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(CNN) -- Tropical Storm Claudette was gaining strength Sunday as it churned in the Gulf of Mexico toward the Florida Panhandle, the National Hurricane Center said. A satellite image from 2 p.m. ET Sunday shows a tropical storm nearing the Florida Panhandle. At 2 p.m. ET, Claudette's winds had picked up to near 50 mph, based on observations by an Air Force reconnaissance plane. The center of the storm was about 40 miles south of Apalachicola, Florida, and about 160 miles from Pensacola, the center said. It was moving at about 14 mph, putting it on course to hit land by Sunday evening. A tropical storm warning was in effect from the Alabama-Florida border east to the Suwannee River. A tropical storm warning means that weather conditions will likely deteriorate in the next 24 hours. The storm could bring 3 to 5 inches of rain, with isolated amounts up to 10 inches, and storm surges across portions of North Florida. Meanwhile, two other tropical storms were in the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday. Tropical Storm Ana was moving west but losing strength, forecasters said, while Tropical Storm Bill was gaining strength as it followed behind Ana. Ana was about 240 miles (385 kilometers) east of Dominica at 2 p.m. ET Sunday. It was expected to arrive at the Leeward Islands by late Sunday or early Monday, the center said. It was moving about 25 mph, and its maximum sustained winds were close to 40 mph, the center said. Tropical storm watches were in effect for Dominica, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla, St. Maarten, Saba, St. Eustatius, Guadeloupe, St. Martin, and St. Barthelemey. Tropical Storm Bill -- which could become a hurricane on Monday -- should be watched closely as it heads west-northwest in the Atlantic, possibly toward Florida, CNN meteorologist Reynolds Wolf said. The storm was 1,555 miles east of the Lesser Antilles at 11 a.m. ET Sunday. Bill may reach Category 3 status as it bears down on the Leeward Islands Wednesday or Thursday, he said. | [
"Which winds pick up to 50 mph?",
"What is the tropical storm's name?",
"Which is expected to hit land by Sunday evening?",
"When is the storm expected to hit land?",
"Which could become a hurricane by Monday?",
"What storm could be a hurricane by Monday?",
"What storm formed overnight?",
"Where is Tropical Storm Claudette?"
] | [
[
"Claudette's"
],
[
"Claudette"
],
[
"Tropical"
],
[
"Sunday evening."
],
[
"Tropical"
],
[
"Bill"
],
[
"Claudette"
],
[
"Gulf of Mexico"
]
] | Tropical Storm Claudette's winds pick up to 50 mph .
The storm, which formed overnight, is expected to hit land by Sunday evening .
Tropical Storm Bill is could become a hurricane by Monday . |
(CNN) -- Troubled U.S. insurer AIG will end its shirt sponsorship deal with Premier League and European champions Manchester United next year. End of era: AIG will not renew its four-year sponsorship deal with Manchester United. It was widely believed that AIG would not renew their £19 million ($27 million) per year shirt deal when the four-year contract expired in 2010, due to the financial troubles the company has suffered. And, on Wednesday, the company confirmed this. "AIG's shirt sponsorship with Manchester United runs through May 2010. We have no plans to renew the deal," said a company statement. AIG is still restructuring after receiving a bail-out of $150 billion from the U.S. Government. They also have a £5 million ($6.8 million) per year deal to run MU Finance, but it is not clear what will happen with that contract. Despite the loss of AIG, a Manchester United spokesman told the UK Press Association that the Premier League giants hoped to better the current deal it had with the U.S. insurer. Have your say: Can football's giant salaries survive the financial crisis? "In line with industry practice, Manchester United is exploring the possibility of a shirt sponsor for the new 2010/11 season. "The club is in dialogue with a select number of top companies worldwide and has so far received sufficient interest to be confident it can improve on its current £19 million annual partnership with AIG." Michael Stirling, managing director of Global Sponsors, predicts United will be able to find a new sponsor who will match those figures. "I think they will do extremely well regardless of the crisis because they have done superbly in being the world club champions. There will be a lot of interest from major brands that want to be associated with the club, no matter the price," he told CNN. Massive Indian corporation Sahara are reported in the Indian media to be investigating the Red Devils' proposals, while Saudi Telecom is another company believed to be a potential new sponsor. World Club champions United also have strong links in both Malaysia and South Korea. Meanwhile, AIG have insisted they will honor their four-year agreement, leaving the Old Trafford club in a better position than when Vodafone gave just six months' notice before terminating their deal in 2006. | [
"who were sponsers"
] | [
[
"AIG"
]
] | AIG confirm they will not renew its four-year contract with Manchester United .
The Old Trafford club believes they can improve on the deal they had with AIG .
India's Sahara and Saudi Telecom have been tipped as potential sponsors . |
(CNN) -- Tuesday marks the 150th anniversary of the publication of Charles Darwin's "On the Origin of Species" on November 24, 1859. All 1,250 copies of the initial print run of the book were scooped up by readers eager to see the British naturalist going rogue with his radical new theory of evolution, "By Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life," in the book's full title.
How important is this book? Thomas Henry Huxley ("Darwin's bulldog") proclaimed that "On the Origin of Species" was "the most potent instrument for the extension of the realm of knowledge which has come into man's hands since Newton's 'Principia,' " and lamented to himself: "How extremely stupid not to have thought of that."
The Harvard biologist Ernst Mayr, arguably the greatest evolutionary theorist since Darwin, asserted: "It would be difficult to refute the claim that the Darwinian revolution was the greatest of all intellectual revolutions in the history of mankind." The Harvard paleontologist and historian of science Stephen Jay Gould called the theory of evolution one of the half dozen most important ideas in the entire history of Western thought.
Why, then, do so many Americans not accept the theory of evolution? A 2001 Gallup Poll found that 45 percent of Americans agree with the statement "God created human beings pretty much in their present form at one time within the last 10,000 years or so," while 37 percent preferred a blended belief that "Human beings have developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life, but God guided this process," and a paltry 12 percent accepted the standard scientific theory that "Human beings have developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life, but God had no part in this process."
These percentages have remained largely unchanged in subsequent surveys, although most scientists would prefer that the questions were asked without reference to God since the science of evolutionary biology stands or falls on its own whether God directed the process or not, or even if there is a God or not.
There are at least six reasons that make people resistant to accepting evolution.
1. The Warfare Model of Science and Religion. The belief that there is a war between science and religion where one is right and the other wrong, and that one must choose one over the other.
2. Belief that evolution is a threat to specific religious tenets. Many people attempt to use science to prove certain religious tenets, but when they do not appear to fit, the science is rejected. For example, the attempt to prove that the Genesis creation story is accurately reflected in the geological fossil record has led many creationists to conclude that the Earth was created within the past 10,000 years, which is in sharp contrast to the geological evidence for a 4.6 billion-year-old Earth.
3. Misunderstanding of evolutionary theory. A significant problem is that most people know so little about the theory. In the 2001 Gallup Poll, for example, a quarter of the people surveyed said they didn't know enough to say whether they accepted evolution or not, and only 34 percent considered themselves to be "very informed" about the theory. Because evolution is so controversial, public school science teachers typically drop the subject entirely rather than face the discomfort aroused among students and parents.
4. The fear that evolution degrades our humanity. After Copernicus toppled the pedestal of our cosmic centrality, Darwin delivered the coup de grâce by revealing us to be "mere" animals, subject to the same natural laws and historical forces as all other animals.
5. The equation of evolution with ethical nihilism. This sentiment was expressed by the neoconservative social commentator Irving Kristol in 1991: "If there is one indisputable fact about the human condition it is that no community can survive if it is persuaded -- or even if it suspects -- that its members are leading meaningless lives in a meaningless universe."
6. The fear that evolutionary theory implies we have a fixed human nature. The first five reasons for the resistance to evolutionary | [
"how many reasons did he find",
"How many reasons did he come up with, including misunderstanding and fear?"
] | [
[
"six"
],
[
"six"
]
] | Shermer wonders why so many Americans don't accept the theory of evolution .
He comes up with six reasons why not, including misunderstanding and fear .
But he says, divine creation cries out for praise regardless of when it happened . |
(CNN) -- Tuesday night's tight contest for the top spot in the Iowa Republican caucuses reflects the ongoing tension that exists within the Republican Party.
This struggle between the conservative religious voters -- whose voice is strong and loud in Iowa and was represented by Rick Santorum -- and the more moderate, mainstream voters, represented by Mitt Romney, is indicative of a fight for the soul of the Republican Party.
What is so interesting is that four years ago, Romney's 25% share of the vote was not nearly enough to give him the victory. But this year, that same 25% is enough to keep him alive.
While his campaign will spin that he was not really playing in Iowa, he cannot be totally happy, because the Iowa results cannot be read as anything than a continued rejection of Romney by conservative GOP voters.
Regardless, as long as the anybody-but-Romney vote is split among several candidates, and the longer most of them stay in the race, the better it is for Romney -- who can thereby win primaries with far less than a majority.
Social conservatives made very clear in Iowa that it was important for them to take a stand and vote for someone they could feel good about -- someone who in their hearts and consciences they could wholeheartedly defend -- rather than give their votes to someone they did not like and did not trust.
Again, this is not good news for Romney. He is like the bitter pill that conservatives refuse to take as long as there is still a viable alternative.
It also indicates that Romney still has an uphill battle to convince the majority of GOP voters that he is the one who can fully represent core conservative values and principles. He was not able to make the sale in Iowa. Will he be able to make it in upcoming states where conservatives also have an important voice?
Romney has made a career of changing his stances to match the prevailing political winds. In 2008, that lack of core political values cost him the nomination. Are Republicans desperate enough this time around to support someone who has marketed himself as perhaps not the perfect conservative, but at least the best bet against Barack Obama?
If that is the case, the problem for Romney will be that general election voters will see right through this farce, even as conservative GOP voters have here in Iowa.
He will have a tough time making the case that he is the best candidate on the economy, since when he was governor of Massachusetts, his state was the third-worst in the country on job creation.
When he was head of Bain Capital, he destroyed more American jobs than he created, while making millions for his investors -- just ask Randy Johnson, a factory worker who was laid off because Bain Capital closed the factory where he worked.
Romney has also moved so far to the right on other critical issues that it will be hard for him to reconcile those positions with those of more mainstream general election voters. And what about the importance of Latino voters? Let's not forget that no GOP candidate will see the inside of "La Casa Blanca" without at least 40% of the Hispanic vote, according to Bush pollster Matthew Dowd.
No GOP candidate even bothered to visit the Latino-rich population towns in Iowa, and Romney has already declared he would veto the Dream Act if he becomes president. So let's be clear -- the GOP can say goodbye to the Latino vote in the general election.
This overall tension within the GOP between the mainstream and the extreme was in full display Tuesday night in Iowa. As such, the biggest winner of the Iowa caucuses by far is Obama. As I saw someone tweet Tuesday night -- somewhere in Iowa, the Obama campaign is smiling.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Maria Cardona. | [
"Who was tied for votes in Iowa?",
"What would hurt Mitt Romney?",
"What did Maria Cardona say about Romney?",
"Where was the election held?"
] | [
[
"Rick Santorum"
],
[
"has made a career of changing his stances to match the prevailing political winds."
],
[
"has made a career of changing his stances"
],
[
"Iowa"
]
] | Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum virtually tied for first place in Iowa .
Maria Cardona says the contest shows Romney can't make the sale to conservatives .
She says he has swung right to win their votes, which would hurt him in general election . |
(CNN) -- Tuesday's off-year election might not have the high stakes of the 2008 presidential election, but there are several significant races worth watching: • Virginia governor: McDonnell is projected winner CNN has projected that Republican Bob McDonnell will be elected Virginia governor. The 55-year-old former state attorney general will be the first Republican to win the state's highest office in 12 years. With 99 percent of precincts reporting, McDonnell was leading Democratic opponent Creigh Deeds 59 percent to 41 percent. The race was seen as an early referendum on voters' attitudes toward President Obama and his policies and an opportunity for Republicans to turn back recent Democratic gains. More on Virginia gubernatorial race • New Jersey governor: GOP's Christie is winner, CNN projects Republican challenger Chris Christie will defeat New Jersey Gov. John Corzine, CNN has projected. With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Christie was leading Corzine, a Democrat, 49 percent to 45 percent. Chris Daggett, an independent candidate, had 6 percent. Corzine, who was seeking a second term, trailed Christie during the summer, but recent polls showed them in a dead heat. As Election Day approached, some thought growing support for the moderate Daggett might siphon votes from Christie. More on New Jersey gubernatorial race • New York mayor: Bloomberg to win third term, CNN projects New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will win a third term despite a tough challenge from Democrat Bill Thompson, CNN has projected. With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Bloomberg led Thompson 51 percent to 46 percent. Bloomberg's apparent victory comes after he changed the city's constitution to lift a two-term limit. Bloomberg, an independent candidate, had led Thompson, the city comptroller, by double digits in most pre-election surveys. Bloomberg has outspent his rival in TV ads, $33 million to $2.66 million. • Boston, Massachusetts, mayor: Menino wins, Globe says Boston Mayor Thomas Menino has won a record fifth term, the Boston Globe reported. CNN is not making a projection in the race. With all precincts reporting, Menino led City Councilman Michael Flaherty 57 percent to 42 percent, according to the Globe. In Menino's previous races, he either won overwhelmingly or he ran unopposed. Boston.com: Menino wins fifth term • Maine same-sex marriage vote: Early results are close Early results on a measure that would reject a law allowing same-sex marriage were tight, according to the Bangor (Maine) Daily News. With 70 percent of precincts reporting, nearly 52 percent of voters chose to reject the law, with more than 48 percent voting to retain it, according to the Daily News. When Gov. John Baldacci signed the legislation on May 6, he did so knowing there was a possibility that voters could overturn it. In September, opposition groups delivered the necessary signatures to get a vote. Maine would be sixth state to allow same-sex marriage if voters uphold the legislation. iReport.com: Same-sex marriage proponents work to get out the vote • Medical marijuana in Maine: 'Yes' has lead Early results seemed to favor the passage of a referendum that would expand the use of medical marijuana in Maine. With 70 percent of precincts reporting, 59 percent of voters chose "yes" in the referendum, according to the Bangor (Maine) Daily News. Voters in Maine, one of 14 states to allow the use of medical marijuana, were asked to decide whether to expand the list of conditions that could be treated with medical marijuana and make it easier to expand the list further in the future. It also would create state-licensed dispensaries. Portland Press Herald: Turnout may surpass 50 percent, official says • New York's 23rd Congressional District Why it matters: A conservative backlash against a moderate Republican candidate propelled this race into national headlines as proof of an ongoing family feud between the far right and moderates for control of the party. What's the story?: Local Republican leaders picked Dede Scozzafava because | [
"What will Chris Christie win?",
"And who wins Virginia governor`s race?",
"Who is Mayor of NY?",
"Who will win New Jersey governorship by CNN?"
] | [
[
"New Jersey governor:"
],
[
"Bob McDonnell"
],
[
"Michael Bloomberg"
],
[
"Chris Christie"
]
] | GOP's Chris Christie will win New Jersey governorship, CNN projects .
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg turns back tough challenge .
CNN projects Republican McDonnell wins Virginia governor's race .
Houston voters could elect Texas city's first openly gay mayor . |
(CNN) -- Turkey snatched a last-gasp winner to eliminate Euro 2008 co-hosts Switzerland and keep their own quarterfinal hopes alive with a 2-1 victory in rain-drenched Basel on Wednesday night. Patrick Mueller, left, and Swiss goalkeeper Diego Benaglio battle for the ball with Arda Turan of Turkey. Arda Turan scored with a deflected effort in the third minute of time added on to set up a Group A finale against the Czech Republic on Sunday to determine who takes the second quarterfinal place behind Portugal. The Turks came from behind after Hakan Yakin gave the Swiss a 32nd-minute lead, with substitute striker Semih Senturk heading a 57th-minute equalizer through the hands of goalkeeper Diego Benaglio. The St Jakob Park stadium had been flooded by a deluge early in the match, with the downpour continuing until just before half-time. The treacherous conditions made defending a nightmare for both teams, and Arda almost put Turkey ahead in the 29th minute with a farcical effort. With minimal visibility in the heavy rain, Benaglio punched a vicious free-kick by stand-in captain Nihat Kahveci onto the head of the 21-year-old winger -- but the ball bounced to safety off the outside of the post. However, it was the Swiss who adapted the better and they took the lead through the veteran Yakin. He was on hand to awkwardly steer home from close range with his weaker right foot after Eren Derdiyok -- who like Yakin is of Turkish origin -- beat the offside trap to collect a long pass from defender Philippe Senderos. Derdiyok calmly check inside the defense in the penalty area and sent a low cross towards Yakin -- who had to wait anxiously at the far post as the ball was held up in a huge puddle of water. Yakin had earlier been denied by Turkey goalkeeper Volkan Demirel, who also did well to tip a swerving free-kick by Tranquillo Barnetta around the post. Yakin also missed an even easier chance than the goal he scored in the 34th minute when he stabbed the ball wide of the post following a superb right-wing cross by Valon Behrami which cut out the defense and goal custodian. Turkey, sensing a lucky escape, came out after the break with renewed purpose and posed a greater threat as the pitch slowly drained of the excess water. Semih justified his second-half introduction when he rose highest to meet Nihat's superb inswinging cross from the left flank, and Benaglio could only palm the powerful header into the back of the net. Tempers flared as both sides went in search of the victory, but there was no repeat of the violent scenes that followed Switzerland's World Cup playoff victory against the Turks in November 2005. Volkan made another superb save from Yakin, and Turkey held off the Swiss onslaught before Arda cut in from the right and fired a shot from just outside the penalty area which clipped the heels of Patrick Mueller and looped over the helpless Benaglio. "I did wish for rain to stop. I did pray to God for that," Turkey coach Fatih Terim told reporters. "We couldn't predict mud in the middle of the summer. "It's not easy to come back from a goal down at the European Championship, considering we hit the woodwork once. But we fought a lot in the second half and we created many opportunities." He added: "Tonight we reminded everyone a little bit about Turkey. Against the Czech Republic, we will be unforgettable." Defeat was a bitter blow for Switzerland, whose fellow co-hosts Austria will also be eliminated on Thursday if they lose to Poland in Vienna. "Of course the disappointment is huge," Switzerland coach Koebi Kuhn said. "But I can't blame it on any player or anyone else. We lost twice unluckily." | [
"What was the match marred by?",
"What country eliminated Euro 2008?",
"Who were the 2008 co-hosts?",
"What the mach was marred with?",
"Who must the Turks beat to qualify?",
"Who must beat Czech Republic?",
"Who must the Turks beat in Group A?",
"Who eliminate the co-host?",
"What was the severity of the rain during the match?",
"Where was it raining?",
"Whom did they have to beat?",
"What marred the match?"
] | [
[
"deluge"
],
[
"Turkey"
],
[
"Switzerland"
],
[
"heavy rain,"
],
[
"Czech Republic"
],
[
"Turkey"
],
[
"Czech Republic"
],
[
"Turkey"
],
[
"heavy"
],
[
"Basel"
],
[
"Switzerland"
],
[
"deluge"
]
] | Turkey eliminate Euro 2008 co-hosts Switzerland with 2-1 win in rain-hit Basel .
Match marred by torrential downpour which left the ground waterlogged .
Arda Turan scores deflected winner in the third minute of time added on .
Turks must now beat Czech Republic in final Group A match to qualify . |
(CNN) -- Turkey's military said it killed at least 15 rebels in operations in northern Iraq earlier this week, but a spokesman for the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Security Forces denied the report, saying Turkey has not conducted any military operation or air assault there in the past two weeks. Turkish troops patrol near the border with Iraq during an offensive in February. A statement posted on the Turkish armed forces' official Web site said a group of PKK, or members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, was identified in northern Iraq, and said the group was believed to be planning an attack and trying to leak through the border into Turkey. The PKK, labeled a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, is comprised of militants who have been launching attacks against Turkey from bases in northern Iraq. The Turkish military said the PKK group "came under fire by long-range weapons" on Thursday, and 15 terrorists were killed. The same region was targeted by a Turkish air assault on Friday, the military said, adding that the number of casualties was not yet available. "In the missions, only the places that were confirmed to belong to the terrorist group were targeted," the military statement said. "Turkish armed forces acted with utmost sensitivity in order to avoid any negative impact of the strikes on the civilians in the region." However, Jabbar Yawer, a spokesman for the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Forces, said no air assault was conducted Thursday or Friday, and added that no operations have been conducted in northern Iraq for the past two weeks. The PKK has spent two decades fighting for autonomy for Kurds in southeastern Turkey, with some of its attacks launched from inside Iraq ». The Iraqi government opposes the PKK's presence, but views a Turkish military incursion as a violation of its sovereignty. E-mail to a friend CNN Turk's Begum Donmez and CNN's Mohammed Tawfeeq contributed to this report. | [
"Who are trying to get into Turkey?",
"In which country are the rebels from?",
"Which group has attempted to attack Turkey?",
"Who did the US label as terrorists",
"Who is labeled a terrorist group?",
"What party is trying to get in to Turkey?",
"How many rebels in operations in northern Iraq?"
] | [
[
"group of PKK, or members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party,"
],
[
"Iraq"
],
[
"PKK,"
],
[
"The PKK,"
],
[
"The PKK,"
],
[
"Kurdistan Workers'"
],
[
"at least 15"
]
] | Turkey: At least 15 rebels in operations in northern Iraq earlier this week .
Says Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) members trying to get into Turkey .
Iraqi Kurdish Regional Security Forces denies the report, says no operation .
PKK, labeled a terrorist group by U.S., EU, has attacked Turkey from N Iraq . |
(CNN) -- Twenty-eight suspected pirates were taken into custody Friday by the European Union Naval Force after a handful of failed attacks on fishing vessels in the Indian Ocean, the EU mission said.
In the first incident, the mission intercepted a mother ship and two skiffs early Friday in the southern Indian Ocean between the Seycelles and Mombasa, Kenya. The mission said the suspected pirates were in an area where an earlier attack had occurred.
A helicopter from the French warship FS Nivose then tracked the vessels and saw the suspects throwing things overboard, the mission said.
When a French team arrived at the scene, it found 11 suspected pirates and "pirate paraphernalia" in the skiffs: a rocket launcher, grappling hooks and several fuel barrels.
The forces destroyed the pirate ship and a skiff and took the suspected pirates into custody. The fate of the second skiff was not immediately known.
Soon after, pirates tried to attack a French fishing vessel near two other fishing boats, said Cmdr. John Harbour, spokesman for the EU Naval Force.
The French fishing vessel collided with the suspected pirates' vessel and sank it, Harbour said. Six suspected pirates were picked out of the water by the EU force, he said. It was not immediately clear if they had been transported to the FS Nivose, although that had been planned, he said.
Later, pirates tried to attack a Spanish fishing vessel, Harbour said. The boat alerted the EU Naval Force, and air and naval units intervened, he said.
Eleven suspected pirates were taken into custody and were on board the Nivose, Harbour said.
Harbour said an increase in pirate attacks was likely over the next few weeks as the monsoon season was ending and the ocean was becoming calmer, he said.
"The pirates have been preparing for it. ... We are prepared as well," he said.
On Thursday, pirates on two skiffs in the Indian Ocean attacked the Spanish fishing vessel Albacan, the EU Naval Force said. The pirates fired a rocket-propelled grenade, which exploded on the Albacan's deck and burst into flames, force said.
Armed guards on the Albacan fired shots at the skiffs and repelled the attack, it said. No crew members were injured, and the small fire was extinguished.
The EU mission tries to deter and stop piracy off Somalia, which has been mired in chaos since the early 1990s. It escorts vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean carrying World Food Program humanitarian aid to displaced people in Somalia.
It also seeks to protect "vulnerable vessels" in the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali coast, according to the mission's Web site. | [
"Who attacked fishing vessels?",
"How many suspected pirates seized by EU naval force?",
"who seized the paraphernailia",
"Where did the pirates attack from?",
"who is attacking fishing vessels",
"What country is piracy affecting?",
"EU mission tried to stop piracy where?",
"what country is it happening near",
"How many suspected pirates are there?"
] | [
[
"Twenty-eight"
],
[
"11"
],
[
"French team"
],
[
"Indian Ocean,"
],
[
"pirates"
],
[
"Somalia,"
],
[
"Somalia,"
],
[
"Kenya."
],
[
"Twenty-eight"
]
] | Pirates attack fishing vessels in Indian Ocean .
28 suspected pirates and "pirate paraphernalia" seized by EU naval force .
EU mission involved in trying to deter, stop piracy off Somalia .
EU spokesman: The pirates have been preparing. We are prepared as well. |
(CNN) -- Twenty-five years after the hit single "West End Girls," can the Pet Shop Boys pull off songs that make you want to dance like it's 1984, but still reflect a social consciousness of 2009?
Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, shown at the BRIT Awards in February, are releasing their 10th studio album.
The answer is the title of their latest album: "Yes."
The British duo will release their 10th studio album on April 21 in the United States through Astralwerks. "Yes" has been out in the United Kingdom through Parlophone/EMI since March 23, and entered the Billboard UK albums chart at No. 4.
"We thought that 'Yes' just kind of summed up the theme of the album. It's a positive, upbeat, euphoric pop album," keyboardist Chris Lowe said. "It's almost an answer to the question, 'Is that the Pet Shop Boys?' 'Yes!' "
Given how many different projects the duo has been involved with, it's a valid question. In addition to the studio albums, they've written a musical, "Closer to Heaven," and a soundtrack to Sergei Eisenstein's 1925 silent film classic, "The Battleship Potemkin."
For "Yes," the Pet Shop Boys worked with Xenomania, a production group known for collaborating with Cher and other pop stars. Xenomania co-wrote three of the tracks on "Yes" with Lowe and vocalist Neil Tennant, who write most of their own songs. Watch the official video for "Love, etc." on YouTube
The Pet Shop Boys, who recently won an award for outstanding contribution to music at the 2009 BRIT Awards, "felt very much at home" at the house outside London, England, that Xenomania has devoted entirely to music, Tennant said. Every bedroom has a studio, and bands hang around downstairs waiting to record amid the sounds of instruments, record mixing and talking. "You can hear this cacophony of music all day long," he said.
Like a vinyl record, "Yes" is divided into two distinct halves: the happy pop introduction and the more "weird" experimental conclusion, Tennant said. The album also features guitar performances by Johnny Marr.
"Love, etc.", the album's first track and currently No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales chart, is a social statement about how money, shopping and celebrity don't necessarily bring happiness, while the third track, "Beautiful People," imagines that it must be great to have wealth and fame, Tennant said.
"At the end of the day, it's an old-fashioned sentiment, but love is more important, really," Lowe said of "Love, etc."
"Pandemonium," a love song inspired by the relationship between actress Kate Moss and singer Pete Doherty, was originally written for Kylie Minogue to sing, but she didn't use it, Tennant said. Media reports that they'll never work together again are incorrect, however, he said.
"I think they exaggerated that," Tennant said. "Yeah, so that's not true." (In a BBC story, Tennant and Lowe said they, like many songwriters, hadn't heard back from Minogue after submitting their material. "We won't be doing it again," Lowe told the BBC.)
Perhaps the most out-of-character song stylistically is the finale, "Legacy," a meditation on politicians leaving office ("You'll get over it" is the main message). Tennant identified it as his favorite because of the poetry and the mystery in the music -- "it continues to fascinate me," he said.
"The Way It Used to Be," a favorite track for both Boys, charts a relationship from its romantic beginning to its melancholic end, wondering "what is left of love" and longing to "leave our promises behind / rewind and try again."
With all this talk of love, | [
"when does the new album come out",
"when the pet shop boy new album will come out?",
"When does the new album come out in the US?"
] | [
[
"April 21"
],
[
"April 21"
],
[
"on April 21"
]
] | The Pet Shop Boys' new album comes out in the United States on April 21 .
"Yes" has two distinct parts: the upbeat introduction and the more mysterious end .
Singer Neil Tennant says he never sang any harmonies in the 1980s .
Tennant and Lowe did not meet in a pet shop, but in an electronics shop . |
(CNN) -- Twenty-five years ago, America discovered "one of England's loudest bands," courtesy of documentarian Marty DiBergi and his film, "This Is Spinal Tap." Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer will perform Spinal Tap and Folksmen songs on tour. It was all parody -- DiBergi was director Rob Reiner, and cohorts Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer played the heavy-metal musicians in Spinal Tap -- but for a fictional band, Spinal Tap has had a long afterlife. The film gave birth to several catchphrases, including one -- "up to 11" -- that's made it into the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary. There are Web sites devoted to the Tap, including at least one, http://tap-albums.s5.com/, that offers a complete discography of the fictional band's nonexistent albums. And Guest, McKean and Shearer have never left their spandexed alter egos behind. The band reunited for a 1992 album, "Break Like the Wind," and again for a 2001 tour. For the latter, the opening act was another Guest-McKean-Shearer collaboration, the Folksmen from Guest's film "A Mighty Wind." Now Shearer, McKean and Guest are hitting the road again, but not as Spinal Tap or the Folksmen. They're playing ... themselves. "We're trying very hard to get across the idea that this is us, and only us," says Shearer in a phone interview discussing the trio's "Unwigged & Unplugged" 30-date acoustic tour, which kicks off Friday in Vancouver, British Columbia. "And because we don't often appear as ourselves -- because we most often appear as characters -- we're trying to dress it up as a treat, a rare treat, to see us as ourselves." The group will be performing both Spinal Tap and Folksmen songs, though, Shearer adds, "[we'll be] doing these songs kind of in a different way because we're approaching them as ourselves and not as these characters." Have no fear, however, Tap fans: A new album, "Back from the Dead," is due out in June. Shearer took some time out from tour preparations to talk about Spinal Tap's origins, the similarities between Tap and Metallica, and how "Start Me Up" became more closely identified with the Folksmen than the Rolling Stones. The following is an edited version of that interview. CNN: It's been 25 years since "This Is Spinal Tap," but it's been much longer since Spinal Tap came together. Do you remember what brought it about -- and who it's based on? Shearer: You know, I would like to make a little book composed of all the bands that people have guessed Spinal Tap actually is -- there would be a lot of bands in there. And in fact it is about a lot of bands -- it's never been about one band. When we did this, the Pythons had already done [the Beatles parody] the Rutles, so there had been a piece that ... was a really specific spoof of a really specific band. That was something we didn't want to do -- that had been done. Our notion was to ... sort of encapsulate everything we know about rock 'n' roll -- and everything we found funny or amusing about bands -- into one band. So it was a process of smooshing all that stuff into this fictional band. CNN: Are you familiar about this new movie called "Anvil"? [The documentary, about a real heavy-metal band, has been compared to "This Is Spinal Tap."] Shearer: I've been reading about it and hearing about it a lot, but I haven't seen it. ... It sounds interesting. The last thing I've seen along that line was "Some Kind of Monster." ... Was that amazing. That was stupefying. ... I heard they had a therapist. But it wasn't really a therapist -- it was a life coach. Which is different -- and worse (laughs). | [
"Where are they performing?",
"Who are performing?",
"Who is performing as themselves?",
"Who are the members of the band?",
"What did shearer say?"
] | [
[
"Vancouver, British Columbia."
],
[
"Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer"
],
[
"Michael McKean and Harry Shearer"
],
[
"Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer"
],
[
"\"We're trying very hard to get across the idea that this is us, and only us,\""
]
] | Harry Shearer, Christopher Guest and Michael McKean performing as themselves .
Trio has been Spinal Tap, the Folksmen in different movies .
Shearer: "We're approaching [songs] as ourselves and not as these characters" |
(CNN) -- Twenty-three suspects, including nine American Airlines employees, were arrested Tuesday for allegedly transporting nearly $20 million worth of cocaine on flights into and out of Puerto Rico, federal authorities said. Manuel Santiago-Alvarado, an American Airlines control crew chief, is among the suspects arrested Tuesday. Most of the commercial flights carrying suitcases stuffed with illicit drugs came into San Juan, which was a transshipment point for drugs bound for cities on the U.S. mainland, authorities said. The drug trafficking organization headed by defendant Wilfredo Rodriguez Rosade had been operating since 1999, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration and the FBI, which participated in the long-running investigation. In a September 9 indictment unsealed Tuesday, Justice Department officials also moved to seize $18 million worth of property owned by the suspects, including seven homes, three businesses and an apartment complex. All but one of the arrests occurred in Puerto Rico. The lone arrest on the U.S. mainland was in Miami, Florida. Drug Enforcement Special Agent in Charge Javier Pena said the airline industry cooperated in the investigation. "By denying the drug traffickers alternate smuggling routes, we disrupt the flow of drugs into Puerto Rico and discourage the use of the island as a transshipment point in the Caribbean," he said in a news release. The agency said that if they are convicted, the defendants taken into custody would face sentences ranging from 10 years to life in prison and personal fines of up to $4 million. American Airlines issued a statement confirming some employees had been arrested, but could not confirm the number because of its privacy policy, spokesman Tim Wagner said in an e-mail. The airline has been working with authorities, he said. "As a company, we hope that the actions of a few employees don't reflect negatively on the tens of thousands of ethical American Airlines employees who work hard to serve the public daily," Wagner wrote. | [
"How long has it been running?",
"What dollar amount of cocaine did 9 airline employees smuggle?",
"Where were most flights?",
"When had the operation been running since?",
"Where did most of the flights originate and depart from?",
"How many airline employees were accused?",
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"When did the Dea and FBI say the operation began running?",
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"Since when has the operation been running?",
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"How long had the operation been running?",
"How many airline employees are being accused?"
] | [
[
"since 1999,"
],
[
"$18 million worth"
],
[
"San Juan,"
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[
"1999,"
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[
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[
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[
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[
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[
"$18 million"
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[
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[
"Puerto Rico,"
],
[
"1999,"
],
[
"transporting nearly $20 million worth of cocaine"
],
[
"since 1999,"
],
[
"nine"
]
] | 9 airline employees among those accused of smuggling $20 million in cocaine .
Most of flights were into or out of San Juan, Puerto Rico .
DEA and FBI say operation had been running since 1999 .
Justice Department moves to seize $18 million in property . |
(CNN) -- Twitter was abuzz Thursday with the death of Apple visionary Steve Jobs but another topic was gathering steam as the day progressed. Who will win this year's coveted Nobel Peace Prize?
Not Jobs, though many among his huge global following posted messages that he should. The Nobel is never awarded posthumously and that rule also eliminates Mohamed Bouazizi, the unemployed college graduate whose self-immolation in Tunisia sparked a popular uprising that led to the fall of Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali's government. The Tunisian revolt began this year's so-called Arab Spring.
Some years, there are clear frontrunners -- Martin Luther King, Jr., Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Aung San Suu Kyi.
This year, it's anyone's guess with a record number of nominations -- 241 -- received by the Nobel committee. Of those, 53 are organizations, including WikiLeaks -- the website founded by Julian Assange that facilitates the publication of classified information and made headlines for leaking documents and videos related to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It also released thousands of U.S. diplomatic cables.
"Liu Xiabao was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year for his struggle for human rights, democracy and freedom of speech in China," blogged Norwegian lawmaker Snorre Valen of the Socialist Left Party, who nominated WikiLeaks. "Likewise: WikiLeaks have contributed to the struggle for those very values globally, by exposing (among many other things) corruption, war crimes and torture -- some times even conducted by allies of Norway."
Liu's win upset the Chinese and set off a diplomatic squabble. The year before, the world gasped collectively at Barack Obama's win, a shocker that the U.S. president had won even before he had completed his first year in office.
Despite the controversy that has swirled around perhaps the world's most prestigious prize, some experts say this year is a no-brainer, given the seismic events that have gripped the Arab world.
Kristian Berg Harpviken, director of Norway's Peace Research Institute Oslo shortlisted men and women who did their share in fomenting peaceful revolts against repressive regimes.
Harpviken's top choice is Israa Abdel Fattah, who helped organize Egypt's online April 6 Youth Movement in 2008.
She was arrested by Egyptian security that year and soon became a symbol of defiance against Hosni Mubarak's government. She has earned the monikers "cyber dissident" and "Facebook girl" and was named one of Arabian Business Magazine's 100 most powerful women in 2011.
The peace research institute's website said that Fattah is a good choice because the Nobel committee "has emphasized its wish to be relevant, to speak to dominant themes of the present, and to see the prize giving leverage in unfolding processes. Secondly, Harpviken believes that the prize is likely to be awarded to a female leader or activist who has been an innovator of new tools for bringing about peace."
Another potential winner is Wael Ghonim, the former Google executive who used social media to jump-start social change in Egypt. Ghonim fired off a steady stream of messages on Twitter and Facebook and worked behind the scenes to galvanize thousands to march on the streets to demand change.
Tunisian blogger Lina Ben Mhenni is also on many top lists. Censored in her own country, she criticized the regime long before the uprisings began, dispersing information to the outside world.
