like you could see into his soul, he could look into yours. It sort of startled me a little bit. I didn't know what to say to him. On the way from New York, I pretended I was asleep. I didn't know what to say." Paranoid schizophrenia About three decades later, Nickole Kanyuch, 15, watched a similar scenario unfold as her brother, Garrett, struggled with paranoid schizophrenia and obsessive compulsive disorder. "I watched the big brother who I had looked up to all my life fall apart | [
"Whois the subject of the film \"the Soloist\"?",
"What disease forced a Maryland teen to leave college?",
"What is the name of the film?",
"What forces a teenager to leave college?",
"What is the family struggling with?",
"What disrupts the Maryland teenagers life?",
"What does the teen's life experience echo?"
] | [
[
"William \"Bill\" Garrett's"
],
[
"schizophrenia"
],
[
"\"The Soloist,\""
],
[
"schizophrenia"
],
[
"Schizophrenia"
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[
"schizophrenia"
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[
"the teenage years of Nathaniel Ayers,"
]
] | Schizophrenia disrupts Maryland teenager's life, forces him to leave college .
Teen's story echoes experience of Nathaniel Ayers, subject of film, "The Soloist"
Family struggles to learn how to best help teenager deal with mental illness . |
(CNN) -- The investigation of the E. coli outbreak linked to Nestle Toll House cookie dough is nearly over, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The cause of the contamination has not been identified. Nestle recalled all its Toll House refrigerated cookie dough products made at a Danville, Virginia, plant. David Acheson, the FDA's associate commissioner for foods, says the samples of cookie dough his agency has tested do not contain the E. coli strain that sickened 74 people in 32 states. On June 19, Nestle recalled all its Toll House refrigerated cookie dough products made at a Danville, Virginia, plant. Thirty-four people have been hospitalized; no deaths have been reported. The CDC reports that the majority of the patients were teenage girls who reported eating the cookie dough raw. Last month, the FDA found E. coli in a production sample of Toll House cookie dough, but after testing, investigators found that the strain in the sample did not match the outbreak strain. "We are still in speculation mode," Acheson said, but the E. coli "most likely came from raw ingredients" such as flour. The E.coli strain that caused the outbreak, 0157:H7, is typically found in fecal contamination from animals such as cows, sheep or goats. Acheson points out that it's not unusual for those animals to be carrying more than one strain of the bacteria. But he believes that the root cause of the contamination may never be known. "We have to conclude we're unlikely to have a definitive determination," he said. Most people with E. coli 0157:H7 experience diarrhea and abdominal cramps within eight days of infection. The FDA notified Nestle USA on Thursday that its investigation at the Danville plant was over. Nestle says FDA inspectors were at the plant for more than a week and found no E. coli on equipment. More than 1,000 tests have been conducted at the facility after the outbreak. "We've dismantled the production line and done extensive testing on all equipment and not found any E. coli," Nestle USA spokeswoman Laurie MacDonald said. MacDonald announced that Nestle is easing back into production at the plant. The company has purchased new lots of eggs, flour and margarine and says it is thoroughly testing the new products and all raw ingredients. Consumers will have to wait to see cookie dough back in grocery stores. "You're not going to see anything on the shelves for quite some time," MacDonald said. But when it does appear, the company will mark the cookie dough with a new label that clearly designates it as a new batch. It will also continue to carry a reminder to not eat the dough raw. | [
"What doesn't contain the particular strain of E. coli?",
"Who were sickened?",
"What did the FDA say about the samples?",
"How many people were sickened?",
"Who recalled all dough made at Virginia plant?",
"How many people got sick?",
"Who made a recall?",
"What did Nestle recall?"
] | [
[
"Nestle Toll House cookie dough"
],
[
"Thirty-four people"
],
[
"of cookie dough his agency has tested do not contain the E. coli strain that sickened 74 people in 32 states."
],
[
"74"
],
[
"Nestle"
],
[
"74"
],
[
"Nestle"
],
[
"Toll House refrigerated cookie dough products"
]
] | FDA says Toll House samples don't contain particular strain of E. coli .
Nestle recalled all dough made at Virginia plant after outbreak .
74 people in 32 states were sickened; there were no deaths .
Plant resuming test production of cookie dough . |
(CNN) -- The junta leading Niger following last week's coup and suspension of the constitution is working to return the country to democratic rule, a United Nations official said Sunday.
"The political party is very keen to return power to civilians and transition to an all-inclusive democracy," U.N. Special Representative for West Africa Said Djinnit told CNN. "This transition began with the occurrence of the coup and the expiration of the constitution and implementation of a new constitution."
The new constitution already is in the works, said Djinnit, who along with representatives from the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States met with junta leaders in Niamey, Niger, on Sunday to push for a quick resolution to the conflict.
"The mission of this meeting is to assure this coup is the last," Djinnit said. "No coup can be tolerated."
President Mamadou Tandja is said to be detained in a military camp following Thursday's coup. Soldiers reportedly stormed the presidential palace, according to the United Nations, and the French Embassy reported hearing intermittent gunfire less than a mile from the palace.
A military official announced the suspension of the constitution later that day and attributed the order to the Superior Council for the Restoration of Democracy.
The violence may have been prompted by a collapse of talks between the government and the opposition over a recent referendum allowing the president to hold power indefinitely, according to the United Nations. Tandja had been in office since 1999, but Niger's previous constitution mandated only two, five-year terms for president, according to the CIA World Fact Book.
General public sentiment in the west African nation of 15 million appeared to favor the coup, according to Djinnit, who said life had returned to normal for civilians and many had gathered in rallies of support. Djinnit's observations back earlier reports that the situation was calm in Niger, with children returning to school and shops open for business.
CNN's Andreena Narayan contributed to this report. | [
"Who is detained in the military camp?",
"What does the general public appear to favor?",
"Who is said to be detained in a military camp?",
"What did the U.N official say regarding the general public sentiment?",
"Where is the president of Niger?",
"What may have led to the coup?",
"Mamadou Tandja is President of which country?",
"What is in the works?"
] | [
[
"President Mamadou Tandja"
],
[
"the coup,"
],
[
"President Mamadou Tandja"
],
[
"\"The political party is very keen to return power to civilians and transition to an all-inclusive democracy,\""
],
[
"Mamadou Tandja is said to be detained in a military camp"
],
[
"a collapse of talks between the government and the opposition over a recent referendum allowing the president"
],
[
"Niger"
],
[
"The new constitution"
]
] | General public sentiment in Niger appears to favor last week's coup, U.N. official says .
U.N.: Collapse of talks over president's effort to supersede term limits may have led to coup .
President Mamadou Tandja is said to be detained in a military camp .
New constitution in the works, U.N. official says . |
(CNN) -- The jury that convicted O.J. Simpson of robbery and other charges relied mostly on audio and video evidence -- and very little on testimony from prosecution witnesses -- jury members said Sunday. O.J. Simpson, convicted of robbery and kidnapping last week, could be sentenced to life in prison on December 5. "We honestly felt we could not rely on that witness testimony," said Michelle R. Lyons, one of seven jurors who spoke to reporters in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sunday. "There was not one decision we made that was based only on witness testimony." Jury foreman Paul Connelly said some of the prosecution's witnesses didn't seem trustworthy. At least three former Simpson co-defendants who cut deals to testify in the case had criminal records. Asked whether the jury trusted the witnesses, Connelly answered: "Not entirely, no." Watch jurors explain their verdict » Prosecutors produced an audiotape of the confrontation in which authorities said Simpson and five men burst into a Las Vegas, Nevada, hotel on September 13, 2007. The men allegedly made off with pillowcases containing Simpson sports memorabilia. Several jurors said audiotapes of the incident and conversations between Simpson and others that were recorded surreptitiously before, during and after the heist made the prosecution's case. "It would have been a weak case" without the tapes, juror Dora Pettit said. The jury of nine women and three men found Simpson and co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart guilty Friday of 12 charges, including conspiracy to commit a crime, robbery, assault and kidnapping with a deadly weapon. Simpson, 61, could get life in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for December 5 in Las Vegas. Prosecutors alleged that Simpson, a former football star, led a group of men who used threats, guns and force to take the memorabilia and other items from memorabilia dealers Bruce Fromong and Al Beardsley. Four men who had been charged with Simpson cut deals with the prosecution and testified against him. One testified that Simpson instructed him to bring a gun to the hotel encounter. "Everything was based on the recordings," juror Dora Pettit said of the panel's decisions. Simpson, who did not testify during the trial, told police he didn't know the people with him were armed. He also claimed the items had been stolen from him, and the hotel encounter was just about him retrieving his items. Simpson's lawyer has indicated he plans to appeal the conviction, partly because some of the jurors had indicated during jury selection that they disagreed with a 1995 verdict in which he was acquitted of killing his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman. Watch Fred Goldman hail the verdict » Teresa Owens, one of the jurors in the Simpson robbery case, said any suggestion that the jury found Simpson guilty because of the verdict 13 years ago is "terrible." "There's reports right now that we've had some kind of vendetta against Mr. Simpson for ... 13 years ago," she said. "That in no way had anything to do with this case whatsoever." Connelly said the murder trial "never came up." "I don't think it was on anybody's minds. For that, I can say I'm proud of the jury," he said. Before the robbery and kidnapping trial, the jurors promised they could disregard Simpson's past and solely consider the evidence against him and Stewart, 54. Owens also said it would be "preposterous" for anyone suggest that the makeup of the jury -- 11 jurors were white, and one said she was Hispanic, while Simpson is black -- hurt the defense's chances. "They chose us. Five hundred people ... filled out these questionnaires," Owens said. "They had the [opportunity] to pass us." Pettit said the jury has been painted by some "as an all-white jury that hates O.J." "That's just not true," she said. "It couldn't be further from the truth | [
"Who cut deals to testify?",
"What did the jury foreman say?",
"What never came up?",
"How many witnesses had criminal records?",
"what did jury foreman say"
] | [
[
"At least three former Simpson co-defendants"
],
[
"some of the prosecution's witnesses didn't seem trustworthy."
],
[
"the murder trial"
],
[
"At least three"
],
[
"some of the prosecution's witnesses didn't seem trustworthy."
]
] | Some witnesses didn't seem trustworthy, jury foreman says .
At least three witnesses who cut deals to testify had criminal records .
"Not one decision" was made based solely on testimony, juror says .
Jurors: Simpson's 1995 acquittal on murder charges never came up . |
(CNN) -- The label on the package claimed that it contained T-shirts and baby toys. When customs officials in Sydney scanned the parcel, they found five pythons and two venomous tarantulas. But when customs officials in Sydney X-ray scanned the parcel, they found instead five pythons and two venomous tarantulas. On Tuesday, authorities raided the house in Sydney to which the parcel had been addressed. Officials seized evidence but expect to file charges later, the customs agency said. Importing live animals without a permit is illegal in Australia and can yield a 10-year prison sentence and a fine of 110,000 Australian dollars ($92,000 U.S.). The parcel was sent from the United States last week, but officials would not say specifically where it had been mailed from. The snakes were wrapped within white calico bags and the spiders were packed in clear plastic containers, the customs agency said. The creatures were later killed because they posed a quarantine risk, the agency said in a press release. It titled the press release: "Spiders and snakes on a plane." | [
"where were the customs officials",
"How many creatures were mailed?",
"what did customs officials in australia find?",
"what did Customs officials find in the package.",
"Where did the parcel come from?",
"Who euthanized these creatures?",
"where were pythons and tarantulas found?"
] | [
[
"Sydney"
],
[
"five pythons and two venomous tarantulas."
],
[
"five pythons and two venomous tarantulas."
],
[
"five pythons and two venomous tarantulas."
],
[
"the United States"
],
[
"officials in Sydney"
],
[
"Sydney"
]
] | Customs officials in Australia find pythons and tarantulas in package .
The parcel had been sent from the United States .
The creatures were later killed because they posed a quarantine risk . |
(CNN) -- The last eight years In the United States have included momentous events including the September 11 attacks, the Iraq war, Hurricane Katrina and an economic recession. Ted Stanke of New York created a symbolic map of the United States out of toy soldiers to protest the Iraq war. Historic moments defined President Bush's time in office, and now the world must wait to see how history will define him. Just 27 percent of the respondents to a recent CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll said they approved of Bush's handling of his job as president. Respondents also indicated they didn't want him to have future influence, with 66 percent saying they didn't want to see the president return to public life. We asked readers to share their views on Bush's legacy on iReport.com. The majority of the responses expressed disappointment with the president's performance. Many readers with whom we spoke said they were deeply frustrated with the way Bush handled issues such as the Iraq war, the economy and Hurricane Katrina. Watch Bush discuss handling of Katrina » Cathy Cott, 49, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, vented her "boiling anger" on iReport.com. She voted Republican for 22 years until after the 2000 election when Bush won a narrow victory over Democrat Al Gore. She says she is now a registered Democrat who voted for Barack Obama. iReport.com: Bubbling over "I guess the simplest reason for my boiling anger is I have three kids and they will spend their lives paying for Bush's policies, wars, economic disasters and the general mess he is leaving behind both monetarily and in their general quality of life," Cott said. "Eight years of frustration" over the Iraq war and other military decisions inspired New York artist Ted Stanke to create painstakingly detailed and unmistakably symbolic artwork from toy soldiers. One piece shows a map of the United States with an inset globe made from the tiny fighters, while another depicts a bush constructed from the soldiers. iReport.com: See Stanke's toy soldier art Some iReporters say they still support Bush, while others said they voted for him but changed their minds about him later. Kathi Cordsen is a Republican who describes herself as a Bush supporter. The Fullerton, California, resident says the September 11 attacks profoundly changed the way people perceived Bush. She says many people were too unwilling to give him a chance. iReport.com: In defense of Bush "He is a funny man, a kind man, a bit of a goofball and not very well-spoken," Cordsen said. "But, he would not have been treated the way he is being treated now if not for 9/11. His presidency was thwarted by the 'evildoers.' I love that term of his." Chuck Burkhard of Windber, Pennsylvania, hopes history will remember Bush as a strong man who loved his country. Burkard said the president juggled unprecedented challenges during his term, including dealing with terrorism and facing up to financial forces that may not have been under his control. Critics of Bush should look within themselves for answers, he said. iReport.com: Working overtime "Most of us are spoiled by a have-it-our-way-now and reckless generation that must stop borrowing so much and start working more. We shift blame instead of looking to ourselves for resolve and drive." Burkhard said he feels Bush is one of the most overworked presidents in history and has shouldered too much blame for the current state of the economy. "I personally have never seen this much responsibility thrown onto our country, in such a small amount of time," Burkhard said. "We are responsible for the world economy, the global war on terror, global warming. You name it, we have our hands in it." Chris Molisani of Rochester, New York, says September 11 was a defining moment, not just for Bush's presidency, but also in his own life. He was in high school and college during Bush's eight years in the White House. iReport.com: Look back on how Bush changed the country He can scarcely remember the | [
"Who was frustrated?",
"Who feels frustration?",
"who share impassioned, often angry, thoughts?",
"Are readers angry about Bush?",
"Who can't remember Bush's years before September 11?",
"Who was angry?"
