Datasets:
glnmario
/
news-qa-summarization

Dataset card Data Studio Files Community
1
story
stringlengths
117
4.55k
questions
sequence
answers
sequence
summary
stringlengths
65
465
CARACAS, Venezuela (CNN) -- The price of sin rose Monday in Venezuela where President Hugo Chavez is on a campaign to make Venezuelans cut back on drinking and smoking. "Everyone's shocked," said Leonora Marino, owner of Bodegon Marino in Valencia, Venezuela, west of Caracas. On Monday evening, she was still changing the prices in her store as her customers looked on and complained, she told a reporter. Alcohol is now 10 percent more expensive; cigarettes are 20 percent pricier. "Really, it's difficult to buy at these prices," she said, then joked, "They say they're going to stop eating so that they can continue drinking." The Venezuelan government is placing a higher tax on alcohol and cigarettes in an effort to cut consumption and prevent what it views as the social, economic and moral consequences of drinking and smoking, said Jose Vielma Mora, superintendent of Seniat, the government body that oversees the collection of taxes. Taxes on whiskey, brandy, cognac and other drinks that don't come from cane sugar have been raised $1.79 (3,838 bolivares) per liter, the government-run Bolivarian News Agency said. "It's unfair because, in the end, the consumer is the one who pays," said Fernando Fernandez, a liquor exporter. Chavez has described whiskey as a drink for rich people, not for revolutionaries. "We cannot be spending the international reserves of this country on whiskey," he said. The moves represent the first steps toward transforming each Venezuelan into what Chavez calls "the new man." Chavez has cited the life of revolutionary socialist icon Ernesto "Che" Guevara as an example of how to lead a more pure life. In April, Chavez told a graduating class of medical students in Caracas, Venezuela, that the level of consumption of alcohol in the country represents a threat to public health and ought to make residents feel ashamed, according to an ABN report. "The vice causes much harm, not only to individuals, but to the collective health of the nation," said Chavez, who said the dangers result in an increase in car wrecks and domestic violence. For his part, he has said he drinks too much coffee. Also effective Monday, stores near schools, churches and cultural centers will not be granted licenses to sell alcohol. Taxes on cigarette imports have also increased, from 50 percent to 70 percent of the total price. On the street, some people said they don't understand the motivations for the increase, but predicted their consumption would not change. "The Venezuelan is not going to stop drinking or smoking," said one person. Chavez also plans to increase taxes on luxury items such as Hummers, which are imported privately and at great expense. There is no Hummer dealership in the country. Higher oil prices in recent years have translated into higher consumption in petroleum-rich Venezuela. Last year, car sales increased by about 70 percent, according to the CIA World Factbook. But Chavez, who was in Cuba on Monday visiting communist leader Fidel Castro, said he wants to focus less on material goals for Venezuela's 27 million people, 38 percent of whom live in poverty. E-mail to a friend CNN's Flor Santamaria contributed to this story.
[ "Who plans to increase taxes on luxury goods?", "What are Chavez other plans?", "What is the price increase?", "Which stores cannot sell alcohol?", "what is the percent of price increase for alcohol and cigarettes?", "Venezuala hiked taxes on what items?", "What are Chavez plans?", "Which government hikes taxes on alcohol and cigarettes?", "What places are not allowed to sell alcohol?", "wnat places are not allowed to sell alcohol?", "What is an example of a luxury good?", "What was the price increase in alcohol?", "What makes a Hummer into a luxury good?", "Which government increased taxes on alcohol and cigarette?", "What country's government hiked taxes on alcohol and cigarettes", "Who has increased taxes on alcohol and cigarettes?", "what kind of a tax is being put in place", "Where does the stores cannot sell alcohol?", "What was the tax increase amount?", "For what items did the government hiked the taxes?", "What was the increase on alcohol?", "Who governs Venezuela?" ]
[ [ "President Hugo Chavez" ], [ "to increase taxes on luxury items such as Hummers," ], [ "20 percent" ], [ "near schools, churches and cultural centers will not be granted licenses to" ], [ "now 10" ], [ "alcohol and cigarettes" ], [ "make Venezuelans cut back on drinking and smoking." ], [ "Venezuelan" ], [ "stores near schools, churches and cultural centers" ], [ "stores near schools, churches and cultural centers will" ], [ "Hummers," ], [ "10 percent" ], [ "imported privately" ], [ "Venezuela" ], [ "Venezuela" ], [ "The Venezuelan government" ], [ "alcohol and cigarettes" ], [ "near schools, churches and cultural centers will not be granted licenses to" ], [ "Alcohol is now 10 percent more expensive; cigarettes are 20 percent pricier." ], [ "Alcohol" ], [ "10 percent" ], [ "President Hugo Chavez" ] ]
Venezuelan government hikes taxes on alcohol and cigarettes Monday . Ten percent price increase on alcohol and 20 percent increase on cigarettes . Stores near schools, churches and cultural centers cannot sell alcohol . Chavez plans to increase taxes on luxury goods, including Hummers .
CARACAS, Venezuela (CNN) -- Venezuela temporarily seized a pasta-making plant Friday belonging to U.S.-based food giant Cargill, citing a production quota dispute. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's government takes over a Cargill plant for the second time in recent months. Rafael Coronado, Venezuela's deputy minister for food, announced the takeover live on the state-run Venezolana de Television channel. He said the plant did not meet production levels for pasta sold at lower, government-mandated prices. An inspection of the plant Thursday found that 41 percent of its pasta met the government-established level, Coronado said at a news conference in front of the food plant. Fifty-nine percent was "out of regulation," he said. The Venezuelan government will take over the plant for 90 days, he said, and then will determine what steps to take next. It was the second time in recent months that the government of left-wing President Hugo Chavez has taken over a Cargill plant. Chavez announced in March that he had ordered the takeover of a Cargill rice plant. Cargill spokesman Mark Klein said Friday afternoon the Minnesota-based company did not have an immediate comment. But Klein said in March, when the rice plant was taken over, that Cargill "is committed to the production of food in Venezuela that complies with all laws and regulations." Cargill has been doing business in Venezuela since 1986, according to the company's Web site. Its operations include oilseed processing, grain and oilseed trading, animal feed, salt, and financial and risk management. The company has 2,000 employees in 22 locations in Venezuela, the Web site says.
[ "what kind of plant", "The Cargill plant was seized by who?", "Who was no comment on seizure of plant?", "who will take over", "What is being seized?", "Which country cites quota dispute in takeover of pasta making plant?", "When will the plant be seized?", "who was the plant seized by" ]
[ [ "pasta-making" ], [ "Venezuela" ], [ "Cargill," ], [ "Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's government" ], [ "a pasta-making plant" ], [ "Venezuela" ], [ "Friday" ], [ "Venezuela" ] ]
Venezuela cites production quota dispute in takeover of pasta-making plant . Government will take over plant belonging to Cargill for 90 days . Minnesota-based food giant has no immediate comment on seizure . Cargill rice plant seized by President Hugo Chavez's government in March .
CARACAS, Venezuela (CNN) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called Friday for Europe to remove from its list of terrorist organizations two Colombian groups -- including FARC, the group that freed two hostages Thursday in a mission Chavez organized. During his televised State of the Union speech, Chavez -- an outspoken enemy of the Bush administration -- insisted Europe includes the two groups on its terror list only because of "pressure" from the United States, which also names them on its list of foreign terrorist organizations. "I request from the governments of the continent that they will remove the FARC and the ELN," Chavez said. FARC, the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, has been blamed for numerous attacks and holds about 750 hostages, according to Colombian government estimates. ELN, the National Liberation Army, the second-largest rebel group in Colombia, also is blamed for killings, kidnappings, and other attacks. This week the Colombian government announced the capture of Carlos Marin Guarin, known by the alias "Pablito," alleged to have commanded roughly half the ELN force. Both FARC and ELN are on the European Union's list of groups and individuals believed linked to terrorism. "I will ask Europe to remove the ELN and the FARC from the list of terrorist groups in the world, because that only has one source: the pressure of the United States," Chavez said. He argued, "I say this even though somebody might be bothered by it: the FARC and the ELN are not terrorist groups. They are armies, real armies ... that occupy a space in Colombia." He added that the two groups' "insurgent forces" have a goal, "a project," that is "Bolivarian" and that "we respect." Chavez said his nation is committed to bringing about peace in Colombia, a task that means "we must continue to work at the various levels" with FARC and ELN. "No one should be bothered by it. It is absolutely essential to do so. Who can think of the possibility of a peace accord when there is no contact with the parties involved," he asked. E-mail to a friend
[ "Who urges the EU to remove FARC and ELN from terror groups list?", "Who has been blamed for numerous attacks?", "How many hostages may farc hold?", "what did chavez urge eu to do?", "how many hostages", "who was released", "How many hostages are there?", "what has farc been blamed for?" ]
[ [ "Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez" ], [ "FARC," ], [ "750" ], [ "its list of terrorist organizations two Colombian groups" ], [ "two" ], [ "two hostages" ], [ "750" ], [ "numerous attacks" ] ]
NEW: Chavez urges EU to remove FARC and ELN from list of terror groups . FARC has been blamed for numerous attacks and may hold about 750 hostages . Venezuela's president arranged release of mother, another hostage Thursday .
CARDIFF, Wales -- Former Wales and British Lions center Ray Gravell has died of a suspected heart attack aged 56, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has announced. Gravell won 23 caps for Wales and played on the Lions tour of South Africa in 1980. Gravell had been on holiday with his family in the Spanish Mediterranean island of Mallorca at the time. A WRU statement praised Gravell as being "a man who epitomized the passion, flair and dignity of his beloved Welsh nation." Gravell made his debut for Wales against France in 1975, three years after helping his club side Llanelli to their famous win over the touring All Blacks. In all he made 23 appearances for what was then a dominant Wales side, winning Grand Slams in 1976 and 1978, and played all four Tests on the Lions' tour of South Africa in 1980. After retiring as a player in 1985, Gravell became president of Llanelli RFC and the Llanelli Scarlets. He also pursued a career as an actor and a respected rugby broadcaster. Earlier this year, Gravell had his right leg amputated below the knee following complications linked with his diabetes but he had been recovering well. WRU chief executive Roger Lewis said: "We are all in total shock because Ray was so full of life even through the difficult health problems he suffered recently. "He was a wonderful ambassador for rugby and for Wales and a great example of how the game can bring out the best in a man. "As a player, he always gave a huge amount of respect to his opponents but never gave an inch of ground to anyone he faced on the field of play. "It is a measure of the man that he forged rugby friendships which lasted long after his playing days up until the present day." E-mail to a friend
[ "What age was Ray Gravell at his death?", "who is ray gravell?", "At what age has Ray Gravell died?", "Who died aged 56?", "what position did ray gravell play?", "Where was he on holiday?", "What type of work did he do after retirement.", "Where was he and his family holidaying", "What did he do after retiring?", "where was he on holiday with his family?", "Where was he on holidays", "What was Ray Gravell's age at the time of his death.", "What age was Ray Gravell when he died?", "What age was Ray gravell", "What was his age?", "What did he do after retirement", "What did he work as after retiring?", "what did gravell do after retiring?", "what did he work at after retiring?", "Where was Ray Gravell when he died?", "Where was he in holiday?", "Which international teams did Ray Gravell play for?" ]
[ [ "56," ], [ "Former Wales and British Lions center" ], [ "56," ], [ "Ray Gravell" ], [ "Former Wales and British Lions center" ], [ "Spanish Mediterranean island of Mallorca" ], [ "Gravell became president of Llanelli RFC and the Llanelli Scarlets." ], [ "Spanish Mediterranean island of Mallorca" ], [ "also pursued a career as an actor and a respected rugby broadcaster." ], [ "in the Spanish Mediterranean island of Mallorca" ], [ "Mallorca" ], [ "56," ], [ "56," ], [ "56," ], [ "56," ], [ "Gravell became president of Llanelli RFC and the Llanelli Scarlets." ], [ "became president of Llanelli RFC and the Llanelli Scarlets." ], [ "became president of Llanelli RFC" ], [ "president of Llanelli RFC" ], [ "in the Spanish Mediterranean island of Mallorca" ], [ "Mallorca" ], [ "Wales and British Lions" ] ]
Former Wales and British Lions center Ray Gravell has died aged 56 . He was on holiday with his family in Mallorca . After retiring he worked as an actor and broadcaster .
CAVITE CITY, Philippines (CNN) -- At 16, Rhandolf Fajardo reflects on his former life as a gang member. Efren Peñaflorida's Dynamic Teen Company offers Filipino youth an alternative to gangs through education. "My gang mates were the most influential thing in my life," says Fajardo, who joined a gang when he was in sixth grade. "We were pressured to join." He's not alone. In the Philippines, teenage membership in urban gangs has surged to an estimated 130,000 in the past 10 years, according to the Preda Foundation, a local human rights charity. "I thought I'd get stuck in that situation and that my life would never improve," recalls Fajardo. "I would probably be in jail right now, most likely a drug addict -- if I hadn't met Efren." Efren Peñaflorida, 28, also was bullied by gangs in high school. Today, he offers Filipino youth an alternative to gang membership through education. Vote now for the CNN Hero of the Year "Gang members are groomed in the slums as early as 9 years old," says Peñaflorida. "They are all victims of poverty." For the past 12 years, Peñaflorida and his team of teen volunteers have taught basic reading and writing to children living on the streets. Their main tool: A pushcart classroom. Stocked with books, pens, tables and chairs, his Dynamic Teen Company recreates a school setting in unconventional locations such as the cemetery and municipal trash dump. Peñaflorida knows firsthand the adversity faced by these children. Born into a poor family, he lived in a shanty near the city dump site. But he says he refused to allow his circumstances to define his future. "Instead of being discouraged, I promised myself that I would pursue education," he recalls. "I will strive hard; I will do my best." In high school, Peñaflorida faced a new set of challenges. Gang activity was rampant; they terrorized the student body, vandalized the school and inducted members by forcing them to rape young girls, he says. "I felt the social discrimination. I was afraid to walk down the street." Peñaflorida remembers standing up to a gang leader, refusing to join his gang. That confrontation proved fateful. At 16, he and his friends "got the idea to divert teenagers like us to be productive," he says. He created the Dynamic Teen Company to offer his classmates an outlet to lift up themselves and their community. For Peñaflorida, that meant returning to the slums of his childhood to give kids the education he felt they deserved. "They need education to be successful in life. It's just giving them what others gave to me," he says. Today, children ranging from ages 2 to 14 flock to the pushcart every Saturday to learn reading, writing, arithmetic and English from Peñaflorida and his trained teen volunteers. Watch Peñaflorida and his group in action with their push cart classroom » "Our volunteers serve as an inspiration to other children," he says. The group also runs a hygiene clinic, where children can get a bath and learn how to brush their teeth. Since 1997, an estimated 10,000 members have helped teach more than 1,500 children living in the slums. The organization supports its efforts by making and selling crafts and collecting items to recycle. Take a look at the slums where Peñaflorida and his group spend their Saturdays » Through his group, Peñaflorida has successfully mentored former gang members, addicts and dropouts, seeing potential where others see problems. "Before, I really didn't care for my life," says Michael Advincula, who started doing drugs when he was 7. "But then Efren patiently dug me from where I was buried. It was Efren who pushed me to get my life together." Watch Advincula describe how he met Peñaflorida in the slums » Today, Advincula is a senior in high school and one of the group's volunteers. Peñaflorida hopes to expand the pushcart to other areas
[ "What is Efren Peñaflorida's company which offers alternatives to gangs through education called?", "Since 1997, 10,000 members have taught how many children in slums?", "In what country did Efren Peñaflorida attend school?", "who was bullied by gangs in high school?", "Who was bullied by gangs in the Philippines?", "What does the Dynamic Teen Company offer?", "what did 10,000 members taught?", "what to vote for CNN?" ]
[ [ "Dynamic Teen" ], [ "1,500" ], [ "Philippines," ], [ "Efren Peñaflorida," ], [ "Efren Peñaflorida," ], [ "Filipino youth an alternative to gangs through education." ], [ "basic reading and writing to children living on the streets." ], [ "Hero of the Year" ] ]
Efren Peñaflorida was bullied by gangs in high school in the Philippines . Now his Dynamic Teen Company offers an alternative to gangs through education . Since 1997, some 10,000 members have taught more than 1,500 children in slums . Vote now for the CNN Hero of the Year at CNN.com/Heroes .
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (CNN) -- Doug Ward drives through a subdivision made up of rows of trailers. You can hear the sadness in his voice as he says, "This just doesn't feel like home." He longs for the life he lived before devastating floods destroyed his Cedar Rapids neighborhood. The A&W Drive-In in Cedar Rapids was Doug Ward's life for 30 years. "I want to come back. I miss (my friends) very much," Ward said as he escorted CNN on a tour of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, nearly a year after the floods. Ward, 64, is an institution in the historic Time Check neighborhood just across the Cedar River from downtown. He owns the A&W Drive-In on Ellis Boulevard, a fixture on this street since 1948. Historian Mark Stoffer Hunter calls the drive-in Cedar Rapids' "Eiffel Tower." "It's been there for us over the decades," Hunter said. "It's one of those landmarks that tells you you're in Cedar Rapids." When floodwaters ravaged Cedar Rapids last June, Ward's drive-in drowned in almost 10 feet of water. Now, the drive-in sits in ruins. A&W root beer mugs covered in dried mud sit on the restaurant floor. The stench of floodwater lingers in the air. Putting together the pieces of Ward's life hit a snag in the fall of 2008 when an economic storm swept across the country. In a matter of months, the financial support Ward needed to rebuild dried up. "Life's got to go on. If you sit and worry about it too much, you'd probably be at my funeral today," Ward said. Watch as Ward talks about the devastation in Cedar Rapids » Ward estimates that it will cost close to $1 million to rebuild the A&W Drive-In at its current location. He's been able to line up $350,000 in loans, but that's far short of what he needs. "The idea that he might not be able to rebuild the business here, it hurts," said Stoffer, the Cedar Rapids historian. "It's happening not just in this neighborhood, but in all the neighborhoods that were affected by the floods." So now Ward spends a lot of time driving around Cedar Rapids scouting new locations. He wants to stay on Ellis Boulevard, but the surrounding neighborhood sits mostly empty. If people don't move back, then there are no customers to feed. "If the neighborhood were normal again, we'd be up and running. But it's not," Ward said. Ward not only lost his business, but the house he and his wife lived in for 28 years was destroyed, too. The house today sits gutted. The flood weakened the foundation. Three estimates show it will cost $85,000 to make the needed repairs. FEMA gave the Wards $28,000 toward the costs of rebuilding their home or buying a new one. But without home insurance, it's another cost in Ward's mounting pile of financial troubles. Ward said if he can't get his business up and running soon, he'll have to find another job. He's tapped into retirement savings extensively, and he's received some financial support (he won't specify how much) from other sources. Ward is soft spoken, yet tough. He's faced difficult struggles all his life. His father died when he was 5. He dropped out of school after eighth grade to earn money for his family. At 13, he worked in a dry milk factory and spent 10 years working as a Coca-Cola delivery man. Owning the A&W Drive-In was a dream that produced a comfortable living. Now he misses the days serving his friends icy-cold root beers. But you won't hear him complain about the battle he's facing. "I've been knocked around, but we'll get up and get going," he said.
[ "Where is the drive-in landmark?", "What was Doug Ward's life for 30 years?", "What has been a landmark since 1948?", "How much will it cost?" ]
[ [ "Cedar Rapids, Iowa," ], [ "The A&W Drive-In in Cedar Rapids" ], [ "A&W Drive-In" ], [ "$1 million" ] ]
The A&W in Cedar Rapids was Doug Ward's life for 30 years until last year's flood . Almost a year later, the drive-in sits in ruins, the root beer mugs still muddied . The drive-in has been a landmark in the Time Check neighborhood since 1948 . It will cost upward of $1 million to rebuild or change locations .
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (CNN) -- Floodwaters inundated Iowa City and the University of Iowa arts campus on Sunday despite what one official called a "Herculean effort" to hold back the water with sandbags. Residents surround Lt. Tobey Harrison at a Cedar Rapids checkpoint as they wait to see their homes Sunday. "We've had the [National Guard] working next to prisoner inmates, sandbagging," said David Jackson, the university's facilities manager. "Students, faculty and staff, leaders of the university, the president of the university -- out sandbagging." Some 500 to 600 homes were ordered to evacuate and others faced a voluntary evacuation order through the morning, said Iowa City Mayor Regenia Bailey. The Iowa River in Iowa City crested at 31.5 feet and was expected to remain at that level until Monday, city and state officials said Sunday. Classes at the university have been suspended until next Sunday, according to its Web site. "All of our theaters, our music building, Clapp Recital Hall, our fine arts building [the] new Art Building West designed by Stephen Holl, has taken on significant water as well," said Sally Mason, president of the university. "Fortunately we were able to save all the art," she said. The art was placed in crates shipped out of state last week. "We anticipated the worst a week ago." At least 8 feet of water rushed through the campus, officials said. Among the school's 30,000 students, Ann Barber told CNN she has been sandbagging for nearly seven days. "It's very hard to watch the devastation of our university," she said. This month's severe weather has trampled towns from North Dakota to Indiana. The Federal Emergency Management Agency says more than 11 million Midwesterners will be affected by flooding and tornadoes. Meanwhile, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, some of nearly 20,000 displaced residents began to return home Sunday as water there receded. People lined up for about a block in one part of the city waiting for a special wristband to allow them access to their homes. The flooding there caught many people by surprise. "We didn't think it would get this high," said Tina Fleischacker, whose Cedar Rapids home was soaked. "We moved everything upstairs and it's gone. It's gone. We left with the clothes on our backs." About 36,000 Iowans, most in Cedar Rapids, evacuated their homes due to the state-wide flooding. At least 472 people spent Saturday night in 18 shelters set up across the state, according to Dave Miller, the administrator of Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management. In Iowa City, the water is expected to drop no more than 3 feet by Saturday, said John Benson, spokesman for Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management. "There's that moment of 'phew,' but then there's that realization that the water will be going down very slowly," Bailey told reporters. She urged residents to be careful when returning to their homes and businesses, and asked them to abide by a 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew. "Water flows are still dangerous," she said. "We need people to be patient. We will get them into those homes and businesses as soon as possible." Iowa has been inundated with heavy rains in recent weeks that have caused several major rivers that feed into the Mississippi -- including the Cedar, Des Moines and Iowa Rivers -- to flood their banks. The flooding in the Midwest is "some of the worst" to hit the United States since Hurricane Katrina inundated the Gulf Coast nearly three years ago, FEMA administrator David Paulison said Sunday on CNN. The scenarios are much different, but "the aftermath is similar," he said. "The fact [is] that we have a lot of people whose homes have been destroyed." The agency has received more than 12,000 disaster assistance applications from the hardest-hit states -- Iowa, Indiana and Wisconsin. Starting Tuesday, the American Red Cross will set up
[ "Where was the evacuation?", "What reason did the resident leave?", "What happened in Iowa City?", "Who have been evacuated?", "What caused the damage?", "Where were they evacuated to?", "What was the damage to homes?", "What happened to the lowans in Cedar Rapids?" ]
[ [ "Iowa City" ], [ "Floodwaters" ], [ "Floodwaters inundated" ], [ "500 to 600 homes" ], [ "Floodwaters" ], [ "18 shelters set up across the state," ], [ "flooding" ], [ "evacuated their homes" ] ]
About 500-600 homes evacuated in Iowa City on Sunday . Some 36,000 Iowans, most in Cedar Rapids, have been evacuated . Agricultural damage estimated at $1 billion or more .
CERN, Switzerland (CNN) -- Scientists Wednesday applauded as one of the most ambitious experiments ever conceived got successfully underway, with protons being fired around a 27-kilometer (17-mile) tunnel deep beneath the border of France and Switzerland in an attempt to unlock the secrets of the universe. Scientists applaud during the switch on operation of the Large Hadron Collider. The Large Hadron Collider -- a $9 billion particle accelerator designed to simulate conditions of the Big Bang that created the physical Universe -- was switched on at 0732 GMT to cheers and applause from experts gathered to witness the event. While observers were left nonplussed by the anticlimactic flashing dots on a TV screen that signalled the machine's successful test run, among teams of scientists involved around the world there were jubilant celebrations and popping champagne corks. In the coming months, the collider is expected to begin smashing particles into each other by sending two beams of protons around the tunnel in opposite directions. Skeptics, who claim that the experiment could lead to the creation of a black hole capable of swallowing the planet, failed in a legal bid to halt the project at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research. Others have branded it a colossal waste of cash, draining resources from its multinational collaborators that could have been spent on scientific research with more tangible benefits to mankind. Sound off: What do you think of the experiment? French President Nicolas Sarkozy hailed the project as a major achievement for Europe. "The repercussions of this scientific investment without precedent in the history of humanity will be essential not only for the intimate knowledge of our universe, but also for the direct applications in fields as varied as intensive calculation or even medicine," he said. Watch as Big Bang experiment gets underway » The collider will operate at higher energies and intensities in the next year, potentially generating enough data to make a discovery by 2009, experts say. They say the experiment has the potential to confirm theories that physicists have been working on for decades including the possible existence of extra dimensions. They also hope to find a theoretical particle called the Higgs boson -- sometimes referred to as the "God particle," which has never been detected, but would help explain why matter has mass. The collider will recreate the conditions of less than a millionth of a second after the Big Bang, when there was a hot "soup" of tiny particles called quarks and gluons, to look at how the universe evolved, said John Harris, U.S. coordinator for ALICE, a huge detector specialized to analyze that question. Since this is exploratory science, the collider may uncover surprises that contradict prevailing theories, but which are just as interesting, said Joseph Lykken, theoretical physicist at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. "When Columbus sails west, he thought he was going to find something. He didn't find what he thought he was going to find, but he did find something interesting," said Lykken, who works on the Compact Muon Solenoid, one of six experiments inside the collider complex. Why should the layperson care about this particular exploration? Years ago, when electrons were first identified, no one knew what they were good for, but they have since transformed our entire economy, said Howard Gordon, deputy research program manager for the collider's ATLAS experiment. "The transformative effect of this research will be to understand the world we live in much better," said Gordon, at Brookhaven National Laboratory. "It's important for just who we are, what we are." Fears have emerged that the collider could produce black holes that could suck up anything around them -- including the whole Earth. Such fears prompted legal actions in the U.S. and Europe to halt the operation of the Large Hadron Collider, alleging safety concerns regarding black holes and other phenomena that could theoretically emerge. Although physicists acknowledge that the collider could, in theory, create small black holes, they say they do not pose any risk. A study released Friday by CERN scientists explains that any black hole created would be tiny, and would not have enough energy to stick around very long
[ "What is the cost of the particle accelerator in the world?", "What could generate black holes?" ]
[ [ "$9 billion" ], [ "collider" ] ]
Startup has been eagerly awaited by 9,000 physicists around the world . It's the largest particle accelerator in the world and costs about $9 billion . Lawsuits allege it could generate black holes that could eat the Earth .
CHAMBLEE, Georgia (CNN) -- Janet McBride had to send someone to fetch lunch for her Saturday. The cheerful auto dealer receptionist didn't dare leave her switchboard during the waning hours of the federal government's "Cash for Clunkers" program. Car shoppers browse a Honda showroom Saturday morning in Marietta, Georgia. "Our phones have been ringing off the hook," said a giddy Pete Richards, general manager of Ed Voyles Honda in Marietta, Georgia. "... It's been great. Phenomenal." McBride was compiling a list of customers for swamped salespeople to call back. "I try to keep it under control," McBride said. "I think we need one of those number things -- 'Now serving Number 5.'" As of 11 a.m. Saturday, the Honda dealership just north of Atlanta said it had made 108 clunker deals since the Car Allowance Rebate System program began on July 1, and Richards expected to do plenty more before closing down Sunday night. Watch what car buyers need to know » "If I don't do 30 of these today, I'll be amazed," he said. A normal Saturday would produce about 12 sales, he said. The program has generated so much traffic and new-car buzz that even non-qualifying and used car sales have jumped, Richards said. "We're having a ball. I haven't worked a Saturday in probably two years. But I woke up at 3 o'clock this morning. Couldn't wait to get here," he said. "It's like Christmas!" McBride added before her phone rang again. It's more like the letdown of late Christmas afternoon across town at Jim Ellis Chevrolet in Chamblee, Georgia, where General Manager Mark Frost just wants to be done with the headaches the clunkers program has caused. "If President Obama came and sat behind a computer and saw how his program is being administered, he's crack some heads," Frost said. "My impression is that he's about excellence and execution, and there's some dumbass [at the Department of Transportation] sitting there looking at this computer and rejecting deals that are perfectly good." The 12 Atlanta-area dealerships under the Jim Ellis name had made 350 clunker deals worth almost $1.5 million in reimbursements and received payment for none, Frost said. Among those making deals was Mark Gallo, an Atlanta antiques dealer who traded in his eight-cylinder 1998 Chevy van for six-cylinder 2009 model. He received a $4,500 allowance for his clunker, which he guessed was $1,500 more than he would have gotten otherwise. The gas mileage still isn't great, "but it's better than it was," Gallo said. "And I needed a van." He'd been thinking about trading up for a while, but the end of the program prompted him to pull the trigger. "I thought it was going to last a lot longer than it actually did, ... but I saw that it was ending on Monday and I said, 'Oh, damn! Scramble!'" Also scrambling to make a deal Saturday was Rick Wright of Woodstock, Georgia. The ironworker has been working in Orlando, Florida. But when his wife, bus driver Cindy Wright, traded in their 1998 Chevy Tahoe for an '09 Traverse, he needed to be there in person to show his driver's license and sign over the title. "I'm working out of town at the present time, so she calls me up and says, 'Hey, they're going to cut this off at 1 o'clock. Do you want the car?' And I said, 'Let's go for it,'" said Rick Wright, who made the seven-hour drive in time to sign the deal around 10 a.m. Saturday. "That was the only way we could get it done." While the government says the program continues through the end of business Sunday, Frost decreed that the last deal at the Jim Ellis dealerships had to be made by
[ "What gives the manager headaches?", "Whose phone is 'ringing off the hook'?", "What is the program customers are rushing in for?", "What car dealer in Georgia has their phones ringing off the hook?" ]
[ [ "clunkers program" ], [ "Ed Voyles Honda in Marietta, Georgia." ], [ "\"Cash" ], [ "Ed Voyles Honda in Marietta," ] ]
Customers rush in for final weekend of "Cash for Clunkers" program . Phone at Honda dealer in Georgia "ringing off the hook" "It's like Christmas!" dealership's busy receptionist says . Government red tape giving auto group's general manager headaches .
CHARLESTON, South Carolina (CNN) -- Tropical storm Cristobal was forecast to move "parallel and very close" to the North Carolina coast Sunday morning, but the storm is not expected to make landfall along the eastern U.S. shores. Satellite image taken at 1:15 p.m. Saturday shows Tropical Storm Cristobal off the coast of the Carolinas. At 11 p.m. ET Saturday, the center of the storm was about 45 miles southeast of Cape Fear, North Carolina, and about 170 miles southwest of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The National Hurricane Center said Cristobal was moving northeast at about 6 mph, with maximum sustained winds of about 45 mph and some higher gusts. "The center of the tropical storm is expected to move parallel and very close to the coast of North Carolina for the next day or so," the NHC said. It is expected to dump between three and five inches of rain along the Carolina coast this weekend, it said. The storm had not strengthened beyond the 45 mph top winds measured earlier on Saturday, according to the NHC. A discussion posted online by NHC forecasters called Cristobal "convectively challenged" and predicted the storm would "become absorbed ahead of an approaching cold front" by late Monday. Although the center of the storm was forecast to remain off the coast through the weekend, tropical storm warnings were in effect from the South Santee River in South Carolina to the North Carolina-Virginia state line, including Pamlico Sound. Flood advisories were posted for coastal counties, and Wilmington, North Carolina, received 2½ inches of rain Saturday, said Stephen Keebler, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service there. Cristobal's winds were not expected to be a problem, Keebler said. "It's some rain and a little bit of relief for the coastal areas and a lot of excitement, but that's about it," he said. The rain bands were weakening as they spun farther inland, providing little relief for parched areas near Interstate 95 in North Carolina, he said. Forecasters predicted up to 5 inches of rain along the North Carolina coast, with heavier amounts in some areas. Eastern North Carolina is under a moderate drought, and areas along South Carolina's northern coast are considered abnormally dry, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Officials have blamed the persistent drought for a massive wildfire that has burned more than 40,000 acres in eastern North Carolina since it began June 1 with a lightning strike. As Cristobal lurked offshore, the storm was keeping many boaters off the waters -- and surfers in the waves. On North Carolina's Outer Banks, surfers reveled in the waves as the storm churned offshore well to the south. Bradley Rose, a surf instructor at SandBarz in Carolina Beach, North Carolina, said the waves were a bit choppy. "It looks pretty fun out there," Rose said. At the By the Sea Motel in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, out-of-state vacationers took to the beach, trying to photograph the outer rain bands of Cristobal, hotel manager Charlie Peterson said. Intermittent rain showers during the afternoon were not enough to chase them away, and there were even brief moments of sunshine. "They've got their cameras set, and they think there is going to be lightning over the water and all," he said. "They have never seen this." Elsewhere Saturday, Hurricane Fausto strengthened far off Mexico's Pacific coast, while Hurricane Bertha, located east of Cape Race, Newfoundland, was downgraded to tropical storm status. Neither of those storms currently threatens land. Bertha had blustered across Bermuda this week, knocking out electricity to thousands there.
[ "When is it going to arrive?", "What is expected to dump three to five inches of rain?", "What evolved Saturday from a tropical depression on Friday?", "What is the storms name?", "What is \"very close\" to North Carolina coast?", "Where is Tropical Storm Cristobal?", "Where is the storm close to?" ]
[ [ "Sunday morning," ], [ "Tropical storm Cristobal" ], [ "Storm Cristobal" ], [ "Cristobal" ], [ "Tropical storm Cristobal" ], [ "off the coast of the Carolinas." ], [ "North Carolina coast" ] ]
Tropical Storm Cristobal "very close" to North Carolina coast . Storm expected to dump three to five inches of rain along coast . Cristobal evolved Saturday from a tropical depression on Friday .
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (CNN) -- When polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs appeared in a Las Vegas courtroom last August, Kathy Jo Nicholson, a former member of Jeffs' sect, felt fearful even though she was only watching him on television. Nicholson, roughly 13 years of age, is shown here with five of her sisters and two of her mothers. "It devastated me. It elated me. It made me afraid. I looked at this man that was so powerful in my life ... and he was just so thin and pale," she said. Today, as Warren Jeffs sits at Utah's Purgatory Correctional Facility awaiting trial, Nicholson has started talking publicly about her childhood in the church Jeffs led -- the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS). She hopes that by sharing her story she will help others struggling with similar issues. "My hope is that they, they'll see it, and it'll mean something," the 36-year-old said. Nicholson recently co-authored an article about leaving her polygamous community for Glamour magazine and is planning to write a book as well. Jeffs, whose approximately 10,000 followers practice polygamy mainly in Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona, is charged in Utah with being an accomplice to rape by arranging the marriage of a 14-year-old girl to her 19-year-old cousin. He faces additional charges in Arizona. Go inside Warren Jeffs' world » As a child, Nicholson had three mothers and 12 siblings. She considers it a typical FLDS home. At the age of 14, Nicholson started sewing her wedding dress in anticipation of getting married. She knew that at any moment she could be whisked away to meet her husband and that her future likely would include at least two "sister wives." But Nicholson had doubts whether she could live the life before her. "I've always liked a lot of attention. And when it hit me that I could possibly and most likely absolutely would be sharing my husband, I began doubting that I could live that way," she said. That perspective got Nicholson in trouble at Alta Academy, the FLDS-run high school whose headmaster was Warren Jeffs. "He beat the kids there. He humiliated the kids there. And as time went on and I wasn't so devoted to being perfect and sweet, he held me up as an example and humiliated me," she said. Jeffs would force children -- Nicholson included -- to stand on a chair in front of the class and flex their buttocks muscles, according to Nicholson. She doesn't know how he came upon this particular punishment. "As I got more and more rebellious, he would come up behind me while I was in a group and seize me by the back of the neck and lean down and whisper in my ear, 'Are you keeping sweet or do you need to be punished?' " she said. Jeffs wrote a letter to Nicholson's parents saying that he was concerned about her and a friend, because "when around boys, and even younger boys, they would outwardly show their cuteness, seemingly to have the younger boys relate their cute behavior to older boys." After getting caught passing notes to a boy, Nicholson was expelled from Alta Academy. She began working in an FLDS-owned factory full of other youths who openly questioned their religion. It was a common destination for FLDS kids kicked out of high school. At 18, she eloped with a young man from within the community. Their marriage was not accepted by the FLDS or their families because they had gone outside of the church, to a justice of the peace, for the ceremony. So they packed up a U-Haul and headed toward California. "That's when I cried the very most," she said tearfully. "Because I was leaving my family, everything that I had ever known, my friends and God behind. And I was choosing it." That marriage fell apart, but in 2003 Nicholson persuaded her family
[ "Jeffs was what at her school?", "Who grew up in a polygamous home and community?", "Who was the headmaster at her school?", "Who was the headmaster of her school?", "Who grew up in a polygamous community?", "Who is the leader of the polygamous sect?", "Who was sid to be a harsh disciplinarian?", "Nicholson grew up in what sort of home?", "Who did Nicholson say was a harsh disciplinarian?" ]
[ [ "headmaster" ], [ "Kathy Jo Nicholson," ], [ "Warren Jeffs." ], [ "Warren Jeffs." ], [ "Kathy Jo Nicholson," ], [ "Warren Jeffs" ], [ "Warren Jeffs." ], [ "typical FLDS" ], [ "Warren Jeffs." ] ]
Kathy Jo Nicholson grew up in a polygamous home and community . Polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs was the headmaster at her school . Nicholson, who flew from the community, says Jeffs was a harsh disciplinarian .
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (CNN) -- An annual family fishing trip to the Florida keys took a bloody and life-changing turn for Jordan Thomas. Noah Parton, 6, got prosthetics from foundation started by Jordan Thomas, right. "It was a beautiful day and we were going to go out spear fishing that night," said Thomas, who was 16 during the 2005 trip. But when he jumped into the water, the boat's wake dragged Thomas hard into its sharp, whirling propellers. He immediately knew what was about to happen. "I looked down -- my black fins were gone and all I saw was red just everywhere," said Thomas, an athletic teen who was captain of his high school's golf team. "But I had this unbelievable calmness over my body." Watch video of Thomas telling his story » His father and mother, both doctors from Chattanooga, Tennessee, jumped into action. "All of a sudden, my 16-year old, happy-go-lucky captain of the golf team was potentially dying," said Dr. Liz Kennedy-Thomas. She worked to stanch the blood flow from her son's legs while his father rushed the boat to shore and fetched paramedics. Thomas was rushed to a hospital where he spent the next two weeks -- undergoing several surgeries on what was left of his legs and, along the way, discovering what would become his life's work. While there, Thomas visited other amputees. "I just remember seeing so many kids who didn't have parents, didn't have health care," he said. "I just knew that the future was grim for them." The top-of-the-line prosthetics Thomas was fitted with -- the ones that helped him return to the golf links -- cost about $22,000. He learned that many insurance plans only cover about $5,000. That's especially tough on child amputees, who will outgrow several limbs before adulthood. "I had no clue," he said. "It's one of those things, unless you're affected by it, you just don't know." Thomas knew he was lucky. With a financially stable family, he'll always be able to afford good legs. He asked his family to give a donation to help others, but ultimately they decided to launch a fundraising foundation together. "By the time we got home, we had bracelets -- all kinds of stuff," Kennedy-Thomas said. "The foundation was just sort of started by the time we got home." The Jordan Thomas Foundation has raised $350,000 through bracelets, charity golf tournaments and cookouts. Some of that is paying for prosthetics for three children until they reach age 18. One of them is Noah Parton. The precocious 6-year-old born with a congenital heart defect had a complication with a tube inserted in his right leg, leading to an amputation above his knee. His family's insurance would only pay for what's called a "stubby" -- a wooden artificial leg without a bendable knee. "His first bendable knee ... didn't have a certain number or something that would apply and they refused to pay for it," said Noah's mother, Nancy Parton, who lives with her son about an hour north of Chattanooga, in Evensville, Tennessee. Noah couldn't run and play with other children. And even day-to-day activities were tough. "It was hard to put him in the car because his leg stuck out straight and I'd have my seat up as far as it would go and it would still hit the back of the seat," she said. Thomas's foundation stepped in, buying Noah several knee devices -- a new one for each new leg he needs as he grows. Now, his mom said, Noah is unstoppable. "He loves to climb stairs now; he tries to ride bicycles," she said. "You name it, he does it. "Take him to the park
[ "How much money did they raise?", "What turned tragic for 16 year old?", "What kind of trip turned tragic for Jordan Thomas?", "What type of trip turned tragic?", "How much money has the Jordan Thomas Foundation raised?", "What did the Jordan Thomas Foundation raise?", "What did others struggle to pay for?" ]
[ [ "$350,000" ], [ "An annual family fishing trip" ], [ "annual family fishing" ], [ "annual family fishing" ], [ "$350,000" ], [ "$350,000" ], [ "top-of-the-line prosthetics" ] ]
Fishing trip turned tragic for 16-year-old Jordan Thomas . Double amputee discovered others struggling to pay for prosthetic limbs . Jordan Thomas Foundation has raised $350k to help those struggling to pay . Legislation addresses payment gap, but more needed, say advocates .