"A prize to Mhenni would be a prize to independent reporting, in the form of social media, as well as recognition of the peaceful protests of the Tunisian people at large," the peace institute website said.
Some experts think that Gene Sharp, an American scholar who founded the Albert Einstein Institution in Boston, could be recognized for his work on the principles of non-violence, including "From Dictatorship to Democracy." The downloadable writings in many languages have proved a source of inspiration around the world, including the uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa.
Harpviken also named Memorial, a Russian civil rights group known for its fight for to protect refugees and victims of political persecution and human rights violations in war zones.
Natalya Estemirova, Memorial | [
"Who do they think will win the peace prize?",
"How many nominations did the Nobel committee receive this year?",
"what did many experts say an Arab Spring nominee will win?",
"Who is the founder of WikiLeaks?",
"What is WikiLeaks?",
"Many experts believe which nominee will win the peace prize?",
"Who can submit nominations to the committee?"
] | [
[
"Israa Abdel Fattah,"
],
[
"241"
],
[
"Nobel Peace Prize?"
],
[
"Julian Assange"
],
[
"the website founded by Julian Assange that facilitates the publication of classified information"
],
[
"Israa Abdel Fattah,"
],
[
"Norway's Peace Research Institute Oslo"
]
] | Many experts say an Arab Spring nominee will win the peace prize .
WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange have also been nominated .
The Nobel committee received a record number of nominations this year .
The winner will be announced Friday at 11 a.m. (5 a.m. ET) in Oslo, Norway . |
(CNN) -- Twitter was buzzing Thursday morning with news that several airlines are flying doctors and nurses to Haiti free of charge to help with relief efforts there in the wake of Tuesday's devastating earthquake.
The only problem: The rumors are false, an American Airlines spokesman says.
"Last night's hoax on Twitter about American and JetBlue flying doctors and nurses to Haiti for free was just that -- a hoax. We don't know who is responsible, but it's a very low thing to do," airline spokesman Tim Smith said in e-mails sent Thursday.
Twitter users also circulated a rumor that UPS would ship for free any package under 50 lbs. to Haiti. In a blog post Wednesday on UPS's Web site, a spokeswoman debunked the rumor and said that destruction of Haiti's roads and communications networks "means our own shipping services to Haiti are on hold."
UPS is donating $1 million to help the people of Haiti through relief agencies, she said.
On Wednesday, American and American Eagle sent three planes to Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital, carrying 30,000 pounds of water, food and other nonperishable goods for its more than 100 employees who work at the airport there and for assistance at Port-au-Prince hospitals, the airline said in a news release.
Three more relief flights are planned from Puerto Rico to Haiti on Thursday, and an additional three for Friday, the airline said.
"We've incentivized our 62 million AAdvantage members to give cash to Red Cross and receive bonus miles from us," Smith added. "We cannot fly any passengers to Haiti at this time and our efforts on the humanitarian front are as described above."
A spokeswoman for JetBlue said the airline is flying relief workers from agencies such as the American Red Cross free of charge to Santo Domingo in the neighboring Dominican Republic, but only after they have been vetted by the Haitian Consulate. The consulate then arranges transportation for passengers from Santo Domingo to Port-au-Prince, she said.
"There have been a lot of people mobilizing on Twitter asking for our support. And I think that's where these rumors are coming from," JetBlue spokeswoman Alison Croyle said.
"We're not offering free transportation for just any doctors who walk up and want to fly there."
The American Airlines and JetBlue rumors erupted quickly on Twitter and other social networks, with people retweeting the Haitian Consulate's New York City phone number, which medical professionals could supposedly call for free flights.
Calls overwhelmed the consulate, resulting in repeated busy signals for callers.
But by late Thursday morning, word appeared to be spreading that the rumors were not true.
Posted one user on Twitter about 10:30 a.m. ET: "American Airline and Jet Blue Are NOT Flying doctors and nurses into Haiti for free. Do NOT call them." | [
"where those rumors started?",
"Who's spokesman called the rumor a hoax?",
"What were the rumors claiming?",
"What outlet were the rumors being spread on?"
] | [
[
"Twitter"
],
[
"an American Airlines"
],
[
"nurses to Haiti free of charge to help with relief efforts"
],
[
"Twitter"
]
] | Rumors spread on Twitter on Thursday about airlines flying doctors to Haiti free of charge .
American Airlines spokesman calls the rumors a hoax .
Rumors also spread that JetBlue is offering free flights and UPS is shipping packages for free .
Both airlines say they are working with relief agencies to fly in supplies and personnel . |
(CNN) -- Two American hikers detained in Iran for years will meet State Department officials in Washington on Thursday, less than a month after they arrived back home on American soil.
Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal will meet with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Deputy Secretary William Burns. Sarah Shourd, who was jailed with them but freed last year, will also join them.
The details of the meeting are unclear, but the two men acknowledged State Department officials in their first public statement when they arrived home in the United States last month.
"There were also U.S. government officials who worked for our release, and some of them found creative ways to try and lessen the tension between the U.S. and Iran. Consular officials at the State Department supported our families throughout," Bauer said.
After their release, Clinton issued a statement "welcoming the decision made by Iranian authorities" to free the two men.
"After more than two years, they will finally be reunited with their friends and families. I am grateful for the efforts of all those who have worked for their release," Clinton said.
Fattal, Bauer and Shourd were arrested after straying across the unmarked border between Iraqi Kurdistan and Iran in July 2009.
Shourd, Bauer's fiancee, was released in 2010, but Bauer and Fattal were freed a year later, after 781 days in captivity and a trial for espionage that Bauer said was based on "ridiculous lies." | [
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"Who are to meet with U.S. Secretary of State?",
"What year were the hikers detained",
"Who did meet with U.S.Secretary?",
"When were the hikers released",
"When were the hikers detained in Iran?",
"When were hikers detained?"
] | [
[
"Thursday,"
],
[
"Josh Fattal"
],
[
"2009."
],
[
"Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal"
],
[
"more than two years,"
],
[
"July 2009."
],
[
"July 2009."
]
] | Freed hikers to meet with U.S. Secretary of State on Thursday .
The hikers thanked State Department officials after their release in September .
The hikers were detained in Iran in 2009 . |
(CNN) -- Two Americans and an Israeli were awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday for painstakingly mapping out the thousands of atoms that make up the ribosome -- work that paves the way for new antibiotics. U.S. researcher Thomas Steitz is one of three scientists sharing the 2009 Nobel Prize in chemistry. Inside all animals, plants and bacteria are DNA molecules that contain the blueprint for life. Ribosomes are an organism's protein factories. They use the information in the DNA to make the tens of thousands of proteins that enable the organism to function properly. These proteins include hormones, enzymes and hemoglobin, which transports oxygen. From a medicinal standpoint, the ribosome is important because it is what antibiotics target. In a bacterial strain, antibiotics bind to the ribosomes, preventing them from making the proteins the bacteria need to survive. Americans Venkatraman Ramakrishnan and Thomas Steitz and Israeli Ada Yonath shared the $1.4 million prize for mapping the position of the thousands and thousands of atoms that make up ribosomes. Their three-dimensional models showed how different antibiotics bind to the ribosome. "These models are now used by scientists in order to develop new antibiotics, directly assisting the saving of lives and decreasing humanity's suffering," said the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which awards the prize. Ramakrishnan, a U.S. citizen who was born in India, is a senior scientist and group leader at MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, England, according to the Nobel Prize Web site. Steitz is a professor at Yale University and an investigator at Howard Hughes Medical Institute at Yale, the site said. Yonath is a professor at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, and director of the Helen & Milton A. Kimmelman Center for Biomolecular Structure & Assembly at the Weizmann Institute, the Nobel site said. The Nobel Prizes are being awarded this week and next. The medicine award was handed out on Monday and the one for physics on Tuesday. The prize for literature will be awarded Thursday; the Nobel Peace Prize winner will be named on Friday, and the award in economics will be issued on Monday. | [
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"In what way do antibiotics work?",
"What is ribosomes?",
"Who will share the $1.4 million prize?",
"When did they receive the prize?",
"What are ribosomes?",
"What Two Americans?",
"Where are ribosomes found?"
] | [
[
"Venkatraman Ramakrishnan"
],
[
"bind to the ribosomes, preventing them from making the proteins the bacteria need to survive."
],
[
"organism's protein factories."
],
[
"Americans Venkatraman Ramakrishnan and Thomas Steitz and Israeli Ada Yonath"
],
[
"Wednesday"
],
[
"are an organism's protein factories."
],
[
"Thomas Steitz"
],
[
"Inside all animals, plants and bacteria"
]
] | Two Americans, one Israeli to share $1.4 million prize for work on ribosomes .
Ribosomes in every organism use info from DNA to make proteins needed for life .
Antibiotics work by binding to ribosomes of bacteria so they can't make proteins .
Nobel winners' mapping of ribosomes helps in development of new antibiotics . |
(CNN) -- Two British soldiers and a Spanish soldier were killed in separate incidents in Afghanistan, the British and Spanish Defense Ministries said.
The British soldiers died in roadside bomb explosions Monday, a part of southern Afghanistan that has been the site of fierce fighting between the Taliban and coalition troops, the ministry said in a written statement.
The soldiers were on foot patrol at the time, said Lt. Col. David Wakefield, a spokesman for Task Force Helmand, a predominantly British military command that conducts operations in Helmand province.
They were identified as belonging to the 3rd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment but were not identified by name.
In the other Monday incident, a Spanish military vehicle struck a mine while on a mission to distribute aid, and the explosion killed one soldier and wounded six others, a Spanish Defense Ministry spokesman told CNN.
Killed was a Colombian national, Jon Felipe Romero Meneses, in his early twenties, serving with Spain's armed forces.
The identities and conditions of the wounded soldiers were not immediately available, said the spokeswoman, who by custom is not identified.
The blast happened in Qala-i-Naw province in Afghanistan, where the Spanish troops were escorting a U.N. World Food Programme convoy to distribute aid.
Spain has more than 800 troops in Afghanistan serving in the NATO-led mission, and the government has recently committed to send several hundred more, partly in response to the Obama administration's request for more troops from allied nations.
Spain has had troops in Afghanistan since 2002, and more than 22 Spanish soldiers have died there, including two in November 2008 when a suicide bomber rammed their convoy, and 17 in a helicopter crash in August 2005.
CNN's Al Goodman contributed to this report | [
"Where did the bomb explode?",
"Where did the soldiers die in the roadside bomb explosions?",
"Which Battalion did the soldiers belong to?",
"Who dies in the bombing?",
"How many troops does Spain have in Afghanistan?"
] | [
[
"Afghanistan,"
],
[
"Afghanistan,"
],
[
"3rd"
],
[
"Two"
],
[
"800"
]
] | Britain: Soldiers die in roadside bomb explosions while on foot patrol in Helmand province .
Soldiers belong to 3rd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment .
One Spanish soldier killed, six others wounded in separate attack .
Spain has more than 800 troops in Afghanistan as part of NATO-led mission . |
(CNN) -- Two Florida school administrators face contempt charges and possible prison time for saying a prayer at a school luncheon. Pace High School enacted a decree in January banning officials from promoting religion at school events. Frank Lay, principal of Pace High School, and Athletic Director Robert Freeman are accused of violating a consent decree banning employees of Santa Rosa County schools from endorsing religion. They face a non-jury trial September 17 before U.S. District Judge Casey Rodgers. The statute under which they are charged carries a maximum penalty of up to six months in prison, subject to sentencing guidelines. Attorneys defending Lay and Freeman call it outrageous that the two are being prosecuted for "a simple prayer." But the American Civil Liberties Union, whose lawsuit led to the consent decree, maintains that students have a right to be free from administrators foisting their religious beliefs on them. Still, an ACLU representative said the organization never suggested that people should go to jail for violating the decree. Watch why lawyer thinks men did nothing wrong » The ACLU filed suit last year against the district on behalf of two Pace students who alleged that "school officials regularly promoted religion and led prayers at school events," according to an ACLU statement. Both parties approved the consent decree put in place January 9, under which district and school officials are "permanently prohibited from promoting, advancing, endorsing, participating in or causing prayers during or in conjunction with school events," the ACLU said. Lay was a party in the initial lawsuit, and his attorney was among those approving the consent decree, according to the organization. In addition, the court required that all district employees receive a copy. On January 28, "Lay asked Freeman to offer a prayer of blessing during a school-day luncheon for the dedication of a new fieldhouse at Pace High School," according to court documents. "Freeman complied with the request and offered the prayer at the event. It appears this was a school-sponsored event attended by students, faculty and community members." Attorneys from Liberty Counsel, a conservative legal group helping defend Lay and Freeman, said in a written statement that attendees included booster club members and other adults who helped the field house project, all "consenting adults." In a February 4 letter to district Superintendent Tim Wyrosdick in which Lay acknowledged the incident, he said that although past football booster club members "and other adults associated with the school system" were at the luncheon, culinary class students were in charge of food preparation and serving. Lay wrote that he asked Freeman to bless the food "for the adults. ... I take full responsibility for this action. My actions were overt and not meant to circumvent any court order or constitutional mandate." In response, Wyrosdick noted in a letter to Lay that in a meeting, the principal had admitted that "you are, and were at the date of this incident, aware of the court injunction and aware that this type of action is not permissible under the injunction." Wyrosdick recounted telling Lay that the prayer was not appropriate. "This note is to share with you written instructions to avoid this type of action," the superintendent said. Both letters are in the public court file. "It is a sad day in America when school officials are criminally prosecuted for a prayer over a meal," said Mathew Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel and dean of the law school at Liberty University, founded by the late Rev. Jerry Falwell. "It is outrageous and an offense to the First Amendment to punish a school official for a simple prayer." Liberty Counsel said it is challenging the consent decree, maintaining that it "unconstitutionally infringes on the rights of teachers, administrators and students." The ACLU, according to the Liberty Counsel statement, has begun "to go against individual employees." The organization said that neither man "willfully violated any orders of the court." "We're not going after individuals," said Glenn Katon, director of the Religious Freedom Project for the ACLU of Florida | [
"How long could the principal be jailed for?",
"For what reason are officials being prosecuted?",
"who could be jailed for six months",
"How long could the principal and athletic director be jailed for?",
"what is causing official to be prosecuted",
"Which group says it supports prayer ban?",
"What are officials supposedly being prosecuted for?"
] | [
[
"up to six months"
],
[
"saying"
],
[
"Florida school administrators"
],
[
"six months"
],
[
"a prayer at a school luncheon."
],
[
"American Civil Liberties Union,"
],
[
"simple prayer.\""
]
] | Attorneys: It's troubling that officials are being prosecuted for "simple prayer"
School's principal, athletic director could be jailed for six months .
ACLU says it supports prayer ban but never suggested officials should be jailed .
Principal acknowledges requesting prayer but didn't mean to circumvent court order . |
(CNN) -- Two Italians, a Dane, a German, a Frenchman and a Brit walk into a space station... or will, in 2013, if all goes according to European Space Agency plans. Europe's six new astronauts hope to join their American counterparts on the Internation Space Station. The six new astronauts named Wednesday were chosen from more than 8,400 candidates, and are the first new ESA astronauts since 1992, the space agency said in a statement. They include two military test pilots, one fighter pilot and one commercial pilot, plus an engineer and a physicist. "This is a very important day for human spaceflight in Europe," said Simonetta Di Pippo, Director of Human Spaceflight at ESA. "These young men and women are the next generation of European space explorers. They have a fantastic career ahead, which will put them right on top of one of the ultimate challenges of our time: going back to the Moon and beyond as part of the global exploration effort." Humans have not walked on the moon since 1972, just over three years after the first manned mission to Earth's nearest neighbor. The six will begin space training in Germany, with an eye to being ready for future missions to the International Space Station and beyond in four years. They are: Samantha Cristoforetti of Italy, a fighter pilot with degrees in engineering and aeronautical sciences; Alexander Gerst, a German researcher with degrees in physics and earth science; Andreas Mogensen, a Danish engineer with the private space firm HE Space Operations; Luca Parmitano of Italy, an Air Force pilot with a degree in aeronautical sciences; Timothy Peake, an English test pilot with the British military; and Frenchman Thomas Pesquet, an Air France pilot who previously worked as an engineer at the French space agency. | [
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"Who make the astronaut list?",
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"How many new astonauts were named?",
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"what Six new astronauts named Wednesday chosen?"
] | [
[
"four years."
],
[
"two military test pilots, one fighter pilot and one commercial pilot, plus an engineer and a physicist."
],
[
"8,400"
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[
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[
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[
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[
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[
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[
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[
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[
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[
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[
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[
"Italians, a Dane, a German, a Frenchman and a Brit"
],
[
"six"
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[
"Italians, a Dane, a German, a Frenchman and a Brit"
]
] | 2 Italians, a Dane, a German, a Frenchman and Briton make astronaut list .
Six new astronauts named Wednesday chosen from 8,400 candidates .
Group will undergo four years of training in Germany . |
(CNN) -- Two Pennsylvania teens will serve time in a county jail for participating in a brawl that left a Mexican immigrant dead last July. Brandon Piekarsky and Derrick Donchak's joint trial began in late April in Schuykill County, Pennsylvania. Brandon Piekarsky, 17, was sentenced to 6 to 23 months, and Derrick Donchak, 19, received 7 to 23 months for their roles in the beating death of 25-year-old Luis Ramirez. Judge William Baldwin ordered the two to report to Schuylkill County jail on July 19 to begin serving their sentences. An all-white jury convicted the two former high school football players of misdemeanor simple assault at trial last month and acquitted them of felony counts, including aggravated assault, ethnic intimidation and hindering apprehension -- charges that carried lengthier sentences. In fashioning his sentence, Baldwin acknowledged the severity of the attack, which left Ramirez on life support for two days before he died, but said he could pass a sentence only in accordance with the jury's verdict. "This wasn't any fight, this was a group of young athletes ganging up on one person. That's not a street fight," Baldwin said, referring to the defense team's characterization of the confrontation as a "street fight." "You picked out a guy who wasn't one of you and beat the pulp out of him," Baldwin said. The incident divided the small, rural mining town of Shenandoah into camps for and against the boys as it became a flashpoint for racial tensions across the country. After the verdict, Gov. Ed Rendell sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder recommending that the Department of Justice pursue civil rights charges. "The evidence suggests that Mr. Ramirez was targeted, beaten and killed because he was Mexican," Rendell said. "Such lawlessness and violence hurts not only the victim of the attack but also our towns and communities that are torn apart by such bigotry and intolerance." During Wednesday's sentencing, Baldwin said he was surprised that Rendell had chosen to speak out on the case and told the court that his sentence was not affected by the governor's letter. Fred Fanelli, Piekarsky's lawyer, said he felt the sentence was harsh, given the circumstances. The judge could have sentenced the teens to probation under Pennsylvania's sentencing guidelines. "I'm disappointed that the court exceeded the aggravated range and sentenced him to six months. Having said that, I'm glad we finally have some finality with this case," Fanelli told CNN affiliate WBRE after the sentencing. Baldwin heard from several teachers, coaches and family friends who testified that the teens were good kids who fell into a bad situation. They urged leniency so the teens could realize their potential as adults. Ramirez's longtime girlfriend and mother of two of his children read a statement in open court before an audience consisting mostly of the defendants' supporters. "He was my one and only love, and they took him away from me, and they took my children's father," Crystal Dillman said. "Now I have to live without my best friend and love of my life." The court also heard a prepared statement from Ramirez's mother, Elisa Zavala, who lives in Guanajuato, Mexico. "I'm not the same person as before, now I feel a great emptiness within my heart," she wrote. "There are moments in which I'm alone and I ask myself: What do I do now that I don't have my son? I feel that without him, I am no one." The judge also tacked on extra days to each boy's sentence for consuming alcohol earlier in the evening. For providing the alcohol to his friends before the fight, Donchak was also convicted of corrupting minors. Jurors found Piekarsky not guilty of third-degree murder. Prosecutors had said he delivered a fatal kick to Ramirez's head after Ramirez was knocked to the ground in the alcohol-fueled brawl, which occurred on a residential street in Shenandoah the evening of July 12. Prosecutors alleged that a group | [
"How long was Donchak sentenced?",
"What kind of attack was it?",
"What did the defence lawyer say?",
"What what Donchak sentenced for?",
"Who was sentenced 7 to 23 months?",
"Who was murdered?"
] | [
[
"7 to 23 months"
],
[
"group of young athletes ganging up on one person."
],
[
"\"The evidence suggests that Mr. Ramirez was targeted, beaten and killed because he was Mexican,\""
],
[
"their roles in the beating death of 25-year-old Luis Ramirez."
],
[
"Derrick Donchak,"
],
[
"Luis Ramirez."
]
] | NEW: Victim's girlfriend, mother speak out; groups condemn verdict, sentences .
Derrick Donchak, 19, sentenced to 7 to 23 months for role in death of Luis Ramirez .
Brandon Piekarsky, 17, gets 6 to 23 months for simple assault .
Defense lawyers said assault was street brawl gone bad; no racial bias . |
(CNN) -- Two Russian bombers have landed at a Venezuelan airfield where they will carry out training flights for several days, the Russian defense ministry said Wednesday. Russia's Tupolev TU-160, pictured here in 2003, is a long-range strategic bomber. The Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bombers landed at Venezuela's Libertador military airfield and "will spend several days carrying out training flights over neutral waters, after which they will return to the base," the ministry added. NATO fighters followed the bombers on their 13-hour flight over the Arctic Ocean and the Atlantic, the defense ministry said. It said the Russian flights were carried out in strict accordance with international rules governing airspace above neutral waters, and that the aircraft did not violate the borders of other states. Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said such joint exercises between nations are not unusual. "We exercise all around the globe and have joint exercises with countries all over the world. So do many other nations." The U.S. will monitor the Russian-Venezuelan training, said Pentagon officials who asked not to be identified as they are not authorized to speak on the information. On Monday, Russia announced it might hold joint naval maneuvers with Venezuela in the Caribbean. The declaration came amid increased tension between Russia and the United States over Russia's invasion last month of the former Soviet republic of Georgia, a U.S. ally that aspires to join NATO. On Monday Russia denied any link between that announcement and the conflict in Georgia, although Russia has criticized U.S. support for Georgia. Russia has also objected to the missile defense system agreement, signed between the United States and Poland and the Czech Republic in August, that places a ground-based ballistic defense facility in the two eastern European nations. Russia has said the deal threatens its security, while the United States has said that the system is to guard against rogue states such as Iran. Earlier this month, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, whose comments have frequently antagonized Washington, said it would welcome the Russian air force, according to Russian news agency Novosti. "If Russian long-range bombers should need to land in Venezuela, we would not object to that either. We will also welcome them," Chavez said on September 1, according to Novosti. CNN's Mike Mount contributed to this story | [
"who followed the bombers",
"what did spokeman say",
"what does news agency say",
"What would Venezuelan president welcome?",
"who bombed the country"
] | [
[
"NATO fighters"
],
[
"\"We exercise all around the globe and have joint exercises with countries all over"
],
[
"Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, whose comments have frequently antagonized Washington, said it would welcome the Russian air force,"
],
[
"Russian air force,"
],
[
"Russian bombers"
]
] | Moscow: Russian bombers using Venezuela airfield to train over neutral waters .
Russian defense ministry spokesman: NATO fighters followed bombers .
News agency: Venezuelan president says he'd welcome Russian air force .
Move comes amid growing tension between Washington and Moscow . |
(CNN) -- Two Russian bombers have landed at a Venezuelan airfield, from which they will carry out training flights for several days, the Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday. Russia's Tupolev TU-160, pictured here in 2003, is a long-range strategic bomber. The Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bombers landed at Venezuela's Libertador military airfield and "will spend several days carrying out training flights over neutral waters, after which they will return to the base," Interfax reported, citing the Russian Defense Ministry. Col. Alexander Drobyshevsky, a ministry spokesman, told Interfax that NATO fighters followed the bombers on their 13-hour flight over the Arctic Ocean and the Atlantic. "All flights by air force aircraft have been and are marked by strict conformity to the international rules on the use of air space over neutral waters," Drobyshevsky told Interfax. The U.S. will monitor the Russian training, said Pentagon officials who asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to speak on the information. On Monday, Russia announced it might hold joint naval maneuvers with Venezuela in the Caribbean. The declaration came in the wake of increased tension between Russia and the United States over Russia's invasion last month of the former Soviet republic of Georgia, a U.S. ally that aspires to join NATO. Russia on Monday denied any link between that announcement and the conflict in Georgia, although Russia has criticized U.S. support for Georgia, and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has long antagonized Washington. Earlier this month, Chavez said Venezuela would welcome the Russian air force, according to Russian news agency Novosti. "If Russian long-range bombers should need to land in Venezuela, we would not object to that either. We will also welcome them," Chavez said on September 1, according to Novosti. CNN's Mike Mount contributed to this story | [
"Who followed the bombers?",
"What did Interfax report?",
"Who did the Venezuelan president say he'd welcome?",
"Who is the president of Venezuela?",
"Who would welcome the Russian air force?",
"Who will use airfield for training?",
"Who did NATO fighters follow?"
] | [
[
"NATO fighters"
],
[
"The Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bombers landed at Venezuela's Libertador military airfield and \"will spend several days carrying out training flights over neutral waters, after which they will return to the base,\""
],
[
"Russian air force,"
],
[
"Hugo Chavez"
],
[
"Venezuela"
],
[
"Russian bombers"
],
[
"the bombers"
]
] | Russian bombers will use airfield for training over neutral waters, Interfax reports .
Russian Defense Ministry spokesman: NATO fighters followed bombers .
Venezuelan president had said he'd welcome Russian air force, Novosti reports . |
(CNN) -- Two Swedish journalists who were found guilty in Ethiopia of supporting terrorism were sentenced to 11 years in jail Tuesday, the Swedish Foreign Ministry said.
"Our belief was that the court would think they were journalists and they would be released. This is what the prime minister has said before," ministry spokesman Anders Jörle said. "It is not fair that they are sentenced since they are journalists on a journalistic mission."
"They are innocent and have been convicted because of their journalistic work," said Tomas Olsson, the journalists' Swedish attorney. "We are very disappointed."
A court convicted Johan Persson and Martin Schibbye last week.
Ethiopian troops captured Persson and Schibbye in July during an exchange of gunfire with a rebel group in the Ogaden, a prohibited region along the nation's border with Somalia, according to state media.
Ethiopian officials accused the journalists of being accomplices to terrorism after the government declared the Ogaden National Liberation Front a terrorist group in June.
Olsson said the 11-year sentence was the lowest possible one for the crimes they were convicted of.
"The prosecutor sought 18 years imprisonment, so if you look at it that way, it is a positive thing that they got the lowest possible sentence," Olsson said. "But since they are innocent, they are very disappointed."
Schibbye and Persson have until January 10 to decide if they want to appeal -- a process that could take up to two years -- or if they want to seek a pardon.
However, Olsson said, if they want to apply for a pardon the two have to admit the crimes, "and since they are not guilty then this is not something they'd want to do."
Fredric Alm at the Sweden-based photojournalism agency Kontinent, for which the two men work, said they "have a very hard decision ahead of them" in considering whether to appeal or ask for a pardon, but that an 11-year sentence in an Ethiopian prison "could effectively be a death sentence for them."
Alm added: "The purpose of this verdict is to scare away all journalists from reporting in the Ogaden. But as journalists we have to continue reporting from closed areas. It's a very sad day for press freedom. It's a very sad day but it didn't come as a surprise for us. It's still a political verdict; it's not a real trial. It is the (Ethiopian) prime minister who has decided."
Persson and Schibbye were convicted on two counts: entering the country illegally and providing assistance to a terrorist organization, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
Press freedom groups say the two were embedded with the rebels while working on a story about the region.
Journalists and aid workers are prohibited from entering the Ogaden, where human rights organizations say human rights abuses against ethnic Somalis by rebels and Ethiopian troops are rampant.
"The Ethiopian army's answer to the rebels has been to viciously attack civilians in the Ogaden," said Georgette Ganon of Human Rights Watch. "These widespread and systematic atrocities amount to crimes against humanity."
Reporters Without Borders criticized the court's decision.
"What are the Ethiopian authorities hoping to achieve?" the international secretariat of the group asked. "To discourage anyone from visiting the Ogaden, as these two journalists did? To send a warning signal to the national and international media about the danger of receiving a long jail sentence on a terrorism charge if they attempt any potentially embarrassing investigative reporting?"
"Our starting point is and remains that they have been in the country on a journalistic mission," Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said in a statement last week. "They should be freed as soon as possible and be able to rejoin their families in Sweden."
But presiding judge Shemsu Sirgaga said the two "have not been able to prove that they did not support terrorism."
"They have shown that they are esteemed journalists, but we cannot conclude that someone with a good reputation does not engage in criminal acts, | [
"What human rights groups say Ethiopia failed to provde justice",
"who is very disappointed by the verdict?",
"Who says the two failed to prove their innocence?",
"What prison term could be a death sentence",
"what do human rights groups say?",
"Who says they are \"very disappointed\" by the verdict?"
] | [
[
"Reporters Without Borders"
],
[
"Tomas Olsson,"
],
[
"judge Shemsu Sirgaga"
],
[
"11-year"
],
[
"abuses against ethnic Somalis by rebels and Ethiopian troops are rampant."
],
[
"Tomas Olsson, the journalists' Swedish attorney."
]
] | NEW: A long prison term in Ethiopia could be a death sentence, the journalists' agency says .
The journalists' attorney says they are "very disappointed" by the verdict .
The judge says the two failed to prove their innocence .
Human rights groups say Ethiopia failed to provide justice . |
(CNN) -- Two U.S. Marines died Monday during a "hostile incident" in southern Afghanistan, the U.S. military said Tuesday. U.S. Marines walk through a field on patrol on July 13, 2009, in Mian Poshteh, Afghanistan . No further details were immediately available in their deaths. "We deeply mourn the loss of these determined service members, who died in combat defending our freedom and the just cause of Afghans," said Brig. Gen. Eric Tremblay, spokesman for NATO's International Security Assistance Force. "This is a moment of great sorrow for these members' families and friends, and I extend my deepest condolences to them during this difficult time." The deaths come as almost 4,000 Marines and sailors, along with several hundred Afghan security forces, are working to clear Taliban militants from population centers in the Helmand river valley, in the south of the country. British forces launched a similar offensive in the province in late June. The push, called Operation Khanjar, is targeting militants in Helmand province, a Taliban stronghold and poppy-growing region. The forces are trying to gain and hold ground in the perilous region ahead of national elections this August. | [
"who died in southern Afghanistan?",
"When are the national elections?",
"How many Marines work there?",
"Have British forces ever launched a similar offensive?",
"How many U.S. Marines were killed?",
"How many U.S. Marines were killed in southern Afghanistan?"
] | [
[
"Two"
],
[
"August."
],
[
"4,000"
],
[
"in the province in late June."
],
[
"Two"
],
[
"Two"
]
] | Two U.S. Marines killed during a "hostile incident" in southern Afghanistan .
4,000 Marines, sailors working to clear Taliban militants from Helmand river valley .
British forces launched a similar offensive in the province in late June .
Forces are trying to gain ground in the region ahead of national elections in August . |
(CNN) -- Two U.S. lawmakers have urged U.S. Army Secretary Peter Geren to recognize 350 American soldiers held as slaves by Nazi Germany during World War II, saying "these heroes have not received the recognition and honor they deserve." Bernard "Jack" Vogel died in a Nazi slave camp in the arms of a fellow U.S. soldier, Anthony Acevedo, in 1945. "As Anthony Acevedo, one of the soldiers chosen, recently described to CNN, the Nazis picked those soldiers who looked Jewish, had a Jewish name or were considered 'undesirable,' " Reps. Joe Baca, D-California, and Spencer Bachus, R-Alabama, said in a letter sent to Geren last week. "The trials and sacrifices made by those detained have largely gone unrecognized even to this day. As proud Americans, we wish to recognize and honor them for their service." Both congressmen have pushed for a congressional resolution to honor the 350 soldiers held at Berga an der Elster, a subcamp of Buchenwald where dozens of American soldiers were beaten, starved and killed. Baca and Bachus say they will continue to fight for the resolution. Listen as Acevedo tells brother of victim: "I had him in my arms" » Army spokesman Paul Boyce told CNN that the Army is in the process of responding to the congressional letter. "The U.S. Army has recognized hundreds of thousands of veterans of World War II and has expressed interest in this group's history to see what could be done," he said. Anthony Acevedo was a 20-year-old medic when he was sent to Berga with the other soldiers in February 1945. Acevedo kept a diary that details the day-to-day events inside the camp and lists the names and prisoner numbers of men as they died or were executed. Open up the pages of Acevedo's diary » The soldiers were put on a forced death march in April 1945 as American troops neared. For much of that march, Acevedo pushed a wooden cart with emaciated men inside. Many of them died. "More of our men died, so fast that you couldn't keep track of their numbers," Acevedo wrote on April 19, 1945, four days before he was liberated by advancing U.S. troops. Asked what it would mean if the U.S. Army officially recognized the soldiers of Berga six decades later, Acevedo, now 84, wept. "This is for all the fellas," he said. Norman Fellman, another Berga survivor, was one of the men on the wooden cart pushed by Acevedo so many years ago. He said that wounded men and corpses were stacked on top of him -- and that he believed he could survive just one more day when he was liberated on April 23, 1945. "There's a certain amount of pain involved when the country you serve fails to acknowledge the conditions under which you were kept," Fellman told CNN. There are only 12 known Berga survivors still living. It is difficult to ascertain exactly how many of the 350 U.S. soldiers died in captivity and on the subsequent death march. CNN has cross-checked a list of the names of 70 dead soldiers provided to the U.S. War Department after the war with the names of the dead listed in Acevedo's diary. Watch as a soldier's diary sheds light on atrocities » It appears the death toll was well over 100, roughly one in three soldiers. Acevedo says that more than 300 U.S. soldiers were alive at the start of the march, and that about 165 were left by the end. He says he was unable to keep track of the dead in the final days because soldiers were dying too fast. "At Berga, captured soldiers were forced to endure inhumane conditions and suffer from the Nazi policy of physical destruction through labor," Baca and Bachus said in their letter to Geren. "Over 100 American soldiers either died at Berga or on the death march from the camp -- the highest number of American fatalities at any German camp." The two Berga commanders -- Erwin Metz and his superior, Hauptmann Ludwig | [
"Who were held as slaves during World War II?",
"How many soldiers were held as slaves?",
"what did CNN report on?"
] | [
[
"350 American soldiers"
],
[
"350"
],
[
"lawmakers have urged U.S. Army Secretary Peter Geren to recognize 350 American soldiers"
]
] | 350 U.S. soldiers were held as slaves at camp in Germany during World War II .
CNN recently reported on the captivity of one soldier held at Berga an der Elster .
Congressmen urge Army secretary to honor the "sacrifices made by those detained"
"As proud Americans, we wish to recognize and honor them for their service" |
(CNN) -- Two U.S. spacecraft are set to crash on the moon Friday. On purpose. And we're all invited to watch. An artist's rendering shows the LCROSS spacecraft, left, separating from its Centaur rocket. NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite is scheduled to drop its Centaur upper-stage rocket on the lunar surface at 7:31 a.m. ET. NASA hopes the impact will kick up enough dust to help the LCROSS probe find the presence of water in the moon's soil. Four minutes later, the LCROSS will follow through the debris plume, collecting and relaying data back to Earth before crashing into the Cabeus crater near the moon's south pole. The LCROSS is carrying spectrometers, near-infrared cameras, a visible camera and a visible radiometer. These instruments will help NASA scientists analyze the plume of dust -- more than 250 metric tons' worth -- for water vapor. The orbiting Hubble Space Telescope and NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter will watch, and photograph, the collisions. And hundreds of telescopes on Earth also will be focused on the two plumes. Watch animation of how the moon will be "bombed" » NASA is encouraging amateur astronomers to join the watch party. "We expect the debris plumes to be visible through midsized backyard telescopes -- 10 inches and larger," said Brian Day at NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, California. Day is an amateur astronomer who is leading education and public outreach for the LCROSS mission. Ames will host "Impact Night," an event with music and food starting Thursday evening before a live transmission of the lunar impact will be shown around 4:30 a.m. PT Friday. Other science observatories and amateur astronomy clubs across the country will be hosting similar events. iReport: Are you planning to watch? "The initial explosions will probably be hidden behind crater walls, but the plumes will rise high enough above the crater's rim to be seen from Earth," Day said. The Cabeus crater lies in permanent shadow, making observations inside the crater difficult. Watch CNN's Jeanne Moos ask if lunacy is behind the moon "bombing" » The impacts will not be visible to the naked eye or through binoculars. If you don't have a telescope, or you live in areas where daylight will obscure the viewing, NASA TV will broadcast the crashes live. Coverage begins at 6:15 a.m. ET Friday. The two main components of the LCROSS mission are the shepherding spacecraft and the Centaur upper stage rocket. The spacecraft will guide the rocket to its crash site. Data from previous space missions have revealed trace amounts of water in lunar soil. The LCROSS mission seeks a definitive answer to the question of how much water is present. NASA has said it believes water on the moon could be a valuable resource in the agency's quest to explore the solar system. LCROSS launched with the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter aboard an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on June 18. Friday's lunar impact will be visible best in areas that are still dark, particularly in the Western United States. The Fremont Peak Observatory near Monterey, California, will open up its doors early Friday to allow people to watch the event through its 30-inch telescope. It's "the most accessible public telescope in the [San Francisco] Bay Area," said Dave Samuels, the observatory's vice president. So far, at least 50 people have signed up, Samuels said, noting that number is "really phenomenal, especially on a school night [and] work night. It's really incredible." Students, retirees and board members are among those scheduled to attend. Samuels said a special low-light, infrared video camera will be hooked up to the telescope so that the audience can watch the rocket strike the moon. The observatory is in Fremont Peak State Park, which is on a list of California parks that could close because of recent budget cuts. Samuels said he hopes Friday's event triggers more interest in astronomy, particularly among young children, and possibly help the park to stay open. " | [
"on what day and time the NASA spacecraft is set to drop a rocketon the moon?",
"What will crash onto the moon?",
"Who is set to drop a rocket on the moon Friday?",
"What will be visible through midsize backyard telescopes?",
"When will the rocket be dropped on the moon?",
"What will be visible through backyard telescopes?",
"what will the LCROSS do?",
"What will crash onto the lunar surface?"