] | [
[
"Many readers"
],
[
"Ted Stanke"
],
[
"Cathy Cott,"
],
[
"The majority of the responses expressed disappointment"
],
[
"Chris Molisani"
],
[
"Cathy Cott,"
]
] | iReport.com: Readers share impassioned, often angry, thoughts on Bush .
Cathy Cott says she feels frustration coming to a boil at the mention of him .
Chris Molisani says he can't remember Bush's years before September 11 .
Maria Davis wants to see him give a unifying departing speech . |
(CNN) -- The last remaining places for European football's showpiece tournament will be decided on Tuesday when eight nations compete in the second leg of the Euro 2012 playoffs.
Ten countries have already qualified, along with co-hosts Poland and Ukraine, for the four-yearly tournament taking place in June and July.
The most evenly-poised tie is in Lisbon, where 2004 hosts Portugal take on Bosnia-Herzegovina following Friday's 0-0 draw in Zenica.
Turkey reached the semifinals in 2008, but face an uphill struggle to appear at the 14th staging of the event after Croatia won 3-0 in the first leg in Istanbul.
Montenegro, competing for the first time as an independent nation, will also have to overhaul a deficit at home after losing 2-0 in Prague to the Czech Republic -- who finished runners-up on debut in 1996 after the split with Slovakia.
Estonia caused a surprise by reaching the playoffs after taking second place in Group C behind Italy, meaning 2010 World Cup qualifiers Serbia and Slovenia missed out.
However, the East Europeans are unlikely to be included in the December 2 group-stage draw after losing 4-0 in Tallinn to the Republic of Ireland on Friday. The Irish have qualified for the finals only once, in 1988.
Next year will be the last time the tournament is played by 16 teams ahead of an expansion to 24.
World champions Spain will defend their European title, having qualified as group winners along with Germany, Russia, France, the Netherlands, Greece, England and Denmark.
Sweden went through as the second-placed team with the best record. | [
"What will the second leg decide?",
"when will playoffs be completed?",
"who will be co-hosting next year?",
"who is defending their title?",
"Who will defend their title?"
] | [
[
"last remaining places for European football's showpiece tournament"
],
[
"Tuesday"
],
[
"Poland and Ukraine,"
],
[
"Spain"
],
[
"Spain"
]
] | The playoffs for Euro 2012 will be completed on Tuesday .
The second-leg ties will decide which final four countries will qualify .
Next year's championship will be co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine .
Spain will defend their 2008 title from 16 other competing nations . |
(CNN) -- The late Chris Benoit idolized the Dynamite Kid, who was half of a professional wrestling team famous in the 1980s for spectacular high-flying, acrobatic moves.
Chris Benoit strangled his wife and suffocated his son before hanging himself in June.
The Dynamite Kid and his partner, Davey Boy Smith, were known as the British Bulldogs. They were quick, agile and muscular, and in 1986 they won the World Wrestling Federation tag team championship.
Young Benoit dreamed of wrestling like the Dynamite Kid, whose real name is Tom Billington. At the beginning of his career, Benoit adopted the Dynamite nickname and copied his idol's signature moves.
In June, Benoit murdered his wife and young son before hanging himself. Investigators found testosterone, painkillers and anti-anxiety drugs in Chris Benoit's body, Georgia's chief medical examiner said a month later.
When asked about Benoit's double murder-suicide, Billington told CNN, "It can make you aggressive, the steroids. But personally I wouldn't, you know, kill no bleeding kid, or wife either."
Billington now lives in a public housing apartment outside Manchester, England. He has lost the use of his legs. A pin sticks out from one of his toes.
Billington blames his wrestling life for doing this to him -- wrestling and the fact that he ignored doctors who told him to stop the punishment to his body.
And from the steroids, he said.
Billington told CNN that the steroids came from doctors, from friends, even from steroids meant for horses. He took them all, took a terrible pounding in the ring, and like his partner (who died at age 39 in 2002), began taking extensive amounts of painkillers.
Benoit's death has refocused a media spotlight on the organization for which he wrestled, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment, and the man who has ruled wrestling for years, Chairman of the Board Vince McMahon.
McMahon, appearing with Linda McMahon, his wife and WWE CEO, told CNN: "Nothing from the WWE, under any set of circumstances had anything to do with Chris Benoit murdering his family. How did we know Chris Benoit would turn into a monster." Read a full transcript of the McMahons interview
Vince McMahon defended the organization, saying its drug-testing policy was not just for show.
"Our policy stacks up just as well as anyone else's in sport, although again emphasizing we are entertainment, and no one in entertainment, no one has this kind of wellness policy," McMahon said.
Critics say McMahon pushes his stars and non-stars, works them too many nights per year and has encouraged the large physiques prevalent in modern wrestling. They say McMahon only looks at his employees as commodities, pawns in a huge business.
His businesses are quite successful. About 16 million people a week tune into WWE TV shows. Two of their cable programs -- "Raw" and "Friday Night Smackdown" -- are weekly ratings giants. Pay-per-view specials generate an average of $100 million per year.
When asked about the high number of former wrestlers who had died before they turned 50 years old, Vince McMahon said each person in the WWE bore responsibility for their own lives -- especially outside the arena.
"If someone passes through our organization, it is not our responsibility for someone's personal activities," he said.
He also said there isn't "any organization in the world, be it entertainment or be it sport, that can tell you that they are totally drug-free." Watch as a WWE wrestler says the perception of steroid use is wrong »
The McMahons said the WWE is taking steps toward improving its oversight of its athletes. Since the newest WWE drug screening program began in February 2006, more than 30 of the organization's wrestlers have been suspended, including two since CNN's interview with the McMahons.
David Black -- who helped the NFL develop its drug program and now runs tests for the WWE -- says twice that number have tested positive and been | [
"In what way can wrestlers get drugs?",
"Which sports has the best drug-testing programs?",
"What type of WWE penalties did the critics not agree with?",
"Who is Vince McMahon?",
"does having these drugs mean anything for the wrestlers?",
"Who bares responsiblity for actions",
"Where can wrestlers get drugs from",
"What are the penalties for drug use?",
"What did Vince McMahon say?",
"what is the best program WWE has?"
] | [
[
"the steroids came from doctors, from friends, even from steroids meant for horses."
],
[
"NFL"
],
[
"drug-testing policy"
],
[
"Chairman of the Board"
],
[
"can make you aggressive,"
],
[
"each person in the WWE"
],
[
"doctors,"
],
[
"suspended,"
],
[
"\"Nothing from the WWE, under any set of circumstances had anything to do with Chris Benoit murdering his family. How"
],
[
"\"Raw\""
]
] | Vince McMahon: WWE has one of best drug-testing programs .
Wrestling boss tells CNN that individuals bear responsibility for actions .
Critics say WWE penalties for drug use are not harsh enough .
Wrestlers still can get drugs if they have prescriptions from doctors . |
(CNN) -- The latest trend at teen parties isn't warm beer or prescription medicines pilfered from parents' medicine cabinets. Instead, increasing numbers of youths are turning to an herb-based product to get high, and unlike marijuana, it's perfectly legal.
It's known as K2 or Spice, a synthetic substance that, when smoked, gives users a marijuana-like high, according to drug authorities. Its growing popularity is causing increasing alarm among health care professionals, law enforcement authorities and lawmakers, with one Drug Enforcement Agency official calling its use the equivalent of "playing Russian roulette."
Should some illegal drugs be legalized?
Manufactured in Asia and sold online or in local stores, K2 and similar substances are marketed as herbal incense. A disclaimer on a K2-selling Web site reads: "K2Herbal products are novelty incenses and are not for consumption."
Sold in various flavors in 3-gram bags, the product consists of herbs that are sprayed with synthetic substances that mimic THC, the high-causing natural chemical found in marijuana.
A call to regulate K2
Health and drug officials say the danger in using such products is the unregulated nature of their production and makeup.
"Our biggest concern is that this particular chemical is likely manufactured in a dorm-room setting. And these dorm-room scientists are not going to be exhibiting a lot of quality assurance techniques," says Dr. Gaylord Lopez, a toxicologist and head of the Georgia Poison Center.
As a result, there's a potential for users to inhale contaminants along with the substance they think they're smoking, Lopez said, which may be a contributing factor in the adverse symptoms some of its users have been experiencing.
Political activist wants K2 banned
"Synthetic drugs and herbal drug products like Spice and K2 are not made in a controlled environment and thus you are playing Russian roulette when it comes to these types of products," said Dawn Dearden, a spokeswoman for the DEA, which first began receiving reports about abuse of the substance last year. "There is no way, outside of a controlled laboratory environment, to determine the chemical makeup, synthetic ingredients or amounts, and therefore there is no way to determine with any accuracy what the potentially harmful effects may be."
Lopez says his center first heard of the substance in December when Georgia hospitals began reporting patients who had used K2 or Spice.
Since then, the center has seen a spike in cases, with 20 people -- mostly teenagers -- visiting emergency rooms with such symptoms as heart palpitations and respiratory issues. In the most serious case, an otherwise healthy teenage boy, who has since recovered, lapsed into a coma, Lopez said.
According to Dearden, additional side effects can include panic attacks, hallucinations, delusions, vomiting, increased agitation and dilated pupils.
Around the center, Lopez said his employees have begun referring to the substance as "Scary Spice."
Earlier this month, Kansas became the first state to ban synthetic marijuana.
Kansas state Sen. Jim Barnett, a supporter of the effort, said the ban was prompted by reports of abuse of K2 and similar products in cities across the state among high school students and prison parolees who were using it as an alternative to pot to avoid a positive drug test.
Lawmakers in several other states are considering similar legislation, including Georgia, Utah, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Dakota and Illinois.
"Although it is a synthetic drug, it is still a drug with a high potential for abuse," says Barnett, who is a physician. "It was our desire in Kansas to be ahead of the problem."
K2 has already been banned in some European countries, including Britain, Germany, Poland and France, and the DEA lists it as a drug of concern in the United States.
"We are seeing several indications that these THC-like substances could become a significant problem both domestically and internationally," Dearden says.
She says the agency is in "the preliminary stages of determining whether or not some or all of (synthetic substances) need to be | [
"what are side effects of products?",
"what does the K2 or Spice do when smoked?",
"what are the side effects",
"where does one find K2",
"what is the reason behind the danger of the product?"
] | [
[
"panic attacks, hallucinations, delusions, vomiting, increased agitation and dilated pupils."
],
[
"gives users a marijuana-like high,"
],
[
"panic attacks, hallucinations, delusions, vomiting, increased agitation"
],
[
"sold online or in local stores,"
],
[
"the unregulated nature of their production and makeup."
]
] | K2 or Spice, when smoked, gives users a marijuana-like high .
Danger of products is the unregulated nature of their production and makeup .
Side effects include heart palpitations, respiratory issues, panic attacks, hallucinations .
Kansas has banned K2; many other states are considering similar laws . |
(CNN) -- The lawyer for the woman who faces 40 lashes for wearing clothes that Sudan deemed indecent called the law "degrading." Lubna al-Hussein was told she had trousers considered too tight and a blouse too transparent. "They ought to stop it," Nabil Adib said on Thursday. "It is quite unnecessary and degrading. It is harassment." Lubna Al Hussein -- who writes for a newspaper and, until recently, worked for the media department of the U.N. mission in Sudan -- was arrested, along with 18 other women on July 3. At the time of her arrest, she said, she was wearing pants, a blouse and a hijab or headscarf. Police accused Hussein of wearing trousers that were too tight and a blouse that was too sheer, she said. Watch more about the case » A hearing on the case has been scheduled for Tuesday. Adib, the lawyer, seemed confident that the court would drop the case. The indecent clothing charge has only one punishment under Sudanese law -- 40 lashes in public, according to the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information. "These things have their ups and downs," Adib said. "These laws have generally relaxed as a matter of policy. But they are still sometimes enforced." The Arabic Network humans rights organization said the threat of flogging was retaliation for Hussein writing critically about the Sudanese regime. However, Adib does not think his client was targeted. "There are round-ups that they do and it is indiscriminate," he said. "I don't think she was targeted specifically. They attack public and private parties and groups. They are called 'morality police' and she was just a victim of a round-up." U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday called flogging "against the international human rights standards." He said he would take every effort to protect his staff member. However, Hussein resigned from her position with the United Nations to avoid the immunity she would have received, Adib said. Hussein said she will stand firm that she did nothing wrong. CNN's Umaro Djau, Talia Kayali and Tracy Doueiry contributed to this report. | [
"What was Al-Hussein told about her clothing?",
"Who faces 40 lashes in public?",
"What is a possible punishment if convicted?",
"What is Al-Hussein's punishment?",
"What was Al-Hussein arrested for?",
"Who was arrested for wearing indecent clothing?",
"For what reason was Lubna Al-Hussein arrested?",
"How many, besides Lubna Al-Hussein where also arrested?"
] | [
[
"she had trousers considered too tight and a blouse too transparent."
