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LONDON, England (CNN) -- Hannah Clark is a 16-year-old with a shy laugh and a love of animals. She likes to go shopping with friends and dreams of a career working with children. Teenager Hannah Clark's heart has healed itself more than a decade after she received a donor heart. But Hannah Clark is no ordinary teenager and her normal life today could not have been possible without a unique, life-changing heart surgery. In 1994 when she was eight-months-old, Hannah was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy -- an inflammation of the heart muscle that impairs the heart's ability to work properly. Hannah's heart was failing and she needed a transplant. But instead of taking her own heart out, doctors added a new donated heart to her own when she was just two-years-old. The so-called "piggyback" operation allowed the donor heart to do the work while Hannah's heart rested. But Hannah was not in the clear yet. As with any organ transplant, Hannah's body was likely to reject her new heart and she had to take powerful immune suppression drugs. Those drugs allowed her body to accept the donor heart but also led to cancer and yet another medical battle for Hannah that lasted for years. Nearly 11 years after receiving the extra heart, there was more bad news: The immuno-suppression drugs were no longer working. Hannah's body was rejecting the donor heart. In February 2006, her doctors tried something that had never been done before: They took out the donor heart. Doctors theorized that the donor heart had allowed Hannah's heart to rest, recover and grow back stronger. Now for the first time Hannah's father, Paul Clark, describes the agonizing decision the family had to make at the time: "If she'd never had it done, she wouldn't be here. Watch a report about Hannah's amazing recovery » "In the very beginning it was a 50/50 chance she wasn't going to make the operation. But in the next one it was even greater because it had never been done before. But we had to take that risk," he told CNN. The doctors were right. Three years later, Hannah has no need for any drugs and has been given a clean bill of health. The operation was a success. "It means everything to me," Hannah told CNN after the pioneering operation. "I thought I'd still have problems when I had this operation done. I thought after the heart had been removed I thought I'd have to visit hospitals. But now I'm just free," she said, smiling. Dr. Magdi Yacoub performed Hannah's original transplant and came out of retirement to perform the second. "The possibility of recovery of the heart is just like magic." Dr. Yacoub said at a media conference. "[We had] a heart which was not contracting at all at the time. We put the new heart to be pumping next to it and take its work, now [it] is functioning normally." The findings have been published in the British medical journal, the Lancet. Hannah's amazing recovery would not have been possible without a donor. Both Hannah's doctors and her family made an appeal for more people to consider organ donation. "When it happens to someone close to you or yourself, you don't realize until then how important it is to be a donor and not to be selfish like, I need that part. You don't need that part. Give it to somebody else that needs it," said Clark. "It just proves that if you can, be a donor. This can happen." Dr. Yacoub now advocates "presumed consent" -- a policy by which anyone can be considered an organ donor unless they specifically request to opt out. "All you are asking is please make up your own mind. Do you or do you not want to be a donor? My own family, my kids, everybody wants to be a donor | [
"What did Hannah Clark suffer from?",
"Doctors added?",
"When was Hannah Clark performed a unique surgery?",
"Hannah is now a healthy?",
"Who is Hannah Clark?",
"Hannah Clark suffered?"
] | [
[
"cardiomyopathy"
],
[
"a new donated heart"
],
[
"In 1994"
],
[
"Teenager"
],
[
"16-year-old with a shy laugh and a love of animals."
],
[
"cardiomyopathy"
]
] | Hannah Clark suffered from a rare heart condition when she was a baby .
Doctors added a donor heart to her own in a unique surgery when she was two .
Doctors later removed donor heart and found her own heart had healed itself .