] | [
[
"Friday."
],
[
"Two"
],
[
"U.S. spacecraft"
],
[
"debris plumes"
],
[
"7:31 a.m."
],
[
"debris plumes"
],
[
"follow through the debris plume, collecting and relaying data back to Earth before crashing into the Cabeus crater near the moon's south pole."
],
[
"U.S. spacecraft"
]
] | A NASA spacecraft is set to drop a rocket on the moon at 7:31 a.m. ET Friday .
Four minutes later, the LCROSS probe will follow and crash onto the lunar surface .
The LCROSS probe will relay data back to Earth about water vapor in moon dust .
The debris plumes will be visible through midsize backyard telescopes . |
(CNN) -- Two airmen were found dead in the Pacific Ocean and rescuers were trying to find four others after a U.S. Air Force B-52 crashed off the island of Guam on Monday, the Air Force said.
The B-52H Stratofortress, like this one, was in Guam as part of a four-month rotation.
Rescuers found the bodies about 30 miles northwest of Guam, not far from where the bomber was believed to have crashed at about 9:45 a.m. local time, the Air Force said.
One of the dead airmen was identified, but the identity was withheld pending family notification, the Air Force said.
Search crews have found no survivors, but they are still looking, said Lt. Elizabeth Buendia, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Coast Guard in Guam, which is a U.S. territory.
The B-52H Stratofortress had six airmen aboard and was on a training mission when it crashed, the Air Force said. It was scheduled to fly over crowds celebrating Liberation Day, which commemorates the U.S. capture of Guam from Japan in 1944, the Air Force said.
The bomber was based at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana but was at Guam's Andersen Air Force Base as part of a four-month rotation, said Capt. Joel Stark, an Andersen Air Force Base spokesman.
No weapons or munitions were aboard the aircraft and information on what led to the crash wasn't available, the Air Force said.
In February, a B-2 stealth bomber crashed shortly after takeoff from Andersen Air Force Base. Two crew members ejected and were in good condition afterward. | [
"Where was the B-52H based?",
"Where is the Barksdale Air Force Base?",
"Number of miles the point was from Guam?",
"Where did the B-52 crash?",
"Where were the bodies of two airmen found?",
"What branch of the US military is being discussed?",
"What is the full name of the B-52H plane?",
"Where was the Stratofortress based at?",
"The bodies of how many airmen were found?",
"How many airmen are being sought?",
"Where did the Air Force B-52 with six airman crash?"
] | [
[
"The bomber was based at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana but was at Guam's Andersen Air Force Base as part of a four-month rotation,"
],
[
"Louisiana"
],
[
"30"
],
[
"off the island of Guam"
],
[
"Pacific Ocean"
],
[
"Air Force"
],
[
"Stratofortress,"
],
[
"Guam"
],
[
"Two"
],
[
"four"
],
[
"off the island of Guam"
]
] | NEW: Bodies of two airmen found in Pacific Ocean; four other airmen sought .
A U.S. Air Force B-52 with six airmen crashed off the island of Guam .
Rescuers search a point in the Pacific about 30 miles northwest of Guam .
The B-52H Stratofortress was based at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana . |
(CNN) -- Two anti-whaling activists who were seized by a Japanese whaling vessel two days ago have been handed over to Australian government officials on a ship in the Antarctic, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Thursday. Australian citizen Benjamin Potts and British citizen Giles Lane, both members of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, jumped on board the Yushin Maru No. 2 Tuesday to deliver a letter saying the vessel was violating international law and Australian law by killing whales. The anti-whaling group accused the crew of the Japanese vessel of kidnapping the men based on a video that showed Potts and Lane tied to the ship's railing. In the video, Japanese fishermen pace back and forth in front of them. Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith Wednesday did not answer questions about whether the men would be charged for their actions, stressing instead that the immediate priority was to retrieve them. "I'm not going to give a running commentary on who's done what to whom and the various allegations and counter allegation," he said. Smith said the Japanese government -- which formally approached Australia to assist in the transfer -- did not lay out any conditions for the transfer, in which the men were brought on board the Australian ship, the Oceanic Viking. Watch the anti-whaling activists board the Japanese vessel » Capt. Paul Watson, founder of Sea Shepherd, had said earlier that the men were seized by the Japanese crew and assaulted. Watch Watson describe the incident » Sea Shepherd claims Japan's Institute for Cetacean Research, which is backing the operations, had said it would release the two activists if Sea Shepherd agrees to stop interfering in its whaling operations. The group says it will not agree to that demand. The Japanese Fisheries Agency said Thursday it would readily hand over the two men. But the agency charged that the Sea Shepherd members were the terrorists. At a news conference earlier, the agency released pictures of broken bottles they claim group members threw at the ship. They also released a photo of the two activists relaxing and drinking tea aboard the Yushin Maru. "For some time, for 10, 15 minutes, I understand, they were tied to a GPS mast," Tomohiko Taniguchi of Japan's Foreign Ministry told CNN. "The Japanese crew members feared that two crew members from Sea Shepherd might do something violent." He said Potts and Lane boarded the vessel without permission. Watson said the two boarded only after attempts to contact the ship by radio were unsuccessful. Japan has been hunting whales in the Antarctic and apparently plans to kill as many as 1,000 this winter. The killings are allowed under international law because their main purpose is scientific. "We regard them as poachers," Watson said. E-mail to a friend CNN Correspondent Kyung Lah contributed to this report. | [
"Who says that 2 of its members were kidnapped by the ship's crew?",
"What reason did activists board the whaler for?",
"Who was handed over to Australian officials?",
"Who says ship's crew kidnapped 2 of its members?",
"Who is Japan contacting?",
"What whaling vessel was it?",
"Who contacted Australia to help secure release?",
"Who is contacting Australia to secure the activists' release?",
"To which government were the anti-whaling activists handed over?",
"Who was handed over?",
"Who got kidnapped?",
"Which government captured them?"
] | [
[
"Sea Shepherd Conservation Society,"
],
[
"to deliver a letter saying the vessel was violating international law and Australian law by killing whales."
],
[
"Two"
],
[
"anti-whaling group"
],
[
"Australia"
],
[
"Yushin Maru No. 2"
],
[
"the Japanese government"
],
[
"Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith"
],
[
"Australian"
],
[
"Two"
],
[
"Two"
],
[
"Japanese"
]
] | Two anti-whaling activists handed over to Australian government officials .
Japan contacting Australia to help secure release of activists, reports say .
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society says ship's crew kidnapped 2 of its members .
The activists boarded the Japanese whaling vessel to deliver a letter . |
(CNN) -- Two children and one adult were killed Friday after a man with a painted face launched a knife attack at a children's daycare center in Belgium.
Police look at a hearse parked in front of the childcare centre in Dendermonde where the attack took place.
Officials said two adults and 10 children, some of whom were in a critical condition, were being treated in hospital following the attack in Dendermonde, 25 kilometers (16 miles) northwest of Brussels.
"The guy just went crazy," local official Theo Janssens said, according to Agence France-Presse news agency.
He was arrested an hour and a half afterwards, according to the Interior Ministry. Reports said he was trying to make his escape on a bicycle.
The attacker entered the day care center in Dendermonde, about 16 miles northwest of Brussels, around 10 a.m. (4 a.m. ET) and began stabbing children and staff, the ministry said.
Local journalist Bart Bekaert told CNN that the attacker's face was painted black and white. Hear Bekaert describe the attack »
"Witnesses say he looked calm. There was no security and he just walked straight in," he added.
AFP reported that the man was not known to staff at the nursery.
"You don't expect such acts happening in a daycare center," Dendermonde deputy prosecutor Jan Kerkhofs told CNN. "It is not like a prison so there are no bars on the doors or security systems." | [
"In what town were the attacks?",
"Which Interior Ministry spoke?",
"What happened in Dendermonde?",
"Which town was the attack in?",
"Who was attacked at the creche?",
"Who told CNN about the attacker?"
] | [
[
"Dendermonde"
],
[
"Theo Janssens"
],
[
"children and one adult were killed"
],
[
"Dendermonde"
],
[
"children and staff,"
],
[
"Local journalist Bart Bekaert"
]
] | 2 children, 1 adult killed in knife attack at creche, Belgian Interior Ministry says .
Three others reported seriously injured in attack in town of Dendermonde .
Attacker "had painted face," local journalist tells CNN . |
(CNN) -- Two children and one adult were killed Friday after a man with a painted face launched a knife attack at a children's daycare center in Belgium. Police look at a hearse parked in front of the childcare centre in Dendermonde where the attack took place. Officials said two adults and 10 children, some of whom were in a critical condition, were being treated in hospital following the attack in Dendermonde, 25 kilometers (16 miles) northwest of Brussels. "The guy just went crazy," local official Theo Janssens said, according to Agence France-Presse news agency. He was arrested an hour and a half afterwards, according to the Interior Ministry. Reports said he was trying to make his escape on a bicycle. The attacker entered the day care center in Dendermonde, about 16 miles northwest of Brussels, around 10 a.m. (4 a.m. ET) and began stabbing children and staff, the ministry said. Local journalist Bart Bekaert told CNN that the attacker's face was painted black and white. Hear Bekaert describe the attack » "Witnesses say he looked calm. There was no security and he just walked straight in," he added. AFP reported that the man was not known to staff at the nursery. "You don't expect such acts happening in a daycare center," Dendermonde deputy prosecutor Jan Kerkhofs told CNN. "It is not like a prison so there are no bars on the doors or security systems." | [
"What number of children were killed in the knife attack?",
"Who said who was killed in the attack?",
"Where did the attack happen?",
"What weapon was used in the attack?",
"What did the attacker have?",
"Who was killed in the attack?",
"Where was the attack?",
"Who was killed in the knife attack?",
"What did the attacker have according to a local journalist?"
] | [
[
"Two"
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[
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[
"at a children's daycare center in Belgium."
],
[
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],
[
"a knife"
],
[
"Two"
],
[
"children's daycare center in Belgium."
],
[
"Two"
],
[
"knife"
]
] | 2 children, 1 adult killed in knife attack at creche, Belgian Interior Ministry says .
Three others reported seriously injured in attack in town of Dendermonde .
Attacker "had painted face," local journalist tells CNN . |
(CNN) -- Two crew members were taken to a hospital after a FedEx cargo plane crashed on landing Tuesday morning at the Lubbock, Texas, airport, officials said.
A damaged FedEx ATR-42 lies beside a runway early Tuesday at the Lubbock, Texas, airport.
The injuries appeared to be minor, said James Loomis, director of Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport.
There was a small fire on the plane, the Federal Aviation Administration and FedEx spokeswoman Sandra Munoz said. Munoz said she was not sure about the extent of the damage.
The plane is an ATR-42 twin-turboprop aircraft and landed short of the touchdown zone at 4:37 a.m. CT (5:47 ET), Loomis said.
Munoz said the plane had been traveling from Fort Worth Alliance Airport and skidded off the runway amid light freezing rain. iReport.com: Are you there? Send photos, video
Neither official could immediately say what caused the accident, and Munoz didn't know why parts of the plane caught fire.
The plane was operated by Empire Airways, which is under contract with FedEx Corp., based in Memphis, Tennessee. | [
"When was the fire reported?",
"ATR-42 twin-turboprop under lease to whom?",
"where does plane goes off runway in freezing rain?",
"how many crew members hospitalized?",
"what was the issue?"
] | [
[
"Tuesday"
],
[
"contract with FedEx Corp.,"
],
[
"Lubbock, Texas, airport,"
],
[
"Two"
],
[
"a small fire on the plane,"
]
] | Fire reported as plane goes off runway in freezing rain at Lubbock, Texas, airport .
Two crew members hospitalized with apparently minor injuries, official says .
ATR-42 twin-turboprop operated by Empire Airways under lease to FedEx . |
(CNN) -- Two crew members were taken to a hospital after a FedEx cargo plane crashed on landing Tuesday morning at the Lubbock, Texas, airport, officials said.
A damaged FedEx ATR-42 lies beside a runway early Tuesday at the Lubbock, Texas, airport.
The injuries appeared to be minor, said James Loomis, director of Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport.
There was a small fire on the plane, the Federal Aviation Administration and FedEx spokeswoman Sandra Munoz said. Munoz said she was not sure about the extent of the damage.
The plane is an ATR-42 twin-turboprop aircraft and landed short of the touchdown zone at 4:37 a.m. CT (5:47 ET), Loomis said.
Munoz said the plane had been traveling from Fort Worth Alliance Airport and skidded off the runway amid light freezing rain. iReport.com: Are you there? Send photos, video
Neither official could immediately say what caused the accident, and Munoz didn't know why parts of the plane caught fire.
The plane was operated by Empire Airways, which is under contract with FedEx Corp., based in Memphis, Tennessee. | [
"Who was hopitalized",
"Where did the plane catch fire",
"when Fire reported as plane goes off runway in freezing rain at Lubbock?",
"what kind of plane was it",
"what airline was involved",
"when Two crew members hospitalized with apparently minor injuries?"
] | [
[
"Two"
],
[
"Lubbock, Texas, airport,"
],
[
"Tuesday"
],
[
"FedEx ATR-42"
],
[
"Empire Airways,"
],
[
"Tuesday"
]
] | Fire reported as plane goes off runway in freezing rain at Lubbock, Texas, airport .
Two crew members hospitalized with apparently minor injuries, official says .
ATR-42 twin-turboprop operated by Empire Airways under lease to FedEx . |
(CNN) -- Two fishermen remain missing after a commercial fishing vessel went down in frigid, treacherous waters off the Aleutian Islands about 1,400 miles southwest of Anchorage, Alaska. The fishing vessel Courageous helps search for missing men in waters off Alaska. A search for the two crew members of the 93-foot Katmai resumed at daybreak Friday. An e-mail sent by the doomed fishing boat to a nearby vessel said it was taking on water in the rear, where the steering was housed, the Coast Guard told The Associated Press on Thursday. Four of the boat's crew members were rescued and five bodies retrieved Wednesday near the Amchitka Pass, a strait that connects the Bering Sea to the Pacific Ocean. The names have been withheld pending the notification of families, a Coast Guard statement said. "What can you say?" said Jeff DeBell, chief financial officer of Katmai Fisheries, which owned the boat. He told The AP, "We are devastated by what has happened. We are elated there have been survivors. We are just terribly saddened by the ones that are dead and are praying that those that are still in the water are alive." Watch rescue footage from the choppy waters » The Seattle-based company told the AP the survivors were Capt. Henry Blake and crew members Guy Schroeder, Adam Foster and Harold Attling. The search began at about 1 a.m. Wednesday when the Coast Guard received an emergency signal from the Katmai, a 93-foot fishing vessel that had been battling 50-knot winds and nearly 20-foot waves. The signal originated from a wall-mounted satellite positioning device on the Katmai that reacts when it's touched or splashed with water, Coast Guard Petty Officer Levi Read said. Watch a "Deadliest Catch" captain talk about what may have happened on the rough seas » At about that time, another vessel, the Blue Balard, sent an e-mail to the Coast Guard saying that it received a message from the Katmai that water was flooding its rear compartment. The message also said that the vessel had lost steering. The Coast Guard tried to e-mail the Balard back but received no response, likely because the seas are remote and Internet access can be spotty, Read said. Rescuers launched a C-130, a long-range surveillance aircraft, and went straight to the scene twice Wednesday morning, Read said. The boat was nowhere in sight, but the C-130 did spot two strobe lights on top of the water, he said. By this time, the weather was treacherous and the sky was darkening, according to Read. The C-130, having found no signs of life, dropped two life rafts and headed back, he said. On the second trip, at 11 a.m., the C-130 and a Jayhawk helicopter found two strobe lights floating in the water, one attached to a survival suit and the other to the emergency device that had first alerted the Coast Guard, Read said. They also found a body, he said. "We knew the person was from the Katmai because the suit he was wearing had the name of the vessel on it," Read said. Roughly five hours later, the Coast Guard spotted four men on a life raft, all wearing survival suits. With the assistance of other vessels, the Courageous and the Patricia Lee, the bodies of four other men were recovered from the water, all wearing survival suits, Read said. The odds of someone surviving the frigid waters off Alaska's Aleutian Islands is minimal, said Read. Crews usually have survival suits that allow water to seep inside but have a mechanism that traps body heat. The search for the two remaining men began at 9:30 a.m. Alaska time Thursday, an hour before sunrise there. "You just couldn't do anything earlier," Read said. "It's darker the farther out you go, and they are really, really out there." | [
"How many of the missing fishermen have been found alive?",
"In what state did the fishermen get lost in?",
"Where did the fishermen go missing?",
"How many fishermen were rescued?",
"What company does the CFO represent?",
"How many were rescued?",
"What statement did the CFO make?",
"What did the CFO say?",
"How many bodies were recovered?",
"Who is being searched for?"
] | [
[
"Four"
],
[
"Alaska."
],
[
"waters off the Aleutian Islands"
],
[
"Four"
],
[
"Katmai Fisheries,"
],
[
"Four"
],
[
"\"What can you say?\""
],
[
"\"We are devastated by"
],
[
"five"
],
[
"A search for the two crew members of the 93-foot Katmai"
]
] | NEW: Search resumes for two fishermen lost in frigid waters off Alaska .
Distressed boat had sent e-mail that it was taking on water .
Four fishermen rescued; five bodies have been recovered .
CFO of company: We "are praying that those that are still in the water are alive" |
(CNN) -- Two giant pandas arrived in Taiwan Tuesday after leaving China's Sichuan province for their new home, in a sign of improving ties between the cross-strait neighbors. Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan rest at a giant panda research center in Sichuan province on Monday. Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan, both four years old, had been living in Ya'an since the May 12 earthquake that damaged their former home in Wolong in Sichuan, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency. The pandas ate a meal of steamed corn buns and carrots before they were placed in a truck and taken to the Sichuan capital of Chengdu. From there, they were flown to Taiwan. "They had a good breakfast to sustain them on the long journey," said a Taiwan keeper traveling with the animals to the island, according to Xinhua. The panda goodwill was the latest sign of warming relations between Beijing and Taipei. Watch more about the pandas » Regularly scheduled commercial flights, shipping and mail between Taiwan and China resumed last week for the first time since the 1949 revolution that brought the Communist Party to power on the Chinese mainland. On Monday, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council said China would provide 130 billion yuan ($19 billion) in financing over the next two to three years to Taiwan-based companies doing business in the mainland. Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou has been cultivating ties with Beijing since winning office in March. Ma, a Nationalist, opposes reunification with China but ran on a platform touting the economic benefits of better relations with the mainland. In June -- in the first formal talks between the two sides in almost a decade --Chinese and Taiwanese officials agreed to set up permanent offices in each other's territories. Taiwan separated from China after the communists' victory in the Chinese civil war in 1949. About 2 million Chinese Nationalists fled to Taiwan and set up a government there. Beijing has always considered the island a part of China and has threatened to go to war should Taiwan declare formal independence. China said in May 2005 it would give the island two giant pandas, but their departure was delayed for more than three years. Improved ties between the two sides made the delivery of the pandas possible, Xinhua reported. The pair, whose names Tuan and Yuan together mean "reunion," will live in a four-story building at the Taipei city zoo, and their lodgings will include an outdoor playground, the agency said. After a one-month quarantine, the pandas are expected to make their debut in Taiwan during the Chinese lunar new year. There are about 1,590 pandas living in China's wild, mostly in Sichuan and the northwestern provinces of Shaanxi and Gansu. There were 239 captive-bred giant pandas in China in 2007, Xinhua reported. One panda died in the May quake, while another is still missing, according to an official at the China Panda Protection Studies Center in Wolong. | [
"When are the Panda's expected to debut at the Taipei zoo?",
"Where is the zoo located?",
"Amount of pandas that live in China's wild?",
"Where will the pandas live?",
"What is the latest sign of warming relations?",
"PAnda goodwill is a sign of warming relations between who?",
"What animals will live at the zoo?",
"How many pandas were captive bred in 2007?",
"Which Chinese chronological event is mentioned?",
"How many pandas live China's wild?",
"Where were the pandas set to live?"
] | [
[
"during the Chinese lunar new year."
],
[
"Taipei city"
],
[
"about 1,590"
],
[
"in a four-story building at the Taipei city zoo,"
],
[
"The panda goodwill"
],
[
"Beijing and Taipei."
],
[
"Two"
],
[
"239"
],
[
"1949 revolution"
],
[
"1,590"
],
[
"in a four-story building at the Taipei city zoo,"
]
] | Pandas will live at Taipei zoo, expected to debut during the Chinese lunar new year .
Panda goodwill the latest sign of warming relations between Beijing and Taipei .
Regular flights began between the two sides for the first time since 1949 .
About 1,590 pandas live in China's wild, and there were 239 captive bred in 2007 . |
(CNN) -- Two goals in five minutes at the start of extra-time helped defending champions Egypt book their place in the African Nations Cup semifinals with a battling 3-1 victory over Cameroon.
The game, though, was marred by a controversial third goal by midfielder Ahmed Hassan which was allowed to stand by referee Jerome Damon despite replays showing the ball had clearly not crossed the line.
By that time the Pharaohs' captain, who was winning a record 170th cap for his country, had already scored an own goal to put the Indomitable Lions ahead after 26 minutes.
Hassan scored again at the other end to pull his side level with a powerful long-range strike before half-time which eventually forced the game into an additional 30 minutes in Benguela.
Substitute Mohamed Gedo then capitalized on an error from Geremi Njitap to put Egypt ahead in extra-time, before Hassan's controversial strike handed them a two-goal cushion.
To make matters worse for Paul Le Guen's Cameroon, Aurelien Chedjou was sent off late on as the north Africans set up a tantalising last-four clash with old foes Algeria.
Cameroon took the lead following a spell of intense pressure. A succession of Achille Emana corners had the Egyptian defence wobbling -- and the seventh one resulted in Hassan's weak-header on the line dropping into his own net.
Cameroon pressed for a second goal but were taken by surprise when Hassan unleashed a fierce 35-yard strike in the 37th minute that deceived goalkeeper Carlos Kameni before finding its way in.
Emad Moteab could have won the game for Egypt right at the death after he was picked out at the back post by a sweeping pass from Hassan, but the Al-Ahly forward could only find the side netting as the game entered extra-time.
However, Hassan Shehata's side wasted no time in killing off the tie going 3-1 up after 95 minutes -- after being gifted both goals.
The first came when Geremi's poor back-pass from the right was intercepted by Gedo, who and tucked away with ease through the legs of Kameni two minutes after the resumption.
The second seems certain to land South African referee Damon in the spotlight after Hassan's free-kick from the left was pushed onto the underside of the crossbar by the Espanyol goalkeeper and did not cross the line when it hit the ground.
However, it was still allowed to stand much to the dismay of the Cameroon players. It also seemed to knock the stuffing out of Le Guen's men as they failed to create any major openings in the closing 25 minutes.
To add insult to injury, Chedjou was shown a straight red for hauling down last-man Gedo midway through the second period of extra-time with Egypt going on to seal a memorable win.
Meanwhile, Nigeria became the fourth team to reach the semifinals after defeating Zambia in a dull final quarterfinal showdown in Lubango.
Neither side could find the net after 90 minutes and 30 minutes of extra time, but Nigeria progressed 5-4 on penalties and will now face near-neighbors Ghana in the last four on Thursday.
Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama scored the decisive penalty for Nigeria after Thomas Nyirenda had missed for Zambia.
Enyeama dived to his right to stop Nyirenda's penalty after Sikombe Chivhuta and Christopher Katongo and Emmanuel Mayuka had all scored for Zambia.
Obefemi Martins, Victor Nsofor, Peter Odemwingie, and John Obi Mikel all scored for Nigeria. | [
"what did nigeria become",
"WHo booked their place",
"Who does Nigeria play?",
"Who are the defending champions?",
"what did egypt do",
"how many goals did egypt score",
"What is the competition",
"Egypt scored how many goals?"
] | [
[
"fourth team to reach the semifinals"
],
[
"Egypt"
],
[
"Ghana"
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[
"Egypt"
],
[
"book"
],
[
"3-1"
],
[
"African Nations Cup semifinals"
],
[
"Two"
]
] | Defending champions Egypt book their place in the African Nations Cup semifinal in Angola .
Egypt score two goals in extra time to secure a battling 3-1 victory over Cameroon on Monday .
Nigeria become the fourth team tor each the last four stage, setting up a clash with rivals Ghana . |
(CNN) -- Two graduate students were found shot to death Thursday night in an apartment a block off the Louisiana State University campus, officials said. LSU Chancellor Sean O'Keefe briefs reporters on the fatal shootings of two international graduate students. No suspects have been identified in what police are investigating as a double homicide. Neighbors told police three strange men were seen in the area. The bodies of Chandrasekhar Reddy Komma and Kiran Kumar Allam, both Ph.D. candidates from India, were found inside Allam's apartment at the Edward Gay complex near the LSU band's practice field. The complex houses graduate and married students. A task force of LSU campus police and the Baton Rouge Police Department is investigating, university Chancellor Sean O'Keefe said. "If anybody can find them, they can," O'Keefe told reporters Friday. Watch O'Keefe discuss "a tragic situation" » O'Keefe said campus police responded to a 911 call at 10:37 p.m. and encountered "a very, very tragic scene." Both men had been shot in the head. One was bound with phone cable and the other was lying near the door. The apartment was cluttered and items were strewn about, so it has been difficult to determine whether anything was taken, O'Keefe said. Emergency text messages were sent to students and faculty across the LSU campus late Thursday, but the campus remained open on Friday. O'Keefe said officials decided against a campus lockdown after police determined that the slayings were not part "an escalating pattern." People were warned in the text messages to use caution, but not all of the 8,000 students who had signed up for them received them, O'Keefe said. Officials are looking into what went wrong. The Associated Press reported that Allam's pregnant wife found the bodies and called 911. Although police have indicated they suspect the slayings occurred during a home invasion robbery, O'Keefe told reporters no motive has been determined. E-mail to a friend | [
"Who do they think shot the men?",
"Who were the slain students?",
"what campus officials urged",
"What university were the students at?",
"where is the apartment",
"Where was the apartment?",
"what did the pregnant woman find",
"Who urged students to be careful?"
] | [
[
"three strange"
],
[
"Chandrasekhar Reddy Komma and Kiran Kumar Allam,"
],
[
"use caution,"
],
[
"Louisiana State University"
],
[
"Louisiana State University campus,"
],
[
"a block off the"
],
[
"bodies of Chandrasekhar Reddy Komma and Kiran Kumar Allam,"
],
[
"People were warned in the text messages to use caution,"
]
] | Pregnant woman reportedly found husband, other man dead in apartment .
Slain students were international Ph.D. candidates .
Apartment is on edge of university campus .
In text-message alert, campus officials urge students to be careful . |
(CNN) -- Two high-profile political officials linked to Guinea-Bissau's recently assassinated president were killed Friday, according to a statement from the West African country's interim army chief. The killings raised fears that a military coup may be under way. Guinea-Bissau Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Jr, left, and interim President Raimundo Pereira are currently out of the country. The military confirmed the killings of former Defense Minister Helder Proenca and presidential candidate Baciro Dabo, saying the men were killed because they were plotting a coup against the current government. The military said several members of the ruling party have been arrested on allegations of taking part in the plot, which included a plan to assassinate the current prime minister and the interim president, according to the statement from interim army chief Zamora Induta. However, the move by the military has raised fears that the military itself is plotting to take over the government, particularly since the arrests and killings took place while Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Jr., interim President Raimundo Pereira, and defense minister Artur Da Silva are out of the country. President Joao Bernardo Vieira, 69, was assassinated on March 2 during an attack on the presidential palace. The attack happened a day after Gen. Tagme Na Waie, chief of Guinea-Bissau's military, was killed in a bomb explosion in his office. The army and Guinea-Bissau's president clashed in the months prior to Vieira's assassination. Guinea-Bissau, a former Portuguese colony, has a history of military coups. | [
"Who has a history of military coups?",
"When did it occur?",
"How many people were involved in the assassination plot?",
"Who killed him?",
"What does the military say?",
"Who is the former president of Guinea-Bissau?",
"Who was killed?",
"Who was assassinated?"
] | [
[
"Guinea-Bissau, a former Portuguese colony,"
],
[
"Friday,"
],
[
"several members of the ruling party"
],
[
"The military"
],
[
"several members of the ruling party have been arrested"
],
[
"Joao Bernardo Vieira,"
],
[
"Defense Minister Helder Proenca and presidential candidate Baciro Dabo,"
],
[
"president"
]
] | Two former allies of Guinea-Bissau's assassinated president killed, military says .
Military says pair were plotting against government; some fear military plans coup .
President Vieira assassinated March 2 in attack on presidential palace .
Former Portuguese colony has a history of military coups . |
(CNN) -- Two hijackers who took over a plane flying from Sudan's Darfur region on Tuesday and diverted it to Libya surrendered to authorities Wednesday, Libyan state media said.
The hijacked plane took off from near the Darfur refugee camp of Kalma, which was attacked earlier in the week.
The official news agency JANA said the two hijackers surrendered to Libyan authorities in the eastern town of Kufra, where the plane landed, and they were being detained in a hall in the airport there. Their identities were not released.
Earlier, the hijackers had released all 87 passengers aboard the plane, but had held on to six crew members while they negotiated with Libyan officials through the pilot about passage to France, JANA said.
Libyan officials tried to persuade the hostage-takers to surrender as the hijackers demanded fuel to fly the plane to Paris, France.
No details were provided as to how the two surrendered. All of the remaining hostages were freed, and JANA said 20 Sudanese officials were en route to the airport.
Libya will send a plane to return the passengers and crew to Khartoum, Sudan, the plane's original destination, JANA said.
The Sun Air Boeing 737 airliner was about 10 minutes into a flight from Niyala, Sudan, to Khartoum on Tuesday when the pilot called the control tower and told officials the plane had been hijacked and was heading to Kufra, Sun Air airlines official Murtada Hassan Jumaa told the Al-Arabiya news channel.
The hijackers at first wanted to land the plane in Egypt, but the Egyptian government refused them permission, John Ukec, Sudan's ambassador to the United States, said Tuesday.
Khaled Deeb, an Al-Jazeera reporter in Tripoli, Libya, said Libyan authorities allowed the plane to land only because the hijackers said they were low on fuel -- "for humanitarian reasons and nothing else."
"The fact that the plane was kidnapped from Darfur indicates that one of the militant groups may have prepared for this operation, and the fact that they want to go to France adds more to that theory," Deeb said Tuesday. "The hijackers don't have any clear demands except for fuel and then heading to France."
-- CNN's Mustafa Al-Arab contributed to this report | [
"Who did the two hijackers surrender to?",
"Where was plane from?",
"Where was the plane hijacked?",
"Who did the hijackers surrender to?",
"Who did hijackers release?",
"Where was the plane from?",
"Who surrendered to Libyan authorities?",
"What did the hijackers want to do?"
] | [
[
"Libyan authorities"
],
[
"Sudan's Darfur region"
],
[
"Sudan's Darfur"
],
[
"Libyan authorities in the eastern town of Kufra,"
],
[
"all 87 passengers"
],
[
"Sudan's Darfur region"
],
[
"Two"
],
[
"land the plane in Egypt,"
]
] | NEW: Two hijackers surrender to Libyan authorities .
Hijackers earlier released passengers but had kept crew as hostages .
Sudan plane hijacked shortly after taking off from Darfur region for Khartoum .
Hijackers reportedly wanted fuel to fly to France; no other demands known . |
(CNN) -- Two hours before his scheduled execution Thursday, the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles commuted the death sentence of Samuel David Crowe, his lawyer said. Samuel David Crowe's death sentence was changed to life in prison by Georgia authorities, his attorney says. Crowe was convicted in 1988 of murdering Joseph V. Pala, the retail manager at Wicks Lumber Company in Douglas County. Crowe admitted to the crime. The board's ruling means Crowe's sentence will be changed to life without the possibility of parole. The board did not give a reason for its decision. When attorney Ann Fort called Crowe with the news, he was quiet. "He was really shocked and relieved but very somber about it. He takes very seriously the deep harm that he caused when he committed this crime," she said. Crowe had a cocaine habit that his attorney says he kicked in prison. He spent his time behind bars counseling other inmates, teaching some of them to read and writing to people outside of prison who had drug habits. "He didn't want them to go down the path he did," Fort said. As for the Pala family, they are devastated. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Pala's widow, Fran Pala, and his daughter, Lisa Pala-Hansen, were too upset to address the parole board. A representative spoke to the board on their behalf, the newspaper said. Crowe had been scheduled to be executed by injection at 7 p.m. ET Thursday at Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson, 45 minutes south of Atlanta. He would have been the 19th inmate in Georgia executed by injection. William Earl Lynd was executed by injection the first week in May. He was the first inmate to die in the state since September, when the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to consider whether the three-drug combination represented cruel and unusual punishment. Lynd was convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend in 1988. The U.S. Supreme Court had effectively halted all executions in the country last September, when it agreed to consider whether the three-drug combination used by most states violated the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Death penalty opponents have argued that if inmates are not given enough anesthetic, they could be conscious enough to suffer excruciating pain without being able to express it because of the paralyzer. Their claims are supported by medical studies. Of the 24 death sentences the Georgia board has considered, Crowe's is the third it has commuted. Also this week, Mississippi executed murderer Earl Wesley Berry by lethal injection. Berry confessed to abducting Mary Bounds in 1987, beating her to death and then dumping her body in a rural road. The courts rejected Berry's attorneys' arguments that he should be spared because he was mentally retarded. CNN's Ashley Fantz contributed to this report. | [
"What did Crowe admit to doing to the store clerk?",
"What did Crowe admit?",
"When did he commit his crime?",
"What did Crowe admit to?",
"Who is Samuel David Crowe?",
"What did the attorney say?",
"Who's death sentence was changed was changed to life?",
"What year did the crime happen?",
"What length was Crowe's sentence changed to?"
] | [
[
"murdering Joseph V. Pala,"
],
[
"murdering Joseph V. Pala,"
],
[
"1988"
],
[
"murdering Joseph V. Pala,"
],
[
"was convicted in 1988 of murdering Joseph V. Pala,"
],
[
"Samuel David Crowe's death sentence was changed to life in prison by Georgia authorities,"
],
[
"Samuel David Crowe's"
],
[
"1988"
],
[
"life without the possibility of parole."
]
] | NEW: Attorney says inmate was shocked, relieved, somber .
NEW: Victim's family too devastated to address parole board .
Samuel David Crowe's death sentence was changed to life in prison Thursday .