],
[
"Lubna al-Hussein"
],
[
"40 lashes in public,"
],
[
"40 lashes in public,"
],
[
"wearing clothes that Sudan deemed indecent"
],
[
"Lubna al-Hussein"
],
[
"trousers considered too tight and a blouse too transparent."
],
[
"18"
]
] | Lubna Al-Hussein, 18 others recently arrested for wearing indecent clothes .
Al-Hussein was told her pants were too tight, her blouse too sheer .
Al-Hussein faces 40 lashes in public . |
(CNN) -- The leader of a religious group that authorities believe preys on children was released from a Pennsylvania prison Friday but won't be required to register as a sex offender, triggering outrage in the community where he plans to live. George Feigley, who was released from prison Friday, is the subject of community protests. George Feigley, now 68, was convicted in 1975 on charges including statutory rape, indecent assault and corrupting the morals of minors. Because Feigley's 1975 conviction predated the passage of Megan's Law, he will not be required to register as a sex offender. And, having served his maximum sentence, he was not put on parole upon his release. Feigley's Neo American Church, which authorities have called a sex cult, operated a school in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, that police said was a front for sexual activity. The church's manifesto says, "We hold that the changes called creation and procreation are divine and that human sexuality is to humans the most available expression of that function of divinity," according to community activist Scott Portzline, who has researched Feigley's history and that of the group. "Sexual activity is the greatest act a human can do." Court documents filed in connection with Feigley's criminal case alleged a less lofty goal. "The defendants' design was to operate a 'church oriented' school, which is free of any governmental regulation, for the ostensible purpose of education when their real goal was to gratify their own deviant sexual desires," the documents stated. One of Feigley's victims, identified only as "J," told the Harrisburg Patriot-News she was part of the organization from the ages of 5 through 12, when her mother left the Neo American Church. Children were beaten for letting anyone but fellow cult members see them, she said, and their genitals were pierced with a lock to be controlled by Feigley, who called himself "The Light of the World." Children also were photographed in graphic sexual poses, she said. Feigley is "not a man who should be out with society," J said. "He preys on -- at least he did -- the people who believed in him." And, community members say, there will be no protections in place to stop him from continuing to do so. Watch why the case inflames emotions » Feigley was convicted of additional conspiracy charges in 1995. Authorities said he was attempting to direct sexual activity involving children by telephone from prison. However, conspiracy charges do not require listing on a sex offender registry. Feigley "never admitted what he did was wrong," said John Goshert of the Dauphin County district attorney's office, who interviewed him last week as part of a pre-release program. Protests took place Friday in front of Feigley's Harrisburg home and the church headquarters. His wife, Sandra, still lives in the home. She was convicted in 1975 on one count of corrupting the morals of minors. She served a brief prison sentence, according to the Patriot-News. Sandra Feigley now operates a Web site ostensibly aimed at benefiting state, local and federal prison inmates. The site has a lengthy section with articles discussing sex in prison and elsewhere. Some of them are written by George Feigley, using his own name and some of his aliases. "Thanks to the Christian crazies who were and are so influential in this country, America has criminalized more sexual conduct than any other Western nation," says an article on the site, which does not name an author. "It's a neurosis. As a result, there are a lot of 'sexual offenses.' " Another article bearing George Feigley's alias of G.G. Stoctay, Ph.D., and included in Portzline's research says, "There is nothing injurious to sexuality. It's good and pleasant, not an evil. Children exposed to it are simply not injured." Angel Fox, who will be Feigley's next-door neighbor, helped organize Friday's protest and is circulating a petition to prevent his return to | [
"What kind of church were the protests held at in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania?",
"Did Feigley acknowledge wrongdoing?",
"Was Feigley put on parole?",
"What did prosecutor says Feigley never acknowledged?",
"When was Feigley convicted?",
"What was held at church and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, homfee of Feigley's wi",
"Protests were held where?",
"What was feigley convicted of?"
] | [
[
"Neo American"
],
[
"was wrong,\""
],
[
"not"
],
[
"he"
],
[
"1975"
],
[
"Protests"
],
[
"in front of Feigley's Harrisburg home and the church headquarters."
],
[
"statutory rape, indecent assault and corrupting the morals of minors."
]
] | Feigley was convicted before passage of Megan's Law .
Because he served a full prison term, he wasn't put on parole .
Protests held at church and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, home of Feigley's wife .
Prosecutor says Feigley never acknowledged wrongdoing . |
(CNN) -- The leader of this week's coup in Guinea assured senior officials Thursday "they are safe," a journalist with the state-run newspaper told CNN. Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara with Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare. Coup leader Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara met with Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare and about 30 other top officials at a military camp in Conakry, the nation's capital, said Ousmane Barry, a correspondent for the state-run Horoya newspaper. Camara has declared himself president of the National Council for Democracy, which he called a transitional body that will oversee the country's return to democracy. In effect, that makes Camara president of Guinea, which was thrown into turmoil Monday after the death of President Lansana Conte. Souare called Camara "Mr. President" at Thursday's meeting, which was witnessed by journalists, Barry said. The two men also discussed Conte's funeral, scheduled for Friday. Camara has suspended the government, constitution, political parties and trade unions and formed his own government, Africa News reporter Mamdou Dian Donghol Diallo told CNN on Wednesday. The newly formed government, made up of 26 military personnel and six civilians, is negotiating a power-sharing deal that would reflect its ethnic make-up, Diallo said. International institutions, including the African Union, have condemned the coup. "What we want to see is the transition to a more democratic governing structure for the people of Guinea," U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said earlier this week. Guinea, in western Africa bordering the Atlantic Ocean, has had only two presidents since gaining independence from France in 1958. Conte came to power in 1984, when the military seized control of the government after the death of the first president, Sekou Toure. The country did not hold democratic elections until 1993, when Conte was elected president. He was re-elected in 1998 and 2003 amid allegations of electoral irregularities. Worsening economic conditions and dissatisfaction with corruption and bad governance prompted two massive strikes in 2006, the CIA World Factbook says. A third nationwide strike in early 2007 sparked violent protests that resulted in two weeks of martial law. To appease the unions and end the unrest, the Factbook says, Conte named a new prime minister in March 2007. | [
"What kind of guarantees were given to Guinea officials ?",
"Who did Camare meet?",
"What did the reporter tell CNN?",
"Coup leader made who leader?",
"Who was appointed president by coup leaders ?",
"Camara met how many top officials?",
"When did Lansana Conte die?"
] | [
[
"\"they are safe,\""
],
[
"Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare and about 30 other top officials"
],
[
"\"they are safe,\""
],
[
"Camara has declared himself president of the National Council for Democracy,"
],
[
"Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara"
],
[
"with Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare and about 30 other"
],
[
"Monday"
]
] | Safety guarantees given to leading Guinea officials, reporter tells CNN .
Coup leaders made Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara de facto president .
Camara met prime minister and about 30 other top officials .
President Lansana Conte died Monday after near 25-year rule . |
(CNN) -- The leaders of Brazil, Russia, India and China called for the hastening of reform that would give these emerging economies more power in the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
"The IMF and the World Bank urgently need to address their legitimacy deficits," the leaders said in a statement released at the second summit of the so-called "BRIC" economies meeting on Thursday in Brasilia.
"Reforming these institutions' governance structures requires first and foremost a substantial shift in voting power in favor of emerging market economies and developing countries to bring their participation in decision making in line with their relative weight in the world economy," the BRIC communiqué said.
The countries urged for voting power reform to give developing countries a larger say in the World Bank at the upcoming "Spring Meetings" on April 24 and 25 in Washington and similar quota reform of the IMF completed by the G-20 Summit scheduled for November.
The BRIC summit -- the second since the group met in Russia last year -- was moved up a day, as Chinese President Hu Jintao cut his trip short to return to China after the earthquake in Qinghai province near the Tibetan border killed more than 700 people.
The BRIC nations -- a term coined by Jim O'Neill of Goldman Sachs in 2003 as the group of the fastest growing world economies -- comprise 40 percent of the world's population and about a quarter of its landmass. Together their GDP is roughly two-thirds that of the United States. | [
"Which organizations have legitimacy deficits?",
"The summit was cut short because of what?",
"The leaders of what countries are calling for reform?",
"who urgently need to address their legitimacy deficits?",
"What was cut short?",
"which countries called for reform of the IMF and World Bank?",
"Who is having legitimacy deficits?",
"Who called for reform?",
"Where was there an earthquake?"
] | [
[
"\"The IMF and the World Bank"
],
[
"Chinese President Hu Jintao cut his trip short to return to China after the earthquake in Qinghai province near the Tibetan border killed more than 700 people."
],
[
"Brazil, Russia, India"
],
[
"\"The IMF and the World Bank"
],
[
"his trip"
],
[
"Brazil, Russia, India"
],
[
"\"The IMF and the World Bank"
],
[
"leaders of Brazil, Russia, India and China"
],
[
"Qinghai province"
]
] | The leaders of Brazil, Russia, India and China called for reform of the IMF and World Bank .
"The IMF and the World Bank urgently need to address their legitimacy deficits"
The summit was cut short because of the earthquake in Qinghai, China . |
(CNN) -- The leadership of San Francisco's airport fired back Saturday at critics who had rallied around a commercial pilot who had posted videos online showing what he described as shortcomings in security.
The series of videos featured scenes from inside the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and were narrated by the pilot, who pointed out the contrast between the passengers, who were heavily scrutinized, and airport employees who just passed through a single door.
The footage was posted, and later removed, from the popular video-sharing website YouTube.
"A recent YouTube video, posted by a U.S. airline pilot, presents false and misleading information on SFO's security program," the airport said in a statement. "The video shows a door with a card swipe and suggests that access is gained to the airfield area through this door. In fact, the door shown in the video provides access only to an employee lunchroom."
The pilot who posted the videos requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
"I was trying to bring up the obvious, ludicrous TSA-type of security," he told CNN.
The pilot said he didn't think much about posting his videos online in late November, but that within a matter of days his chief pilot called him to ask him to remove them because they were "stirring a commotion."
In its statement Saturday, the airport defended its practices, stressing that there are variances in the security system based on various factors and that many layers of protection cannot easily be seen.
"Proper and effective security requires multiple layers of systems, procedures and policies that are interlaced and constantly monitored," the airport said. "The vast majority of the widespread layers of this security program are behind the scenes and transparent to casual observers."
A few days after the pilot posted the videos, he said, the Transportation Security Administration told him he was being suspended from the Federal Flight Deck Officer program. As an officer in that program, the federal agency had deputized him, among others, to carry a handgun in the cockpit.
The pilot said four air marshals and two local deputies then showed up at his home near Sacramento to personally confiscate his weapon.
The only answer he could get from the security agency as to why he was suspended from the program was that he may have violated a regulation, the pilot said.
The TSA said that it holds those serving as federal flight deck officers to "the highest ethical standards," and said it took action because the pilot was in the program.
"(Participants in the flight deck officer program) must be able to maintain sensitive security information," said the agency's spokeswoman Sarah Horowitz. "As the issuing authority of credentials and firearms, TSA reviews each possible violation of those standards and acts accordingly up to and including removing an individual from the assigned role."
In the aftermath of the incident, the pilot said he resigned from the program. He added that he didn't consider that divulging such sensitive information online would stir controversy.
"I didn't think anything would come of it," said the 50-year-old pilot, a veteran who was a maintenance test pilot.
"This is really about getting the message out and demanding intelligent security," Don Werno, the pilot's attorney, told CNN. "No state secrets are being shown here. What's being shown here is a lack of security."
But the airport disagrees.
"San Francisco International Airport is proud to both an innovator and a trendsetter in aviation security," it said in its statement. "SFO meets, and in many cases, exceeds every federal security requirement." | [
"At which airport was the video taken?",
"What did the pilot claim?",
"What does the airport say about the video?",
"Who has the TSA suspended?",
"What airport was in the video?",
"What does the video show?"
] | [
[
"San Francisco International"
],
[
"shortcomings in security."
],
[
"posted by a U.S. airline pilot, presents false and misleading information on SFO's security program,\""
],
[
"pilot"
],
[
"San Francisco International"
],
[
"shortcomings in security."
]
] | Online videos show what a pilot claims was lax security at the San Francisco airport .
The airport says the videos present "false and misleading information"
It says it meets or exceeds every federal security requirement .
The TSA has suspended the pilot from the Federal Flight Deck Officer program . |
(CNN) -- The leading champion of democracy in Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi, emerged from house arrest Wednesday to meet with political supporters, a diplomatic source told CNN. Activists display a portrait of detained democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, in Myanmar. Military leaders in Myanmar, which is also known as Burma, let Suu Kyi leave her house to meet with senior leaders of the National League for Democracy, the source said. The meeting comes after the U.S. State Department criticized Myanmar for arresting 10 democracy activists. "The United States condemns the regime's decision to press criminal charges against ten Burmese pro-democracy activists ... for the peaceful expression of their political beliefs," the department said in a statement Tuesday. The department noted that the 10 were charged with crimes that can carry lengthy sentences. "If the regime were serious about engaging in a peaceful transition to democracy, it would stop arresting and prosecuting Burma's democratic leaders, and instead engage them in a genuine dialogue." The military government in Myanmar held Suu Kyi under house arrest from 1989 to 1995 and again from 2000 to 2002. It restricted her travel afterward and put her back under house arrest in 2003. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. The regime in Myanmar used force to suppress a pro-democracy movement a few months ago. The government admitted that its crackdown killed at least 10 people, but human rights groups said they suspect the number is much higher. The government also acknowledged arresting several hundred people after democracy protests led by Buddhist monks. E-mail to a friend CNN's Dan Rivers contributed to this report | [
"Who did Aung meet with?",
"Who were the senior leaders with?",
"What was the meeting about?",
"who did she meet with",
"who was arrested",
"Who allowed her to meet with senior leaders?",
"what was the meeting for"
] | [
[
"political supporters,"
],
[
"Suu Kyi"
],
[
"Democracy,"
],
[
"political supporters,"
],
[
"ten Burmese pro-democracy activists"
],
[
"Military"
],
[
"to meet with senior leaders of the National League"
]
] | Aung San Suu Kyi emerged from house arrest to meet with political supporters .