Hannah is now a healthy 16-year-old with normal teenage aspirations . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Harry Patch -- the last surviving British soldier from World War I -- died Saturday at the age of 111, Britain's Ministry of Defence said. Harry Patch, pictured here on November 11, 2008, at an Armistice Day commemoration ceremony in London. Patch died peacefully at his care home in the southwestern English city of Wells, the ministry announced. His death came a week after fellow British World War I veteran Henry Allingham died at the age of 113. Patch was the last surviving soldier to have witnessed the horrors of trench warfare in the first World War He fought and was seriously wounded in Ypres, Belgium, in 1917 at the Battle of Passchendaele, in which 70,000 of his fellow soldiers died -- including three of his close friends. Born in 1898, Patch became a plumber before being conscripted to the army in 1916. After training, Patch was recruited to The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry as a Lewis gunner assistant. The unit was rushed to the front line trenches of Ypres, where soldiers were urgently needed to replace those who were wounded and dying by the thousand. He fought in the trenches between June and September of 1917 and was involved in some of the fiercest fighting of the war. In late September he was wounded when a light shell exploded above his head, bringing an end to his military service. He received battlefield treatment without anesthetic. After the war, Harry returned to his work as a plumber and later became a sanitary engineer. He married Ada Billington, a young girl he met while convalescing after the battle. They married in 1919 and had two sons. In World War II, Patch joined the Auxiliary Fire Service and helped tackle the fires caused by heavy German raids on the English cities of Bath and Bristol. At one point, he was sent to organize sanitary arrangements for soldiers at a camp near Yeovil, where he became friendly with some of the men. Patch remembered the shock of finding the camp deserted, with coffee still hot and meals half-eaten, on the morning that the soldiers had gone off to France, the Ministry of Defence said. His wife, Ada, died in 1976, and their two sons also later died. Patch remarried in 1980, but he became a widower for the second time four years later. Patch didn't speak about the war until he turned 100, the Ministry of Defence said. "He tried to suppress the memories and to live as normal a life as possible; the culture of his time said that he was fortunate to have survived and that he should get on with his life," a Ministry of Defence biography says. "That suited Harry; he could 'forget' his demons, the memories of what happened to him and to his close friends." In 1998, a television producer with an interest in the war talked to Patch, who then made the decision to speak of his memories, the Ministry of Defence said. He took part in a documentary on the war and began gradually to open up. It wasn't long before Patch became a spokesman for his generation, speaking about the horrors of the war as well as his own emotions and reactions, the Ministry of Defence said. "In speaking about his experiences, Harry began at last to come to terms with his war, and was at peace with himself and his memories," the Defence Ministry said. "His thoughts then turned to reconciliation, to the long-term effects of suffering and coming to terms with that suffering." Patch returned to Belgium in 2002, something he had said he would never do, and laid a wreath to his battalion, the Defence Ministry said. Two years later, he met and shook hands with a German artilleryman from the Western Front, Charles Kuentz. Patch later laid a wreath at Langemark Cemetery for the German war dead. In his last years, Patch was honored at Buckingham Palace and the prime minister's residence at 10 Downing Street. On his 101st birthday France awarded him the Knighthood | [
"Where and when was Harry Patch wounded in the World War One?",
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] | Harry Patch, dead at 111, was last British survivor of World War One trench warfare .
Patch was seriously wounded in Ypres, Belgium, in 1917 at Battle of Passchendaele .
Patch "tried to suppress memories and to live as normal a life as possible"
Former soldier gradually opened up about his experiences in final years of life . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling is writing a prequel to her best-selling series to be auctioned for charity -- but at just 800 words, it may lack some of the magic fans of the boy wizard might be hoping for. Autographed copies of J.K. Rowling's work have fetched millions of dollars at auction. Rowling's hand-written prequel, signed by the author, will be auctioned alongside works by other famous writers to raise cash for a dyslexia charity. Despite the brevity of the piece, experts believe it could fetch big money, since other autographed works by the blockbuster author have sold for millions of dollars. "We never dreamed that J.K. Rowling would donate something so precious, and we're incredibly grateful," said Gerry Johnson, managing director of Waterstone's, the UK book chain organizing the auction. "I can't begin to guess how much it will raise at auction." A previous 93-word storycard from Rowling, which referred to the book "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," sold in 2002 for $53,000. Rowling later produced seven hand-written copies of a new work, "The Tales of Beedle the Bard," one of which sold for $3.9 million in 2007. "Given the enormous interest we have seen in recent times for autograph work by J.K. Rowling, the prospects for her storycard are good to say the least," said Philip Errington, a specialist at Sotheby's auction house, which is helping to organize the sale. The card on which the story is written -- measuring 14.6 by 20.9 centimeters (5.75 by 8.25 inches) -- is signed "JK Rowling 2008." The author signs off with the message: "From the prequel I am not working on -- but that was fun!" Alongside Rowling, 13 other authors invited to contribute to the June 10 auction include Margaret Atwood, Sebastian Faulks, Nick Hornby, and Tom Stoppard. A book featuring all 13 cards will go on sale in August. All profits from the book will benefit Dyslexia Action and English PEN, a writers' association, Waterstone's said. | [
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] | Author J.K. Rowling pens Harry Potter prequel for charity auction .
Autographed 800-word piece will raise money for dyslexia charity .