Crowe admitted killing a store clerk in 1988 in Georgia . |
(CNN) -- Two inmates at New Jersey's Union County Jail made a movie-style escape Saturday and remained at large Monday, according to Union County Prosecutor Ted Romankow. Otis Blunt, left, and Jose Espinosa escaped from the Union County Jail Saturday night, officials say. Twenty-year-old Jose Espinosa and 32-year-old Otis Blunt, who are considered armed and dangerous, were discovered missing from their cells at about 5:15 p.m. Saturday, Romankow said. The men left behind dummies in their beds, cinder block dust and a note wishing authorities "Happy Holidays." Espinosa, who recently pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter, was to be sentenced on January 25 and faced a minimum of 17 years in prison. Blunt was being held in lieu of $75,000 bond on weapon and robbery charges. Both men were being housed in the high security area of the multilevel jail, Romankow said. Police said Espinosa and Blunt were in adjacent cells and used a long metal wire to scrape away mortar around the cinder block between their cells and the outer wall in Espinosa's cell. Once the cement block between the cells was removed, they smashed the block and hid the pieces in a footlocker. According to police, Blunt, who is 5 feet 10 inches and weighs 210 pounds, squeezed into Espinosa's cell through an approximately 16- to 18-inch hole. The two inmates wiggled through another 18-inch hole in the outer wall. From a roof landing, the two men "took a running jump or they were standing and they jumped approximately 15 feet out and about 30 feet down," Romankow said. Then they jumped a razor-wire fence onto a New Jersey transit railroad bed to freedom, police said. Authorities found two sets of footprints in the snow heading in opposite directions. At a news conference Monday, Romankow read the note that was found in Espinosa's cell, saying it represented the "arrogance of these two men." "Thank you officer -------- for the tools needed, you're a real pal, Happy Holidays," the note read, with a smiley face drawn next to it. Authorities are investigating the note's claims about the guard, the Associated Press reported. The guard has not turned in a report and disciplinary action has not been taken, Romankow said, according to AP. To delay discovery of the escape, Espinosa and Blunt used dummies made of sheets and pillows in their beds. They also hung photographs of bikini-clad women to hide the holes in the walls, a move reminiscent of a scene in the Hollywood hit "The Shawshank Redemption." Romankow played down the comparison. "I think this is a very serious situation you saw," he said. "I really prefer not to compare with any movie, although I can understand why you might because it does look certainly very similar to some of them. Except in 'The Shawshank Redemption' they had a better poster on the wall." According to police, Blunt tried to escape in September using similar methods. There is an $8,000 reward for the men's capture. Romankow said a statewide hunt is under way, with several agencies involved. E-mail to a friend CNN's Brian Vitagliano contributed to this report. | [
"how many broke out?",
"what were they charged with?",
"where did this happen",
"what jail did they escape",
"who broke out of jail",
"where did they break out of?"
] | [
[
"Two"
],
[
"weapon and robbery charges."
],
[
"New Jersey's Union County Jail"
],
[
"New Jersey's Union County"
],
[
"Twenty-year-old Jose Espinosa and 32-year-old Otis Blunt,"
],
[
"New Jersey's Union County Jail"
]
] | Two inmates broke out of Union County Jail Saturday night, officials say .
They removed blocks from walls, hiding their work behind pinups of women in bikinis .
The duo made it over 25-foot fence to escape jail's top-security area .
One was awaiting sentence for manslaughter; the other faced robbery charges . |
(CNN) -- Two international journalists, along with their Somali colleague and a driver, were kidnapped Saturday, a journalists' organization in Somalia said. A young fighter mans a gun on the beach of Kismayo. The photographer asked not be identified. Amanda Lindhout, a Canadian journalist, and Nigel Brenan, an Australian photojournalist, had been in the country just three days when militia men snatched them outside the capital city of Mogadishu, the National Union of Somali Journalists said Sunday. The kidnappers also took Abdifatah Mohammed Elmi, a Somalian photojournalist who was acting as the pair's translator, and their driver, the journalists' union said. The four were on their way back after conducting interviews at a refugee camp. Officials do not know if the journalists are being held for ransom and who is behind the abductions. "No formal claim of responsibility was made," the journalists' group said. "As well, there have been no demands." Somalia has been mired in chaos since 1991, when warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre and sparked brutal clan infighting. Somalia's current transitional government is trying to maintain control of the capital, with the help of Ethiopian forces. On Friday, fighters from the Islamic group Al Shabab took control of the southern port town of Kismayo after three days of clashes. The fighting left at least 89 people dead, 207 wounded and displaced some 5,500 people, triggering a humanitarian crisis. Ethiopia invaded Somalia in December 2006 to install the transitional government in Mogadishu after a decade and a half of near-anarchy. The invasion had the blessing of the United States, which accused Islamists of harboring fugitives from the al Qaeda terrorist movement. But the Ethiopian troops quickly became embroiled in an insurgency led by the Islamists. And as guerrilla attacks mounted, efforts to replace the Ethiopians with an African Union-led peacekeeping mission faltered. The conflict displaced hundreds of thousands of Somalis, further worsening a humanitarian crisis that dates back to the collapse of the country's last government in 1991. The situation has been exacerbated by drought, continual armed conflicts in central and southern Somalia, and high inflation on food and fuel prices. | [
"What had the group been doing before the kidnapping?",
"Why were the journalists in this area?",
"Who else was kidnapped?",
"Where was the refugee camp?",
"What Canadian person was involved in this case?",
"How many international journalists were kidnapped?",
"What was the group doing?",
"Who was seized?",
"Who was kidnapped?",
"What ethnicity is Nigel Brenan?",
"How many people were kidnapped?"
] | [
[
"conducting interviews at a refugee camp."
],
[
"conducting interviews at a refugee camp."
],
[
"their Somali colleague and a driver,"
],
[
"Somalia"
],
[
"Amanda Lindhout,"
],
[
"Two"
],
[
"conducting interviews at a refugee camp."
],
[
"international journalists, along with their Somali colleague and a driver,"
],
[
"international journalists, along with their Somali colleague and a driver, were"
],
[
"Australian"
],
[
"four"
]
] | Two international journalists and Somali colleague and driver kidnapped .
Canandian Amanda Lindhout and Australian Nigel Brenan seized .
The group had been conducting interviews at a refugee camp . |
(CNN) -- Two international staffers supporting the peacekeeping mission in the volatile Sudanese region of Darfur were kidnapped Saturday morning, a spokesman for the peacekeeping force told CNN. Soldiers with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) pictured in June. The man and the woman, whose identities and nationalities were withheld, worked for UNAMID, a U.N. and African Union force designated to keep peace in Darfur. "Our people have been able to establish contact with the people responsible for the abduction," said UNAMID spokesman Noureddine Mezni, but he declined to identify the abductors. The organization is "asking for their immediate release," Mezni added. The peacekeeping force began operations in Darfur in December 2007 and is expected to remain there until July 2010, according to UNAMID's Web site. As of July 31 its force is comprised of more than 13,000 troops from 39 countries. As of June 30, 999 international civilian personnel were on staff, according to the site. The United Nations estimates that 300,000 people have been killed in the conflict in Darfur, and 2.5 million have been forced to flee their homes. Sudan denies the death toll is that high. The violence in Darfur erupted in 2003 after rebels began an uprising against the Sudanese government. To counter the rebels, Arab militias with ties to the Sudanese government went from village to village in Darfur, killing, torturing and raping residents there, according to the United Nations, Western governments and human rights organizations. The militias targeted civilian members of tribes from which the rebels drew strength. CNN's Ben Brumfield contributed to this report | [
"Who began uprising against Sudanese government?",
"When did the force begin operations?",
"When did they start in Darfur?",
"What erupted in 2003?",
"How many people are estimated dead?",
"How many are estimated dead in the conflict?",
"When did violence erupt?",
"What did the UN estimate?"
] | [
[
"rebels"
],
[
"December 2007"
],
[
"December 2007"
],
[
"The violence in Darfur"
],
[
"300,000"
],
[
"300,000 people"
],
[
"2003"
],
[
"that 300,000 people have been killed in the conflict in Darfur, and 2.5 million have been forced to flee their homes."
]
] | United Nations estimates 300,000 people have been killed in the conflict in Darfur .
Force began operations in Darfur in December 2007, expected to remain till 2010 .
Violence erupted in 2003 after rebels began uprising against Sudanese government . |
(CNN) -- Two leading Jewish watchdog groups are denouncing a prominent cartoonist's illustration about Israel's offensive in Gaza, saying it uses anti-Semitic imagery.
The cartoon was published Wednesday in newspapers and on the Internet.
The Anti-Defamation League, which has been fighting anti-Semitism since it was founded in 1913, called the syndicated cartoon by Pulitzer Prize-winning Pat Oliphant "hideously anti-Semitic."
The Simon Wiesenthal Center, which, among other things, fights anti-Semitism and educates people about the Holocaust, said "the cartoon mimics the venomous anti-Semitic propaganda of the Nazi and Soviet eras."
Published Wednesday in newspapers and on the Internet, the cartoon shows the small figure of a woman, labeled Gaza, carrying a child. She is being pursued by a headless, jackbooted figure wielding a sword, marching in an apparent goose-step and pushing a fanged Jewish star on a wheel.
The Anti-Defamation League said the cartoon used "Nazi-like imagery" and a "hateful evocation of the Star of David."
Abraham H. Foxman, the ADL's national director, said the cartoon's "outlandish and offensive use of the Star of David in combination with Nazi-like imagery is hideously anti-Semitic."
"It employs Nazi imagery by portraying Israel as a jack-booted, goose-stepping headless apparition," Foxman said. "The implication is of an Israeli policy without a head or a heart. Israel's defensive military operation to protect the lives of its men, women and children who are being continuously bombarded by Hamas rocket attacks has been turned on its head to show the victims as heartless, headless aggressors."
The Wiesenthal Center, which also issued its statement Wednesday, said it urged The New York Times Web site and other Web sites to remove the cartoon.
"There is nothing about Oliphant's cartoon not meant to denigrate and demonize the Jewish state, from the headless goose-stepping soldier to the horrific depiction of the Star of David about to devour a cowering innocent Gazan woman holding a baby," Rabbi Marvin Hier, the group's dean, and Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the group's associate dean, said in a joint statement.
"The imagery in this cartoon mimics the venomous anti-Semitic propaganda of the Nazi and Soviet eras. It is cartoons like this that inspired millions of people to hate in the 1930's and help set the stage for the Nazi genocide," the statement said.
A spokeswoman for Universal Press Syndicate, which distributes Oliphant's work, issued a statement defending him, saying he, "like all editorial cartoonists, uses his art to comment on important issues of the day widely reported in the worldwide media -- in this case, the conflict over Gaza. That his cartoons sometimes spark intense debate is a testament to his talent."
Universal said no media outlet had informed the syndicate that it removed the cartoon, but "Oliphant's clients are not contractually bound to inform us."
A New York Times spokeswoman said, "We did not run the cartoon in the newspaper, nor do we plan to do so."
She said NYTimes.com has, by contract with uclick.com, an "Oliphant" button on the cartoons page. "Yesterday, those who clicked on it saw the cartoon you mentioned, which is now relegated to the Oliphant archive," she said.
Imagery and rhetoric comparing Israel to Nazis have been deployed by Israel's persistent critics, who decry the Jewish state's treatment of Palestinians as oppressive and brutal. Israel and its supporters defend the state as humane and say it has properly defended itself against attacks.
There has been sharp criticism of Israel's offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza who launched rockets into southern Israeli towns.
Human Rights Watch said Wednesday the Israeli military's firing of white phosphorus shells over densely populated areas during the offensive "was indiscriminate and is evidence of war crimes," a claim denied by Israel.
Israel has said that Hamas militants situated themselves among civilians during the offensive.
Oliphant, who won the Pulitzer in | [
"What does the cartoon's distributor defend?",
"What award has the cartoonist won?",
"What do the critics compare this to?",
"what kind of cartoons were they",
"What type of imagery is it said to contain?",
"Who does Israel say it must defend?",
"who drew the cartoons",
"What do they consider the imagery to be?"
] | [
[
"illustration about"
],
[
"Pulitzer"
],
[
"anti-Semitic propaganda of the Nazi and Soviet eras.\""
],
[
"anti-Semitic"
],
[
"anti-Semitic"
],
[
"the lives of"
],
[
"Pat Oliphant"
],
[
"anti-Semitic"
]
] | NEW: Cartoon's distributor defends cartoonist, cites his talent to stir debate .
Work by Pulitzer-winning cartoonist shows jack-booted figure, Jewish star with fangs .
Anti-Defamation League, Simon Wiesenthal Center say it uses anti-Semitic imagery .
Critics compare Israeli actions to Nazi aggression; Israel says it must defended itself . |
(CNN) -- Two leading Jewish watchdog groups are denouncing a prominent cartoonist's illustration about Israel's offensive in Gaza, saying it uses anti-Semitic imagery. The cartoon was published Wednesday in newspapers and on the Internet. The Anti-Defamation League, which has been fighting anti-Semitism since it was founded in 1913, called the syndicated cartoon by Pulitzer Prize-winning Pat Oliphant "hideously anti-Semitic." The Simon Wiesenthal Center, which, among other things, fights anti-Semitism and educates people about the Holocaust, said "the cartoon mimics the venomous anti-Semitic propaganda of the Nazi and Soviet eras." Published Wednesday in newspapers and on the Internet, the cartoon shows the small figure of a woman, labeled Gaza, carrying a child. She is being pursued by a headless, jackbooted figure wielding a sword, marching in an apparent goose-step and pushing a fanged Jewish star on a wheel. The Anti-Defamation League said the cartoon used "Nazi-like imagery" and a "hateful evocation of the Star of David." Abraham H. Foxman, the ADL's national director, said the cartoon's "outlandish and offensive use of the Star of David in combination with Nazi-like imagery is hideously anti-Semitic." "It employs Nazi imagery by portraying Israel as a jack-booted, goose-stepping headless apparition," Foxman said. "The implication is of an Israeli policy without a head or a heart. Israel's defensive military operation to protect the lives of its men, women and children who are being continuously bombarded by Hamas rocket attacks has been turned on its head to show the victims as heartless, headless aggressors." The Wiesenthal Center, which also issued its statement Wednesday, said it urged The New York Times Web site and other Web sites to remove the cartoon. "There is nothing about Oliphant's cartoon not meant to denigrate and demonize the Jewish state, from the headless goose-stepping soldier to the horrific depiction of the Star of David about to devour a cowering innocent Gazan woman holding a baby," Rabbi Marvin Hier, the group's dean, and Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the group's associate dean, said in a joint statement. "The imagery in this cartoon mimics the venomous anti-Semitic propaganda of the Nazi and Soviet eras. It is cartoons like this that inspired millions of people to hate in the 1930's and help set the stage for the Nazi genocide," the statement said. A spokeswoman for Universal Press Syndicate, which distributes Oliphant's work, issued a statement defending him, saying he, "like all editorial cartoonists, uses his art to comment on important issues of the day widely reported in the worldwide media -- in this case, the conflict over Gaza. That his cartoons sometimes spark intense debate is a testament to his talent." Universal said no media outlet had informed the syndicate that it removed the cartoon, but "Oliphant's clients are not contractually bound to inform us." A New York Times spokeswoman said, "We did not run the cartoon in the newspaper, nor do we plan to do so." She said NYTimes.com has, by contract with uclick.com, an "Oliphant" button on the cartoons page. "Yesterday, those who clicked on it saw the cartoon you mentioned, which is now relegated to the Oliphant archive," she said. Imagery and rhetoric comparing Israel to Nazis have been deployed by Israel's persistent critics, who decry the Jewish state's treatment of Palestinians as oppressive and brutal. Israel and its supporters defend the state as humane and say it has properly defended itself against attacks. There has been sharp criticism of Israel's offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza who launched rockets into southern Israeli towns. Human Rights Watch said Wednesday the Israeli military's firing of white phosphorus shells over densely populated areas during the offensive "was indiscriminate and is evidence of war crimes," a claim denied by Israel. Israel has said that Hamas militants situated themselves among civilians during the offensive. Oliphant, who won the Pulitzer in | [
"What cartoonist was defended by the distributor?",
"What did critics compare Israeli actions to?",
"What did critics label the imagery?",
"What controversial imagery did the cartoon depict?"
] | [
[
"Pat Oliphant"
],
[
"Nazis have been deployed by Israel's persistent"
],
[
"anti-Semitic"
],
[
"mimics the venomous anti-Semitic propaganda of the Nazi and Soviet eras.\""
]
] | NEW: Cartoon's distributor defends cartoonist, cites his talent to stir debate .
Work by Pulitzer-winning cartoonist shows jack-booted figure, Jewish star with fangs .
Anti-Defamation League, Simon Wiesenthal Center say it uses anti-Semitic imagery .
Critics compare Israeli actions to Nazi aggression; Israel says it must defended itself . |
(CNN) -- Two men charged in the 1978 disappearance of five teenagers in Newark, New Jersey, pleaded not guilty to five counts of murder Wednesday morning as about 40 family members of the victims looked on.
Lee Anthony Evans, 56, and Philander Hampton, 53, were arrested Monday night. That was about 18 months after the investigation into the disappearance of the five boys was given new life; a witness came to detectives with information that the 1978 arson of an abandoned building in Newark was connected with the case, acting prosecutor Robert Laurino said.
Evans and Hampton also pleaded not guilty to arson charges.
Evans' attorney, Michael A. Robbins, maintains his client's innocence, citing Evans' full cooperation with authorities during the 1978 investigation into the disappearance of Randy Johnson, 16, Melvin Pittman,17, Ernest Taylor, 17, Alvin Turner, 16, all of Newark; and Michael McDowell, 16, of East Orange.
"In a case such as this, where the evidence has been lost, great care must be taken to prevent outrage, anger and emotion acting as a substitute in court for competent testimony, evidence and proof," Robbins said. "The magnitude of the tragedy in the case should not diminish the very sacredness of Mr. Evans' right to a fair trail."
Hampton is being represented by John McMahon from the Essex County public defender's office.
The family members of the victims sat silently as they watched Evans and Hampton enter their pleas.
Evans had been under suspicion in 1978 but was released after passing a lie detector test. Witnesses said they had seen the boys getting into Evans' pickup truck.
Helen Simmons, Michael's aunt, said she had never let go of her suspicion of Evans.
"Five kids did not run away. They were not runaways. They had no reason to run away. Five kids did not run away all at the same time, all having been picked up by Lee Anthony Evans," said Simmons, who was in the courtroom Wednesday.
"Michael's mother, my sister, died just 13 months after this, never knowing what happened to her son," she said.
"We have not forgotten Michael the last 32 years," she added. "Michael is always with us. It's just that now we do feel that we will achieve the most we can get from justice, which is empty, which is to have [Evans and Hampton] to spend the rest of their lives in jail. I would love for [Evans] to live at least another 32 more years. In jail."
Authorities believe that the alleged killings were in retaliation for the teens' breaking into one of the defendants' homes to steal marijuana. The remains of the victims have never been found.
A third suspect, Maurice Woody-Olds, died in March 2008.
Officials allege that Evans and Hampton, with the aid of Woody-Olds, lured the five boys at various times into Evans' pickup and took them to the abandoned building on Camden Street, where they held them at gunpoint before setting it ablaze, officials said.
The case will next be presented to a grand jury on a date to be determined.
Evans and Hampton are being held at Essex County Correctional Facility in lieu of $5 million bail. | [
"What does the victim's aunt say?",
"What are two men charged with?",
"What the witness said?",
"What did victims aunt say?",
"What did the witness tell police?",
"Two men charged in what?",
"What did witness tell police?"
] | [
[
"she had never let go of her suspicion of Evans."
],
[
"1978 disappearance of five teenagers"
],
[
"they had seen the boys getting into Evans' pickup truck."
],
[
"she had never let go of her suspicion of Evans."
],
[
"the 1978 arson of an abandoned building in Newark was connected with the case,"
],
[
"the 1978 disappearance of five teenagers"
],
[
"boys getting into Evans' pickup truck."
]
] | Two men charged in disappearances of five teens in New Jersey .
Witness told police 18 months ago that case was linked to arson .
One suspect had been arrested in 1978 but passed lie detector test .
Victim's aunt says she never lost suspicions . |
(CNN) -- Two monorail trains at Walt Disney World collided early Sunday, killing a 21-year-old driver. A 2 a.m. ET monorail crash at Disney World killed one person, a park spokesman said. A witness said one of the trains rammed into the back of a stationary train about 2 a.m. at the resort's Ticket and Transport Center. There were eight people on board at the time, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said. A second employee was taken to a hospital to be checked; the six guests -- members of a single family -- were evaluated by paramedics at the scene and released. Disney World officials said none of the seven was injured. Authorities identified the driver as Austin Wuennenberg, a senior at Stetson University studying computer science. "It's a terrible day for us," said Mike Griffin, Disney's vice president for public affairs. "Our hearts go out to Austin and his family." A statement from Wuennenberg's family said, "He always enjoyed his work at Disney, and especially enoyed his work as a monorail pilot. He has many great friends who he has positively influenced; everyone will truly miss this dynamic young man." The theme park is working with county authorities and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the investigation. "The safety of our cast and our guests is legendary and it's our top priority," Griffin said. Disney World calls its employees "cast members." The monorail was shut after the accident, Griffin said. Images from the scene showed the front car of a train badly damaged where it hit the other train at a station. | [
"What age is the driver?",
"When did the crash happen?",
"What time did the crash take place?",
"How many people were on board?",
"How many people were on board at the time?",
"Who was the driver?",
"How many people were aboard?",
"Who were aboard?",
"Who says one monorail train rammed?",
"What is the name of the driver?",
"How many people were on board?",
"Where did the crash occur?",
"Who was identified as Austin Wuennenberg?",
"What age was the driver?"
] | [
[
"21-year-old"
],
[
"Sunday,"
],
[
"2 a.m."
],
[
"eight"
],
[
"eight"
],
[
"Austin Wuennenberg,"
],
[
"eight"
],
[
"eight people"
],
[
"A witness"
],
[
"Austin Wuennenberg,"
],
[
"eight"
],
[
"Disney World"
],
[
"the driver"
],
[
"21-year-old"
]
] | Driver identified as Austin Wuennenberg, 21 .
Eight people were aboard, including family of six .
Crash occurred about 2 a.m. at Ticket and Transport Center .
Witness says one monorail train rammed into a stationary train . |
(CNN) -- Two new missile production plants opened in Iran on Saturday. The inauguration of the production lines for the anti-helicopter Qaem missile, and the anti-armor Toofan-5 (Hurricane) missile, came three days after Iran test-launched a rocket capable of carrying a satellite, a launch deemed a "provocative act" by Washington.
The Defense Ministry told Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency that both missiles have "high penetration and destructive powers."
By mass producing and delivering these modern arms, Iran's department of defense aims to increase its ground and air defenses, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.
The announcement of new missile production coincided with a 10-day period marking the 31st anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution that toppled the U.S.-backed shah.
"Toofan 5 is one of the most advanced missiles. It has two warheads which can destroy tanks and other armored vehicles," Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi told Fars.
The Qaem is a "missile which can destroy targets in the air traveling at low speed and at low altitude, especially assault helicopters," Vahidi added.
The laser guided anti-helicopter Qaem rocket is designed to resist enemy actions in electronic warfare.
Iran is embroiled in a dispute with the West over its nuclear program and often makes announcements of progress in its military capabilities.
The West suspects Iran of trying to build nuclear bombs, but Iran says its program is for peaceful power generation.
On Friday, Iran's foreign minister said he believes a solution will be reached over a proposed deal to export uranium for enrichment abroad, a demand of Western nations that worry that Tehran plans to use its program to build nuclear weapons.
"The amount of uranium [for export] is negotiable. But I am confident that a solution can be found," Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Germany, Iran's state-run Press TV reported.
Earlier this week, Iran's atomic energy chief said no deal had been struck to export uranium for enrichment.
"The discussions are still being conducted, and we will inform the nation of any final agreements," said Ali Akbar Salehi, director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, on Wednesday according to the state-run Iranian Labour News Agency.
Asked what countries in addition to France and Brazil were under consideration, he said it was an Asian country but would not name it.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has told Press TV that Iran would have "no problem" turning over most of its low-enriched uranium to the West for further enrichment. Iranian diplomats had initially accepted the idea, which was proposed by the West, but then rejected a plan put forth by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the atomic watchdog of the United Nations.
"In our opinion, there are no issues with the exchange" of 3 percent to 5 percent enriched uranium for 20 percent enriched uranium, Ahmadinejad said.
He added that, if the West were to refuse to return the enriched fuel, world opinion would shift.
"If they don't live up to their agreement, the international atmosphere will change in our favor," he said.
"They [Western countries] can come and build 20 nuclear power plants for us; Russia, France and the United States can come and sign contracts and build the power plants. It serves our interests as well as theirs. Of course if they don't come to do this, we will reach a point to build our own power plants."
Mottaki on Friday said Ahmadinejad's comments show that the Islamic republic is "eager" to discuss the proposal.
Iran insists its nuclear program is intended solely for peaceful purposes. | [
"What does the West suspect?",
"who is suspected to build bombs?",
"what was considered a provocative act?"
] | [
[
"Iran of trying to build nuclear bombs,"
],
[
"Iran"
],
[
"Iran test-launched a rocket capable of carrying a satellite,"
]
] | The West says it suspects Iran is trying to build nuclear bombs .
Earlier this week Washington called Iranian rocket test-launch a "provocative act"
Iran says that its program is for peaceful power generation .
Iranian FM said Friday a solution will be found over uranium enrichment issue . |
(CNN) -- Two of Turkey's main political parties are pushing for a constitutional amendment to lift bans on headscarves at public universities, a move that has caused concern among Turkey's secular population. The lifting of the ban on headscarves has caused concern among Turkey's secular population. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan initiated the move, saying it would create equality in Turkey's higher education. The constitutional commission will discuss the proposal -- submitted by the AKP and MHP parties -- in the coming days before sending it to the floor for a vote. If approved, it would need President Abdullah Gul's approval, which is expected. Under the proposal, veils, burqas or chaddors -- all of which cover a woman's face -- would not be allowed. Bans on headcoverings were imposed in the early 1980s by Turkey's universities because they were seen as political symbols and conflicted with Turkey's secular governing system. The proposal to change Turkey's constitution sent chills through Turkey's secular population. Women's groups went to parliament Tuesday to voice their rejection. "This is a direct threat to the republic and its foundations," said Deniz Baykal, leader of Turkey's main secular party, CHP. Another CHP lawmaker said she fears that if the proposal is enacted, parents will feel pressure to have their daughters wear headscarves, even in elementary school. Mustafa Akaydin, head of Turkey's Higher Education Commission, is against the proposal. He said that allowing headscarves would be a rejection of Turkey's secular system of government. "It is an attempt to create a counterrevolution," Akaydin said. "It will be a breaking point." He said a majority of female high school students at one school were wearing headscarves during last weekend's entry exams -- a rarity in Turkish schools. The Higher Education Commission will meet Friday in Ankara to discuss the proposed changes. E-mail to a friend | [
"What was the ban about?",
"What does Turkey's ruling party agree to lift the ban on?",
"When was the ban introduced?",
"Which country agreed to lift the ban?"
] | [
[
"headscarves at public universities,"
],
[
"headscarves at public universities,"
],
[
"early 1980s"
],
[
"Turkey's"
]
] | Turkey's ruling party agrees to lift ban on head scarves in universities .
Ban introduced after military coup in 1980 as seen as a sign of religion .
Turkey is a secular nation but its population is mainly Muslim .
Proposal has brought protests among the secular population . |
(CNN) -- Two people died and 13 others were injured in four separate shootings in New Orleans early Tuesday, including one on Bourbon Street where costumed revelers were celebrating Halloween.
The first shooting, just after midnight outside a Bourbon Street nightclub, sent people running for cover, CNN affiliate WWL reported.
A 25-year-old man was shot several times and died at a hospital, police said. Seven other people, ranging in age from 19 to 50, were also injured.
"Apparently one or two people were shooting or shooting at each other for reasons unknown when eight people were struck by the gunfire," New Orleans police said in a statement. The injuries to those wounded in that incident appeared to be non-life-threatening, authorities said.
Police were still searching for a suspect or suspects Tuesday. Video from the scene showed evidence markers lying next to Mardi Gras beads on the street and the area cordoned off with crime scene tape as music continued to spill from nearby Bourbon Street bars.
"I've never seen so many people on Bourbon Street scatter to the sides," one woman, who was not identified, told WWL. "I've never seen that in my life."
She said she saw the shooting, but was "traumatized" and unable to run. "I was so scared," she said.
A second shooting took place about 1:45 a.m. on Canal Street, police said. A 19-year-old man was killed and three other people injured.
Officers heard gunshots while on patrol and saw three males running from the scene, police spokesman Garry Flot said in a statement. After a foot pursuit, two men were apprehended.
One of the men was questioned and released, but a 24-year-old faces charges of first-degree murder and three counts of attempted first-degree murder, police said.
Two other shootings took place in different locations later in the morning, Flot said, and a total of three people were injured. WWL said the two other shootings took place about 4 and 5:30 a.m.
CNN's Karan Olson Meilhan, Scott Thompson and Samuel Gardner III contributed to this report. | [
"How many people died in the shootings?",
"How many shootings took place over night?",
"In what street did people run for cover?",
"When did the shootings take place?",
"Who died in the shootings?",
"How many shootings have taken place?"
] | [
[
"Two"
],
[
"four"
],
[
"Bourbon"
],
[
"early"
],
[
"people"
],
[
"four"
]
] | NEW: A total of four separate shootings took place overnight .
A 25-year-old and 19-year-old died in separate incidents .
The shots sent revelers running for cover on Bourbon Street . |
(CNN) -- Two people were executed Tuesday in China for their part in a tainted milk scandal that killed at least six babies and sickened about 300,000 others, state-run media reported. Zhang Yujun was executed for endangering public safety and Geng Jinping was executed for producing and selling toxic food, the Xinhua news agency said. The tainted formula came to light in September 2008, after several babies fell ill from drinking formula that contained melamine. Melamine is commonly used in coatings and laminates, wood adhesives, fabric coatings, ceiling tiles and flame retardants. Some Chinese dairy plants added the chemical to milk products so they would appear to have a higher protein level. The tainted milk caused kidney stones and urinary tract problems in hundreds of thousands of children. The 22 Chinese dairy producers that made the formula have offered compensation to victims' families. In all, 21 people were tried and sentenced in January for their roles in the scandal, Xinhua reported. Among them, Zhang and Geng were sentenced to death, and most others received at least 15 years in prison. | [
"How many were killed by the tainted milk?",
"Who was involved in toxic milk scandal?",
"What toxin was in the milk?",
"How many were were tried and sentenced in January for their roles in the scandal?",
"how many people were tried",
"How many people were sentenced?",
"what were they executed for",
"How many babies were killed?"
] | [
[
"six babies"
],
[
"Zhang Yujun"
],
[
"melamine."
],
[
"21 people"
],
[
"21"
],
[
"21"
],
[
"their part in a tainted milk scandal"
],
[
"at least six"
]
] | Zhang Yujun and Geng Jinping executed for their roles in toxic milk scandal .
In all, 21 people were tried and sentenced in January for their roles in the scandal .
Tainted milk killed at least six babies and sickened about 300,000 others .
Drinking formula held melamine, a toxin dairy plants used to make protein levels appear higher . |
(CNN) -- Two people were killed and 21 others were injured Wednesday when a tour bus went out of control and overturned on a freeway outside Austin, Minnesota, state authorities said. The bus, which was carrying senior citizens, overturned on Interstate 90 about three miles west of Austin, landing in a ditch off the right side of the roadway. At least 10 ambulances and several medical helicopters were called to the scene. "All 23 people on board were either injured or killed," said Andy Skoogman, spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Weather conditions were good when the bus, headed east, crossed the highway median, crossed over westbound lanes and overturned, Skoogman said. Watch video of tour bus crash site The cause of the accident was not immediately known, he said. Investigators talked with some passengers, he said, but had not yet talked with the driver. CNN affiliate KAAL reported the bus was returning to Rochester, Minnesota, from a trip to a casino in Northwood, Iowa. | [
"How many people were on board the bus?",
"On what number interstate did the bus lose control?",
"Where did this happen",
"How many were injured",
"The bus carrying senior citizens returning from casino trip in which US state?"
] | [
[
"23"
],
[
"90"
],
[
"outside Austin, Minnesota,"
],
[
"21"
],
[
"in Northwood, Iowa."
]
] | Bus carrying senior citizens returning from casino trip in Iowa overturns in Minnesota .
Minnesota official: "All 23 people on board were either injured or killed"
At least 10 ambulances, several medical helicopters rush to the scene .
Weather conditions were good when the bus lost control on Interstate 90 near Austin . |
(CNN) -- Two people were shot and killed Friday at a community college in Dearborn, Michigan, in what police believe was a murder-suicide, an official said.
The Henry Ford Community College campus in Dearborn, Michigan, was locked down after the shooting.
A man and woman were found dead in a classroom building on the campus of Henry Ford Community College, Dearborn Deputy Chief Gregg Brighton said.
Investigators believe the man shot the woman but would not provide further information, Brighton said.
A shotgun was involved in the incident, which occurred in a classroom that was not being used, he said.
"We're in the very preliminary stages," Brighton said. "We've just made the scene safe. The crime lab is on the scene with detectives." Watch Brighton describe the scene »
Police responding to a report of gunfire at the school had entered the south hallway of the Fine Arts Building when they heard another gunshot, Brighton said.
"We were in the building when we heard the shotgun blast, and when we finally got to that room, we had two deceased parties," he said at a news conference. "We believe this is a murder-suicide."
The campus was briefly in lockdown and will remain closed for the rest of the Friday, a school official said.
The school's emergency system immediately notified students, faculty and staff about the shooting via e-mail and cell phone, said Marjorie Swan, vice president and controller of the college.
"Our hearts go out to the family and the friends of the young woman who lost her life today," Swan said. | [
"where Police believe man shot woman?",
"What do police believe?",
"What status is the crime scene in?",
"where woman found dead?"
] | [
[
"community college in Dearborn,"
],
[
"murder-suicide,"
],
[
"very preliminary stages,\""
],
[
"in a classroom building on the campus of Henry Ford Community College,"
]
] | NEW: Police believe man shot woman in murder-suicide .
NEW: School offers condolences to "young woman who lost her life today"
Man, woman found dead in classroom building at Henry Ford Community College .
Scene is contained, campus will remain closed for rest of Friday . |
(CNN) -- Two photographs of Madonna set to appear in a Christie's auction next month will probably sell for at least $10,000 each, according to estimates posted on the company's Web site. Christie's will auction a nude photo of Madonna (partially shown above) taken by Lee Friedlander. One, a full-frontal nude black-and-white photograph of the singer, was taken in 1979 by celebrated American photographer Lee Friedlander for a series of nudes he was working on, said Milena Sales, a spokeswoman for the auction house. Madonna was about 20 when the photograph, one of several, was taken. A handful from the shoot appeared in Playboy magazine in 1985, Sales said. Christie's put price estimates for the photograph at $10,000 to $15,000. The second photograph of Madonna was taken in the 1980s by Helmut Newton. In the Newton photograph, which is in color, Madonna is wearing a short dress and black stockings with garters. The circumstances behind the photo shoot were not immediately clear. The auction will take place in New York on February 12. | [
"what was taken?",
"how much expected to sell?",
"What Auction Christie?",
"who is Lee Friedlander?",
"who is auctioning"
] | [
[
"a nude photo of Madonna"
],
[
"$10,000 each,"
],
[
"Two"
],
[
"celebrated American photographer"
],
[
"Christie's"
]
] | Christie's to auction Madonna photos .
One is full-frontal nude shot taken by Lee Friedlander .
Nude photo expected to sell for $10,000 to $15,000 . |
(CNN) -- Two pirates in Somalia vowed revenge Monday, after the U.S. military killed three pirates and freed a U.S. ship captain who had been held hostage for several days.
Crew members of the Maersk Alabama celebrate after hearing the Navy had rescued their captain from pirates.
The pirates told a Somali journalist that they were angered by the U.S. action, as well as a French raid Friday that killed two pirates and one hostage and freed four hostages.
"We have decided to kill U.S. and French sailors if they happen to be among our future hostages," said Abdullahi Ahmed, a member of a pirate group based at Harardhere, a coastal town in central Somalia.
President Obama said Monday the United States will confront pirates and hold them "accountable for their crimes."
Obama added that he is proud of the military's actions in rescuing Capt. Richard Phillips from his pirate captors.
Members of the U.S. Navy shot and killed three pirates who had been holding Phillips hostage in a lifeboat on Sunday evening, a military official said. The pirates seized Phillips after a failed attempt to hijack his ship, the Maersk Alabama.
For five days the pirates held Phillips in the lifeboat as U.S. Navy ships closed in and lingered nearby.
On Sunday, U.S. Navy snipers opened fire on the lifeboat after seeing one pirate point an AK-47 at the captain's back, the U.S. military said. The shootings occurred as one pirate was aboard the USS Bainbridge negotiating over Phillips' fate. Watch how SEALs shot three pirates »
Three pirates in the lifeboat were killed. Phillips was not hurt. He was taken to another U.S. Navy vessel, the U.S. military said, where he received a medical checkup and spoke by phone with his wife in the United States. Watch admiral tell how rescue went down »
Pirates in Somalia identified the slain men as Mohamed Ahmed Adawe, Nur Dalabey and Khalif Guled. Two of them -- Dalabey and Guled -- were among the "most experienced men" in a group that has hijacked seagoing vessels for money, Ahmed said.