Junta allowed her to meet senior leaders of the National League for Democracy .
Meeting comes after the U.S. criticized Myanmar for arresting 10 democracy activists . |
(CNN) -- The leading edge of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill was still several miles off the beaches of the Florida Panhandle on Thursday morning, but the slick was already hitting the area's wallets.
"The phones just basically stopped ringing in the past couple of weeks for new bookings this summer," said Laura Lee, a spokeswoman for the Pensacola Bay Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spotted oil sheen about six miles off Navarre Beach, east of Pensacola, on Thursday morning, according to the state Division of Emergency Management. Any oil that hits shore is likely to have been weathered into balls or mats of tar, or mixed with seawater in a pudding-like "mousse," the agency reported.
As of late Thursday morning, no oil or tar balls had washed up, said Buck Lee, executive director of the Santa Rosa Island Authority in Pensacola Beach. Lee, who is not related to Laura Lee, said the area had just had a "super" Memorial Day weekend -- but now, "We're just waiting anxiously to see what happens," he added.
Laura Lee said a wave of hotel cancellations hit the island in late April, after the sinking of the offshore drill rig Deepwater Horizon uncapped an undersea oil well off Louisiana. Those tapered off soon afterward, she said -- "But this week, there's been another wave of cancellations," Laura Lee said.
Hotels have responded to the threat by easing cancellation policies. "Some had guarantees that they would get their money back if there was oil," she said.
Families weigh Gulf Coast vacations
In addition, charter fishing -- another big business in the area -- has been hurt. Some skippers have gone to work for oil company BP, which has hired boats to help lay protective booms and skim oil off the surface of the Gulf.
Tourism pumped about $1.2 billion into the Escambia County economy in 2009, employing roughly 20,000 people and bringing about 3.5 million overnight visitors a year, according to tourism officials. Early July brings two of its biggest annual events -- the Independence Day holiday and the following weekend's Pensacola Beach air show, which features the locally based Navy aerobatic team, the Blue Angels. Faced with those concerns, the locals are trying to harness the power of technology and social media to offset the threat.
"We're encouraging our visitors who are currently here to post their vacation pictures on Facebook, and a lot of them have done that just so that visitors can see with their own eyes the oil hasn't hit," Laura Lee said.
And Buck Lee said the island authority hopes to put cameras on the beach and video streaming on the internet within about two weeks, "so they can see for themselves whether there's oil on the beach or not."
"And there may be," he said. "But we've got to get them the facts." | [
"Where is the oil spill?",
"What are hotels asking guests to post?",
"How much did tourism contribute?",
"What are hotels easing?",
"Where is the oil spill currently?"
] | [
[
"Gulf of Mexico"
],
[
"their vacation pictures"
],
[
"$1.2 billion"
],
[
"cancellation policies."
],
[
"Gulf of Mexico"
]
] | Tourism pumped about $1.2 billion into Pensacola, Florida-area economy last year .
Oil spill still several miles offshore, but impact on tourism has already hit .
Tourism official says "another wave of cancellations" this week .
Hotels easing cancellation policies, asking current guests to post clean-beach photos on Internet . |
(CNN) -- The living quarters of a fire station in Maryland exploded and burned Thursday after its snow-laden roof collapsed in the wake of the pair of record-setting snowstorms that howled through the mid-Atlantic region in the past week, state police said.
Crushed roofs were not uncommon in the region -- authorities in the District of Columbia reported 22 such incidents as a result of the heavy snowfall -- but the collapse at the Sykesville Freedom District Fire Department stood out because it punctured a natural gas line, igniting the blaze, officials said.
Firefighters were out on a call when the roof fell about 7:40 a.m., Carroll County spokeswoman Vivian Laxton told CNN affiliate WBAL-TV. No injuries were reported.
In the aftermath of what some are calling "snowmageddon," thousands of people were without power and transportation departments were still trying to clean snowy, icy streets Thursday.
In Washington, more than 250,000 federal workers were told to stay home from work for a fourth day, and public schools were closed. But in New York, children went back to school after a three-day "holiday."
After a storm that dumped more than 30 inches of snow in some places last weekend, the latest part of the one-two punch dropped 22.5 inches on Baltimore, Maryland, 15.8 inches on Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and about 10 inches on Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, Central Park in New York and Atlantic City, New Jersey, the National Weather Service said.
Records for total snowfall for the season have been set at Dulles International Airport west of Washington, with 72 inches; Philadelphia, with 70.3; Baltimore, with 70.1; Reagan Washington National Airport, with 55.6; and Atlantic City, with 48.7, according to the weather service.
The snow brought down tree limbs that in turn pulled down power lines.
Ricky Watkins of Petersburg, in central Virginia, sent in a CNN iReport of a transformer near his home that erupted in sparks and flames after a tree downed power lines there Wednesday morning.
Although he said he was "used to the snow" after working in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Chicago, Illinois, he said he had never seen a display like the one the transformer put on.
"I was not about to get any closer," he said. "It appeared that a transformer had fallen into a nearby tree and was about to catch it and the house on fire."
He said his power went out about 8 a.m. Wednesday but was back on by about 2:15 that afternoon.
Dominion Virginia Power reported only 3,400 outages by Thursday afternoon, most of them in southeast Virginia, but it was unclear whether all of those were storm-related, said utility spokeswoman La-Ha Anderson.
"We hope to have anybody affected by the storm yesterday to be back on today," she said. Dominion serves 2.4 million customers from the Washington metropolitan area to northern North Carolina.
Potomac Electric Power Co., which serves Washington and Maryland, had 1,900 customers without power, PEPCO spokesman Bob Hainey said Thursday morning. The utility hopes to get everybody's service restored by Friday, he said.
"We're cautiously optimistic," he said. "Our goal is to get everyone back on as soon as possible."
Dulles International Airport and Reagan National Airport reopened Thursday after closing to flights Wednesday afternoon. Amtrak was still providing limited service for Washington, New York and Boston, Massachusetts, on Thursday, but most passenger rail service south of Washington was canceled.
Amtrak said the weather had downed trees and power lines on portions of freight railroad tracks south of Washington, "requiring continued service cancellations in Virginia, and the Carolinas."
Seth Bishop, 18, a freshman at George Washington University, where classes were canceled, said he was unfazed by the snow.
"I'm originally from New Hampshire, so I'm used to snow," he told CNN's iReport. He said he had a good time touring the outside of snow-covered monuments on the National Mall and viewing sites in the northwest business | [
"what causes the fire ?",
"How many roofs collapsed in Washington?",
"What did the collapsed roof puncture?",
"How many snow days did children in New York have?",
"What punctured a natural gas line?",
"How many roofs in Washington collapsed ?"
] | [
[
"punctured a natural gas line, igniting the blaze,"
],
[
"22"
],
[
"a natural gas line,"
],
[
"three-day"
],
[
"heavy snowfall"
],
[
"22"
]
] | Collapsed roof at fire station punctures a natural gas line, igniting the blaze .
Snow expected to hit swath South .
Children going back to school in New York after three snow days .
Snow blamed for the collapse of at least 22 roofs in Washington . |
(CNN) -- The long list for the job that has been described as "the best in the world" has been announced. The successful applicant will based on Hamilton Island, center, off Australia's northeastern coast. A chef, a dance instructor and a scientist are among the final 50 applicants for the six-month post of "caretaker" on Hamilton Island, part of the Great Barrier Reef off Australia The successful candidate will enjoy a salary of $100,000, free home and generous perks on the island. "Key responsibilities" will include sending weekly reports via blogs and video on what is happening on the island, as well as cleaning the pool -- which comes with the free home -- and feeding the fish. Queensland Tourism Minister Desley Boyle revealed Tuesday that the authority had received 34,684 applications from around the world for the position. "Yesterday, a team of Tourism Queensland marketing and international staff along with a professional recruitment company made the very tough decisions necessary to cut the short-list to the Top 50," Boyle said. "I understand it was a robust discussion but what it boiled down to was the motivation and professionalism of the applicants and their 'fit' with the job and Tourism Queensland." The 50 hopefuls come from 22 countries including the U.S., the UK, Russia, Canada, France, Greece, Ireland, India, China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan and Kenya as well as Australia itself. The shortlisted 50 will now be cut down to a final 11 -- 10 chosen by Tourism Queensland and an 11th by popular vote from videos submitted by the applicants. The videos show the 50 candidates employing a variety of attempts to woo their prospective employer, from wandering round a chilly city center in bikini with surfboard to making their application in the form of a street musical, complete with chorus singers. The successful applicant will also enjoy free return airfares from their nearest capital city, transport on the island, travel insurance, computer and camera gear and travel to other islands in the Great Barrier Reef. The appointment requires no academic qualifications -- the "caretaker" will just need to have strong communication skills, be a good swimmer and enjoy snorkeling. The final selection process will take place on Hamilton Island in early May, with the successful applicant announced on May 6 and beginning work on July 1. | [
"How many people are on the list?",
"When will the job begin?",
"What is Tourism Queensland advertising?",
"How long is the stint?",
"How much will the job pay?",
"When will job begin?"
] | [
[
"The shortlisted 50 will now be cut down to a final 11 -- 10"
],
[
"July 1."
],
[
"six-month post of \"caretaker\" on Hamilton Island, part of the Great Barrier Reef off Australia"
],
[
"six-month"
],
[
"$100,000,"
],
[
"July 1."
]
] | Tourism Queensland advertised dream island caretaking job for $100,000 .
Six-month stint involves reporting on the Great Barrier Reef island off Australia .
Long list of 34,000-plus has now been whittled down to long list of 50 .
Final 11 will be interviewed on the island itself in May, job will begin in July . |
(CNN) -- The longest debate since humans have been having debates is whether we are good or evil. It underlies the stories of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Jesus and Judas.
What is our human nature? Of course, the answer is we can be both good and evil. But what determines which part of our character emerges?
About a decade ago, my lab made an unexpected breakthrough in the understanding of good and evil. We discovered that the neurochemical oxytocin makes people trustworthy. We then found oxytocin was responsible for many other moral behaviors, from being generous to sacrificing to help a stranger.
Wait -- morality is chemical? In my TED talk, I describe how I made the unlikely discovery of the moral molecule, how I was roundly discouraged from even looking for such a chemical, and what drove me to persist in my search.
In these experiments, we tempt people with virtue and vice using money (share with others: virtue; selfishly keep everything for yourself: vice). Using money to understand how and why humans make decisions is a field now called neuroeconomics.
Money gives us a convenient way to measure how much someone cares about another person. For example, in one experiment we randomly matched strangers in the lab by computer and put $10 in an account for each of them. In each pair there was a decision-maker 1 (DM1) and a decision-maker 2 (DM2).
All participants got these instructions: DM1 can give up some or all of his or her $10 and transfer it to DM2 by computer but cannot talk to, or meet, the other person. Whatever is transferred is removed from DM1's account but is tripled in DM2's account.
Then, DM2 gets a computer message identifying how much has been received from DM1 and a reminder of the total in his or her account. Next, the software asks DM2 if she or he wants to send some of this larger pot of money back to DM1.
The amount sent back comes out of DM2's account one for one and is not tripled -- it's a pure loss to DM2. For example, if DM1 transfers $8, he or she would keep $2 and DM2 would receive $24 (=3 x $8). The total in DM2's account would be $34 ($24 + $10).
If you were DM2, what would you do -- keep it all or share some back with DM1? We found that 90% of DM1s send money and of the DM2s who receive money, 95% return at least some of it. Usually both DMs in a pair leave the lab with more than $10, sometimes much more.
The DM1 to DM2 transfer is understood to be a measure of trust, while the DM2 to DM1 transfer measures trustworthiness. By taking blood from participants, we found that the more money denoting trust DM2 received, the more oxytocin his or her brain made. And, the more oxytocin on board, the more money was returned to DM1. All this happened without any face-to-face interactions, revealing how easily the oxytocin system activates.
TED.com: How we read each other's minds
Morality has traditionally been the domain of theologians and philosophers, often providing prescriptions of what we must do. But in the past decade, neuroscientists have started analyzing brain activity while people think about, and engage in, moral or immoral acts. These findings have changed the inquiry into morals from prescriptive to descriptive. As I discuss in my talk, I have even done studies that have manipulated brain chemistry in human beings to show that oxytocin directly causes people to be moral.
I also talk about what having a chemical that affects morality means for individuals, organizations and entire societies. For example, does "my chemicals made me do it" absolve people from legal or moral responsibility? If we have a moral molecule, where does evil come from?
By the way, oxytocin doesn't only cause morality in a laboratory setting -- I've done studies in churches, on sports fields and among | [
"What does he say the experiment shows?",
"Who does it make people willing to help?",
"What does oxytocin do?",
"What does the experiment show?",
"What can oxytocin make people more willing to do?"
] | [
[
"the neurochemical oxytocin makes people trustworthy."
],
[
"neurochemical oxytocin"
],
[
"directly causes people to be moral."
],
[
"we tempt people with virtue and vice using money"
],
[
"being generous to sacrificing to help a stranger."
]
] | Paul Zak: Experiments show the presence of a chemical promotes moral behavior .
He says oxytocin makes people more willing to help a stranger .
Those who release the most oxytocin are the most satisfied with their lives, he says .