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (CNN) -- When meeting Jeff Donohoo, it's not immediately apparent he is a 36-year-old man living with autism. In fact, unless you get him talking about the Atlanta Braves -- one of his true passions in life -- he is a very quiet person. Jeff Donohoo, 36, at work in the kitchen at Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Early on, his younger brothers and sister didn't know, either. "Since they grew up with him, they just knew Jeff was Jeff," said Nancy Donohoo, his mother. "They didn't think of him as weird or anything." But when friends started to notice Donohoo was different, Nancy Donohoo was quick to explain to a group of 10-year-olds why. "Jeff has a social problem, not a mental problem," she explained. "He's very smart. He reads encyclopedias ... he just doesn't know how to talk to people." From then on, friends who visited the house always made an effort to interact with Donohoo, through a high-five or a simple "hello." Today, it's unlikely Donohoo will be the first to say hello in a group setting, but interacting with people is easier for him than it once was. See how Donohoo copes every day » Questioned about his childhood, his most elaborate response is "yeah" or "no." But when the topic is the Braves, it's hard to get him to stop talking about the latest statistics or his favorite player, Mark Teixeira. Asked how long he's been a Braves fan, there was little hesitation: "All my life." He's come a long way since he was a child. Then, just teaching Donohoo to talk was a challenge in itself, Nancy Donohoo said. "There was no eye contact, so I would hold his face in front of me, and say the word I wanted him to say." Donohoo entered the first grade as a special education student. It was the first year special education was offered in his family's hometown of Florence, Alabama. He carried on with special education until the sixth grade, when he was mainstreamed, or put in classes with children without disabilities. Explainer: Understanding autism » For most of Donohoo's childhood, his mother had suspicions about his condition. "When he was little, I had watched a 'Marcus Welby' show, and they had an autistic child on there. But he was very passive; he sat in the corner and just hit things," Nancy Donohoo said. "Jeff was wild. He was the opposite, so I just assumed he couldn't be autistic. But he had a lot of those mannerisms." It was Donohoo's freshman year of high school when Nancy and Bill Donohoo learned what was wrong with their son. "There was a doctor in Huntsville that dealt a lot with hyperactive children," Nancy Donohoo said. "He said, 'I'm going to give you this sheet of paper; these are all the symptoms of autism.' " The list had 19 symptoms, and Nancy Donohoo was instructed to circle the ones her son had. She circled 17. The diagnosis didn't change how Nancy Donohoo dealt with her first-born son. In fact, the doctor said she already was doing all the right things, working to socialize Donohoo. Today, Donohoo, living with his parents, finds comfort in strict routine. He wakes each day at 5 a.m. to make himself breakfast and prepare for work. At 6, Nancy Donohoo drives her son to Memorial Hospital, where he's entering his 16th year of service with the cafeteria. Ollie Forté is Donohoo's supervisor, and has worked with Donohoo almost since the beginning. "He's very valuable to us at this department. He's dependable, on time, no attendance problems," said Forté. "We love Jeff." After work, at 2:30 p.m., Donohoo rides with his mother to the YMCA
[ "Where does Jeff live?", "When was he diagnosed?", "When was Donohoo diagnosed with autism?", "Where does Donohoo work?", "What age is Jeff Donohoo?", "Where does he work?", "His autism was diagnosed during his freshman year of high school", "Where does Donohoo live?" ]
[ [ "Chattanooga, Tennessee." ], [ "freshman year of high school" ], [ "freshman year of high school" ], [ "the kitchen at Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee." ], [ "36-year-old" ], [ "kitchen at Memorial Hospital" ], [ "Donohoo's" ], [ "Chattanooga, Tennessee." ] ]
Jeff Donohoo, 36, is an adult living with autism . Donohoo lives in Tennessee with his parents and works at a hospital . His autism was diagnosed during his freshman year of high school . Donohoo's mother: "It's rewarding today, because he's come so far."
CHEBARKUL, Russia (Reuters) -- President Vladimir Putin said on Friday security threats had forced Russia to revive the Soviet-era practice of sending bomber aircraft on regular patrols beyond its borders. A Russian strategic bomber flies over an airfield outside Moscow during an air show. Putin said 14 strategic bombers had taken off simultaneously from airfields across Russia in the early hours of Friday on long-range missions. "We have decided to restore flights by Russian strategic aviation on a permanent basis," Putin told reporters after inspecting joint military exercises with China and four Central Asian states in Russia's Ural mountains. "Today, August 17 at 00:00 hours, 14 strategic bombers took to the air from seven airfields across the country, along with support and refueling aircraft ... From today such patrols will be carried out on a regular basis. "We hope our partners will treat this with understanding." At U.S. President George W. Bush's Texas ranch, White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said he did not believe the flights posed a threat to the United States. "Militaries around the world engage in a variety of activities, so this is not entirely surprising," he said. But the sorties are likely to add to Western concern about Russia's growing assertiveness. That trend has prompted some U.S. policymakers to draw parallels with the Cold War. Putin caused a stir this year by saying Russian missiles would once again be aimed at targets in Europe if Washington persisted with plans to build a missile defense shield in eastern Europe. Russian diplomats have clashed with the United States and European governments on issues such as Kosovo, energy, and Moscow's treatment of its ex-Soviet neighbors. Western military leaders have said this year that Russian flights near their airspace were becoming more frequent after a long quiet period. One Western defense official called the flights "a little bit of chest-pounding, trying to let people know Russia is back in the game". Putin said that when Russia had cut its flights in 1992, other military powers had not reciprocated. "Flights by other countries' strategic aircraft continue and this creates certain problems for ensuring the security of the Russian Federation," Putin said. That appeared to be a swipe at the U.S. and NATO, whose strategic bombers have continued to fly long-range missions. As Putin spoke to reporters and television cameras, four Russian military helicopters appeared and hovered in the background while Russian tanks trundled behind him, even though the exercises had ended long before. During the Cold War, Russian long-range bombers, which can carry strategic nuclear weapons, played elaborate games of cat-and-mouse with Western air forces. Earlier this month Russian air force generals said bomber crews had flown near the Pacific island of Guam, where the U.S. military has a base, and "exchanged smiles" with U.S. pilots scrambled to track them. The Pentagon said the Russian aircraft had not come close enough to U.S. ships to prompt American aircraft to react. In July, two Russian Tu-95 "Bear" bombers made unusually long sorties over the North Sea, leading Norway and Britain to scramble fighter jets to follow them. Russia's air force said later it was a routine flight. E-mail to a friend
[ "What did Putin state about the move?", "Who is going to send a bomber aircraft on flights?", "what kind of aircraft are being flowed", "What was the move in response to?", "For what did president putin said the move was?", "WHo is the man in charge to the reponse", "Who said the flights do not pose a threat to the United States?", "what kind of threats are the air crafts to the us", "What country is sending bomber aircrafts?", "For how long will Russia send the bomber aircraft?", "Who uses bomber aircraft on long-range flights?", "The white house says what is not a threat?", "which is the aim of the bombers in Russia?", "what did russia send?", "WHat was The White House's response?", "what is Russia sending on long range flights?", "Who is going to send bomber aircraft on long range flights permently?", "What did the White House say about the flights?", "What is not a thread to U.S.?", "What does Putin claim was in response to security threats?" ]
[ [ "\"We have decided to restore flights by Russian strategic aviation on a permanent basis,\"" ], [ "Russia" ], [ "bomber" ], [ "security threats" ], [ "security threats" ], [ "President Vladimir Putin" ], [ "Gordon Johndroe" ], [ "security" ], [ "Russia" ], [ "regular basis." ], [ "Russia" ], [ "the flights" ], [ "regular patrols beyond its borders." ], [ "bomber aircraft on regular patrols beyond its borders." ], [ "\"Militaries around the world engage in a variety of activities, so this is not entirely surprising,\"" ], [ "14 strategic bombers" ], [ "President Vladimir Putin" ], [ "not believe the" ], [ "the flights" ], [ "revive the Soviet-era practice of sending bomber aircraft on regular patrols beyond its borders." ] ]
Russia to send bomber aircraft on long-range flights on a permanent basis . President Vladimir Putin said the move was in response to security threats . The White House says the flights do not pose a threat to the United States .
CHEGUTU, Zimbabwe (CNN) -- Farmers are implicating a close ally of President Robert Mugabe's in the latest round of farm seizures in Zimbabwe in which Mugabe loyalists take over white-owned farms. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, left, and President Robert Mugabe have a power-sharing agreement. The accusations against Senate President Edna Madzongwe came as Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara on Friday toured farms that Mugabe followers had taken over. On many of those farms, production has fallen under the new owners. Mutambara is heading a government commission investigating the farm seizures. "Black people who acquired farms must produce," he said. Mutambara said the government is taking the matter seriously. "There will be no holy cows; the ax will fall where it may," he added. "We will not tolerate any government official who is promoting lawlessness in our country." Reports of violence on white-owned farms have increased since a power-sharing government in February between Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change. One death was reported Sunday on the Stockdale Farm in Chegutu, 75 miles (about 120 kilometers) southwest of Zimbabwe's capital, Harare. Peter Etheridge, who previously owned that farm, said Madzongwe had illegally claimed his property. But the daughter of the Senate president denied the allegation. "We got this farm legally. In fact, they [Etheridge] opened the gates for us, and we moved in," said Farai Madzongwe, adding that her mother is "a law-abiding citizen." She said she wouldn't comment on the violence and the reported death, saying, "That is for police and courts." Local media reported the Senate president has four farms. Etheridge denied he had handed over Stockdale Farm, saying that Edna Madzongwe pushed him out. "They forced us out, and production on farms has stopped since last month," he said. "This madness has to stop since the country needs food and foreign currency." The Stockdale Farm was among those the government commission visited Friday. When journalists approached the farm before government officials arrived, a police officer on the property cocked his gun to scare them off. The journalists refused to leave, and the police officer called Farai Madzongwe to report them as intruders. Etheridge criticized the police presence at his former farm. "They are giving protection to her but not us who want to feed the nation," he said. At other farms, militia armed with guns tried unsuccessfully to prevent the government delegation from entering.
[ "when did this happen", "Who is accused of farm seizure?", "What has fallen on many farms under new owners?", "What does the daughter of senate president say?" ]
[ [ "Friday" ], [ "Senate President Edna Madzongwe" ], [ "production" ], [ "\"We got this farm legally. In fact, they [Etheridge] opened the gates for us, and we moved in,\"" ] ]
Zimbabwe Senate president -- a Robert Mugabe ally -- accused of farm seizure . Production has fallen on many farms under new owners . Government commission investigating farm seizures . Daughter of Senate president says, "We got this farm legally"
CHENNAI, India (CNN) -- At 68, Christian Fabre, CEO of Fashions International, might be expected to be thinking about retiring. Christian Fabre, or Swami Pranavananda Brahmendra Avadutha, or just Swamiji for short But Fabre, or Swami Pranavananda Brahmendra Avadutha as he is also called, is a practicing Hindu monk as well as a businessman, and retirement doesn't really enter his thoughts. "I'm having too much fun," he says with a chuckle. Hardly a gnomic mysticist, Fabre comes across as a jolly old soul, and greets me wearing saffron robes, sandals and sporting the most stylish pair of rimless glasses ever worn by a monk of any denomination. As we chat in his light, open office on a sunny morning in Chennai, his BlackBerry beeps with new e-mails. Tools of the trade, or at least business, are allowed then? "How can a man who is supposed to be meditating in a cave do this, you may say. But there is no dichotomy between this and my spiritual beliefs," he says. A MacBook on his desk and a picture of his guru on the wall, plus the company's 25 percent growth last year, Fabre life seems to be in balance. However, he admits that reaching the place he's in today, both spiritually and physically, "was no pleasure cruise." Instead of a backpack and a pocket full of marijuana, he arrived in Chennai in 1971 with a job in the textile-buying business, a wife and a young son. Three years later the job had gone, so too his wife, taking their son with her. Rather than return to France, he stayed, having been seduced by the richness of Indian culture, but struggled to find more work. He met his current business partner in Fashions International, A. Jayapalana, when embarking on an ill-fated and short-lived venture with a fashion designer. However his rag-trade to rags to saffron robes existence only developed when he was introduced to the guru of his yoga teacher. "He'd suffered from leprosy, but radiated happiness and energy. It dried my tears; I had no right to cry over myself. I also wanted to know his secret, and after meeting regularly for six months, he told me I was right to become a swami." As a child, Fabre had wanted to become a priest, something his communist railway-worker father completely rejected. "Who knows how he would take it, but I'm sure if I was telling him about my spirituality, he would agree. Communism and Hinduism go well together in some Indian states, although I'm sure Karl Marx would wonder what it's doing here," he says. Depending on how much work he has to do, every month Fabre spends around a week at his ashram, where he has some disciples. It's an eight-hour drive from Chennai and two miles from the nearest village, where he has more time and space -- and less clothing -- in which to further his spiritual practices. His personal life is more ascetic than his BlackBerry-bleeping office existence. He does however have satellite TV at home and the Internet at his hermitage, plus a personal driver, but one thing he always carries with him is a spiritual self-awareness. "Everything is the ultimate. It is a very leveling spirituality, is it not?" he says, the French accent slipping into an Indian lilt. "I can be a businessman and a swami without losing that awareness. It's within and it's without. It's the ultimate and the universal and beyond the universal. It makes you understand a lot in a split second, and you can see things from many angles." Watch financial advice from Fabre » Business karma One thing he clearly understands is the fashion business. As an outsourcing supply company, Fabre's company is indirectly responsible for employing around 80,000 people in 200 factories around Tamil Nadu, and his clients include labels such as Kenzo,
[ "How long has Christian Fabre been in India?", "Who is CEO of the fashion company?", "In what city is his office?", "Who is a CEO of a fashion company and a Hindu monk", "What religion does Christian Fabre follow?" ]
[ [ "arrived in Chennai in 1971" ], [ "Christian Fabre," ], [ "Chennai," ], [ "Christian Fabre," ], [ "Hindu" ] ]
Frenchman Christian Fabre is CEO of fashion company and also a Hindu monk . Splits time between his office in Chennai and ashram in the hills of Tamil Nadu . Has been in India for 37 years; clients include Kenzo and Lee Cooper . Recently launched own clothing label, despite not wearing clothes himself .
CHENNAI, India (CNN) -- Sipping a sweet lime juice on the rooftop bar of a designer hotel in Chennai, Vinod Harith looks the epitome of a relaxed, confident young Indian entrepreneur. High hopes: Vinod, left, and Pramod Harith set up thier marketing outsourcing company. But setting up his marketing outsourcing company just seven months ago was far from a relaxing experience. It's a recent memory that still provokes a momentary look of discomfort. "It was just painful," he says with a wry smile. It seems that despite the potential riches to be had by tapping in to all the talent, energy and potential in India, going it alone is still a unique experience in the country, even for those who are used to working there. Multinational companies may be finding their path into the world of Indian business smooth, but that official approach hasn't trickled down to India's burgeoning business brains with billionaire aspirations. "If you're a large company trying to set up a subsidiary and you want to set up in India, a lot of that bureaucracy has gone away, but not for an entrepreneur," says Harith who previously worked for Wipro Technologies. From getting a bank account to securing a line of credit, the same rigid attitude from officialdom remains with decisions made at a glacial place. "The government ministry has not been so fast to change. It's become easier, but still a lot of that thinking has not gone away," he said. Harith and his brother Pramod even had trouble registering the name of their company, CMOaxis. "We called the company CMOaxis, which stands for Chief Marketing Officer, but for a long time couldn't get the name approved by the registrar of companies here, because they said CMO means Chief Minister's Office. So we had a really tough time, just convincing people." But for the 36-year-old Vinod seeing the bigger picture and potential of his company was worth of all the aggravation. An October 2007 report into the marketing sector by First Research put its value at around $8 billion. A year on, the potential value might still be there, but tapping in to it during an economic downturn as investors and companies return to "studying the market" will be the big challenge. "Despite so many global funds being in India it's still very difficult for a start-up to get funding." It certainly is for first time entrepreneurs, as Harith suggests that those with a family history in business or politics where it's easier to secure backing find things much easier. "In PR first generation entrepreneur successes are still there but you can count them on the fingers of one hand. "The understanding just isn't there in a part of India that is more used to the garment industry and traditional forms of business," says Pramod Harith, Vinod's brother and business partner. Different industries, same problems 700 miles (1,127 kilometers) away in Pune, Jesh Krishna Murthy is busy with his fledgling animation company Anibrain. After 13 years working abroad he returned to India to find the same frustrations as the Hariths in setting up the business. "If you are going to do business in India, there is a lot of red tape and corruption. You have to learn to deal with, but it is very frustrating. If you're caught up in some regulation and the laws are kind of ambiguous and there's no right or wrong the authorities can give you a lot of trouble," he said. If you can't deal with it, then you're doing business in the wrong country. It is stupid, but part and parcel of being in India." Krishna Murthy brought much of Anibrain's business contacts with him, doing post-production graphics on films such as "Lust Caution" John Woo's "Red Cliff" and big budget Hollywood flicks, much of the hard work comes in maintaining quality. "Getting the job is the easier part; it's delivering it to the quality that's expected and
[ "Who faces maddenning tangle of bureaucracy?", "what did Krishna murthy think?", "What are the newest battles new compannies face?" ]
[ [ "Vinod Harith" ], [ "\"If you are going to do business in India, there is a lot of red tape and corruption." ], [ "trouble registering the name of their company," ] ]
Entrepreneurs and start-ups still face maddening tangle of bureaucracy . India has become an easier place for foreign firms to work and set up business . Officials and cultural attitudes are some of biggest battles new companies face . Krishna Murthy: "You have to be a bit of a sadist, but that's part of the charm of India."
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- A clerk's quick flip of a switch foiled a robbery Friday at an Office Depot store in downtown Chicago. Police said a man wearing a light blue button-down shirt and dark slacks entered the store carrying a gun concealed in a folded newspaper. He approached one of the store's cash registers and demanded the contents of the safe, police said. The clerk refused but immediately turned on the public address system so that other customers could hear what was going on. Hearing his threat broadcast throughout the store, the man fled. He ended up robbing a nearby Fannie May candy store at gunpoint, police said, and fled that store in a white taxi. Authorities said the robber, a man between ages 30 and 40, was still at large. No injuries were reported in either robbery.
[ "What does the store clerk do after being threated?", "What does the armed robber do after the broadcast?", "Where is Fannie May candy?", "Authorities say the robber, a man between ages 30 and 40, is?", "What is the age of the robber?", "Armed robber flees after hearing?" ]
[ [ "refused but immediately turned on the public address system so that other customers could hear" ], [ "the man fled." ], [ "downtown Chicago." ], [ "still at large." ], [ "between" ], [ "his threat broadcast throughout the store," ] ]
Store clerk switches on PA system after being threatened by man with gun . Armed robber flees after hearing his threat broadcast to customers in the store . Robber struck at nearby Fannie May candy store, holding store up at gunpoint . Authorities say the robber, a man between ages 30 and 40, is still at large .
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- An Illinois man was charged with possession of a potentially deadly neurotoxin commonly found in puffer fish after the FBI led a raid at his home Monday. Edward F. Bachner, 35, of Lake in the Hills, was charged with one count of illegal possession of a toxin, according to a federal complaint filed in U.S. district court. Bachner is listed as the corporate secretary of Rosetta Wireless Corp. in Naperville, in suburban Chicago. Bachner was arrested after accepting a small amount of tetrodotoxin delivered by an undercover federal official at his home, the FBI said. Tetrodotoxin is a neurotoxin that in large doses can cause paralysis and death. It's often linked to consumption of puffer fish, a delicacy from the Indian and Pacific oceans that can prove fatal if not prepared properly, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Bachner, using the alias Edmond Backer, attempted to purchase 98 milligrams of tetrodotoxin through the Web site of a New Jersey chemical company, according to the FBI. Bachner claimed he was a doctor working for Illinois-based EB Strategic Research, which does not exist. The quantity of the toxin requested alarmed an employee at the chemical company, who alerted authorities, the FBI said. Bachner appeared before a magistrate judge at the federal court in Rockford and is being held without bond until his next court appearance. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison. Calls late Monday to Bachner's home and business went unanswered.
[ "What did Bachner try to buy?", "Where is tetrodotoxin found?", "Who tried to buy tetrodoxin?", "What was he arrested for?", "What can the neurotoxin cause?", "What sentence could Bachner face?", "What are they used for?" ]
[ [ "98 milligrams of tetrodotoxin" ], [ "in puffer fish" ], [ "Edward F. Bachner," ], [ "possession of a potentially deadly neurotoxin" ], [ "paralysis and death." ], [ "10 years in prison." ], [ "paralysis and death." ] ]
FBI: Edward Bachner tried to buy 98 milligrams of tetrodotoxin through the Web . Neurotoxin, commonly found in puffer fish species, can cause paralysis and death . Bachner was arrested after accepting a small amount from an undercover official . If convicted, the 35-year-old faces 10 years in prison .
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- At a debate in front of thousands of labor union activists Tuesday, Sen. Barack Obama's Democratic presidential rivals blasted him for his remarks about Pakistan. Last Wednesday, the Illinois senator said that if it were necessary to root out terrorists, he would send U.S. forces into Pakistan without the country's approval. "You can think big, but remember, you shouldn't always say everything you think if you're running for president, because it has consequences around the world," Sen. Hillary Clinton said during a 90-minute Democratic presidential forum in Chicago sponsored by the AFL-CIO. Chicago is Obama's hometown, and Clinton's statement drew boos. The New York senator responded, "We don't need that right now." Despite the frosty reception, Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd joined Clinton in criticizing Obama. He said Obama's stance could undermine Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, the country's military ruler, who has been a U.S. ally in the fight against al Qaeda. "While General Musharraf is no Thomas Jefferson, he may be the only thing that stands between us and having an Islamic fundamentalist state in that country," Dodd said. "So while I would like to see him change, the reality is, if we lose him, then what we face is an alternative that could be a lot worse for our country." Obama jumped into the fray. "I find it amusing that those who helped to authorize and engineer the biggest foreign policy disaster in our generation are now criticizing me for making sure that we are on the right battlefield and not the wrong battlefield in the war against terrorism," he said. "If we have actionable intelligence on al Qaeda operatives, including [Osama] bin Laden, and President Musharraf cannot act, then we should," Obama said. "That's just common sense." He also said Americans had the right to participate in the debate over such a key aspect of American foreign policy. But Clinton countered by saying that while U.S. forces might have to pursue action inside Pakistan "on the basis of actionable intelligence," it was "a very big mistake to telegraph that and to destabilize the Musharraf regime, which is fighting for its life against the Islamist extremists who are in bed with al Qaeda and the Taliban." "Remember, Pakistan has nuclear weapons. The last thing we want is to have al Qaeda-like followers in charge of Pakistan and having access to nuclear weapons." Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware responded later in the debate, noting that the strategy Obama outlined was already U.S. policy. "Everyone's entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts," Biden said. "It's already the policy of the United States -- has been for four years -- that there's actionable intelligence, we would go into Pakistan." E-mail to a friend
[ "what did he say?", "what was a sponsor allowed in this type of venue?", "what Obama do?", "what clinton say?", "Who was booed when she criticizes Sen. Barack Obama?", "Who should go into Pakistan?" ]
[ [ "would send U.S. forces into Pakistan without the country's approval." ], [ "AFL-CIO." ], [ "said that if it were necessary to root out terrorists, he would send U.S. forces into Pakistan without the country's approval." ], [ "\"You can think big, but remember, you shouldn't always" ], [ "Hillary Clinton" ], [ "U.S. forces" ] ]
Sen. Hillary Clinton booed when she criticizes Sen. Barack Obama at debate . Clinton, Sen. Chris Dodd slam Obama's stance on Pakistan . Obama: U.S. should go into Pakistan if intelligence warrants it . Debate sponsored by AFL-CIO drew thousands of labor activists .
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- Embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich vowed Friday to fight federal corruption charges and stay on the job, despite calls for his resignation amid allegations that he attempted to sell President-elect Barack Obama's former Senate seat. Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich spoke to reporters at a news conference Friday but did not take questions. "I will fight, I will fight, I will fight until I take my last breath. I have done nothing wrong," Blagojevich said in a brief news conference in Chicago. "I'm not going to quit a job that people have hired me to do." The spirited comments were the first public statements from the second-term governor about the allegations since his arrest December 9 on federal corruption charges. Federal prosecutors have accused the governor of trying to sell Obama's former Senate seat. Prosecutors also allege the governor and his former chief of staff, John Harris, tried to have Chicago Tribune editorial board members fired by leveraging state assistance to the parent company of the newspaper, the Tribune Co., in its sale of Wrigley Field. Blagojevich said he was "dying" to show his innocence, but maintained he would reserve his comments for an appropriate forum. "I'm not going to do what my accusers and political enemies have been doing, and that is talk about this case in 30-second sound bites on 'Meet the Press' or on the TV news," he said. "I have on my side the most powerful ally there is, and it is the truth." Watch Blagojevich speak at the news conference » Quoting Rudyard Kipling's poem, "If," Blagojevich called on the public to be patient and reserve judgment until the facts unfold in criminal proceedings. "If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you; if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, but make allowance for their doubting, too; if you can wait and not be tired by waiting; or being lied about, don't deal in lies; or being hated, don't give way to hating," he said. Blagojevich did not take questions from reporters. Earlier Friday, his attorney, Ed Genson, said he did not feel it was prudent for the governor to answer questions now. Genson has said that the governor did nothing wrong and that evidence obtained through wiretaps in Blagojevich's office and home was "illegally obtained." The 76-page criminal complaint against Blagojevich includes snippets of intercepted phone calls involving the governor's alleged efforts to benefit from the Senate vacancy. After Blagojevich's statement, Genson's co-counsel, Sam Adam Jr., told reporters that the U.S. attorney's office has not provided them with information related to the criminal complaint. "We've been asking for the documents. We've been asking for the tapes. We've been asking for the witnesses, we're asking for a witness list. We have not gotten that," he said. Blagojevich's arrest has thrown Illinois politics into chaos. Many of the state's political leaders -- including Obama -- have called on the governor to resign. Harris, who was also arrested on federal corruption charges, resigned days after his arrest. Watch Illinois lawmakers discuss impeachment » Members of an Illinois House of Representatives panel met Wednesday to continue discussions about whether there is a basis to impeach Blagojevich.
[ "Who says the evidence was wrongfully obtained?", "What did Gov. Rod Blagojevich say?", "what does his lawyer say?", "who says he is not guilty", "What is the Governor accused of doing?", "what is he accused of?" ]
[ [ "his attorney, Ed Genson," ], [ "\"I will fight, I will fight, I will fight until I take my last breath. I have done nothing wrong,\"" ], [ "attorney, Ed Genson, said he did not feel it was prudent for the governor to answer questions now." ], [ "Rod Blagojevich" ], [ "trying to sell Obama's former Senate seat." ], [ "federal corruption" ] ]
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich says he is not guilty of criminal wrongdoing . Blagojevich says he has the truth on his side, vows to stay on the job . Governor accused of trying to sell President-elect Obama's Senate seat . Blagojevich's lawyer says evidence was illegally obtained .
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- One of Chicago's most well-known real estate moguls appears to have shot himself to death, police said. Steven Good was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot Monday, police said. The body of Steven L. Good was found in his Jaguar on Monday. The car was spotted in a parking lot of a wildlife preserve in Kane County, Illinois, just outside Chicago, authorities said. No note was found, and police say they do not know how long the 52-year-old had been in the vehicle. Good was the chairman and chief executive officer of Sheldon Good & Co., a major U.S. real estate auction company. The death comes amid great turmoil in the country's real estate industry. In his role as chairman of the Realtors Commercial Alliance Committee, Good commented on tough conditions last month at a business conference. On a memorial blog set up by the Chicago Association of Realtors, for which Good once served as president, friends and colleagues described him as a gregarious man with a big personality. He was a savvy businessman who built his company into a major national real estate company that did deals with Donald Trump, they said. "It is testimony to Steve's leadership that Sheldon Good & Co. remains well-positioned for the future," said Sheldon Good President Alan R. Kravets. "The guy was a true blue Realtor," said Barbara Matthopoulos, the association's spokeswoman. She was new to real estate when she met Good more than a year ago. He took time to give her advice that has helped her grow to love the business. "Anybody who knew him would speak to his leadership, his generosity, his attitude. The guy was just very positive, always smiling, always telling you a story. He was engaged. Everyone is really very shocked," she said. "I doubt anyone could help explain why this happened." Kane County Sheriff's Department spokesman Lt. Pat Gengler said authorities don't have any "concrete evidence if this had anything to do with his finances." The company was founded by Good's father, Sheldon Good, in 1965, according to the firm's Web site. Steven Good had "been involved in the sale of more than $4 billion of real estate, including commercial, office, retail, industrial, residential, and vacant land sites," it says. "Mr. Good is the driving force behind the expansion of the company, which has been ranked as the largest firm in the United States exclusively conducting real estate auctions." Good, who was also an attorney, wrote a book, "Churches, Jails and Gold Mines: Mega-Deals From a Real Estate Maverick." According to Amazon.com, Donald Trump wrote the afterword. The first chapter begins, "Our auction company is to the real estate business what Sotheby's and Christie's is the fine art and collectibles business." The book goes to say that as of its 2003 publication, the firm had sold 40,000 properties totaling $8 billion. "If you lined up 1,000 people and said pick the one that might do this to themselves, he would be the last person I would choose," said Wayne Caplan, who worked at Sheldon Good for six years and knew Steven Good personally. "He had a zest for life. He has a wife and kids and he had so much in his life."
[ "What have police said?", "Who was found dead?", "What did the police think was the cause of death?", "Who was found dead of an apparent gunshot?", "What was his profession?", "What killed Steven L. Good?", "What state is Chicago located in?", "What Is Steven L. Good known for?", "In what city was Good well-known as a real estate businessman?" ]
[ [ "Steven Good was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot Monday," ], [ "Steven L. Good" ], [ "himself" ], [ "Steven Good" ], [ "chairman and chief executive officer of Sheldon Good & Co.," ], [ "self-inflicted gunshot" ], [ "Illinois" ], [ "real estate" ], [ "Chicago's" ] ]
Steven L. Good was found dead of an apparent gunshot wound in his car Monday . Good was a well-known real estate businessman in Chicago . Friends, family shocked, saddened by what police say appears to be a suicide .
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama announced key members of his energy team on Monday, naming physicist Steven Chu as secretary of energy, and former EPA administrator Carol Browner to a new post in the White House to coordinate energy and climate policy. Carol Browner was one of four key environmental nominees named by Obama. Obama also named Lisa Jackson, former head of New Jersey's environmental agency, to serve as his Environmental Protection Agency administrator, and Nancy Sutley, the Los Angeles deputy mayor for energy and environment, to lead the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Sutley, a prominent supporter of Sen. Hillary Clinton's bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, is the first high-ranking gay appointee to the Obama administration. "In the 21st century, we know that the future of our economy and national security is inextricably linked with one challenge: energy," Obama said at a news conference to introduce his energy team. "We've seen Washington launch policy after policy, yet our dependence on foreign oil has only grown, even as the world's resources are disappearing," he said. "This time has to be different. This time we cannot fail, nor can we be lulled into complacency simply because the price at the pump has for now gone down from $4 a gallon." Obama called Chu "uniquely suited to be our next secretary of energy" for his work on new and cleaner forms of energy. Chu, who runs the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California, won the 1997 Nobel Prize in physics and is highly respected in energy circles. Browner, who was administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in the Clinton administration, was named to be the nation's first "climate czar," working inside the White House on policy issues. "Carol understands that our efforts to create jobs, achieve energy security, and combat climate change demand integration among different agencies, cooperation between federal, state, and local governments and partnership with the private sector," Obama said. He said that Jackson, as commissioner of New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection, helped make that state a leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and developing new sources of energy. "Lisa also shares my commitment to restoring the EPA's robust role in protecting our air, our water, and abundant natural resources so that our environment is cleaner and our communities are safer," Obama said. Sutley has been "at the cutting edge" of environmental work on the municipal and regional level, Obama said. She will be "a key player in helping to make our government more efficient in coordinating our efforts to protect our environment at home and around the globe," he added. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa praised the appointment of his deputy mayor to a national post. "With Nancy on my team, we have made tremendous progress -- from quadrupling our renewable energy portfolio to exceeding the targets set out by the Kyoto Protocol four years ahead of schedule," he said in a written statement. Energy is one aspect of the president-elect's goal to create 2.5 million jobs by 2011. The plan aims to put Americans to work updating the country's infrastructure, making public buildings more energy-efficient and implementing environmentally friendly technologies, including alternative energy sources. During his campaign, Obama said he would invest $150 billion over 10 years in clean energy. He proposed increasing fuel economy standards and requiring that 10 percent of electricity in the United States comes from renewable sources by 2012.
[ "What did Obama said?", "How much will be invested?", "How much would Obama invest?", "Who was named secretary of energy?", "Who named Secretary of energy?", "Who created climate policy?" ]
[ [ "\"We've seen Washington launch policy after policy, yet our dependence on foreign oil has only grown, even as the world's resources are disappearing,\"" ], [ "$150 billion" ], [ "$150 billion over 10 years" ], [ "Steven Chu" ], [ "Steven Chu" ], [ "Carol Browner" ] ]
Nobel-prize physicist Steven Chu named secretary of energy in Obama's cabinet . New post created in White House for energy and climate policy coordinator . Obama said he would invest $150 billion over 10 years in clean energy .
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- A 17-year-old said Tuesday he is "blessed" that prosecutors dropped a murder charge against him in the beating death last month of a Chicago honors student. Derrion Albert, 16, was beaten to death September 24. His death was captured on video. "I'm just happy to be out," Eugene Bailey said, a day after authorities announced they were dismissing the charge against him in the September 24 death of Derrion Albert. Police said Albert, a 16-year-old honors student, was an innocent bystander who ended up in the middle of a street fight between two factions of students from Christian Fenger Academy High School. His beating death was captured on video, which shows him being hit by a person wielding a piece of a railroad tie. Bailey said he considered Albert a "good friend" and approached police offering to help in their investigation. When police told him he appeared on the video, he said, he told them, "No, that can't be me." Authorities searched his mother's home and found he did not own clothing and shoes like that seen on the participant thought to be him, he said. "I'm just blessed to have my freedom," he said, adding that what happened to Albert "shouldn't happen to anyone." Cook County prosecutors issued a statement Monday saying, "While the charge against Bailey was brought in good faith based on witness accounts and identifications, additional information has developed during the ongoing investigation that warranted dismissal of the murder charge against Bailey at this time." "I was kind of overwhelmed," said Bailey's mother, Ava Greyer. "They wouldn't listen to me." She said she received an eviction notice after her son's arrest, but has since received a letter of apology. She said she didn't think that was right, however: "You are innocent until proven guilty." "I didn't raise no murderer," she said. "He didn't murder nobody." "We all talk about what is what out here and point fingers at one another. ... These kids need something to do," Greyer said. "It's not gang-related. They get out of school -- once they're in school it's cool. Once they get out of school, the school says 'Forget 'em.' That's wrong. Get them some after-schooling programs, some recreation centers 20 hours a week." She said, "That was sad, that was wrong what happened to Derrion. I wish that upon no one. But at the same time, we need to sweep around our doorsteps and see what we can do as a community to keep this from happening to somebody else's child." Prosecutors said that when school let out on September 24, Albert was on his way to a bus stop when two groups of students converged on the street and began fighting. Albert was approached by two members of one faction and struck in the head with a long piece of a wooden railroad tie, and then punched in the face, Tandra Simonton, spokeswoman for the Cook County prosecutors, has said. After being knocked out for a brief period, Albert regained consciousness and tried to move from the fight, but was then attacked by members of the opposing faction, Simonton said. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. Albert's death remains under investigation, prosecutors said Monday. Three other individuals still face murder charges: Silvanus Shannon, 19, Eric Carson, 16, and Eugene Riley, 18. All three appeared in court for a preliminary hearing Monday, but their cases were continued to Friday. Albert's death prompted President Obama, a former Chicago resident and Illinois senator, to send Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Attorney General Eric Holder to Chicago earlier this month. The two met with the city's mayor and community leaders to discuss possible remedies for violent youth crime. Albert's death was not an isolated incident: More than 30 youths suffered violent deaths in Chicago
[ "Who was caught in the middle of a gang fight?", "Who was Albert's friend?", "who is eugene bailey", "Who died from a beating?", "Who was freed of charge in Derrion Albert's beating death?", "What was videotaped?" ]
[ [ "Albert," ], [ "Eugene Bailey" ], [ "A 17-year-old" ], [ "Derrion Albert," ], [ "Eugene Bailey" ], [ "His death" ] ]
Eugene Bailey, 17, freed of charge in Derrion Albert's beating death . Bailey says he was Albert's friend, approached police with offer of help . Police say Albert was bystander who was caught in middle of gang fight . Beating was videotaped and police thought Bailey was in video .
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- Authorities arrested a man accused of secretly taping ESPN sports reporter Erin Andrews in the nude and posting the videos on the Internet, the FBI said Friday. ESPN reporter Erin Andrews claims someone videotaped her while she was nude and posted video online. Authorities arrested 48-year-old Michael David Barrett at Chicago O'Hare International Airport on Friday. Barrett faces a charge of interstate stalking, the FBI said. Barrett is accused of taping Andrews while she was nude in two hotel rooms. He then made eight videos that he posted on the Internet, the FBI said. Barrett allegedly filmed seven of the eight videos at a hotel room in Nashville, Tennessee, in September 2008. FBI agents said they found evidence that a peephole to the door of Andrews' hotel room had been altered. The FBI learned that Barrett checked into the same hotel at that time and asked for a room adjacent to Andrews using his home address to register for the room. According to a criminal complaint, Barrett tried to sell the videos to celebrity gossip Web site TMZ.com. Employees at the Web site also helped in the investigation providing Barrett's information to Andrews' attorney. Andrews works as a sideline reporter traveling around the country covering college football games. Barrett will have his first court appearance in Chicago at 10 a.m. (11 a.m. ET) Saturday, authorities said. The maximum penalty for the charge of interstate stalking is five years in federal prison, the FBI said. CNN's Greg Morrison contributed to this report.
[ "Where were the videos posted according to FBI?", "What say authorities about Michael Barrett?", "where were the videos posted", "Who was accused of videotaping Erin Andrews in the nude?", "Who is accusing on Chicago man?", "Who faces interstate stalking charge according to authorities?", "who was being videotaped", "What did he use to spy on the reporter?", "What was the Chicago man guilty of?", "who was accused?", "What charge does Michael David Barrett face?", "Which ESPN reporter was spied on?", "Where were the videos posted?" ]
[ [ "on the Internet," ], [ "is accused of taping Andrews while she was nude in two hotel rooms. He then made eight videos that he posted on the Internet," ], [ "on the Internet," ], [ "Michael David Barrett" ], [ "Erin Andrews" ], [ "Michael David Barrett" ], [ "Erin Andrews" ], [ "a peephole" ], [ "interstate stalking," ], [ "Michael David Barrett" ], [ "interstate stalking," ], [ "Erin Andrews" ], [ "on the Internet," ] ]
Chicago man accused of secretly videotaping ESPN reporter Erin Andrews in nude . Authorities say Andrews was filmed through peephole in hotel rooms . Videos were later posted on Internet, according to FBI . Michael David Barrett faces interstate stalking charge, authorities say .