They were killed two days after the French military freed four hostages, including a child, who had been held by pirates for nearly a week on the yacht, Tanit, off Somalia's coast. In that operation, a hostage and two pirates were killed, the French Defense Ministry said, while three pirates were captured. Watch how pirates roam a vast area of ocean »
The military actions angered Ali Nur, a pirate who is based in Gara'ad, a coastal village in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, in northern Somalia.
"From now on, after the killings by the U.S. and France, we will add some harsher steps in our dealings with hostages, particularly American and French hostages," Nur told a journalist.
The U.S. military acknowledged Sunday that its actions to rescue Phillips could increase the risk of violence.
"This could escalate violence in this part of the world. No question about it," U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Bill Gortney told reporters.
Nur issued a warning to the United States.
"The killing of our boys was aggression, and the U.S. will see what they get from their operation," he said. | [
"Where are they?",
"What did pirates vow?",
"What will they do?",
"Who did the French kill?",
"what did French forces?",
"What did Obama promise?"
] | [
[
"Somalia"
],
[
"revenge"
],
[
"add some harsher steps in our dealings with hostages, particularly American and French hostages,\""
],
[
"two pirates and one hostage"
],
[
"raid Friday that killed two pirates and one hostage and freed four hostages."
],
[
"the United States will confront pirates and hold them \"accountable for their crimes.\""
]
] | NEW: Obama promises U.S. will confront piracy .
Pirates vow to kill U.S., French mariners if they become hostages .
U.S. Navy killed three pirates in rescue of cargo ship captain .
French forces killed two pirates in rescue raid Friday . |
(CNN) -- Two senior Indian officials met with the Sri Lankan president Friday in Colombo to address the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn island nation.
A Sri Lanka army photo of what it says are refugees fleeing a rebel area.
Shiv Shankar Menon, the Indian foreign secretary and M.K. Narayanan, the national security adviser, met with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, according to A.M.J. Sadiq, a foreign ministry official in Sri Lanka.
He did not provide further details.
"The Indian message was just short of reading the riot act," a source told CNN.
Significant numbers of people have been killed or wounded in a Sri Lankan offensive against the faltering Tamil Tiger rebel movement, and thousands are trapped by the fighting, the United Nations said Wednesday.
"Given that the area has shrunk even further, the potential for further significant casualties still remains," the U.N. said in a statement.
The Sri Lankan army launched an operation against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam in the country's northern area Monday, and a deadline for the rebels to surrender passed Tuesday.
Government troops say they have rescued 39,000 civilians trapped in the area, but tens of thousands more remain wedged on the island's northeastern coast.
The area remains controlled by the rebels, the U.S. State Department said Tuesday.
The Tigers have been fighting for an independent state in Sri Lanka's northeast since 1983.
As many as 70,000 people have been killed since the civil war began, and the group has been declared a terrorist organization by 32 countries, including the United States and the European Union.
Thousands of civilians remained threatened, Pranab Mukherjee, India's foreign affairs minister, said in a statement Thursday. He called for an end to hostilities in the area.
The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said it is helping the government in the regions of Vavuniya and Jaffna, with emergency shelters and distribution of aid. There are about 38 internally displaced persons sites and authorities are working to come up with more land and buildings for more displaced people.
"UNHCR remains deeply concerned about the estimated 50,000 people who are still trapped inside the conflict zone where fighting is intensifying," the organization said.
"We urge the government to exercise extreme caution in its military actions and calls upon the LTTE to allow displaced people to leave the area immediately," the UNHCR said. | [
"who met with president",
"Who is the Sri Lankan president?",
"Who were the officials?",
"What did the Humanitarian agency say?",
"Who met with the Sri Lankan president?",
"A significant number of dead and wounded were found where?"
] | [
[
"Two"
],
[
"Mahinda Rajapaksa,"
],
[
"Shiv Shankar Menon, the Indian foreign secretary and M.K. Narayanan, the national security adviser,"
],
[
"\"Given that the area has shrunk even further, the potential for further significant casualties still remains,\""
],
[
"Two"
],
[
"Sri Lanka"
]
] | Senior Indian officials meet with the Sri Lankan president .
U.N. says "significant number" of dead and wounded in Sri Lanka offensive .
Humanitarian agency says aid cut off to more than 80,000 . |
(CNN) -- Two tainted lots of a generic version of a drug reportedly taken by Michael Jackson have been recalled by the drug maker. However, no link has been established between the drug -- a powerful sedative and anesthetic called propofol -- and the singer's death. "I have no way of knowing anything related to this specific product -- if it might have played a role or not played a role," said Dr. Arjun Srinivasan, the chief investigator on the recall for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency is not involved in the investigation into Jackson's death, he said. The CDC issued a health advisory Monday, saying two lots of a generic version of the drug had tested positive for endotoxin, a contaminant. The drug maker, Teva Pharmaceuticals, voluntarily recalled the lots. Srinivasan said the agency received 40 reports of patients around the country developing high fevers and muscle aches after being injected with the drug. "All of the cases had high fevers, some muscle aches, headaches, but no issues with heart problems that we were told of," he said. Jackson died June 25 of cardiac arrest. The exact cause of death is pending toxicology results. All of the people who had taken propofol recovered; only one was hospitalized and that patient was quickly discharged, he said. But, he added, "at high doses, endotoxin can absolutely cause lowered blood pressure and much more serious reactions." "It can cause decreases in blood pressure, which could precipitate problems with your heart." The manufacturer, Teva Pharmaceuticals, is working with the Food and Drug Administration to determine how the contamination occurred and is voluntarily recalling the affected lots, he said. A spokeswoman for Teva said about 57,000 vials were included in the recall of the drug, and said the company had been contacted by the Drug Enforcement Administration. "I can say the DEA did contact us about a specific lot number, and that lot number is not from the two we are recalling," said spokeswoman Denise Bradley. She would not say whether the contact was related to the Jackson investigation. A DEA spokesman did not immediately return a call seeking comment. The Associated Press and the Los Angeles Times, citing unidentified sources, have reported that police found the drug Diprivan, a brand-name version of propofol, among Jackson's medicines. A source involved with the probe into Jackson's death told CNN that investigators found numerous bottles of prescription drugs in his $100,000-a-month rented mansion in Holmby Hills, California. ProPublica, an online news organization, first reported a possible link between Jackson's death and the drug recall on Tuesday. But an FDA spokeswoman denied there could have been a link. "This is fever, chills," said Karen Riley. "Does that sound like heart failure?" She said at least three companies make the generic version of the drug and only one of them -- AstraZeneca -- makes Diprivan, the brand-name version. "We don't know what was at Michael Jackson's house, but I'm guessing it was Diprivan because that's what the reporting has been," Riley said. "This [the propofol recall] was endotoxin in the drug. It would not cause heart failure. ... It's unrelated." Authorities have said the cause of Jackson's heart failure will not be determined officially until toxicology tests are complete. | [
"what did cdc say?",
"What did the DEA inquire about?"
] | [
[
"a generic version of the drug had tested positive for endotoxin,"
],
[
"a specific lot number,"
]
] | NEW: DEA inquired about lot number not included in recall, spokesman says .
CDC says two lots of Diprivan's generic version tested positive for contaminant .
40 patients reported high fevers, muscle aches after taking generic version of drug .
FDA disputes online reports that recall and Michael Jackson's death could be related . |
(CNN) -- Two teachers at a Baltimore, Maryland, high school say they were attacked by students, and one says such assaults are commonplace, according to CNN affiliate WBAL.
"No learning place should be this violent," art teacher Jolita Berry said of the school where she teaches.
The school district says it is investigating and will take appropriate action, but both art teacher Jolita Berry and English teacher Marc Standish say the administration has failed to protect and support them.
"I looked over, and her friends were cheering her on. And before I knew it, she hit me in the face," Berry told WBAL. She showed the station a cell-phone video depicting what she said was a student beating her last Friday.
Individuals in the video are difficult to identify, and no charges have been filed, WBAL reported.
Berry said her principal told her she brought the attack on herself. "On one hand, she told me that she is sorry that this happened to me," Berry told WBAL. "But then she turned right around and told me that telling a student that I was going to defend myself was a trigger word. I triggered them."
Berry called the administrative response frustrating.
"Too many times this has happened at this school and at other schools, and nothing's being done. No learning place should be this violent," she said.
Baltimore City Schools public relations department said it would have no comment beyond a statement issued by Bennie Williams, the district's chief of staff, that says the district has "a fundamental commitment" to keep schools safe.
"We take any disruption of the learning environment extremely seriously and respond immediately and forcefully to any disruption. ... We are currently investigating the specific incident at Reginald F. Lewis High School to determine appropriate action. ... We are treating this incident with the utmost seriousness," the statement said.
But the problem goes beyond one incident, Standish said. He told WBAL that students regularly issue "very visceral threats" against him. "I just had a couple last week, and it's just everyday routine," he said. Standish said he has filed a grievance with the district through the teachers union.
Union President Marietta English met with about 20 principals Wednesday evening to discuss teacher safety. "We really want to implement some policies that principals can follow [so] that teachers won't be having to be afraid to come in their classrooms or come into their schools," she told WBAL. E-mail to a friend | [
"What does the second teacher say about attacks?",
"What happened to the teacher ?",
"Are attacks usual at Baltimore high school ?",
"who beat her and put the video on myspace",
"what school were the unusual attacks at",
"who met with principals to develop safety policies",
"Who is investigating the incident ?"
] | [
[
"the administration has failed to protect and support them."
],
[
"they were attacked by students,"
],
[
"assaults are commonplace,"
],
[
"a student"
],
[
"Baltimore, Maryland,"
],
[
"Union President Marietta English"
],
[
"school district"
]
] | Report: Teacher says student beat her, video put on MySpace .
Second teacher says attacks at Baltimore high school not unusual .
School district administration investigating incident, chief of staff says .
Union chief meets with principals to develop safety policies . |
(CNN) -- Two teenage girls from Great Britain will fly home Thursday after spending a year behind bars in Ghana for drug-smuggling, the British High Commission in the west African country said. The girls were stopped by customs officials at Accra trying to smuggle drugs back to Britain. Ghanaian police arrested the teenagers, identified as Yasemin Vatansever and Yatunde Diya, in July 2007 as they prepared to board a British Airways flight to London. When officials searched their laptop bags as part of departure formalities, they found about 13 lbs (6 kg) of cocaine. The girls, now 17, were 16 at the time of their arrest. They faced a maximum sentence of three years. UK media have named the girls as Yatunde Diya and Yasemin Vatansever of north London. In January, a juvenile court in Ghana sentenced the pair to nine months in jail for trying to smuggle cocaine out of the country. At the time, a British Foreign Office spokesman said the teens would not have to serve the full sentence because they had already spent more than six months in custody. But soon afterward, Ghanaian authorities changed their minds. The girls were housed in a correctional home for girls in the country's capital, Accra. Fair Trials International, a UK-based group that provided legal assistance to the pair, called the girls "pawns in a larger operation." Authorities in Ghana had said a man paid the girls £6,000 (about $11,700) to fly to Ghana to retrieve the laptop bags containing the drugs from two of his associates, according to the country's national news agency. Those men have not been caught. "The girls have served their full sentences, but the men who groomed them and lured them to Ghana remain free to target other vulnerable young women," said Catherine Wolthuizen, Fair Trials' chief executive, in a statement this week. Ghana and other West African countries have become a transit point for drugs headed to Europe. The girls were arrested in a joint Britain-Ghana drug detection operation, the UK's customs agency said Wednesday. CNN's Laura Maestro contributed to this report | [
"What were the girls?",
"When are the teens due to fly home?",
"Who were jailed in Ghana?",
"What did UK Legal aid group mention about the girls?",
"what was the charge on British teens?",
"Who was sentenced to nine months in prison?",
"When were they arrested?",
"What were their ages?",
"What did the UK legal aid group say?",
"what was the age of the pair when they were arrested earlier?",
"Who is jailed in Ghana on drugs charges?"
] | [
[
"\"pawns in a larger operation.\""
],
[
"Thursday"
],
[
"Two"
],
[
"\"pawns in a larger operation.\""
],
[
"drug-smuggling,"
],
[
"Yatunde Diya and Yasemin Vatansever of north London."
],
[
"July 2007"
],
[
"16 at the time of"
],
[
"\"pawns in a larger operation.\""
],
[
"16"
],
[
"teenage girls from Great Britain"
]
] | British teens jailed in Ghana on drugs charges, due to fly home to UK Thursday .
Pair, both 16 at time of arrest last July, sentenced to nine months in prison .
UK legal aid group says girls had been targeted, were "pawns in a larger operation" |
(CNN) -- Two top Iranian opposition leaders have called on supporters to protest on February 11, the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, an opposition Web site reported.
According to The Green Way Web site, a meeting took place Saturday between opposition leaders Mehdi Karroubi and Mir Hossein Moussavi at Karroubi's home.
They discussed the two executions that happened last week and the cases of 16 protesters who went on trial Saturday, the site reported.
"The widespread arrests of political activists and university students, the silencing of the media, and the forced confessions of prisoners are against the principles of Islam and the constitution of Iran," the leaders said in a statement.
They also called for people to take to the streets on February 11 to demand their rights back as citizens of Iran, The Green Way reported.
Meanwhile, state-run Press TV quoted Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday as saying that the nation will deliver a harsh blow to "global arrogance" on February 11.
Press TV offered no details on or explanation of the statement.
Opposition protests were launched after the disputed June 12 presidential election that gave hardline Ahmadinejad a second term. The government denies accusations of fraud.
About 4,000 people have been arrested in the post-election crackdown. As of January 24, the government had confirmed the deaths of at least 37 people in the protests or in detention, seven of those deaths happening on the religious holiday of Ashura.
On Thursday, authorities hanged Mohammed Reza Ali Zamani, 37, and Arash Rahmanipour, 20, who had been convicted of being enemies of God and plotting to topple the Islamic regime.
The two were convicted in mass trials of opposition supporters in August, but Rahmanipour's lawyer said the young man was arrested two months before the election. | [
"what Top Iranian opposition leaders call for February 11 protest?",
"what are the demands",
"who met to discuss executions?",
"what they demand?",
"who was executed",
"when was the protest?"
] | [
[
"Mehdi Karroubi and Mir Hossein Moussavi"
],
[
"their rights back as citizens of Iran,"
],
[
"Mehdi Karroubi and Mir Hossein Moussavi"
],
[
"rights back as citizens of Iran,"
],
[
"Arash Rahmanipour,"
],
[
"February 11,"
]
] | Top Iranian opposition leaders call for February 11 protest, opposition Web site reports .
They called for people to take to the streets to demand their rights back as citizens of Iran .
Mehdi Karroubi and Mir Hossein Moussavi also met to discuss last week's executions .
The two executions followed mass trials of opposition supporters in August . |
(CNN) -- Two tractor-trailer trucks crashed and burst into flames Thursday on a bridge between the United States and Mexico, shutting a key border crossing and killing four people, police said. Police look at the aftermath of a fiery crash on a bridge linking Reynosa, Mexico, and Pharr, Texas. The collision on the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge in Texas triggered a chain-reaction accident with three other vehicles, said Lt. Lupe Salinas with the Pharr Police Department. A pickup flipped off the bridge, killing three people. Another person died in a vehicle that struck one of the tractor-trailers. Six others were injured. Pharr Emergency Management Coordinator Elsa Sanchez told The Associated Press the pickup truck had Texas license plates, and the two 18-wheelers and a minivan involved in the wreck appeared to have Mexican plates. Watch aftermath of fiery crash » The accident happened around 7:30 p.m. (8:30 p.m. ET). The bridge was closed for the rest of the evening. The bridge reopened on Friday morning after Texas Department of Trnasportation engineers inspected it, according to CNN affiliate KRGV. The bridge is normally open from 6 a.m. until midnight and is closed overnight. The 3.2-mile-long bridge connects U.S. 281 in Pharr, Texas, to the city of Reynosa in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, according to the city of Pharr's Web site. On an average day, the site says, 5,800 vehicles cross it. E-mail to a friend CNN's Ed Payne and Jessica Jordan contributed to this story. | [
"What reopens on Friday?",
"What started the crash?",
"When did the bridge reopen?",
"Where did the accident happen?",
"What happened to the two tractor trailers?",
"What kind of accident killed four people?",
"What happened to the pickup truck?",
"Where was the bridge?"
] | [
[
"The bridge"
],
[
"tractor-trailer trucks"
],
[
"Friday morning"
],
[
"Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge"
],
[
"tractor-trailer trucks crashed and burst into flames"
],
[
"tractor-trailer trucks crashed and burst into flames"
],
[
"flipped off the bridge,"
],
[
"linking Reynosa, Mexico, and Pharr, Texas."
]
] | NEW: Bridge reopens Friday morning after highway engineers give OK .
Four killed in chain reaction crash that started when two tractor-trailers collided .
Three killed in pickup truck that fell off bridge; 4th victim in car that hit one 18-wheeler .
Crash happened on bridge linking Pharr, Texas, and Reynosa, Mexico . |
(CNN) -- Two words, delivered with index finger punctuating the air and directed at the president of the United States, made a little-known South Carolina congressman one of the most controversial men on the Internet -- at least Wednesday heading into Thursday. Many Facebook and Twitter users condemned Rep. Joe Wilson for his outburst toward President Obama. As soon as Rep. Joe Wilson was identified as the person whose angry and audible outburst disrupted President Obama's health care speech to Congress, condemnation was swift -- and brutal. Within minutes, someone had altered Wilson's entry on the online encyclopedia Wikipedia: "He is a [expletive] that called the president of the United States a liar on national television and has no respect for the office he holds." When the Web site scrubbed the sentence, an even more offensive entry wormed its way in. iReport.com: "You are disrespectful, sir" Soon, the site disabled edit options for Wilson's entry, chalking it up to "vandalism." On Twitter, post after post urged users to condemn Wilson's breach of protocol, listing his Web site address and his congressional office phone number. Web surfers who visited http://www.joewilson.house.gov/ were greeted with the message: "This site is down for maintenance. Please check back again soon." Those who called his office number either could not get through because the line was busy, or could not leave a message because the phone continued to ring without activating voice mail. "If he's the face of the GOP, we'll have public option by Columbus Day!" wrote Andisheh Nouraee, a columnist for Creative Loafing, an alternative weekly in Atlanta, Georgia. Democrats on Capitol Hill piled on the condemnation as well. "Biggest disappointment of evening, the total lack of respect show by one member for the president," wrote Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri. "Never acceptable to behave like a jerk." As "Joe Wilson" trended on Twitter as the most popular conversation topic -- and on Google among the most searched terms -- the lawmaker's supporters fought back. Many set up Twitter accounts and posted their first tweets Wednesday night and early Thursday. "You have nothing to apologize for. You should be applauded for standing up and speaking the truth," said Jamie Sawyer of Madison, Wisconsin. "Good for him! Too bad he had to apologize" was a comment on the Lonely Conservative blog. "At last the little man found his voice tonight and called Obama what he surely is, a liar," said another blog, Sunlit Uplands. By early Thursday, genuine tweets about Wilson were interspersed with ads for male erectile dysfunction: "Joe Wilson Cialis $1.9 Viagra $1.1 (Web site address)" Though Wilson issued an apology, saying his emotions got the best of him, few online bought it. Watch Obama react to the "You lie!" outburst » On the Internet, where speculation runs rife, tweeters pointed to a comment Wilson posted on Labor Day as evidence that his outburst was planned: "Happy Labor Day! Wonderful parade at Chapin, many people called out to oppose Obamacare which I assured them would be relayed tomorrow to DC," the tweet from Wilson's account said. On Facebook, where users aren't impeded by Twitter's 140-character limitation, a prolonged and nasty war of words dominated Wilson's page. "I have no problem being called a liberal hack by illogical, fear filled, unintelligent people. and actually, I will take it as a complement," wrote Janine Feczko. Name-calling was met by ad hominem attacks: "Janine, I'm sure in the trailer park where you live they gush over your incredible intellect and witty commentary. After all that toothless grin and tripple chin screams Harvard Law," wrote Dan Colgan. Nine hundred and 10 comments later, the battle raged on early Thursday. Amid all this, the campaign of Democrat Rob Miller, who hopes to unseat the Republican Wilson in next year's midterm elections, raked in the dough | [
"What did South Carolina congressman shout at Obama?",
"what did wikipedia do",
"What did the congressman shout?",
"Whose Wikipedia page was being edited?",
"What happened to his Wikipedia account?",
"what did the south carolina congressman shout"
] | [
[
"\"You lie!\""
],
[
"the site disabled edit options for Wilson's entry,"
],
[
"\"You lie!\""
],
[
"Rep. Joe Wilson"
],
[
"someone had altered Wilson's entry on the online encyclopedia"
],
[
"\"You lie!\""
]
] | Little-known South Carolina congressman shouts, "You lie!" at President Obama .
Wikipedia disables editing for Rep. Joe Wilson's entry, citing "vandalism"
Name-calling rampant on Facebook and Twitter as political passions run high . |
(CNN) -- Tzipi Livni, leader of a key Israeli opposition party, said Monday she would be willing to face arrest to challenge the validity of war crimes charges reportedly filed against her in a British court.
"For me, this is not a question," Livni told CNN's Christiane Amanpour, when asked whether she was willing to face arrest. "I mean, yes, the answer is yes. I am."
A British court last year issued an arrest warrant for Livni, leader of Israel's Kadima Party. Details of the warrant were never made public; the warrant was reportedly later dropped.
"I would like this to be, in a way, maybe even a test case, because I'm willing to speak up and to speak about the military operation in Gaza Strip," Livni said.
Livni had served as Israel's foreign minister during an Israeli three-week military offensive against Hamas in Gaza that ended exactly one year ago. The United Nations and some human-rights groups have blamed Israel and Hamas for human rights abuses during the conflict.
But Livni, who is no longer in the Israeli government, defended the former government's decision to go to war, saying that the campaign was needed to confront rocket attacks by Palestinian movement Hamas on Israeli civilians, particularly those living in southern Israel.
"I know that the decisions that we made were crucial to give an answer to Israeli civilians that couldn't live in the south part of Israel and later or even also in different parts of Israel," she said.
"It was part of my responsibility, and this was the right answer. And I'm willing to stand for these reasons and to explain this to -- to the world and to any court."
She said that the Israeli military had already conducted its own investigation into the actions of its soldiers, but that she did not necessarily support a public inquiry in Israel, unless it helped Israeli soldiers when they traveled outside Israel.
"Part of our responsibility is also to defend the Israeli soldiers and officials that worked according to our decision in the government. And if an inquiry helps them, this is fine, so I can support an inquiry, as long as this helps them. It's not about me. It's about the Israeli soldiers, because I want them to leave Israel and to feel free to visit different parts of the world according, you know, to -- like any -- like any other citizen of the free world and any other soldier."
One year after end of fighting in Gaza, Livni said that the Israeli blockade of Gaza would stay in place.
"The blockade on Gaza -- yes. But it's important to say that, when it comes to humanitarian needs, the gates are open," she said.
It was not clear who originally sought the warrant for Livni last year from Westminster Magistrates Court. British legal rules allow arrest warrants to be issued by a court independent of ministerial approval.
The arrest warrant was revoked once it was clear Livni was not in Britain, the BBC reported. | [
"Livni was Israel's foreign minister during when?",
"Who is leader of the Israeli opposition party?",
"Who is the leader of Israeli opposition party?",
"U.N. has blamed Israel and Hamas for what?",
"Who is blamed for human rights abuse?"
] | [
[
"an Israeli three-week military offensive against Hamas in Gaza"
],
[
"Livni,"
],
[
"Livni,"
],
[
"war crimes"
],
[
"Israel and Hamas"
]
] | Tzipi Livni, leader of Israeli opposition party, is willing to face war crimes charges .
Charges reportedly filed against her in a UK court; Details of the warrant were never made public .
Livni was Israel's foreign minister during military offensive against Hamas in Gaza .
U.N. has blamed Israel and Hamas for human rights abuses during the conflict . |
(CNN) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged the leaders of Madagascar to resolve their differences after an anti-government rally a day earlier turned violent and left more than two dozen people dead.
Protesters rally Saturday before violence broke out near the Presidential Palace.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Ban deplored the violence and called Sunday on authorities "to urgently initiate a fair process by which those responsible will be brought to justice."
Ban also blamed the "tragedy" on a "lack of restraint on all sides."
"The Secretary-General calls upon all concerned parties to resolve their differences through peaceful and democratic means and through the exercise of responsible leadership," according to the statement.
A police official said the death toll from Saturday's violence outside the Presidential Palace in the capital city of Antananarivo had risen to 26. More than 80 were injured during the demonstration, officials said.
The capital city was quiet as mourners attended a public ceremony for the dead.
The violence stemmed from an ongoing dispute over who is in charge of the government.
Andry Rajoelina, the mayor of Antananarivo, took to the streets one week ago, declaring himself the Indian Ocean island nation's leader after a week of violence and looting that killed at least 80 people and wounded more than 300. Watch an iReport on the Madagascar violence »
But President Marc Ravalomanana has fired him and put someone else in the mayoral job.
Rajoelina had called the rally to unveil his new government at the May 13th Plaza, according to Brittany Martin, an American citizen who is a Harvard Fellow and lives in Antananarivo.
Martin said the rally was peaceful in the morning hours of Saturday, until gunshots rang out in the afternoon after the protesters marched from the plaza to the palace.
She said it was unclear where the shots were coming from.
Some media reports blamed foreign mercenaries for the shootings; others said army guards were responsible or that the army was firing at the mercenaries to protect the crowd.
Violence in Madagascar began January 26, when protesters stormed state-run television and radio stations in Antananarivo. Hours earlier, the government had shut down a radio station owned by Rajoelina and, weeks ago, had similarly shut down Rajoelina's television station after it aired an interview with ex-President Didier Ratsiraka. See pictures from last week's upheaval »
Ravalomanana took power in 2001 after ousting Ratsiraka in a tense, hotly contested election. Ratsiraka fled to France afterward. Loyalists blame Ratsiraka's family members for inciting the recent trouble.
Anger has risen in Madagascar, where the World Bank says the average person earns about $320 a year, over reports that Ravalomanana recently bought a $60 million airplane.
Rajoelina has urged supporters to demand the resignation of Ravalomanana and said he planned to take charge until a transition government could be established in the nation off Africa's southeastern coast. Map »
"What we've been pushing for is dialogue the whole time," said Rodney Ford, a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy. He said he had received reports that palace guards used tear gas and shot into the air to try and disperse the crowd.
Journalist Dregoire Pourtier in Antananarivo, Madagascar, contributed to this report. | [
"what did he do?",
"What is the number of deaths",
"what was the cause?",
"what was the result of the dispute",
"What is the dispute over",
"whom does ban blame",
"Who has declared himself the leader of Madagascar"
] | [
[
"urged the leaders of Madagascar to resolve their differences"
],
[
"more than two dozen"
],
[
"an ongoing dispute over who is in charge of the government."
],
[
"turned violent and left more than two dozen people dead."
],
[
"who is in charge of the government."
],
[
"blamed the \"tragedy\" on a \"lack of restraint on all sides.\""
],
[
"Andry Rajoelina,"
]
] | Ban blames the "tragedy" on a "lack of restraint on all sides"
26 dead, more than 80 wounded during an anti-government rally on Saturday .
Violence stems from a dispute over who is in charge of the government .
Andry Rajoelina, the mayor of Antananarivo, declares himself Madagascar's leader . |
(CNN) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged the leaders of Madagascar to resolve their differences after an anti-government rally a day earlier turned violent and left more than two dozen people dead. Protesters rally Saturday before violence broke out near the Presidential Palace. In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Ban deplored the violence and called Sunday on authorities "to urgently initiate a fair process by which those responsible will be brought to justice." Ban also blamed the "tragedy" on a "lack of restraint on all sides." "The Secretary-General calls upon all concerned parties to resolve their differences through peaceful and democratic means and through the exercise of responsible leadership," according to the statement. A police official said the death toll from Saturday's violence outside the Presidential Palace in the capital city of Antananarivo had risen to 26. More than 80 were injured during the demonstration, officials said. The capital city was quiet as mourners attended a public ceremony for the dead. The violence stemmed from an ongoing dispute over who is in charge of the government. Andry Rajoelina, the mayor of Antananarivo, took to the streets one week ago, declaring himself the Indian Ocean island nation's leader after a week of violence and looting that killed at least 80 people and wounded more than 300. Watch an iReport on the Madagascar violence » But President Marc Ravalomanana has fired him and put someone else in the mayoral job. Rajoelina had called the rally to unveil his new government at the May 13th Plaza, according to Brittany Martin, an American citizen who is a Harvard Fellow and lives in Antananarivo. Martin said the rally was peaceful in the morning hours of Saturday, until gunshots rang out in the afternoon after the protesters marched from the plaza to the palace. She said it was unclear where the shots were coming from. Some media reports blamed foreign mercenaries for the shootings; others said army guards were responsible or that the army was firing at the mercenaries to protect the crowd. Violence in Madagascar began January 26, when protesters stormed state-run television and radio stations in Antananarivo. Hours earlier, the government had shut down a radio station owned by Rajoelina and, weeks ago, had similarly shut down Rajoelina's television station after it aired an interview with ex-President Didier Ratsiraka. See pictures from last week's upheaval » Ravalomanana took power in 2001 after ousting Ratsiraka in a tense, hotly contested election. Ratsiraka fled to France afterward. Loyalists blame Ratsiraka's family members for inciting the recent trouble. Anger has risen in Madagascar, where the World Bank says the average person earns about $320 a year, over reports that Ravalomanana recently bought a $60 million airplane. Rajoelina has urged supporters to demand the resignation of Ravalomanana and said he planned to take charge until a transition government could be established in the nation off Africa's southeastern coast. Map » "What we've been pushing for is dialogue the whole time," said Rodney Ford, a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy. He said he had received reports that palace guards used tear gas and shot into the air to try and disperse the crowd. Journalist Dregoire Pourtier in Antananarivo, Madagascar, contributed to this report. | [
"Where did this happen?",
"How many people died?",
"What is the dispute about?",
"How many died?",
"What kind of rally took place on Saturday?",
"What does the ban blame?",
"What does the violence stem from?",
"Who declares themselves a leader of Madagascar?"
] | [
[
"outside the Presidential Palace in the capital city of Antananarivo"
],
[
"26."
],
[
"who is in charge of the government."
],
[
"and left more than two dozen people dead."
],
[
"anti-government"
],
[
"a \"lack of restraint on all sides.\""
],
[
"ongoing dispute over who is in charge of the government."
],
[
"Andry Rajoelina,"
]
] | Ban blames the "tragedy" on a "lack of restraint on all sides"
26 dead, more than 80 wounded during an anti-government rally on Saturday .
Violence stems from a dispute over who is in charge of the government .
Andry Rajoelina, the mayor of Antananarivo, declares himself Madagascar's leader . |
(CNN) -- U.N. gunships battled rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday, according to U.N. spokesman Michele Bonnardeaux. U.N. vehicles on Monday pass between lines of civilians fleeing fighting north of Goma, Congo. U.N. helicopter gunships, supporting national army forces on the ground, fired on rebels from the Congress for the Defense of the People in an effort to halt their advance on the village of Kibumba. CNDP is the French acronym for National Congress for the Defense of the People, a Congolese rebel group under renegade general Laurent Nkunda. The village of Kibumba is the location of a U.N.-administered internally displaced peoples camp, just 12 ½ miles (20 kilometers) north of the provincial capital, Goma, Bonnardeaux said. Renewed fighting erupted Sunday when the CNDP seized a major military camp and gorilla park, according to U.N. and park officials. The U.N. brokered peace accord in the area in January. On Monday, thousands fleeing Kibumba spurred violent demonstrations in front of the U.N. compound in Goma. The group was angry that a 17,000-person U.N. security force has been unable to protect them from renewed bouts of violence in the country, a U.N. spokesman told CNN. A U.N. spokesman said the U.N.'s mission in Congo was "under attack" on Monday. A mission staff member inside the U.N. compound, who did not want to give his name for security reasons, said U.N. security forces had returned fire in an attempt to disperse angry crowds near the U.N. compound. Gunshots could be heard as he spoke on the phone. He said the attack had resulted in several deaths. U.N. officials confirmed one dead in Goma as a result of Monday's demonstrations. The assault died down later in the day, a U.N. spokesman said, but people continued to pelt the building. It was unclear who was attacking, but the staff member told CNN the people were from a village that had been taken over by the CNDP, a Congolese renegade group led by Gen. Laurent Nkunda that seized a major military camp and gorilla park in a renewed bout of heavy fighting Sunday. Thousands of civilians were reportedly fleeing the fighting. Pictures from the region showed long lines of people walking along roads carrying their belongings. Watch how refugees line roads to get away » Soldiers who abandoned the military camp were retreating in vehicles on a main road outside of Goma on Monday, angrily honking their horns at civilians who got in their way, The Associated Press reported. Bertrand Bisimwa, a spokesman for the rebels, told the AP that rebel fighters had moved to within 7 miles (11 kilometers) of Goma. The latest fighting comes after the collapse on Sunday of a tenuous week-old U.N.-brokered cease-fire between rebels and government forces. According to U.N. spokesman Nick Birnback, thousands of displaced civilians in the city of Goma were throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails, angry that a 17,000-person U.N. security force has been unable to protect them from the violence. "The situation in Goma is very volatile," he said. "But MONUC is taking all available measures to stabilize the situation." Watch more about the fighting » The U.N. mission -- known by its French acronym, MONUC -- is in Goma, which is along Congo's border with Rwanda. Although the civil war in Congo -- once known as Zaire -- officially ended in 2003, recent fighting in eastern Congo between government forces and CNDP rebels under has caused tens of thousands to flee their homes, according to U.N. spokesman Michele Bonnardeaux. Watch ranger describe the violence » The conflict and humanitarian crisis in Congo have taken the lives of 5.4 million people since 1998, and 45,000 people die there every month, according to an International Rescue Committee report in January. A senior U.S. State Department official said the United States is pushing hard for cooperation among Rwanda, Uganda and Congo over the situation in eastern Congo. The official said all countries, especially Congo and Rwanda, "need to work together" to rein in "militia groups and other negative forces." Assistant U.S. Secretary of State Jendayi Frazer will travel to Congo and Rwanda to urge both governments | [
"What site was pelted by protesters?",
"What did the protesters use as weapons?",
"What did the protestors attack the HQ with?",
"Where did helicopters attack rebels?",
"Where did UN helicopters attack rebels?",
"What did protesters attack?",
"How many deaths resulted from the attack?",
"Where did the U.N. Helicopters attack?"
] | [
[
"U.N. compound."
],
[
"rocks and Molotov cocktails,"
],
[
"throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails,"
],
[
"eastern Democratic Republic of Congo"
],
[
"eastern Democratic Republic of Congo"
],
[
"village of Kibumba."
],
[
"several"
],
[
"eastern Democratic Republic of Congo"
]
] | NEW: U.N. helicopters attack rebels north of Goma to stop advancement .
U.N. military commander in Congo resigns for "personal reasons"
Thousands of protesters attack U.N.'s eastern Congo HQ with rocks, stones .
The attack has resulted in several deaths, an official said . |
(CNN) -- U.S. Air Force officials called off their response late Friday afternoon at a Tucson, Arizona, base after reports that an armed man had entered an office building, the U.S. military branch said in a statement.
Earlier in the day, a U.S. military official told CNN that a gunman was believed to be holed up in a building at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
This precipitated the Air Force to call for a lock-down -- which began at 10:30 a.m. -- "following the unconfirmed sighting of" such a man.
No shots were ever fired and law enforcement teams are on site, said the official, who had direct knowledge of the situation from conversations with base officials but did not want to be identified.
In fact, at 6 p.m., Col. John Cherrey -- who commands the Air Force's 355th Fighter Wing -- told reporters that no gunman or weapon was ever found. He added that the building, where the gunman was once thought to have entered, has been secured after authorities went through it room-by-room.
The announcement came about two hours after the Air Force stated that its officials had "terminated" their response to the incident. All base personnel were leaving via a "controlled release."
"With the help of the Tucson emergency services communities, Airmen were successful in maintaining the safety and security of the Desert Lightning Team," the Air Force said, alluding to the name used for Air Force personnel based in the arid southern Arizona locale.
Earlier, Tucson Police Sgt. Maria Hawke said in an e-mailed statement that members of the department's SWAT team, hostage unit and bomb squad are near the site on a "stand-by" basis in case they are needed. But she said that they are "not actively engaged in any enforcement, investigative or other activity."
And Manuel Johnson, a Phoenix-based spokesman for the FBI, added that some agency personnel have been dispatched to the base to help, if needed.
Shortly before noon Friday, Staff Sgt. Caitlyn Jones confirmed that there was a security situation at the base and that it was on lock-down mode.