Zak: Aristotle was right in saying that the reason to be virtuous is that it makes us happy . |
(CNN) -- The longest solar eclipse of the century cast a wide shadow for several minutes over Asia and the Pacific Ocean Wednesday, luring throngs of people outside to watch the celestial spectacle. A woman looks through a refractor telescope with a solar filter on top of the roof of a school in Hong Kong. Day turned into night. Temperatures turned cooler. The total eclipse could be seen starting in India on Wednesday morning and moving eastward across Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Vietnam, China and parts of the Pacific. Millions cast their eyes towards the heavens to catch a rare view of the sun's corona. Cloud cover in some areas prevented people from fully savoring the phenomenon. Still, many were awed. Tim O'Rourke, a 45-year-old freelance photographer from Detroit, Michigan, lives in Hong Kong but traveled up to Shanghai -- touted as one of the best spots to watch the eclipse. . Watch the scene in Shanghai as day turns into night » "It was pitch black like midnight," said O'Rourke, standing in People's Square with what appeared to be a crowd of thousands. Read blog on CNN reporter's first eclipse experience "Definitely not disappointed we came. Of course it would have been much better with nice weather, blue skies. But still it was a great experience, it was a lot of fun." he said. Total eclipses occur about twice a year as the moon passes between the Earth and the sun on the same plane as Earth's orbit. Wednesday's event lasted up to more than six minutes in some places. Send us your photos of the eclipse Generally considered an inauspicious day in India, thousands took a dip in the Ganges River in the Hindu holy city of Varanasi to cleanse their souls, CNN's sister station CNN-IBN reported. It was sunny skies in Hong Kong, where students, parents and the elderly flooded a primary school to watch the eclipse in the southern Chinese enclave. The local astronomy society gave a presentation on how an eclipse happens and children climbed up ladders to look through two large telescopes on the school roof -- packed with skygazers -- to catch a glimpse of the moon moving across the sun. Read blog on Mother Nature conducting grand eclipse show Others looked through binoculars covered with solar filter paper or through a large rectangular block labeled "Large Solar Filter," where they could take pictures of the moon moving over the sun. Astronomy enthusiast Louis Chung, 13, brought his teacher to the school to witness the eclipse. "City folks wouldn't usually be able to see this. Nature is wonderful. It is awesome to know that nature can provide such spectacular sights," said Chung, a member of the Hong Kong Astronomical Society. "Nature is incredible, and there is too much we don't know about," said another Hong Kong local, Yee Ping, a journalist for a financial newspaper. "We try to know more and see by our own eyes so we can feel the power of nature." Richard Binzel, an astronomer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said the total eclipse will first be visible at sunrise in India and about four hours later just east of Hawaii. A partial eclipse will be visible as far south as northern Australia and as far north as Siberia, he said. In some cultures, legends and folklore surrounds eclipses. Watch as eclipse-watchers head to China » In India, an eclipse is considered inauspicious. Women forbid pregnant daughters-in-law from going outside out of the belief that their children could be born with marks. Some temples won't offer any prayers on the day of an eclipse -- such as the one next to the planetarium in Mumbai, which said it won't even light a stick of incense. In Chinese tradition, there is a story about a heavenly dog eating the sun. As the story goes, people would make noise to scare off the dog and rescue the sun, said Bill Yeung, president of the Hong Kong Astronomical Society. "In ancient China, we shared the | [
"How long do astronomers predict it will last?",
"What event is the longest of the 21st century?",
"Which event is the longest event of the 21st century?",
"What area is the best place to view the eclipse?",
"How long is the eclipse predicted to last?",
"What city is touted to be one of the best spots to watch the eclipse?"
] | [
[
"lasted up to more than six minutes"
],
[
"solar eclipse"
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[
"solar eclipse"
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[
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"several minutes"
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[
"Shanghai"
]
] | Event is longest of 21st century, astronomers predict it would last over 6 minutes .
People in parts of Pacific Ocean, China and India able to get full view .
Chinese city of Shanghai touted as one of the best spots to watch the eclipse .
Some unusual watching events include a cruise, plane trip and a music festival . |
(CNN) -- The machine used by the late Dr. Jack Kevorkian in more than 100 assisted suicides will be among the items up for sale later this month, the auctioneer and his estate announced.
The Michigan pathologist helped spur an international ethics debate by helping suffering patients die and pushing for this practice to be legalized. His conviction in one such case landed him in prison for eight years. He died in early June at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, at the age of 83.
The auction will take place between 6 and 8 p.m. on October 28 at the New York Institute of Technology, according to a press release sent on behalf of both the late doctor's estate and the auctioneer. More than 100 pieces will be part of the sale, said Roger Neal, who is representing the two parties.
Besides the noted Thanatron machine, which Kevorkian built, other items to be auctioned include some of Kevorkian's correspondences and invention ideas, a pearl flute, his doctor's bag, a master lock from prison and his signature blue sweater. People can also purchase provocative paintings that he created, which come with brief descriptions from the artist himself, according to Neal.
The pieces are being kept under armed guard this week in Los Angeles, then will be shipped to New York. Neal said that the auction will be coordinated by David Streets, a Beverly Hills, California, fine art and celebrity memorabilia adviser, according to his website.
A portion of the auction proceeds will go toward the charity Kids Kicking Cancer at the request of the attorney for Kevorkian's estate and the late doctor's niece and sole living heir, according to Neal.
Kevorkian, dubbed "Dr. Death," made national headlines as a supporter of physician-assisted suicide and "right-to-die" legislation. He was charged with murder numerous times through the 1990s for helping terminally ill patients take their own lives.
He was convicted on second-degree murder charges in 1999 stemming from the death of a patient who suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly called Lou Gehrig's disease. He was paroled in 2007.
After his release, he said he would not help end any more lives.
In an interview with CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta last year, Kevorkian said he had no regrets about his work.
"No, no. It's your purpose (as a) physician. How can you regret helping a suffering patient?" he said.
CNN's Greg Botelho contributed to this report. | [
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"what happened in october 28",
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"Who died in June?",
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] | [
[
"100"
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[
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],
[
"early June"
]
] | Assisted-suicide advocate Dr. Jack Kevorkian died in June .
On October 28, several items from his estate will be auctioned in New York .
They include the machine that he used in more 100 assisted suicides . |
(CNN) -- The magnitude-8.8 earthquake that rocked the west coast of Chile last month was violent enough to move the city of Concepcion at least 10 feet to the west and the capital, Santiago, about 11 inches to the west-southwest, researchers said.
The quake also shifted other parts of South America, as far apart as the Falkland Islands and Fortaleza, Brazil.
The results were reached via global positioning satellite measurements taken before and after the February 27 quake by teams from The Ohio State University, the University of Hawaii, the University of Memphis and the California Institute of Technology, as well as agencies across South America.
NASA scientists have also credited the quake with shifting the Earth's axis enough to create shorter days. The change is negligible, but still worth noting: Each day should be 1.26 microseconds shorter, according to preliminary calculations. A microsecond is one-millionth of a second.
A large quake -- like the one that hit Chile's Maule region -- shifts massive amounts of rock and alters the distribution of mass on the planet.
When that distribution changes, it changes the rate at which the planet rotates. And the rotation rate determines the length of a day.
"Any worldly event that involves the movement of mass affects the Earth's rotation," Benjamin Fong Chao, of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, said while explaining the phenomenon in 2005.
Despite the tragedy of the earthquake, which killed hundreds of Chileans, scientists see opportunities to gain valuable information in the aftermath.
"The Maule earthquake will arguably become one of the, if not the most important, great earthquakes yet studied," said Ben Brooks of the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology at the University of Hawaii.
"We now have modern, precise instruments to evaluate this event." | [
"who was credited the quake",
"What have scientists credited the quake with?",
"Where did the earthquake also shift to other parts of?",
"What can be gained in the aftermath?"
] | [
[
"NASA scientists"
],
[
"shifting the Earth's axis enough to create shorter days."
],
[
"South America, as far apart as the Falkland Islands and Fortaleza, Brazil."
],
[
"valuable information"
]
] | Earthquake also shifted other parts of South America .
Scientists have credited the quake with shifting the Earth's axis .
Despite deaths, experts see opportunities to gain valuable information in the aftermath . |
(CNN) -- The main airport in St. Louis is expected to operate a full flight schedule Tuesday, less than four days after a powerful tornado tore through the facility, airport officials said.
But restoration efforts are far from over at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, where the Friday night storm shattered windows and ripped off part of a roof.
"It obviously just took a couple of minutes for the damage to occur," Airport Director Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge told CNN's "American Morning." "It will take weeks, maybe a couple of months, to clean up all of it."
Still, Hamm-Niebruegge said efforts to get the facility up and running again have been "miraculous."
American Airlines returned to service on Monday, officials said, leaving only Cape Air among the airport's 13 airlines still out of service because of storm damage. Cape Air will resume flights on Tuesday, airport officials said in a statement Monday evening.
American and Cape Air were among the hardest hit after the storm, which devastated the airport's C concourse.
The tornado damaged 750 homes near the airport, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon said. And preliminary National Weather Service estimates released Saturday show the tornado packed winds between 111 and 165 miles per hour when it hit the airport.
There were no fatalities reported -- a fact that Nixon characterized as "absolutely amazing."
At the airport, Hamm-Niebruegge said the facility's design -- and the way people responded to warnings -- played a key role.
"It is a historic building, and it's built very, very well. I think that had a part to do with it, but we also had very early warnings," she said.
Besides damage to homes and the airport, the strong winds also hit businesses and tore through the roof of a Ferguson, Missouri church, where dozens had gathered on Good Friday to watch the movie "Passion of the Christ."
Officials have said inspections of buildings will take several days and hauling off debris will take longer.
Elsewhere in Missouri, storms over the weekend left behind water on the runways at a regional airport, forcing authorities to shut down the facility temporarily.
The Cape Girardeau Regional Airport, located about 100 miles south of St. Louis, has been shut down since Sunday, administrative coordinator Katrina Atkins said.
Crews were activating a pumping system to remove the standing water Monday, she said, but authorities had not determined when the airport would reopen.
CNN's Tom Laabs contributed to this report.
Watch American Morning weekdays 6am to 9am ET. For the latest from American Morning click here. | [
"When does the airport expect to operate a full flight?",
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[
"Tuesday,"
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[
"out of service because of storm damage."
],
[
"Cape Air"
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[
"Tuesday,"
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[
"main airport in St. Louis"
]
] | A Friday night tornado shattered windows and ripped off a roof .
The last of the airport's 13 airlines -- Cape Air -- will resume flights on Tuesday .
The tornado also damaged 750 homes . |
(CNN) -- The man Chilean authorities accuse of sparking a wildfire that has consumed more than 31,000 acres of a national park said Sunday that he is innocent.
"It is very important to me to say that this wasn't me (who started the fire). They dropped the case on me," Rotem Zinger told Israeli army radio.
The 23-year-old Israeli national said he was surprised by the way the case against him has unfolded.
"I was not explained what I was accused of. I did not give a testimony. I did not confess. Things rolled out the wrong way through mistranslation. I never intended to admit the blame," he said.
Zinger is accused of lighting a fire in a prohibited area of the protected Torres del Paine National Park in southern Chile, regional prosecutor Juan Agustin Melendez said. Prosecutors also accuse him of making the situation worse by not reporting to authorities that the fire got out of his control.
If convicted, Zinger could face a fine and 41 to 60 days in prison, Melendez told CNN Chile. Zinger will be required to stay in the region during an investigation, the prosecutor said.
Authorities will be looking into what caused the wildfire for months, Melendez said. Fierce flames have kept investigators from reaching the location where the fire started, he added.
The wildfire has been burning since Tuesday. Hundreds of firefighters are battling the blaze, but authorities have said they don't know when the fire will be under control.
High winds stoke the flames for most of the week, though rains in the area Saturday gave firefighters some help.
"We could be talking about a week. We could be talking about a month or more," said Hugo Knockaert, chief of fire management for Chile's National Forest Corporation.
CNN's Guy Azriel, Claudia Dominguez and CNN Chile contributed to this report. | [
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"What is accused of sparking a 31,000-acre wildfire?",
"What does the prosecutor say the suspect could face?",
"who did tell Israeli radio?",
"what did the authorities say",
"what did the prosecutor say"
] | [
[
"\"It is very important to me to say that this wasn't me (who started the fire). They dropped the case on me,\""
],
[
"Rotem Zinger"
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"a fine and 41 to 60 days in prison,"
],
[
"Rotem Zinger"
],
[
"they don't know when the fire will be under control."
],
[
"Zinger will be required to stay in the region during an investigation,"
]
] | "Things rolled out the wrong way through mistranslation," Rotem Zinger tells Israeli radio .
The 23-year-old is accused of sparking a 31,000-acre wildfire in a Chilean national park .
A prosecutor says the suspect could face a fine and prison time .
Authorities have said they don't know when the fire will be under control . |
(CNN) -- The man accused in the brutal killing of Arkansas television anchor Anne Pressly will appear next Thursday in Pulaski County Circuit Court, where he will enter a plea in the high-profile case.
Anne Pressly, 26, was a news anchor at KATV in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Curtis Lavell Vance, 28, was formally charged Thursday with capital murder, rape, residential burglary and theft, Prosecutor Larry Jegley said Friday.
Neither he nor police would discuss details of the case because of a gag order imposed by the judge.
Jegley hasn't said whether he will seek the death penalty.
Jegley said Vance, who denies he was in Little Rock, Arkansas, when Pressly was killed, was being held at the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility.
Vance was linked to the killing through DNA testing.
Lt. Terry Hastings, spokesman for Little Rock police, told CNN in December that investigators are "110 percent" certain Vance killed Pressly, 26, who was the morning news anchor for KATV, a CNN affiliate.
Pressly was found unconscious in her home October 20 and died five days later at a hospital.
"She fought for her life. She fought her attacker. Her left hand was broken from trying to fight this man off," Pressly's mother, Patti Cannady, told NBC.
"Six weeks ago this morning, I found my daughter beyond recognition with every bone in her face broken, her nose broken, her jaw pulverized so badly that the bone had come out of it; I actually thought that her throat had possibly been cut. Her entire skull had numerous fractures from which she suffered a massive stroke."
Hastings told CNN that DNA evidence also ties Vance to a rape in April in Marianna, Arkansas, about 90 miles east of Little Rock.
The affidavit related to the Pressly case, from Little Rock detective Tommy Hudson, said police made contact with Vance at his home in Marianna.
Hastings said investigators have found no link between Pressly and Vance, and they do not believe Pressly's being on TV had anything to do with the killing.
"I think he saw her someplace, probably followed her home with intention of robbing her. And then went from there."
The killer also took Pressly's purse, Hastings said. | [
"What linked Vance to the killing?",
"Who is Curtis Lavell Vance?",
"Who killed Anne Pressly?",
"Was Preessly found alive?",
"What is Vance charged with?",
"Where was Pressly found?",
"What was Curtis Lavell Vance charged with?",
"Where did he commit the crimes?"