Previous autographed Rowling pieces have raised millions of dollars . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- He immortalized the "smell of napalm in the morning" in "Apocalypse Now," but Robert Duvall's first meeting with director Francis Ford Coppola was no indication of the fruitful relationship to come. Duvall starred in Francis Ford Coppola's "The Godfather," "The Godfather: Part II" and "Apocalypse Now." It was 1969 and Coppola had parted ways with a lead character in indie film "The Rain People." He was stuck and 38-year-old Duvall was drafted in at the last minute on the suggestion of a friend. Despite slapdash beginnings, their work together has produced some of Duvall's greatest roles and many of Coppola's most critically-acclaimed films. Duvall started working in theater in the 1950s before moving into film in the early 1960s with roles like Boo Radley in "To Kill a Mockingbird." Things took off for him in 1970s when he starred in Coppola's multiple award-winning movies "The Godfather" and "The Godfather: Part II," But, it is his Oscar-nominated turn as indestructible, napalm-loving Lt. Colonel Kilgore in Coppola's Vietnam war opus "Apocalypse Now" that remains one of Duvall's most enduring roles. Duvall sits down with CNN's Revealed and talks about, "Apocalypse Now" and his relationship with the master movie-maker. Revealed: Can you sum up the impact Coppola had on your life, your career? RD: I would have had another career. He helped all our careers with "The Godfather." It was a kind of catalyst for all the actors in one and two. It helped me. I kinda designed my own career. Revealed: What's Coppola's approach to directing? RD: I think sometimes Francis works best amidst confusion and I mean that in a good way. He'll come in and say, 'Let's try something,' and then you rehearse. Like any good director he sees what you bring. He realizes it's gotta come from the actor. He's open enough ... of course, he'll give his opinion but he wants to see what you bring. Revealed: The problems Coppola encountered while shooting "Apocalypse Now" are legendary. What was it like working on that film? RD: There are things I won't go into! But it was pretty crazy. Sometimes we'd get one shot in a day, if that. Everything was in disarray. The hurricane came in and ruined the sets, s**t! Then they had to build them again, and we were there nine or 10 months. Dennis Hopper all doped up, not doing it Francis' way. Francis would do 45 takes, and then he said, 'Now, would you please do one my way," he'd say to Dennis. Martin Sheen got the heart attack, and they didn't know what they would do if they lost Martin. Francis said it was like warfare. Watch Coppola and others talk about the making of "Apocalypse Now" » Revealed: You say that people constantly come up to you in the street and say the line, 'I love the smell of napalm in the morning.' RD: It is a pretty famous line. Everybody relates to that line. Scenes like that we had to get quickly because all that fire at the back of me was supposed to be the napalm. Sometimes when you work fast and under duress ... sometimes that's the best stuff you can get. Revealed: How did your life change after "Apocalypse Now," and the "Godfather" films came out? RD: It was kind of a landmark. I said we're in something pretty important here, as far as film goes and it was true, and I gained a lot of respect for Francis because I didn't know him that well on "The Rain People." It's Coppola's vision. It could have been made by Disney as long as he was directing it. Which one of Coppola's films would you put | [
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] | Actor Robert Duvall first worked with Francis Ford Coppola 40 years ago .
He starred in Oscar-winners "The Godfather," and "The Godfather: Part II"
Immortalized "I love the smell of napalm in the morning in "Apocalypse Now"
Duvall on Coppola: "A talented maniac. No, not a maniac, a talented, driven guy" |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- He's been a homicidal singing barber in "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" and a drunken swashbuckler in "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End." Depp is back as bank robber John Dillinger, revered in the Depression as a modern-day Robin Hood. Now, Hollywood shape-shifter Johnny Depp is back as another unexpectedly charismatic outlaw: Depression-era bank robber John Dillinger, a character he says he's been drawn to since he was a boy. "I sort of had a fascination with John Dillinger when I was about 10, 11 years old, for some reason," Depp told CNN. "I always kind of admired him, oddly." Oddly, perhaps, because for a short but intense period between September 1933 and July 1934 Dillinger and his gang rampaged through the American Midwest, staging jail breaks, robbing banks, and killing 10 men and wounding seven along the way. Dillinger's violent spree is the focus of gangster drama "Public Enemies," the latest offering from director Michael Mann, and also starring Christian Bale and Marion Cotillard. Mann is known for his sympathetic portrayal of criminals, and Dillinger -- whose acts on the wrong side of the law led him to become one of America's first celebrities -- is the quintessential good hood. In the 1930s, the United States was in the grips of the worst financial disaster in history -- a time when many Americans watched their life savings disappear and became jobless and hungry. Members of the public blamed banks for losing their money and politicians for failing to stop them. For many, Dillinger's exploits represented sticking it to the fat cats, and he was idolized as a modern-day Robin Hood. J. Edgar Hoover, FBI director at the time, may have made Dillinger America's first Public Enemy No. 1, but the bandit was careful not to alienate the public. There is a memorable moment where he drapes a coat over a female bank hostage during a raid to keep her warm. Also, it's said he never swore in front of women. He was always courteous even as he tried to meet his target of robbing banks in under two minutes. Crucially, he never robbed the average guy, telling him to put his money away during robberies. It is this Dillinger that Depp captures: a captivating revolutionary with the gift of gab who lit the public's imagination, causing people to flock to cinemas to watch his exploits in weekly newsreels. Review: Depp is great in 'Public Enemies' Of course, the dark, violent side of Dillinger's psyche is unavoidable. Depp plumbed the depths of his own character to come up with those murkier elements. That was something that took courage, according to Mann: "He had Dillinger in him; that's something I sensed. Deep in the core of Johnny there's a toughness." Depp gained recognition throughout the 1990s for immersing himself in characters. He shook off an early reputation as a teen pin-up in movies like Tim Burton's 1991 Gothic tale "Edward Scissorhands." He went on to cement his reputation for unusual film choices and quirky performances in films like "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (2005) and "Finding Neverland" (2004). In pictures: Johnny Depp's iconic roles » The 46-year-old actor says he felt a close affinity to Dillinger: "I related to John Dillinger like he was a relative. I felt he was of the same blood. He reminded me of my stepdad and very much of my grandfather. "He seemed to be one of those guys with absolutely no bull whatsoever, who lived at a time when a man was a man." "Public Enemies" was adapted by Mann from a nonfiction book of the same name by Bryan Burrough. Is it sozzled Captain. Jack Sparrow or smooth Donnie Brasco? Tell us your favorite Johnny Depp character in the SoundOff box below. The "Last of the Mohicans" director is known for fastidious | [
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] | Johnny Depp plays charismatic bank robber John Dillinger in "Public Enemies"
Depression-era tale of first Public Enemy No. 1, idolized as modern-day Robin Hood .