"It has been reduced to a single point of entry," she said.
Borman Elementary School, which is located inside the base, was put on lock down at 11 a.m., said Karen Bynum, executive assistant to the Tucson school district's superintendent. Its 501 students were confined to their classrooms, with all perimeter doors locked.
But shortly after 4 p.m., off-base parents were allowed onto the base to pick up students at the school and Sonoran Science Academy, according to a statement from the Air Force. On-base parents were told to "take the most direct route" to locations where their children may be.
The incident occurs nearly two years after 13 people were killed in a shooting spree at the Fort Hood army base in Texas.
CNN's Barbara Starr, Terry Frieden, Tina Burnside and Alta Spells contributed to this report. | [
"When was the lockdown initiated?",
"Who say no gunman was found?",
"Who was dispatched?",
"What was lock down for?",
"Were shots fired?",
"What was the lockdown for?",
"What does the Air Force say?"
] | [
[
"10:30 a.m."
],
[
"Col. John Cherrey"
],
[
"agency personnel"
],
[
"\"following the unconfirmed sighting of\" such a man."
],
[
"No"
],
[
"an armed man had entered an office building,"
],
[
"called off their response late Friday afternoon"
]
] | NEW: An Air Force official says no gunman was found and the site is "secure"
The lock down was initiated hours earlier after "unconfirmed sightings" of an armed man .
FBI agents, along with Tucson police, were dispatched to the Arizona air base to help .
No shots were fired and no one was hurt, a U.S. military official says . |
(CNN) -- U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said Tuesday the Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into the massive oil spill spreading through the Gulf of Mexico.
Holder said the investigation, which began "some weeks ago," would be comprehensive and aggressive. He promised that the federal officials will prosecute anyone who broke the law.
"We have begun both a criminal as well as a civil investigation as is our obligation under the law," Holder said. "We have what we think is a sufficient case to have begun a criminal investigation."
Holder emphasized that the investigation will cover all aspects of the oil spill, including the deaths of 11 workers in the April 20 explosion and fire on the Deepwater Horizon rig that started the leak.
He refused to name any potential targets of the investigation, saying, "I don't want to unnecessarily cast aspersions." However, Holder said "nothing is off the table" in the probe, and he cited false statements as one of several potential targets of criminal charges.
"This disaster is nothing less than a tragedy," Holder said. "As our review expands in the days ahead, we will be meticulous, we will be comprehensive, and we will be aggressive. We will not rest until justice is done."
Holder stressed that "anyone found responsible for this spill (must be) held accountable. That means enforcing the appropriate civil -- and if warranted, criminal -- authorities to the full extent of the law."
Among other things, Holder said Justice Department lawyers are examining possible violations of the Clean Water Act and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. He also said prosecutors are looking into potential violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty and Endangered Species Acts, which provide penalties for injury and death to wildlife.
BP responded in a statement that it "will cooperate with any inquiry the Department of Justice will undertake, just as we are doing in response to the other inquires that are already ongoing."
Holder made the announcement during a visit to the Gulf to survey the BP oil spill and meet with state attorneys general and federal prosecutors from Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, according to the Justice Department.
Last month, a group of senators -- including Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-California -- sent Holder a letter expressing concerns "about the truthfulness and accuracy of statements submitted by BP to the government in its initial exploration plan for the site." They asked the attorney general to investigate possible criminal and civil wrongdoing.
In a reply to that letter last week, a Justice Department official refused to say whether a criminal investigation had begun.
"The Department of Justice will take all necessary and appropriate steps to ensure that those responsible for this tragic series of events are held fully accountable," Assistant Attorney General Ronald Welch wrote.
Holder said last month the Justice Department would "ensure that BP is held liable."
Boxer issued a statement Monday praising the criminal probe.
"In preparation for the Environment Committee's hearings on the oil spill, it became clear that BP's assurances that they could respond effectively to a serious spill at this site were totally at odds with reality," Boxer said in the statement. "What is happening in the Gulf -- eleven people dead, and an entire ecosystem and the jobs that depend on it at risk -- justifies a thorough criminal investigation."
CNN's Scott Bronstein and Aaron Cooper contributed to this report | [
"What did Holder survey on Tuesday?",
"Where did Holder visit on Tuesday?",
"Who visits Gulf Coast on Tuesday to survey BP oil spill?",
"who is the attorney general?",
"Who says enough evidence existed to start a criminal investigation?"
] | [
[
"the BP oil spill"
],
[
"the Gulf"
],
[
"Eric Holder"
],
[
"Eric Holder"
],
[
"Holder"
]
] | NEW: Attorney General Eric Holder says enough evidence existed to start a criminal investigation .
NEW: Senator lauds criminal investigation launched by Department of Justice .
DOJ looking into potential violations of Clean Water Act, Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and other laws .
Holder visits Gulf Coast on Tuesday to survey BP oil spill . |
(CNN) -- U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reversed her opposition to a vote on offshore drilling on "Larry King Live" on Monday night, saying she would consider a vote if it were part of a larger energy package. U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urges the release of oil from strategic reserves as a way to bring down gas prices. Pelosi and fellow House Democrats have staunchly opposed Republicans' request for a vote on the drilling. Some Republicans stayed in chambers after Congress adjourned for the session, making speeches on energy policies, in an attempt to get Democrats to come back for a vote. Reacting to Pelosi's remarks, House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said the speaker should call the House of Representatives back from its summer recess immediately if she is sincere about a vote on off-shore drilling. "Our message to Speaker Pelosi is very simple: We are ready to vote on more energy production and lower gas prices right now, and we should not wait one more day to begin giving the American people the relief they expect and deserve," Boehner said. "If you meant what you said last night, we welcome you and your Democratic colleagues to join us in our historic call to action on American energy." On Monday night, Pelosi said the vote would need to be part of a larger discussion that would include investing in renewable energy resources and releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Those options would help bring both immediate and long-lasting solutions to the energy crisis, she said. In her interview with King, Pelosi talked about what the government and country needs to do to avert the energy crisis and quickly bring down gas prices. The following is an edited version of the interview: Larry King: OK, Madam Speaker, author of "Know Your Power," why don't you bring [Congress] back? Speaker Nancy Pelosi: Well, it's interesting to hear Sen. [John] McCain talk about bringing Congress back. He wasn't even in Congress this last session when we really had two very important bills on energy -- one to give tax credit for wind, solar and other renewable resources, and another about hybrid cars and the rest. So he wasn't in to vote when were in session and now he's saying call it back in. And then one of the others said to the president, call Congress back in. And the president said no. The president said no. But the point is this: The American people are suffering. We have to do what is best for them. How do we bring down the prices at the pump? We have said to the president, the fastest way to do this if in 10 days the price can come down if you will free our oil. Over 700 million barrels of oil the president is sitting on of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. No. 1, free our oil. No. 2, they want to drill. If they want to drill, we have 68 million acres in the Lower 48 that they can drill in that are permitted and all the rest. Three, stop the speculation. Four, renew -- invest in renewable energy resources, which will bring a faster return than drilling offshore, which will take 10 years and produce 2 cents' reduction in 10 years off the price at the pump. And then use natural gas. Natural gas is so plentiful. It's better for the environment, and it is cheaper. So there are things that Congress can do, and we have voted on this over and over again. But the Republicans and the president have resisted. Instead, they have this thing that says drill offshore in the protected areas. Well, we can do that. We can have a vote on that. But it has to be part of something that says we want to bring immediate relief to the public and not just a hoax on them. King: Would you vote yes on a package that includes drilling? Pelosi: I would not. It depends how the drilling is put forth. | [
"who says we should invest?",
"where is the money invested",
"what are they voting on",
"what would cut gas prices",
"who calls for vote?",
"who says she will be open?"
] | [
[
"U.S."
],
[
"renewable energy resources"
],
[
"offshore drilling"
],
[
"release of oil from strategic reserves"
],
[
"Republicans'"
],
[
"House Speaker Nancy Pelosi"
]
] | NEW: House minority leader calls for immediate vote on offshore drilling .
House speaker says she'd be open for a vote on drilling as part of a larger package .
Pelosi: Releasing oil from strategic reserves would quickly reduce gas prices .
"We should be using that money to invest in renewable resources," Pelosi says . |
(CNN) -- U.S. Navy ships loaded with supplies for victims of Myanmar's cyclone will sail away from the country's coast on Thursday, after the ruling junta refused for three weeks to allow them to deliver aid. U.S. ships steam in formation off the coast of Myanmar on May 23. Adm. Timothy Keating said the USS Essex group would leave the shores of Myanmar, also known as Burma, on Thursday, but that he would leave several heavy lift aircraft in Thailand to assist international relief efforts. "We have made at least 15 attempts to convince the Burmese government to allow our ships, helicopters and landing craft to provide additional disaster relief for the people of Burma, but they have refused us each and every time," Keating said in a statement Wednesday. Cyclone Nargis made landfall early last month, killing more than 77,000 people in the southeastern Asian country, according to a United Nations estimate. Some 55,000 others are missing, the United Nations said, and as many as 500,000 to 600,000 people, mainly in the Irrawaddy Delta region, have had to be relocated. The White House issued a statement Wednesday saying more than a million victims have yet to receive assistance. Watch a discussion of Myanmar's handling of the crisis » "I am both saddened and frustrated to know that we have been in a position to help ease the suffering of hundreds of thousands of people and help mitigate further loss of life, but have been unable to do so because of the unrelenting position of the Burma military junta," Keating said. Myanmar leaders did grant permission for U.S. planes to deliver aid, a total of 106 plane-loads of supplies worth more than $26 million. Transportation cost about $6.8 million, it said. But the junta never gave permission for the United States to distribute the aid directly to the storm victims, prompting questions about whether some of the assistance went astray. Last weekend, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon guided a conference of 52 donor nations in Myanmar, where countries pledged in excess of $100 million to help Myanmar recover -- and said they are willing to open up their wallets further once aid groups are granted access to the worst-affected areas. The country's government had asked for $11 billion in assistance, saying that the relief phase of the disaster was already over and that it needed the money for reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts. More than a month after the cyclone struck, more than 1 million people affected have received help, Elisabeth Byrs of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on Tuesday. She added that aid has reached nearly half of the people in the Irrawaddy Delta. However, she said, "There remains a serious lack of sufficient and sustained humanitarian assistance." On Tuesday, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said that the United States would continue to push to get emergency supplies to the country's victims. "We are not going to abandon those ... people," McCormack said. Of the Navy ships leaving the area, he said, they "are needed elsewhere and there is no rational expectation at this point we will be effectively able to use those assets in an humanitarian relief operation." "Our folks will do the forensics on that to see if there are any lessons learned," McCormack said. "We think that to the extent that there has been significant loss of life that we as well as others could have reduced that number had we been allowed to act more quickly with a large-scale intervention." CNN's Charley Keyes and Barbara Starr contributed to this report. | [
"Who says he is frustrated?",
"What ships left the area?",
"Who is giving emergency supplies to victims?",
"Who did not grant permission for U.S. Navy ships to deliver aid?",
"When will U.S. ships leave area?",
"Who is frustrated that aid was refused?",
"Who will U.S. get emergency supplies to?",
"Who will leave on thursday?"
] | [
[
"Keating"
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[
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[
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[
"Thursday,"
],
[
"Keating"
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[
"victims of Myanmar's cyclone"
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[
"USS Essex group"
]
] | NEW: U.S. ships to leave area Thursday, admiral says; some planes will stay .
NEW: Adm. Timothy Keating says he's frustrated that aid was refused .
Myanmar junta leaders did not grant permission for U.S. Navy ships to deliver aid .
U.S. will keep pushing efforts to get emergency supplies to victims, despite rebuff . |
(CNN) -- U.S. President Barack Obama called Pakistan's president Sunday to express condolences over the airstrike that killed 24 soldiers near the Afghanistan border more than a week ago, the White House said in a statement.
"The president made clear that this regrettable incident was not a deliberate attack on Pakistan and reiterated the United States' strong commitment to a full investigation," the statement said. "The two presidents reaffirmed their commitment to the U.S.-Pakistan bilateral relationship, which is critical to the security of both nations, and they agreed to stay in close touch."
The conversation between Obama and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari was the latest bid to address strained relations between the two nations after a NATO airstrike killed the Pakistani troops on November 26.
After the attack, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told CNN that Pakistan was re-evaluating its relationship with the United States.
NATO later called the subsequent mass casualties caused by the strike "tragic (and) unintended." U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta have called the incident a "tragedy" and offered condolences, though Washington has not issued a formal apology.
The issue of U.S. and fellow NATO forces coming into Pakistan has been an especially sensitive topic in that country since May, when U.S. commandos killed then al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad without Pakistani leaders' consent
During an exclusive interview last week with CNN, Gilani said the country wants to maintain its relationship with the United States as long as there is mutual respect and respect for Pakistani sovereignty.
Asked directly if Pakistan is getting that respect, the prime minister said: "At the moment (it is) not."
"If I can't protect the sovereignty of my country, how can we say that this is mutual respect and mutual interest?" he asked rhetorically.
Pakistan has taken several steps aimed at NATO since the attack.
That includes an announcement Friday, by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, that NATO and International Security Assistance Force supplies could no longer be routed through Pakistan. The country has served a vital supply route for allied forces who have been fighting for more than a decade in neighboring Afghanistan. | [
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"what did obama say",
"Who did Obama and Zadari reaffirm their commitment to?",
"What did Obama say abut the air strike?",
"How many Pakistani where killed in the airstrike?",
"When were the Pakistani Troops killed?",
"What killed 24 Pakistani Troops?",
"What is strained"
] | [
[
"their commitment to the U.S.-Pakistan bilateral relationship,"
],
[
"this regrettable incident was not a deliberate attack on Pakistan and reiterated the United States' strong commitment to a full investigation,\""
],
[
"U.S.-Pakistan bilateral relationship,"
],
[
"not a deliberate attack on Pakistan"
],
[
"24"
],
[
"November 26."
],
[
"airstrike"
],
[
"relations between the two nations"
]
] | Obama says the airstrike "was not a deliberate attack on Pakistan," the White House says .
White House: Obama and Zardari reaffirm their commitment to U.S.-Pakistan relations .
The conversation is the latest bid to address strained relations between the two nations .
A NATO airstrike killed 24 Pakistani troops on November 26 . |
(CNN) -- U.S. President Barack Obama is expected on Monday to meet with the Shanghai mayor and hold a town hall-style meeting with "future Chinese leaders" before heading to Beijing to meet his host, Chinese President Hu Jintao.
Trade issues are likely to be a major discussion topic between the two leaders; the United States imports billions of dollars in Chinese products each year.
At local markets, Chinese government officials banned a popular Obama shirt over fears that it would offend their guest.
It depicts Obama wearing a Chinese Communist outfit made famous by Mao Zedong, the late Communist leader. The back has "Oba-Mao" printed on it.
Obama's visit comes as China relishes its spot as a key global player. It is involved in major international disputes such as the showdowns with Iran and North Korea and has used its position on the U.N. Security Council and its economic leverage to influence events around the globe.
China also is now the dominant regional player in northeast Asia, recently hosting a summit in Beijing with the Japanese and South Korean leaders.
The nation's economic expansion has led to a demand for raw materials around the world and the rapid expansion of China's presence in countries such as Guinea, Myanmar, Sudan and Venezuela. Human rights groups say China is propping up repressive regimes to secure its access to critically important raw materials.
China's rapid economic expansion outpaces growth in the United States, 8.9 percent in the past quarter versus 3.5 percent in the United States, giving Beijing huge economic leverage.
Obama's half-brother Mark Obama Ndesandjo lives in Shenzhen in southern China. Ndesandjo, an engineer by trade, moved from the United States after losing his job seven years ago.
Ndesandjo took the last name of the man his mother remarried and has dodged the media since Obama was elected president. He spoke to reporters about his semi-autobiographical book, "Nairobi to Shenzhen," earlier this month.
He said their father was abusive and beat him and his mother. Ndesandjo owns a small chain of restaurants in Shenzhen and teaches piano to orphans.
The White House did not say whether the president would see him during his trip.
The final stop of his Asia trek is Seoul, where Obama will meet with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and deliver a speech to American troops at Osan Air Base.
Obama is on an eight-day journey that has also taken him to Japan and Singapore, where he attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations economic forum.
He'll return to the United States on Friday. | [
"where will obama hold meeting?",
"What is the name of President Obama's half brother?",
"how long is obamas trip?",
"What countries is Obama visiting?",
"Who lives in China",
"Where will President Obama hold town hall-style meeting?",
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"where does mark obama live?"
] | [
[
"Shanghai"
],
[
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[
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[
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[
"Hu Jintao."
],
[
"Shanghai"
],
[
"eight-day"
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[
"Shenzhen in southern China."
]
] | In Shanghai Obama will hold town hall-style meeting with "future Chinese leaders"
Obama's half-brother Mark Obama Ndesandjo lives in Shenzhen, China .
Obama is on eight-day trip through Japan, Singapore, China and South Korea . |
(CNN) -- U.S. President Barack Obama met with his NATO allies in Strasbourg, France on Friday to talk about his plans for the war in Afghanistan, his "front line in the war on terror."
Protesters outside the White House in February have a simple idea for the controversial prison.
But the U.S. war on terror has some dark secrets and Obama hasn't really wanted to talk about them.
In Spain, a crusading judge named Baltasar Garzon is reviewing the case of several men who say they were tortured at the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
In Washington, Senator Patrick Leahy has been asking similar questions that people around the world want answered:
Did the U.S. really torture prisoners, did it secretly transfer some to other countries specifically to be tortured and did senior officials authorize it?
Leahy says: "We can't turn the page unless we first read the page."
There are ample grounds to believe crimes were committed.
Individual prisoners have described being tortured in U.S. custody or being dispatched to other nations with the same terrible result.
An investigation by the International Committee of the Red Cross also reported evidence of it.
While he was in office, George W. Bush said flatly "the United States does not torture."
But the Bush administration defined 'torture' so narrowly that its use of the word has been contested as well.
The effort to find out just what happened has been moving slowly, both inside and outside the United States.
The Obama administration hasn't encouraged it.
Obama said recently that "generally speaking, I'm more interested in looking forward than looking backwards."
That's easy to understand. Millions of Americans are grateful to America's ex-president and his aides, as well as U.S. soldiers and spies, for keeping the country safe after 9/11.
Any investigations or potential prosecutions could set off a national debate complicating everything else Obama wants to accomplish.
But the U.S. has signed international treaties on torture and war crimes, suggesting it's legally obligated to prosecute any cases that come to light.
Countries in Europe, Africa and the Americas have found a way to face their secret crimes.
The United States has to decide if it wants to take its own turn. | [
"Who wants US to answer torture allegations?",
"What other countries are involved?",
"Who are the leading figures questioning the allegations?",
"Has Obama complied?",
"Where do torture claims come from?"
] | [
[
"Baltasar Garzon"
],
[
"in Europe, Africa and the Americas have found"
],
[
"Baltasar Garzon"
],
[
"hasn't really wanted to talk about them."
],
[
"several men who say they were tortured at the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba."
]
] | Leading figures in U.S., Europe want the U.S. to answer torture allegations .
Claims come from prisoners and the Red Cross .
So far, President Obama has not encouraged inquiries .
Other countries faced up to secret crimes, now U.S. needs to decide what to do . |
(CNN) -- U.S. President Barack Obama won a battle against Somali pirates. But does he really want to go to war? The USS Bainbridge tows a lifeboat in which the captain of the Maersk Alabama was held hostage. You may have seen the headlines in the last few days: a Somali pirate attack and hostage-taking ended with a precision operation by U.S. snipers and a successful rescue. Somali pirates have been the scourge of the Horn of Africa for years. They've attacked dozens of ships and taken hundreds of hostages from several countries. The attack on the Maersk Alabama was the first on an American ship. But when it was over, Obama made a particularly broad pledge. "We are resolved to halt the rise of piracy in that region," Obama said. "We're going to have to continue to work with our partners to prevent future attacks. We have to continue to be prepared to confront them when they arise." See an interactive map of 2009 pirate attacks off the Horn of Africa » Experts say that means addressing the anarchy ashore which allows the pirates to operate. Somalia is a failed state, where lawlessness is a license for every kind of criminal enterprise. James Christodoulou of Industrial Shipping Enterprises Corporation told CNN that if the US wants to do something about piracy, it has to "go to Somalia and deal with the cause there. Whether it's with bullets or butter, the solution lies on land not at sea." The U.S. tried once before to impose order in Somalia, with disastrous results. It led a humanitarian mission to oversee the delivery of food aid that turned into an armed operation against local warlords. More than 40 U.S. personnel were killed before U.S. forces withdrew. That's the challenge facing the leader of every nation whose ships have fallen prey to the pirates. An international effort has been underway to patrol the troubled waters. The French navy has been particularly active. But no one has rushed onto Somali soil. The Obama administration is already managing wars in two countries. Wait and see whether it's really willing to risk a third. | [
"Who was rescued from the U.S. cargo ship this week?",
"Who was rescued in the Navy operation this week?",
"Where is the piracy?",
"What do experts say about tackling piracy on the seas?",
"Who rescued the hostage captain?",
"What do experts say tackling piracy would mean?",
"According to Obama, what is the U.S committed to?",
"Who is the president?"
] | [
[
"the captain of the Maersk Alabama"
],
[
"captain of the Maersk Alabama"
],
[
"Horn of Africa"
],
[
"means addressing the anarchy ashore which allows the pirates to operate."
],
[
"USS Bainbridge"
],
[
"addressing the anarchy ashore which allows the pirates to operate."
],
[
"halt the rise of piracy in that region,\""
],
[
"Barack Obama"
]
] | President Barack Obama says U.S. is committed to tackling piracy off Somalia .
Hostage captain of U.S. cargo ship rescued in U.S. Navy operation this week .
But experts say tackling piracy on seas means tackling failed state of Somalia .
With wars in two countries, is Obama willing to risk getting involved in another? |
(CNN) -- U.S. President George Bush railed against the government of Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe Monday, calling intimidation of opposition figures "deplorable." Leading opposition figure Artur Mutambara was arrested following his criticism of President Robert Mugabe. "The continued use of government-sponsored violence in Zimbabwe, including unwarranted arrests and intimidation of opposition figures, to prevent the Movement for Democratic Change from campaigning freely ahead of the June 27 presidential runoff election is deplorable," Bush said in a statement released by the U.S. Embassy in neighboring South Africa. Zimbabwean authorities Sunday arrested an opposition leader on charges stemming from his criticism of the government and its handling of the recent presidential election, an official with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change told CNN. Police in Harare surrounded the house of student activist-turned-opposition politician Arthur Mutambara and arrested him on charges of contempt of court and publishing falsehoods, MDC official Romualdo Mavedzenge said. While Zimbabwe authorities have arrested dozens of MDC supporters and activists over the past two months, Mavedzenge said "this is the highest profile MDC official (arrested) since the March 29 election." Mutambara is president of an MDC faction that split from the main party headed by Morgan Tsvangirai. After Tsvangirai's party won the majority of seats in parliament, the two leaders agreed to join forces in parliament under Mutambara's leadership. Both charges stem from an opinion piece written by Mutambara in which he criticized President Robert Mugabe for the way the March 29 elections were handled. Raphael Khumalo, chief executive of The Sunday Standard, which published the article, was arrested last month on charges of publishing falsehoods. Bush said Mugabe's government is failing on multiple levels. "We call on the regime to immediately halt all attacks and to permit freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, and access to the media," Bush said. "We urge the Southern African Development Community, the African Union, the United Nations, and other international organizations to blanket the country with election and human rights monitors immediately." Zimbabwe's election commission said Tsvangirai won the March presidential election, but didn't win a majority of the vote, forcing this month's vote. The MDC contested the results, saying Tsvangirai won outright, but decided to take part in the runoff and not cede the election to Mugabe. | [
"Whose government is failing?",
"What did bush say?",
"Who was arrested?",
"What is deplorable?",
"What is falling on multiple levels?",
"What is failing on multiple levels?",
"What is deplorable according to Bush?",
"Who is unable to campaign freely ahead of June 27 presidential runoff election?",
"Who was unable to campaign?"
] | [
[
"Mugabe's"
],
[
"\"The continued use of government-sponsored violence in Zimbabwe, including unwarranted arrests and intimidation of opposition figures, to prevent the Movement for Democratic Change from campaigning freely ahead of the June 27 presidential runoff election is deplorable,\""
],
[
"Artur Mutambara"
],
[
"intimidation of opposition figures"
],
[
"Mugabe's government"
],
[
"Mugabe's government"
],
[
"intimidation of opposition figures"
],
[
"Movement for Democratic Change"
],
[
"Movement for Democratic Change"
]
] | Bush: Continued use of government-sponsored violence deplorable .
Opposition unable to campaign freely ahead of June 27 presidential runoff election .
Police arrest student activist-turned-opposition politician Arthur Mutambara .
Bush: Mugabe's government is failing on multiple levels . |
(CNN) -- U.S. President George W. Bush on Tuesday will designate nine sites in three areas of the central Pacific as marine national monuments, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Monday.
The new designated areas make up the largest area of ocean set aside for marine conservation in the world.
The new areas make up the largest area of ocean set aside for marine conservation in the world -- 195,280 square miles -- and, coupled with a 138,000-square mile designation in Hawaii two years go, mean that Bush will have protected more of the ocean than any other president.
"The president's actions will prevent the destruction and extraction of natural resources from these beautiful and biologically diverse areas without conflicting with our military's activities and freedom of navigation, which are vital to our national security," Perino said. "And the public and future generations will benefit from the science and knowledge gained from these areas."
Bush is using the 1906 Antiquities Act -- first used by President Theodore Roosevelt to set aside public lands such as the Grand Canyon as national monuments -- for the designation. Many of those lands later became national parks.
Bill Chandler, vice president for government affairs for the non-profit Marine Conservation Biology Institute (MCBI), said Bush is "to be commended" for his action.
"From a conservation history perspective, the message here is that Teddy Roosevelt laid the groundwork for our national park system when he withdrew a lot of public lands and called them national monuments," said Chandler.
"We see the president laying the foundation for a system of national marine preserves and parks," he said. "We had lacked such a system for a long time."
MCBI and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) partnered to identify eight of the nine sites the president will set aside on Tuesday. All but one of those eight remote areas already have Fish and Wildlife Service refuge areas at their cores.
"You have a core conservation mission already," Chandler said. "This is just basically going to expand them."
The MCBI/EDF-identified sites are Rose Atoll, Wake Island, Johnston Island, Palmyra Island, Kingman Reef, Baker Island, Howland Island and Jarvis Island.
Rose Atoll, part of American Samoa, is the smallest atoll in the world, but more than 500 fish species swim in the waters around it, and it supports 97 percent of America Samoa's seabird population. It is also the nesting ground for several threatened turtle species.
The Pew Environmental Fund identified the ninth site -- the waters around the northern Marianas and the deepest ocean canyon in the world, the Mariana Trench, 11,033 meters (36,201 feet) at its deepest.
The new designations will expand protection to a 50 nautical mile area off the islands, where commercial fishing will be prohibited. Other uses of the area -- research or recreational fishing -- will be allowed but will require a permit.
Bush has not gotten rave reviews for his conservation efforts on land -- according to the Audubon Society, he's signed wilderness legislation covering a little more than 2 million acres, fewer than any other president except Richard Nixon. But Chandler said that Bush "has really embraced ocean conservation as his own."
"Ocean protection ... is lagging 50 to 100 years behind land conservation, he said. "This is precisely the kind of leadership that we need to get the message across that there are places in the ocean that are rich with diversity."
"Scientists already know this," he said. "They have been calling for this for 10 or 15 years."
The president can cut through the bureaucracy that makes protecting resources such a lengthy process, and the Antiquities Act is a strong tool for those efforts. With the Act, the president can make a designation by executive order, essentially "writing the prescription for conservation" for an area, Chandler said. | [
"The new areas cover how many square miles?",
"What did the sites include?",
"How many nautical miles will be protected?",
"What did Bush designate?",
"Who designated the marine national monuments?",
"Which sites became marine national monuments?"
] | [
[
"195,280"
],
[
"Rose Atoll, Wake Island, Johnston Island, Palmyra Island, Kingman Reef, Baker Island, Howland Island and Jarvis Island."
],
[
"50"
],
[
"Pacific as marine national monuments,"
],
[
"President George W. Bush"
],
[
"Rose Atoll, Wake Island, Johnston Island, Palmyra Island, Kingman Reef, Baker Island, Howland Island"
]
] | Bush designates 9 sites in 3 areas of central Pacific as marine national monuments .
Sites include Wake, Johnston, Palmyra, Baker, Howland, Jarvis, Marianas Islands .
Rose Atoll, Kingman Reef also designated; New areas cover 195,280 square miles .
New designations will expand protection to a 50 nautical mile area off the islands . |
(CNN) -- U.S. President George W. Bush told a global climate change conference Friday that the United States will do its part to improve the environment by taking on greenhouse gas emissions. U.S. President George W. Bush Friday tells a global climate change conference "we take this issue seriously." "We take this issue seriously," he said at the Major Economies Meeting on Energy Security and Climate Change, which the White House sponsored. In his address, Bush called on "all the world's largest producers of greenhouse gas emissions, including developed and developing nations," to come together and "set a long-term goal for reducing" greenhouse emissions. "By setting this goal, we acknowledge there is a problem, and by setting this goal, we commit ourselves to doing something about it," he said. Watch Bush address the climate conference » "By next summer, we will convene a meeting of heads of state to finalize the goal and other elements of this approach, including a strong and transparent system for measuring our progress toward meeting the goal we set. ... Only by doing the necessary work this year will it be possible to reach a global consensus at the U.N. in 2009." Bush said it will be up to each nation to "design its own separate strategies for making progress toward achieving this long-term goal." He said new technology, such as clean coal technology and biofuels, could help reduce greenhouse gases. He also called for more use of nuclear, wind and solar power. "It was said that we faced a choice between protecting the environment and producing enough energy. Today we know better," the president said. "These challenges share a common solution: technology." "We must lead the world to produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and we must do it in a way that does not undermine economic growth or prevent nations from delivering greater prosperity for their people," he said. "We know this can be done," Bush said. "Last year, America grew our economy while also reducing greenhouse gases." If the preliminary numbers stand, it would make 2006 the first time in Bush's presidency that greenhouse emissions dropped. In prepared remarks this week, Assistant Secretary of Energy Karen Harbert said, "Preliminary data for 2006 suggests an absolute reduction in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions of 1.3 percent for that year despite economic growth of 2.9 percent." In previous years, the administration also has said its policies were reducing greenhouse emissions, but Department of Energy figures through 2005 show emission figures went up each year. The administration also said during those years it was reducing "greenhouse emissions intensity," a term referring to the ratio between emissions and the size of the economy. The administration said the economy was growing at a faster rate than the emissions themselves. While the White House has taken heat for its environmental policies -- including from some Republicans such as Sen. John McCain -- Bush said at the conference Friday, "By working together, we will set wise and effective policies." He added, "I want to get the job done. We have identified a problem -- let's go solve it together." Other nations have been critical of the Bush administration's policy on climate change after the United States withdrew from the 1997 U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, known as the Kyoto Protocol. That protocol, which was signed by more than 150 countries, called on industrialized nations to cut greenhouse emissions in absolute terms. It did not make that demand of developing nations. The protocol expires in 2012. Representatives of 16 countries, the United Nations and the European Union are attending this week's two-day conference. The Bush administration has billed it as an initiative to develop a common approach to combat global warming following Kyoto's collapse. At a Group of Eight conference in June, Bush pushed for a new framework on global gas emissions to counter the effects of global warming. Bush said he believes every nation should set its own goals. The president expressed | [
"What did Bush say the U.S. will do?",
"What did the president propose?",
"did bush say something",
"What did Bush ask nations to reduce?",
"what did bush call for",
"What is the president's proposal?"
] | [
[
"its part to improve the environment by taking on greenhouse gas emissions."
],
[
"to come together and \"set a long-term goal for reducing\" greenhouse emissions."
],
[
"\"we take this issue seriously.\""
],
[
"greenhouse emissions."
],
[
"\"all the world's largest producers of greenhouse gas emissions, including developed and developing nations,\" to come together and \"set a long-term goal"
],
[
"initiative to develop a common approach to combat global warming"
]
] | NEW: "We acknowledge there is a problem" with gases, Bush says .
Bush calls on nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions .
"U.S. will do its part," Bush tells international meeting .
President proposes more use of clean coal technology, biofuels . |
(CNN) -- U.S. President Obama sent a direct message to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei weeks before this month's disputed election, Iranian sources said Wednesday. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calls for an end to protests last week at Tehran University. The letter requested dialogue and engagement between the two nations, the sources said. The sources said that Khamenei has yet to reply to the letter but that nonetheless it "had set the negotiating table in order for both sides to sit around it after the election." The White House refused to "get into the specifics of our different ways of communicating," a senior Obama administration official said. "We have indicated a willingness to talk for a long time and have sought to communicate with the Iranians in a variety of ways," the official said. Khamenei made an indirect reference to the letter in his sermon on Friday at Tehran University. "The U.S. president said that we were waiting for a day like this to see people on the street," the Iranian leader said. "Some people attributed these remarks to Obama, and then they write letters to say we're ready to have ties, that we respect the Islamic Republic, and on the other hand, they make such comments. Which one should we believe?" One Iranian source said, "We thought President Obama would send congratulations to President Ahmadinejad," and before the election, his senior advisers prepared a response to the anticipated note, which never came. The Iranian source said the election dispute is wasting time on the issue of starting U.S.-Iranian negotiations. Watch how the reported letter is part of a new policy of engagement » "The longer it is delayed," the source said, "the less likely [U.S.-Iranian talks] will happen." Another Iranian government official said there is still "no trust" between Iran and the United States. The source said he is waiting for "real change" even though the Iranian government welcomed the change in tone of the Obama administration before the current election turmoil in Iran. The official went on to cite a recent gesture by Iran toward Obama: the release of journalist Roxana Saberi. The official said Iran accepted Obama's assurances that she was not a spy and had allowed the Iranian citizen to leave the country. Since, under intense scrutiny amid growing concerns over Tehran's violent crackdown on street protests, Obama has sharpened his language on Iran. "The United States and the international community have been appalled and outraged by the threats, beatings and imprisonments of the last few days," Obama said Tuesday, adding that he strongly condemns "these unjust actions." He has not spoken in support of Ahmadinejad or his main rival, Mir Hossein Moussavi, whose supporters have taken to the streets to protest the results of the June 12 election that gave Ahmadinejad a second term. Obama's letter to Khamenei is in keeping with his publicly stated aim of engagement with Iran and his New Year's message in which he described a new way forward. The Obama administration has "made it clear that any real dialogue -- multilateral or bilateral -- needed to be authoritative," according to the senior administration official. The official noted that the Iranians have yet to respond to a diplomatic outreach made during talks on Iran's nuclear program April 8. At that time, the administration asked the European Union's international policy chief, Javier Solana, to invite Iran to new talks with the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany. But the administration's tack toward Iran may be changing, as senior officials in Washington said the Obama administration is seriously considering not extending further invitations to Iranian diplomats for July 4 celebrations overseas. Some invitations had been sent and will not be rescinded, senior administration officials said. The officials said intense discussions on the issue were taking place, but the final decision had not been made. The Obama administration had decided to invite Iranians to the celebrations at overseas posts as part of Obama's policy of engaging the Iranian regime. As part of | [
"What did Khamenei make indirect reference to?",
"What did Obama's letter request?",
"When was Khamenei's sermon?",
"What does the white house refuse to do?",
"What did the White House refuse to get into?",
"what was in the letter",
"what forced the requested dialogue"
] | [
[
"the letter"
],
[
"dialogue and engagement between the two nations,"
],
[
"Friday"
],
[
"\"get into the specifics of our different ways of communicating,\""
],
[
"the specifics of our different ways of communicating,\""
],
[
"requested dialogue and engagement between the two nations,"
],
[
"disputed election,"
]
] | White House refuses to "get into the specifics," administration official says .
Obama's letter requested dialogue and engagement, Iranian sources say .
Sources: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hasn't replied to letter sent before June 12 election .
Khamenei made an indirect reference to letter in sermon last week . |
(CNN) -- U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Arizona, who was shot in the head in January, reads aloud a portion of her upcoming audio book, her office said Thursday.
Giffords has made what doctors call a miraculous recovery since the shooting at an Arizona supermarket, which left six people dead and 12 others wounded. After months of rehabilitation, she returned to the House floor in August and received a standing ovation.
She has otherwise stayed largely out of the spotlight.
Her book, "Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope," chronicles the relationship between Giffords and her astronaut husband, Mark Kelly. It's the story of her rise to become a Democratic U.S. representative, his stellar career from combat pilot to commander of the Space Shuttle Endeavor's final flight, and the tragedy that befell their lives when she was shot.