] | [
[
"DNA testing."
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[
"man accused in the brutal killing of Arkansas television anchor Anne Pressly"
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"Curtis Lavell Vance,"
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[
"unconscious"
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[
"capital murder, rape, residential burglary and theft,"
],
[
"in her home"
],
[
"capital murder, rape, residential burglary and theft,"
],
[
"Little Rock, Arkansas,"
]
] | Curtis Lavell Vance, 28, has been charged with capital murder, rape, burglary, theft .
Anne Pressly was found unconscious in her home in October and died five days later .
Vance was linked to the killing through DNA testing .
DNA evidence also ties Vance to a rape in April in Marianna, Arkansas, police say . |
(CNN) -- The man accused of killing 77 people in a terrorist rampage that shook Norway last summer is insane and cannot be sentenced to prison or preventive detention, but can be confined to a mental hospital for the rest of his life, police said Tuesday.
Anders Behring Breivik suffers "grandiose delusions" and "believes he is chosen to decide who is to live and who is to die," Prosecutor Svein Holden announced.
Police said psychiatrists had determined that the 32-year-old man was psychotic at the time of the attacks and during 13 interviews experts conducted with him afterward. The doctors also found him to be paranoid and schizophrenic, police said.
The experts reached their conclusions after 36 hours of interviews with Breivik, police said.
The extension of Breivik's confinement under a compulsory mental health care order will be reviewed by a court every three years, police said. The court will consider whether he still represents a danger to society.
Breivik had not been told of the psychiatrists' findings, police said. His lawyers were expected to relay the news.
The decision underscores the difference between the justice system in the United States and that in Norway, said James Alan Fox, a criminologist at Northeastern University in Boston.
"In the United States, it is extremely difficult to establish successfully an insanity defense," he told CNN in a telephone interview. "You can be paranoid, yet still able to control your behavior and be legally responsible."
In cases like the mass killing in Norway, "there tends to be a tremendous amount of pressure from the public and maybe politicians as well to lock someone away for as long as possible, and bring justice to the victims," Fox said.
Breivik is accused of killing eight people in Oslo and 69 who were among 700 mostly young people attending a Labour Party youth camp on nearby Utoya Island.
He has pleaded not guilty but admits carrying out the attacks, the judge handling his case has said.
Breivik is described by authorities as a right-wing Christian extremist. A 1,500-page manifesto attributed to Breivik posted on the Internet is critical of Muslim immigration and European liberalism, including the Labour Party.
The manifesto predicts that a "European civil war" will lead to the execution of "cultural Marxists" and the banishment of Muslims.
Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said in the aftermath of the attacks that his country had been fundamentally changed, but vowed that Norway would remain "an open society."
Oslo Mayor Fabian Stang said Norwegians would respond to the violence with equally powerful weapons: "We're going to punish him with democracy and love," he told CNN shortly after the killings.
Still, memories of the slaughter on the island, where many of the campers survived by hiding behind rocks, remained acute on Tuesday.
"I will always have mixed feelings when I go back, of course," Labour Party member Eskil Pedersen told a reporter. "I think about the 22nd of July and the dreadful things that happened that day, but I have been here every year and every summer since 2000. A lot of my time as a youth has been here on this island. I have very many good memories as well."
He said a memorial will be built there. "Our aim is to reclaim Utoya, take it back as an island, have activities, have a summer camp here," he said.
Relatives of some of the victims expressed disappointment at the decision on Breivik, a journalist from the Norwegian Broadcasting Corp. told CNN. "They have looked forward to seeing him getting a sentence for the rest of his life for the acts he has committed," correspondent Tomm Kristiansen said.
Public reaction is mixed, said journalist Olav Mellingsaeter. Most people are surprised, not angered, by the findings, he said.
"We must trust that the psychiatrists have done a thorough job," a 30-year-old student told the reporter.
A 36-year-old woman said, "As long as he does not escape, I do not care where he's kept. | [
"who did accused of killing 77 people in a gun and bomb ?",
"who is Breivik ?",
"When did the massacre take place?",
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"Who is still disappointed?"
] | [
[
"Anders Behring Breivik"
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"man accused of killing 77 people in a terrorist rampage"
],
[
"last summer"
],
[
"Anders Behring Breivik"
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[
"Relatives of some of the victims"
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] | Victims' families are disappointed that Anders Behring Breivik is ruled insane .
Breivik will still face trial next year .
He is accused of killing 77 people in a gun and bomb rampage .
The July massacre was the deadliest attack in Norway since WWII . |
(CNN) -- The man authorities believe was responsible for the New Year's Day shooting death of a national park ranger in Washington state was a former soldier who owned many knives and guns despite an emotionally unstable, vindictive and anger-prone mind-set, the mother of his toddler daughter said in court documents.
Authorities on Monday found Benjamin Colton Barnes' body face down in a creek in Mount Rainier National Park, not far from where investigators believe he fatally shot park ranger Margaret Anderson.
Investigators say they believe Barnes shot the ranger after he blew through a checkpoint set up to check vehicles to make sure they had the proper winter gear necessary to travel the park.
Anderson and another ranger had set up a second roadblock to stop him when he jumped out of the car and opened fire. She was struck before she was able to get out of her vehicle, authorities said.
Anderson, 34, was the first Rainier park employee to be a homicide victim, and the devastated staff needed a few more days to recover before the park reopens Saturday, officials said Tuesday.
While investigators said they had little insight into Barnes' mind-set or motivations, the woman with whom he was in a custody dispute over their young daughter said in court documents filed last year that she was frightened to be in the same state with him.
"The weapons are harmful, and I don't know if he will try to use them against myself or my family," the woman wrote in a filing for a temporary restraining order filed with the Pierce County Superior Court on May 24.
She wrote in other documents reported on by CNN affiliate KIRO that Barnes might be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after a deployment to Iraq.
Barnes, 24, served as a radio and communications repair specialist with 2nd Squadron, 1st Calvary Regiment, a unit of the 2nd Infantry Division located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Seattle, according to Army spokesman Troy Rolan.
He joined the Army in February 2007 and was deployed to Iraq from that year to shortly before his discharge in 2009, Rolan said. Details of his discharge were not immediately available, Rolan said, and Army policy prohibits release of information about a soldier's medical condition.
Despite photos of a muscular Barnes, shirtless, tattooed and brandishing two guns, Barnes wasn't a combat soldier. Instead, he was responsible for fixing radios and other communications equipment, Rolan said.
The weapons in the widely circulated photo didn't appear to be government-issued, Steven Dean, an assistant special agent in charge at the FBI's Seattle office, said Monday.
And he didn't appear to have any special wilderness or survival training, Dean said. Barnes was found face down near a creek in a T-shirt, jeans and one shoe.
Before the shooting at the national park, Barnes was wanted in connection with a shooting early Sunday in the Seattle suburb of Skyway that left four people wounded, two critically, according to the King County Sheriff's Office.
"There was kind of a show-and-tell with guns in the evening at a party," spokeswoman Sgt. Cindi West told CNN.
Shortly before 3 a.m. Sunday, one of the males at the party asked to see a gun belonging to another person, West said. When asked to give the gun back, the male refused.
"A fight ensued, and at one point at least two people pulled guns, and a shootout ensued. Witnesses said that Benjamin Barnes was one of the subjects that pulled a gun and fired," West said in a statement. Barnes left the scene with two others.
"It is unclear at this point who shot first and who was shot by whom," West said.
Authorities contacted Barnes' family after the incident in a bid to have him come in for questioning, according to authorities.
Meanwhile, a woman who said she had spurned Barnes' romantic advances said he visited her on Sunday morning, before Anderson's shooting, to wish her a happy new year, according to CNN affiliate | [
"When will the National Park reopen?",
"Who is the alleged killer?",
"Who was killed on Sunday?",
"Who was the suspect?",
"Was anyone else, hurt, or killed?",
"What national park will reopen Saturday?"
] | [
[
"Saturday,"
],
[
"Benjamin Colton Barnes'"
],
[
"Benjamin Colton Barnes'"
],
[
"former soldier"
],
[
"four people wounded, two critically,"
],
[
"Mount Rainier"
]
] | Mount Rainier National Park will reopen Saturday .
Ranger shooting suspect was vindictive, a former girlfriend alleges in court papers .
Another woman tells CNN affiliate KCPQ that Barnes was a "loose cannon"
Ranger Margaret Anderson, killed Sunday, was the mother of two young girls . |
(CNN) -- The man believed to be the suicide bomber who killed seven CIA employees and contractors last month appears in a newly released video, in which he vows revenge for the killing of a Taliban leader.
The video shows Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi, whom a former U.S. intelligence official identified as the suicide bomber. Al-Balawi's brother told CNN Senior International Correspondent Nic Robertson that the man in the video, who uses the alias Abu Dajana Al-Khorasani, was his sibling.
In the tape, which aired Saturday on the Arabic satellite news channel Al-Jazeera, al-Balawi says his message is for the CIA and Jordanian intelligence.
The December 30 bombing at a U.S. base in Khost, in southeastern Afghanistan, killed seven CIA operatives and a Jordanian army captain.
Al-Balawi was a Jordanian doctor whom Jordanian authorities had recruited as a counterterrorism intelligence source, a Jordanian official told CNN this week.
Jordanian and U.S. intelligence agencies apparently believed al-Balawi had been rehabilitated from his extremist views and were using him to hunt Ayman al-Zawahiri, al Qaeda's No. 2 figure, a former U.S. intelligence official said.
Al-Balawi says in the video that his faith cannot be sold to bidders, an apparent message to Jordanian and U.S. officials that they had failed to win his allegiance. It puts into question how well the CIA and other intelligence agencies can penetrate al Qaeda.
Gen. David Petraeus, head of U.S. Central Command, told CNN's Christiane Amanpour that local officials are better at "human intelligence" than foreign agents.
"That's not to say that you can't have some real breakthroughs," Petraeus said during the interview, to be aired Sunday. "It's not to say you can't develop sources, you can't put people in there and so forth."
Al-Balawi mentions Baitullah Mehsud, the leader of the Taliban in Pakistan who was killed in a missile strike last August.
"We will never forget the blood of our leader Baitullah Mehsud, may God have mercy on his soul," he says in Arabic, according to a CNN translation. "It will remain that we take revenge (for his death) in America and outside America. It is a trust on every person who left everything for the sake of God, whom Baitullah Mehsud supported."
Al Qaeda's commander of operations in Afghanistan, Mustafa Abu Yazid, said this week that the attack avenged Mehsud's death.
Mehsud was the leader of Tehrik-i Taliban Pakistan (TTP). It was TTP that released the video, according to IntelCenter, a think tank that specializes in tracking terrorist groups.
At one point, the video shows the date of December 20, 2009. That is five days before Nigerian passenger Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab allegedly tried to blow up a Northwest Airlines flight to Detroit, Michigan.
The Yemen-based group al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has claimed responsibility for the Christmas Day plot.
It is impossible to know whether the date on the video is accurate, or whether al-Balawi was aware of AbdulMutallab's alleged plans. If al-Balawi did know about the plot, it could indicate a greater degree of communication between TTP and al Qaeda than previously thought.
In an analysis of the video, IntelCenter said there is a connection between the two groups. But IntelCenter also pointed out al-Balawi appears in the video next to TTP leader Hakimullah Mehsud, and that it was TTP that released the video.
"The TTP and al Qaeda have a close relationship, and in all likelihood al Qaeda was involved at some level in the operation," IntelCenter said in an analysis of the video. "However, the release of the video with TTP Emir Hakimullah Mehsud firmly places the attack under the TTP banner."
Of the seven CIA operatives who were killed in the December 30 attack were two members of the private security firm Xe, formerly known as Blackwater. The Jordanian military officer who was killed was Army Capt. Sharif Ali bin Zeid, a cousin of Jordan's King Abdullah | [
"What did the suicide bomber vow?",
"How many CIA operatives were killed?",
"Where was the Taliban leader killed?",
"Who wanted to avenge Taliban leader?"
] | [
[
"revenge for the killing of a Taliban leader."
],
[
"seven"
],
[
"Pakistan"
],
[
"Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi,"
]
] | Alleged suicide bomber vowed to avenge Taliban leader in newly released video .
Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi thought to be bomber who killed 7 CIA operatives .
The Jordanian grew up a loner, wanted to go to medical school, mother says .
Al-Balawi mentions Baitullah Mehsud, Taliban leader in Pakistan, killed last year . |
(CNN) -- The man closest to Tiger Woods when he plays golf says he had no idea about the extramarital affairs that have sidelined Woods from the game.
Steve Williams, Woods' caddy and confidant for nearly a decade, talked to New Zealand's TV3 about the scandal.
"I knew nothing," Williams said in an interview posted on the station's Web site Thursday. "I don't need to clarify it, extend that answer. I knew nothing."
Williams said he's heard the calls from some that he should be fired for not preventing Woods' downfall. "In some people's perception, I'm involved with it, and I've committed a crime or done wrong," he said.
"If the shoe was on somebody else, I would say the same thing, it would be very difficult for the caddy not to know," he said. "But I'm 100 percent telling you, I knew nothing, and that's that."
Williams' wife, Kirsty, defended her husband, insisting he would not have been able to keep the secret from her or Woods' wife, Elin Nordegren.
"The four of us are so close," she told TV3. "Being so close, he couldn't know and not say something to Elin or myself. You know, it's just, that's the way it is."
Woods, 34, apologized last month in a tightly controlled televised statement for his "irresponsible and selfish" behavior, which he said included infidelity.
The February 19 statement was his first public appearance since he crashed his black Cadillac Escalade into a fire hydrant and a tree near his home in November. The crash and reports about why it happened sparked a barrage of infidelity allegations against the golfer, who has two children with his wife.
Williams, who gets 10 percent of the millions Woods wins on the golf tour every year, said he would not have kept it secret just to protect his job.
"I'm a straight up sort of person, if I had known something was going on, the whistle would have been blown," Williams said. "He knows that I'm straight up, that's the way I operate."
He said he is disappointed with Woods.
"Of course, I'm mad at him," he said. "Why would you not be? He's obviously let his family down."