Dillinger's gang killed 10 men, wounded seven during a spree of less than one year .
Depp on Dillinger: "I always kind of admired him, oddly" |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- He's the man who has just rejected offers of up to $700,000 a week in wages -- but who really is Kaka? And what has he done to deserve so much money? Wanted man: Kaka overcame a spine fracture before getting to the top of world football. Born in Brazil in 1982, Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, or "Kaka" as he is more commonly known, is a footballer with Italian club AC Milan. His name, Kaka, is believed to come from a brother, who began calling him that due to his inability to say his proper name -- Ricardo. Said to be an amazing talent from a very young age, the attacking midfielder began his career with Sao Paulo at the tender age of eight, and had signed his first contract before his 16th birthday. Do you think Kaka should have stayed at AC Milan or taken the money at Manchester City? Tell us in the Sound Off box below. However, when all seemed set for a perfect career, Kaka suffered a serious, potentially paralyzing injury from a swimming pool accident in 2000. The then 18-year-old fractured a vertebra in his spine -- an injury that many thought could have ended his career and even prevented him from walking again. Kaka did recover though, and it's something that the deeply religious Brazilian has put down to the help of God, and ever since has given some of his income to his Church. Once recovered, he didn't waste time in getting his career restarted. By January 2001 he had made his debut in the Sao Paulo senior team and led the team to its first Torneio Rio-Sao Paulo championship. The following year he was a part of the Brazil team which won the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and in 2003 his talents had attracted the interest of European clubs and he signed to AC Milan for euro 9 million ($12 million) per season, and remains under contract with them through 2013. Since then he's won the Serie A, UEFA Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup with AC Milan, while on a personal level he won the 2007 Ballon d'Or Award for the best player in Europe and the FIFA World Player of the Year 2007 -- among many other awards. His international performances have continued to be strong -- and he has now scored 23 goals for Brazil. Such is his influence inside and outside of football, that Kaka was named in the Time 100 most influential people in 2008. Outside of the game Kaka has continued to be a devout Christian. He married his long-time partner Caroline Celico in 2005, and they had their first child in June 2008. Oddly, the current season (in which he finds himself being offered the biggest football salary ever) hasn't been as profitable for Kaka. The 26-year-old has struggled with a groin injury and has not managed to combine as smoothly within the AC Milan team compared to previous seasons. Still, that did not seem to worry Manchester City -- or Real Madrid, and for now at least, the $150 million transfer effort remains the biggest in football's history. | [
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] | Kaka is a Brazilian attacking midfielder who plays at AC Milan in Italy .
At the age of 18 Kaka broke a vertebra in a swimming pool accident .