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- Impeached former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was arrested in December on charges of conspiracy and fraud, was indicted Thursday on 16 felony counts by a federal grand jury, the U.S. attorney's office said. Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is facing such charges as racketeering, conspiracy and wire fraud. The 19-count indictment charges Blagojevich and some of his closest aides and advisers with a wide-ranging "scheme to deprive the people of Illinois of honest government," according to a statement by the attorney's office. Blagojevich, 52, faces charges including racketeering, conspiracy, wire fraud and making false statements to investigators, according to the release. Three counts in the indictment are against the aides and advisers. In a written statement, Blagojevich maintained his innocence -- as he has done throughout a political soap opera that captivated the nation. "I'm saddened and hurt but I am not surprised by the indictment," he said. "I am innocent. I now will fight in the courts to clear my name." Blagojevich was vacationing with his family in Florida on Thursday. In video shot at a Disney resort outside Orlando, Florida, by CNN affiliate WESH-TV, he declined to comment on his legal situation. He was filmed shortly before the indictments were handed down. In the WESH video, the ex-governor was sitting near a pool at the resort. "I'm enjoying Disney World with my kids and I don't think you're supposed to be here," said Blagojevich, after his wife attempted to shield him from the camera. "I'm happy to talk to you at the appropriate time." A man who identified himself only as "someone who knows who he is" then blocked the camera. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, said he hoped the former governor wouldn't use the announcement as a reason to hit the media circuit again. "We can only hope the former governor will not view this indictment as a green light for another publicity tour," he said. "Rod Blagojevich deserves his day in court, but the people of Illinois deserve a break." Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, were arrested in December on federal corruption charges alleging that, among other things, they conspired to sell President Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat. Harris and Blagojevich's brother, Robert Blagojevich, were among the others indicted on Thursday. In early January, federal Judge James Holderman gave the attorney's office three additional months to decide whether to indict Blagojevich, who was impeached by the state legislature and resigned from office. That deadline ends Tuesday. On Thursday, current Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn called the charges a reminder for political leaders in the state to help stamp out corruption, and he pledged to "work night and day to clean up our government." "Today, more than ever, I'm committed to making sure our government has fundamental reform from top to bottom," said Quinn, also a Democrat and the former lieutenant governor who was appointed governor in January. "We need to overhaul Illinois government to make sure everything is done right for the people." The charges are part of what investigators have dubbed "Operation Board Games," an ongoing investigation into political corruption in the state. Among the specific claims in the 75-page indictment are that Blagojevich schemed with others in 2002, even before he took office, to use his position to make money, which they would split after he left office. Blagojevich is accused of denying state business to companies that would not hire his wife, extorting campaign contributions from a children's hospital that was set to get state money and pressuring a racetrack executive to give political contributions before the governor signed a gambling bill. The indictment said that after Obama was elected president, Blagojevich began meeting with others to figure out a way he could make money from his position to appoint a replacement senator. It said Blagojevich asked others, including state employees, to contact people who may be interested in the seat, and that
[ "What is Blagojevich enjoying?", "Did Blagojevich comment on the charges brought against him?", "What sentence does he face?", "What are some of the charges against Blagojevich?" ]
[ [ "Disney World" ], [ "\"I am innocent. I now will fight in the courts to clear my name.\"" ], [ "racketeering, conspiracy" ], [ "conspiracy and fraud," ] ]
NEW: Blagojevich declines comment, says "I'm enjoying Disney World with my kids" Blagojevich faces up to 20 years in prison for each of 15 most serious charges . Officials going after his home, saying he bought it with illegally-earned money . Charges against him include wire fraud, making false statements .
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- Key Illinois Democratic legislators are circulating a letter urging support for the impeachment of Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was arrested this week on federal corruption charges relating in part to the selection of President-elect Barack Obama's successor as a U.S. senator. Barack Obama says he has never spoken with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich about the vacant Senate seat. State Rep. John Fritchey, head of the House Civil Judiciary Committee, sent the letter Thursday asking Democratic colleagues to say by Friday whether they support a move for impeachment and would like to be added as a co-sponsor of legislation. Blagojevich also is a Democrat. "Faced with a significant budget shortfall, a national recession, and a vacant United States Senate seat, we cannot afford to allow Illinois to operate without effective leadership in the [Illinois] executive branch," said the letter, also signed by Reps. Thomas Holbrook, David Miller and James Brosnahan. "Simply put, it is imperative to replace Gov. Blagojevich as soon as is practicable." The letter said the impeachment filing was being prepared, and the lawmakers said they expected the process -- the state House would bring charges against Blagojevich and he would be tried by the state Senate -- would take "a matter of weeks rather than months." The lawmakers' move coincided with increasing calls for Blagojevich's resignation. President-elect Barack Obama called again Thursday for Blagojevich to step down, saying the embattled governor can no longer effectively serve the people of Illinois. Watch as Obama says Senate seat belongs to the people » "I hope that the governor himself comes to the conclusion that he can no longer effectively serve and that he does resign," Obama said, speaking before announcing his pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle. Obama said he was as "appalled and disappointed as anyone" by the allegations against the Democratic governor, and said he was confident his staff was not involved in the alleged scandal. Federal officials said Blagojevich was looking to sell or trade Obama's open seat in the U.S. Senate. Obama said he had never spoken to the governor on the subject, adding he was confident that "no representatives of mine would have any part of any deals related to this seat." He had asked his staff to gather the facts of any contacts with the governor's office about the vacancy, he said. "This Senate seat does not belong to any politician to trade. It belongs to the people of Illinois, and they deserve the best possible representation," he said. "They also deserve to know that any vacancy will be filled in an appropriate way so that whoever is sent to Washington is going to be fighting for the people of Illinois." Earlier Thursday, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said she is prepared to go to the Illinois Supreme Court to have Blagojevich declared unfit to serve if he does not resign. Explainer: Federal complaint against Blagojevich » "Obviously the easiest way for us to move on in the state of Illinois is for Gov. Blagojevich to do the right thing for the people and to resign," she told CNN's "American Morning." She added, "If he fails to, the two other options are obviously the Legislature moving forward on impeachment, or I have the opportunity to actually go to our Illinois Supreme Court and ask them to declare, basically, that our governor is unable to serve," she said. In that case, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, a Democrat, would become acting governor, she said. Madigan said she won't wait long to take action. "We would like a signal from the Legislature if they're going to move forward on impeachment proceedings. ... I think there are obviously numerous members of the Legislature calling for impeachment proceedings," she said, noting that the Legislature, which is adjourned, will meet Monday to discuss the possibility of holding a special election for Obama's successor. Fritchey, in the letter to Democratic lawmakers, commended Madigan's willingness
[ "when Illinois legislators circulate?", "what Illinois attorney general says?", "What are legislators in Illinois doing?" ]
[ [ "this week" ], [ "Supreme Court to have Blagojevich declared unfit to serve if he does not resign." ], [ "circulating a letter urging support" ] ]
Illinois legislators circulate letter to garner support for impeachment . Barack Obama repeats call for Gov. Rod Blagojevich to step down . President Bush believes the charges against Blagojevich are "astounding" Illinois attorney general says resigning is "right thing" for governor to do .
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- Mike Mette has been a Chicago police officer for almost four years. But now, as a result of a fistfight one night in Dubuque, Iowa, he is a convicted felon. Mike Mette, a Chicago police officer, says he acted in self-defense when he punched Jake Gotthard, a student at the University of Dubuque. Mette has been sentenced to almost five years in prison after Dubuque County Judge Monica Ackley found him guilty of assault causing serious injury. Mette says he's been wronged. "I was arrested for self-defense ... I was defending myself," he said. Mette's saga started in October 2005 after a night of drinking in Dubuque, where he was visiting his brother Mark. After the bars closed, Mette and his crew made their way to an after-hours party thrown by Jake Gotthard, a student at the University of Dubuque. According to court documents, Mette and his friends entered the house party, but decided to leave without paying the required $5 entry fee when they saw the room was mostly empty. Gotthard became angry, and with the help of his roommate, began chasing Mette down the street. Gotthard claims someone in Mette's group had stolen his cell phone and he wanted it back. Exactly what happened to the cell phone is still unclear. The altercation continued a block and a half down the street and eventually ended up in front of the house of Mette's brother. Fight could land cop in prison » "That's when Mr. Gotthard hit me. He hit me with two fists like this, straight into the chest," Mette said. "He was yelling about his cell phone, telling me if he didn't get his cell phone back he was going to beat the crap out of me. He hit me several more times and then I pushed him away from me. It wasn't until after the third time is when he came back at me again and that is when I struck him." When police arrived, they found Gotthard lying on the ground with bruises and lacerations on his face, cheek, nose, chin and forehead. Mette, who had blood on his shirt and whose knuckle was bruised and cut, was arrested and charged with a felony. "[Gotthard] had bruises on the side of his neck, his arms, his elbow, his shoulders, on his back, that were simply not consistent with Mr. Mette's version that he only struck him once," said Assistant County Attorney Tim Gallagher. Dubuque doctors testified the injuries were consistent with someone who had been stomped and kicked. But a doctor testifying for Mette's defense rejected the Dubuque findings. He said all those injuries could have come from Mette's single punch and the impact from falling on the sidewalk. Gallagher said the decision to prosecute Mette was a tough one. "It's never an easy situation when someone is sentenced to prison, particularly when it's a police officer that we have to rely on," he said. "But we can't allow individuals to be given certain privileges because of their occupation." The case spawned a battle between newspaper columnists in Chicago and Dubuque. "Mette played baseball in college. But what's happening to him isn't about Iowa baseball mythology. It doesn't smell of corn. It stinks of the pig barn," wrote Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass. He chalks the judge's decision up to small town politics. In a reply, a columnist for the Dubuque Telegraph Herald wrote that Kass is a "legendary muckraker" who is "training his scorn" on Ackley, the judge. Mette is currently on unpaid leave from the Chicago Police Department and is appealing his case. He will begin serving his five-year sentence in November. E-mail to a friend
[ "Who is Jake Gotthard?", "what did doctors say", "who testified against him", "What was the court's decision?", "who was acting in self defense", "when is he heading to prison", "who is headed to prison" ]
[ [ "a student at the University of Dubuque." ], [ "injuries were consistent with someone who had been stomped and kicked." ], [ "Dubuque doctors" ], [ "found him guilty of assault causing serious injury." ], [ "Mike Mette," ], [ "November." ], [ "Mike Mette" ] ]
Mike Mette, a Chicago police officer, is heading to prison this November . He says he was acting in self-defense when he punched Jake Gotthard . Doctors testified Gotthard appeared as though he had been stomped, kicked . Mette, currently on unpaid leave, is appealing the court's decision .
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- Police trying to identify the badly decomposed body of a woman discovered in an industrial area in Chicago, Illinois, denied Saturday that a blue barrel was located near the remains. An ambulance and police cars stand by near the location where a woman's body was found in Chicago Friday. The original mention of a blue container in a statement from Lyons, Illinois, police sparked interest because of the possible tie to Stacy Peterson, 23, who disappeared October 28. Illinois State Police have named her husband, Drew Peterson, a suspect. They have investigated whether the former Bolingbrook, Illinois, police sergeant removed a blue plastic container from his home the night before his wife was reported missing. Drew Peterson, 53, has consistently said he believes she ran away with another man. Chicago Police spokeswoman Monique Bond said on Saturday that no blue barrel was found near the body. An environmental surveyor from Lyons, Illinois, who was conducting tests at an industrial site in southwest Chicago found the remains Friday afternoon. Police said he called his supervisors to report he'd seen what appeared to be a human foot and leg. The body was transported to the Chicago medical examiner's office for autopsy. A spokesman for the Chicago Police Department said the body appears to be that of a female with reddish-blond hair. A posting on findstacypeterson.com describes the missing woman's hair as brown. The body was found about 20 miles from the Petersons' home, where Drew Peterson said he last saw her, CNN's Susan Roesgen reported. Speaking to Nancy Grace on CNN Headline News, Drew Peterson's attorney, Joel Brodsky, said local authorities have already asked a state task force working on Stacy Peterson's disappearance not to get involved. "I can tell you, it is not Stacy," Brodsky said. "I can guarantee you that." Brodsky offered no proof of his assertion. Drew and Stacy Peterson have been married four years and have two children. Drew has other children from a previous marriage. Authorities are re-examining the death of Peterson's third wife, Kathleen Savio, who was found dead in a bathtub in 2004. E-mail to a friend
[ "Where was Stacy Peterson murdered?", "Was there a trash container?" ]
[ [ "Chicago, Illinois," ], [ "found near the body." ] ]
NEW: Police say there was no trash container near woman's corpse . NEW: Body has reddish-blond hair; Stacy Peterson described as having brown hair . Suspect Drew Peterson's attorney: "I can tell you, it is not Stacy"
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- Political powerbroker Tony Rezko, whose links to presidential contender Barack Obama dropped him into the national spotlight this year, was convicted of money laundering, fraud and bribery charges by a federal jury Wednesday. Tony Rezko, left, leaves federal court with his family Tuesday during deliberations in his corruption trial. Rezko -- who has contributed thousands to the campaigns of the Illinois senator and other Democrats -- was accused of demanding kickbacks from companies seeking Illinois state business. He was convicted of 16 of 24 charges, including 12 counts of wire and mail fraud, two counts of aiding and abetting bribery and two counts of money laundering. He was acquitted of attempted extortion. Testimony at Rezko's trial in federal court brought up ties between Obama and Rezko, with a witness putting Obama at Rezko's house for a party where the guest of honor was Iraqi-British businessman Nadhmi Auchi. Obama has said he doesn't recall ever meeting Auchi, who was convicted of fraud in France. Amid the controversy, Obama acknowledged he had accepted contributions from Rezko and bought a strip of land from Rezko, a Chicago real-estate developer. Obama, who has not been accused of wrongdoing in the case, has vowed to give up the contributions, and called the purchase a mistake. He has already donated to charity at least $80,000 in campaign contributions linked to Rezko. Obama won enough delegates Tuesday to clinch the Democratic Party's nomination for president.
[ "What was Rezko assused of?", "What state business contracts were involved?", "Who convicted REzko?", "Where was the land Rezko sold?", "What did Rezko make contributions to?", "Who was convicted?" ]
[ [ "accused of demanding kickbacks from companies seeking Illinois state business." ], [ "Illinois" ], [ "federal jury" ], [ "Chicago" ], [ "the campaigns of the Illinois senator and other Democrats" ], [ "Tony Rezko," ] ]
Illinois political power broker Tony Rezko convicted in corruption case . Rezko was accused of demanding kickbacks for state business contracts . Rezko made contributions to Obama campaign, sold him land .
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- President-elect Barack Obama told the nation Tuesday night that "the dream of our founders is alive" and that he's ready to fulfill his campaign mantra of bringing change to America. "Change has come to America," President-elect Barack Obama told the nation on Tuesday night. "At this defining moment, change has come to America," Obama, who will be the nation's first black president, told a crowd of about 125,000 people in Chicago's Grant Park. Obama, born in Hawaii to a white mother and black father, said his victory proves that America is a place where all things are possible. Paying tribute to the legions of volunteers and voters who carried him to victory, Obama echoed the words of Abraham Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address, saying those legions proved "a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this Earth." "This is your victory," he told his supporters, praising "working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give $5 and $10 and $20 to this cause." Watch Obama say all things are possible in U.S. » Obama pledged to heal partisan wounds left after a bruising election battle, again using the words of Lincoln, the first Republican in White House. "As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, 'We are not enemies, but friends ... though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection.' "Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long," Obama said. Obama used the life of 106-year-old Ann Nixon Cooper of Atlanta, Georgia, to illustrate what the nation has overcome in her lifetime, including the Depression, world wars, the nation's quest for civil rights, a man on the moon, the fall of the Berlin Wall and even a world connected by technology. "Tonight, let us ask ourselves -- if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?" Obama said. "This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment," he said. Obama hinted he's even looking beyond his first term, and through the first eight of those next hundred years. "The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America -- I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you -- we as a people will get there," he said. Obama congratulated his rival John McCain and praised McCain's service to the country as a politician and Navy pilot and prisoner of war in Vietnam. "He fought long and hard in this campaign, and he's fought even longer and harder for the country he loves," Obama said. "I look forward to working with (him) to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead." Watch Obama's praise of John McCain » He also thanked his wife, Michelle, and daughters, Sasha and Malia, for their patience through the long presidential campaign. "You have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House," he told his daughters. Obama spent the first part of his historic Election Day voting, visiting campaign staffers and playing a little basketball. Following an Obama campaign tradition, he arrived Tuesday afternoon at a gym on Chicago's west side, where a campaign spokeswoman said he met with friends for a game of round ball. The game was the latest stop in Obama's busy day, which began early in the morning at a polling station in his Hyde Park neighborhood. Earlier, a smiling Obama and his wife cast ballots at the Shoesmith Elementary
[ "What did Obama promise?", "What does the victory prove?", "What does victory prove?", "Obama promised his daughters what?", "What does Obama say proves anything is possible in America?", "What did Obama promise his daughters?" ]
[ [ "\"The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America -- I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I" ], [ "America is a place where all things are possible." ], [ "America is a place where all things are possible." ], [ "new puppy" ], [ "his victory" ], [ "new puppy" ] ]
NEW: Victory proves anything is possible in America, Obama says . NEW: Obama promises daughters puppy in the White House . NEW: Obama salutes McCain's campaign, sacrifice .
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- The body found inside an SUV Monday morning has been confirmed to be Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson's 7-year-old nephew, a top FBI official said. The white SUV where the child's body was found is taken away to be examined by investigators. The medical examiner positively identified the body found in the white Chevrolet Suburban as Julian King, Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis said Monday afternoon. Julian had been shot to death, said police spokeswoman Monique Bond. Police are collecting evidence from the Suburban and reviewing surveillance tapes from all over the city as the investigation continues, Weis told reporters. "There's a lot of work to be done. We'll be sure we go through this thoroughly," he said. Asked about possible motives, Weis said, "We don't know what the motive really was at this time. But, clearly you have people who do know each other, so it wasn't a case of a stranger-type homicide." Earlier Monday Deputy Chief Cmdr. Wayne Gulliford said police found the body inside a parked white Chevy Suburban with a license plate matching the description in the child's Amber Alert, after responding to "a call about a suspicious auto" on Chicago's West Side at approximately 7 a.m. He had no details on the body, pending the medical examiner's report. Julian has been missing since Hudson's mother and brother were found dead in their home Friday. Watch police say they've ID'd the body » Over the weekend, Hudson offered a $100,000 reward for the safe return of her nephew. "Please keep praying for our family and that we get Julian King back home safely," Hudson said in a posting on her MySpace page Sunday. "If anyone has any information about his whereabouts please contact the authorities immediately." Hudson also posted two pictures of her nephew wearing the brown-and-orange striped polo shirt he was wearing when he was last seen. Earlier, Hudson viewed the bodies of her mother, Darnell Donerson, and brother, Jason Hudson, the Cook County medical examiner's office told CNN on Sunday. They were found shot to death Friday in their South Side Chicago home. Watch the latest on the Hudson case » Julian's stepfather, William Balfour, was detained over the weekend for questioning in connection with the case, a police spokesperson told CNN. He was subsequently transferred to prison on a parole violation charge, the spokesperson said. No charges had been filed against anyone in connection with the murders. According to the Illinois Department of Corrections, Balfour, 27, spent nearly seven years in prison for attempted murder, vehicular hijacking and possessing a stolen vehicle. Chicago news station WLS reported Saturday that Julian was not with Balfour when he was detained. Hudson's sister, Julia Balfour, made an emotional appeal Saturday for the safe return of her son. "My greatest fear has already happened, my greatest hope is for having my child. I just want my son," Julia Balfour said. "That's all I have to say. Just let my baby go." William Balfour's mother, Michele Davis-Balfour, also urged the public to focus on finding Julian and said her son had nothing to do with the slayings. "Out of no means did my son do this. This heinous crime to this family is unbelievable. It's unbearable," Davis-Balfour told WLS. Watch Davis-Balfour's emotional appeal » Deputy Police Chief Joseph Patterson said the bodies of Hudson's mother and brother were found about 3 p.m. Friday, when a relative arrived and found the body of a woman on the living room floor. The relative backed out of the house and called police, Patterson said. Authorities found a man shot to death in a bedroom. The Cook County medical examiner's office said Saturday that Donerson and Jason Hudson suffered multiple gunshot wounds and ruled the deaths homicides. Neighbors reported hearing gunshots earlier Friday, Patterson said. Authorities found no signs of forced entry to the
[ "How long was Julian King been missing before they found him?", "How old was Julian King?", "Who was shot to death?", "What evidence was collected from the Suburban?", "What happened to Hudson's mother and brother?", "Who identified the bodies for the medical examiner?", "What city was Julian King killed in?", "When did King go missing?", "How old was king?", "How was Julian King killed?" ]
[ [ "Friday." ], [ "7-year-old" ], [ "Julian King," ], [ "the body" ], [ "Hudson's mother and brother were found dead in their home Friday." ], [ "Hudson" ], [ "Chicago" ], [ "Friday." ], [ "7-year-old" ], [ "shot to death," ] ]
NEW: Julian King, 7, was shot to death, a police spokeswoman says . Police collecting evidence from Suburban, reviewing surveillance tapes . Julian King missing since Friday, when Hudson's mother, brother were shot dead . Actress identified bodies of her mother and brother for medical examiner .
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- The funeral of a Chicago teenager whose beating death was caught on video was attended Saturday by scores of family members, officials and community leaders, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson. A funeral for Derrion Albert, a teen who was fatally beaten last month, was held Saturday on Chicago's South Side. Authorities say Derrion Albert, a 16-year-old honors student, was an innocent bystander who ended up in the middle of a September 24 street fight between two factions of students from Christian Fenger Academy High School. "The killings keep coming -- one need not to be guilty to be killed in this war zone," Jackson told reporters before the service Saturday at the Greater Mount Hebron Baptist Church in South Side Chicago. "We must declare a state of emergency. We have an obligation to prepare for our children safe passage." Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis was among the Chicago officials who filed into the church as the the victim's mother, An-Janette Albert, wept in the arms of loved ones. Watch friends, dignitaries attend funeral » "I can't believe I'm here and he's not with me," An-Janette Albert told CNN in an interview earlier in the week. "I can't talk to him." Four suspects have been charged with first-degree murder in Derrion Albert's killing, and police say they are looking for three more people in connection with the beating. Video footage of the incident shows Albert being hit by a person wielding a railroad tie. President Obama, a longtime Chicago resident, is sending Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Attorney General Eric Holder next week to talk with officials from the school, the students and the community about school violence, the White House said. Albert's sister, 11-year-old Rhaea, told CNN on Thursday that she looked up to her big brother, and now wants to be an even better student in his honor. But his death haunts her. "I'm kind of nervous to go outside these days because of what happens to kids now," she said. "Kids around my age ... they could still get hurt, no matter what." Watch slain teen's mother talk about her feelings » When school let out at 2:50 p.m. on September 24, Albert was nearly six blocks away -- on his way to a bus stop -- when two groups of students converged on the street, said Tandra Simonton, spokeswoman for the Cook County prosecutor. The factions -- one that lived near the Altgeld Gardens housing development and one in an area known as "The Ville" -- began fighting after an earlier shooting that police called gang-related. According to Simonton, Albert was approached by two members of "The Ville" faction and struck in the head with a long wooden railroad tie, then punched in the face. After being knocked unconscious for a brief period, Albert regained consciousness and tried to move from the fight, but was then attacked by a second group of five members from the opposing faction, Simonton said. Albert was taken to Roseland Community Hospital and then to Advocate Christ Hospital and Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
[ "What age was the victim?", "What happened to Derrion Albert on September 24th?", "Who said we must declare a state of emergency?", "What are the police doing regarding Albert's death?", "What does his mother say?", "Who was beaten to death?", "What did Rev. Jesse Jackson say about the killings?", "Who died in the article?" ]
[ [ "16-year-old" ], [ "fatally beaten" ], [ "Rev. Jesse Jackson." ], [ "say they are looking for three more people in connection with the beating." ], [ "\"I can't talk to him.\"" ], [ "Derrion Albert," ], [ "\"The" ], [ "Derrion Albert," ] ]
Rev. Jesse Jackson: "Killings keep coming ... we must declare a state of emergency" Albert's mother, earlier in week: "I can't believe ... he's not with me" Derrion Albert, 16, was beaten to death September 24; beating was recorded . Police still seeking other suspects related to Albert's death .
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- The woman who received the first-ever near-total face transplant in the United States told her doctor she has regained her self-confidence, said Dr. Maria Siemionow, head of plastic surgery research at the Cleveland Clinic and leader of the transplant team. This illustration represents the transformation of a patient who underwent a near-total face transplant in December. The patient, who prefers to be anonymous, is finally able to breathe through her nose, smell, eat solid foods and drink out of a cup, Siemionow told participants of the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Chicago over the weekend. The complex surgery, a 22-hour procedure, took place in December at the Cleveland Clinic. The patient received her new face in one graft from a donor cadaver. "I believe this procedure is justified because you need a face to face the world," Siemionow said. Watch an animation of the face transplant » The patient had previously "suffered severe facial trauma," the Cleveland Clinic said. She had no nose, right eye or upper jaw before the procedure, and could not smell or eat normally. People would call her names on the street, Siemionow said. The surgery gave the patient a nose with nasal lining, as well as a palate. This, combined with the olfactory receptors in the brain, gave the patient the ability to smell, Siemionow said. Social reincorporation is as important as the face transplant itself, Siemionow said. At this point, the patient doesn't want to face the "common world," but she is facing her family, the surgeon said. The patient said she is happy because when she puts her hands on her face, she feels a nose, Siemionow said. She can also taste a hamburger and pizza, and drink coffee from a cup, the "things we take for granted every day," Siemionow said. The patient also received lower eyelids, upper lip, skin, muscles, bone, hard palate, arteries, veins and nerves. As for the aesthetics of the new face, Siemionow suggested that restoring function was more important. "At this point, no one is really looking at beautification," she said. Siemionow, who has been working on face transplant research for 20 years, received approval from the Institutional Review Board in 2004 to conduct a full facial transplant. Only patients who had already exhausted all possible options for conventional repair were considered for the transplant, Siemionow said. Currently, cancer patients are not candidates for face transplants because transplant recipients must take immunosuppression drugs for life so that the body does not reject the donated tissue, Siemionow said. In the future, however, lifelong immunosuppression may not be required, she said. While burn damage is normally patched with pieces of excess skin from a person's own body, this does not work if the whole face needs to be covered -- the skin of the entire back is less than half of what would be needed to cover the full face and scalp, Siemionow said. Previously, three facial transplants had been completed -- two in France and one in China. The Chinese recipient, Li Guoxing, died in July of unknown causes, Guo Shuzhong, a doctor involved in the case, confirmed to CNN. One of the French face transplant recipients was a man who had a genetic disorder that created large tumors on his face. The other French patient had been bitten by a dog. The Chinese patient had been attacked by a bear. European news media recently reported that a surgeon in Spain received approval for another face transplant, which would be the fifth in the world. Researchers are also making headway into treatments for disorders that give rise to facial abnormalities, experts say. They are identifying genes that become mutated and cause the skull and facial features to become distorted. "We're moving into the arena where we can do medical treatment," Dr. Ethylin Jabs, professor of developmental and regenerative biology at Mount Sinai Medical School, said at the conference. One
[ "Where did the new face come from", "What is as important as the face transplant itself?", "who recivied new face?", "Who can now eat solid foods?", "What can face transplant recipient do now", "Who received her new face in one graft from a donor cadaver?" ]
[ [ "a donor cadaver." ], [ "Social reincorporation" ], [ "woman" ], [ "The woman" ], [ "breathe through her nose, smell, eat solid foods and drink out of a cup," ], [ "The patient," ] ]
Face transplant recipient can now eat solid foods, smell, breathe out of nose . The patient received her new face in one graft from a donor cadaver in December . Skin on surface of a person's back is not large enough to cover a face and scalp . Doctor: Social reincorporation is as important as the face transplant itself .
CIANJUR, Indonesia (CNN) -- More than a day after a major earthquake jolted Indonesia's Java Island, killing at least 57 people, there is still no word from remote villages along the coast, a relief worker told CNN Thursday. Soldiers try to dig out the body of a victim buried by a landslide caused by the earthquake. "This earthquake has injured hundreds of people and (destroyed or damaged) thousands of houses," World Vision's Katarina Hardono said. "We worry that the number can be easily more because in many places, actually the coastal areas, we still (haven't gotten) any news." Rescuers are still searching for dozens of people feared trapped in a quake-triggered landslide in Cianjur in West Java. They pulled several bodies from the rubble Thursday bringing the death toll from the quake to 57. "The death count has been thankfully low, but we have to remember that tens of thousands of homes have been damaged or destroyed and children and adults are urgently in need of relief items," said Hardono, who spoke to CNN from the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. Rainfall Thursday hampered the rescue efforts in Cianjur, where the landslide buried at least 11 homes where 32 people live, local officials said. Watch description of the evacuation after the quake hit » Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono visited Cianjur, and vowed to free up nearly $500,000 (5 billion rupiahs) for emergency response efforts, according to the state-run Antara news agency. He said there was no need for foreign assistance just yet. "Until now the Indonesian government is still able to handle it by itself using existing national resources," he said, according to Antara. Rescuers in Cianjur used their hands and rudimentary tools to try to pry away the rocks, some that were bigger than cars. No heavy machinery could be brought in to help in the rescue effort because many roads in the area were blocked. The 7.0-magnitude temblor jolted the island on Wednesday shortly before 3 p.m. local time (4 a.m. ET). More than 400 people were injured. Watch how buildings swayed during quake » The temblor rocked high-rise buildings in Jakarta, prompting a mass evacuation in the capital's central business district. iReport.com: Swimming pool shakes during quake "I was on the 13th floor of our office building, and you know we could feel the building (shake) from left to right," said CNN's Andy Saputra. "We all ran to the fire escape and escaped from there." Indonesia is no stranger to major earthquakes. It is located on the "Ring of Fire," an arc of fault lines circling the Pacific Basin that is prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. In 2004, an earthquake measuring at least 9.0 in magnitude struck off the coast of the northern tip of Indonesia's Sumatra island, triggering a major tsunami in the Indian Ocean that killed more than 200,000 people in 11 countries. About three weeks ago, a series of earthquakes -- ranging in magnitude from 4.7 to 6.7 -- struck off the western coast of Sumatra. At least seven people were injured and one building collapsed. CNN Radio's Chris Chandler contributed to this report.
[ "Which Island was hit by quakes three weeks ago", "How many people were injured?", "What has been damaged in Java?" ]
[ [ "Sumatra." ], [ "More than 400" ], [ "tens of thousands of homes" ] ]
NEW: At least 57 killed, another 400 injured, says disaster agency . Tsunami watch quickly expires, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says . Older buildings damaged in Tasikmalaya in Indonesian island of Java, witness says . Series of quakes hit Indonesia's Sumatra Island three weeks ago .
CIMA, California -- Driving along a pockmarked road amid rocks and Joshua trees in a lonely southern California desert, religious controversy might be the last thing you'd expect to encounter. A judge ruled the Mojave Cross must be covered until a First Amendment issue can be resolved. And if you don't look too closely, you're likely to zip right past the focus of a hotly contested Supreme Court battle. A federal judge has ordered the Mojave Cross, a war memorial erected by a veterans group 75 years ago, to be covered. It's boxed in plywood. The issue is less about what the cross symbolizes and more about where it sits: In the middle of the Mojave National Preserve, which is government land. The high court on Wednesday will consider whether the display violates the First Amendment's provision for a separation of church and state. Watch details of the cross case » More specifically, does an individual who protests the cross have legal standing to take the case to court? Do congressional efforts to minimize the appearance of a constitutional violation carry any weight? View details on other cases awaiting the Supreme Court » "Religion is always very hard fought in the Supreme Court, and this is no exception," said Thomas Goldstein, a Washington appellate attorney and co-founder of scotusblog.com. "A single cross on a single plot of land has given rise to this huge constitutional controversy. The court will look at whether Congress, with a kind of wink and a nod, (can) say that this governmental cross is now on private land or are we (going to) say, no this is a governmental war monument and it has a religious symbol on it." Riley Bembry, who served as a medic in World War I, helped erect the cross in 1934. It sits on a 4,000-foot plateau and was a place of reflection for many vets who retreated to the desert in part to recover from severe lung diseases caused by mustard gas attacks during the Great War. An annual Easter service is held there, but until recently only locals knew about it. The site is not on any maps. Watch a video about the Mojave monument » Bembry never got permission from the government to erect the cross, but for decades nobody seemed to care. He was the caretaker of the memorial for five decades until he died in 1984. In 1994, 1.6 million acres of desert -- including the land with the cross on it -- was transferred to the National Park Service. A few years later, a resident wanted to put up a Buddhist shrine near the cross. The request was denied. Frank Buono, a former deputy superintendent of the preserve, filed a lawsuit with the help of the ACLU, claiming federal officials were acting unfairly. "He thinks that the government is in effect misappropriating this sacred symbol and trying to give it just a secular meaning," said Peter Eliasberg, managing attorney of the ACLU of Southern California. "It strikes me as sort of odd that it just happens to be in that shape," Eliasberg said. "If what they really wanted to do was have a war memorial, there are hundreds of other shapes that it could be in. ... Mr. Buono does not have an objection to the government having a war memorial there that's in the shape of a soldier, or that's in the shape of the Vietnam memorial." A federal court ordered the cross removed earlier this decade. A judge ruled that until the dispute is settled the cross had to be covered. In 2001 Congress got involved. Lawmakers prohibited the Park Service from spending federal dollars to remove the display. A year later, they designated the site a national memorial similar to the Washington Monument and Mount Rushmore. More importantly, the Republican-led Congress agreed to transfer one acre of land around the cross in exchange for five private acres inside the preserve. A San Francisco, California-based appeals court turned that offer down, saying it failed to satisfy Constitutional concerns. The land swap "would leave a little donut hole of
[ "What shape is the memorial in?", "Where is the memorial located?", "What is the shape of the war memorial?", "Where is the cross located?", "What amendment might the memorial violate?", "What could the display possibly violate?" ]
[ [ "Cross," ], [ "the Mojave National Preserve," ], [ "cross" ], [ "California" ], [ "First" ], [ "the First Amendment's provision for a separation of church and state." ] ]
A war memorial erected in the shape of a cross was covered by plywood . The cross is located on government property . Justices will decide whether the display violates the First Amendment . It's "sort of odd that it just happens to be in that shape," said an ACLU attorney .
CISHAN, Taiwan (CNN) -- Taiwan's leader Ma Ying-jeou said Sunday he accepts responsibility for the government's slow response after Typhoon Morakot slammed into the island killing at more than 120 people and unleashing floods, mudslides and misery. Mourners kneel and pray to the dead as they face the devastated valley of Shiao Lin. Ma, who has faced heavy criticism from victims of the disaster, ruled out resignation, insisting his government did its best in the face of difficulties, however he pledged an investigation into any irregularities. "Certainly, I will take full responsibility whatever the blame is because, after all, I am the president of this country," Ma told CNN, saying heavy rains grounded rescue helicopters in the first few days after the storm hit, delaying relief. "Once the weather was good -- that is the 14th of August -- we were able to evacuate 2,518 people. It's a record," he said. Hundreds of people still await rescue in remote areas of Taiwan, where torrential downpours, dense fog, rugged terrain and raging rivers have hampered relief efforts. Washed-out roads and collapsed bridges have made some rescue operations impossible Touring disaster areas, Ma has been confronted by angry survivors, and even provoked a scuffle when he opened a weekend baseball game as protesters demanded he step down. Ma has offered apologies and promises to do better. "We will find out not only to correct the mistakes but (also) to punish the people responsible," he said. Rescue efforts were ongoing Sunday with military helicopters bringing stranded villagers to their waiting relatives. Watch rescue efforts in Taiwan » Others, waiting days in anguish for word on their loved ones, lashed out in anger. "Local officials don't care," one man said. "There are still people there and they don't do anything." On Saturday, weeping relatives of typhoon victims set up shrines near devastated villages to calm the spirits of the dead and honor the belief that their souls will return home after seven days. Watch mourners call home souls of the dead » Morakot hit the island last weekend, dropping 2.6 meters (102 inches) of rain. Before it roared on to mainland China on Sunday, the storm killed at least 123 people in Taiwan. The death toll could climb to more than 300 after more villagers buried by mudslides and floodwaters are found, Taiwan officials have said. Southern and central Taiwan were hardest hit by the storm. Mudslides inundated some places in the south, including the village of Shiao Lin, where 160 homes were lost. Authorities believe hundreds of people could be trapped under five stories of mud in the village. International aid efforts were mobilizing on Sunday, however these were complicated by diplomatic pitfalls in the face of China's territorial claims over Taiwan, which it considers a renegade province awaiting reunification. The U.S. military has begun a "modest" humanitarian aid mission to Taiwan with the dispatch of a Marine Corps C-130 cargo plane carrying plastic tarpaulins for shelter, U.S. defense officials said. Also Sunday, the USS Denver was en route to the Taiwanese coast with additional humanitarian aid and water purification capabilities, the officials said. The Navy ship is expected to arrive Monday, but officials could not say when it will launch its heavy-lift helicopters to drop the aid. Sources in Washington have said in providing aid to Taiwan, the United States must be sensitive to its territorial relationship with China. CNN's John Vause in Cishan, Taiwan; Pauline Chiou in Shiao Lin, Taiwan; and Mike Mount in Washington contributed to this report.
[ "Has Ma Ying-jeou agreed to stand down as leader?", "Whats the name of the leader?", "Who took the blame for the slow typhoon response?", "Where did the typhoon strike?", "What is the name of Taiwan's leader?", "What was the number of fatalities from the typhoon in Taiwan?", "How many people were killed in the typhoon?", "How many people died?", "How many are homeless?" ]
[ [ "ruled out resignation," ], [ "Ma Ying-jeou" ], [ "Taiwan's leader Ma Ying-jeou" ], [ "valley of Shiao Lin." ], [ "Ma Ying-jeou" ], [ "more than 120" ], [ "120" ], [ "more than 120" ], [ "2,518" ] ]
Taiwan's leader says he takes blame for slow typhoon response . Ma Ying-jeou has refused to stand down over criticism . Typhoon killed 123 people in Taiwan and left many thousands homeless .
CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico (CNN) -- Nine bodies have been found in a common grave in the desert south of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, according to Chihuahua state prosecutor's spokeswoman Daniela Gonzalez. Police look on as one of the nine bodies found in a common grave near Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, is removed. Investigators have yet to determine the identities of the seven men and two women found in the grave, Gonzalez said. They have not released information on how they were killed or how long they have been there. Juarez, which is across the border from El Paso, Texas, has become one of the major battlegrounds as drug cartels fight both each other and Mexican authorities. The conflict has made violence increasingly common in Juarez, Tijuana and other Mexican border towns. Extreme violence among warring drug cartels and the Mexican government has long plagued Juarez and the state of Chihuahua, but the situation has been getting worse. Last month, the city's chief of police was obliged to quit after threats from organized crime to kill a policeman every day that he remained on the job. Watch as mayor of Juarez talks about who is responsible for slayings » Earlier this month, the U.S. Consulate in Juarez specifically warned Americans to avoid an area southeast of the city. The discovery of the bodies comes as 5,000 Mexican soldiers are descending this weekend on Juarez in an effort to end the violence that has claimed more than 400 lives so far this year. Juarez Mayor Jose Reyes Ferriz told CNN he is hopeful Operacion Conjunto Chihuahua (Chihuahua Joint Operation) will be successful. "The reality is that the military presence in the last several weeks has caused the violence to subside," he said. "We were averaging about 10 murders a week; and since February 26, when the troops starting arriving, we have been averaging about one." Enrique Torres, spokesman for the Chihuahua Joint Operation, said by Sunday there will be 7,500 military personnel, 2,300 federal police and 1,600 city police working together to patrol the city and aggressively fight the cartels. "We are launching a full frontal attack" Torres said. "We will also be tackling other types of organized crime -- money laundering and kidnappings." Corruption among the police force has been a major concern to local and international authorities. Torres said the city has been preparing for a year to "clean up the local police." Watch panel discuss escalating drug war » Already, he said, more than 500 city police officers have been fired because they failed to pass the "trust test." As part of the "clean-up," federal authorities have been requiring officers to take a polygraph test. To prevent corruption among the just arrived soldiers, Torres said they will be frequently rotated. "They will only work in the region one to two months and then they will be sent to other parts of the country." Ferriz, the mayor, said government officials are doing everything in their power to stop the violence; they have brought in consultants from Colombia and adapted programs that have proven successful there, such as a civilian corruption watchdog program. But he explained that a big part of the problem is coming from the north. "The majority of the weapons used for homicides here have been identified as coming from the United States" he said. Ferriz said that during a recent raid, local police confiscated two .50-caliber military-style rifles. Some weeks later they arrested another man bringing in another .50-caliber rifle. "He bought it off the internet in the U.S.," Ferrez said. "It is so easy there for organized crime to get access to these types of weapons. The arms and cash contraband into Mexico from the United States must be stopped." Ferriz siad he plans to travel next week to Washington to meet with U.S. lawmakers about the security situation in and around Juarez.
[ "What city was the grave near?", "Where was the common grave?", "What has the city become a major front for?", "Where is Ciudad Juarez?", "Where were the nine bodies found?" ]
[ [ "Ciudad Juarez," ], [ "Ciudad Juarez, Mexico," ], [ "drug cartels" ], [ "Mexico," ], [ "near Ciudad Juarez, Mexico," ] ]
Nine bodies found are found in a common grave near Ciudad Juarez, Mexico . Bodies of seven men and two women have not been identified, authorities say . City has become major front in drug cartels' wars among selves, with authorities .
CLARENCE CENTER, New York (CNN) -- Recovering all the bodies from Thursday's deadly passenger plane crash may take four days as investigators work through freezing temperatures and piles of wreckage, a federal transportation official said Saturday. Only a few pieces of the Continental Connection Dash 8 turboprop were recognizable after the crash. "The medical examiner believes that three to four days are going to be required to recover the victims of this crash, and they're in the process of doing that," Steve Chealander of the National Transportation Safety Board said. "They've already pulled some of the folks out of there, but they've got a long way to go." All 49 passengers aboard Continental Connection Flight 3407 died when the 74-seat Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 turboprop crashed into a home in Clarence Center, New York, on Thursday night. A 61-year-old man in the house died also, but his wife and daughter survived. Fifteen bodies have been recovered, and efforts to identify the victims and conduct autopsies are under way, Erie County Health Commission Anthony Billittier said Saturday evening. A federal disaster mortuary team was called to assist local forensic officials. Despite reports from local authorities who said the plane hurtled toward the house from a sharp nosedive, Chealander said the current orientation of the plane indicates that it fell flat on its belly. The Continental flight from Newark, New Jersey, operated by Colgan Air, crashed about 10:17 p.m. Thursday northeast of Buffalo Niagara International Airport. Follow the plane's path » Chealander said the recovery effort and the investigation have been hampered by freezing temperatures as authorities try to sift through the wreckage of the flight and the home it struck. Some parts of the plane have fallen as deep as the basement, he said. "Keep in mind, there's an airplane that fell on top of a house," he told reporters. "The house and the airplane are together." Authorities said it would probably take weeks to identify remains of the victims, with DNA testing required in many cases because of the intensity of the crash and subsequent fire. A 2-square-mile area around the crash site, about 6 miles from the Buffalo airport where the plane was headed, remained sealed off Saturday as investigators sought to determine the cause of the crash. But the extent of the restricted area belied the concentrated force of the impact into the one house. Watch what investigators are saying » Karen Wielinski was watching television inside the house when she heard a plane making an unusually loud noise. "I thought to myself, 'If that's a plane, it's going to hit something,' " she told Buffalo radio station WBEN. "And next thing I knew, the ceiling was on me," she said. Wielinski and her daughter Jill, 22, were in the front of the home, and they escaped the house with minor injuries. Wielinski's husband, Doug, who was in the dining room, was killed. On Friday, federal investigators released information from the plane's cockpit voice and flight data recorders, indicating that icing may have been a major factor in the crash. The plane's pilot and co-pilot discussed "significant ice buildup" on the plane's windshield and wings as it descended toward the Buffalo airport. The plane underwent "severe" pitching and rolling motions after the landing gear was lowered and wing flaps were set for the approach, Chealander said. There was a mix of sleet and snow in the area, but other planes landed safely at the airport about the time the flight went down. Chealander said the flight crew reported that visibility was about 3 miles and there was snow and mist as they descended. The voice and data recorders indicated that the plane's internal de-icing was on during the landing approach, he said. "A significant ice buildup is an aerodynamic impediment," he added. Find out why » Keith Burtis was driving about a mile from the crash site when he heard the impact. "It was a high-pitched sound," Burtis
[ "Where were the 15 bodies found?", "Who is in charge of investigations?", "when the deicing system was launched?", "How far did the plane fall?", "which affects the recovery of the bodies?", "few bodies recovered?" ]
[ [ "crashed into a home in Clarence Center, New York," ], [ "National Transportation Safety Board" ], [ "during the landing approach," ], [ "fallen as deep as the basement," ], [ "freezing temperatures and piles of wreckage," ], [ "have been" ] ]
NEW: 15 bodies recovered; identification could take weeks . NEW: Cold weather, extent of wreckage could prolong recovery as much as four days . NEW: Orientation of plane indicates that it fell flat on its belly, NTSB says . De-icing equipment was turned on at time of crash, investigator says .
CLARENCE CENTER, New York (CNN) -- The pilots of a commuter airliner that crashed late Thursday about 6 miles from a Buffalo, New York, airport discussed "significant ice buildup" on the plane's wings and windshields before the plane plunged to the ground, killing 50. Only a few pieces of the Continental Connection Dash 8 turboprop were recognizable after the crash. Continental Connection Flight 3407 was en route from Newark, New Jersey, to Buffalo Niagara International Airport when it went down about 10:20 p.m. ET Thursday. Preliminary information recovered from the flight's cockpit voice and data recorders indicated that the plane underwent "severe" pitching and rolling motions after the landing gear was lowered and wing flaps were set for the approach, Steve Chealander of the National Transportation Safety Board said Friday afternoon. "The crew discussed significant ice buildup, ice on the windshield and leading edge of the wings," Chealander said. "The crew attempted to raise the gear and [reset] flaps shortly before the recordings ended," he said. iReport.com: Are you there? Let us know The plane crashed into a home in Buffalo, killing all 49 people aboard and one person on the ground. Firefighters brought under control a blaze at the crash site on Friday, blaming a natural gas leak for the fire's persistence. Two occupants of the house survived -- a woman and her daughter -- and were released from a hospital after treatment for minor injuries, authorities said. Read about the escape The first sign the air traffic controllers had of trouble was when Flight 3407 went off the radar. Before that, it had been business as usual. The first officer, who was the co-pilot, had no sign of stress in her voice as she talked with air traffic control. The plane was cleared for approach. About a minute later, the air traffic controller said that contact with the plane had been lost and asked whether crews in other aircraft could see anything. No one responded. The controller then said there might be a plane down. Although there was a mix of sleet and snow in the area, other planes landed safely at the airport about the time the flight went down. Watch what weather was like when disaster happened » The crew of a Delta flight reported rime icing, a condition in which ice quickly builds up on the leading edge of the wings. A US Air flight also reported icing. CNN meteorologist Chad Myers noted that there was "icing all over western New York" at the altitude the plane was flying. See how ice affects airplanes » "Almost every minute of their flight was in an ice event," he said. The NTSB's Chealander said the flight crew reported that visibility was about 3 miles and there was snow and mist as they descended. The voice and data recorders indicated that the plane's internal de-icing was on during the landing approach, he said. Watch report from witness: "All I saw was flames" » "A significant ice buildup is an aerodynamic impediment," Chealander said. Tony Tatro was on his way home from the gym when the plane flew about 75 feet above him. The craft's nose was lower than usual, and and the left wing was tilted, he said. "The engines didn't sound typical, didn't sound normal," he said. Watch witness describe how plane went down » The plane was loud as it came in, as if for a takeoff rather than for a landing, said David Luce, who lives 300 feet from the crash site. "The engines sounded like they were revving at very high speed, an unnatural sound," Luce said. "Then the engine cut out -- stopped. And within a couple of seconds, there was this tremendous explosion. "It was an enormous explosion. It sounded like it hit, frankly, right in our backyard. ... The house shook; the windows shook; the ground shook," he said. "It was a real blast." Watch Mary Jane
[ "how many died abroad", "what did ntsb say", "Officials say all 49 aboard the plane did what?", "what were the number of casualties", "Crew attempted to raise gear and reset flaps before what?", "what did the crew attempt to do", "Tapes indicate crew discussed ice buildup on what?" ]
[ [ "49 people" ], [ "Preliminary information recovered from the flight's cockpit voice and data recorders indicated that the plane underwent \"severe\" pitching and rolling motions after the landing gear was lowered and wing flaps were set for the approach," ], [ "killing" ], [ "50." ], [ "the recordings ended,\"" ], [ "raise the gear and [reset] flaps" ], [ "the plane's wings and windshields" ] ]
NEW: Tapes indicate crew discussed ice buildup on windshield, wings, NTSB says . NEW: Crew attempted to raise gear and reset flaps before recordings ended . Officials say all 49 aboard the plane died; one confirmed death on ground . 9/11 widow, cantor, human rights expert among the dead .
CLARENCE CENTER, New York (CNN) -- President Obama on Friday praised Beverly Eckert, the widow of a September 11 victim and a prominent post-9/11 activist, who was one of the passengers who died in a plane crash outside Buffalo, New York. Sean Rooney and wife Beverly Eckert in an undated photograph. "Beverly lost her husband on 9/11," Obama said, "and became a tireless advocate for the families whose lives were forever changed on that September day." A resident of Stamford, Connecticut, Eckert was the widow of Buffalo native Sean Rooney, who died at the World Trade Center. Obama's words underscored the shock and grief from friends, family and acquaintances over the news that Eckert was aboard the Continental Connection Flight 3407. The turboprop plane crashed Thursday, killing all 49 aboard and one person on the ground. "Tragic events such as these remind us of the fragility of life and the value of every single day. And one person who understood that well was Beverly Eckert, who was on that flight and who I met with just a few days ago," Obama said in brief remarks. Obama met Eckert at a gathering of September 11 victims' families on Friday. Valerie Lucznikowska, a member of September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, said she, Eckert and another woman traveled to Washington for the meeting. Lucznikowska said Eckert asked Obama whether the group would have ongoing meetings with his administration. Obama said there would be, even though they wouldn't necessarily be with him. After the 2001 terrorist attacks, Eckert co-founded Voices of September 11, an advocate group for survivors and families. Eckert had a reputation as a strong campaigner of September 11 families, involved in protests leading to more land for a ground zero memorial, working on the September 11 Commission's Family Steering Committee and pushing for a victims' families compensation fund. She was traveling to Buffalo for a celebration of what would have been her husband's 58th birthday. Eckert planned to take part in presenting a scholarship award at Canisius High School that was established in honor of her late husband, who was an alumnus, according to the school's president, John Knight. Obama mentioned the scholarship plans in his remarks Friday. "In keeping with that passionate commitment, she was on her way to Buffalo to mark what would have been her husband's birthday and launch a scholarship in his memory. She was an inspiration to me and to so many others, and I pray that her family finds peace and comfort in the hard days ahead," Obama said. Lucznikowska, whose nephew died in the World Trade Center attacks, said she was "horribly saddened by this news." "I would very much like to honor her. She was truly a wonderful person. She was someone who was trying to make society better." Eckert backed Peaceful Tomorrows' effort to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and end the military commissions there, Lucznikowska said. The group elaborated on this stance in a signed letter to Obama, and Eckert gave a presidential aide a separate letter listing her own concerns, Lucznikowska said. Knight said Canisius High postponed the scholarship presentation, set to occur at noon Friday, for two students entering the high school next fall. He said Eckert also had been active in a capital campaign fundraising effort. "She struck me as a wonderful, beautiful person who clearly wanted to do something to remember her husband in a way that would have an everlasting impact on our community," Knight said. Gordon Felt, president of the Families of Flight 93 Inc., the plane that crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on September 11, also expressed his grief. "We note with deep sorrow the passing of Beverly Eckert in the Buffalo plane crash. She was a 9/11 family member who brought to light issues of importance to all of us -- and to all Americans. We extend our condolences to her family and to all those who loved her. She will be missed." Jay Winuk, a September 11 organizational leader
[ "Why was Eckert on her way to Buffalo?", "The advocacy group Eckert help found was for what?", "Age that Beverly Eckert's husband turning?", "What phrase did Obama use to describe Eckert?", "What did Obama say about Eckert?", "What group did Beverly Eckert co-found?", "Who did Obama say was a tireless advocate?", "Where was Beverly Eckert headed?", "Who did President Obama say was a \"Tireless advocate\"?", "How did Beverly Eckert's husband die?" ]
[ [ "husband's 58th birthday." ], [ "survivors and families." ], [ "58th" ], [ "tireless advocate for the families whose lives were forever changed on that September day.\"" ], [ "became a tireless advocate for the families whose lives were forever changed on that September day.\"" ], [ "co-founded Voices of September 11," ], [ "Beverly Eckert," ], [ "Buffalo" ], [ "Beverly Eckert," ], [ "at the World Trade Center." ] ]
President Obama says Beverly Eckert was "tireless advocate" Eckert was the widow of a September 11 terrorist attack victim . She was on way to Buffalo to mark what would have been husband's 58th birthday . Eckert had co-founded advocacy group for September 11 survivors, families .
CLAXTON, Georgia (CNN) -- Chrysler LLC's decision last week to close nearly 800 dealerships may just be business, but for the people who work and trade in those showrooms and service bays, it's personal. Claxton Chrysler Dodge Jeep is at the literal and figurative heart of Claxton, Georgia. "They're not terminating a building or a franchise, they're terminating people that need jobs. And it's not right. It's just not right," said Daniel Womack, owner of Claxton Chrysler Dodge Jeep in tiny Claxton, Georgia. Womack received a hand-delivered letter from Chrysler on Thursday. "When I got to 'We regret ...' I stopped," Womack said. The bankrupt automaker was terminating its agreement with Claxton, the only Chrysler dealer within 25 miles, and a profitable one at that. "It was like standing out in the road and having a bus run over the top of us," he said. The agreement ends June 9, but the effect is already being felt. All of the dealer's major lending banks called and said they would no longer work with Claxton, general manager Doug Shontz said. Watch the owner's heart break for his employees » "Since the thing happened, we haven't had a soul in here for service," he said. "We haven't turned one wrench. We have nothing for next week. When they brought that list out, that was the kiss of death." The dealership, its employees and their customers are intertwined like dashboard wires. "There's only 11 of us here, but we're family," said Shontz, who just started there in December. "We all know each other, we see each other every day. I spend more time with this group here than I do with my own family." Townsfolk tend to wander in off the street, just to shoot the breeze over a cup of coffee. Take Gary Sapp, for example. The military veteran, wounded in Vietnam, stopped in Saturday, as he does just about every day, to say hello and maybe talk about cars a little bit. He said he might come back Monday and make a deal, just as he's done there three times in the past 10 years. But it's not really about the cars and pickup trucks. "These are good folks here," Sapp said. Claxton, a town of about 2,300 hard by the Canoochee River about 50 miles west of Savannah in southern Georgia, is famous for its namesake fruitcakes, which are sold with pride at Mrs. Rogers' Restaurant and seemingly half the other businesses in town. On East Main Street, a whitewashed brick building still bears an S&H Green Stamps sign and Stella's Phase III serves up $6.95 mountains of soul food, which you can top off with a slice of fluffy sweet potato pie for $1.25. A couple of blocks away, across from the Krispy Chic, a jolly white-haired man sells baseball-sized tomatoes and boiled peanuts out of the back of a pickup under a rainbow-colored umbrella. At opposite ends of Duval Street are a prison surrounded by high fences topped with coils of razor wire and the new elementary school with its gleaming blue metal roof. At the center of it all, literally and figuratively, is Claxton Chrysler Dodge, sporting colorful helium-filled balloons and blue paint bleached pale by the scorching Southern sun. "We've been on this corner for 40 years," Shontz said inside his small office, looking out toward Duval Street. "We could stand out there and have 50 or 60 people wave at us before the day is out that know us -- 'Hey man! How y'all doin'? Hang in there!' " In a small town, everybody knows you and knows what you're up to, Shontz said. "Everybody goes by here. I don't care who you are, everybody goes by here at least once a day," he said. And people in Claxton know whom
[ "Where does axed Chrysler dealership hold a central place?", "What holds central place?" ]
[ [ "Claxton, Georgia." ], [ "Claxton Chrysler Dodge," ] ]
Axed Chrysler dealership holds central place in tiny Georgia crossroads . Generations of families have purchased vehicles from Claxton Chrysler Dodge . Folks walk in off the street just to shoot the breeze over a cup of coffee . Dealer has supported youth sports, festivals, parades, charities, other businesses .
CLOVIS, California (CNN) -- Jeff Hubbard fought back tears as he talked about his boy -- a "great, great young man" who was killed last week in Iraq in a helicopter crash. It's the second time he's had to bury a son killed in the Iraq war. Jeff and Peggy Hubbard with sons Army Spc. Jason Hubbard, left, and Cpl. Nathan Hubbard. This time, it was made even more tragic. His third son, also a soldier in Iraq, was immediately on the scene of last week's helicopter crash and watched as soldiers carried the remains of his brother, 21-year-old Army Cpl. Nathan Hubbard, from the crash site. Nathan's flag-draped coffin arrived in Fresno earlier this week and eventually to his hometown of Clovis. Watch "We love you Nate" » Hundreds of mourners gathered Friday to remember Nathan at St. Anthony of Padua, the same church where his oldest brother's funeral was held in 2004. Nathan will be laid to rest at Clovis Cemetery, beside his brother, Jared. Nathan and his other brother entered the military shortly after Jared was killed -- to honor his sacrifice. "Their decision to join the military was motivated by a love for their brother and a desire to serve their country," the priest told mourners Friday. "The death of Jared touched him deeply. Losing a brother and a friend made a profound impact on him, and brought to his attention the seasons of war and grief and loss." Jeff Hubbard spoke to reporters Thursday ahead of the funeral, struggling to find words to describe how much his youngest son meant to him and his family. "I want everybody to remember and celebrate Nate in their own way, the way they want," he said. "We want him honored, remembered and celebrated -- he was a great, great young man. Wonderful young man." Tragically, the Hubbards have gone through this anguish before. In 2004 their son, Marine Lance Cpl. Jared Hubbard, was on patrol in Iraq with his best friend and fellow Marine, Jeremiah Baro -- also from Clovis -- when a roadside bomb exploded, killing both. Jeff Hubbard says there's no way for a parent to prepare for the agony a second time. "They're each absolutely individual terrible instances that you deal with the best you can as you go forward," he said. Six months after Jared was killed, Nathan and Jason Hubbard decided to enlist and serve together -- to follow in their brother's footsteps. On August 22 after returning from a scouting mission south of Kirkuk, Iraq, the Blackhawk helicopter carrying Nathan and 13 other soldiers crashed. Jason, who served in the same Army platoon, was in a separate helicopter when his brother went down and was ordered to secure the crash site. When he and his men reached the downed Blackhawk, Jason says he realized it was his brother's unit. "We also had to remove as many of the men as we could out of that helicopter," Jason remembered. "And I couldn't participate in that. I knew my -- I knew Nathan was in there. I tried several times to kind of gather myself, but I just -- I couldn't." Jason says as the men carried bodies out of the wreckage, he spotted his younger brother. "At one point they did carry Nathan by me. And that's when the reality, the complete reality, and complete understanding of the situation came to me and I began dealing with it." Under the Department of Defense sole survivor policy, Jason says he was told he will not be allowed to return to war. His wife and young son will join him at his base in Hawaii. E-mail to a friend
[ "When was Nathan Hubbard killed?", "when was Jared killed", "when was Nathan killed", "When Nathan was killed?", "What killed Marine Lance Cpl. Jared Hubbard?", "Where Cpl. Jared Hubbard has been killed?", "When did funeral take the place for Army Cpl. Nathan Hubbard?" ]
[ [ "last week" ], [ "In 2004" ], [ "last week" ], [ "last week" ], [ "helicopter crash." ], [ "Iraq" ], [ "2004." ] ]
NEW: Funeral held Friday for Army Cpl. Nathan Hubbard . Marine Lance Cpl. Jared Hubbard was killed by a roadside bomb in 2004 . Jared's brothers Nathan and Jason Hubbard were inspired to enlist . Nathan was killed August 22; Jason was ordered to return home for good .
CNN -- When Maria Rubeo closed her arm, she felt something "very big -- like a lemon." Although Hispanic women have a lower incidence rate for breast cancer, they often get the diagnosis at later stages. Her doctor said the lump in her breast was nothing, so Rubeo, who didn't have health insurance, didn't seek a second opinion. With two jobs and two kids, she was busy and didn't go to the doctor's office for another year. During her next visit, with a different doctor, Rubeo learned she had breast cancer -- and the tumor had been there for a while. Her story may not be particularly rare. Research suggests that breast cancer may be harder to treat in Hispanic women because they wait longer to receive care. Women in the fastest-growing minority group in the United States face issues such as language and cultural barriers, lifestyle choices and lack of insurance that could affect their health and medical care, according to research released Wednesday at the Science of Cancer Health Disparities Conference. Like Rubeo, about half of women in a study of 230 Mexican-American breast cancer patients in Arizona and Texas noticed changes in their breasts, but waited more than a month to seek medical attention, according to research presented at the conference hosted by the American Association for Cancer Research. "We asked what the reasons were," said Rachel Zenuk, a graduate student at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, who spoke about the study. "A third cited they didn't have insurance or were unable to afford medical care. Or they thought it was not important to report the medical finding to a professional." Other factors included fear of the results and difficulty scheduling an appointment, she said. More than a decade after her mastectomy, Rubeo urges Hispanic women in the San Francisco, California, Bay area not to wait after seeing changes in their breasts. "I explain: Take time for you to see the doctor," she said. "[Some women] don't have insurance, don't speak English, it's very difficult." Hispanics are the largest U.S. minority group, constituting 14 percent of the nation's total population. While Hispanic women have a lower incidence rate for breast cancer than whites, blacks and Asians, they have a less favorable prognosis because of delayed treatment. "They're not getting more breast cancer than other women, but they're less likely to survive as long," said Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, a member of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation's National Health Advisory Council and chairwoman of the Komen Foundation National Hispanic/Latino Advisory Council. "The reason is they're diagnosed at a later stage of the cancer." "We're seeing them at later stages, so the cancer is more advanced. Their five-year survival rates are lower than non-Hispanic whites," Ramirez said. Data also showed that about two-thirds of breast cancer cases in the 230 Mexican-American women were found through self-detection, which suggests that the women were not receiving routine mammogram or exams. Rubeo said that when she first noticed the lump, she "had no time for me to take care of myself. Only work, work, running, no time to eat. Sometimes you forget yourself, so there's time for everybody and not enough for yourself." At the Latina Breast Cancer Agency in San Francisco, she tells other women how she didn't take care of herself while working two jobs, 16 hours a day. "I explain to the ladies my experience. Sometimes they cry and say it's true," Rubeo said. She now runs support groups for breast cancer patients, talking about health screenings, accompanying women to the hospital and helping them with paperwork. Aside from the pressures of being a busy, working mother, there are language and cultural barriers for Latina women. "For women we work with, our focus is breast health," said Olivia Fé, founder and executive director
[ "When do hispanic women generally learn of breast cnacer", "What is the main subject of the report/research?", "What are other factor stated in the report?", "What is the reason why Hispanic woman learn of breast cancer later in life?", "What other factors could cause delays in evaluation", "what barriers are in the way of receiving medical care" ]
[ [ "at later stages." ], [ "Latina Breast Cancer" ], [ "fear of the results and difficulty scheduling an appointment," ], [ "Other factors included fear of the results and difficulty scheduling an appointment," ], [ "included fear of the results and difficulty scheduling an appointment," ], [ "issues such as language and cultural" ] ]
Hispanic women learn of breast cancer at later stages, research shows . Language, cultural barriers and lack of insurance may impede medical care . Other factors include fear of results and difficulty scheduling an appointment .
CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr and photojournalist Peter Morris traveled to southern Afghanistan with Gen. James Conway, commandant of the Marine Corps. CNN's Barbara Starr is on assignment in Afghanistan, where she says Marines are living in very tough terrain. HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Our travels in Afghanistan continue. I feel like the title of this posting should be "why I had to get power-washed in Afghanistan" or "the body armor is only heavy until they start shooting at you." OK, now I will explain. CNN photojournalist Peter Morris and I just wrapped up spending several days in southern Afghanistan with Gen. James Conway, commandant of the Marine Corps, touring the combat zone. The Marines are living in some of the toughest terrain there is. It is remote and often raining. That means dust turns to mud, and you find yourself covered in it from head to toe. Stinky, cold, wet, oozy mucky mud. The good news is, everybody stinks, so you lose any sense of self-consciousness about it. But you do dream of getting power-washed. So, yes, after a few days a shower was, shall we say, more than essential. For the Marines, however, it is a seven-month tour of duty in mud in the winter and dust in the summer. It seems very grim, especially when compounded by the fact that the Marines are wearing heavy body armor all the time. Ask them if it's heavy to wear, the typical answer goes something like, "It's only heavy to wear until the bad guys start shooting at you. Then it's OK." The young Marines know exactly how tough the fight they are facing in the coming weeks and months will likely be. Several of them told me security had gotten considerably worse in recent days. Their bases were being repeatedly shelled by insurgents, several roadside bombs had gone off, and local Afghan police had died at the hands of suicide attacks. Senior commanders usually have a more cheery outlook, but here in southern Afghanistan, everyone is cautious. Almost everyone is a veteran of Iraq and learned the tough lesson there about not declaring victory too soon. Even Conway, who commanded U.S. forces in Fallujah, picks his words very carefully. He tells me he believes that everyone must be ready for a spike in U.S. casualties as the Marines begin to move into the region in greater numbers this spring. All of this was rattling around in my head when I saw the Marines riding around in what they call "a 7-ton truck." As the name suggests, it's huge and has some armor plating on the sides. But what it doesn't make clear is that the truck is open in the back and sides. The Marines insist it is a safe way to transport troops. For years now, the Army has used fully armored vehicles only in the combat zone. The Marines have a somewhat different view. They believe heavy armor isn't everything; sometimes being able to get around on the battlefield faster is better. But then again, when someone starts shooting at you, I think you want all the armor you can get. Next stop, Iraq. Yeah, there is still a war there, too.
[ "Who often travel in \"7-ton truck\" that's open in the back and sides?", "Who wears heavy body armor all the time, adding to the discomfort ?", "What did Barbara Starr say about the mud in southern Afghanistan?", "What is the marines method of transportation?", "What do marines often travel in?", "What adds to the discomfort of the marines?", "What is only heavy \"until the bad guys start shooting at you,\" ?" ]
[ [ "the Marines" ], [ "The Marines" ], [ "and you find yourself covered in it from head to toe. Stinky, cold, wet, oozy mucky" ], [ "\"a 7-ton truck.\"" ], [ "they call \"a 7-ton truck.\" As the name suggests, it's huge and has some armor plating on the sides." ], [ "wearing heavy body armor" ], [ "\"the body armor" ] ]
With all the mud in southern Afghanistan, everyone stinks, Barbara Starr says . Marines also wear heavy body armor all the time, adding to the discomfort . Armor is only heavy "until the bad guys start shooting at you," Marines say . Marines often travel in "7-ton truck" that's open in the back and sides .
CNN Student News -- Welcome to CNN Student News, a daily commercial-free, ten-minute broadcast of the day's news geared for middle- and high-school students. CNN Student News can be found on air and online, and whether you're brand new to the program or a longtime viewer, we've got new things in store for you. CNN Student News anchor Carl Azuz. You've already found our new homepage, CNNStudentNews.com, where you can access the show and free related curriculum materials, including Learning Activities, Discussion Questions, Newsquizzes and One-Sheets. CNN Student News airs on CNN Headline News at 4 a.m. You can record the show from 4:00-4:10 a.m. Eastern time on Headline News. (Check your local listings for channel number). If you'd prefer, you can download CNN Student News to your desktop or iPod. Go to the CNN.com Podcast page and look for the Student News podcast. Once you've signed up for the free subscription, every episode will automatically be downloaded to iTunes. In addition to CNN Student News, each week, CNN offers educators a commercial-free edition of "CNN: Special Investigations Unit," "CNN Specials" or its award-winning documentary program "CNN Presents," along with a corresponding free curriculum guide on CNNStudentNews.com. You can record these CNN Classroom Edition programs from 4:00-5:00 a.m. Eastern time on Mondays on CNN. (A short feature begins at 4:00 a.m. and precedes the program.) And if you want to be the first to know what's coming up on CNN Student News and CNN Classroom Edition programs, you'll want to sign up for our CNN Student News Daily Education Alert. Registration is quick and simple. Just click here to subscribe.
[ "What are the news comming from?", "who is the day's news for middle- and high-school students?", "what is aired daily on CNN Student News?", "at what time is CNN Headline News is aired?", "What time does it air?" ]
[ [ "CNN Student" ], [ "CNN" ], [ "commercial-free, ten-minute broadcast of the" ], [ "4 a.m." ], [ "4 a.m." ] ]
CNN Student News is the day's news for middle- and high-school students . CNN Student News airs daily on CNN Headline News from 4:00-4:10 a.m. EST .
CNN affiliates report on where job seekers are finding work across the country and how those looking for employment are coping with the situation. A census employee poses with the new handheld device field workers will use for the 2010 count. (CNN) -- The nation will take roll call in 2010 and the federal government is giving the states money to hire thousands of census workers. Officials in Colorado say they may hire as many as 8,000 workers for positions that last between 10 weeks and one year. Cathy Illian says the bureau has already hired 800 people in the Denver area. The organization will also post open positions in early April. Some jobs pay as much as $28.75 an hour. Read the story on KMGH In Idaho, Dave Mulvihill, manager of the state's census bureau, said the organization will hire 1,200 workers. He has plenty of job searchers to choose from. "We've had applications from approximately 7,300 people across the state," he told CNN affiliate KIVI. Read the full report on census jobs The office is holding off on taking any more applications until fall. The Alabama census bureau is preparing to hire between 1,000 and 1,500 workers. "We need workers so we can get good addresses [to] send the questionnaires out so we can get a good response," state census bureau official Darryl Lee told TV Alabama in Birmingham. Census officials point out that an accurate count of U.S. citizens helps the government figure out how much funding to give each state for federally sponsored programs. Read the ABC 33/40 story Northeast: Rhode Island strip club holding job fair Business is so good at the Foxy Lady in Providence, Rhode Island, that owners need to hire 25 to 30 more people. And not just dancers. Club co-owner Tom Tsoumas said he also needs managers, waitresses and other behind-the-scenes workers. Tsoumas said because of the poor economy he is expecting to be shocked by the quality of applicants on Saturday. The state's unemployment rate is 10.3 percent. Read the story at WPRI's Web site Southeast: Beauty schools see increase in applicants looking for career change Maria Gonzalez was a receptionist until she was laid off. Now she is training to cut hair. Gonzalez, 34, attends Bradenton Beauty and Barber Academy. "But right now with everything slowing down and being laid off, all the companies, you know, [are] not hiring at this time, so I decided to start coming to school here," she told Bay News 9 in Tampa, Florida. The CNN affiliate reports that The Florida Association of Beauty Professionals says beauty schools throughout the state are seeing a 5-15 percent increase in students. Read Bay News 9 report on beauty schools Liz Galdamez, director of the school, said her newly enrolled students were more likely to be looking for a career change than people in their 20s. "We're seeing more people in their early 30s and 40s coming into this industry," she said West: Man shows job hunters how to look for work on Twitter A man who was laid off from his real estate job a year ago now organizes events that bring job seekers together while teaching them skills to use social networking tools. Edwin Duterte runs Pink Slip Mixers and has put on 10 networking events in Southern California. Recently he held his first such event in Mountain View, California. Perrine Crampton, a program manager who is out of work, was impressed with the willingness of other job seekers to help each other. "With people saying, 'Hey, I found this job; I'm not a good fit. Would you like this position?' she told CNN affiliate KGO. Watch the KGO report on the mixer "That kind of thing is going on now. That is something I really hold onto, because it shows me that there is good in humanity." Duterte said the Web sites Twitter and LinkedIn are a great way to build an online network of contacts. "If I get other eyes to look for you maybe you
[ "Who is hiring?", "What does the navy need?", "What kind of club in Rhode Island needs more workers?", "What does the strip club in Rhode Island need more of?", "Census bureaus are hiring people from where?", "what government organization is hiring?" ]
[ [ "the federal government" ], [ "workers" ], [ "strip" ], [ "workers" ], [ "Denver area." ], [ "census bureau," ] ]
Census bureaus are hiring hundreds of workers in each state . Strip club in Rhode Island needs more dancers, other workers . California man advising people on using Twitter to get job leads . The Navy needs rocket scientists and other types of workers at one of its centers .
CNN caught up with Italian midfield legend Andrea Pirlo who gave us his insight into the World Cup holders and made his predictions for this summer's tournament in South Africa. Describe Italy's coach Marcello Lippi: He is serious but just when you have to work or when he has to deal with the press. With the players he is able to joke around and create a good atmosphere. He is a delightful person and a great coach. Are Italy too old to win the World Cup again? There are so many players with experience, I would say we are experienced, not old. And considering we have played together at the highest level for a long time we can go far at the World Cup. Who impressed you the most during qualifying? Spain and Germany -- Spain are the team that has been playing better. They are amongst the favorites. Who can be the surprise package? I like the Ivory Coast. They did not play particularly well at the Africa Cup of Nations but they are full of talent. Who is the most passionate player? [Gennaro] Gattuso, who shows his passion in the way he plays and for sure also [Gianluigi] Buffon and [Fabio] Cannavarro. Who plays the most practical jokes? Me, [Daniele] De Rossi and Gattuso. There's enough understanding between veterans to do that. Who is the most vain guy on the team? [Gianluca] Zambrotta is that kind of guy. He uses a lot of cream and gels. He would like to be always perfect but he is not able to be! And who is the last one on the bus? That is easy [Mauro] Camoranesi -- if there is someone missing on the bus, in the briefings it is always the same guy -- Camoranesi.
[ "Which team are full of talent?", "Who believes Spain has the best chance of lifting the World Cup this summer?", "Who is the most passionate player?", "Who believes the Ivory Coast is full of talent?" ]
[ [ "Ivory Coast." ], [ "Andrea Pirlo" ], [ "Andrea Pirlo" ], [ "Andrea Pirlo" ] ]
Pirlo believes Spain have the best chance of lifting the World Cup this summer . Gennaro Gattuso is the most passionate player in the Italian national team . Pirlo believes Ivory Coast are full of talent and may be a surprise in South Africa .
CNN's Ed Henry followed President Obama on his trip to the Middle East and Europe, ending at a commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Europe. You can see his reflections from Normandy, as well as the entire Obama trip, by going to his Twitter page. Row upon row of gravestones at the American Cemetery mark those killed in the invasion. NORMANDY, France (CNN) -- I knew my first visit to the American Cemetery at Normandy would be emotional, but I really had no idea I'd be tearing up literally within about eight minutes of walking the rows of bone-white gravestones. Those of us in the White House press corps traveling with President Obama to France on Saturday to celebrate the 65th anniversary of D-Day were very lucky. It was truly awesome to have a front-row seat to the celebration of the climactic battle of World War II, where Allied forces finally stopped the Nazi aggression. If there was a hint of a downside, it was that all of us had to wake up Saturday somewhere around 5 a.m. Paris time (11 p.m. ET Friday, ugh) to then board one of several buses that would take us on a 3½-hour journey to Normandy. That's right, 3½ hours on a tour bus when you're already totally exhausted from a very busy trip that took us from Saudi Arabia to Egypt and then Germany and France in just a few days. Watch President Obama's speech at Normandy » The upside? WE'RE GOING TO NORMANDY!!! Besides, do I really want to complain about a stinking bus ride when about 2,500 brave Americans lost their lives on this battlefield during the first 24 hours of vicious combat on June 6, 1944? Didn't think so. So I jump off the bus, head for the cemetery and decide I should pick just one of the dozens and dozens of rows of tombstones and keep walking until I stumble upon the first grave of a soldier from New York -- my home state -- that I can find. In less than a minute, I found it. His name was Martin J. Biringer, a private from the 4th Cavalry. I bowed my head and thanked him for his service, trying to put myself in his combat boots, thinking that when I was an 18-year-old or 19-year-old kid growing up in New York, I doubt I had the strength and courage this man had to answer his country's call. I decided to take my iPhone out and start posting reflections and photos on Twitter, starting with Biringer's grave. I decided to keep walking down the same row of graves toward Omaha Beach, where the invasion began, and this is where I really got choked up. There was a bouquet of flowers sitting under one grave with a card written out in longhand on a piece of white paper. "From your brother Pete, I remember you," it said so simply and yet so elegantly. That's when I started feeling the chills on my back. The flowers were fresh, and so was the ink on the card. "Pete" had clearly been here in the last day or two, and I started thinking about the fact that he had not seen his "brother" in 65 years. Sixty-five years. And yet he made the trek all the way here to simply say, "I remember you." I started tearing up thinking of my own family: imagining my son going off to war and dying, and my daughter traveling to this cemetery 65 years later, and leaving a card like that. I remember you. That's when it hit me: how easily we take for granted the emotional holes that the war left in so many lives. In this case, I looked up and saw that Pete was paying tribute to his brother Theodore Cassera of New Jersey, a staff sergeant from the 8th Infantry who died a couple of weeks after D-Day. A man who fought and died so that we could be free. Nearby, I found another
[ "What was on the grave?", "What does Ed Henry do?", "Where was President Obama visiting?", "Where did Ed Henry walk?", "When was Normandy?", "What was on one grave?", "What news agency does Ed Henry work?", "Where did Obama take a trip too?" ]
[ [ "a bouquet of flowers" ], [ "followed President Obama on his trip to the Middle East" ], [ "Middle East and Europe," ], [ "American Cemetery at Normandy" ], [ "June 6, 1944?" ], [ "a card written out in longhand" ], [ "CNN's" ], [ "Middle East and Europe," ] ]
Normandy visit came at the end of President Obama's trip to Mideast and Europe . CNN's Ed Henry says walking the rows of gravestones brought chills, tears . On one grave were flowers and a message from a "brother" A group of young boys sought out autographs from assembled veterans .