Williams said he and Woods will talk about the scandal eventually, but not now.
"When a guy's having a tough time, that's not the time," he said. "It's not up to me to beat him with a stick right now. I mean, he's getting enough grilling from everybody else."
Williams said his role now is to talk to Woods -- who he described as "one of my closest friends" -- about the future and help him get back on the golf tour.
"When you are friends with somebody, and you're a true friend to somebody, that's when somebody needs your support, and that's when they need you the most, that's when you don't walk away," he said.
In his February 19 statement, Woods left open the possibility of returning to professional golf this year.
Williams predicted that Woods would bounce back from his troubles.
"Tiger's biggest asset is his mental strength," he said. "So, he's going to need all his mental strength to get out of this, no question about it."
With Woods not playing, Williams is spending more time with his personal passion: speedway racing in New Zealand.
"When I'm not working on the tour, I don't miss it one bit," he said. | [
"whose downfall could williams not prevent?",
"Who says he would not have kept scandal secret just to protect his job?",
"What did Williams say about the scandal in an interview?",
"who defends steve williams?",
"What does Steve Williams think some people say about him getting fired?",
"Who says some think he should be fired for not preventing Woods' downfall?"
] | [
[
"Tiger Woods"
],
[
"Steve Williams,"
],
[
"\"I knew nothing,\""
],
[
"wife, Kirsty, defended her husband,"
],
[
"for not preventing Woods' downfall."
],
[
"Steve Williams,"
]
] | Steve Williams says some think he should be fired for not preventing Woods' downfall .
"But I'm 100 percent telling you, I knew nothing, and that's that," he says in interview .
Wife defends him, says he wouldn't have been able to keep secret from her or Woods' wife .
Williams says he would not have kept scandal secret just to protect his job . |
(CNN) -- The man credited with making Chicago's Metra commuter train line one of the best in the country is an apparent suicide, killed Friday by the train he himself rode five days a week for more than two decades.
Shortly before 8 a.m., Phil Pagano drove to a parking lot about two miles from his home in unincorporated Crystal Lake in suburban Chicago, walked onto a track where someone had committed suicide three years ago and stepped in front of an oncoming Metra train, McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren told reporters.
The train's lone engineer "saw a man standing on the tracks turning and looking at the train," Nygren said. "There was eye contact, he felt, between himself and the victim."
Pagano, Metra's executive director, made no attempt to step off the tracks, and the train, which was traveling between 45 mph and 55 mph, could not stop in time, Nygren said.
None of the 27 people on the train was hurt. They included 24 passengers, two Metra employees, and the engineer, a Union Pacific employee.
The passengers completed their trips in taxis; no other trains were delayed as a result of this incident, Nygren said.
"We have secured evidence at the scene and at the victim's residence that would indicate that this was an intentional act on his part," he said.
A deputy on routine patrol came across the body within a minute of the incident, Nygren said. He described the scene as "very gruesome."
Pagano's death came a week after Metra announced it was investigating whether the 60-year-old married father of two daughters got an unauthorized vacation payout last year of $56,000, said Metra spokeswoman Judy Pardonnet.
It also came two hours before the Metra board was to have met to hear from an independent investigator about the allegation against Pagano, who was on paid administrative leave from his $269,000-per-year job.
The meeting was delayed, Pardonnet said.
She said the apparent suicide was out of character for a man who cared deeply for his job and his co-workers -- so much that he made sure train personnel received counseling after witnessing similar incidents.
She credited her former boss with having transformed the Chicago rail system from one that in the 1980s was "dilapidated and rundown" to one that is now "the top among commuter railroads."
"This is a man who had an absolutely impeccable record and, honestly, was viewed as probably the premiere leader of commuter rail in the country."
Metra, for which Pagano had worked since its formation in 1984, moves 300,000 passengers per day along 11 lines over 550 miles of track serving six suburban communities in an area the size of Connecticut, she said. Before that, he held several positions at the Regional Transportation Authority in Illinois.
On-time performance, according to Pardonnet, is routinely at or above 97 percent, the best of any major city in the country and a record that area residents have grown to count on. "We literally get e-mails from people who say, 'My train was four minutes late twice this week, and I find that unacceptable,' " Pardonnet said. "He's had a fabulous and unprecedented career and that makes it even more tragic."
"Phil served this agency with distinction for many years," Metra said in a written statement. "Today, we shall remember the good work he achieved with our board of directors and the men and women of Metra. He was dedicated to our passengers and he always considered the men and women of Metra his family and there is a tremendous sense of loss within the agency."
Deputy Executive Director Bill Tupper was named appointed acting executive director of Metra, which after New York is the nation's second-largest commuter rail system, said Meg Reile, another Metra spokeswoman.
The investigation was initiated after Metra officials received a tip from Greg Hinz, a reporter for Crain's Chicago Business, about the claim, Pardonnet said.
"Phil Pagano surely didn't go to work for Metra | [
"Who made Chicago's Metra commuter train line one of the best in country?",
"Who saw Phil Pagano kill himself?",
"in what way pagano kill himself?",
"Who killed himself by stepping in front of a Metra train?"
] | [
[
"Phil Pagano"
],
[
"The train's lone engineer"
],
[
"stepped in front of an oncoming Metra train,"
],
[
"Phil Pagano"
]
] | Phil Pagano made Chicago's Metra commuter train line one of best in country, many say .
Pagano apparently killed himself by stepping in front of a Metra train .
Pagano, Metra's executive director, made no attempt to step off the tracks .
"He's had a fabulous and unprecedented career," says Metra spokesperson . |
(CNN) -- The man identified as the double agent who killed eight people at a U.S. base in Afghanistan was a Jordanian doctor recruited as a counterterrorism intelligence source, a senior Jordanian official said Tuesday. A former U.S. intelligence official identified the suicide bomber Monday as Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi. The Jordanian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said authorities in Jordan arrested al-Balawi more than a year ago "for some suspicious information related to him" but released him because of a lack of evidence. "After few months, he got in touch with us through the Internet and sent us several e-mails that include very important and rather dangerous information that might affect the security and stability of the country," the official said. "We kept in touch with him through e-mails in order to get more information and also trying to bring him over to be able to get more information. We shared and exchanged the information he gave us with some other friendly countries that are involved in countering terrorism." The official said Jordan could not confirm that al-Balawi was the bomber, "because we are not on the ground." "But we are not denying that if he is the one, then he is the Jordanian doctor," the official said. The December 30 blast at a U.S. base in Khost, in southeastern Afghanistan, killed seven CIA operatives including two from private security firm Xe, formerly known as Blackwater. The eighth victim was Jordanian Army Capt. Sharif Ali bin Zeid, a cousin of Jordan's King Abdullah II. U.S. sources said bin Zeid was the Jordanian operative working closely with al-Balawi, who was from the same hometown as the onetime leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Jordanian and U.S. intelligence agencies apparently believed that al-Balawi had been rehabilitated from his extremist views and were using him to hunt Ayman al-Zawahiri, al Qaeda's No. 2 figure, the former intelligence official said. In a posting on its Web site last week, the Taliban in Afghanistan claimed that the bomber was an Afghan National Army soldier. On Sunday, however, Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud said in an e-mail that his arm of the Islamic movement carried out the attack, using a Jordanian national. Mehsud's message predicted, "This will be admitted by the CIA and the Jordanian government." The attack was "a huge blow, symbolically and tactically," because it eliminated such a large number of CIA officers, who can require years to become ingrained in the region, said Reva Bhalla, director of analysis for the international intelligence firm STRATFOR. In addition, the attack showed the ability of the Taliban to penetrate perhaps the most difficult of targets: a CIA base, she said. Former CIA official Robert Richer called it the greatest loss of life for the agency since the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, which killed eight agents. An American intelligence official vowed last week that the United States would avenge the attack. | [
"What number of CIA operatives were killed?",
"What is the name of the Jordanian doctor identified as the bomber?",
"The blast was at a U.S. base in which country?",
"Who was identified as the bomber?",
"How many CIA operatives were killed by the blast?",
"Auhorities in which country recruited al-Balawi?",
"What was the name of the Jordanian doctor?"
] | [
[
"seven"
],
[
"Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi."
],
[
"Afghanistan"
],
[
"Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi."
],
[
"seven"
],
[
"Jordan"
],
[
"Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi."
]
] | Jordanian doctor Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi identified as bomber .
Official: Authorities in Jordan recruited al-Balawi as counterterrorism intelligence .
Blast at U.S. base in Afghanistan killed seven CIA operatives, Jordanian military officer . |
(CNN) -- The man police say kidnapped and brutally murdered a 7-year-old Georgia girl pleaded guilty Tuesday and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Ryan Brunn entered the plea at a hearing in a Cherokee County courthouse, during which he described in detail how he enticed, molested and killed Jorelys Rivera.
The girl's mangled body was found in a trash compactor three days after she went missing on December 2 from an apartment complex in Canton, which is about 40 miles north of Atlanta.
Brunn, 20, who worked as a maintenance man at the same apartment complex, was arrested on December 7 and charged with the crime.
He told the court he had never talked to Jorelys before the day of her murder. He said he devised a plan after he found one of her skates.
Brunn took a picture of the skate and approached her with it, asking if the skate was hers. She said yes, and Brunn promised to take her to it.
Instead, he took her to an empty apartment and instructed Jorelys to pull down her pants. He then put tape over her face and cut her throat with a razor. At this point, she was still alive, he told the court.
So Brunn took Jorelys to the bathroom and beat her to death with the skate. He said he did not have sex with the girl.
Next, Brunn put Jorelys' body in a plastic bag and loaded it into his maintenance golf cart. He put the body in the trash compactor and operated the machine. He then went home and hung out with friends. Later, he again operated the compactor.
Increasingly, Brunn told the court, he grew concerned about what he had done. So he took a receipt, wrote on the back of it, "She is in the trash can," and taped it to the compactor. He admitted lying to investigators who had questioned him about the case. Brunn said he knew right from wrong.
During his testimony, relatives of the slain girl were visibly upset, crying and shaking.
"I would like to apologize for everything I have done," Brunn told her family in court.
Last week, he was indicted on 13 counts including murder, aggravated assault, cruelty to children, aggravated child molestation, enticing a child for indecent purposes, false imprisonment, abandonment of a dead body, making a false statement and sexual exploitation of children.
According to the indictment, Jorelys was severely beaten and stabbed repeatedly in the face, neck and chest.
Brunn's attorney had said previously he planned to plead not guilty. Brunn had no known criminal history, authorities have said. | [
"What is Brunn's age?",
"What is Brunn's sentence?",
"Who killed Rvera?",
"What age is Brunn?",
"What did he do",
"Who was sentenced",
"What did he offer to her family in court?",
"Who is sentenced to life in prison without parole?"
] | [
[
"20,"
],
[
"life in prison without the possibility of parole."
],
[
"Ryan Brunn"
],
[
"20,"
],
[
"kidnapped and brutally murdered a 7-year-old Georgia girl"
],
[
"Ryan Brunn"
],
[
"\"I would like to apologize for everything I have done,\""
],
[
"Ryan Brunn"
]
] | NEW: Ryan Brunn is sentenced to life in prison without parole .
NEW: He describes how he enticed, molested and killed Jorelys Rivera .
NEW: Brunn, 20, says he cut her throat and beat her with a skate .
NEW: He offers an apology to her family in court . |
(CNN) -- The man suspected of trying to attack the Dutch royal family by crashing his car near their bus has died, Dutch police said Friday. A car is pictured after crashing into the crowd waiting for the visit of the royal family in Apeldoorn. The man, whose name was not released, had been seriously injured in the crash Thursday in the town of Apeldoorn, about 45 miles east of Amsterdam, police said. He died early Friday, police said. He had been charged with trying to attack the royal family, authorities said. Were you there? Send us your video, images Police searched the man's house but found no weapons, explosives, "or any other clues that could lead to the involvement of other people," police said. Five people, as well as the driver, were killed and 12 were wounded in the incident, which happened during the country's annual Queen's Day celebration, police said. Crowds had lined the streets to see Queen Beatrix and her family ride by in an open-top bus during the Netherlands' annual holiday. See who the Dutch royal family are » As the bus moved along, a black hatchback zoomed past it. The crowds were behind barriers off the road, but security officials and journalists, including many cameramen, were in the road as the car went by. The car crashed into the low metal railing around a column on the side of the road. The vehicle appeared heavily damaged even before the crash, but the reason for that was unclear. There was no one other than the driver in the car at the time, police spokeswoman Esther Naber said. Members of the royal family saw the crash and gasped, then quickly sat down as the bus continued driving. The attack caused outrage in the Netherlands, newspapers Friday widely expressing disbelief and suggesting the monarchy would have to change. "Queens Day will never be the same," the Trouw newspaper said. "The Netherlands always has been proud of their no nonsense royal family. With this comes a Queen who not only cycles a bike, but also mixes with people without obvious security measurements. Is that still possible now the royal family has been the target of an attack?" The Algemeen Dagblad newspaper agreed. ""What is going to happen on the 30th of April next year? And will we continue to see the members of the royal family cycling through the canals of Amsterdam or hunting for bargains in the Bijenkorf in The Hague?" Queen's Day is a national holiday in the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles, and Aruba. The tradition started in 1885 and celebrates the birthday of the queen. Although Queen Beatrix's birthday is January 31, she officially celebrates her birthday April 30, according to the Dutch government. Queen's Day is known for its free market all over the country, where anybody is allowed to sell things in the streets. Other activities include children's games and musical performances. The day is marked with the color orange all over the country as a reference to the colors of the royal family, who come from the House of Orange-Nassau. Emmy Dexel contributed to this report. | [
"Which celebration did the incident happen during?",
"Where did the car hit the crowd?",
"Who do the police say was in the car at the time of the accident?",
"When did incident happen?",
"Who was the open-top bus carrying?",
"Where did car hit crowd?"
] | [
[
"the country's annual Queen's Day"
],
[
"Apeldoorn."
],
[
"the Dutch royal family"
],
[
"during the country's annual Queen's Day celebration,"
],
[
"Queen Beatrix and her family"
],
[
"Apeldoorn."