He was named FIFA World Player of the Year for 2007 . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Heather Mills presented "less than candid" testimony about her life with former Beatle Paul McCartney during her divorce case and made more money during their marriage than before, according to a ruling released Tuesday. McCartney's lawyer Fiona Shackleton, left, pictured after it is alleged Mills threw water over her. Mills represented herself during the proceedings and was a "less than impressive witness" on her own behalf, Judge Hugh Bennett wrote in awarding her £24.3 million ($48.6 million) -- far less than the £125 million she had sought from McCartney in the dissolution of their four-year marriage. "Having given in her favor every allowance for the enormous strain she must have been under and in conducting her own case, I am driven to the conclusion that much of her evidence, both written and oral, was not just inconsistent and inaccurate but also less than candid," Bennett wrote. Mills emerged from the court Monday angry about the judge's treatment of her. She said the judge and attorneys acted like they were part of a "club." Blog: Did Mills pour water on McCartney's lawyer? A summary of Bennett's decision was released Monday, but Mills had sought to keep the full ruling under wraps. Britain's Court of Appeals ruled against her Tuesday, and her lawyer, David Rosen, said she accepted the decision. See a list of expensive celebrity divorces » "She as a mother has strived to protect her child and felt there were certain issues and matters in the judgment which affected that," Rosen said. Mills opposed the full ruling's publication because it contained private details about her and her 4-year-old daughter with McCartney, Beatrice. Watch Mills react to Monday's decision » Bennett had good things to say about Mills in his judgment, commending her strength in the face of disability. Mills lost her left leg below the knee in a 1993 traffic accident. But he discounted many of the arguments the former model made about her personal wealth before and after her 2002 marriage to McCartney. He ruled that Mills earned far less before marriage than she claimed, and far more while married -- and at several points in his decision, he wrote that Mills' ideas about their marriage were "make-belief." "I find that, far from the husband dictating to and restricting the wife's career and charitable activities, he did the exact opposite," Bennett wrote. McCartney, meanwhile, presented balanced evidence and was a consistent witness, he wrote. "He expressed himself moderately though at times with justifiable irritation, if not anger," the judge wrote in a glimpse of the emotions aired behind closed doors. Read the full ruling (.pdf file -- Adobe Acrobat required) Bennett found Mills failed to produce financial records to back up statements about money she claimed to have in the bank before marriage, which she said amounted to more than £2 million. In one instance, the judge pointed out McCartney's company loaned Mills money to buy a home in Hove, England -- money that she would not have needed had she had such an amount in the bank. And Bennett found that Mills' income actually improved during the marriage. In one year, she earned £1 million ($2 million) from a single modeling contract, he wrote. And he quoted Mills' 2002 book, "A Single Step," in which she wrote that her charity work and public speaking roles had expanded "to such an extent that it has left little time for anything else." "She is a kindly person and is devoted to her charitable causes," the judge wrote. "She has conducted her own case before me with a steely, yet courteous, determination." The couple met in 1999, a year after the death of McCartney's wife of 30 years, Linda. The judge said McCartney continued to grieve for his late wife well into his marriage with Mills -- and he suggested Mills misrepresented her case because she had been star-struck. "The wife for her | [
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] | Judge: Heather Mills "a less than impressive witness"
Paul McCartney's ex-wife received nearly $50M payout in divorce ruling .
Ruling follows collapse of ex-Beatle's four-year marriage to former model . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- His life has never been easy. Born into poverty and war, his ears and tail were chopped off when he was just a few months old in preparation for dog-fighting. He escaped to find a better life, only to be trapped in lonely, sterile quarantine for six months.
Bear plays for the first time out of quarantine after coming to Britain from Afghanistan.
But all that changed Monday when Bear the dog stepped out of British quarantine and through the doors of a London animal shelter.
"He's absolutely a loving dog," said former British Royal Marine Paul "Penny" Farthing, who helped bring Bear to England. "He just loves people. It's a good thing he was brought back to the U.K. when he was quite young, so he's never gone through having to fend for himself in the street and be made to dogfight."
An unknown soldier in Afghanistan first found Bear last year and brought him to a local Afghan animal shelter. The shelter wasn't able to care for Bear, so it contacted Farthing, who now runs a charity for stray and abandoned animals, primarily dogs from Afghanistan. Farthing's Nowzad Dogs is named for the Afghan town where he was based for a few months in 2006. He asked Mayhew International, an arm of London's Mayhew Animal Home, to help find Bear a new home.
Mayhew International says Bear is one of the few dogs it has brought back to Britain. Usually it tries to find animals new homes within their own countries.
"Although Mayhew International does not encourage people to bring dogs to the U.K. from abroad as a general policy, we made an exception in this case as it was the perfect opportunity to highlight the plight of thousands of stray animals in Afghanistan," the organization said in a statement.
Bear's story may be unique, but he is certainly not alone. Mayhew International, which works around the world to educate people about animal welfare, says there are countless dogs in Afghanistan that are homeless or trapped in a life of dogfighting -- an increasingly popular pastime in Afghanistan.
"Animal welfare is not looked so highly upon in Afghanistan," said Christopher Sainsbury, Mayhew's international projects officer.
"In war-torn areas, people tend to forget the animal welfare side of things. [We want to] make people aware that this is a key side of things that needs to be assessed, needs to be worked on."
Bear is a Koochi dog, a large breed common in Afghanistan, according to Dr. Mohammadzai Abduljalil, a Mayhew veterinarian from Afghanistan. While no one knows Bear's exact age, Abduljalil said they believe he is just about a year old.
You wouldn't know it by Bear's size. He's already a large dog nearly 3 feet high with large paws to match.