The couple wrote the book together with Wall Street Journal columnist Jeffrey Zaslow. Published by Scribner, the book is set for release November 15.
The audio book is scheduled to be released the same day by Simon & Schuster Audio. Kelly reads aloud the whole book except for the final chapter, which is read by Giffords, spokesman Mark Kimble said.
Illinois congressman's life threatened
The man charged in the shooting, Jared Loughner, is in mental health treatment and will be re-evaluated early next year to determine his competency to stand trial. | [
"what is Rep. Gabrielle Giffords?",
"What does Rep. Gabrielle Giffords read?",
"Who was shot in the head?",
"which is the title of the book?",
"who read aloud?"
] | [
[
"Democratic U.S. representative,"
],
[
"portion of her upcoming audio book,"
],
[
"Gabrielle Giffords,"
],
[
"\"Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope,\""
],
[
"Gabrielle Giffords,"
]
] | Rep. Gabrielle Giffords reads aloud the last chapter of audio book .
Her husband, Mark Kelly, reads the rest of the book .
The memoir chronicles the couple's careers .
Giffords was shot in the head in January . |
(CNN) -- U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel will bring a "tough-minded" and "pragmatic" approach to the White House when he becomes President-elect Barack Obama's chief of staff, according to people who know the Chicago, Illinois, native. Rep. Rahm Emanuel has experience in the White House, on Wall Street and on Capitol Hill. Emanuel, a former top aide to President Clinton, has accepted the position in the new administration, Obama confirmed in a statement Thursday. "I announce this appointment first because the chief of staff is central to the ability of a president and administration to accomplish an agenda," Obama said. "And no one I know is better at getting things done than Rahm Emanuel." In the job, Emanuel would oversee the White House staff. The chief of staff is usually involved in all the major decisions that the president makes and is responsible for making sure the administration carries out the president's wishes. Watch Emanuel call himself "fortunate" » The chief of staff also often is involved in negotiations with congressional leaders when major legislation is under consideration. Jim Manley, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, called Emanuel: "An excellent choice." "Rahm knows the Hill. And he knows the White House. He is a brilliant strategic thinker and someone who knows how to get things done," Manley said. Manley also rejected the idea that Emanuel is a true partisan that could not work with Republicans. "That's ridiculous. Rahm understands politics is the art of compromise. He's got a deeply held set of views but he also understands to get things done you have to compromise," he said. After leaving the Clinton White House, Emanuel, 48, was an investment banker on Wall Street and later was elected to the House of Representatives in 2002 from a heavily Democratic Chicago district. He quickly rose to become the fourth-ranking Democrat in the House. Watch what Emanuel brings to the White House » It is Emanuel's combination of experiences -- plus his strong personal relationship with Obama -- that would make him a strong chief of staff, said CNN political analyst Paul Begala, a fellow Clinton veteran. "He has spent more time in the White House than President-elect Obama has. That matters a lot. It is a special place with its own rhythms," Begala said. See who Obama may be considering for his Cabinet » "But, maybe most importantly, he's got the relationship. He has known Barack and Michelle Obama for a number of years." Before reports emerged that he had accepted the position, Emanuel told WLS-TV in Chicago that he had to consider the possible impact on his family. Watch how Obama is starting his transition » "I have a lot to weigh: the basis of public service, which I have given my life to, a career choice. And most importantly, what I want to do as a parent," Emanuel said in an interview that aired Wednesday. Emanuel added: "This is not a professional choice. This is a personal choice about what my wife and I want to do for our family, as much as what to do with my career." Emanuel's at-times blunt approach would ensure the White House runs smoothly for the new president, said Mack McLarty, Clinton's former chief of staff. Watch as McLarty calls Emanuel an "excellent choice" » "Rahm is high energy. He's direct. He's a tough-minded pragmatist. So I think the years have been good to him in that regard," McLarty said. "I think the high-energy directness will serve him well. "Rahm, like a lot of us, made mistakes, but he quickly corrected them." However, the lawmaker's direct style has ruffled a number of feathers in Washington, and Emanuel is known as one of the toughest partisan fighters on Capitol Hill. After reports that Emanuel had agreed to be Obama's | [
"Who will be chieft?",
"What has ruffled some feathers on Capitol Hill?",
"Who will be the White House chief of staff?",
"What does the House minority leader call the pick?"
] | [
[
"Rahm Emanuel"
],
[
"the lawmaker's direct style"
],
[
"Rep. Rahm Emanuel"
],
[
"\"excellent choice\""
]
] | NEW: Rahm Emanuel will be White House chief of staff, Barack Obama says .
Emanuel's direct style has ruffled some feathers on Capitol Hill .
House minority leader calls pick "ironic" for candidate who ran on change .
Emanuel is a veteran of Clinton White House, Wall Street and Congress . |
(CNN) -- U.S. Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III plans to emulate the decision of his Presidents Cup counterpart Fred Couples and select former world number one Tiger Woods for next year's contest with Europe.
Woods, a 14-time major winner, has struggled with form and fitness since problems in his personal life emerged two years ago. The American has slipped to 50th in golf's world rankings, having not won a tournament since the Australian Masters in November 2009.
But the 35-year-old's recent slump has not prevented Couples, the 1992 Masters champion, from selecting Woods as a wildcard pick for November's Presidents Cup clash with the International team in Australia.
"Well I've been asked that a lot, what would I do if I was in Fred's situation," Love, himself a former major champion, told a press conference at Medina Golf and Country Club in Chicago, the venue for the 2012 Ryder Cup.
Look out Europe: American golf is bouncing back
"You certainly want one of the best players ever in the game, you want him on your team. I'm hoping, for Tiger's sake, that he has a full healthy season next year and we are not in this situation. That he's back to his form and he's ready to go.
"I would love to play as Tiger Woods' partner in a Presidents Cup or a Ryder Cup. So I would probably have to go with exactly what Fred did."
Woods has played in six Ryder Cups since 1997, but his only experience of team victory came at Brookline, Massachusetts in 1999 after missing out due to injury three years ago.
He had planned to take the rest of this year off, but his Presidents Cup selection persuaded him to enter the Frys.com Open starting October 6, when he will be partnered by new caddy Joe LaCava -- who carried Couples' bag for more than 20 years.
LaCava left Couples this year when the 51-year-old decided to reduce his playing schedule, and worked with 2010 Ryder Cup player Dustin Johnson until the end of the PGA Tour's recent FedEx Cup playoffs.
"Joe is an outstanding caddy," Woods told his official website on Sunday. "I have known him for many years. I've personally seen the great job he did for Freddie. I'm anxious for us to be working together."
LaCava added: "I'm excited to be working with Tiger. I contacted Tiger and Mark (Steinberg, Woods' agent) because this is a unique opportunity to be part of something very special.
"Tiger and I have been friends for a very long time, and I know what he can do." | [
"Who wants Woods on his team?",
"Who picked Woods as a wildcard?",
"Who hired Joe LaCava?",
"Who is Joe LaCava?",
"Who is the former no. 1?",
"Who did Couples pick as a wildcard?",
"What rank did he drop to?",
"Who is Fred Couples?"
] | [
[
"Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III"
],
[
"Davis Love III"
],
[
"Tiger Woods"
],
[
"caddy"
],
[
"Tiger Woods"
],
[
"Woods"
],
[
"50th in golf's world rankings,"
],
[
"Presidents Cup counterpart"
]
] | U.S. Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III wants Tiger Woods in his 2012 team .
Fred Couples has picked Woods as a wildcard for the Presidents Cup in November .
The former world No. 1 has dropped down the rankings to 50th after two hard years .
Woods has hired Couples' former caddy Joe LaCava as his new bagman . |
(CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta warned that Israel must improve its relations with neighboring countries, saying the country is becoming increasingly isolated in the region.
Panetta made the comments ahead of his arrival Monday in Israel, where he will meet with Israeli and Palestinian leaders in an effort to jump start peace talks.
"I don't think there is any question in talking with leaders from Israel that they recognize that they've becoming increasingly isolated in that part of the world, and that's not ... a good situation," Panetta told reporters while en route late Sunday to Israel.
"I think they recognize that it's important to do whatever they can to try to improve those relations."
Tensions in the region have been running high in recent weeks over the Palestinian Authority's bid for statehood before the United Nations, and Israel's plans to build 1,100 new homes in disputed territory in south Jerusalem.
"The important thing there is to again reaffirm our strong security relationship with Israel, to make clear that we will protect their qualitative military edge," Panetta said.
"As they take risks for peace, we will be able to provide the security that they will need in order to ensure that they can have the room hopefully to negotiate."
Panetta said he plans to offer U.S. help to Israel to improve its deteriorating relationships with some of its neighbors, particularly Turkey and Egypt.
"It's pretty clear, that at this dramatic time in the Middle East when there have been so many changes, that it is not a good situation for Israel to become increasingly isolated. And that's what's happening," Panetta said.
"And I think for the security of that region, it's very important that we do everything possible to try to help them re-establish relations with countries like Turkey and with Egypt."
Turkey and Israel have been at odds following the deaths of nine Turkish activists during an Israeli commando raid last year on the SS Mavi Marmara, part of a flotilla of ships that was headed to blockaded Gaza.
Last month, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan expelled Israel's ambassador over that nation's refusal to apologize for the incident.
Public opposition in Egypt, meanwhile, against its peace treaty with Israel appears to be growing. Protesters last month attacked Israel's embassy.
Panetta will follow up his trip to Israel with a stop in Egypt, where he said he will encourage leaders to proceed with a promised election process following the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak.
The defense secretary said there was little question Israel has maintained its military superiority in the region.
"But the question you have to ask is, is it enough to maintain a military edge if you are isolating yourself diplomatically?," Panetta said.
"Real security can only be achieved by both a strong diplomatic effort as well as a strong effort to protect your military strength."
Panetta's visit to the region follows an Israeli announcement Sunday that it supports a call by the Middle East Quartet -- made up of the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia --
for direct talks with Palestinians to resume within a month.
In a statement, the Israeli prime minister's office said Israel "welcomes the quartet's call for direct negotiations between the parties without preconditions."
"While Israel has some concerns, it will raise them at the appropriate time," the statement added. "Israel calls on the Palestinian Authority to do the same and to enter into direct negotiations without delay."
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas has repeatedly said Palestinians would not return to negotiations until Israel halts all settlement construction and accepts 1967 border lines as a basis for the return to talks.
Panetta said he will stress to both Palestinians and Israelis that rather than set conditions for negotiating, they look for other approaches to resolve the issues.
"So my main message is, to both sides, you don't lose anything by going into negotiations and trying to pursue a peace process everyone in the world is hopeful can begin," he said | [
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"What did the US Secretary of Defense say?",
"who is he going to meet?",
"What does Panetta plan?",
"What is not a good situation?",
"Who will he meet with?",
"Who will Panetta meet with?",
"what is Panetta plans?",
"what does the U.S. Secretary of Defense said?"
] | [
[
"Israel must improve its relations with neighboring"
],
[
"\"I don't think there is any question in talking with leaders from Israel that they recognize that they've becoming increasingly isolated in that part of the world, and that's not ... a good situation,\""
],
[
"Israeli and Palestinian leaders"
],
[
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],
[
"Israel to become increasingly isolated."
],
[
"Israeli and Palestinian leaders"
],
[
"Israeli and Palestinian leaders"
],
[
"offer U.S. help to Israel"
],
[
"\"I don't think there is any question in talking with leaders from Israel that they recognize that they've becoming increasingly isolated in that part of the world, and that's not"
]
] | The U.S. Secretary of Defense says Israeli isolation is not "a good situation" in the Middle East .
Panetta says he plans to offer U.S. help to Israel to improve its relationships .
Panetta says there is little question Israel has maintained its military superiority in the region .
He'll meet with Israeli, Palestinian and Egyptian leaders before heading to Belgium . |
(CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and foreign ministers from more than a dozen countries met Monday to discuss how to rebuild Haiti after the devastating January 12 earthquake. Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive also attended the one-day meeting of the Friends of Haiti group of nations in Montreal, Quebec. The United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank and European Union also sent representatives, according to Canada's Foreign Ministry. In Haiti, desperate residents of Port-au-Prince, the capital, waited for two hours in lines around the heavily damaged Presidential Palace to get their first relief supplies, bags of rice or beans. U.N. troops brandishing automatic weapons kept order. Any spilled food prompted fast scavenging by those hanging around the distribution point. One woman, Via Maria Rosile, took off her shirt to collect a small pile of dropped beans. Watch images of a shattered palace "I am very unhappy," Rosile said. "So far, until now we have received nothing." The aim of the Montreal meeting is to develop a strategy for early recovery and longer-term reconstruction of Haiti. Once the strategy is set, a donors' conference to secure funding would take place. Clinton told reporters traveling with her to the meeting that the donors' conference would take place in "the next 30 to 60 days." "There's a tremendous desire to help, but we've got to create the mechanisms so that it can be done effectively, and we've got to get the Haitian government's capacity to lead put together," she said. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper told the meeting's attendees that the challenge is enormous. Interactive map: Where to find aid "It is not an exaggeration to say that 10 years of hard work awaits the world in Haiti," he said, according to CNN affiliate CTV, a Canadian television network. He noted the initial outpouring of money and relief aid for Haiti, which he called generous in the face of human catastrophe. "The difficulty we face, then, is not one of concern but rather one of coordination," Harper said. "We must ensure that every resource committed -- every relief worker, every vehicle, every dollar -- is used as effectively as possible." The United States has committed $100 million in emergency aid to Haiti, and Clinton said Monday "there will be more to come." At the same time, Clinton noted to reporters that even before the quake, Haiti had an economic development plan worked out with the United Nations and others that was intended to modernize the economy after decades of political and social instability. The earthquake required a revision of the plan, rather than scrapping it entirely, she said. "It was a legitimate plan. It was done in conjunction with other international donors, with the United Nations," Clinton said. "And I don't want to start from scratch, but we have to recognize the changed challenges we are now confronting." Bellerive, in comments at the meeting reported by CTV, also said Haiti must achieve a new development path rather than simply returning to the same situation that existed before the earthquake. "What we are speaking about is relaunching our country on a path of development. It is not a question of going back to the status quo," he said, according to CTV. Port-au-Prince will have to be rebuilt and public institutions decentralized to meet the needs of the hundreds of thousands of Haitians expected to relocate to rural areas, CTV reported Bellerive as saying. In addition, Monday's meeting provided an opportunity for the donor community, the Haitian government and the United Nations to review progress so far in the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Haiti. A senior European diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity to reporters in Washington, said the countries attending the Montreal meeting want to avoid pouring money into Haiti in ways that previously have yielded little result. Priorities might include agriculture, reforestation and building new roads, with projects carried out in coordination | [
"Where are officials meeting",
"Where did the leaders meet?",
"How much aid has been committed?",
"When will the officials meet in Montreal?",
"How much did Clinton say the us had committed?",
"How much has the US committed to Haiti",
"Will it take long to rebuild Haiti?",
"How many years of work to rebuild?"
] | [
[
"Montreal, Quebec."
],
[
"Montreal, Quebec."
],
[
"$100 million"
],
[
"Monday"
],
[
"$100 million in emergency aid"
],
[
"$100 million"
],
[
"10 years"
],
[
"10"
]
] | U.S. has committed $100 million in aid to Haiti, with more to come, Clinton says .
Ten years of hard work needed to rebuild Haiti, Canadian PM tells meeting .
Top officials from more than a dozen countries meet in Montreal on Monday .
Families of the missing fight Haiti's effort to shift from rescue to recovery mode . |
(CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton headed to Luanda, Angola, on Sunday on the third leg of a journey that is taking her to seven African nations in 11 days. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton poses with residents of South Africa on Saturday during her 11-day trip to Africa. The State Department has described Angola as a nation with "enormous economic potential." The African country is one of the largest energy producers south of the Sahara Desert and is a major supplier of petroleum and liquefied natural gas to the U.S. market. Clinton flew to Angola after a two-day stop in South Africa, where she met with the country's new leader, President Jacob Zuma, and the foreign minister. She ended the South African trip Saturday with a visit to a housing project on the outskirts of Cape Town, where she and daughter, Chelsea, laid the first bricks 12 years ago. Clinton opened her Africa trip in Kenya. She will also travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Liberia and Cape Verde. "In each nation, she will emphasize Africa as a place of opportunity, built on an ethic of responsibility," said Ian Kelly, state department spokesman. "She will underline America's commitment to partner with governments, the private sector, nongovernmental organizations and private citizens to build societies where each individual can realize their potential." | [
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"Who is visiting ?",
"African country is a major supplier of what to the U.S. market?",
"Where will Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visit on Sunday?",
"Who will visit seven African nations in 11 days?",
"Where will Clinton visit on Sunday?",
"How many African nations will Clinton visit in 11 days?",
"What is Angola known for being a major supplier of?",
"Who is Secretary of State?"
] | [
[
"Angola"
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[
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[
"petroleum and liquefied natural"
],
[
"Luanda, Angola,"
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[
"Secretary of State Hillary Clinton"
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[
"Luanda, Angola,"
],
[
"seven"
],
[
"of petroleum and liquefied natural gas to the U.S. market."
],
[
"Hillary Clinton"
]
] | Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to visit Angola on Sunday .
African country is major supplier of petroleum, liquefied natural gas to U.S. market .
Clinton to visit seven African nations in 11 days . |
(CNN) -- U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said golden parachute payments would be banned and the salary deals of bankers "clawed back" as part of the government's $250 billion bailout of the financial sector. U.S. President George W. Bush announces his government's bank bailout plan. Meanwhile, U.S. President George W. Bush on Tuesday of a $250 billion bailout plan to help stabilize the financial system. In Washington, Bush said the Treasury would buy into banks in return for shares using authority granted in the country's $700 billion bailout bill. However, Paulson stressed taxpayers would get a return on their money and banking excesses would be brought to an end. "Institutions that sell shares to the government will accept restrictions on executive compensation, including a clawback provision and a ban on golden parachutes during the period that Treasury holds equity issued through this program," he said. The world's sharemarkets climbed again after European governments Monday announced bank bailouts worth more than $1 trillion and in anticipation of the U.S. bailout. Watch market prices The Dow Jones industrial average surged 363 points in early trading after Bush and Paulson spoke before dropping back and eventually closing down by 76 points, or 0.82 percent. Bush said the measures taken in Europe were right, and had brought stability to the system. Watch the European Central Bank chief's assessment » "This new capital will help struggling banks to fill the hole filled by crisis during the time we are in," Bush said. "This is a short-term measure to insure the viability of America's banking system." Watch Bush announce the plan » He also announced that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) would "temporarily guarantee most new debt" issued by banks. "This will address one of the central problems plaguing our financial system -- banks have been unable to borrow money and that has constricted their ability to lend to consumer and businesses," Bush said. "When money flows freely between banks, it will make it easy for Americans to borrow money for homes and cars." The government, through the FDIC, would also immediately and temporarily insure non-interest-bearing transaction accounts which were used mainly by small businesses "to cover day-to-day operations." "By insuring every dollar in these accounts, we will give small business owners piece of mind and bring greater stability to the banking system," Bush said. Governments have rushed to pump capital into banks after a series of large failures left the financial system teetering on the edge of insolvency. Banks have stopped lending to each other and customers for fear they will not be able to recoup debts and over concerns that many institutions are still hiding massive sub-prime mortgage losses. Watch Nobel prize winner praise UK plan » Paulson said the government would get preference shares in return for its investment. "Nine large financial institutions have already agreed to participate in this program. They have agreed to sell preferred shares to the US government, on the same terms that will be available to a broad array of small and medium-sized banks." Watch more on the bailout funding » According to reports banking giants Citigroup, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch would be among those to receive funding. Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke said: "I strongly believe that the application of these tools, together with the underlying vitality and resilience of the American economy, will help to restore confidence to our financial system and place our economy back on a path to vigorous, healthy growth." Markets in Europe saw big early gains drop back in afternoon trading. However, London's FTSE, the Paris CAC 40 and Frankfurt's DAX closed between 2.7 and 3.3 percent higher. Across the Middle East markets were up between 6.5 and 11 percent. Earlier, Japan's Nikkei 225 posted a record 14.15 percent gain. South Korea's KOSPI index gained 6.1 percent and Australia's All Ordinaries picked up more than 4 percent. Watch the Nikkei Index bounce back » | [
"who annouced the bail out?",
"Which stock exchange closes up 14 percent on Tuesday?",
"Who says that Golden parachute payments will end?",
"What is the nikkei?",
"What sum of money is in the bailout?",
"Who says golden parachute payments will end?",
"Who is the U.S. president?"
] | [
[
"U.S. President George W. Bush"
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[
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],
[
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[
"$250 billion"
],
[
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[
"George W. Bush"
]
] | U.S. President George W. Bush announces $250 billion bailout .
Henry Paulson: Golden parachute payments and excesses will end .
Japan's Nikkei closes Tuesday up 14 percent, a one-day record . |
(CNN) -- U.S. fans of Michael Jackson are pouring out their grief through music and dance, impromptu shrines at symbolic locations and heartfelt remembrances online. Valerie Rojas Pruitt, 12, lights a candle Friday at Michael Jackson's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Jackson's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was surrounded hours before dawn Friday by candles, flowers, posters and balloons. As the sun rose, a man crouched on the sidewalk and painted a portrait of the pop star, who died suddenly on Thursday. "This is a very sad day here in Hollywood, California," sobbed Melissa Fazli, a CNN iReporter. "This is very, very sad. I can't believe it." The star emblem had been covered until almost 3 a.m. by a red carpet for the premiere of the Sasha Baron Cohen film "Bruno" at Grauman's Chinese Theater, but fans started leaving mementos as soon as the carpet was removed. The film's producers reportedly cut a scene referencing Jackson, at least for the premiere. Watch the Walk of Fame shrine grow » "He was an innovator," a fan named Delores said outside the theater. "He's basically an icon in his own time -- legendary. It's going to take years [to sink in] that he's gone, because he's always with me. ... I'm just trying to assess it all right now. I'm still mourning, and at the same time missing him. It's a little bit much to bear." See what celebrities had to say » Fans gathered near the gates of the Los Angeles home where the King of Pop collapsed Thursday, and hundreds more assembled outside the UCLA Medical Center, where Jackson was pronounced dead. The U.S. fans' reaction was part of a worldwide outpouring of grief over Jackson's death and celebration of his life and art. See how people reacted in other countries People stopped in their tracks Thursday in New York's Times Square, staring up at the giant TV screens bearing news of Jackson's death. Some people set up lawn chairs in the evening. Watch the reaction on Times Square » Hundreds of people gathered in front of the Motown Historical Museum in Detroit, Michigan, a two-story house where the Jackson 5's recording career began in 1969, according to CNN affiliate WDIV-TV. Fans built a makeshift shrine to Jackson, whose hits could be heard booming from passing cars, the station reported. View a timeline of Jackson's career » Fans frequently broke into song and dance around Jackson's childhood home on Jackson Street, renamed in honor of the family, in Gary, Indiana, CNN affiliate WRTV-TV reported. Watch fans gather at the home » "I knew Michael. I only lived three blocks from him myself," Gary resident John Moore told WRTV-TV. "It's a really sad day. I'm very hurt and disappointed right now. He was a great guy." CNN iReporter Egberto Willies of Kingwood, Texas, summed up the conflicting feelings Jackson engendered among his admirers: "I grew up on Michael Jackson," Willies said in a video post on iReport.com. "I loved Michael Jackson. I hated Michael Jackson. I admired Michael Jackson. I was ashamed of Michael Jackson. I was sorry for Michael Jackson. I was proud of Michael Jackson. iReport: Share your thoughts about Michael Jackson "Michael Jackson was a complicated human being who was [denied] a childhood in order to provide us with great musical and dancing entertainment," Willies went on. "But with all his wealth and success he never seemed happy with himself. He never viewed himself as we viewed him: simply the best entertainer alive. May he rest in peace, his demons left behind." CNN's Kara Finnstrom and Dan Simon contributed to this report. | [
"What surrounded the star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?",
"Where was Jackson's childhood home located?",
"Where was Michael Jackson born?",
"where was his childhood home",
"What is the name of the king of pop?",
"Where did Michael Jackson die?",
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] | [
[
"candles, flowers, posters and balloons."
],
[
"Gary, Indiana,"
],
[
"Gary, Indiana,"
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[
"Gary, Indiana,"
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[
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[
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[
"Hundreds of people gathered in front of the Motown Historical Museum in Detroit, Michigan, a two-story house"
],
[
"candles, flowers, posters and balloons."
]
] | Admirers gather at symbolic locations to salute the late "King of Pop"
Candles, flowers, posters, balloons surround star on Hollywood Walk of Fame .
Fans sing and dance outside Detroit house where Jackson 5 first recorded .
Neighbors remember Jackson at childhood home in Gary, Indiana . |
(CNN) -- U.S. health officials said Wednesday they have found a contaminant in a blood-thinning drug produced by Baxter Healthcare Corp. that has been linked to more than a dozen deaths in the United States. The drug can keep potentially life-threatening blood clots from forming in the veins, arteries, and lungs. In early February, the Food and Drug Administration launched an investigation and then a recall of some forms of the product. The scrutiny began after a spike in reports of health problems associated with heparin, a drug made by Baxter from pig intestines at plants in China and Wisconsin. Though the cause of the problems has not been determined, FDA investigators found "a heparin-like compound -- that is not heparin -- present in some of the active pharmaceutical ingredients" in both facilities, said Dr. Janet Woodcock, acting director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. The contaminant, which made up 5 percent to 20 percent of each sample tested, "reacts like heparin in some of the conventional tests used for heparin," which explains why it was not picked up, she told reporters in a conference call. No causal link between the contaminant and the adverse events has been established yet, Woodcock said. She added that it was not clear whether the contaminant was added accidentally, as part of the processing or deliberately. It also was not clear whether the contaminant was introduced in the company's plant in Wisconsin or the one in China, Woodcock said. Though she said the exact structure of the contaminant has not been identified, "it is similar to heparin glycans." Glycans are polysaccharides, a complex class of carbohydrate. She added it was unclear whether other heparin products used outside the United States might also contain the product. Later this week, the agency will release recommendations on how manufacturers and regulators can screen for the contaminant, she said. Last year, pet food made in China was found to be tainted with an ingredient that replaced more expensive protein and that initial tests did not identify as a contaminant. Asked if the heparin contamination could be a similar case, Woodcock said, "It's possible." Doctors have used the blood-thinner for 60 years with "no history of any problems whatsoever," said the FDA commissioner, Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach. Its intravenous use can keep potentially life-threatening blood clots from forming in the veins, arteries and lungs. Von Eschenbach said it would be "disingenuous" to expect the agency would be able to inspect "every institution in every case." Over the last fiscal year, the agency reported having inspected more than 1,000 foreign plants, a record. Since the agency issued its report that 19 deaths had been linked to the drug since January 1, 2007, it has received word of another 27 deaths, "but many of those do not fit our definition of this type of event," Woodcock said. In all, the FDA has received 785 heparin-linked reports of adverse events -- including difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, excessive sweating and plummeting blood pressure that can lead to life-threatening shock. "They're continuing to come in fairly rapidly because there has been a lot of reporting of this," she said. In a written statement, Baxter said its tests have suggested "that the root cause may be associated with the crude heparin, sourced from China, or from the subsequent processing of that product before it reaches Baxter." Meanwhile, Scientific Protein Laboratories LLC, which supplies the company with the active pharmaceutical ingredients, issued a statement saying it is working with the FDA, Baxter and outside experts to identify the cause of the adverse events. "Thus far, no conclusions have been reached about the root cause," it said. "It is premature to conclude that the heparin active pharmaceutical ingredient sourced from China and provided by SPL to Baxter is responsible for these adverse events." It said that its voluntary recall of suspect product was being made as a precaution. E-mail to a | [
"what does fda mean",
"What is the number of deaths linked to the drug?",
"Was it added by accident?",
"what is fdas comment"
] | [
[
"Food and Drug Administration"
],
[
"19"
],
[
"not clear whether the contaminant"
],
[
"\"a heparin-like compound -- that is not heparin -- present in some of the active pharmaceutical ingredients\""
]
] | FDA investigators find "a heparin-like compound -- that is not heparin"
Tests did not pick up the contaminant because it reacts like heparin .
FDA: It's not clear whether the contaminant was added accidentally or deliberately .
At least 19 deaths have been linked to the drug since 2007 . |
(CNN) -- U.S. military forces landed at a compound in Pakistan to battle targets linked to recent attacks on U.S. troops in Afghanistan, a senior U.S. official confirmed Wednesday. Security in the South Waziristan area of Pakistan has deteriorated in recent years. The official declined to be identified, citing the extreme sensitivity of U.S. forces operating within Pakistan's borders. The action was an uncommon one for the U.S. military. Generally, NATO forces do not enter Pakistan except when pursuing insurgents in Afghanistan who slipped over the border or, in an extreme case, to pursue a high-value target. The Pentagon has refused to comment officially on the attack, but several defense officials acknowledged that U.S. military activity had taken place inside Pakistan. The senior U.S. official said a small number of U.S. helicopters landed troops in the village near Angoor Adda in South Waziristan, where Taliban and al Qaeda fighters have hunkered down over the years. Local media reports said the troops came out of a chopper and fired on civilians. The U.S. official said there may have been a small number of women and children in the immediate vicinity, but when the mission began "everybody came out firing" from the compound. He said the U.S. troops specifically attacked three buildings in the compound. They were believed to contain individuals responsible for training and equipping insurgents who have been crossing the border into Afghanistan in increasing numbers in recent months and staging large-scale, high-profile attacks against U.S. and coalition forces. The official could not say if the troops were going after a specific individual. Officials told CNN there was no indication the target was Osama bin Laden or his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday lodged a protest against U.S.-led coalition and NATO forces for what it said was a "helicopter-borne ground attack" from Afghanistan into Pakistan, an uncommon tactic in the coalition's fight against militants along the violent border. The coalition and NATO have been seeking a way to effectively battle militants launching attacks from Pakistan's swath of tribal areas along the border. They have become frustrated with Pakistan over the years, saying it is not being proactive enough against militants, a claim denied by Pakistan -- now in political flux after the resignation of President Pervez Musharraf. Top U.S. and Pakistani military officials last week met on an aircraft carrier regarding American concerns that Pakistan hasn't been cracking down hard enough on the Taliban. Several times this year, U.S.-operated drone aircraft launched attacks inside Pakistan The Pakistani Foreign Ministry described the strike as "a helicopter-borne ground attack supported by air assets based in Afghanistan" and called it a "gross violation of Pakistan territory." Pakistani officials were still counting the casualties. One local official said the raid left 20 civilians dead. Pakistan military spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said seven civilians died and others were critically injured. "It is, indeed, most unfortunate that coalition/ISAF in Afghanistan have resorted to cross-border use of force against civilians," the Pakistan Foreign Ministry said in a written statement. ISAF is NATO's International Security Assistance Force. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesman said the U.S. ambassador to Pakistan was summoned to provide an explanation of the incident. "Such actions are counterproductive and certainly do not help our joint efforts to fight terrorism," the ministry said. "On the contrary, they undermine the very basis of cooperation and may fuel the fire of hatred and violence that we are trying to extinguish. Moreover, any attack on Pakistani territory is unacceptable and constitutes a grave provocation." Owais Ahmed Ghani, the administrative head of Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas, called the strike "a direct assault on the sovereignty of Pakistan. And the people of Pakistan expect that the Armed Forces of Pakistan would rise to defend the sovereignty of the country and give a befitting reply to all such attacks." | [
"Where did the assault target?",
"how many civilians were involved",
"What has Pakistan called for?",
"Who do Pakistan call on to explain the attack?",
"Who was the individuals in the compound suspected of helping",
"what did the reports say",
"What are individuals in the compound suspected of?"
] | [
[
"U.S. troops in Afghanistan,"
],
[
"20"
],
[
"a protest against U.S.-led coalition and NATO forces"
],
[
"U.S."
],
[
"insurgents"
],
[
"the troops came out of a chopper and fired on civilians."
],
[
"responsible for training and equipping insurgents who have been crossing the border into Afghanistan in increasing numbers in recent months and staging large-scale, high-profile attacks against U.S. and coalition forces."
]
] | NEW: Assault targeted compound in area linked to Taliban, al Qaeda .
NEW: Individuals in compound suspected of helping Afghan attacks .
Pakistani reports say from seven to 20 civilians killed in raid .
Pakistan calls on U.S. ambassador to explain attack . |
(CNN) -- U.S. naval forces hunting pirates off Somalia detained six people this week who appeared to be pursuing a commercial shipping vessel, but soon released them because of a lack of evidence. A Yemeni Coast Guard boat patrols the Gulf of Aden for pirates who threaten shipping. The Navy said on Saturday the six matched the description of suspected pirates aboard a skiff in the area. The naval crew saw the men throwing objects overboard before they picked up the suspects. Investigators didn't say what was thrown overboard but said the evidence was not sufficient "to hold the suspects for prosecution." The detentions reflect the aggressive U.S.-led fight against piracy. The United States is spearheading an international naval task force in the waters off Somalia that launched in February after a rash of attacks. Participating ships are patrolling more than a million square miles of water, an area about four times the size of Texas, Navy officials have said. The Navy said it arrested the six on Friday after responding to a distress call from the Philippines-flagged MV Bison Express in the Gulf of Aden, between Yemen and Somalia. The ship, a livestock carrier, reported a small skiff containing six heavily armed pirates was pursuing it. The guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg arrived and found a skiff matching the description. A Seahawk helicopter flew from the Gettysburg over the skiff and reported seeing objects being thrown overboard, the Navy said. A team from the Gettysburg boarded the skiff, along with members of the U.S. Coast Guard Legal Detachment and detained the six suspected pirates. The U.S. officials transferred the suspects onto the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer, the flagship for the international anti-piracy task force, the Navy said, before releasing them. The attack on the Bison Express was the second one Friday on commercial shipping vessels in the Gulf of Aden, the Navy said. In the first incident, pirates attacked the MV Sea Green, which managed to fend them off by firing flares as the men approached, the Navy said. | [
"Where do US led international patrols happen?",
"Where is the Gulf of Aden?",
"Where were the suspects captured?",
"What did the Naval personnel see the suspects doing?",
"What did the U.S. military ship capture?",
"What was caught by military ship?",
"What did the skiff match the description of?",
"Did the US Navy detain the suspects or did they have to let them go?",
"How many square miles does the naval patrols cove in the Gulf of Aden?"
] | [
[
"Somalia"
],
[
"between Yemen and Somalia."
],
[
"Gulf of Aden,"
],
[
"the men throwing objects overboard"
],
[
"six suspected pirates."
],
[
"six people"
],
[
"of suspected pirates"
],
[
"but soon released"
],
[
"more than a million"
]
] | U.S. military ship captures skiff off Somalia coast .
Skiff matched description of commercial ship's pursuer .
Navy lets men go for lack of evidence; saw suspects throwing stuff overboard .
U.S.-led international naval effort patrols a million square miles in Gulf of Aden . |
(CNN) -- U.S. troops have launched a "major operation" against Taliban fighters in southern Afghanistan, U.S. military officials announced in Afghanistan early Thursday. U.S. Marines gather for a briefing in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on Wednesday. About 4,000 Americans, mostly from the Marines, and 650 Afghan soldiers and police launched Operation Khanjar -- "strike of the sword" -- in the Helmand River valley, the U.S. command in Kabul announced. The push is the largest since the Pentagon began moving additional troops into the conflict this year, and it follows a British-led operation launched last week in the same region, the Marines said. It is also the first big move since U.S. Gen. Stanley McChrystal took over as the allied commander in Afghanistan in mid-June. In Washington, a senior defense official said the size and scope of the new operation are "very significant." "It's not common for forces to operate at the brigade level," the official said. "In fact, they often only conduct missions at the platoon level. And they're going into the most troubled area of Afghanistan." Helmand Province, where much of the fighting is taking place, has been a hotbed of Taliban violence in recent months. At least 25 U.S. and British troops have been killed there in 2009. The defense official said the operation is a "tangible indication" of the new approach that McChrystal -- a former chief of the Pentagon's special operations command -- is bringing to the nearly eight-year war. "They're not just doing an offensive push to get bad guys; they're going in to hold the area and stay there," the official said. "This approach is indicative of McChrystal's philosophy: measuring success by the number of Afghans protected, not bad guys killed." The Obama administration has moved about 21,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan, the original front in the war launched after the September 11 attacks. During his confirmation hearing in June, McChrystal told senators that the conflict requires a new focus on counterinsurgency to reduce violence and build support for the U.S.-led NATO alliance among Afghans. "Although I expect stiff fighting ahead, the measure of success will not be enemy killed. It will be shielding the Afghan population from violence," he said. The Islamic fundamentalist Taliban ruled most of Afghanistan before its allies in the al Qaeda terrorist network attacked New York and Washington in 2001. Though quickly toppled after the attacks, its leaders escaped, and the movement regrouped in the Afghan countryside and across the border in Pakistan. CNN Pentagon Correspondent Chris Lawrence contributed to this report. | [
"How many Afgans were involved?",
"How many American troops were there?",
"How many troops are involed?",
"Where does the operation focus on?",
"What do officials say about it?",
"What river is being focused on?",
"Whats the name of the operation",
"Where is Operation Khanjar located?",
"How many American troops were involved?"