CNN's Susan Lisovicz sat down with her uncle Lenny Lisovicz, a decorated D-Day veteran, to talk about his experiences at war. CNN's Susan Lisovicz spoke to her Uncle Lenny about his D-Day and war experiences. HOUSTON, Texas (CNN) -- Decorated D-Day veteran Lenny Lisovicz says the whispers are true. For 65 years my family had heard whispers that he and 220 men stormed Omaha Beach and that he and his captain later went AWOL in Paris, France. They heard he returned to combat and fought all the way to Germany and his courage was rewarded with the prestigious Silver Star. Then -- after that sacrifice and loss -- he was committed to a hospital. On the 65th anniversary of D-Day, Uncle Lenny finally talked at length about everything he had seen and done. And he said it was all true. Nowadays, Uncle Lenny lives a tranquil life. At 91, he is proud of his garden, where he grows corn, tomatoes and grapefruit. He takes in stray cats, attends Mass and sends money regularly to Catholic missionaries. But his thoughts are never far away from a sliver of sand thousands of miles away. He turned down my offer to visit Normandy. "I don't want to see it. I try to rub that out of my mind. It won't go away," he said. But now, he finally agreed to share his memories. Watch Uncle Lenny describe storming the beach » It began with The Longest Day: June 6, 1944. My uncle was a 26-year-old lieutenant with the Army 1st Infantry Division, the famed "Big Red One." They had been training in England for something big for months. Then, over the loudspeakers in the barracks came the famous declaration from Gen. Dwight Eisenhower: "You are about to embark on the Great Crusade." The Germans were taken by surprise in one of the greatest amphibious invasions of all time, which would mark a turning point of the war in Europe. "I just imagined what that enemy observer felt when he looked through that concrete bunker and looked out at that ocean and all he could see was boats, warships," Lisovicz said. But the Nazis had a superior position. "They had you pinpointed. It was just like shootin' ducks on a pond. Your comrades would get artillery busted. A hand flying here, a leg there, guts laying out on the ground, asking for help and you couldn't help them. You had to move. You just had to push them aside," he recalled. But the Allies couldn't push their way onto the cliffs until a massive air assault began. "At times there were so many planes in the sky you couldn't see the sky... ," Lisovicz said. "You could see them forming from all directions coming into one pattern. And that's how we got off the beach, darlin'." Their orders were to meet up with the paratroopers, who landed behind enemy lines. My uncle said they found them by smell, because they were all dead. "They backed them in a corner and machine gunned them down and didn't have enough decency to cover them," he said. That was when an unwritten order came down: "No prisoners. And we didn't take any." It was shortly after this that he decided he had enough. He and the captain went AWOL in Paris. To add insult to injury, they stole the major's jeep. Their freedom lasted only about a week. "The MP told us he was going to shoot us for going AWOL. But who cares? You didn't care anymore," Lisovicz said. "You were just fed up with war, fed up with killing, just absolutely fed up." But they weren't shot -- not by Americans, anyway. My uncle and the captain went back into combat. The captain was killed by a camouflaged tank. My uncle was now the commanding
[ "Lenny Lisovicz descibed what", "what did Lenny Lisovicz describe", "what did he say", "What does Lenny Lisovicz describe?", "Who did Lenny say had you pinpointed?" ]
[ [ "his experiences at war." ], [ "his experiences at war." ], [ "the whispers are true." ], [ "storming the beach" ], [ "Nazis" ] ]
Sixty-five years after D-Day, CNN correspondent's uncle talks about experience . Lenny Lisovicz describes day he and his unit stormed Omaha Beach . He says the Nazis "had you pinpointed. It was just like shootin' ducks on a pond" Lisovicz was one of 22, out of 220 men in his group, to return home alive .
CNNU campus correspondent Brandon Gates is a junior at University of South Carolina. CNNU is a feature that provides student perspectives on news and trends from colleges across the United States. The views expressed in this article are not necessarily those of CNN, its affiliates or the schools where the campus correspondents are based. Some of the students killed were affiliated with the Delta Delta Delta sorority, whose house is pictured above. COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) -- At the University of South Carolina, the campus is quiet, but students were still heading to their classes after six students were killed in a beach house fire during the weekend. The school is planning a short ceremony Monday evening to honor the six students who were killed Sunday morning in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. A seventh person killed is believed to be a student at Clemson University. Their identities had not yet been released Monday afternoon. The USC students were affiliated with the Delta Delta Delta sorority and the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. "The fraternities are praying for them and their families for the loss. It's something we're all affected by," Jay Laura, student president of the USC chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. In a later news conference, Laura said the outpouring of condolences was a testament to the character of the fraternity brothers who died. He also said he was proud of the way the university was coming together to support each other. Lauren Hodge, the chapter president of Delta Delta Delta, said the sorority would have ministers and counselors at the sorority house to help USC students. "We're trying to everything we can right now to help people cope," she said. "We've spent a lot of time (counseling) with the students from the sorority and fraternity," said Dennis A. Pruitt, the vice president for student affairs. "We encourage any student who is just learning of the situation and is a member of Tri-Delta or SAE to contact their parents and let them know they're OK." The school decided against canceling classed on Monday. "Going back to normal, everyday activities may be the best way for some to mourn and grieve," Pruitt said. A weekly concert that is typically a well-attended event failed to bring out students on Monday. Most students appeared to be spending time in their dorm rooms where counseling was offered. "I feel shocked that something like that could happen here. You always see stuff like that happening at other schools, but you never it can happen to your school," said Artifa Ricks, a sophomore majoring in broadcasting. Six other University of South Carolina students were treated for injuries at a local hospital and released, the school said. The university is providing counseling and assistance to students who have requested it. "When any one member of our family is lost, every one of us is diminished. I'm profoundly saddened, as are all members of Gamecock Nation, by these tragic deaths," said Dr. Andrew Sorensen, the university president. The students were on a weekend getaway at Ocean Isle Beach, a popular resort destination along the southern coast of North Carolina. E-mail to a friend
[ "What happened to the 6 USC students?", "What will the university hold?", "What will the sorority make available?", "What sorority has ministers and other counselors available?", "Which university is to hold a ceremony?", "How many USC students are being honored?", "Who will be made available?", "Where is the university?" ]
[ [ "killed in a beach house fire" ], [ "short ceremony" ], [ "ministers and counselors" ], [ "Delta Delta Delta," ], [ "of South Carolina." ], [ "six" ], [ "ministers and counselors" ], [ "South Carolina." ] ]
University to hold ceremony honoring the six USC students . Sorority to have ministers and other counselors available . Group urges members to make sure families know they're OK .
COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, France (CNN) -- World leaders gave thanks Saturday to military veterans for their efforts in the D-Day landings of 65 years ago at a ceremony in northwest France, warning that their legacy must not be forgotten as the world faces renewed threats of tyranny. President Obama and Britain's Prince Charles were among those attending the ceremony. President Obama joined Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown, France's President Nicolas Sarkozy and Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper at a ceremony at the American Cemetary in Normandy, close where many died in the World War II offensive. More than 150,000 allied troops, about half of them Americans, took part in D-Day on June 6, 1944, overwhelming German forces in an operation that proved a turning point in driving the Nazis out of France. Allied forces secured the beaches at a cost of about 10,000 casualties in what was the first step in a campaign that would, in a matter of weeks, liberate Paris, which had been under Nazi occupation for more than four years. Brown praised those who fought on that day, saying, "as long as freedom lives, their deeds will never die." He said their sacrifices had put obligations on people living today in what he called "the great covenant of D-Day. "We must be as if liberators for our day and our generation too," he said, citing Burma (renamed Myanmar) and Zimbabwe, as well as the "mortal threat of poverty, hunger, illiteracy, disease and want." Obama addressed the 288 veterans said to be attending the ceremony, telling them: "You are why we keep coming back." Watch Obama deliver speech to veterans » "You remind us that in the end, human destiny is not determined by forces beyond our control. You remind us that our future is not shaped by mere chance or circumstance. "It has always been up to us," he said. Watch Obama arrive in France » He urged the world to remember what happened at nearby Omaha Beach, one of the main landing points for U.S. troops involved in the operation. "Friends and veterans, what we cannot forget -- what we must not forget -- is that D-Day was a time and a place where the bravery and selflessness of a few was able to change the course of an entire century." Sarkozy described the horrors of the battle, where so many died before they were able to land that "those who did make it ashore waded through the bodies of the dead and wounded that floated in on the tide." He cited a letter from a U.S. soldier who said the day "was like a waking nightmare. The ground was so strewn with bodies that you could practically cross the beach without touching the sand." "Never, never will France forget," he vowed. The speeches were followed by a 21-gun salute, a lone trumpter playing taps and a flyover by American, British and French jets. Among veterans attending Saturday's remembrance ceremonies will be 86-year-old former British soldier Jim Tuckwell, who said the events will help those present to remember fallen comrades lost in the heat of battle. "There was no time to mourn, you didn't have time to mourn," he said, recalling the events of 1944. Read Tuckwell's story "And the worst thing about later battles was that when you lost people, you normally had to bury them yourself. You couldn't leave the bodies on the ground, there was nowhere else to put them."
[ "Who are being paied tribute to ?", "Which world leaders attended D-Day tribute?", "Who paid tribute to D-Day fallen?", "When did D-Day operations occur?", "How many allied troops took part in D-Day ?", "How many allied troops took part in D-Day operations?", "When did the operation take part?", "Who attended the tribute?" ]
[ [ "military veterans" ], [ "Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown, France's President Nicolas Sarkozy" ], [ "World leaders" ], [ "June 6, 1944," ], [ "More than 150,000" ], [ "More than 150,000" ], [ "June 6, 1944," ], [ "President Obama and Britain's Prince Charles" ] ]
Dignitaries, World War II veterans pay tribute to D-Day fallen . President Obama, France's Sarkozy, UK's Brown among those attending . 150,000 allied troops took part in operation on June 6, 1944 .
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (CNN -- Military officials in Sri Lanka said they shot down a Tamil Tiger aircraft near the Colombo International Airport on Friday, in an air engagement with rebels that killed two people and left about 50 wounded. An injured survivor of a suicide attack in northeast Sri Lanka on February 9 Sri Lankan officials claimed both planes were shot down by the Sri Lankan Air Force, SLAF, refuting the Tiger's claim they were conducting suicide missions in the country's capital. A spokesperson for the Sri Lankan Military said the body of a Tamil Tiger guerrilla was found by the plane's wreckage after it was shot down near the Colombo International Airport. The other plane, which entered the capital of Colombo, dropped a bomb but crashed into the offices of the Department of Inland Revenue, two blocks away from Air Force Headquarters, a military spokesman said. According to the Sri Lanka's Lankapuvath news agency, the country's air defense was activated at 9:30 p.m.( 11 a.m. ET) Friday after receiving information that two of the rebels light aircrafts were circulating over Colombo. "Both aircrafts were brought down by air force firing," Lankapuvath reported. "The dead body of the LTTE pilot was also found strewn about." The news agency said 50 people were admitted to Colombo General Hospital due to injuries from the crash. Two died from their wounds. According to the pro-Tamil Tiger Web site Tamil.net.com, two Black Air Tiger Pilots -- the group's elite squadron --died after carrying out diving missions into Sri Lanka's air force headquarters in Colombo and an air force base in Katunayaka. CNN could not independently verify the claims made by the rebels or the government. In a report released on Thursday, Human Rights Watch criticized the Sri Lankan government for its "indiscriminate" killings of civilian as it attempts to fight the rebel movement. As the rebel stronghold continues to shrink, civilians are trapped in the cross-fire, HRW said. "Sri Lankan forces are shelling hospitals and so-called safe zones and slaughtering the civilians there," James Ross, legal and policy director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement. HRW also condemned the Tamil Tigers for its treatment of civilians. The organization's 45-page study said 2,000 civilians have been killed and another 5,000 have been wounded. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) -- commonly known as the Tamil Tigers -- have fought for an independent homeland for the country's ethnic Tamil minority since 1983. The civil war has left more than 70,000 people dead.
[ "Who is to blame for rise in civilian casualties?", "Whose planes were shot down?", "Whose air force shot down the planes?", "Who shot down air force?", "How many dead and wounded are there?" ]
[ [ "Sri Lankan government" ], [ "Tamil Tiger" ], [ "Sri Lanka" ], [ "Sri Lankan Air Force," ], [ "killed two people" ] ]
NEW: Officials claim air force shot down rebel planes . Two dead, 50 wounded in capital, Colombo . Both sides to blame for rise in civilian casualties, Human Rights Watch says . Up to 250,000 civilians trapped in Sri Lanka conflict zone, aid groups say .
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (CNN) -- Colombo has been hit by a second bomb blast in only 24 hours following the fall of the Tamil Tigers' capital to government troops. Police and army officials at the site of a suicide bombing in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo Friday. Two people were wounded and a store damaged in the Petard commercial district Saturday. A day earlier a suicide bomber on a motorcycle blew himself up outside an air force headquarters in Colombo, killing two air force police officers and a member of the bomb-disposal unit. Another 30 people were injured. The attacks come after President Mahinda Rajapaksa urged the Tigers to lay down their arms and end a quarter-century of civil war. He made his call after government troops retook the separatists' capital, Kilinochchi. In a televised statement Friday evening, Rajapaksa called the recapture of Kilinochchi "a victory against separatism." "The time is not far off when people of the north can breathe freedom again," Rajapaksa said. He invited the Tigers -- who have fought for an independent homeland for Sri Lanka's ethnic Tamil minority since 1983 -- to surrender as government troops closed in on their last remaining strongholds. Rajapaksa's announcement was met with fireworks in Colombo, and Friday's news prompted celebrations in other cities as well. The Tamil Tigers ran a parallel administration from Kilinochchi with their own police force, courts, prisons and taxes, and they had declared government plans to retake the city a "daydream." But after Sri Lanka launched a new offensive against the rebels in the fall, the insurgents moved their nerve center and logistics bases to Mullaitivu, on the northeastern coast. Sri Lankan troops have been on the outskirts of Kilinochchi, about 580 km (360 miles) north of Colombo, for more than a month. They took a key highway junction and a town outside the city Thursday. The civil war has left more than 65,000 people dead. The U.S. State Department has designated the Tamil Tigers a terrorist organization.
[ "when was the 2nd blast", "What did President Mahinda Rajapaksa call for?", "who strikes in Colombo", "Who is the president", "Where did the second blast happen?", "Who captured the rebel capital?", "Where did the suicide bomber strike?" ]
[ [ "24 hours following" ], [ "Tigers to lay down their arms and end a quarter-century of civil war." ], [ "Tamil Tigers'" ], [ "Mahinda Rajapaksa" ], [ "Colombo" ], [ "government troops." ], [ "Colombo" ] ]
Suicide bomber strikes in Colombo, injuring two and damaging store . Second blast in the capital in 24 hours following capture of rebel capital . President Mahinda Rajapaksa calls on rebels to lay down arms .
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (CNN) -- The deafening roar of drums and horns rose as thousands of people took to the streets in Sri Lanka Friday for a victory parade marking the end of the decades-long civil war. Sri Lankan youth celebrate on the street in Colombo on May 20, 2009. Enthusiastic revelers danced in the street, carried yellow and red flags and some even carried hand-crafted puppets depicting the dead body of the leader of the rebel Tamil Tigers. Watch the victory parade » Sri Lanka's government declared victory Tuesday in the country's 25-year civil war against the Tamil Tiger rebels. The announcement brought celebrations to some parts of the country. President Mahinda Rajapaksa announced that Tamil Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran had been killed and local media released footage of the fallen leader's body. But while thousands partied Friday, humanitarian organizations worried about the estimated 250,000 refugees the war created in northeast Sri Lanka. Many have had their homes destroyed are struggling for food, clean water, emergency health kits, cooking pots and school supplies, relief agencies say. Watch aid agencies fear for Sri Lanka » A U.N. spokesman has said the country's government has not adequately helped refugees and has started to restrict U.N. relief agencies from providing aid. Watch Sri Lanka dispell allegations » "The process of national reconciliation we feel must be all inclusive so that in can fully address the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil as well as other minorities. It is important that the victory becomes a victory for all Sri Lankans," said Vijay Nambiar, a U.N. special envoy. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is expected to visit the area this week. CNN's Sara Sidner contributed to this story.
[ "What did the Sri Lankan goverment declare?", "What has the UN accused the government of?", "Who accused the government of not providing enough help for refugees?", "How many people did aid groups express fears for?", "Who declared victory over Tamil Tiger rebels?", "What government declared victory over the Tamil rebels?", "How many people are displaced in the country's northeast?", "What has the U.N. accused the government of?", "What caused the revelers to dance in the street?" ]
[ [ "victory Tuesday in the country's 25-year civil war against the Tamil Tiger rebels." ], [ "not adequately helped refugees" ], [ "A U.N. spokesman" ], [ "250,000 refugees" ], [ "Sri Lanka's government" ], [ "Sri Lanka's" ], [ "250,000" ], [ "not adequately helped refugees and" ], [ "a victory parade marking the end of the decades-long civil war." ] ]
Revelers dance in the street, wave flags to celebrate end of Sri Lanka civil war . Sri Lanka government declared victory over Tamil Tiger rebels on Tuesday . Aid groups express fears for 250,000 displaced people in country's northeast . U.N. has accused the government of not providing enough help for refugees .
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (CNN) -- A Sri Lankan government minister narrowly escaped injury Thursday when a suicide bomber in a car detonated explosives, police said. File image of Maithripala Sirisena taken in May, 2007. Two of the minister's bodyguards were hurt in the blast, which occurred in a southern suburb of the capital city, Colombo. The minister, Maithripala Sirisena, heads the agriculture department. He is also the secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, a partner in the ruling coalition. Authorities blamed the attack on Tamil Tigers rebels. The fighting in Sri Lanka pits government forces in a country dominated by the Sinhalese ethnic group against rebels from the Tamil minority. The rebels, formally known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, are fighting for the creation of an independent nation, citing discrimination by the Sinhalese. On Monday, a suicide bombing blamed on rebels killed at least 27 people, including a prominent politician and his wife. Another 60 were wounded. That bombing took place in Anuradhapura, the capital of Sri Lanka's North Central province.
[ "What part of the suburb of Colombo was the blast?", "What department was involved?", "What department does Maithripala Sirisena head?", "What group was blamed for the attack?", "Who was hurt in the blast?", "who blamed the attack on Tamil Tigers rebels", "Who was behind the attack?", "who heads the agriculture department", "Who did the authorities blamed the attack on?" ]
[ [ "southern" ], [ "agriculture" ], [ "agriculture" ], [ "Tamil Tigers rebels." ], [ "Two of the minister's bodyguards" ], [ "Authorities" ], [ "Tamil Tigers rebels." ], [ "Maithripala Sirisena," ], [ "Tamil Tigers rebels." ] ]
Minister's bodyguards hurt in blast in southern suburb of Colombo . Maithripala Sirisena heads the agriculture department . Authorities blamed the attack on Tamil Tigers rebels .
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (CNN) -- Angered by what he perceived as the systemic discrimination of the minority Tamils by successive Sri Lankan governments, 18-year-old Velupillai Prabhakaran, armed with just a revolver, set out in 1972 to right the perceived wrongs by forming a militant group. Sri Lanka's defense ministry says this handout photo shows troops with a captured Tamil Tiger craft. That group eventually morphed into the Tamil Tigers, who have engaged in a brutal 25-year insurgency for an independent Tamil state that has left more than 70,000 dead. Along the way, the group has been declared a terrorist organization in 32 countries, pioneered the use of women in suicide attacks and, according to the FBI, invented the suicide belt. It was also behind the assassination of two world leaders -- the only terrorist organization to do so. Over the weekend, the militants offered to "silence" their guns after an intense military offensive decimated their ranks, usurping them from their stronghold in the north and east of the country, and cornered the remaining rebels on a small stretch of land. Watch more on the possible end to the conflict » On Monday afternoon, the Sri Lankan government said it had killed Prabhakaran. If the rebels now follow through on their announcement, the action will potentially mark the end of the longest-running civil war in Asia. Who are the Tamils? The Tamils are an ethnic group that makes up about 12 percent of Sri Lanka's population of about 20 million. They mostly dominate the northern and eastern part of the country. Tamils are mostly Hindu and speak Tamil. That sets them apart from Sri Lanka's majority group, the Sinhalese, who make up 74 percent of the population. They are Buddhists and speak Sinhala. The tension between the two ethnic groups date to the British colonization of the country -- an island in the Indian Ocean, south of India. At the time, the country was known as Ceylon. Many Sri Lankans regarded the Tamils as British collaborators and resented the preferential treatment they received. The tables turned when the country achieved independence in 1948 and the Sinhalese majority dominated government. It was the Tamils then who claimed they were being discriminated against in politics, employment and education. By the 1970s Tamil politicians were demanding a separate Tamil state. It would be called Tamil Eelam. In this climate Prabhakaran emerged with his militant group, formally known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Who is Prabhakaran? Prabhakaran operated from a secret jungle base in the northeastern part of the country, granting few media interviews and remaining an elusive figure to even many Tigers. He was reputed to wear a cyanide capsule around his neck -- to swallow rather than risk capture. And he reportedly expected the same dedication from his troops. As a result, few Tigers have been captured alive. To Prabhakaran's supporters he was a hero fighting for the rights of his people. The Sri Lankan government deemed him a war criminal with disregard for civilian casualties. He was wanted by Interpol on charges including terrorism and organized crime. In 1975, three years after forming his group, Prabhakaran was accused of fatally shooting the mayor of Jaffna, his birthplace. Prabhakaran was also accused of masterminding the killing of then-Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 in the Tamil-dominated Indian state of Tami Nadu. Sri Lankan authorities allege that Prabhakaran was avenging Gandhi's decision to send Indian peacekeepers to Sri Lanka. Two years later, a Tigers' suicide bomber, allegedly acting under Prabhakaran's orders, detonated explosives that killed Sri Lanka's then-president, Ranasinghe Premadasa, during a rally. Watch aid agencies fear for Sri Lanka » Who are the Tamil Tigers? The Tigers reportedly number about 10,000, recruited from villagers in Tamil-dominated areas and unemployed Tamil youths who think they were passed over for jobs because of their ethnicity. Their armed struggle began in July 1983 when the Tigers killed 13 Sinhalese soldiers. It led to, what was until then, the largest outburst of violence in the island's history. Hundreds of Tamils were
[ "What did the Tamil leader wear around his neck?", "For how many years has the insurgency been going on?", "What type of capsule did the leader wear?", "How many people have been killed?", "What did the leader wear", "Approximately how many people has the insurgency killed?", "what did the fbi say", "How long has the insurgency been going on?", "What did the FBI say?", "What did the leader wear around his neck?", "What has killed more than 70.000 people?", "who wore a cyanide capsule around his neck?", "What number of people have been killed in the insurgency?", "how many people killed?", "How many years has the insurgency gone on for?", "What did the Tamil leader have around his neck?" ]
[ [ "cyanide capsule" ], [ "25-year" ], [ "cyanide" ], [ "more than 70,000 dead." ], [ "a cyanide capsule" ], [ "more than 70,000" ], [ "invented the suicide belt." ], [ "25-year" ], [ "invented the suicide belt." ], [ "a cyanide capsule" ], [ "Tamil Tigers," ], [ "Velupillai Prabhakaran," ], [ "more than 70,000 dead." ], [ "70,000" ], [ "25-year" ], [ "a cyanide capsule" ] ]
25-year long insurgency has killed more than 70,000 people . Tamil leader reportedly wore a cyanide capsule around his neck . FBI says group pioneered use of suicide belts for bomb attacks .
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (CNN) -- Efforts by government troops to secure control of a main highway that links mainland Sri Lanka to the northern Jaffna peninsula came a step closer Thursday when they re-captured Pallai, a palm-fringed village under rebel control. Sri Lankan army troops have had there most decisive victories against the Tamil Tigers in recent weeks. The village is located past Elephant Pass, described as a gateway to the Jaffna peninsula, which the army re-captured on Wednesday. Whilst a column of troops are moving northwards from this town, another column that advanced from the outer fringes of the government-controlled peninsula advanced southwards to recapture Pallai. "When the two columns meet we would have captured the entire A-9 highway," a senior army source told CNN. He spoke on grounds of anonymity since he is not authorized to talk to media. The A-9 highway links the hill city Kandy with Jaffna. The only stretch that remains to be recaptured is the area between Elephant Pass and Jaffna. Earlier this month, President Mahinda Rajapaksa urged the Tamil Tigers to lay down their arms and end a quarter-century of civil war. Before he made that request government troops retook the separatists' former capital, Kilinochchi. Rajapaksa called the recapture of Kilinochchi "a victory against separatism." "The time is not far off when people of the north can breathe freedom again," Rajapaksa said. He invited the Tigers -- who have fought for an independent homeland for Sri Lanka's ethnic Tamil minority since 1983 -- to surrender as government troops closed in on their last remaining strongholds. The civil war has left more than 65,000 people dead. The U.S. State Department has designated the Tamil Tigers a terrorist organization.
[ "How many have been killed?" ]
[ [ "65,000" ] ]
Sri Lankan government troops continue advance into rebel territory . Troops capture village on main highway linking mainland to Jaffna peninsula . Civil war with Tamil Tigers has killed more than 65,000 .
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (CNN) -- Five members of the Sri Lanka's Civil Defense Force (CDF) were killed in a suicide blast in Sri Lanka at a church outside the capital of Colombo Sunday morning, police said. Sri Lankan police officers investigate Sunday's suicide bombing near Colombo. Eight other CDF officers and two civilians were wounded, police said. Nobody immediately claimed responsibility for the blast, but police suspect the bomber was a member of the Tamil Tiger rebels. There was no immediate response from the Tamil Tiger rebels to the incident, which, police said, occurred at St. Anne's Church in the Colombo suburb of Wattala, located on a roadway to the country's only international airport about 15 kilometers (9 miles) north of the capital. The attack happened during a weekly festival that usually draws a large crowd shopping for vegetables and household goods. The suicide bomber walked into an area where CDF officers were stationed and detonated his explosives, police said. Investigators suspect the bomber targeted the area because 150 police officers who help patrol the road to the airport are billeted there. Government forces have engaged rebels in heavy fighting for more than a year in the Kilinochchi region, once the center of political power for the Tamil Tigers. The 25-year civil war between ethnic Tamil separatists and the Sri Lankan government has left more than 65,000 people dead. The Tamil Tigers were founded in 1976, and the U.S. State Department designated the group a foreign terrorist organization in 1997. The rebels, formally known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), are fighting for the creation of an independent nation, citing discrimination by the country's Sinhalese majority. Earlier Sunday, Sri Lanka's navy said it had destroyed a Tamil Tiger rebel boat allegedly attempting to smuggle in military supplies through the northern coast. Commander D.K.P. Dissanayake, a navy spokesman, told CNN that four rebels were killed in attack after the boat was engulfed in fire. He said the incident occurred just after midnight Sunday but gave no other details. There was no immediate response from the Tiger rebels to that incident. CNN could not independently verify the government's claim because media is debarred from Sri Lanka's battle zones. In the past, both sides in the conflict have exaggerated accounts of military operations. On December 20, the Navy said it destroyed a similar rebel boat trying to smuggle military supplies through the coast near the northeastern coastal village of Mullaitivu. However, a second supply boat was caught on Air Force aerial surveillance cameras unloading along the coast. "They included assorted ammunition, artillery shells, mortar shells and other items," a senior Air Force official told CNN. He spoke on grounds of anonymity since he was not authorized to speak to the media.
[ "How many rebels were killed?", "Which group do the police suspect the bomber beloged to?", "What do the police suspect?", "With what event did the attack coincide?", "who is suspected", "when was the attack", "Where did the blast occur?", "how many were killed" ]
[ [ "four" ], [ "Tamil Tiger rebels." ], [ "the bomber was a member of the Tamil Tiger rebels." ], [ "weekly festival" ], [ "a member of the Tamil Tiger rebels." ], [ "Sunday morning," ], [ "in Sri Lanka at a church outside the capital of Colombo Sunday morning," ], [ "Five" ] ]
NEW: Attack coincided during a weekly festival that draws a large crowd . NEW: Police suspect the bomber was a member of the Tamil Tiger rebels . No immediate response from Tiger rebels on church blast, destroyed boat . Four rebels killed in boat attack after midnight Sunday, Navy says .
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (CNN) -- Shell-shocked and scarred both inside and out, they huddle in tents, water and medicine in short supply -- hundreds of thousands of people, civilian victims of Sri Lanka's recently-ended civil war. Displaced Sri Lankan people look out from inside a camp in Cheddikulam. "We suffered a lot because shelling was coming from everywhere," said a 38-year-old man identifying himself as Vishwamala. "Firing, shelling -- many, many people have died ... there was nobody there to carry the dead. A lot of dead were left on the road." Another survivor, Krisha Duray, recalls "running and running" to escape shelling by both the Sri Lankan military and the Tamil Tiger rebels, who waged a bloody 25-year war. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday visited refugee camps housing such victims. "I have traveled around the world and visited similar places, but this is by far the most appalling scenes I have seen," he said. Ban requested that the United Nations be provided full access to the displacement camps in order to provide aid. In a joint statement issued Saturday, Ban and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said the United Nations will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to displaced persons, and that the government will continue to provide access to humanitarian agencies. That access, however, is limited. The United Nations and other organizations have never had full access, as government officials fear some remaining Tamil Tiger rebels may be hiding in the camps and are screening those inside. Watch the U.N. chief discuss the humanitarian crisis » Sri Lanka's Sunday Times newspaper reported that attempts to smuggle youths out of the camps has prompted the government to impose restrictions on visits. Rajiva Wijesinha, the nation's human rights ministry secretary, was quoted as telling the newspaper that people "with the connivance of Non-Governmental Organization workers" were involved in the plot. Because of the plot, "a thorough screening of IDPs was under way," the newspaper said. "I have United Nations humanitarian agencies, and there are ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) and many other international humanitarian agency workers," Ban said in a Saturday news conference, according to a transcript. "They should be given unimpeded access and freedom of movement within the camp. That is what I have asked the foreign minister and the president (for), and I was assured that the leaders of the Sri Lankan government will make sure (of this)." Sri Lanka's government as of Sunday had not responded to Ban's appeal. But the joint statement Saturday said, "The government will expedite the necessary basic and civil infrastructure as well as (the) means of livelihood necessary for the IDPs to resume their normal lives at the earliest. "The Secretary-General welcomed the announcement by the government expressing its intention to dismantle the welfare villages at the earliest as outlined in the plan to resettle the bulk of IDPs and call for its early implementation." Ban toured Manik Farm, a sprawling camp for internally displaced people in the country's north, days after Sri Lanka declared victory in a 25-year civil war against the Tamil Tigers rebels. About 250,000 to 300,000 people are refugees in the country, according to humanitarian groups and U.N. figures. Some in the camp have experienced fierce fighting in recent months, saying that at moments they did not believe they were going to survive. Asked whether he agrees with the military's assertions that not many civilians died in the violence, Ban told CNN he believes there were many civilian casualties. While the war's end elicited celebrations in parts of the country, humanitarian groups and the United Nations worry about those uprooted by the fighting. Ban arrived in the South Asian island nation Friday, saying he came to offer help and partnership. "I hope my visit today can help begin a process of national recovery, renewal and reconciliation for all Sri Lankans," Ban said in a written statement issued Friday. "That is why I am here." He said he would
[ "Ban Ki-moon says camp contains what ?", "How long has the civil war been going on?", "How many refugees are in the country?", "What did Ban ask to give unrestricted access to?", "How long was the civil war ?", "How many people are refugees in the country ?", "How many refuges are in the country?" ]
[ [ "displaced people" ], [ "25-year" ], [ "250,000 to 300,000" ], [ "displacement camps" ], [ "25-year" ], [ "250,000 to 300,000" ], [ "About 250,000 to 300,000" ] ]
Ban Ki-moon says camp contains "the most appalling scenes I have seen" Ban asks president to grant unrestricted access to humanitarian agencies . About 250,000 to 300,000 people are refugees in the country, aid agencies say . Sri Lankan government has declared victory in the country's 25-year civil war .
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (CNN) -- Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa claimed Friday there was "a conspiracy with certain international forces" to belittle his government's military victories against Tamil Tiger rebels. Sri Lankan army troops have had there most decisive victories against the Tamil Tigers in recent weeks. The aim of these conspirators, he said in an address to the nation, "is to level unfounded charges against the army commander who works with greatest dedication to achieve these victories." He also used the address to formally announce the recapture of the northern town of Elephant Pass, the point at which mainland Sri Lanka links to the northern Jaffna peninsula. It had remained in rebel hands for over nine years. The recapture enable the government to use the A-9 highway linking the mainland to the peninsula to move troops and supplies. Until now it was done either by air or by sea. Rajapaksa's remarks came amid mounting attacks on the media. On Tuesday a group armed with rifles, pistols and grenades attacked the country's most popular privately owned television channel MTV. The main control room equipment costing more than $ 1.7 million was damaged. On Thursday, Lasantha Wickrematunga, chief editor of The Sunday Leader, a newspaper which had exposed corruption and criticized aspects of ongoing military operations, was shot dead. Earlier Friday, the leader of the main opposition United National Party (UNP), Ranil Wickremasinghe, accused military and security officials of the attacks, saying the government could not control them. "Armed forces members are shocked about these incidents. The armed forces says due to the activities of few intelligence sections, the reputation of the country is being ruined. That is the team which the government has no control of," he told parliament. Rajapaksa said there were efforts to belittle military victories "to turn the attention of the people to other directions." He said such "conspiracies arise when a country moves ahead without giving in to external pressures." He added "one must not mistake these conspiracies as being against me or my government. This is a conspiracy against the entire country by those who have been driven to fear due to the successes of our security forces." Meanwhile, fighting in northern Sri Lanka between government and rebel forces escalated on several fronts Friday, while Tamil Tiger rebels killed seven people in a roadside bombing. Three members of the Sri Lankan air force and four civilians died when rebels exploded a claymore landmine in the village of Morawewa, near the northeastern port city of Trincomalee, police said. The strategic port town is located about 240km (150 miles) north of the capital, Colombo. Friday's incident came as troops pursued their military campaign in the northern Wanni region to recapture remaining rebel strongholds, military sources said. Government troops were said to be meeting fierce resistance as they advanced on the Tamil stronghold of Mullaitivu and a naval blockade remained in the northeastern seas. The 25-year long civil war has left more than 65,000 people dead. The U.S. State Department has designated the Tamil Tigers a terrorist organization.
[ "Where are government troops headed?", "Who is the civil war with?", "What has killed more than 65,000?", "Where are the government troops advancing?", "Who is in a civil war with Tamil Tigers?", "Who is the president of Sri Lanka?", "What is the death toll in the civil war?", "When did the civil war begin?", "Who is the Sri Lankan president?" ]
[ [ "northern Wanni region" ], [ "Tamil Tigers" ], [ "civil war" ], [ "Tamil stronghold of Mullaitivu" ], [ "Sri Lankan army troops" ], [ "Mahinda Rajapaksa" ], [ "more than 65,000 people dead." ], [ "25-year" ], [ "Mahinda Rajapaksa" ] ]
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa makes conspiracy claims . Sri Lankan government troops continue advance into rebel territory . Civil war with Tamil Tigers has killed more than 65,000 .
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (CNN) -- Sri Lanka's government said Monday its forces had killed Tamil rebel chief Velupillai Prabhakaran as he attempted to flee, according to the country's state-run news agency. The Sri Lankan government says Tamil chief Velupillai Prabhakaran is dead. The Tamil rebel group, formally known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), is aware of the government's report but has yet to confirm Prabhakaran's death or the deaths of its other leaders, according to a posting on the pro-rebel Web site, Tamilnet.com. It said "initial reports indicate a determined massacre by the Sri Lanka Army." Prabhakaran was one of 19 senior LTTE leaders that the government has identified among the bodies found as its troops completed mop-up operations after routing the Tigers, the defense ministry said. The leaders include Prabhakaran's eldest son, Charles Anthony, as well as Pottu Amman, LTTE's intelligence leader, according to the ministry. Prabhakaran founded the rebel group, which has been declared a terrorist organization by 32 countries. It pioneered the use of women in suicide attacks and, according to the FBI, invented the explosive suicide belt. It was also behind the assassination of two world leaders -- the only terrorist organization to do so. Watch more on the possible end of fighting » Prabhakaran is accused of masterminding the killing of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 in the Tamil-dominated Indian state of Tami Nadu as he campaigned for a second term. Sri Lankan authorities allege that Prabhakaran was avenging Gandhi's decision to send Indian peacekeepers to Sri Lanka. Two years later a Tigers suicide bomber, allegedly acting under Prabhakaran's orders, detonated explosives that killed Sri Lanka's then-president, Ranasinghe Premadasa, during a rally. Over the weekend, the militants offered to "silence" their guns after an intense military offensive decimated their ranks, pushed them from their stronghold in the north and east of the country, and cornered the remaining rebels on a small stretch of land. If the rebels honor their pledge, it would potentially mark the end of the longest-running civil war in Asia. Prabhakaran's supporters considered him a hero with a single-minded focus -- to fight for the rights of his people. The Sri Lankan government deemed him a war criminal with a disregard for civilian casualties. He was wanted by Interpol on charges including terrorism and organized crime. In the past it has been reported he wore a cyanide capsule around his neck -- to swallow and kill himself rather than risk capture. And he reportedly expected the same dedication from his troops. As a result, few Tigers have been captured alive. Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa is expected to announce that "military operations" against the Tiger rebels have ended in an address to parliament and country on Tuesday. Watch aid agencies fear for Sri Lanka » The rebels have fought for an independent state for minority Tamils in Sri Lanka since July 1983. Journalist Iqbal Athas contributed to this report.
[ "How long have the Tamils been fighting?", "When did the rebels start fighting?", "What's the name of deceased the Tamil chief?", "Who does the Sri Lankan government say is dead?", "What is the name of the Tamil chief?", "What did sri lankan government say?", "What happened since 1983?" ]
[ [ "since July 1983." ], [ "since July 1983." ], [ "Velupillai Prabhakaran" ], [ "Velupillai Prabhakaran" ], [ "Velupillai Prabhakaran" ], [ "Velupillai Prabhakaran" ], [ "The rebels have fought for an independent state for minority Tamils in Sri Lanka" ] ]
Sri Lankan government says Tamil chief Velupillai Prabhakaran is dead . The offensive against the rebel group is in its last stages, the government says . Rebels have fought for an independent state for minority Tamils since 1983 .
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (CNN) -- Sri Lankan soldiers have seized a key rebel stronghold after launching a surprise attack early Sunday morning, the head of Sri Lanka's army announced. Sri Lankan army chief Sarath Fonseka says a key Tamil town has been taken in a national TV broadcast Sunday. Troops crossed a lagoon and entered the town of Mullaittivu before encountering heavy resistance from Tamil fighters, according to the government-run news agency. "Our troops fought their way through a 40 km (25 mile) thick jungle track," Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka said in a televised address on Sunday. "This is the long awaited victory and I am happy to say that our heroic forces today captured the Mullaittivu town after 12 years," the Sri Lanka Army chief said. There is no confirmation from the rebels that the strategic garrison has been overtaken. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) -- commonly known as the Tamil Tigers -- have fought for an independent homeland for the country's ethnic Tamil minority since 1983. The civil war has left more than 70,000 people dead. The rebels gained control over Mullaittivu in 1996 and established a military garrison there, according to the government. In recent days, the military has made significant progress in its campaign to recapture rebel strongholds. Earlier this month, troops regained control of the northern town of Elephant Pass, the point at which mainland Sri Lanka links to the northern Jaffna peninsula. It had been in rebel hands for more than nine years. The re-capture enabled the government to use a highway linking the mainland to the peninsula to move troops and supplies. Previously, it was done by air and sea. "The area that the LTTE has dominated has shrank phenomenally," Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India, C.R Jayasinghe, told CNN. "They lost... about 90 percent of what they had." Despite major government gains, critics point to ongoing civilian casualties resultant from the conflict. "This is an important strategic success for the army, but literally tens of thousands of people, children, are in the line of fire," United Nations spokesman James Elder said in a phone conversation Sunday. "Some Sri Lankan U.N. staff are trapped there," he added. "Convoys are going to the area, delivering emergency supplies, but these are not sufficient for the number of people in need." Sri Lankan authorities are barring journalists and humanitarian aid workers from areas where heavy fighting is taking place. Amnesty International spokesman Shuransu Mishra estimated that "over a quarter of a million of the population, mostly Tamils, are trapped between the two sides." The organization says greater access and protection for aid workers and journalists are needed as news agencies struggle to report an accurate picture of the conflict. "The Sri Lankan authorities are doing little to ensure the safety of the country's media, or to prosecute those responsible for murdering or attacking them," Amnesty International spokeswoman Yolanda Foster said in a written statement on Friday. "They (Sri Lankan authorities) are also directly responsible for subjecting journalists to harassment and interrogation," she said. At least 14 journalists have been killed since the start of 2006, according to the statement. Others have been driven from the country by death threats, or in fear of detention and torture by government authorities, it said.