Stepping into the Mayhew play area Monday for the first time, Bear made sure to sniff every corner of the room and mark his territory a few times before settling in to play. He had a puppy's curiosity and quickly started playing fetch and tug-of-war with Farthing, wagging enthusiastically the small part of his tail which is left.
Bear is lucky. He escaped a violent and uncertain future in Afghanistan. Not so for many other dogs left behind. It is those dogs that Farthing hopes to help with his charity.
"They need someone to look after them, so why not me?" Farthing said.
It began when the Royal Marines arrived in the war-torn town of Now Zad, in Afghanistan's Helmand province, in October 2006. They found stray dogs wandering the streets, scavenging for food, dodging bullets and seeking shelter from the hot days and cold nights. Many were also being used for dogfighting, with their ears and tails docked to make the fights last longer and give their opponents less to bite.
Farthing and other Marines began to feed and care for a few dogs that wandered into their camp. At first they had three dogs, but other strays soon figured out the | [
"Where did soldiers find Bear?",
"What kind of animal is Bear?",
"What happened to Bear before they found him?",
"Who made preparations to transport the dog?",
"Why was the dog's tail chopped off?",
"Who made preparations?",
"Who found Bear?",
"What country do the Royal Marines represent?",
"Who made preparations with company and locals to transport dogs?"
] | [
[
"Afghanistan."
],
[
"dog"
],
[
"Born into poverty and war,"
],
[
"British Royal Marine Paul \"Penny\" Farthing,"
],
[
"preparation for dog-fighting."
],
[
"former British Royal Marine Paul \"Penny\" Farthing,"
],
[
"An unknown soldier in Afghanistan first"
],
[
"U.K."
],
[
"former British Royal Marine Paul \"Penny\" Farthing,"
]
] | Bear the dog was born into poverty, had ears and tail chopped off for dogfighting .
Unknown soldier in Afghanistan first found Bear last year .
Royal Marines made preparations with company and locals to transport dogs .
Marine: "It shows that the people of Afghanistan and us, we can work together" |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- His life has never been easy. Born into poverty and war, his ears and tail were chopped off when he was just a few months old in preparation for dog-fighting. He escaped to find a better life, only to be trapped in lonely, sterile quarantine for six months.
Bear plays for the first time out of quarantine after coming to Britain from Afghanistan.
But all that changed Monday when Bear the dog stepped out of British quarantine and through the doors of a London animal shelter.
"He's absolutely a loving dog," said former British Royal Marine Paul "Penny" Farthing, who helped bring Bear to England. "He just loves people. It's a good thing he was brought back to the U.K. when he was quite young, so he's never gone through having to fend for himself in the street and be made to dogfight."
An unknown soldier in Afghanistan first found Bear last year and brought him to a local Afghan animal shelter. The shelter wasn't able to care for Bear, so it contacted Farthing, who now runs a charity for stray and abandoned animals, primarily dogs from Afghanistan. Farthing's Nowzad Dogs is named for the Afghan town where he was based for a few months in 2006. He asked Mayhew International, an arm of London's Mayhew Animal Home, to help find Bear a new home.
Mayhew International says Bear is one of the few dogs it has brought back to Britain. Usually it tries to find animals new homes within their own countries.
"Although Mayhew International does not encourage people to bring dogs to the U.K. from abroad as a general policy, we made an exception in this case as it was the perfect opportunity to highlight the plight of thousands of stray animals in Afghanistan," the organization said in a statement.
Bear's story may be unique, but he is certainly not alone. Mayhew International, which works around the world to educate people about animal welfare, says there are countless dogs in Afghanistan that are homeless or trapped in a life of dogfighting -- an increasingly popular pastime in Afghanistan.
"Animal welfare is not looked so highly upon in Afghanistan," said Christopher Sainsbury, Mayhew's international projects officer.
"In war-torn areas, people tend to forget the animal welfare side of things. [We want to] make people aware that this is a key side of things that needs to be assessed, needs to be worked on."
Bear is a Koochi dog, a large breed common in Afghanistan, according to Dr. Mohammadzai Abduljalil, a Mayhew veterinarian from Afghanistan. While no one knows Bear's exact age, Abduljalil said they believe he is just about a year old.
You wouldn't know it by Bear's size. He's already a large dog nearly 3 feet high with large paws to match.
Stepping into the Mayhew play area Monday for the first time, Bear made sure to sniff every corner of the room and mark his territory a few times before settling in to play. He had a puppy's curiosity and quickly started playing fetch and tug-of-war with Farthing, wagging enthusiastically the small part of his tail which is left.
Bear is lucky. He escaped a violent and uncertain future in Afghanistan. Not so for many other dogs left behind. It is those dogs that Farthing hopes to help with his charity.
"They need someone to look after them, so why not me?" Farthing said.