]
] | Incident happened during the Netherlands annual Queen's Day celebration .
Car hit crowd near open-top bus carrying Queen Beatrix of Netherlands .
Police: No other clues that could lead to the involvement of other people .
Police: There was no one other than the driver in the car at the time . |
(CNN) -- The man who accused pop star Michael Jackson of molesting his son in 1993 killed himself in his New Jersey condo earlier this month, police said. Evan Chandler, 65, was found by the building's concierge November 5 after a doctor, who was treating him for cancer, said he missed an appointment, the Jersey City, New Jersey, police report said. Chandler was "extremely ill" with cancer, the report said. He was working as a dentist in Beverly Hills, California, in 1993 when he said his son, who was 13 at the time, told him that Jackson had molested him. His son revealed it, he said, when he put him under anesthesia to pull a tooth. The Los Angeles County district attorney did not pursue criminal charges against Jackson, but Chandler and his son reached a confidential financial settlement with the singer after filing a lawsuit. Reports at the time said the Chandlers got between $16 million and $20 million from Jackson's insurance company. The Chandler accusation became a key part of the prosecution's case when Jackson was tried and acquitted of molestation a decade later in Santa Barbara County, California. The elder Chandler was found "on his bed in a lifeless state with a gun in his hand," the investigator's report said. "The victim had a silver revolver in his right hand which was pressed against the right side of his head," Officer J.S. Sielski wrote. Chandler, who was estranged from most of his family, owned the .38-caliber pistol he used to kill himself, Jersey City spokesman Stan Eason said. No suicide note was found, Eason added. Chandler's brother -- a lawyer in Santa Barbara County -- told CNN in 2003 that Chandler feared for his life because of threats made by angry Jackson fans. "There's a hard-core group, there was and probably still is, of fanatical fans who see him as a deity," Ray Chandler told CNN's Larry King. "Some of them will go to any lengths that, you know, there's some who will just go as far as threatening, there's some who will go -- who will be violent, and you know, you never know how far it is going to go." Ray Chandler has not responded to calls from CNN for comment about his brother's death. | [
"When was Michael Jackson acquitted of molestation charges?",
"When did Evan Chandler say Michael Jackson molested his son?",
"What is Chandler's profession?",
"What illness did Chandler have?",
"what was the dollar amount",
"Was Jackson acquitted?",
"when did this happen"
] | [
[
"a decade later"
],
[
"1993"
],
[
"dentist"
],
[
"cancer,"
],
[
"between $16 million and $20 million"
],
[
"tried and"
],
[
"November 5"
]
] | In 1993, Evan Chandler said Michael Jackson had molested son .
Chandler, a dentist, and son reached undisclosed financial settlement with Jackson .
Accusation was part of case in 2003 when Jackson was tried, acquitted of molestation charges .
Chandler, who was ill with cancer; apparently shot himself . |
(CNN) -- The managing director of the Abu Dhabi Investment Fund is missing after his glider plane crashed into a lake in Morocco, the state news agency of the United Arab Emirates reported Friday.
Authorities were searching for Sheikh Ahmed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is a brother of the ruler of Abu Dhabi and president of the UAE, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Sheikh Ahmed is also chairman of the board of trustees of the Zayed Foundation for Charity and Humanitarian Works, said WAM, the news agency.
The plane went down in the northwestern city of Skhirat, according to Morocco's official news agency, MAP.
Forbes' 2009 rankings of "The World's Most Powerful People" rated the missing sheikh at No. 27.
The pilot was rescued in good condition, WAM said.
A spokesman for the fund did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
The sovereign-wealth fund, which was established in 1976, is owned by the government of Abu Dhabi.
In an interview in January with Germany's business daily newspaper Handelsblatt, Sheikh Ahmed said he preferred not to use the sovereign-wealth fund label to describe the investment fund.
"We prefer to be seen simply as a globally diversified investment institution, with the difference being that our owner is the government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi," he said. "ADIA's sole mission, which has not changed in over 30 years, is to secure and maintain the current and future welfare of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi."
Asked about news reports that ADIA's global assets range between $300 billion and $800 billion, Sheikh Ahmed hewed to the secretive style that has marked the fund.
"As a matter of policy, ADIA does not disclose its assets under management," he said. But he noted that his brother, the president, who is also ADIA's chairman, "has stated publicly that some of the highest estimates seen in the media have been exaggerated." | [
"Sheikh Ahmed is the executive of where ?",
"Who is Ahmed brother of?",
"What is his rank ?",
"who is he the brother of",
"His brother is who ?",
"What number is Ahmed on forbes?",
"who is ranked 27 on forbes list",
"Who is being searched for?",
"where was the crash"
] | [
[
"Abu Dhabi Investment Fund"
],
[
"Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan."
],
[
"managing director"
],
[
"Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan."
],
[
"Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan."
],
[
"No. 27."
],
[
"Sheikh Ahmed bin Zayed Al Nahyan,"
],
[
"Sheikh Ahmed bin Zayed Al Nahyan,"
],
[
"northwestern city of Skhirat,"
]
] | Search under way for Abu Dhabi executive Sheikh Ahmed after Morocco plane crash .
Sheikh Ahmed is brother of ruler of Abu Dhabi, UAE president .
Sheikh Ahmed ranked No. 27 on Forbes' "Most Powerful People" list . |
(CNN) -- The maternal grandmother of a 7-month-old Florida girl found hidden in a small cedar box under her baby sitter's bed says her daughter, who was charged in the case, is troubled and needs help.
Police think Chrystina Lynn Mercer gave Shannon Lee Dedrick to the sitter -- who is the baby's paternal aunt, Susan Baker -- and 10 hours later reported the girl missing.
"As confused as Tina is, I have to tell you, she has emphatically stated that she did not and would not ever harm her child," Mercer's mother, Kandis Boyer, said Thursday on HLN's "Nancy Grace."
Without elaborating, Boyer said she thinks her daughter "was manipulated into this situation."
Baker, whose home Shannon was found in, was also charged in connection with the incident, Washington County Sheriff Bobby Haddock has said.
The baby is in protective custody with the state and is in good health despite her ordeal, according to Boyer, who says she drove nearly 900 miles in 14 hours from Texas to Florida when Shannon disappeared.
According to Haddock, Baker took custody of Shannon from her mother on Saturday.
Boyer said her daughter told her she only let Baker care for the child, nothing more.
Asked why Mercer reported the child missing to police, Boyer said she did not know.
Boyer said her daughter has said "so many different things" and that "she seems to be very confused. That's what I've gathered from talking to her myself since I have been here from Texas."
She said her daughter has had counseling over the years, and "she's going to get the help she needs now."
Clothes and baking powder to hide the smell of soiled diapers were found inside the 2-foot-by-3-foot box.
Shannon had been inside the box for about half a day before authorities found her late Wednesday, but she might have been in and out of the box for several days, investigators said. | [
"Where was the girl found?",
"Where did they find the 7-month old girl?",
"What state does the family live in?",
"What age was the girl?",
"Who has been charged in the case?"
] | [
[
"hidden in a small cedar box"
],
[
"her baby sitter's bed"
],
[
"Florida"
],
[
"7-month-old"
],
[
"her daughter,"
]
] | 7-month-old Florida girl reported missing, found in small box under baby sitter's bed .
Police say mom gave baby to sitter, who is baby's paternal aunt .
Mom, aunt both charged in case; baby in state custody .
Mother "seems to be very confused," baby's grandmother says . |
(CNN) -- The mayor of Gary, Indiana, and Michael Jackson's father, Joe, on Wednesday will announce "a major move forward" to bring a museum and performance arts center bearing the singer's name to the city.
Mayor Rudy Clay has said the project has the potential to bring 500,000 to 750,000 visitors to Gary and an annual income of $100 million to $150 million dollars to the community.
In addition, the Jackson Family Museum and a Michael Jackson Performing Arts Center will generate hundreds of construction jobs and thousands of full-time jobs for the community when the project is completed, the mayor said in a press release.
Joe and Katherine Jackson started their large family in a two-bedroom house in a working-class neighborhood in Gary. All 10 Jackson children were born in Gary between 1950 and 1966, including one who was stillborn.
The Jacksons moved from Gary to Los Angeles, California, in 1971 amid the success of the Jackson 5 group, which featured Michael Jackson and four older brothers.
Their home at 2300 Jackson Street is still a shrine for the occasional tourist.
Jackson died on June 25, 2009. | [
"Who were born in Gary",
"Where was Michael and siblings born?",
"Where was Jackson born?"
] | [
[
"All 10 Jackson children"
],
[
"Gary, Indiana,"
],
[
"Gary, Indiana,"
]
] | Joe Jackson and Gary, Indiana, mayor pushing for Jackson tourist site .
Idea calls for museum and performing arts center .
Michael Jackson and siblings were born in Gary, moved to Los Angeles . |
(CNN) -- The mayor of Gulfport, Mississippi, and his wife were arrested Wednesday on charges they defrauded the federal government and an insurance company of more than $220,000 in claims related to Hurricane Katrina, authorities said. Gulfport Mayor Gregory Brent Warr, shown in 2005, says the charges "will not change my commitment" to the city. Gregory Brent Warr and Laura Jean Warr were named in a 16-count federal indictment handed up last week by a grand jury, the Department of Justice said in a news release. They are accused of conspiracy, Federal Emergency Management Agency fraud, Department of Housing and Urban Development home grant fraud and insurance fraud, all arising from claims after Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005. If convicted on each count, the couple would face up to 210 years in prison and up to $4 million in fines, prosecutors said. "Understand that what has been alleged toward my wife and me has no connection to me as mayor," Brent Warr said in a statement issued Wednesday. "This has not and will not change my commitment to the progress and recovery of our city." He said he pleaded not guilty, but said he will not speak further about the case. "I am the mayor of Gulfport, and I will continue working to rebuild our city," Warr said. "We have hundreds of dedicated employees, department heads and directors, and everything we have achieved thus far is a result of their hard work and love for this city. "For Laura and me, personally, this is a difficult time, but I will continue the work as mayor." According to the indictment, the Warrs in 2005 applied for FEMA assistance regarding a Gulfport home, telling officials that home was their primary residence when it was not. In 2006, the indictment says, the couple applied to the Mississippi Development Authority for a Homeowner's Assistance Grant funded by HUD, again claiming they lived at the address. The indictment also alleges the Warrs made misrepresentations to Lexington Insurance Company regarding personal property in the insured home, payment of rent for alternative living after Katrina and the extent of damage to the home. The Warrs received a total of $222,798 "as a result of the said offenses, for which the defendants are liable," the indictment says. The couple was released on bond and ordered to appear for trial April 6, the Justice Department said. In his statement, Warr said the inquiry "has been going on for more than a year now, and we hope and pray for a much faster resolution." City spokesman Ryan LaFontaine issued a statement saying that while he was not in a position "to speculate what is happening in the mayor's personal life ... I can tell you that as for the city, we are continuing to carry out the people's business. "The mayor has indicated that he has every intention of coming to work tomorrow, and every day after that, as the mayor of Gulfport," LaFontaine said. "In the nearly four years that he has been here, Mayor Warr has created a framework and an agenda for the recovery of Gulfport. And he has assembled a very talented team of directors and employees that understand the enormity of the recovery challenges that lie ahead. "Under his continued leadership, I'm very confident that this city will continue to move along the path that he has set," LaFontaine said. "The people of Gulfport don't care about the mayor's personal issues. They only care about what he's doing to fix their issues." | [
"Who is the mayor?",
"What will the mayor continue to do?",
"What length of sentence does the couple face?",
"How many years do the couple face?",
"How many years will be faced?",
"What did the couple receive?",
"What does Mayor Gregory Brent Warr say?",
"Who is liable?",
"What was the name of the mayor?"
] | [
[
"Gregory Brent Warr,"
],
[
"rebuild our city,\""
],
[
"210 years"
],
[
"up to 210"
],
[
"210"
],
[
"more than $220,000 in claims related to Hurricane Katrina, authorities said."
],
[
"the charges \"will not change my commitment\" to the city."
],
[
"Gregory Brent Warr and Laura Jean Warr"
],
[
"Gregory Brent Warr,"
]
] | Gulfport, Mississippi, mayor "will continue working to rebuild our city"
Mayor Gregory Brent Warr, says he pleaded not guilty .
Indictment: Couple received $222,798 "for which the defendants are liable"
Couple, released on bond and ordered to court April 6, face up to 210 years . |
(CNN) -- The mayor of New Orleans, Louisiana, has been quarantined in China after possible exposure to the H1N1 virus, his office said Sunday. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin flew to China as part of an economic development trip, his office said. Mayor Ray Nagin, who traveled to China on an economic development trip, flew on a plane that carried a passenger being treated for symptoms suspected to be from the virus, commonly known as the swine flu virus, the mayor's office said in a statement. Nagin, his wife and a member of his security detail have been quarantined in Shanghai, China, though all three are symptom free, the statement said. "The mayor is being treated with utmost courtesy by Chinese officials," the statement said. Ceeon Quiett, the mayor's director of communications, told CNN that Nagin had been sitting beside a passenger who "exhibited the symptoms of H1N1," but Nagin showed no signs of illness. "We have talked with him and he is in good spirits," Quiett said, adding that there was no indication how long the quarantine would last. While not confirming identities, the Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention said three Americans are being quarantined in a hotel called the Jinjiang Inn in the Nanhui district of Shanghai. | [
"Who had possible H1N1 symptoms",
"Where was Nagin flying from",
"Who has H1N1 symptoms?",
"What was the nature of Nagin's trip?",
"Who is being treated with utmost courtesy by Chinese officials?"
] | [
[
"Mayor Ray Nagin,"
],
[
"New Orleans"
],
[
"a passenger"
],
[
"economic development"
],
[
"Mayor Ray Nagin,"
]
] | Passenger on Mayor Ray Nagin's plane has possible H1N1 symptoms .
Nagin's office: Nagin, his wife and an associate are symptom-free but quarantined .
Nagin was on economic development trip in China .
Mayor is "being treated with utmost courtesy by Chinese officials," his office says . |
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