[ "When did rebels gain control?", "Who wants independent homeland?", "Who is making progress?", "When did they do this?", "Who wants an independent homeland?", "Which northern town did troops regain control of?", "What did they establish there?", "Who gained control?" ]
[ [ "1996" ], [ "The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)" ], [ "the military" ], [ "early Sunday morning," ], [ "Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam" ], [ "Elephant Pass," ], [ "military garrison" ], [ "Sri Lankan soldiers" ] ]
Rebels gained control over Mullaittivu in 1996, established a military garrison there . Military making significant progress to recapture rebel strongholds . Earlier this month troops regained control of key northern town of Elephant Pass . Tamils want independent homeland, war since 1983 has left more than 65,000 dead .
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (CNN) -- Sri Lankan soldiers have seized a key rebel stronghold after launching a surprise attack early Sunday morning, the head of Sri Lanka's army announced. Sri Lankan army chief Sarath Fonseka says a key Tamil town has been taken in a national TV broadcast Sunday. Troops crossed a lagoon and entered the town of Mullaittivu before encountering heavy resistance from Tamil fighters, according to the government-run news agency. "Our troops fought their way through a 40 km (25 mile) thick jungle track," Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka said in a televised address on Sunday. "This is the long awaited victory and I am happy to say that our heroic forces today captured the Mullaittivu town after 12 years," the Sri Lanka Army chief said. There is no confirmation from the rebels that the strategic garrison has been overtaken. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) -- commonly known as the Tamil Tigers -- have fought for an independent homeland for the country's ethnic Tamil minority since 1983. The civil war has left more than 70,000 people dead. The rebels gained control over Mullaittivu in 1996 and established a military garrison there, according to the government. In recent days, the military has made significant progress in its campaign to recapture rebel strongholds. Earlier this month, troops regained control of the northern town of Elephant Pass, the point at which mainland Sri Lanka links to the northern Jaffna peninsula. It had been in rebel hands for more than nine years. The re-capture enabled the government to use a highway linking the mainland to the peninsula to move troops and supplies. Previously, it was done by air and sea. "The area that the LTTE has dominated has shrank phenomenally," Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India, C.R Jayasinghe, told CNN. "They lost... about 90 percent of what they had." Despite major government gains, critics point to ongoing civilian casualties resultant from the conflict. "This is an important strategic success for the army, but literally tens of thousands of people, children, are in the line of fire," United Nations spokesman James Elder said in a phone conversation Sunday. "Some Sri Lankan U.N. staff are trapped there," he added. "Convoys are going to the area, delivering emergency supplies, but these are not sufficient for the number of people in need." Sri Lankan authorities are barring journalists and humanitarian aid workers from areas where heavy fighting is taking place. Amnesty International spokesman Shuransu Mishra estimated that "over a quarter of a million of the population, mostly Tamils, are trapped between the two sides." The organization says greater access and protection for aid workers and journalists are needed as news agencies struggle to report an accurate picture of the conflict. "The Sri Lankan authorities are doing little to ensure the safety of the country's media, or to prosecute those responsible for murdering or attacking them," Amnesty International spokeswoman Yolanda Foster said in a written statement on Friday. "They (Sri Lankan authorities) are also directly responsible for subjecting journalists to harassment and interrogation," she said. At least 14 journalists have been killed since the start of 2006, according to the statement. Others have been driven from the country by death threats, or in fear of detention and torture by government authorities, it said.
[ "What year did rebels gain control over Mullaittivu?", "How long has the war lasted?", "Rebels gained control of where?", "What is Tamil independence movement called?", "What do Tamils want?", "What country is being discussed here?", "What area did troops regain control of?", "The military is making progress in what?", "What key northern town was retaken this month?", "What do the Tamils want?", "What was the northern town called?" ]
[ [ "1996" ], [ "12 years,\"" ], [ "Mullaittivu" ], [ "Liberation Tigers of" ], [ "an independent homeland" ], [ "Sri Lanka" ], [ "of the northern town of Elephant Pass," ], [ "in its campaign to recapture rebel strongholds." ], [ "Elephant Pass," ], [ "independent homeland" ], [ "Elephant Pass," ] ]
Rebels gained control over Mullaittivu in 1996, established a military garrison there . Military making significant progress to recapture rebel strongholds . Earlier this month troops regained control of key northern town of Elephant Pass . Tamils want independent homeland, war since 1983 has left more than 65,000 dead .
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (CNN) -- Sri Lankan soldiers seized a key rebel stronghold over the weekend, as humanitarian agencies feared for the safety of civilians. Sri Lankan troops at Elephant Pass, the isthmus that connects north Jaffna peninsula to rest of the country. "It's an incredibly serious situation," James Elder, a U.N. spokesman, said Monday. "We have a very large number of people, including tens of thousands of children, trapped in a fast-shrinking conflict zone." Government forces took the area in a surprise attack early Sunday, the head of Sri Lanka's army announced. Troops crossed a lagoon and entered the town of Mullaittivu before encountering heavy resistance from Tamil fighters, according to the government-run news agency. "Our troops fought their way through a 40 km (25 mile) thick jungle track," Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka said in a televised address Sunday. "This is the long-awaited victory and I am happy to say that our heroic forces today captured the Mullaittivu town after 12 years," he said. There has been no confirmation from the rebels that the strategic garrison has been overtaken. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) -- commonly known as the Tamil Tigers -- have fought for an independent homeland for the country's ethnic Tamil minority since 1983. The civil war has left more than 70,000 people dead. The rebels gained control over Mullaittivu in 1996 and established a military garrison there, according to the government. In recent days, the military has made significant progress in its campaign to recapture rebel strongholds. Earlier this month, troops regained control of the northern town of Elephant Pass, the point at which mainland Sri Lanka links to the northern Jaffna peninsula. It had been in rebel hands for more than nine years. The recapture enabled the government to use a highway linking the mainland to the peninsula to move troops and supplies. Previously, it was done by air and sea. "The area that the LTTE has dominated has shrank phenomenally," Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India, C.R Jayasinghe, told CNN. "They lost ... about 90 percent of what they had." Despite major government gains, critics point to ongoing civilian casualties resultant from the conflict. "This is a critical moment in the conflict when the space for these people has shrunk," Elder said. The United Nations is "calling on the ... Tamil Tigers to meet their international responsibilities and guarantee that these very large civilian populations to move freely and then can move away from the conflict and to areas where they can receive appropriate assistance," Elder said. "Some Sri Lankan U.N. staff are trapped there," he said in a Sunday interview. "Convoys are going to the area, delivering emergency supplies, but these are not sufficient for the number of people in need." Sri Lankan authorities are barring journalists and humanitarian aid workers from areas where heavy fighting is taking place. Amnesty International spokesman Shuransu Mishra estimated that "over a quarter of a million of the population, mostly Tamils, are trapped between the two sides." The organization says greater access and protection for aid workers and journalists are needed as news agencies struggle to report an accurate picture of the conflict. "The Sri Lankan authorities are doing little to ensure the safety of the country's media, or to prosecute those responsible for murdering or attacking them," Amnesty International spokeswoman Yolanda Foster said in a written statement on Friday. The Sri Lankan authorities "are also directly responsible for subjecting journalists to harassment and interrogation," she said. At least 14 journalists have been killed since the start of 2006, according to the statement. Others have been driven from the country by death threats, or in fear of detention and torture by government authorities, it said.
[ "What do the Tamils want?", "Which northern town did troops regain control of?", "When did the enemy forces attack?", "What did groups regain control over?", "What did government forces do?", "When did the Tamil Tigers take control of Mullaittivu?", "When did the war start?", "What group gained control over Mullaittivu?", "When did the Tamil Tigers gain control over Mullaittivu?", "Who wants independent homeland?", "Who took the area in a surprise attack early Sunday?", "Who regained control of Elephant Pass?", "When did government forces take the area?", "When did the Tamil Tigers gain control over Mullaittivu?", "What do the Tamils want?", "What did Rebel Tamil Tigers gain control over in 1996?", "What key northern town did they regain control of?" ]
[ [ "an independent homeland for the country's ethnic" ], [ "Elephant Pass," ], [ "early Sunday," ], [ "Elephant Pass," ], [ "took the area in a surprise attack" ], [ "1996" ], [ "1983." ], [ "Government forces" ], [ "1996" ], [ "Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam" ], [ "Government forces" ], [ "troops" ], [ "in a surprise attack early Sunday, the head of Sri Lanka's army announced." ], [ "in 1996" ], [ "an independent homeland" ], [ "Mullaittivu" ], [ "over Mullaittivu in 1996 and established a military garrison there, according to the government." ] ]
Government forces took the area in a surprise attack early Sunday . Rebel Tamil Tigers gained control over Mullaittivu in 1996 . Earlier this month troops regained control of key northern town of Elephant Pass . Tamils want independent homeland, war since 1983 has left more than 70,000 dead .
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (Reuters) -- Humble woodcutter Mohammed Sultan Nafeek's teenage daughter moved to Saudi Arabia to work as a housemaid to support her family after they were displaced by the 2004 tsunami. Now she is on death row, and all he can do is pray. Razeena Mohammad (left) and Mohammad Sultan Nafeek, parents of Rizana Nafeek. Rizana, who was 17 when she started work in Saudi Arabia, was convicted of killing a 4-month-old baby boy in her care just two weeks into her job. Nafeek says the child died accidentally, choking on milk. His daughter was sentenced to beheading in a case rights groups say underlines the vulnerability of many of the 1.5 million Sri Lankans who work abroad -- nearly 400,000 of them in Saudi Arabia alone. "Our family was suffering hardship, and so our daughter volunteered to go and work abroad to send money home," Nafeek told Reuters by telephone from his modest home in Mutur in Sri Lanka's war-torn northeast. After the December 2004 tsunami forced them from their home, the family was displaced again by renewed civil war between the state and separatist Tamil Tiger rebels. Nafeek visited Saudi Arabia with Sri Lanka's deputy foreign minister this month in a bid to secure clemency and met with relations of the dead child's parents but came away empty handed. Under Saudi law, a pardon is the gift of the family of the victim, and so far the parents of the dead child have refused to meet either the family or Sri Lankan officials. "The cops told us: 'Go and pray to Allah. If you can get the forgiveness of the parents, your daughter will be free,' " he said. "So I am praying all the time." "If we had been able to meet the parents, we are sure they would have been willing to forgive our daughter after seeing our situation." The Sri Lankan government is investigating the agency that sent Rizana to work abroad when she was technically still a child but remains hopeful she will be pardoned or exonerated. "I am fairly confident," said Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Bhaila. "We have spoken to tribal leaders of their particular tribe, we have spoken to area officials... It is they who will now have to speak (to the parents)." "His Excellency the President (Mahinda Rajapaksa) has been following this case very keenly. This is an exceptional case because of her tender age," he added. Rights groups accuse the government of failing to protect its expatriate workers -- one of the main sources of foreign-exchange revenues for the $23 billion economy -- with legal aid. They also decry Saudi Arabia's legal system. "This case raises many troubling questions about the treatment of children and foreigners in Saudi Arabia's criminal-justice system," Human Rights Watch said in a statement issued overnight. "International law prohibits the death penalty for crimes committed before the age of 18." Saudi Arabia executed four Sri Lankans convicted of armed robbery earlier this year, and did not inform Sri Lankan authorities beforehand. Sri Lanka reinstated its own death penalty in 2004 after the murder of a high court judge, but it has been dormant since 1976. There is no indication any of the dozens of convicted murderers, rapists and drug smugglers on death row in Sri Lanka and effectively serving life prison terms will actually be executed. E-mail to a friend
[ "What displaced her family?", "What was the girl's age?", "Who died accidentally, choking on milk?", "What was the girl convicted of?", "What did Nafeek say about the death?", "When was the family displaced by a tsunami?", "What did the child choke on?", "What was a girl convicted of?", "Who was convicted of killing baby in her care in Saudi Arabia?" ]
[ [ "2004 tsunami." ], [ "17" ], [ "the child" ], [ "killing a 4-month-old baby" ], [ "the child died accidentally, choking on milk." ], [ "2004" ], [ "milk." ], [ "killing a 4-month-old baby boy in her care" ], [ "Rizana Nafeek." ] ]
Girl convicted of killing baby in her care in Saudi Arabia when she was 17 . Nafeek says the child died accidentally, choking on milk . Girl's family displaced by December 2004 tsunami, renewed civil war in Sri Lanka .
COLORADO CITY, Arizona (CNN) -- A 16-year-old girl in Arizona has alleged sexual abuse in a Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints community, sources in Arizona told CNN Friday. Warren Jeffs is the jailed leader of FLDS groups in Arizona, Utah, Texas and elsewhere. Authorities are investigating calls made by a teenage girl alleging abuse in her home by a male relative, according to the sources, who said the calls were similar to those made last week to Texas authorities from the polygamist sect's ranch in Eldorado, Texas. The Texas calls prompted a law enforcement raid in which more than 400 children were taken into state custody. The sources told CNN the Arizona calls came from a teenager in an FLDS household. Church members openly practice polygamy in Colorado City and in Hildale, Utah -- two towns straddling the Arizona-Utah state line. Warren Jeffs, the 52-year-old leader and "prophet" of the 10,000-member sect, was convicted in Utah last year on two counts of being an accomplice to rape, charges related to a marriage he performed in 2001. He faces trial in Arizona on eight charges of sexual conduct with a minor, incest and conspiracy. Critics of the sect say it forces girls as young as 13 into arranged marriages. E-mail to a friend
[ "What are the call reportedly similar to?", "Which male relative was the girl abused by?", "What number of children were removed from compound?", "What are authorities investigating?", "What person led the Arizona polgamist sect?", "What sparked the raid in Texas?", "Who is the jailed prophet?" ]
[ [ "those made last week" ], [ "Warren Jeffs" ], [ "400" ], [ "calls made by a teenage girl alleging abuse" ], [ "Warren Jeffs" ], [ "calls" ], [ "Warren Jeffs" ] ]
Authorities investigate calls by girl alleging abuse by male relative . Calls reportedly similar to those that sparked raid at Texas polygamist ranch . Arizona polygamist sect also led by jailed "prophet" Warren Jeffs . More than 400 children removed from sect's compound in Texas .
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (CNN) -- President Bush told the 2008 graduating class at the U.S. Air Force Academy on Wednesday that the "only way America could lose the war on terror is if we defeat ourselves." President Bush and Air Force Academy graduate Michael Riddick of Aiken, South Carolina, celebrate graduation. Speaking on a cloudy day at Falcon Stadium, the president compared the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to America's earlier conflicts, particularly World War II. "Our nation is once again contending with an ideology that seeks to sow anger, hatred and despair: the ideology of Islamic extremism," he said. "In today's struggle, we are once again facing evil men who despise freedom and despise America and aim to subject millions to their violent rule. "We assumed this obligation before," he said, referring to the rebuilding of Germany and Japan after World War II, a conflict that saw the loss of more than 400,000 American lives. Watch more of Bush's speech » "Germany and Japan, once mortal enemies, are now allies of the United States. And people across the world have reaped the benefits from that alliance," he said. "Today, we must do the same in Afghanistan and Iraq. ... We'll lay the foundation of peace for generations to come." But today's wars differ from those of the past, Bush acknowledged, and not only because of modern technology that allows "greater precision" in warfare. "One challenge is that in the past, in Germany and Japan, the work of rebuilding took place in relative quiet," he said. "Today, we're helping emerging democracies rebuild under fire from terrorist networks and state sponsors of terror. This is a difficult and unprecedented task -- and we're learning as we go." The measure of success in war has changed, he said. "In the past ... there were public surrenders, a signing ceremony on the deck of a battleship, victory parades in American cities. Today, when the war continues after the regime has fallen, the definition of success is more complicated." Nonetheless, he said, in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is a clear definition of success: when those countries are rid of al Qaeda, when they are economically viable, when they are democracies that can govern effectively and when they are strong allies on the war on terror. "These successes will come," he told the class. "And when they do, our nation will have achieved victory, and the American people will be more secure. "
[ "what did bush say", "Where does he predict that successes will come?", "Who speaks at the USAF Academy graduation?", "What does he compare the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to?", "What is the only way America could lose the war on terror?", "Where will Bush speak Wednesday?", "where does bush speak", "what was the main point of bush speech" ]
[ [ "\"only way America could lose the war on terror is if we defeat ourselves.\"" ], [ "Afghanistan and Iraq." ], [ "President Bush" ], [ "America's earlier conflicts, particularly World" ], [ "if we defeat ourselves.\"" ], [ "U.S. Air Force" ], [ "Academy" ], [ "the \"only way America could lose the war on terror is if we defeat ourselves.\"" ] ]
President Bush speaks at U.S. Air Force Academy graduation Wednesday . Bush: "Only way America could lose the war on terror is if we defeat ourselves" He compares the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to America's earlier conflicts . Successes in Iraq and Afghanistan "will come," he told the class .
COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) -- Democratic Sen. Barack Obama kicked off a series of local outreach gospel concerts Friday in Charleston, South Carolina, that unexpectedly came back to bite his campaign. Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama is competing for the black vote with Hillary Clinton. The concerts were meant to boost black voters' support for his presidential nominee bid -- the kind of events that would normally fly under the national radar. The ensuing controversy highlighted that Obama's desire to unite disparate voting blocs -- especially religious voters -- under his umbrella of "change" is not without some serious pitfalls. When the campaign announced the lineups for the three-city "Embrace the Change!" gospel tour last week, one name stood out to gay bloggers: Donnie McClurkin. The Grammy-award winning singer is on record as saying homosexuality is a choice, and that he was "once involved with those desires and those thoughts" but was able to get past them through prayer. To say the least, neither of those arguments is very popular in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. John Aravosis, a prominent gay blogger and co-founder of the Web site AmericaBlog, led the charge against the Obama campaign, writing that the Illinois Democrat was "sucking up to anti-gay bigots" and "giving them a stage." When the story bubbled up into the mainstream media, it took the Obama campaign by surprise. Obama's efforts in the Palmetto State have overwhelmingly targeted African-American churchgoers in a bid to win over black voters in South Carolina from rival Sen. Hillary Clinton. The campaign has vigorously promoted the candidate's faith, launching "40 Days of Faith and Family" in September, which used Bible study groups to tap into the black electorate. Campaigners have run three radio ads, one of which called Obama a "Christian family man," that aired on gospel stations across the state. Earlier this month, Obama spoke at an evangelical church in the traditionally conservative city of Greenville, where he demonstrated a casual familiarity with Christian vocabulary, telling the crowd, to much applause, that "I am confident that we can create a kingdom right here on Earth." After that appearance, the Obama campaign told CNN that Republicans no longer had a choke hold on issues of faith and values. "I think that what you're seeing is a breaking down of the sharp divisions that existed maybe during the '90s," Obama said. "At least in politics, the perception was that the Democrats were fearful of talking about faith, and on the other hand you had the Republicans who had a particular brand of faith that oftentimes seemed intolerant or pushed people away." But on Tuesday, Obama was forced to confront the uncomfortable truth that some Christians and gays are a little more than just strange bedfellows, especially among blacks. Obama issued a statement saying, "I strongly disagree with Reverend [Donnie] McClurkin's views and will continue to fight for these rights as president of the United States," and argued that it is important to confront homophobia among religious African Americans. A September poll of African Americans in South Carolina by Winthrop University and ETV showed that 62 percent of those surveyed said that "sex between two adults of the same sex" is "strongly unacceptable." Obama held a conference call Wednesday with Joe Solomonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, and announced that the Rev. Andy Sidden, an openly gay South Carolina pastor, will appear at the same event as McClurkin on Sunday in Columbia. Solomonese was not completely assuaged. "I spoke with Senator Barack Obama today and expressed to him our community's disappointment for his decision to continue to remain associated with Reverend McClurkin, an anti-gay preacher who states the need to 'break the curse of homosexuality,'" he said in a statement. "There is no gospel in Donnie McClurkin's message for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people and their allies. That's a message that certainly doesn't belong on any presidential candidate's stage.
[ "Who else was asked to appear?", "What about the butt lineup offends homosexuals?", "where is Obama holding concerts?", "What was Obama's reaction to the preacher-singer's views?", "what has angered homosexuals?", "Who was offended?", "Who is offended by the appearance of anti-gay singer?", "Where were the concerts held?", "What concerts is Obama holding to win over African-American Christians?", "who has Obama asked to appear?", "Who is Obama trying to win over in S. Carolina?", "What caused Obama to disavow preacher-singer's views?" ]
[ [ "Rev. Andy Sidden," ], [ "The Grammy-award winning singer is on record as saying homosexuality is a choice," ], [ "Charleston, South Carolina," ], [ "disagree with Reverend [Donnie] McClurkin's" ], [ "saying homosexuality is a choice, and" ], [ "transgender community." ], [ "gay bloggers:" ], [ "Charleston, South Carolina," ], [ "gospel" ], [ "Rev. Andy Sidden," ], [ "black vote" ], [ "is on record as saying homosexuality is a choice," ] ]
Obama holding concerts to win over African-American Christians in S. Carolina . But lineup offends homosexuals, angered by appearance of anti-gay singer . Obama disavows preacher-singer's views, asks gay pastor to appear too .
COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) -- South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford left the Governor's Mansion on Friday to visit with his family in Florida, his office said. South Carolina first lady Jenny Sanford says her husband, Mark, must rebuild trust with his family and with the state. Sanford departed the mansion, where he has spent much of the last 48 hours, in the passenger seat of a state vehicle. The Republican governor will spend the Fourth of July holiday weekend with his wife and their four boys. "The Sanford family asks members of the media to respect their privacy while they are together this weekend," his spokesman said in a statement Thursday. "The Sanfords also hope to take a longer family vacation toward the end of July." After disappearing for nearly a week, Sanford admitted last week that he'd been in Argentina with his mistress. His admission followed days of confusion over his whereabouts. His staff had said the governor was hiking the Appalachian Trail, and his wife had told reporters she did not know where he was. He later revealed to The Associated Press that he'd seen his mistress several times in the past year and that he'd also "crossed lines" with other women. Jenny Sanford released a statement Thursday calling Sanford's actions "inexcusable," but she left the door open to reconciling with her husband. She said that although she is willing to forgive her husband, "it is up to the people and elected officials of South Carolina to decide whether they will give Mark another chance as well." "Actions have consequences, and he will be dealing with those consequences for a long while. Trust has been broken and will need to be rebuilt. Mark will need to earn back that trust, first and foremost with his family, and also with the people of South Carolina," she said in a statement. "The real issue now is one of forgiveness. I am willing to forgive Mark for his actions. We have been deeply disappointed in and even angry at Mark." Her statement came shortly after it was announced that a review of the governor's travel records showed no misuse of public funds in his travels. Sanford already paid back the state for the Argentina leg of a state-funded missions trip last year because he saw the woman he had an affair with on that trip. "Mark showed a lack of judgment in his recent actions as governor. However, his far more egregious offenses were committed against God, the institutions of marriage and family, our boys and me. Mark has stated that his intent and determination is to save our marriage and to make amends to the people of South Carolina," Jenny Sanford said. In the week after Mark Sanford admitted to his affair, nearly half of South Carolina's 27 Republican state senators called on him to step down. Despite the growing chorus, Sanford has no plans to step aside, his office said Thursday. "He remains committed and determined to repair the damage he has done in his marriage and to building back the trust of the people of South Carolina," his office said. Republican strategist and CNN contributor Bill Bennett said that politically Sanford, once a rising star for the GOP, is "a dead man walking." Bennett joins calls for Sanford's ouster "He is embarrassing himself. There is the old notion of indecent exposure -- usually that refers to somebody showing some skin they shouldn't -- and there's another form of indecent exposure: He is telling us way too much," he said. Watch Bennett discuss the political drama » Bennett also suggested that the GOP can easily fill the gap Sanford would leave. "We have other people," he said. "We have other people who are not only fiscally interesting and sound but also can keep their lives together." CNN's Kristi Keck contributed to this report.
[ "Where is Mark Sanford going?", "What did Sanfords office say?", "who is leaving for a trip to florida", "what wont mark sanford do", "What is the name of the South Carolina Gov.?", "what is jenny sanford willing to do", "What is Jenny willing to do?" ]
[ [ "to visit with his family in Florida," ], [ "has no plans to step aside," ], [ "South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford" ], [ "has no plans to step aside," ], [ "Mark Sanford" ], [ "forgive her husband," ], [ "forgive her husband," ] ]
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford leaves for trip to Florida . Jenny Sanford says she is willing to forgive her husband and reconcile . Mark Sanford isn't resigning, his office says . Nearly half of South Carolina's 27 GOP state senators call on Sanford to resign .
COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) -- South Carolina Republican Party Chairwoman Karen Floyd seemed to suggest Wednesday that the time had come for GOP Gov. Mark Sanford to consider resigning from office. Gov. Mark Sanford has said it's better for him to keep his governorship to "learn lessons." "For the past two days, I have been speaking with Republican leaders across South Carolina," she said in a statement. "There is clearly a growing view that the time may have come for Governor Sanford to remove himself and his family from the limelight, so that he can devote his efforts full-time to repairing the damage in his personal life." The statement comes on the same day as a growing number of GOP state senators called for Sanford to step down. CNN has learned that GOP Sens. Daniel Verdin, Shane Martin, Ronnie Cromer and Wes Hayes joined the anti-Sanford chorus Wednesday morning, bringing the total number of Republican senators calling for the governor's resignation to 13. There are 27 Republicans in the state Senate. Another state senator stopped just short of calling for Sanford to step down Wednesday. Glenn McConnell, Senate president pro tempore, didn't explicitly ask Sanford to resign, but he did ask him "to do the right thing for himself, his family and our state." Sanford and his staff have said repeatedly this week that he will not resign. He wrote in a message to his political action committee e-mail list Monday that while he considered resigning, "I would ultimately be a better person and of more service in whatever doors God opened next in life if I stuck around to learn lessons rather than running and hiding down at the farm." After returning last week from a secret trip to Argentina that his staff and wife didn't know about, Sanford admitted to an extramarital affair with a woman identified as Maria Belen Chapur. Sanford also told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he's "crossed lines" with other women, although Chapur was the only one he had sex with. Watch a report on Sanford's situation » Sanford's support among legislators and grassroots leaders in the state eroded considerably Tuesday after Sanford told The Associated Press he had met with his mistress more times than he had previously disclosed. He also admitted to dalliances with other women. At least four county GOP chairmen have also called for Sanford to go. Glenn McCall, the York County Republican Party chairman who has been leading a grassroots effort against the governor, said Wednesday that he and other conservative activists are postponing a rally at the State House next week because legislators are starting to come out strongly against Sanford. The rally had been scheduled to pressure Senate and House leaders to call for Sanford's resignation and start an investigation into his activities. But now that officials are publicly coming out against the governor and Attorney General Henry McMaster has begun investigating Sanford's travel records, McCall said the rally may not be necessary. "We are hoping that legislators can quietly, in private talks with the governor, ask him if he would please step down," McCall said. A top South Carolina Democrat also called for Sanford's resignation Wednesday. "While I believe an investigation should still be done to determine the full extent of Mark Sanford's abuse of power, [through] his long stream of confessions he has already revealed enough immoral and reprehensible behavior to justify asking him to step [down]," state Democratic Party Chairwoman Carol Fowler said in a statement. "State officials seem unable to do anything except worry and talk about Governor Sanford's extramarital affair, which we learn more about every few hours. "... South Carolina can't afford to be at a standstill for the next 18 months with a governor who ignores his job responsibilities while pursuing personal interests," the statement said. "Any other worker in South Carolina would be fired for not showing up at work with no notice." Late Tuesday, seven GOP senators, including Majority Leader Harvey Peeler, jointly issued a letter demanding that the governor step down because he has lost the trust of South
[ "What did Sanford do?", "Who is the GOP chairwoman?", "Who may have to step down?", "Who is now calling on Sanford to resign?", "Who called on Sanford to resign?", "How many senators are calling for resignation?", "Who suggests Sanford may have to step down?", "What was cancelled?" ]
[ [ "admitted to an extramarital affair" ], [ "Karen Floyd" ], [ "Gov. Mark Sanford" ], [ "South Carolina Republican Party Chairwoman Karen Floyd" ], [ "South Carolina Republican Party Chairwoman Karen Floyd" ], [ "13." ], [ "Karen Floyd" ], [ "rally at the State House" ] ]
GOP chairwoman suggests Sanford may have to step down . 13 of South Carolina's 27 GOP state senators now calling on Sanford to resign . South Carolina Democratic Party chairwoman calls for Sanford's resignation . County GOP Party chair cancels anti-Sanford rally, says it may not be needed .
COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) -- Oprah Winfrey delivered her "favorite" candidate in the presidential race something his campaign hoped for Sunday: the largest crowd yet of any event in the race to '08, according to the Obama campaign. Oprah campaigned with Obama this weekend in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. Although exact figures were not immediately available, campaign officials estimated more than 30,000 people packed into Columbia, South Carolina's Williams-Brice stadium to hear the talk-show queen explain why she believes Obama is the man with the "vision" for America. "Dr. King dreamed the dream. We get to vote that dream into reality by supporting a man who knows not just who we are but who we can be," she told the crowd. South Carolina is one of the first states in the nation to hold its presidential primary, making it key to the success of any presidential candidate. Winfrey gave a similar speech Saturday in the first stop of a two-day, three-state tour with her fellow Chicagoan. She discussed on Sunday stepping out of her "comfort zone" by entering the political scene on behalf of a candidate, and praised Obama's "ear for eloquence and tongue for unvarnished truth. We need politicians to tell the truth and be the truth." Watch what issues are important to Iowans » She also said Obama would bring "a sense of statesmanship" to the White House. Watch Winfrey endorse Obama » After extensive thank-yous to his wife Michelle and to Winfrey -- and acknowledging that the crowd was largely there to see Winfrey, not him -- Obama launched into his stump speech. "I am running because of what Dr. King called 'the fierce urgency of now,' " he said. Covering ground from the Iraq war to the economy to health care, he said, "there is such a thing as being too late -- and that hour is almost upon us." His campaign worked the crowd, passing out cards to sign up supporters and verifying that those who showed up are registered to vote. They handed out cards asking fans to provide their mailing addresses and phone numbers. The cards also featured an "optional" pledge to vote for Obama on January 26. In his speech, Obama did not mention his chief rival by name. But he clearly referred to Sen. Hillary Clinton, saying that if he gets the Democratic nomination, his Republican competitor won't be able to say he ever "supported the Iraq war." Watch how Winfrey's campaigning could give Obama a boost » Clinton was among the Democrats who supported a resolution authorizing force in Iraq in 2002, though in a speech on the Senate floor she said she believed supporting the resolution could ultimately make war itself less likely. Obama was not in the Senate at the time, but gave a speech opposing the possibility of war with Iraq. Clinton has held a lead over Obama in South Carolina, where the Democratic primary consists largely of African-American voters. Clinton had a star of her own on the campaign trail for her Sunday in South Carolina -- her husband, former president Bill Clinton, who addressed a church in the morning. Check out some other celebrities who are endorsing candidates » "She has the best combination of mind and heart and strength of leadership and feeling for ... the problems of ordinary people of anybody I've ever worked with," the former president said Sunday. Clinton was on the campaign trail with her mother and daughter. E-mail to a friend CNN's Peter Hamby and Suzanne Malveaux contributed to this report.
[ "The event was staged in which state?", "What hit Iowa on Saturday?", "What do officials estimate?", "Where are the largest crowd?", "The large crowd supported which candidate?", "Oprah-bama hit where on Saturday?" ]
[ [ "South Carolina" ], [ "Winfrey" ], [ "more than 30,000 people packed into Columbia, South Carolina's Williams-Brice stadium to hear the talk-show queen explain why she believes Obama is the man with the \"vision\" for America." ], [ "Columbia, South Carolina's Williams-Brice stadium" ], [ "Obama" ], [ "South Carolina." ] ]
NEW: Largest crowd yet in the race to '08, said Obama campaign . NEW: Officials estimate more than 30,000 people attended event in S. Carolina . "Oprah-bama" hit Iowa on Saturday; South Carolina, New Hampshire on Sunday .
COMO, Mississippi (CNN) -- Mary Dowden smiles when she thinks about this moment in history. At 80 years old, she's the granddaughter of a slave who was born in a cotton field outside of Como, Mississippi. Mary Dowden, 80, is the granddaughter of a slave. Barack Obama is bringing white and blacks together, she says. It's difficult to put into words how she feels about Barack Obama, the issues so complex for a black country girl who lost both her parents by the age of 18 and then had to work a hard-scrabble life as a sharecropper. "I was really afraid for him, because I didn't want nobody to kill him," she says when asked about casting her ballot for Obama. But she pauses and smiles. "I'm awfully proud of him, as a black person." Watch "white and black is coming together" » Did she ever think she would see this moment? "No, I didn't," she says. "I always thought that, you know, the white was over the black, that they was the leading folks, that one nation is gonna be over another one, and that would be the white over the black. I never thought it would be a black president." With Obama's election, CNN.com traveled to the town of Como to talk with African-Americans about their experience growing up black in Mississippi and what this moment in history means to them. Como is a town of 1,400 people 45 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee, along Interstate 55. It is a hard-hit rural community, home to a school with the dubious distinction of being among the worst-performing schools in the nation. In 2007, the IRS froze the town's bank accounts for not paying payroll taxes. A railroad track cuts through the middle of town. Even to this day, blacks largely live on one side of the track; whites on the other side. See the hard-scrabble life of a slave's grandson » Dowden is a living testament to a life of struggle, sacrifice and ultimately success. When she was 10 years old, her mom cooked a dewberry pie after working the cotton fields all day. She then went to a friend's house and died. "It was real devastating," Dowden says softly. "I was 10. My sister was 12, and we didn't know how to do nothing. And we had to take care of our little brother." She missed one year of schooling because her father, Moses Wilson, couldn't afford schoolbooks. He died four days after she turned 18. She had two photos of her parents, but they were lost over the years. She knows even less about her grandparents. "All I know is, he said that his momma was sold. She was auctioned off," Dowden says. "I don't know where she was from. I don't know anything about her." Dowden is a mother of 12. One son died when he was 3; another died when he was 47. "It was hard both ways." Across town, a group of African-Americans have gathered at Cistern Hill Church to talk about the good times and the hard times -- and hope for a better future. They range in age from 74 to 18. Watch "I started working when I was 6 years old" » Aubrey "Bill" Turner, 26, perks up when talking about Obama. "He's going to bring a sense of respect in Mississippi, that it's not just a white man's country. You can be young, you can be black, and you can do anything that you want to do," Turner says. "You do have a chance. And he's gonna put that all on the table for us." Turner has a tattoo across his neck that reads "Mr. Ssippi." His grandfather was well-known fife musician Otha Turner, whose music was
[ "Who is descended from a slave?", "Where did CNN.com interview blacks?", "Who says she is the granddaughter of a slave?", "Where did CNN.com travel?", "What is Obama's inspiration?", "What is Mary Dowden's age?", "What inspiration does Obama offer?", "Who was Mary Dowden afraid for?", "Who is the granddaughter of a slave?" ]
[ [ "Mary Dowden" ], [ "COMO, Mississippi" ], [ "Mary Dowden" ], [ "COMO, Mississippi" ], [ "Mary Dowden" ], [ "old," ], [ "coming together\"" ], [ "Barack Obama" ], [ "Mary Dowden" ] ]
Mary Dowden, 80, is the granddaughter of a slave . She says she was afraid for Barack Obama because "I didn't want nobody to kill him" CNN.com traveled to Como, Mississippi, to talk with blacks about Obama . Obama's inspiration: "You can be young, you can be black, and you can do anything"
CONYERS, Georgia (CNN) -- "Your daughter is a walking time bomb." We have been told this more times than I like to remember. We have lived every day not knowing if the next breath she takes will be her last. After 22 years in the dark, Mandy Young is grateful to finally have a name for her condition. Her illnesses come so quickly. It's a daily battle of fear, worry, misery, faith and hope. She has been in the hospital more than 100 times. She has suffered one life-threatening infection after another. We share her story, our story, in hopes of helping others. We make sure that Mandy knows this is not just her illness. It's our families' life, our journey. She is not in this alone. It's extremely hard living a life so mysterious that doctors and scientists named her rare disease after her. It's our story about "Mandy's Disease." Mandy was a healthy, nine pound, green-eyed beauty -- until the day she was diagnosed with Spinal Meningitis. Hours and days crept by, waiting every four hours for our ICU visit, 10 minutes of torture. "Your daughter is very sick. Her mind is surely in a vegetated state from the seizures she continues to have. The stroke that she suffered has caused the left side of her body to be paralyzed," the doctors said. See photos of Mandy throughout her ordeal » "She is in a coma and we see no way she will wake up. We really don't think she will live through the night. It's time to tell her goodbye," they continued. Mind spinning, stomach churning, feeling like I've had the breath knocked out of me, I whispered, "NO." "No. We won't tell her goodbye. And you can't either. She has to fight. She has to know that we want her to fight." At 13 months, her left eye turned red. Allergies, Pink Eye, minor infection? All easily treated, and cured. By day five, after six trips to doctors and emergency rooms, when her eye was swollen beyond seeing and looked like a piece of raw meat, we were finally able to beg her doctor for more aggressive testing. Surgery, biopsies and a diagnosis. Nisseria Meningitides. Her eye would be replaced with a glass eye. But only if she lived. Watch Mandy talk about her illness on Vital Signs » At 21 months. Spinal Meningitis again. The same promises of certain death. ICU. Seizures. A 106 degree temperature raged. "There is no way that she has the strength to fight off another infection of this magnitude. It's time to let go. We're losing her by the minute." After the first bout of meningitis we were told, "No one gets it twice. Live your life and enjoy your child!" Then, bout two. Although not the same type of meningitis, it was the same family. It's rare to have it twice. But impossible to have it three times. But time three did come. "You have to find out why this keeps happening. She can't go through this again. What can you do?" we pleaded with the doctors. They told us it could possibly be immune deficiency. This was the first time we heard this term. Mandy was discharged and our journey for a reason began. Our lives were changed forever. Twice a week for the next two years, we handed her over for blood to be drawn. She went into isolation. Daily preventative antibiotics. But nothing stopped the madness of these infections. One fever blister on her lip turned into hundreds during a nap. She was hospitalized on oxygen as the blisters took over her lungs. Double Pneumonia. Scarlet Fever. Ear infection after ear infection. Surgically implanted tubes in her ears, infection, tubes out, surgery, tubes in. 11 times. An abscess the size
[ "When did she get a name for her disease?", "What did Mandy suffer?", "How many years did Mandy suffer?" ]
[ [ "After 22 years" ], [ "Spinal Meningitis." ], [ "22" ] ]
For 22 years, Mandy suffered from a mystery illness, leaving doctors speechless . Mandy's mother recalls how doctors predicted Mandy's death countless times . In 2003, Mandy and her family got what they had longed for: a name for her disease .