It began when the Royal Marines arrived in the war-torn town of Now Zad, in Afghanistan's Helmand province, in October 2006. They found stray dogs wandering the streets, scavenging for food, dodging bullets and seeking shelter from the hot days and cold nights. Many were also being used for dogfighting, with their ears and tails docked to make the fights last longer and give their opponents less to bite.
Farthing and other Marines began to feed and care for a few dogs that wandered into their camp. At first they had three dogs, but other strays soon figured out the | [
"Who found Bear?",
"Who was born into poverty?",
"where was the dog found",
"Who found Bear last year?",
"Whose ears were chopped off?",
"what happened to the dog",
"what did the marine say"
] | [
[
"unknown soldier"
],
[
"Bear"
],
[
"Afghanistan."
],
[
"former British Royal Marine Paul \"Penny\" Farthing,"
],
[
"Bear"
],
[
"brought back"
],
[
"\"He's absolutely a loving dog,\""
]
] | Bear the dog was born into poverty, had ears and tail chopped off for dogfighting .
Unknown soldier in Afghanistan first found Bear last year .
Royal Marines made preparations with company and locals to transport dogs .
Marine: "It shows that the people of Afghanistan and us, we can work together" |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Hollywood star Will Smith led a crowd of 46,664 in a chorus of "Happy Birthday" to Nelson Mandela on Friday at a party for the South African prisoner, president and Nobel Peace Prize winner. Nelson Mandela had a smile and a message. Smith introduced Mandela to the London crowd celebrating Mandela's life with the words "The one, the only, the birthday boy, Nelson Mandela, Nelson Mandelaaaaaaaaaa." London was the scene of a concert 20 years ago to celebrate Mandela's 70th and to raise awareness of his imprisonment. Mandela told cheering fans, "Your voices carried across the water to inspire us in our prison cells far away. Tonight, we can stand before you free. "We are honored to be back in London for this wonderful occasion. "But even as we celebrate, let us remind ourselves that our work is far from complete. "Where there is poverty and sickness, including AIDS, where human beings are being oppressed, there is more work to be done. Our work is for freedom for all." Watch Mandela at the party » As Mandela walked on stage, Smith led the crowd in a chorus of "Happy Birthday." Proceeds from the concert in London's Hyde Park will go toward the 46664 Campaign, which Mandela founded in 2003 to raise awareness about the impact of AIDS, especially in Africa, and to promote HIV-prevention measures around the world. The name of the charity represents Mandela's prison number when he was incarcerated at Robben Island. Organizers put 46,664 tickets up for sale. The finale of the concert was scheduled as Queen, Amy Winehouse and Jerry Dammers performing "Free Nelson Mandela," a 1980s hit from the Specials that quickly became an anti-apartheid anthem, but pretty much every act joined them on stage. Dammers was also one of the driving forces behind the London concert in 1988 to awareness of Mandela's long imprisonment by the South African authorities. The former South African president turns 90 on July 18. Watch the crowd celebrate » Speculation surrounded whether Winehouse would perform after being hospitalized with lung problems last week. More than a dozen African artists, including Johnny Clegg and the Soweto Gospel Choir, performed. Smith, music legend Quincy Jones and Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton were among the stars introducing acts. Other guests at the concert included British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, former U.S. President Clinton, talk show host Oprah Winfrey and actor Robert De Niro. Mandela served as his country's first democratically elected president from 1994 to 1999. In recent years, he has campaigned on behalf of HIV and AIDS awareness and has long called the battle against AIDS a basic human right. In 1964, a court sentenced Mandela to life in prison for plotting to overthrow the government by violence. He spent the first 18 years at Robben Island Prison, off Cape Town, South Africa, and later spent time at Pollsmoor prison and Victor Verster Prison, closer to the mainland. While in prison, Mandela became recognized as the most significant black leader in South Africa, and he became a potent symbol of resistance in the anti-apartheid movement. Mandela consistently refused to compromise his political position to obtain his freedom. South African President F.W. de Klerk released Mandela in February 1990 after 27 years in prison. Mandela was elected president of the African National Congress the following year, and in 1994, he was elected president of his country. | [
"What are people celebrating in London?",
"what was the crowd count who sang Happy Birthday?",
"Who were the performers?",
"Who gathered in London?",
"for what did the celebrities and statesmen gather in London?",
"Who led the crowd singing \"Happy Birthday\"?",
"Who is performing?",
"Who gather in London?"
] | [
[
"Mandela's life"
],
[
"46,664"
],
[
"Queen, Amy Winehouse and Jerry Dammers"
],
[
"crowd of 46,664"
],
[
"\"Happy Birthday\""
],
[
"Will Smith"
],
[
"Queen, Amy Winehouse and Jerry Dammers"
],
[
"Hollywood star Will Smith led a crowd of 46,664 in a chorus of \"Happy"
]
] | Celebrities, statesmen gather in London to celebrate Mandela's 90th birthday .