] | [
[
"650"
],
[
"4,000"
],
[
"About 4,000 Americans, mostly from the Marines, and 650 Afghan soldiers and police"
],
[
"Taliban"
],
[
"the size and scope of the new operation are \"very significant.\""
],
[
"Helmand"
],
[
"Khanjar"
],
[
"Helmand River valley,"
],
[
"About 4,000"
]
] | 4,000 American troops, 650 Afghans involved in Operation Khanjar .
It focuses on Helmand River valley, hotbed of Taliban violence .
Operation's size and scope are "very significant," official says . |
(CNN) -- UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has branded the cholera crisis in Zimbabwe "an international emergency" and called on the world community to confront President Robert Mugabe, leader of the central African nation.
A shortage of clean drinking water has unleashed a cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe.
"This is now an international rather than a national emergency," Brown said in a statement Saturday. "International because disease crosses borders. International because the systems of government in Zimbabwe are now broken. There is no state capable or willing of protecting its people."
Earlier this week the government of Zimbabwe, which already suffers from severe economic problems and political instability, declared a national emergency following the outbreak, which has so far killed more than 600 people.
Cholera, a water-borne disease, is on the increase in nine of Zimbabwe's 10 provinces, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned. It blamed "poor water and sanitation supply, a collapsed health system and limited government capacity to respond to the emergency."
Many of those afflicted with the disease have fled to neighboring countries to seek medical help -- which risks spreading the outbreak still further.
Brown called on the international community to tell Mugabe "enough is enough," and suggested that the United Nations Security Council meet to discuss the issue.
He added that the most pressing issue was to ensure that testing and rehydration equipment and packs reach the right people, as well as for aid agencies to set up a organizational structure in the state capital Harare to confront the disease.
"The people of Zimbabwe voted for a better future. It is our duty to support that aspiration," Brown added. Brown's comments came one day after U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that the outbreak is the latest sign that Mugabe's rule over the country must end.
"It's well past time for Robert Mugabe to leave. I think that's now obvious," Rice said during a visit to Denmark.
Washington has long called for Mugabe to leave office, with President George W. Bush calling Zimbabwe's runoff presidential election in June a "sham" and instructing Rice and other U.S. officials to develop additional sanctions against Mugabe's "illegitimate government."
"The United States will always do anything and everything that it can to help innocent people who are suffering," Rice said. "And we are not going to deny assistance to people in need because of their government. But if this is not evidence to the international community that it's time to stand up for what is right, I don't know what will be. And frankly, the nations of the region have to lead it."
Rice -- who has just about a month left in office before President-elect Barack Obama's administration takes over -- also called on all African nations to speak up.
Asked whether the United States and Europe should try to force out Mugabe, Rice responded, "Well, without help in the region, it's very difficult to have the tools that will bring about a just resolution in Zimbabwe. The United States and Europe can't do everything alone. Other states are responsible too. And the southern African states should be the most responsible at this point, because they have the most at risk. And the people of Zimbabwe have suffered long enough."
Supporters of Mugabe, who has come under heavy international criticism for several years, were accused of political intimidation following June's presidential runoff vote.
For months there have been some efforts to build a power-sharing government between Mugabe's ruling Zanu PF party and the opposition movement for Democratic Change, led by Morgan Tsvangirai, to little avail.
On Thursday, Mugabe hinted he may form a Cabinet without the opposition and call for early elections. The opposition responded that it would welcome a "genuine election," with international supervision.
The 84-year-old Mugabe, who has led Zimbabwe since its independence in 1980 from Great Britain, also suggested he would ignore an international tribunal ruling that declared illegal his government's seizure of farms from white | [
"What is Brown's title?",
"Which country has a cholera crisis?",
"Who did Rice call on?",
"How many people have been killed by cholera in Zimbabwe?",
"Number of people cholera has killed?",
"Who did the UK and US put pressure on?",
"How many people were killed by the crisis?",
"Who called for all African nations to speak up about crisis?",
"What was the crisis in Zimbabwe?",
"Who called for more to be done about the cholera crisis?",
"Who was president of Zimbabwe?",
"Name of the UK PM?"
] | [
[
"UK"
],
[
"Zimbabwe"
],
[
"all African nations"
],
[
"more than 600"
],
[
"more than 600"
],
[
"President Robert Mugabe,"
],
[
"more than 600"
],
[
"Rice"
],
[
"cholera"
],
[
"Prime Minister Gordon Brown"
],
[
"Robert Mugabe,"
],
[
"Gordon Brown"
]
] | UK PM Gordon Brown calls for more to be done about Zimbabwe cholera crisis .
Cholera has killed 600-plus people in nation hit by hyperinflation, political unrest .
Condoleezza Rice Friday called on all African nations to "speak up" about crisis .
UK, U.S. have led international pressure on Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe . |
(CNN) -- US Airways Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles were reunited in the cockpit Thursday for the first time since Sullenberger safely landed a disabled passenger plane in the Hudson River in January. Thursday's flight was Chesley Sullenberger's first in his new role as an active management pilot for US Airways. "It was great to fly with Jeff again. Being back in the cockpit felt very familiar. It was like coming home," Sullenberger said of the flight from New York's LaGuardia Airport to Charlotte, North Carolina. "Even though several months had past since I've flown, it would seem like I had never left." It was the first time Sullenberger had flown the New York to Charlotte route since the water on landing on January 15. A bird strike in the engines forced Flight 1549 to make an emergency landing in the icy waters between New York and New Jersey. The landing made heroes of Sullenberger and the flight's crew, who managed to lead passengers to safety with only a few minor injuries. Watch Sullenberger talk about the flight » Sullenberger has been honored with numerous awards, appeared on the "Late Show With David Letterman," spoke before a joint session of Congress and even went to the Super Bowl. Sullenberger said that, after the incident, he wanted to be reunited in the cockpit with Skiles and complete the flight. Cheers filled the cabin when Sullenberger introduced himself, adding he had "learned to wait" for applause to die down before giving preflight announcements. Four passengers from Flight 1549 returned for Thursday's trip, putting their lives once again in the hands of the man they affectionately call "Sully." Christie Spears, who survived the "miracle on the Hudson," reserved the same seat for today's trip. "What better flight to be on? What better captain to fly with? I wouldn't choose any other one," she said. Barry Leonard, a regular commuter on the New York-Charlotte route, said the flight was a healing process for him. Other passengers said they felt like they were taking part in a historic event. With "Sully" at the controls, Pat Martinez said she felt like she won the lottery. "It was a smooth, calm flight -- just what you would expect from Sully." Thursday's flight also was Sullenberger's first in his new role as an active management pilot for US Airways. In addition to his flying duties, Sullenberger will join the airline's flight operations safety management team, which helps airlines assess potential risks and act to mitigate them, US Airways said. Both men took time off before returning to the cockpit, US Airways said, during which they completed requalification training. Skiles returned to work in April, US Airways said. Since then, he has flown more than 60 flights. Sullenberger completed his training September 11, and since the crash, he has flown two flights between Charlotte and Atlanta. Sullenberger said he plans to step back from his flying duties while he goes on a book tour in two weeks and starts teach other pilots at the flight training school. Skiles said that even after eight months away from the controls, Sullenberger did everything perfectly, even reaching over to his radio to change the frequency. Sullenberger said the clear skies and nice weather made Thursday's flight go smoothly. "It was a beautiful day to fly," he said. "This flight today was a lot longer than that one in January, and I was able to give [CEO Doug Parker] back his airplane without getting it wet first." CNN's Adam Reiss contributed to this report. | [
"How many passenger make trip on same route?",
"How many passengers make a trip on the same route?",
"First Officer Jeffery Skiles will reunite with whom in the cockpit?",
"What says sullenberger?"
] | [
[
"Four"
],
[
"Four"
],
[
"Chesley \"Sully\" Sullenberger"
],
[
"\"It was great to fly with Jeff again. Being back in the cockpit felt very familiar. It was like coming home,\""
]
] | NEW: Four passengers from ill-fated flight in January make trip on same route .
NEW: Passenger reserves same seat she had on Flight 1549 for Thursday's flight .
Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles reunite in cockpit .
Sullenberger: "Being back in the cockpit felt very familiar. It was like coming home" |
(CNN) -- US Airways announced a $5 baggage fee increase Wednesday. A US Airways passenger's first checked bag will cost $20 if prepaid online. The fee for a passenger's first checked bag will rise from $15 to $20 if the fees are prepaid online. Online payment for a second checked bag will jump from $25 to $30. An additional $5 fee will be added for bags checked at the airport, bringing the fee for the first bag to $25 and the second to $35. The airline also will implement a $50 fee for the second checked bag on international flights -- $55 if paid at the airport. The first checked bag will continue to be free of charge. The changes will be applied to tickets purchased on Wednesday or later for travel on or after October 7. Also on Wednesday, Continental Airlines implemented a second checked bag fee of $50 for transatlantic flights. Travelers who pay in advance will be charged $45. Earlier this season American Airlines raised its fees for first and second checked bags on domestic flights to $20 and $30, respectively. Continental, Delta and United airlines charge $15 for the first checked bag if the fees are paid online, and $25 for the second bag. At the airport, these airlines charge $20 and $30 for the first and second bags. | [
"How much is the fee for the first checked bag due to rise?",
"What is the name of the airline?",
"How much is the additional charge per bag?",
"what about checking second bag"
] | [
[
"$5 baggage"
],
[
"US"
],
[
"will jump from $25 to $30."
],
[
"$20 if prepaid online."
]
] | Fee for the first checked bag to rise from $15 to $20 if prepaid online .
The second checked bag will cost $30, US Airways says .
An additional $5 per bag will be charged for checking at the airport . |
(CNN) -- Uga VII, the University of Georgia mascot whose deeply furrowed face was a fixture at the school for more than a year, died early Thursday, the university said. He was 4 years old. The purebred English bulldog died of heart-related causes in Savannah, Georgia, according to its owner, Frank "Sonny" Seiler. Fans knew Uga VII had arrived when the white dog, sporting a spiked collar and red Georgia University jersey, made his short strides along the football field's sidelines. He made his first appearance at the August 30, 2008, season opener, when Georgia faced off against Georgia Southern, the university said. He was nearing the end of his second season with the team, the university said. He was preceded by his father, Uga VI, the university's winningest mascot, who died of congestive heart failure. "This is a very sad day for the Seiler family but also for all Georgia people," said Damon Evans, University of Georgia director of athletics in a university news release. "Just as his ancestors, he had captured the hearts of college football fans everywhere as the country's No. 1 mascot. He had been truly embraced by all those who follow the Georgia Bulldogs across the country. We will miss him dearly." Uga VII's given name was Loran's Best, the university said. His death was unexpected. "We are all in a state of shock," Seiler said in the release. "We had no warning whatsoever." A wreath will be placed on Uga VII's doghouse on the sideline, the university said. There won't be a live mascot to take his place at Saturday's game against Kentucky. Officials have not decided who will replace the white bulldog, but the decision is expected next year, Seiler said. Until then, fans and Seiler will mourn the loss of the school's favorite pooch. "He was 10-3 last year, which is not bad for a freshman," Seiler said. "Uga VII was not as active or mischievous as his father but more distinguished. He realized his role when he put his shirt on. He was well-behaved and always appreciated the significance of his role." | [
"What type of dog was Uga VII?",
"What was the cause of death for the bulldog?",
"What its Uga VII?",
"Uga VII was which university's mascot?",
"Uga VII died because of what?",
"When he died??",
"Which university was he a mascot for?"
] | [
[
"English bulldog"
],
[
"heart-related"
],
[
"the University of Georgia mascot"
],
[
"of Georgia"
],
[
"heart-related causes"
],
[
"early Thursday,"
],
[
"Uga"
]
] | Uga VII was in his second season as University of Georgia mascot .
Purebred English bulldog died of heart-related causes .
Officials expected to decide next year who will replace the white bulldog . |
(CNN) -- Unbeaten American Floyd Mayweather Jr claims he will knock out WBO welterweight world champion Manny Pacquiao when the two boxing giants lock horns next year.
Speaking on HBO TV's Joe Buck chat show, the 32-year-old Mayweather -- who has an unblemished record from 40 fights -- said: "Pacquiao's a good fighter but I've been around the sport a long time and I've dominated boxing for around 15 years now.
"Nobody has defeated me yet so we'll have to see. The thing is, I don't want the fans to be really shocked by what will happen when we do happen to meet up -- because it's not going to be anything new for them."
"The things is, Manny has been knocked out before and he's taken losses. I'll be victorious."
Filipino Pacquiao will come into the fight following a remarkable 12 months which has seen him defeat de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto.
Meanwhile, Mayweather has fought only once in two years, a unanimous points victory over Juan Manuel Marquez in las Vegas.
Although definitive plans for the mega-money contest are yet to be confirmed, a date of March 13 is widely rumored to be agreed, with three possible venues in the running to stage the contest.
The two fighters are regarded as the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world right now and the fight is expected to generate record levels of interest, easily surpassing the previous record of $18.4m for gate receipts, which was generated for Mayweather's bout with Oscar De La Hoya in 2007.
Two NFL stadiums are reported to be bidding to host the fight. Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys, is competing with the Superdome in New Orleans, as well as the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The two stadiums could accommodate up to 100,000 spectators, while the MGM Grand seats about 16,000. | [
"What does Mayweather Jr claim?",
"What is Mayweather's age?",
"When are Mayweather and Pacquiao due to fight?",
"What does Floyd Mayweather Jr claim?",
"Who does Floyd Mayweather Jr claim he will knock out?",
"What is the weight class",
"How many fights has Mayweather been unbeaten for?",
"When will the pair meet?"
] | [
[
"he will knock out WBO welterweight world champion"
],
[
"32-year-old"
],
[
"next year."
],
[
"he will knock out WBO welterweight world champion"
],
[
"Manny Pacquiao"
],
[
"welterweight"
],
[
"40"
],
[
"March 13"
]
] | Floyd Mayweather Jr claims he will knock out WBO welterweight world champion Manny Pacquiao .
The pair are scheduled to meet next March with the venue still to be decided .
32-year-old American Mayweather remains unbeaten after 40 professional fights . |
(CNN) -- Undercover officers rescued a baby gorilla from suspected animal traffickers in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a national park in the country announced Tuesday. This baby gorilla was rescued from a suspected trafficker in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The gorilla, thought to be about two years old, was hidden at the bottom of a bag and covered with clothes when Congolese Wildlife Authority officers arrested the suspected trafficker on Sunday, Virunga National Park said. The gorilla, a female, was overheated and dehydrated after six hours in transit. She also had a puncture wound on her right leg, among other injuries, and is malnourished, but is responding to treatment, the park said in a statement. It is not clear if the young gorilla's mother is alive or dead, park spokeswoman Samantha Newport said. "You can assume that a gorilla family was attacked in order for the traffickers to obtain a baby -- but it is impossible to know if a whole family was wiped out, just a few individuals, or none at all," she said. "In most cases gorillas have to die to get a baby -- but we cannot know specifically for this case." The animal is now being looked after by specially trained carers, Newport said. "This is of course not an ideal replacement for a mother -- but the best option we have," she told CNN via e-mail. Carers often have some veterinary training, but are not fully fledged vets, she added. But gorillas do not do well in situations like this, she warned. "Gorillas, it is worth noting, are notoriously difficult to keep alive," she said. "Chimps are fighters, as are bonobos. But gorillas -- when the going gets tough -- tend to just shut down. So it really is a critical time right now to ensure she gets the veterinary attention and human warmth that she needs to get through this." The suspect was getting off a plane from the interior of the country, near the gorillas' habitat, the park said. One person has been charged under the country's law forbidding the destruction of flora and fauna, Newport told CNN. The park did not name the suspect. Gorillas can fetch up to $20,000 on the black market, the head of Virunga National Park said. "Investigations have yet to reveal where these animals are being sent and who is buying them, but on the ground sources tell us that a baby gorilla can fetch up to $20,000," said Emmanuel de Merode, the director. "We must remember that for each trafficked baby gorilla, several gorillas have probably been killed in the wild." He led the three-month undercover operation that netted the suspect and the gorilla, the park said. The gorilla is a lowland eastern gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri), also known as the Grauer's Gorilla, a subspecies of Eastern Gorilla only found in the forests of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the park. Virunga National Park calls itself the oldest national park in Africa, established in 1925. It lies in a region that has been badly affected by the long-running war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The gorilla section is in a strategically important area near the borders of Rwanda and Uganda. A ranger was killed earlier this year, and rangers lost control of a large part of the park to rebels for over a year. But a census earlier this year suggests mountain gorillas are surviving despite poaching and war. Officials have long said that the 250-square kilometer gorilla reserve in the southern part of Virunga National Park is where around 200 of the world's 700 mountain gorillas live. | [
"What does the undercover officers rescue?",
"how long had the female gorilla been in transit",
"What was overheated and dehydrated after six hours in transit?",
"what did congolese wildlife authority officers find hidden in a bag?",
"What was the condition of the female gorilla?",
"What does the Congolese Wildlife Authority officers find?",
"What did undercover officers rescue?",
"Who found a gorilla hidden in a bag?"
] | [
[
"baby gorilla"
],
[
"six hours"
],
[
"a baby gorilla"
],
[
"gorilla,"
],
[
"overheated and dehydrated"
],
[
"baby gorilla"
],
[
"baby gorilla"
],
[
"Congolese Wildlife Authority officers"
]
] | Undercover officers rescue a baby gorilla from suspected animal traffickers .
Congolese Wildlife Authority officers find gorilla hidden in bag .
Female gorilla was overheated and dehydrated after six hours in transit . |
(CNN) -- Union workers armed with an estimated 1.5 million signatures converged on Washington on Wednesday, demanding that Congress pass their highest-priority legislation. Union chief Andy Stern wants workers to have another way to organize besides relying on a secret ballot. They are lobbying for the Employee Free Choice Act. The legislation would allow a company's employees to openly sign a card demanding a union and then, if a majority sign, the company involved would have 90 days to negotiate. The act would also stiffen federal laws that bar employers from intimidating or firing workers who try to bring in a union. But while the battle is just beginning on Capitol Hill, business owners like Dave Bego have been in the center of the fight for some time. Bego, of Indianapolis, Indiana, is the owner of EMS, a company that provides janitors to businesses around the country. The family-owned company has been under fire by one of the nation's most powerful labor organizations, the Service Employees International Union. The 1.8 million-member SEIU argues that EMS intimidates, harasses and violates the rights of workers wanting to unionize. It has made the company a target of repeated protests for about three years. But Bego said the claims are unfounded, and it's the union that has harassed him. Watch how company, union are at odds » He said the union has sent his clients threatening letters for using his company, staged noisy protests, confronted employees, blocked building entrances and released balloons in a client's building to disrupt business. He said his workers don't want a union, because they make more in pay and benefits without having to pay SEIU's labor dues. "We have several hundred people working for us in Indianapolis [alone]," Bego said. "They've been after us for almost three years, and they've got only about 10 or 12 people interested in what they said. If our people really needed protecting, don't you think they'd be out in mass droves in the street with the union protesting EMS? Do you think we'd still be in business? I don't think so." But union workers CNN talked to said EMS employees are afraid to speak publicly because they might get fired, as Shaneka Brown said she was. She said EMS fired her after she complained about what she said were unsafe conditions. "We're not the only ones," Brown said. "There are millions of other janitors and millions and millions of other companies that are going through same similarities or different similarities, but they're going through things that are not right and not safe." That's why she supports the Employee Free Choice Act, she said. "When polls show that 60 percent of the workers in America want to organize, yet only 7 percent belong to unions, you know something's broken," one of the bill's sponsors, Iowa Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin, told Wednesday's union rally in Washington. The option to vote by secret ballot would still be available. But critics say the measure -- dubbed the "card check" bill by its opponents -- would effectively eliminate union elections, removing a fundamental hard-earned right of workers and forcing some workers into unions they don't want to join. "Card check is real simple," Bego said. "They want to eliminate the secret ballot election. And that is kind of like saying, 'We're going to elect the president of our country by signing cards. We're going to go door to door and you're going to sign a card for who you want to be president.' " Bego said if his employees want a union, they should be able to secretly vote for one. He offered to hold union elections at his company, but only if they were monitored by the National Labor Relations Board and involved secret ballots. He said the union did not respond, but continued the protests. He took out an ad in the Indianapolis Star, challenging SEIU to "fish or cut bait." Andy Stern, president of the SEIU | [
"The bill would let employees do what?",
"How many days would the company have to negotiate?",
"What would the bill do?",
"How many signatures were handed in?",
"How many signatures backed the bill?",
"How many signatures backing the bill were give to congress?",
"How long would the company have to negotiate?"
] | [
[
"to openly sign a card demanding a union and then, if a majority sign, the company involved"
],
[
"90"
],
[
"allow a company's employees to openly sign a card demanding a union"
],
[
"1.5 million"
],
[
"1.5 million"
],
[
"1.5 million"
],
[
"90 days"
]
] | Bill would let employees openly sign a card demanding a union .
If a majority sign, company would have 90 days to negotiate .
Current method of deciding whether to organize -- secret ballot -- would still be option .
Union workers give Congress estimated 1.5 million signatures backing bill . |
(CNN) -- United Airlines and US Airways have joined American Airlines in charging passengers to check bags on certain flights. Passengers check in at the United Airlines counter at the Miami International Airport Thursday in Miami, Florida. Citing higher fuel prices, United Airlines said Thursday it will begin charging domestic passengers $15 each way for one checked bag. The Chicago, Illinois-based airline said the fee to check a second bag will be $25 each way. The fee to check three or more bags, overweight bags or "items that require special handling" will increase from $100 to $125 or from $200 to $250, depending on the item, United said in a statement. The $15 charge will apply to customers who purchase a ticket on or after Friday for travel within the United States, and who buy on or after August 18 a ticket to or from Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The $15 service fee will not apply to customers flying in United First or United Business or who have premier status with United or Star Alliance airline network, the carrier said. iReport.com: How do you feel about the new fee? For itineraries that include international flights (except Canada), checking a first and second bag will continue to be free, United said. The cost to check more than two bags or items that are overweight or require special handling varies by destination. US Airways, meanwhile, said it will begin charging passengers $15 for their first checked bag for travel on or after July 9. The airline said it also has recently started charging passengers $25 for second checked bags. The new policy applies to flights in the United States as well as flights to and from Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean. Some airlines have been adding fees to once-free benefits, such as snacks. Despite this cost-cutting, airlines are finding it harder to survive as they get squeezed by soaring fuel costs. "With record-breaking fuel prices, we must pursue new revenue opportunities while continuing to offer competitive fares, by tailoring our products and services around what our customers value most and are willing to pay for," said John Tague, United's executive vice president and chief operating officer. United said it estimates that the $15 fee will apply to one out of three customers, and the potential revenue from baggage handling service fees, including those for checking a first and second bag, will be approximately $275 million a year. The move comes a month after American Airlines announced a $15 service charge for the first checked bag. Delta, Continental and Northwest told CNN they are not charging for passengers' first checked bags. However, a spokesman for Northwest said the airline is well aware of changes in the industry. "We are always keeping an eye on what our competitors are doing," the spokesman said. | [
"who does the fee apply to",
"How much will it cost to bring a second bag?",
"How much does second bag cost?",
"What will the fee not apply to?",
"what are some airlines doing",
"What once-free items are some airlines now charging fees for?"
] | [
[
"customers"
],
[
"$25 each way."
],
[
"$25"
],
[
"premier status with United or Star Alliance airline network,"
],
[
"begin charging domestic passengers"
],
[
"snacks."
]
] | United: Second bag to cost $25; $125 to apply to three or more or overweight bags .
$15 fee will not apply to those in United First, United Business or with premier status .
Some airlines add fees to once-free snacks .
United: $15 fee will apply to one out of three customers . |
(CNN) -- University of Arkansas authorities say they see no "suspicious circumstances" surrounding the death of a 19-year-old football player who was was found dead in his room Sunday.
Garrett Uekman, a sophomore tight end for the Razorbacks, was found unconscious and unresponsive in his room about 11:15 a.m., the university said in a written statement Sunday afternoon. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital shortly after noon.
A roommate last saw Uekman playing video games about an hour earlier, "and he appeared to be in good health," the university said. An autopsy will be performed.
"The cause of Uekman's death is not known at this time, but there are no suspicious circumstances," the statement said.
Uekman, of Little Rock, "was living his dream of going to the U of A and playing football for the Razorbacks," parents Danny and Michelle Uekman said in a statement released through the school. He appeared in nine games for the 10-1 Arkansas squad this season. | [
"what did the university say",
"who was living his dream by playing for the Razorbacks",
"who was a sophomore at Arkansas",
"Who is Garret Uekman?",
"what did the University say about the death",
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] | [
[
"they see no \"suspicious circumstances\" surrounding the"
],
[
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[
"Garrett Uekman,"
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[
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],
[
"they see no \"suspicious circumstances\""
],
[
"of Arkansas"
],
[
"a sophomore tight end for the Razorbacks,"
]
] | University says there are no "suspicious circumstances" surrounding the death .
Garrett Uekman was a sophomore at Arkansas .
His family says he was "living his dream" by playing for the Razorbacks . |
(CNN) -- Unlike in the death of any other world leader, reactions from the international community to the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il were somewhat muted. Few countries issued statements in the hours immediately after Kim's death was announced on North Korean state television. And some, like the United States, opted to focus on its relationship with South Korea.
AUSTRALIA
Kevin Rudd, Foreign Minister: "It is at times like this that we cannot afford to have any wrong or ambiguous signaling. This time also presents an important opportunity to the new North Korean leadership to engage fully with the international community. On how to improve their economy in order to properly feed their people and critically on how to deal with the outstanding problem of North Korea's nuclear weapons program."
CHINA
Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "We were distressed to learn of the unfortunate passing of the senior-most North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, and we express our deep grief about this and extend our condolences to the people of North Korea. Kim Jong Il is a great leader of North Korean people, and is a close friend of Chinese people. ... China and North Korea will make joint effort ... to consolidate and develop the ... friendship between the two countries ... and to maintain the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula and the region."
CUBA
Cuban state-run newspaper Granma: "The State Council of the Republic of Cuba has declared official mourning following the death of comrade Kim Jong II, Chairman of the National Defense Committee and Secretary General of the Labor Party of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, on the 20, 21 and 22 of December."
FRANCE
Foreign Minister Alain Juppe: "There isn't much hope. It is a completely closed off regime ... We are very cautious about the consequences of this succession. We hope that one day the North Korean people will find freedom. There are ongoing talks with North Korea ... and we need to keep on talking with China and other participants to make North Korea abandon its nuclear weapon."
-- A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said that France "reaffirms its commitment to peace and stability in the peninsula and hopes the North Korean regime will evolve in a positive way. ... Our thoughts go to North Korean people who have been suffering for years from misery and lack of human rights. ... France will carry on its action for North Korean people, especially by supporting humanitarian programs ..."
GERMANY
Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle: "We hope that a window of opportunity will open for the people of North Korea," Westerwelle said during a joint news conference with British Foreign Secretary William Hague.
JAPAN
Osamu Fujimura, Japanese chief government spokesman: "We express our condolences on the news of the passing Kim Jong Il, the chairman of the National Defense Commission of North Korea. We wish the sudden news would not affect North Korea negatively."
PHILIPPINES
Department of Foreign Affairs: "The Government and people of the Philippines convey our condolences to the Government and people of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on the death of President Kim Jong-Il. ... The Philippine Government values its relations with the DPRK and will continue to cooperate with them to intensify the promotion and maintenance of peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, including in the Korean Peninsula, to ensure the region's continued prosperity."
RUSSIA
Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister: Moscow expects that Kim Jong Il's death won't affect friendly ties between Russia and North Korea, Russia's Interfax news agency reported.
SOUTH KOREA
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak: "For the sake of the future of the Republic of Korea, peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula is more important than anything else. It should not be threatened by what has happened. We must make thorough preparations to maintain peace and stability and continue to work closely with the international community ... All citizens are asked to go about their lives without wavering so that peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula will not be hampered." | [
"What did France say?",
"What did Russia say?",
"What did the South Korean president ask?"
] | [
[
"\"reaffirms its commitment to peace and stability in the peninsula and hopes the North Korean regime will evolve in a positive way. ... Our thoughts go to North Korean people who have been suffering for years from misery and lack of human rights. ..."
],
[
"won't affect friendly ties"
],
[
"We must make thorough preparations to maintain peace and stability and continue to work closely with"
]
] | France says there isn't much hope since North Korea is a "closed-off" regime .
South Korean president asks citizens to "go about their lives"
Australia: The time presents an opportunity to North Korea's new leadership .
Russia says Moscow expects that Kim Jong Il's death won't affect friendly ties . |
(CNN) -- Unlike many of Thailand's flood-ravaged zones in the central plains, Bangkok residents have been given the rare luxury of time -- a window of at least two days to prepare for what officials warn could be the worst flooding the city has seen in decades.
Scenes vary dramatically in the city, with life carrying on as usual for many while others scramble to protect their possessions from the expected deluge that will hit as waters from the flooded central plains rush in.
Gallery: Bracing for Bangkok floods
Outside homes, businesses and schools in low-lying areas of Bangkok that the government has warned are at risk of being worst hit, people can be seen erecting flood walls out of sandbags to safeguard against the incoming waters. Others are simply moving valuables to higher ground.
For some residents, it's too late. Rising water levels on the Chao Phraya River and city canals have left many restaurants, shops and homes flooded, while public piers are covered in makeshift walkways and sandbags to keep ferry passengers dry.
"Our homes have been flooded for two weeks," says Khun Lek, 76, who lives in Bangkok's riverside Wat Tewarat community near Sanghee Bridge. "Every year it's like this. The government comes to check on things and tries to help by building elevated paths for us. But we don't need much help ... we're used to this. Not like the people in Ayutthaya. If the floods move in, all we can do is move out to the road."
At Bangkok's Boon Chuay Muay Thai gym, fighter Jaroensak Sorwapin says they've been dealing with flood waters for a month.
"We can't fight as the water is bad for the skin on our feet, while jogging is impossible in the neighborhood, so we have to travel to another part of the city. The gym is losing money too as we used to get foreign boxers coming to train, but they've stopped coming."
At city supermarkets, many Bangkokians have been stocking up on water and food over the last few days as a precaution should flooded streets block access to shops, though the city's governor has told media there's no need to panic.
"Discount stores crowded with people stockpiling dried food and water in the face of unprecedented floods threatening to rage," said Twitter user KimEkkanant.
The governor's suggestion is difficult for many to follow given the thousands of images Bangkok residents are seeing in the media of their fellow Thais suffering in nearby provinces like the former ancient capital Ayutthaya, where residents have had their livelihoods destroyed by the floods.
Yet it is these images of hardship that are prompting some Bangkokians to join forces to help those affected by the floods in other parts of the country, with many using Facebook and Twitter to organize supply drives, fundraising events and spread news on how people can help.
"In two hours time our community raised enough money for 69 boats! Only 31 until we reach our target of 100!" tweeted Bangkok's NIST International School.
As was the case with the 2010 protests and eventual government crackdown, social media is indeed playing a key role in spreading information on the latest Thailand flood news.
Many Twitter users are simply choosing to vent their frustration at the uncertainty, wondering if and when their homes will be hit. Others are sharing personal photos of flooded neighborhoods and rising water levels.
Overall though, little has changed in the city as it waits for the expected floods to hit. In many parts of Bangkok, where the floods are expected to have a minimal impact, life is continuing as normal as people go about their daily lives.
The government has dismissed calls to declare a state of emergency and issue a special holiday decree for Bangkok, so businesses and government offices remain open and public transportation is running.
Major events are also going on as planned, including Tuesday afternoon's World Cup qualifier match between Thailand and Saudi Arabia at Bangkok's Ratchamangala Stadium.
In terms of preparation, government workers have reportedly been told by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra they have two days to build three major | [
"What area could be affected by worst floods in decades?",
"What is being used to organize supply drives?",
"What is organized through facebook?",
"what facebook users did",
"what was happend in bankok",
"What was flooded?",
"where is bankok",
"What has already been flooded?"
] | [
[
"Bangkok"
],
[
"Facebook and Twitter"
],
[
"supply drives, fundraising events"
],
[
"organize supply drives,"
],
[
"worst flooding the city has seen in decades."
],
[
"central plains"
],
[
"Thailand's"
],
[
"\"Our homes"
]
] | Worst floods in decades could hit Bangkok residents in a matter of days .
Many restaurants, shops and homes in the city have already been flooded .
Some are using Facebook and Twitter to organize supply drives and fundraising events . |
(CNN) -- Unrest has spread across the Middle East and North Africa. Here's a look at what has happened -- and what is happening -- in various countries:
ALGERIA
Authorities in Algeria said Monday that they would lift a 20-year state of emergency in the "coming days." They acted after anti-government protesters chanting "change the power!" clashed with security forces in the capital over the weekend, witnesses said. The state of emergency was imposed in 1992 to quell a civil war that led to the deaths of what U.S. officials estimate to be more than 150,000 people. About 100 protesters were arrested during the protests in Algiers on Saturday, according to the opposition Algerian League for Human Rights.
BAHRAIN
Protests were scheduled to take place Monday afternoon in the Persian Gulf nation of Bahrain, where at least three police officers and one demonstrator were injured in clashes Sunday, the state new agency reported. The injuries occurred during an attack on a police station during protests Sunday evening, the news agency said. After three officers were injured, police fired on protesters with rubber bullets, causing one injury, the news agency said.
EGYPT
Unrest persisted in Egypt on Monday even after an 18-day revolution toppled longtime President Hosni Mubarak, who stepped down Friday. Egypt's banks remained closed Monday after protests by National Bank workers apparently drove out the head of the institution. The nation's stock market remained closed until further notice because of turmoil in the banking sector. In addition, current and former police officers continued a peaceful protest Monday in front of the Interior Ministry, saying they want higher pay, shorter hours, better benefits and more respect. And some police officers told reporters they were ordered to shoot protesters during demonstrations last week and threatened with prison if they did not.
IRAN
Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched along Revolution Avenue in downtown Tehran on Monday, protesting the government of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, witnesses said. The wave of people remained largely silent as they walked toward the capital city's Azadi Square, though some clashes between security forces and demonstrators broke out in several parts of Tehran, according to witnesses. Security forces fired tear gas in some places and detained demonstrators in other areas of the city. The Iranian government rounded up activists last week after opposition leaders Mehdi Karrubi and Mir Hossein Moussavi called for supporters to gather at Azadi Square -- the site of mass protests by Iran's opposition movement after the disputed 2009 presidential elections.
IRAQ
Thousands of people rallied this month in cities across the country, protesting rampant poverty, a 45% national unemployment rate and shortages of food, electricity and water. Most recently, hundreds of angry demonstrators took to the streets of Ramadi -- about 60 miles (100 kilometers) west of Baghdad -- to protest the government's inability to provide basic services. After the protests began, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced he would cut his salary in half amid the growing unrest over poor public services and water shortages. State television also reported this month that al-Maliki would not run for a third term when his current one expires in 2014.
JORDAN
U.S. Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, traveled over the weekend to Jordan, where King Abdullah II swore in a new government last week following anti-government protests in his country. The new government has a mandate for political reform and is headed by a former general, with several opposition and media figures among its ranks. The appointment of new Prime Minister Marouf al Bakhit was seen as an attempt to shore up support among Jordan's Bedouin tribes -- the bedrock of the monarchy. Jordan's economy has been hard-hit by the global economic downturn and rising commodity prices, and youth unemployment is high, as it is in Egypt. Officials close to the palace have told CNN that Abdullah is trying to turn a regional upheaval into an opportunity for reform.
LIBYA
There were calls made through Facebook for a day of peaceful demonstrations in Libya on Monday. The protests come in the shadow of leader Moammar Gadhafi, who has ruled the country for almost 40 years and had expressed support for former Egyptian | [
"Which leaders have resigned amid mass protests?",
"What happened in North Africa?"
] | [
[
"President Hosni Mubarak,"
],
[
"Unrest"
]
] | The winds of unrest have sailed through North Africa and the Middle East .
The demonstrations started in Tunisia in December .
The leaders of Tunisia and Egypt have resigned amid mass protests .
Protests happened Monday in Bahrain, Egypt, Iran and Yemen . |
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