COPENHAGEN, Denamrk (CNN) -- Actress Connie Nielsen hit the big time when she starred in "Gladiator" as Lucilla, sister of the deranged Emperor Commodus. Since then she has appeared in hit movies including "One Hour Photo" and "The Hunted". Connie Nielsen has always refused to play the Hollywood fame game. But Nielsen has refused to play the Hollywood fame game and seems drawn to challenging roles in controversial movies, including "The Situation", about the current Iraq war, and "Battle in Seattle", about the anti-globalization riots that took place in Seattle in 1999. Nielsen now lives in the US and returns to Copenhagen every year. She talks to My City, My Life about what makes the city, and its people, so special. CNN: How do you define yourself? Connie Nielsen: I absolutely refuse the fame part of my business. I refuse even the money side of my business. I try to do as good work as I can do, I try to grow in my art and reach for truth. That's what I want from my art, that's what I aspire to. I try to combine my work with my family, that's what I aspire to. I don't say that's the only thing. It's not all work and family, because otherwise you would be saying no to the many other things in life and there are many other things. CNN: The people here are supposed to be incredibly happy -- what do you think? Connie Nielsen: I think it's funny in a way because when I grew up here it was very unusual to hear the word "happiness". If you asked somebody, "what do you wish for in life?" they wouldn't say "happiness." I would have answered "excitement, knowledge," God knows -- I mean, many, many different things, but certainly not "happiness". It seemed like a foreign concept to wish for something that specific and that singular. And I think that a lot of Danes kind of feel like that about being the happiest people in the world. CNN: Is there anything you'd like to change about the city? Connie Nielsen: Anywhere there are social buildings that stuff people into boxes, concentrate poor people there. It's specific to any big city. There was an effort to create buildings that concentrate these people very closely, and their social problems. They are still around in New York, Paris, London and here too. So if I could change anything about Copenhagen, or any other major big city, I would change the way we build buildings or housing for lower income people. I don't think people who are already burdened with social, economic, psychological situations, dysfunctional families, need to be burdened with other people with the same problems. CNN: Is the city politically driven? Connie Nielsen: I don't think I can remember a moment in my life where people didn't discuss politics. People discuss politics at the table. I think some of the first information I received was politically charged (laughs). It was at a time when girls were being told, "Why don't you go and learn how to repair machines rather than learn to repair your jumper? Why don't you learn to cut wood rather than learn to keep a house clean?" in school. It was to make us conscious of what we were, how we defined ourselves and why you would accept one concept of yourself rather than another. Have you searched through the truth of that concept? Have you deconstructed? Have you made sure that its foundations are valid? That's how I grew up and I think it was wonderful. CNN: How would you describe the city architecturally? Connie Nielsen: It's everything here from very late renaissance to this 19th century golden age we had here. It's that, intermixed with pure Danish modernism. I love the juxtaposition of it all. I love when we bring in metaphors for our past as well.
[ "What country is Coppenhagen in?", "Who refuses the fame and money?", "What is the actor's name?", "Who is Connie Nielsen?", "Who refused fame and money?" ]
[ [ "Denamrk" ], [ "Connie Nielsen: I absolutely" ], [ "Connie Nielsen" ], [ "Actress" ], [ "Connie Nielsen" ] ]
Connie Nielsen says she refuses the fame and money side of acting . She says the long winters mean the residents have to be creative . Copenhagen is full of history and culture, and Nielsen loves its museums . The city is very beautiful and the light has "a very special quality," she says .
COPENHAGEN, Denamrk (CNN) -- What makes someone decide to become an actor? It sometimes seems as if the average Hollywood star is motivated mainly by the promise of a fat pay check. Connie Nielsen shot to fame playing Lucilla in "Gladiator." Or perhaps they're drawn to the celebrity lifestyle. Maybe they crave the love of an adoring public, or perhaps they see the movies as a way to leave their mark on the world, to be immortalized on celluloid. For Danish actress Connie Nielsen it was something quite different. For her, being an actor means being an outsider. "As an artist you actually do have to make a choice to be an outsider. If you're an outsider you have the freedom to say what people on the inside don't dare to say," she told CNN. So Connie Nielsen is not your typical movie star. As a 5-foot-10-inch blonde Scandinavian beauty she has the looks of a classic silver screen siren, but she has steadfastly resisted a career as Hollywood eye candy and rejected the lifestyle that goes with it. "I absolutely refuse the fame part of my business," she says. "I refuse even the money side of my business. I try to do as good work as I can do, I try to grow in my art and reach for truth," she says. Raised in Elling, a small coastal village in Denmark, she is fluent in seven languages and studied acting in France and Italy, making her screen debut in French comedy "Par Où T'es Rentré? On T'a Pas Vu Sortir" (U.S. title "How Did You Get In? We Didn't See You Leave") in 1984. She appeared in more French and Italian movies before landing a role opposite Al Pacino and Keanu Reeves in "The Devil's Advocate" in 1997. But it wasn't until 2000, when she was cast in Ridley Scott's Oscar-winning "Gladiator", that Nielsen landed a role that really let her show her acting ability. As Lucilla, the sister of the villainous Emperor Commodus, Nielsen brought some much-needed subtlety to the swords-and-sandals epic and held her own sharing the screen with Joaquin Phoenix and Russell Crowe. The movie made Nielsen an international star and she scored other successes with "One Hour Photo" in 2002, and "The Hunted" in 2003. But while the success of "Gladiator" opened doors for her, it also meant she had to fight the kind of typecasting that would try to limit her to playing "the love interest" to a male lead who got all the good lines. Nielsen has in the past been critical of Hollywood for its lack of female roles, saying "you think once you've shown what you can do, and your movies have been successful, that snap, you work. So to discover the difference between guys' roles and girls' roles made me plain mad. It's unjust." But Nielsen has refused to be pigeonholed, seemingly drawn to difficult roles in controversial movies. She appeared in French movie "Demonlover", which dealt with pornography, violence and corporate amorality, while more recent films have taken on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Danish drama "Brødre" (U.S. title "Brothers") is about a soldier who returns from Afghanistan a broken man, unable to communicate his experiences from the conflict. Playing his wife, Nielsen put in a powerful performance that won her awards and served to highlight how Hollywood had underused her talents. "The Situation" in 2006 was billed as the first film to be made about the Iraq war and told the story of ordinary Iraqis caught up in the conflict, while "Battle of Seattle" examined how peaceful protests erupted into riots when the World Trade Organization met in Seattle in 1999. Of her choice of subject matter, Nielsen says that rather than making a political point she is trying to show the human aspects of the conflicts. But Nielsen makes it clear that her career is not the focus of her life and she stresses the importance of making time
[ "What number of languages does Nielsen speak?", "What kind of movies has she been in?", "Where did she appear?", "Who speaks several languages?", "Who made her name?", "Does she speak any other languages?", "Who did Connie Nielson play?", "What movie was Connie Nielsen in?", "Who made her name playing Lucilla in \"Gladiator\"?", "What wars have her movies dealt with?", "What did the movies deal with?" ]
[ [ "seven" ], [ "\"Gladiator.\"" ], [ "\"Gladiator.\"" ], [ "Connie Nielsen" ], [ "Connie Nielsen" ], [ "seven" ], [ "Lucilla in \"Gladiator.\"" ], [ "\"Gladiator.\"" ], [ "Connie Nielsen" ], [ "Afghanistan and Iraq." ], [ "pornography, violence and corporate amorality," ] ]
Connie Nielsen made her name playing Lucilla in Ridley Scott's "Gladiator" She has appeared in movies dealing with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq . Nielsen speaks seven languages and is passionate about art and literature .
CORAL SPRINGS, Florida (CNN) -- Authorities solved a 31-year-old disappearance this year when they found the remains of Jeff Klee, missing since 1977, in a van in a canal. Jeff Klee had been missing since 1977; his remains were found this year. But prosecutors have announced that no charges would be filed against the man who, authorities say, admits that he put Klee's body in the van three decades earlier. "Today is a sad day for our family," Klee's sister, Laurel Steele, told reporters Thursday. "It tests my family's faith to its very core." Klee's remains were found in March during a routine police sweep for stolen vehicles in the C-14 canal in Coral Springs, Florida. The van was in neutral when police discovered it. DNA confirmed Klee's identity, but authorities say there was not enough evidence to determine how he died -- and whether he had been killed. Watch Klee's sister react to the decision » The Broward County State Attorney's Office said the statute of limitations on possible manslaughter charges expired in 1980. As for a more serious charge such as first-degree murder to which a statute of limitations would not apply, prosecutors said they don't have any evidence of premeditation or that the death was caused by a criminal act. Police had long thought Klee's best friend, David Cusanelli, was the last person to see him alive June 21, 1977. According to a memorandum released Thursday by the Broward County State Attorney's Office, Cusanelli told authorities this July 28 that he put Klee's body inside his black Chevy van after he was dead and that his brother, Carl Cusanelli, helped shove the van into the canal. But Cusanelli denied involvement in Klee's death, prosecutors said. Mitch Polay, the defense attorney for the Cusanelli brothers, reiterated that denial. He said the brothers' statements "were taken out of context, and they were posed as hypotheticals to drum up potential memories of the event." "My clients, for 31 years, have denied any involvement," Polay told CNN. "They had no involvement with pushing any van into the water, nor did they have any involvement with the death of Jeff Klee." According to the prosecution memorandum, Cusanelli told police that he and Klee had an argument over a former girlfriend. Cusanelli said Klee began to chase him out at the canal that night, the document alleges. Cusanelli said that "all he remembers is, he turned around and saw that Jeff had fallen and was on the ground, and his head was split open, and there was a lot of blood," according to the document. "There was definitely a confrontation that night, which resulted in Jeff Klee's death," lead Detective David Weissman said Thursday. Cusanelli told police that he ran away from Klee because he was in fear of his life and that he has no idea how Klee fell. Cusanelli concedes that he may have thrown a rock at Klee, according to the prosecution memo. Cusanelli, according to the memo, said he panicked and put Klee's body inside his van. He then called his brother Carl, who helped push the vehicle into the canal, the memo alleges. In the state attorney's memorandum, Cusanelli said Klee was bleeding from a serious head wound and was not breathing. He told authorities he would never have put Klee's body into the van and rolled it into the canal if Klee wasn't dead, the memo says. Carl Cusanelli told police he helped push the van into the canal, the memo says, but denied any knowledge that Klee may have been in the van at the time. David Cusanelli also told police that he thinks he blocked the whole incident from his memory and that only recently did some details begin to materialize, according to the prosecution memo. "It's turned their worlds upside down. They are very upset," said Polay, the defense attorney. "Thirty-one years ago, David was best friends with Jeff Klee
[ "What is his name?", "When was the man's death?", "How much evidence do they have?", "What was found in a van?" ]
[ [ "Jeff Klee," ], [ "1977," ], [ "any" ], [ "remains of Jeff Klee," ] ]
Prosecutors say they won't pursue charges in death of man from 1977 . Remains of Jeff Klee were found in van in a canal in Florida this year . Authorities say there's not enough evidence to determine cause of death . "Justice has been denied," Klee's sister says .
COVINGTON, Louisiana (CNN) -- A woman recruited over the Internet and shot to death during a Ku Klux Klan group's initiation rite felt a need to be wanted and was eager to be part of a group, authorities say family members told them. Relatives describe Cynthia Lynch as having a deep need to feel wanted and eager to join groups. Her relatives told investigators that Cynthia Lynch, 43, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, had never been outside her home state, said Capt. George Bonnett of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Department. But she recently took a bus to Slidell, Louisiana, where she was met by two Klan members and taken to a campsite in the woods near Sun, Louisiana, about 60 miles north of New Orleans. Bonnett and Sheriff Jack Strain gave CNN this account of what happened: During the initiation rite, members of the Klan group, which calls itself the Sons of Dixie, shaved Lynch's head. After 24 hours of drills, including chanting and running with torches, she asked to be taken to town. An argument began and the group's leader, Chuck Foster, allegedly pushed her to the ground and shot her to death without warning. Lynch wanted to leave the campsite because she was homesick, investigators concluded after talking to Lynch's family in Tulsa. Watch how an initiation rite went wrong » Strain told CNN that Foster used a knife to remove the bullet. Other members of the Sons of Dixie helped cover up the slaying for Foster, their leader or "Grand Lordship," Strain added. The attempt to conceal the killing included burning the woman's personal items, Strain said. The new details emerged Thursday as the FBI announced it was assisting local authorities. The FBI's top agent in New Orleans, Louisiana, said the agency usually doesn't monitor specific groups, but will look into whether any federal laws were violated. "The FBI is working closely with local law enforcement authorities investigating this recent incident," said Special Agent in Charge David W. Welker. He added that the FBI would "aggressively investigate" any leads and urged anyone with information to call the FBI at 504-816-3000 Sheriff's investigators said they received the intitial tip about the killing from a convenience store clerk. Two of the group members went into the store and asked the clerk if he knew how to get bloodstains out of their clothes, Strain said. The clerk told them no, and called the sheriff after they left. Officials tracked down those two members and arrested them. Authorities established telephone contact with other members of the group who were still at the campsite and let them know law enforcement officials were on their way. They surrendered without incident. Foster was elsewhere in the woods, but he also surrendered, the sheriff said. Watch report on Klan initiation gone awry » The woman's body was found under loose brush along a road several miles from the campsite. At the campsite, investigators found Confederate flags, KKK banners, five Klan robes and an Imperial Wizard robe. Foster, 44, is charged with second-degree murder. He remained Thursday at the St. Tammany Parish jail with no bail set, authorities said. Seven other suspects also remained in jail Thursday, charged with obstruction of justice. Bail for each was set at $500,000. On Wednesday, sheriff's investigators searched a house Foster had rented for the past five years in Bogalusa. They found Klan paraphernalia, documents and computer files. Among the seized documents were membership applications, titles and a chain of command for group members "We recovered various documents out of that home that are giving us an indication of the organizational structure and the organizational guidelines of the group," Bonnett said. Fred Oswold, chief of criminal investigations for the sheriff's office, said the Sons of Dixie Klan group is small and that most of its members already had been arrested. "So far we have learned that they were a small group, but they were fairly organized," said Oswold, who said his agency is working with the
[ "What does the group call itself?", "Who is working with the FBI?", "Age of Chuck Foster?", "How old is Foster?", "Who was charged with second-degree murder?", "What does the Louisiana Klan goup call itself?", "Who is the FBI working with?", "What was Chuck Foster charged with?", "Who called themselves the \"Sons of Dixie\"?", "Who was working with local police?", "What person was killed?", "Who are the \"Sons of Dixie\"?" ]
[ [ "the Sons of Dixie," ], [ "local law enforcement authorities" ], [ "44," ], [ "44," ], [ "Foster," ], [ "Sons of Dixie," ], [ "local law enforcement authorities" ], [ "second-degree murder." ], [ "Klan group," ], [ "FBI" ], [ "Cynthia Lynch," ], [ "members of the Klan" ] ]
Louisiana Klan group called itself the "Sons of Dixie" FBI says it is working with local police . Chuck Foster, 44, charged with second-degree murder in death of Cynthia Lynch . Others involved in initiation are accused of trying to conceal the killing .
CRANWELL, England (CNN) -- Britain's oldest man and the oldest living veteran of World War I was celebrating his 112th birthday Friday with a party and a fly-past at an air force base. Henry Allingham at a 90th anniversary celebration of the Royal Air Force this year. Henry Allingham is the last surviving member of the Royal Naval Air Service, which he joined in 1915. He saw action at the Battle of Jutland off Denmark the following year, according to the Ministry of Defense. Allingham is also the last surviving founding member of the Royal Air Force, which was created in 1918, nine months before the end of the war. He left the service a year later, the defense ministry said. Friday's events were happening at the Royal Air Force base in Cranwell, England, about 120 miles north of London. Friends of his at the base said Allingham, who arrived in a wheelchair, was looking "fresh." After a birthday lunch, aircraft from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, an aerial display team, planned to fly overhead, the base said. Members of the Falcons Parachute Display Team then planned to drop in and present Allingham with a birthday card from the chief of Britain's air staff. Allingham is Britain's oldest man and the oldest surviving member of the armed forces, according to Guinness World Records. The former aircraft engineer still travels and makes public appearances at military events and commemorations. In July, Allingham had a private audience with Queen Elizabeth and attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace. In November, he laid a wreath in St. Omer, France -- where he was stationed during the war -- to celebrate Armistice Day, the end of World War I. Allingham said last year that he remains active to emphasize the importance of remembering the conflict. "I don't do these things because I enjoy doing them but to keep the memory alive of all my comrades who fought and died in the First World War," he told the Ministry of Defense.
[ "What is the age of Britain's oldest man?", "what is he a member of?", "What is the name of the man?", "what is the age of Britain;s oldest man?", "When was the Royal Air Force formed?" ]
[ [ "112th" ], [ "Royal Naval Air Service," ], [ "Henry Allingham" ], [ "112th" ], [ "1918," ] ]
Britain's oldest man, oldest veteran from World War I, celebrates his 112th birthday . Henry Allingham last founding member of the Royal Air Force, formed in 1918 . Ex-aircraft engineer still travels, makes public appearances at military events .
CRAWFORD, Texas (CNN) -- Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan doesn't come around President Bush's ranch any more, but there's a new kid in town trying to get his attention. Peace activist Alix Bryan traveled 11,000 miles to President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas. Peace activist Alix Bryan, 33, arrived near the ranch here on Saturday afternoon aboard a motor scooter that goes about 55 miles per hour -- on 12-inch wheels. She drove the scooter from the White House to a home in Crawford dubbed by anti-war activists as the "Peace House," mapping out a circuitous route that formed a peace sign. Sheehan used to frequent the house. Bryan bears little resemblance to Sheehan, a California woman who gained national attention as a protest leader after her son Casey was killed fighting in Iraq. Sheehan's loss prompted her to camp near Bush's home in Crawford throughout August 2005, demanding a meeting with the president to discuss her son. Bush refused to see her, and she abandoned her protests in Texas last year. Bryan's odyssey took three months. She journeyed more than 11,000 miles braving elements ranging from rain to wind and even one speeding ticket (which she says she talked her way out of). ( Watch Bryan arrive in Crawford ») "I had my moments actually where I was just exhausted, I mean it's draining," Bryan said upon her arrival in Crawford. "I've ridden in heat from 105 degrees to temperatures (as low as) 40 degrees." Bryan blogged about the trip on the Web site of Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, the liberal presidential candidate, and sustained herself with donations to her own site, www.peacescooter.com. Bryan said she always planned to end her trip in Crawford and hoped to arrive on September 15 after hitting the road from the White House in July. But weather delays and running out of gas once delayed her arrival in Texas until this weekend, when Bush happens to be spending time at his ranch. While the odds of landing a meeting with the president are remote at best, Bryan said if she had the chance she would like to start a dialogue of peace based on the conversations she had with Americans along the way. "I would say even those who voted for Bush do not support this war," she said. But the large crowds of antiwar activists that followed Sheehan around Crawford in the summer of 2005 have long since vanished. A "rally" at the Peace House to celebrate Bryan's arrival drew just a handful of antiwar activists. Nevertheless, Bryan said she was not defeated. "Calm seas," she said, "don't make good sailors." E-mail to a friend
[ "What did Bryan ride for more than 11,000 miles?", "What did the activist's route form?", "What did the activist want to do?", "How many miles did Bryan ride his scooter?" ]
[ [ "a motor scooter" ], [ "a peace sign." ], [ "meeting with the president to discuss her son." ], [ "11,000" ] ]
Antiwar activist's route from the White House to Bush's ranch forms peace sign . Bryan rode scooter more than 11,000 miles on circuitous route . Activist says she's hoping to start a dialog to end war in Iraq .
CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio (CNN) -- Camryn Jakeb Wilson was bathed in TV lights the day he was born, celebrated on the local news as Summit County's 2008 New Year's baby after his arrival at 12:33 a.m. January 1. Camryn Jakeb Wilson was the first baby born this year in Summit County, Ohio, arriving at 12:33 a.m. January 1. Just 12 weeks later, he was bathed in warm water minutes after he quietly died in his mother's arms, the victim of shaken baby syndrome. Camryn's 9-year-old sister, Tabatha, asked why he needed a bath now. "We have to get him ready to go to Jesus," a nurse softly replied. Tabatha took up a sponge to help. Camryn's father, Craig R. Wilson, 28, of Cuyahoga Falls, is scheduled for a pretrial hearing on murder and other charges August 20. Police say he confessed to shaking and squeezing the infant after arguing with his wife, Crystal Wilson. But he has pleaded not guilty to all the charges and faces trial in September. "There are no excuses for this to happen to any baby," said Crystal Wilson, 26. "This is murder. He had no reason to die. He died because he cried." An innocent infant's violent death has destroyed a family. Watch the family celebrate Camryn's birth » "It really is a tragedy," said Craig Wilson's defense attorney, Jonathan T. Sinn. "I mean, not only did Crystal and Craig lose a son, but Crystal lost a husband, and Craig's parents lost a son and a grandson. ... One day this was a happy, perfect family, and the next day it's been devastated." The National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome estimates that as many as 1,400 babies annually are injured or killed by shaking. According to the center, 70 percent to 79 percent of people convicted of killing or hurting babies are men. The average age of perpetrators is 24, and 82 percent are either the parent of the victim or the live-in boyfriend of the mother. Watch CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta explain shaken baby syndrome » Craig Wilson and Crystal Twiddy, both recovering alcoholics, met about four years ago in a softball league popular with Alcoholics Anonymous members. The couple beamed in engagement photos shot in a garden setting before they were married in September. It was the first marriage for both. See photos of the family » Craig, the machinist son of the Cuyahoga Falls High School wrestling coach and a former Mat Cats wrestler himself, became a father figure to Tabatha, Crystal's daughter from a previous relationship. The newlyweds also became frequent caretakers to 1-year-old Corrine, a daughter Craig had with another woman. Family members said the couple's only source of conflict was Craig's interaction with Corrine's mother. On March 12, the topic sparked a heated quarrel, according to a police report and family accounts. The couple hurled their wedding rings, along with profane insults, at each other. Crystal left with Tabatha to attend one of her regular AA meetings, leaving baby Camryn in the care of his father. "Maybe they both could have used a meeting that night," Sinn observed. When Crystal and Tabatha got home from the meeting March 12, Crystal immediately noticed that Camryn didn't look right in his baby swing. He was gasping for air but couldn't be wakened. After briefly speaking with an on-call doctor at Akron Children's Hospital, she scooped him up and rushed him there. Camryn was critically injured, with bleeding inside his head and in the backs of his eyes, and several broken ribs -- some of which, according to the autopsy, turned out to be older injuries. Medical personnel at the hospital determined that the combination of injuries could only mean abuse. When rib fractures are seen in a 10-week-old infant, "it's beating up," said Dr. Nicolas Krawiecki, a pediatric neurologist and faculty member at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. He
[ "What year was the baby shaken to death born?", "What did the autopsy indicate?", "What number of weeks old was the infant?", "Who confessed to police?", "Where was the 2008 New Year's baby from?", "Who is the dad's lawyer?", "What was the age of the the infant?" ]
[ [ "2008" ], [ "bleeding inside his head and in the backs of his eyes, and several broken ribs" ], [ "12" ], [ "Craig R. Wilson," ], [ "Summit County, Ohio," ], [ "Jonathan T. Sinn." ], [ "12 weeks" ] ]
2008 New Year's baby of Summit County, Ohio, shaken to death . Father confessed to police, but attorney fighting murder charge . Autopsy on 12-week-old infant indicates earlier injuries . Tragedy destroys family, ruins relationships .
Cairo (CNN) -- A pipeline that supplies gas from Egypt to Israel exploded Monday in the northern Sinai Peninsula near Bir el-Adb, an Egyptian security official said. The explosion appears to be an act of sabotage, said Gen. Saleh al-Masri, the head of security in Egypt's northern Sinai Peninsula. "It is an act of sabotage, but the army and members of Egyptian Natural Gas Company are on the scene trying to understand what happened," al-Masri said. The explosion has shut off the flow of gas to Israel and Jordan, said Ayman Jahin, a general manager at the gas company. It is the third such attack on Egyptian pipeline infrastructure since the toppling of Hosni Mubarak's government earlier in the year. The first two attacks resulted in a halt in the flow of gas to Israel, which receives about 40% of its natural gas from Egypt. The army cordoned off the area around the explosion, asking onlookers to return home," Mohamed Sabry, a freelance journalist at the scene, told CNN. He said flames could be seen shooting into the sky hours after the explosion. Firefighters were working to contain the fire, he said. Delivery of Egyptian gas to Israel came to a halt after an April attack on a pipeline in the Sinai Peninsula. The flow of gas through the pipeline to Israel was restored in early June. In February, a gas pipeline in El Arish that sent natural gas to Jordan was set on fire, shutting off the flow of gas to not only Israel but but Syria, Jordan and Lebanon as well. The issue of gas sales to Israel has become highly controversial in Egypt with various allegations circulating that Israel received below market prices for the gas and that Egyptian government officials enriched themselves on the deal. The Israeli government and Israeli investors in the pipeline have categorically denied below market pricing for the gas and last month one of the major investors released a statement expressing public frustration that the Egyptian government was not moving more quickly to get the gas flowing again and threatened to pursue legal action. The pipeline between Egypt and Israel became operational in 2008 and the arrangement represents one of the major economic agreements between the two countries. CNN's Mohamed Fadel Fahmy contributed to this report.
[ "What was shut off in Israel and Jordan from Egypt?", "How much natural gas from Egypt does Israel receive?", "What did the army do?", "What was shut off?", "What does Israel get from Egypt?", "How much natural gas comes fro Egypt?", "Were onlookers asked to leave?", "What has been shut off in Jordon?", "What has the army done?" ]
[ [ "the flow of gas" ], [ "40% of its" ], [ "cordoned off the area around the explosion," ], [ "the flow of gas to Israel and Jordan," ], [ "natural gas" ], [ "40%" ], [ "asking" ], [ "gas" ], [ "trying to understand" ] ]
Flow of gas to Israel and Jordan from Egypt has been shut off . The army has cordoned off the area and asked onlookers to leave . It is the third such attack since Mubarak's government was toppled . Israel receives approximately 40% of its natural gas from Egypt .
Cairo (CNN) -- Egyptians reveled in their chance to vote in a post-Hosni Mubarak era during a second day of parliamentary elections, but nightfall brought new clashes in Cairo's Tahrir Square that stretched into Wednesday. At least 88 people had been hurt, 28 of them seriously enough to go to a hospital, a Health Ministry official, Dr. Adel Adawi, told the state-run newspaper Al-Ahram. The rest were treated at makeshift clinics in the square, Adawi said, but hospitals expected more people to be brought in. The victims had been hit by rocks, glass bottles, birdshot and Molotov cocktails, Dr. Hisham Sheeha, another Health Ministry official, told CNN. At least a dozen gunshots rang out across the plaza, and ambulances darted in and out of the square as the fighting continued. Tahrir Square was the epicenter of the protests that drove Mubarak from power in February and the ongoing demonstrations against the military council that succeeded him. The state-run Middle East News Agency, citing a military source, said there were no police or troops in the square at the time. Witnesses said Tuesday's melee began with fights between vendors and protesters, who began throwing rocks and attacking their kiosks with sticks. The protesters complained some vendors were giving demonstrations a bad image by selling marijuana, said Mina Hagras, one of the demonstrators who has been camped in the square. "This is not the spirit of the revolutionaries or the square," Hagras said. "They warned them. They did not stop. So they took matters in their own hands and beat them up. Now, state TV is saying all the protesters in (the) square are thugs and drug users. This is not fair." But Mohamed Shafei, whose sandwich stand was destroyed in the brawl, said the protesters turned on the vendors indiscriminately and confiscating their goods. "Yes, there were several vendors selling hashish and pills, but not all of us are the same," Shafei said as he carried the remains of his kiosk. "Now the vendors are pissed and retaliating." The new clashes came after a second day of voting, the first time some Egyptians -- young and old -- have ever cast ballots. Citizens are picking members of the lower house of parliament, which will be tasked with drafting a new constitution after three decades of Mubarak's rule. Despite logistical problems and illegal campaigning that marred the first day of balloting on Monday, Egypt's stock exchange opened considerably higher Tuesday and saw an unprecedented wave of buying amid the elections. Voters decried the late opening of polling stations Monday and a delay in the arrival of ballots, leading the head of Egypt's election committee to promise a smoother voting process Tuesday. Election officials said they have received 964 complaints, 579 of which have been addressed, according to Egypt TV. State TV reported that 25 people were injured in election-related violence. Activist Hafez Abu Saeeda, of the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights, said on Twitter he was in Al-Khaleefa "working on an election tour, and an attack took place on our supporters before I arrived." The army was able to control the situation immediately, he said. One person was injured. But many voters expressed jubilation at their chance to help build a new Egypt after the popular revolt that toppled Mubarak. "Before, there was always cheating. Now -- I could be wrong -- but I think my vote will count," Mohamed Rida'a Mohamed Abdulla said as he left a Cairo polling station. Some polling areas were segregated by gender. Lines at both men's and women's stations snaked around buildings for hours. "It's an awakening," one woman said, beaming, at a Cairo polling station. "I'm very happy, and I feel that even when I see old ladies hardly walking, it makes me feel that really Egypt is reviving." The stakes are high for Egyptian women, who worry that if Islamists gain a majority in the lower house of Parliament, their hopes for a more liberal life will be
[ "what happened to the stock market", "who elects the members of parliament of Egypt", "whats Voters pick members of the lower house of Egypt's parliament?", "how many were wounded", "what did the lower house do", "who will have the task of drafting the new constitution of Egypt" ]
[ [ "opened considerably higher" ], [ "Citizens" ], [ "Citizens" ], [ "88" ], [ "will be tasked with drafting a new constitution" ], [ "lower house of parliament," ] ]
NEW: Fresh Tahrir Square clashes leave nearly 90 wounded . Report: Egypt's stock market sees an unprecedented wave of buying . Voters pick members of the lower house of Egypt's parliament . The lower house will be tasked with drafting Egypt's new constitution .
Cairo (CNN) -- Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak could be executed if he is convicted of ordering the killing of protesters, Egypt's justice minister says. "One of the charges he is facing is complicity in the killing of martyrs and issuing the orders for premeditated the killing of those people," said Justice Minister Mohamed Abdelaziz al-Juindy. "This is a charge with a harsh punishment -- the death penalty." In his first television interview since taking office, the new justice minister said last week that Egyptian courts would not shy away from sentencing Mubarak to death if he is found guilty. "If the crime is proven, then the court will not hesitate to issue the death sentence," he said. "A judge may have mercy if there is a reason for that, but I don't think in this case there is any argument for clemency whatsoever," the minister added, calling it "a horrible crime, to kill 800 citizens who were asking for their rights and hoping to topple a corrupt regime that caused the ruin of Egypt." Mubarak resigned in the face of popular protests in February after more than 30 years in power. He has been in poor health and living in the southern Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh since then. Prosecutors last month shelved plans to move him to a military hospital in Cairo, saying Mubarak's doctors said the transfer could be life-threatening. Adel Saeed, the prosecutor's spokesman, said April 26 that the Interior Ministry made the decision after Mubarak's medical team submitted a report that determined he would be at risk if he were moved. But Justice Minister al-Juindy said Mubarak's health was "good," according to reports he had received. Mubarak "suffers some heart irregularities known as atrial fibrillation, but his pulse and pressure are fine. His heart rate is 65 per minute, which is considered like an athlete," the official said. "Of course he's facing questioning for the first time in his life, so this is affecting him psychologically," the minister added. He will be required to appear in court when the time comes, al-Juindy said. "His appearance in court will be mandatory," he said. If Mubarak is too sick to appear, "in this case, the prosecutor visits him, and this is a procedure we follow with any sick suspect. The suspect must be given a chance to put forward his defense, so that the trial can be fair." He is also being probed on allegations of corruption and misuse of state funds. "There are reports that the former president's wealth is in the billions, and indeed it is billions," the justice minister asserted. So far "we can't ascertain the exact amount, but the investigation is underway," he said. Mubarak's trial will show that the rule of law is supreme in the country, al-Juindy said. "The law is respected in Egypt and is applied on everyone without any exception," he said. "This is very important because Egypt now has become a country were the law is sovereign."
[ "What penalty does the crime carry?", "who is Hosni Mubarak ?", "Mubarak was forced from office by protesters after more than how many years in power?", "who is Egypt's former president?", "Who is is accused of ordering protesters shot?" ]
[ [ "death sentence,\"" ], [ "Former Egyptian President" ], [ "30" ], [ "Hosni Mubarak" ], [ "Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak" ] ]
Egypt's former president is accused of ordering protesters shot . The crime carries the death penalty, and courts will not hesitate to use it, Egypt's justice minister says . Hosni Mubarak is in good health, the minister says . Mubarak was forced from office by protesters after more than 30 years in power .
Cairo (CNN) -- I strolled through the halls of the Arab League's headquarters in Cairo the other day, perusing all the family photos of Arab leaders at various summit meetings over the years. There was deposed Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, deposed and violently disposed of Libyan "Brother Leader" Moammar Gadhafi, exiled Tunisian President Zine Abedine Ben Ali, Yemen's beleaguered President Ali Abdullah Saleh, and Syria's embattled President Bashar Al-Assad. Uneasy, I thought, must sit the other heads of state featured in those photos. But it was those surviving leaders, of such less-than-democratic countries as Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Sudan, to name a few, who instructed their foreign ministers to vote Saturday to suspend Syria from the Arab League over its bloody suppression of the eight-month-old uprising there. In the final months of 2011, the future is looking very uncertain for the creaking Arab political order. Egypt and Tunisia are no longer solid, reliable members of the bloc of conservative, pro-Western "moderate" Arab regimes the United States cobbled together in the aftermath of the October 1973 Arab-Israeli war. Revolutions and revolts -- finished and ongoing -- must be depriving many rulers of a good night's sleep. The citizens of the Arab world have finally had enough of the tired charades of the past. Increasingly endangered are the sham referendums where presidents won 99 percent of votes, where hardly anyone took the time to cast a ballot, the "parties" that were little more than mafias with empty slogans, and the state intelligence thugs who were a law unto themselves. That stuff just doesn't cut it anymore. As we strolled together through a ransacked intelligence headquarters in Sabha, Libya, a few months ago, one man told me: "We used to fear our rulers. Now they fear us." This year almost every Arab state, from the Atlantic to the Gulf, has had to at least go through the motions of initiating political reform. And while they'd be loathe to share their true motivations, I suspect Arab rulers didn't vote against Syria because they are new converts to people power or support the bloodied opponents of al-Assad. No, there is more to this vote than the so-called "Arab Spring." As much as aging Arab autocrats fear their people, they also fear Iran. The last 10 years have been good for Iran. First, the United States led an international coalition to oust Iran's bitter enemies, the Taliban, from power in Afghanistan. Less than two years later, the Americans did it again in Iraq, bringing down another implacable foe of Iran, Saddam Hussein, and then installing a new political order in Baghdad much more friendly to Tehran. In 2006 the Americans backed Israel's ill-fated summer war against Iran's Lebanese ally, Hezbollah, which emerged from the 33-day conflict stronger than ever. In 2007, Hamas, also friends with Iran, ousted the U.S.-backed Fatah faction of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from Gaza. Iran was an enthusiastic backer of the revolt against the leaders of Bahrain earlier this year, though that uprising was crushed with Saudi help. In the meantime, there is growing fear over Iran's perceived nuclear ambitions, those fears stoked by regular pronouncements over the past two decades from Tel Aviv that Iran "is on the verge of producing a nuclear weapon." Against this backdrop is an across-the-board diminution of American power in the Middle East. At the end of this year the United States will end its military presence in Iraq, and soon afterward, it will do the same in Afghanistan. The Obama administration, with 2012 elections looming and after several half-hearted false starts and high-profile humiliations by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, appears to have given up trying to broker real peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Above and beyond regional issues, the U.S. economy -- and thus, its political clout -- is in decline. Increasingly, America is viewed in the Middle East as an economically bankrupt,
[ "What else do the autocrats fear?", "What is there to vote against?", "Whose position has strengthened?", "What country does the Arab autocrats fear?", "What do Arab autocrats fear?" ]
[ [ "Iran." ], [ "suspend Syria from the Arab League" ], [ "Hezbollah," ], [ "Iran." ], [ "Iran's perceived nuclear ambitions," ] ]
There is more to the vote against Syria than the "Arab Spring" As much as Arab autocrats fear their people, they also fear Iran . Iran's regional position has strengthened in the last decade . America's is perceived to be withering .
Cairo (CNN) -- In Cairo, where huge protests are now in their fourth day, the angry protesters in Tahrir Square are reclaiming the pro-democracy revolution they started January 25. Since it took control of the management of the transitional process, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces -- appointed by the former president, Hosni Mubarak -- has been following a three-sided strategy to contain and even frustrate the persistent demands for handing over power to a civilian authority and establishing an effective democratic system. The military council is breaking the revolutionary will of the protesters by arresting many and putting them in military courts (12,000 civilians so far); deliberately humiliating them (torturing many and exposing female protesters to virginity tests); making ordinary people feel disillusioned and even hate the revolution by failing to take tough measures against anarchy and restore law and order; and finally, encouraging fragmentation and discord among the country's political actors. Like Mubarak, the military council has adopted the policy of "me or anarchy." Over the past few months, Egyptians have used enormous demonstrations to press their demands, starting with insisting on dismissing the government that Mubarak had appointed before he was ousted, purging the security forces and cleaning the Ministry of Interior, trying Mubarak and those responsible for the death of more than 800 peaceful protesters and the injury of thousands, and setting a clear and specific timetable for handing over power to civilians. The military council has been reluctant to respond, and when it has, it has completely emptied these demands of any meaningful effect. Indeed, it appointed a new Cabinet in March but deprived it of any effective authority. It changed the name of the state security force while maintaining its old structure and savage practices, and it reluctantly put Mubarak and some of his aides before trial, but none has been indicted, and the process has been incredibly slow. With parliamentary elections set to begin on November 28, the military council wanted to secure its position in the transitional process and threw a wrench in the form of a draft of supra-constitutional principles that, if it were to be agreed upon by the major political forces, would grant the military council a special status in the new political process. It would make the council sovereign above all other state institutions, including the parliament. The proposed principles would prevent civilian control or overseeing powers over any of the military's affairs, grant the military veto powers over the laws and strip the elected parliament of some of its authority. The document revealed the military council's insecurity about the results of the coming elections and the fear that Islamists might win a majority. It also engendered a deep state of polarization among the country's political forces. Many liberals and secularists supported the document, while Islamic parties and youth movements rejected it and organized a massive demonstration Friday under the name "The Friday of Protecting Democracy." Several youth and grass-roots movements joined the demonstrations and continued with sit-ins, insisting on a specific timeframe for transitioning authority. The security forces brutally cracked down on the protesters, igniting further clashes over the past few days. To many protesters, what Egypt is witnessing is "phase two" of the January revolution. One cannot ignore the striking similarities between the two phases, particularly the snail-paced responses of the military council and Mubarak and the unjustifiable use of force against unarmed civilians. I was in Tahrir Square on Saturday when army soldiers clamped down on thousands of peaceful protesters, killing two in their initial thrust and savagely beating many of them. This excessive use of force was a major factor contributing to the fall of Mubarak. The military council also repeats another fatal mistake by responding too late with too little, leading protesters to raise the ceiling of their demands. What started as protests calling for protecting democracy and a timetable for transferring power under the management of the military council has become firm demands for ending the rule of the council and the military generals. Despite this revolutionary situation, and perhaps because of it, Egypt has great hopes in transitioning to democracy. Several steps need to be taken. The military council needs
[ "What is the military doing to prevent change?", "Who has been blocking transition to civilian rule?", "Who is standing in the way of democracy?", "How many protestors returned to the streets?", "What is military using violence, arrests and torture to do?", "What did protestors do?" ]
[ [ "breaking the revolutionary will of the protesters by arresting many and putting them in" ], [ "Supreme Council of the Armed Forces" ], [ "the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces" ], [ "(12,000" ], [ "breaking the revolutionary will of the protesters" ], [ "used enormous demonstrations to press their demands," ] ]
Emad Shahin: Military government in Egypt has been blocking transition to civilian rule . He says the armed forces are standing in the way of democracy . Protesters had to return to the streets to reset the revolution, he says . Shahin: Military using violence, arrests and torture to repress those seeking change .
Cairo (CNN) -- Islamist parties made dramatic advances in Egypt's parliamentary elections during the first round of voting for lawmakers this week, a result reflecting a growing embrace of religious-oriented sentiment across turbulent North Africa. "We accept the results of the elections in any case because it's the will of the people, and our rivals should embrace it too because this is the true democracy we fought for and we wish our liberal brothers better results in the next two rounds," Mahmoud Ghozlan, spokesman of the relatively moderate Muslim Brotherhood, whose Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) won 40% of the vote. Al Noor Salafi Movement, a hard-line Muslim group, had the second-highest total, 20%, in the first round of voting for the lower house of parliament, according to Yousri Abdel Kareem, head of the executive office of the Higher Judicial Election Council. In the first election after the toppling of President Hosni Mubarak, the tallies reflected similar results in Morocco and Tunisia. Moderate Islamists in those North African nations prevailed in recent elections amid the wave of political discontent across the Arabic-speaking world this year. Secularists weren't surprised at the result but they were stunned that some longtime secular groups performed poorly. "The strong showing of the Islamists should serve to mobilize more support for secular candidate," said Mohamed Ghoneim, speaking for the liberal Egyptian Bloc that garnered 15% of the vote. "We need to build on that and we are going for it." Ghoneim said voters were turned off by some secular candidates because they come from Mubarak's old National Democratic Party. The Muslim Brotherhood is entrenched in mainstream Egyptian politics. Most are highly educated -- doctors, lawyers, engineers, professors and businessmen -- and come from solidly middle-class backgrounds. Al Noor Salafi is the first Salafist group to register as a political party in Egypt. Salafis are conservative, religious purists and have been accused of stoking sectarian strife against Egypt's Christian minority and of plotting to undermine the country's fledgling democracy. This week's voting in Egypt marked the initial part of a complex, multi-step process that will first pick members of the lower house of parliament. Voters had to cast three votes, two for independent candidates and one for a party or coalition. Four independent candidates won but runoff elections for those who didn't win clear majorities will be held Monday and Tuesday. One of the four is Amr Hamzawy, once a research director at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a spokesman of the "Board of Wise Men," which worked to foster negotiations between the government and protesters. Presidential elections will be held by June, according to the military, which has rulied the country since Mubarak's fall. "The success of Islamist parties will make it much more difficult, if not impossible, for the Egyptian military to prolong its political control and to recreate a political system along the lines of Hosni Mubarak, as it appeared intent on doing." Marina Ottaway, a senior associate of Carnegie's Middle East program, said in an analysis on Friday. Voter turnout was initially reported by the country's election board at 62%, but the board said it would recalculate the figure after reporters raised questions about the number of registered voters used in the calculation, suggesting the true figure was lower. Abdel Moez Ibrahim, head of the judicial election committee said problems arose during the polling that will be addressed in the next round of voting. They include campaigning on the days of the elections, long lines and the late arrival of a limited number of ballots. Ibrahim said sending vehicles to pick up judges and handing out paper ballots the night before elections are among solutions to problems. Ibrahim said the process has been triumphant for Egyptian democracy. "The winner of these elections is the Egyptian people," he said. As for the future, the Carnegie analysis says "the response of the military and secular parties, and the political acumen of the FJP" will determine whether the future government will be "dominated by Islamists, including hard
[ "Who are the Muslim Brotherhood?", "Who is the Muslim Brotherhood?", "What was the election for?", "What did Liberals say?", "What does The Muslim Brotherhood call the results?" ]
[ [ "doctors, lawyers, engineers, professors and businessmen" ], [ "Freedom and Justice Party (FJP)" ], [ "Egypt's parliamentary" ], [ "\"The strong showing of the Islamists should serve to mobilize more support for secular candidate,\"" ], [ "it's the will of the people," ] ]
NEW: Egyptians are real "winners" of election process, official says . Liberals say they'll try harder in the next two rounds . The Muslim Brotherhood calls results the "will of the people . he Islamist surge reflects a trend in North Africa .
Cairo (CNN) -- Military police poured into Cairo's Tahrir Square on Wednesday in hopes of stopping clashes between protesters and police, as the Egyptian government said a truce had been declared through a group of clerics. The truce lasted about three hours. CNN saw military police lined up, separating protesters from the police. But after a period of calm, some protesters began throwing rocks at soldiers. Riot police responded with tear gas; the unrest continued late Wednesday. Some army soldiers tried to stop security forces from shooting tear gas, but they were outnumbered. On state-run TV, the government said religious scholars were on their way "to form a human shield between the protesters and the security forces." CNN saw no sign of a human shield of clerics. But along the barricades separating protesters from security forces, some clerics were talking to protesters, trying to negotiate. Egypt's grand mufti, the country's highest religious official, called on police to put down their weapons and "never aim" firearms at the Egyptian people. In an audio message aired by Egyptian state TV, he called for a "peaceful protest for Egypt's sake." Protesters reached Fahmi Street, which leads to the Interior Ministry, and were trying to surround the ministry, state-run Al-Masriya TV said. Earlier, police pulled back from Mohamed Mahmoud Street, the site of clashes throughout the five days of the latest uprising. Adel Saeed, spokesman for the Egyptian general prosecutor's office, said "a truce has been reached between the protesters and the security forces at the Ministry of Interior through several leading religious scholars." It was not immediately clear who may have been represented in the discussions to which Saeed referred. Mohamed Mahmoud Street leads from Tahrir Square -- the center of the protests that toppled Hosni Mubarak as president in February and of the most recent demonstrations -- toward the Interior Ministry. During a lull in the street battles earlier Wednesday, CNN saw riot police embracing and kissing some young people who were taking part in the demonstrations. Minutes later, rocks and tear gas were in the air again. Protesters erected barriers using debris from burned-out cars and large trash bins in case the battles resumed. Crowds have packed Tahrir Square since Saturday, calling for the nation's military rulers to step down immediately. The demonstrations Wednesday were a vociferous rejection of Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, field marshal of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, who delivered an address Tuesday aimed at calming the protests. "The people demand the downfall of the council of shame," some demonstrators chanted Wednesday. Through the state-run news agency MENA, the government said that the army was "exerting all efforts to stop bloodshed of Egyptians" and that the military had deployed three armored vehicles to Mohamed Mahmoud Street. The death toll in the latest clashes has risen to 35, including 31 people in Cairo and four in other cities, state-run television said Wednesday. The number of wounded is up to 3,250, according to Hisham Sheeha, spokesman for Egypt's Health Ministry. Saeed, of the Egyptian general prosecutor's office, said 312 people had been arrested since Saturday. Security forces could be seen making arrests Wednesday. Egyptian-American filmmaker Jehane Noujaim was among those arrested, according to Karim Amer, a film producer who said he was with her when she was filming events close to the Interior Ministry. "The military started firing tear gas so we all ran in different directions and I lost her," Amer said. "She called me and said she was arrested by military. " A CNN e-mail to noujaimfilms.com, which lists Noujaim as director, was not immediately returned. Meanwhile, the mother of one of the three American students detained in Egypt said Wednesday that she was able to speak to him briefly in a telephone call arranged by U.S. diplomats. "He sounded scared, but he said he was OK," Joy Sweeney said of her son, Derrik Sweeney, one of three American college students being held for questioning in an
[ "What does the number of injured stand at?", "According to officials, the death toll in five days of violence has risen to how many?", "Egyptian Health Ministry says the number of injured stands at how many?", "What did Egypt's grand mufi call on police to do?", "Who calls on police to put down their weapons?", "What does the U.N. human rights chief call on Egypt to stop using?" ]
[ [ "3,250," ], [ "35," ], [ "3,250," ], [ "to put down their weapons and \"never aim\" firearms at the Egyptian people." ], [ "Egypt's grand mufti," ], [ "weapons" ] ]
Egypt's grand mufti calls on police to put down their weapons . The death toll in five days of violence has risen to 35, officials say . The number of injured stands at 3,250, Egyptian Health Ministry says . U.N. human rights chief calls on Egypt to stop "the clearly excessive use of force"
Cairo (CNN) -- Six people were killed and at least 300 were injured when pro-democracy activists clashed Friday with Egyptian security forces in central Cairo, a government official said. Two of the dead were teenagers and one was an Islamic scholar, said Dr. Hisham Shiha, a spokesman for the Ministry of Health. At least four of the fatalities suffered gunshot wounds, with one person shot in the back of the head, he said. Adel Saeed, a spokesman for the general prosecutor, said an investigation is under way. "We are questioning 14 men detained at scene of clashes and we have a team now at two hospitals questioning the injured to understand how the injuries were inflicted," he said. A separate team was at the morgues following up on the deaths, he said. Meanwhile, people were throwing Molotov cocktails, rocks and glass. Men wearing what appeared to be military uniforms tossed bricks and concrete on protesters from atop a six-story building. A Ministry of Transportation building burned nearby, and tents in an activist encampment in front of parliament caught fire. The military fired warning shots into the air and sprayed water cannons to disperse the crowd. Shiha said nearly 100 people were hurt, including nine who were shot by live ammunition. Saeed said 12 people were charged with destroying public property. Are you in Cairo? Tell us what the mood is like. A Ministry of Interior official denied police were involved. "This situation has nothing to do with the police or the Ministry of Interior, and we do not have forces at the site of the clashes," said Gen. Marwan Mustapha, a ministry spokesman. A doctor at a clinic said he had treated dozens of protesters for cuts and injuries caused by flying glass and rocks. "It all started when the military arrested one man, and then an hour later he emerged from building barely able to walk from the beating," said activist and video blogger Walid Nada. "His face and body and clothes (were) blotched with blood as the protesters carried him to (a) makeshift hospital." Activist Mona Seif identified the beaten man as Aboudi Ibrahim. He "has no broken bones, but major bruises to the face, cuts and harsh burns from electric shockers. We are filling a police report soon," she said. Activists have been camping outside parliament in protest of the military-appointed prime minister.
[ "What items were thrown?", "how many people died", "what was thrown?", "Where did it happen?", "What caused the violence", "How many people were injured?", "What sparked the violence?", "How many were injured", "How many died?" ]
[ [ "Molotov cocktails, rocks and glass." ], [ "Six" ], [ "Molotov cocktails, rocks and glass." ], [ "central Cairo," ], [ "\"It all started when the military arrested one man, and then an hour later he emerged from building barely able to walk from the beating,\"" ], [ "at least 300" ], [ "\"It all started when the military arrested one man, and then an hour later he emerged from building barely able to walk from the beating,\"" ], [ "at least 300" ], [ "Six" ] ]
NEW: 6 are dead and at least 300 injured, the Egyptian Health Ministry says . An investigation is under way, a government spokesman says . Glass, rocks and Molotov cocktails are thrown . The beating of an activist sparked the violence, activists say .
Cairo (CNN) -- Syria has accepted "in principle" an Arab League plan to permit observers into the country to verify whether the regime has taken measures to protect civilians, a senior Arab diplomat said Friday. Questions remained, however, about the exact nature of the mission, if it proceeds. Originally, 500 observers were believed to be destined for Syria, but U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Friday afternoon that the proposed number had been reduced to 40. Syria requested amendments to the plan Thursday night, a day after Arab league representatives approved it, the Cairo-based regional alliance said on its website. Nabil el-Araby, secretary-general of the Arab League, said the league is studying the letter from Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem that included changes regarding the protocol and duties of the observers. Eighteen of the alliance's 22 member nations voted to suspend Syria's membership in the league on Saturday. But the group, which met again in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday, gave Damascus three days to implement a protocol to allow observers to enter the nation. "Our mission will be to portray the truth about the nature of the injuries (and) numbers of casualties and assess the hospitals, to see what they need and how well-prepared they are to accommodate the injured," said Dr. Ibrahim Zafarani, a former member of the Muslim Brotherhood and founding member of the Arab Doctors Association who said he'd volunteered to be an observer. It is the latest diplomatic effort to resolve the crisis in Syria. International pressure has been mounting on President Bashar al-Assad over his regime's bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters, amid concerns that violence in Syria is escalating. World support and confidence in the Syrian regime have continued to dwindle in recent weeks. France's top diplomat called the state of affairs in embattled Syria "no longer tenable" Friday and wants the U.N. Security Council to step up and grapple with the eight-month-long crisis in the turbulent Arab nation. "Despite all the calls that were made to that regime" for peaceful initiatives to end the raging street violence, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said in the Turkish capital of Ankara, "the regime did not want to know anything. Still this morning, in the north of Syria, several villages were bombarded by the Syrian army." British Foreign Secretary William Hague will meet Monday with representatives from the Syrian National Council and National Coordinating Committee for Democratic Change, two groups opposed to President Bashar al-Assad's government, a foreign office spokeswoman said Friday. The Local Coordination Committees of Syria, another activist group, said that at least 19 people were killed Friday by security forces and the army, among them four children. This is in addition to 26 killed by security forces Thursday, on top of scores killed earlier in the week, according to the organization. Eight people were killed in the southern region of Daraa, where about 20 people also were wounded when security forces fired at mourners. There were five deaths in Hama, in the west, four in the Damascus suburbs and two in Homs, also in the west, the Local Coordination Committees said. The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency, meanwhile, reported the killings of two law enforcement members in Hama, the injuries of two in Daraa and the arrests of 10 "terrorists" in Idlib province. CNN is not able to independently verify claims of fighting and casualties because the Syrian government has restricted international media access to the country. Well over 3,500 people have been killed and thousands have been jailed in cities across the country, according to U.N. estimates. French and Turkish officials have been outspoken in their criticism of the Syrian regime's behavior, and some key international diplomats, such as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, said Thursday that the ongoing attacks on government buildings in Syria "look like a civil war." News agencies have been quoting Juppe as saying it is "too late" for Syria to make the reforms the regime has promised. At the same time, he urged opposition protesters to shun
[ "What does the potential observer say?", "How many were slain in Syria on Friday?", "What is the name of the activist group?", "When did Syria offer amendments", "How many people died in Syria on Friday?", "Who will meet rebel leaders?", "Which country offered amendments?", "What did a potential observer say" ]
[ [ "they need and how well-prepared they are to accommodate the injured,\"" ], [ "at least 19" ], [ "The Local Coordination Committees of Syria," ], [ "Thursday night," ], [ "at least 19" ], [ "British Foreign Secretary William Hague" ], [ "Syria" ], [ "\"Our mission will be to portray the truth about the nature of the injuries (and) numbers of casualties and assess the hospitals, to see" ] ]
NEW: Syria offered amendments Thursday night to the Arab League plan on observers . NEW: A potential observer says, "Our mission will be to portray the truth" NEW: The British foreign minister will meet rebel leaders, a spokeswoman says . At least 19 are slain in Syria on Friday, on top of scores killed earlier, an activist group says .
Cairo (CNN) -- The Arab League and other world powers boosted pressure on the Bashar al-Assad regime to end its nearly nine-month-long crackdown on demonstrators, a relentless push against mostly peaceful citizen protest that has now claimed at least 4,000 deaths. Nabil el-Araby, the secretary-general of the Arab League, said the Syrian regime can "avoid the dangers of a foreign intervention" if it agrees to an Arab League plan to defuse the grinding conflict. He said the Syrian government hasn't accepted the league plan to send observers into the country to monitor the response to civil unrest. But he said the government has a chance to overcome the crisis by agreeing to the idea. "The Syrian government is not complying with the Arab initiative plan and their inability to stop the violence is what led to the escalation of the procedures of the sanctions against it," el-Araby said in a written statement. Earlier this week, foreign ministers from 19 Arab League countries voted to slap economic sanctions on the Syrian regime, including cutting ties with the nation's central bank, banning high-profile officials from visiting Arab countries and freezing government assets. The number of deaths has reached at least 4,000 since the crackdown began in mid-March and could be much higher, Navi Pillay, U.N. high commissioner for human rights, said in Switzerland on Thursday. The Local Coordination Committees of Syria, an activist group, said 4,744 people have been killed, including 843 from the army. The group said at least 23 people had been killed in the country on Thursday. The U.S. Treasury sanctioned two high-ranking Syrians and two government controlled entities on Thursday for their role in the crackdown. One of the people is Mohammad Makhlouf, al-Assad's uncle and father of long-serving financial adviser Rami Makhlouf. The other is Aus Aslan, a Syrian general. The sanctions are the latest of several imposed by the United States, the European Union, and Turkey. "It has never been more critical to escalate pressure on the Syrian government to immediately cease all violence against its own people and isolate the regime from the international financial system," said Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David S. Cohen. "We will continue to work closely with our partners in Europe and around the world to hasten a transition to democracy in Syria." A league official told CNN on Thursday it is targeting 17 senior Syrian regime officials for a travel ban to member states. One of them is President al-Assad's brother, Maher Hafez al-Assad, the commander of the country's 4th Army Division, according to a senior Arab League official directly involved in negotiations with the Syrians. The preliminary list also includes Defense Minister Emad Dawoud Abdulla, Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim Al Shaar, intelligence chief Abdulla Fattah Quedsia, and military intelligence chief Rostom Ghazali. The source doesn't want be named because of his direct involvement in the talks. Syrian citizens blame the military and security apparatus for the casualties. The Syrian government insists that armed groups are responsible. The instability is affecting non-Syrians. Kuwait urged its citizens in Syria to leave and said those planning to travel there should not because of "the unstable security situation," the state-run media said on Thursday, citing a statement from the Foreign Ministry. El-Araby has said a committee examining how to implement the sanctions will focus on protecting civilians while targeting the government. An Arab League committee led by economic ministers will meet in Doha, Qatar, on Saturday to discuss implementing sanctions, the source said. It will pass along its ideas to the league foreign ministers meeting in Cairo next week, the source told CNN on Thursday. The source also said a ban on Arab airlines traveling in and out of Syria will start on December 15. Syria announced that it has suspend its membership in the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership until the European Union backs down on the sanctions imposed on Syria. But European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton told the EU Foreign Affairs Council on Thursday that the group is pleased
[ "What is the total death count at according to the United Nations?", "who is asking its citizens to leave Syria", "what country is the focus of the article", "how many have died according to the UN", "WHo did the US put sanctions on?", "What are Kuwait's reactions to the crisis?", "What is the UN death count so far?", "Sacntions on two high ranking officials were imposed by whom?", "Which country is Kuwait asking it's citizens to leave?" ]
[ [ "least 4,000" ], [ "Kuwait" ], [ "Syria," ], [ "at least 4,000" ], [ "two high-ranking Syrians and two government controlled entities" ], [ "urged its citizens in Syria to leave and said those planning to travel there should not because of \"the unstable security situation,\"" ], [ "at least 4,000" ], [ "The U.S. Treasury" ], [ "Syria" ] ]
NEW: The United Nation's death count reaches 4,000 since the beginning of the Syria unrest . Syria suspends membership in Mediterranean group . U.S. sanctions are imposed on two high-ranking officials . Kuwait is asking its citizens to leave Syria .
Cairo (CNN) -- The much anticipated trial of former Egyptian Interior Minister Habib El Adly has been postponed until August 3 -- the same day Egypt's ousted president is scheduled to stand trial. El Adly and former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak face charges of killing pro-democracy protesters during the revolution that started six months ago. El Adly's trial at a Cairo court was expected to be carried live on state television Monday. This is second time the trial was postponed amid frustrations among protesters in Tahrir Square who demand speedy trials and swift judgments for detained officials from Mubarak's regime. Judge Adel Abdel Salam Gomaa announced the postponement to a court room packed with people -- many of whom had already learned about the decision on Egyptian State TV. "The decision was leaked by the lawyers before the hearing and broadcast before the defendants and judge even entered the court -- which was a big mistake, " said Aly Hassan, a judicial consultant with the Ministry of Justice. El Adly appeared with a blue uniform because he had been sentenced to 12 years for corruption charges. Six of his former assistants, who were also set to stand trial for allegedly killing protesters, appeared in white suits. The authorities asked all journalists to leave the court except for Egyptian TV staff in charge of broadcasting the trial. "Do they expect us to believe that Mubarak will appear with Adly in two weeks at a court when he has been in Sharm el-Sheikh for six months?" said Noor Noor, an activist and son of presidential candidate Ayman Noor. The 83-year-old ex-ruler fell into a coma earlier this month, Mubarak lawyer Farid El Deeb told CNN. He later regained consciousness, said Mohamed Fathalla, the head of the Sharm el-Sheikh facility where Mubarak was recuperating. Hassan said Mubarak and El Adly are expected to be tried in the coastal city due to security issues. More than 800 protesters were killed during the Egyptian revolution when pro-democracy protests forced Mubarak to step down on February 11. CNN's Amir Ahmed contributed to this report.
[ "who faces charges of killing protesters?", "whats His new trial date is the same day as ousted President Hosni Mubarak's trial?", "Former Egyptian Interior Minister", "Six of El Adly's former assistants are accused of what?" ]
[ [ "El Adly and former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak" ], [ "August 3" ], [ "Habib El Adly" ], [ "killing pro-democracy protesters" ] ]
Former Egyptian Interior Minister Habib El Adly faces charges of killing protesters . His new trial date is the same day as ousted President Hosni Mubarak's trial . Protesters are angry after demanding speedy trials and swift judgments on regime members . Six of El Adly's former assistants are also accused of killing protesters .
Cairo (CNN) -- When Azza Hilal Suleiman saw Egyptian military pummel the veiled woman, she stepped in to help and got kicked and clubbed by security forces, a beating that was captured in a video that went viral around the world and also showed live gunfire and the violent removal of a Muslim woman's clothing. "A veiled woman was injured and the army stripped her," she told CNN in an exclusive interview from her hospital bed in Cairo, suffering from painful skull fractures and facial cuts. She couldn't stand to see the repeated blows to the woman, who was dragged, kicked, partially stripped and then stomped. "So I ran and tried to cover her body and pull her out," Suleiman said. "We tried to cover her and pull her away but they beat us. I didn't feel anything after this." Suleiman was seen in a red coat in the same video that showed the veiled woman's beating. Security forces rushed toward Suleiman and pushed her to the ground as she ran to the veiled woman's side. "I was just trying to help her up after they exposed her body," she said. Suleiman is one of three people in the video interviewed by CNN, with one of them saying he was shot. A CNN crew also witnessed the security force beatings and shootings and saw other women stripped of some of their clothing. The beatings took place last Saturday in Cairo's Tahrir Square, amid a five-day stretch of assaults by police and defiant protests by demonstrators demanding that Egypt's ruling military cede power to a civilian government. A Health Ministry spokesman said 16 people died, including 14 by gunshots, according to Dr. Hisham Sheeha. The military has denied the use of live ammunition. Photos of the unidentified veiled woman were plastered on the front pages of global and local newspapers and appeared on Facebook. Twitter hashtags #TahrirWoman and #Bluebra emerged. The images stirred worldwide outrage because of the beating and because she was partially stripped in a Muslim society where women cover themselves for modesty. The woman has not been identified. An activist and student, she chooses not to talk to reporters at present, two people who know her told CNN. She had been dressed in a traditional robe and headscarf, but as police clubbed her and dragged her down the street, those articles of clothing were pulled away, exposing her midriff and blue bra. The video showed one of the police officers aiming a foot at her upper abdomen and stamping squarely on it. The beatings and the use of live ammunition against protesters, particularly women, have outraged Egyptians. More than a thousand people gathered in Tahrir Square for a "Million Woman" march Tuesday. Women and men holding placards showing pictures of the veiled woman's beating marched through the surrounding streets to denounce the escalating violence by security forces. The ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces has since expressed "great regret" over the mistreatment of women protesters, but it has not apologized for the assaults, a fact that enrages demonstrators. But SCAF reiterated "its respect and appreciation for Egyptian women and their right in protesting and their active positive participation in the political life." Age 48, divorced and unemployed, Suleiman is the daughter of a deceased army general. She wanted to speak to CNN despite her agony. In an earlier visit to the hospital, she indicated how much she was suffering, saying, "My head is going to explode." Others came to Suleiman's aid, such as businessman Ehab Hanna, who was also beaten up and shot after he tried to help the woman with the veil. "Azza covered her naked body. Then we tried to pull her up to take her to the field clinic. But I was shocked with a sting in my leg, thought it was a rock. I tried to walk but fell to the ground, so they started beating me and Azza relentlessly," he told CNN. Hanna said security forces left him alone when they thought he was dead. But when he moved, he was beaten
[ "where did the violence occur?", "what did the video show?", "what twitter hashtags emerged?", "Where did the violence occurr?", "where violence occurs?" ]
[ [ "Cairo," ], [ "violent removal of a Muslim woman's clothing." ], [ "#TahrirWoman and #Bluebra" ], [ "Cairo's Tahrir Square," ], [ "Cairo's Tahrir Square," ] ]
A video showed police beating a woman and others trying to help her . The violence occurred in Cairo's Tahrir Square Saturday during a stretch of unrest . Twitter hashtags emerged -- #Tahrirwoman and #Bluebra . A relative says of Suleiman's beating, "I'm glad her father didn't see this day"
Cairo, Egypt (CNN) -- Demonstrations that began with quiet determination on the internet more than three weeks ago erupted into riotous jubilation Friday evening, moments after it was announced that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was stepping aside. Protesters swarmed army tanks that had been deployed to keep order, banged drums, blew whistles and frantically waved Egyptian flags in celebration. They danced in circles and chanted. Processions of cars made their way down city streets, drivers honking horns and waving flags. Fireworks erupted outside the presidential palace in Cairo and in the streets of Alexandria. Some men and women dropped to their knees and began to pray. "I did not believe it at first," Egyptian-American Sarah el-Helewsaid. "I feel complete joy." "Freedom!" crowds chanted outside the white carved walls of the presidential palace. "God is great!" they shouted in Tahrir Square. On the front lines of the movement, protester and actor Khalid Abdallah, best known for his role in "The Kite Runner," expressed complete shock at Mubarak's decision to step down, but said Egyptians now feel like "destiny is in their hands," and he praised supporters of their struggle. "Thank you to everyone who has stood in solidarity with us," Abdallah told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. He said Egyptians are grateful for those who "told our true story." Abdallah recounted seeing and hearing the voices of children. "Hold your head high," Abdallah said they chanted, "you're an Egyptian." Fears that the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamic umbrella group, could hijack Egypt's pro-democracy movement have made headlines during the 18 days of protests in the country, but the group has stated more than once that they are not seeking power. On Friday, they celebrated the news of Mubarak's departure with the rest of the Egyptians. "We are opening a new bridge now on history," Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Essam El Erian told CNN. "This is [a] critical moment." Erian said of the pro-democracy revolution that he said he believes will shape the future of Egypt. In Alexandria, Fatima Puskar, an American living with her Egyptian husband, Emad, said she was watching Egyptian state TV when news of Mubarak's resignation was announced. "We could hear people, even before the end of the statement I heard people outside of the window shouting and honking their horns," she said. Omar Sultan of Cairo said he felt like he played a role in forcing Mubarak to resign by taking part in demonstrations. "Everyone is very happy. No one imagined this day would come," he said. "I've never been prouder to be an Egyptian." Two of the main bridges connecting east and west Cairo were like parking lots as people got out and began hugging and dancing. "Life is great now. I think I will have a much better future now. It is a different era," a 17-year-old girl named Fatima told CNN. The news of Mubarak's resignation, and the revolution that led to the announcement, has also sparked a renewed spirit and proud voice for Egyptians. "I stopped writing -- as a journalist -- because I felt there was nothing to write about," said Salah Marakby, a 76-year-old retiree. "But I feel now that the pyramid of corruption has fallen. I want to go back to writing now!" One of the movement's key activists, Wael Ghonim, credited ordinary Egyptians for persisting through historic and sometimes violent protests that led to the first ouster of an Egyptian leader since 1952. "Congratulations Egypt the criminal has left the palace," said Ghonim, who was jailed for a week and a half by the Mubarak regime and whose emotional commentary after his release helped galvanize protesters. Addressing Mubarak and his allies, Ghonim said the country should hold them accountable for their actions, including the deaths of protesters killed during what had been peaceful demonstrations.
[ "Who is a free and proud nation?", "who is free and proud nation?", "who is khalid abdallah", "Who is going to be a democratic state?" ]
[ [ "Egypt" ], [ "Egypt." ], [ "protester and actor" ], [ "Egypt." ] ]
NEW: Egypt is a "free and proud nation," opposition figure ElBaradei tweets . NEW: "You can keep dreaming," says Egyptian actor Khalid Abdallah . "Today is our time," one woman tells CNN . Ghonim: "I am telling you Egypt is going to be a democratic state"
Cairo, Egypt (CNN) -- Egypt's attorney general issued an order Monday freezing the assets of former President Hosni Mubarak and his family and prohibiting them from leaving the country. Attorney General Abdel Maguid Mahmoud ordered the moves after Mustafa Bakri, a member of Egypt's parliament who lost his seat after filing corruption cases against various officials, provided documents indicating Mubarak's family has secret bank accounts totaling more than 200 million Egyptian pounds ($147 million), according to EgyNews. "I submitted the corruption documents on Sunday night and on Monday morning I was called in by the public prosecutor for investigation, and he asked me to rush to his office." Bakri told CNN. "The attorney general, himself, went over the documents in my possession and then issued his orders to bar Mubarak and his family from travelling and to impound their assets." Mahmoud ordered the freeze for property owned by Mubarak, his wife Suzanne, his two sons Alaa and Gamal Mubarak, and their wives and children, EgyNews reported. The seizures include "movable properties, real estate, stocks, bonds and various financial assets." It wasn't immediately clear how the order differed from a similar one reported last week. Mubarak, through his attorneys and in official filings, has described reports of immense wealth as "fabrications and baseless rumors." But Bakri said the documents he provided to Mahmoud "are the first solid and concrete evidence on the fortune collected illegally by Mubarak and his family." Mubarak, who resigned February 11 after 18 days of protest against his rule, is believed to be staying at his residence in Sharm el-Sheikh. CNN's Mustafa Al-Arab and Saad Abedine contributed to this report
[ "What evidence is there?", "what is Egypt's attorney general", "What did Egypt's attorney general do about Mubarak's assets?", "When did he resign?", "What did the AG order?", "What is the result of the Mubarak protests?" ]
[ [ "corruption documents" ], [ "Abdel Maguid Mahmoud" ], [ "freezing the" ], [ "February 11" ], [ "freezing the assets" ], [ "prohibiting them from leaving the country." ] ]
NEW: Former lawmaker says documents he filed are "solid and concrete" evidence of wrongdoing . Egypt's attorney general orders the assets of former President Mubarak and his family frozen . Mubarak's family is also prohibited from leaving the country . Mubarak resigned February 11 after 18 days of protests against his rule .
Cairo, Egypt (CNN) -- Eight American tourists -- six women and two men -- were killed in a traffic accident Sunday while on a tour bus in Aswan, Egypt, the country's interior ministry said. An additional 19 American tourists and two Egyptians -- the bus driver and a tour guide -- were injured. A total of 116 American tourists were traveling in three tour buses. The interior ministry said the middle bus -- carrying 37 of the tourists -- crashed into a parked dump truck loaded with sand. Video of the crash site showed one side of the bus completely sheared off, with some seats dangling from the vehicle's shell. Dried blood could be seen on some of the crumpled wreckage. Twelve of those injured were taken to Nasser Medical Institute in Cairo, according to the hospital's head, Dr. Bahaa Al-deen Ziad. Two of the crash victims are in the hospital's intensive care unit in critical but stable condition, Ziad said. The 10 others were admitted to the hospital in stable condition and are being examined by doctors with specialties in neurosurgery, orthopedics and plastic surgery, he said. Aswan is a popular tourist site in Egypt located about 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) away from Cairo. The U.S. Embassy in Cairo issued a statement Sunday saying it was "deeply saddened" by the accident. "The embassy has confirmed that the injured are being moved by military transport to Cairo, and has mobilized staff to identify and to assist those Americans involved," the statement said. "Consular services will be provided to assist any American citizens who have been affected and their families, in coordination with the Egyptian government." Embassy staff members in Egypt are available for questions or concerns.They can be reached in Cairo at 011 202 2797 3300.
[ "to where they carried the injured?", "How many tourists are injured?" ]
[ [ "Nasser Medical Institute in Cairo," ], [ "19" ] ]
The U.S. Embassy in Cairo says its staff is working to identify the Americans involved . One of three tour buses crashes into a parked dump truck loaded with sand . 19 American tourists and two Egyptians are injured .
Cairo, Egypt (CNN) -- The Cairo Criminal Court approved a freeze on the assets of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and upheld a travel ban against him Tuesday as the nation moves forward in pressing corruption charges against the ousted leader. Mubarak's attorney, Samir Shishtawi, said he has filed an appeal. Egypt's Supreme Court is considering lifting the secret status that shields Mubarak's accounts and holdings, which could potentially unleash a flood of information. Mubarak, who is believed to be living at his residence in the Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh, is wanted for questioning in a corruption case. Attorney General Abdel Maguid Mahmoud issued an order freezing the assets of Mubarak and his family on February 28 and prohibited them from leaving the country. Mahmoud ordered the freeze for property owned by Mubarak, his wife, Suzanne, his two sons Alaa and Gamal Mubarak, and their wives and children, state-run EgyNews reported. The seizures include "movable properties, real estate, stocks, bonds and various financial assets." It wasn't immediately clear how the order differed from an earlier order. Mubarak, through his attorneys and in official filings, has described reports of immense wealth as "fabrications and baseless rumors." Mubarak resigned February 11 after 18 days of protests against his rule. Egyptian politician Mustafa Bakri, who has led the fight to press corruption charges against Mubarak, said he believes the former president will stand trial. Bakri, a member of Egypt's parliament who lost his seat after filing corruption cases against various officials, provided documents indicating Mubarak's family has secret bank accounts totaling more than 200 million Egyptian pounds ($147 million), according to EgyNews. "This is the second stage of the revolution," Bakri told CNN. CNN's Nima Elbagir and journalist Mohamed Fadel Fahmy contributed to this report.
[ "When did he resign?", "Who is expected to be brought to Cairo for questionning?", "When did Mubarak resign?", "What court approved the seizure?", "How long protests from Mubarak's rule continued?", "What actions Cairo's Criminal Court took?", "Which court approved the freezing and seizure of Mubarak's assets?" ]
[ [ "February 11" ], [ "Egyptian President" ], [ "February 11" ], [ "Cairo Criminal" ], [ "18 days" ], [ "approved a freeze on the assets of former Egyptian President" ], [ "Cairo Criminal" ] ]
Cairo's Criminal Court approved the freezing and seizure of Mubarak's assets . He is expected to be brought to Cairo for questioning . Mubarak resigned February 11 after 18 days of protests against his rule .
Cairo, Egypt (CNN) -- Thirteen people were killed and 90 wounded in clashes between Coptic Christians and Muslims in Cairo, state-run Egyptian television reported Wednesday. The clashes broke out Tuesday after Copts took to the streets to protest last week's burning of a church. Earlier, Egypt's health minister, Dr. Ashraf Hatem, said the death toll was at nine. Coptic Church spokesman Father Abdelmaseeh Baseet reported six deaths previously Wednesday and said all the victims were Christians. The Egyptian military has launched an investigation into the violence, said Mohamed Askar, armed services spokesman. Those involved in "the incitement of sectarian hatred or involved in the acts of violence" will be held accountable "to the full extent of the law," he said. A feud between a Muslim and a Coptic family is said to have led to the church burning in Helwan province last week. In recent weeks, tensions have been high between Egypt's Muslim majority and its Coptic minority. A Coptic church in the town of Alexandria was bombed on New Year's Day, killing 23 people. The Palestinian Islamic Army, which has links to al Qaeda, claimed responsibility for what was the deadliest attack on Christians in Egypt in some time -- but far from the only one. Ten days later, a gunman killed a Christian man and wounded five other Christians on a train in Egypt. Also in January, a man was sentenced for his part in an attack on another Coptic church a year ago, Egypt's state-run Al Ahram newspaper reported. About 9% of Egypt's 80 million residents are Coptic Christians. They base their theology on the teachings of the Apostle Mark, who introduced Christianity to Egypt, according to St. Takla Church in Alexandria, the capital of Coptic Christianity. The religion split with other Christians in the fifth century over the definition of the divinity of Jesus Christ.
[ "Were the protests violent?", "What was the cause of the deaths?", "Who is launching an investigation?", "Copts protest what?", "How many were wounded?", "Who burnt the church?" ]
[ [ "killed and 90 wounded" ], [ "clashes between Coptic Christians" ], [ "Egyptian military" ], [ "last week's burning of a church." ], [ "90" ], [ "Palestinian Islamic Army," ] ]
NEW: The death toll is at 13, according to state-run television . The Egyptian military is launching an investigation . Egypt's health minister says 90 were wounded . The clashes break out after Copts protest a church burning .
Cairo, Egypt (CNN) -- Thousands of Christian Copts in Cairo protested outside the offices of the Egyptian state broadcaster, witnesses said on Friday. It was the seventh day of protests over what they're calling the "marginalization and lack of representation" of their concerns in state media. There have been longstanding tensions between Muslims and Copts in Egypt, and 13 Copts were killed in sectarian clashes last Tuesday. That erupted after a family dispute between Christians and Muslims resulted in a church burning south of Cairo.
[ "Between who is there tension?", "where did The protests occurred", "what is the capitol of egypt", "Where did the protest occurre?", "who has longstanding tensions", "What is the capital of Egypt?", "longstanding tensions has being between what sides", "where did the protests happen" ]
[ [ "Muslims and Copts in Egypt," ], [ "Cairo" ], [ "Cairo" ], [ "Cairo" ], [ "Muslims and Copts in Egypt," ], [ "Cairo" ], [ "Muslims and Copts in Egypt," ], [ "state broadcaster," ] ]
The protests occurred in the Egyptian capital of Cairo . There have been longstanding tensions between Muslims and Copts .
Cambridge, Massachusetts (CNN) -- Throughout President Barack Obama's political career, he has been dogged by insinuations or, indeed, accusations that he is not "black enough" to warrant strong support from African-Americans. Rep. Bobby Rush made that assertion when he successfully fended off Obama's effort to wrest from him his seat in the House of Representatives in the Democratic primary in 2000. Alan Keyes voiced that sentiment in his losing campaign against Obama for the U.S. Senate. When Obama accepted the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party, the celebrity scholar Cornel West groused that the first African-American standard-bearer for a major party had "run from history" by failing to mention explicitly the "black freedom movement." Skepticism regarding Obama's racial bona fides has continued to surface since he moved into the White House. Rep. Maxine Waters, for instance, has recently chided him for failing to craft policies that would explicitly target black unemployment and for otherwise neglecting, in her view, to evince a proper acknowledgment of the baleful and disproportionate pain being experienced in black communities on account of the economic downturn. What is one to make of this critique? First, it should not be at all surprising. Black America is ideologically diverse, just like other communities. Moreover, as I document in "Sellout: The Politics of Racial Betrayal," there exists in black America a special anxiety about the loyalties of high achievers, especially when their success is largely dependent on whites and others who are not black. Every prominent black in a predominantly white setting faces, at one time or another, claims from fellow blacks that he or she is "selling out." Second, Obama's black detractors receive a degree of attention in the news media that is far greater than their representativeness of black America or their influence within it. The great bulk of black American voters -- upward of 90% -- supported Obama in 2008 and do so today. They do so because of his party affiliation, his liberal policy preferences, his identification with the African-American community (the offspring of an interracial couple, he calls himself black and married a black woman), his personal attractiveness -- he is uncommonly articulate, handsome, knowledgeable and gracious -- and the fact that with all of the added burdens attendant to his blackness, he was still able to climb the Mount Everest of American politics. Unlike some of Obama's most vocal detractors, the black rank-and-file have a realistic appreciation of the limits of his authority and the power of the forces arrayed against him, including a large, albeit amorphous, strain of racial resentment. Pained by the economic recession, they refrain from blaming Obama and instead direct their ire at those who not only saddled the first black chief executive with such a harrowing task of cleanup but also obstruct him relentlessly and often with barely disguised contempt. Third, even though Obama's black detractors constitute currently only a small sliver of African-American public opinion, their critique is nonetheless important in practical, electoral terms. It is often the case that a vocal, motivated minority can exercise influence that far exceeds their numbers. Enthusiasm matters. A drumbeat of complaint calling into question Obama's attentiveness to blacks might well diminish the fervency of the support he will need for his re-election effort. Furthermore, certain actions he might take to respond to the racial critique might well alienate other, nonblack, potential supporters. The race line will ensnare Obama no matter how he proceeds. It will not necessarily defeat him. His epochal victory in 2008 showed that, unlike previous eras, our own is one in which a black politician can overcome racial barriers to win the highest office in the land. Still, the sobering reality is that race remains an important, persistent force in American life despite the presence of a black family in the White House. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Randall Kennedy.
[ "what did Some black voices have?", "In which community does Obama's support remain strong?", "Who says that Obama isn't black enough?", "Who is confronting difficult issues?" ]
[ [ "realistic appreciation of the limits of his authority and the power of the forces arrayed against him, including a large, albeit amorphous, strain of racial resentment." ], [ "African-Americans." ], [ "Rep. Bobby Rush" ], [ "President Barack Obama's" ] ]
Randall Kennedy: Some black voices have said Obama isn't "black enough" He says many blacks who achieve success face similar charges . Kennedy says Obama's rank-and-file support in black community remains strong . Most realize that Obama is confronting difficult issues, powerful forces, he says .