Mandela at outdoor concert in his honor in London's Hyde Park .
Crowd of 46,664 sing "Happy Birthday" led by Will Smith .
Performers include Amy Winehouse, Queen, Annie Lennox, Simple Minds . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Honey has been used to treat wounds since ancient times, but recent years have seen a surge of medical interest in the sticky stuff. Research has shown that honey has antibacterial properties. Manuka honey has been the subject of particular interest, with the results of a study just published by Sydney University finding that it has powerful antibacterial properties, and is even effective against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Associate Professor Dee Carter, from Sydney University's School of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences said: "Our research is the first to clearly show that these honey-based products could in many cases replace antibiotic creams on wounds and equipment such as catheters. Using honey as an intermediate treatment could also prolong the life of antibiotics." "Most bacteria that cause infections in hospitals are resistant to at least one antibiotic, and there is an urgent need for new ways to treat and control surface infections." She added: "We don't quite know how these honeys prevent and kill infections, but a compound in them called methylglyoxal seems to interact with a number of other unknown compounds in honey to prevent infectious bacteria developing new strains that are resistant to it." Honey is a complex substance, containing up to 800 compounds and its complexity means it has been difficult to pinpoint exactly how it kills bacteria. Manuka is a type of honey that is made by bees pollinating the flowers of the Manuka bush, a member of the Leptospermum family that grows naturally in New Zealand. Now, an Australian company is claiming to have produced the world's most potent medical-grade antibacterial honey, made by bees pollinating the Australian jellybush, also a member of the Leptospermum family. Australia's Medi Bioactive Honey Company claims its Berringa antibacterial honey has twice the antibacterial content of normal manuka honey, and has launched the product in the UK. Dr Rose Cooper of the University of Wales Cardiff School of Health Sciences has researched honey's antibacterial action and has written a book called "Honey in Modern Wounds Management." Cooper told CNN that there are many components in honey that contribute to its antibacterial nature. She says its high sugar content, low water content and low pH are all factors. Additionally, some honey produces hydrogen peroxide, which can kill bacteria. Since 2004, Britain's National Health Service has licensed the use of manuka-honey wound dressings and sterilized medical grade manuka-honey creams. | [
"What company claims to produce the \"world's most potent honey\"?",
"What is manuku honey?",
"What powerful antibacterial properties?",
"What Australian company?",
"What has shown to have powerful antibacterial properties?",
"Only bees make what kind of honey?",
"What sort of bees make Manuka honey?",
"Where is the company based that makes the most potent honey?",
"which Australian company produce the world's most potent honey?",
"What can have powerful antibacterial properties?",
"Where can be found the manuka plant?",
"which contains antibacterial properties according to the research?",
"What medicinal properties can honey have?",
"Which country is the company from that produces especially potent honey?",
"Which plant is pollinated by bees making Manuka honey?"
] | [
[
"Medi Bioactive Honey"
],
[
"that is made by bees pollinating the flowers of the Manuka bush,"
],
[
"Manuka honey"
],
[
"Medi Bioactive Honey"
],
[
"honey"
],
[
"Manuka"
],
[
"bush,"
],
[
"Australia's Medi Bioactive"
],
[
"Medi Bioactive"
],
[
"Manuka honey"
],
[
"New Zealand."
],
[
"honey"
],
[
"antibacterial"
],
[
"Australian"
],
[
"bush,"
]
] | Research has shown that honey can have powerful antibacterial properties .
Manuka honey is made only by bees that pollinate the manuka plant .
An Australian company claims it has produced the world's most potent honey . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Hope was 14 years old when her uncle raped her. Betty Makoni founded the Girl Child Network to help Zimbabwe's young sexual abuse victims. "He trapped me to the ground and covered my mouth with his hand," said the 18-year-old from Zimbabwe. "He threatened to kill me if I ever told anybody." So, she kept quiet. "After a while people around the villages started saying that I looked pregnant," she said. Hope was not only pregnant, but her uncle had infected her with HIV. Like many young girls in Zimbabwe, Hope was the victim of a widely held belief that if a man with HIV or AIDS rapes a virgin he will be cured of his disease. This so-called virgin myth, perpetuated by Zimbabwe's traditional healers, has led to the rape of hundreds of girls, according to UNICEF. Some of those victims are too young to walk, much less protect themselves. Betty Makoni has fought for nearly a decade to protect her country's young girls from sexual abuse. And she's witnessed some of the worst cases of the myth in action. "The youngest girl I ever came across was a day-old baby who was raped," said Makoni, 37. Through her Girl Child Network (GCN), Makoni has helped rescue 35,000 girls from abuse -- including Hope; thousands more have found an empowering community and a public forum in which to speak out. "Ten girls per day report rape cases," she said. "It means if we keep quiet, at least 3,600 girls per year may just be contracting HIV and AIDS." Makoni's own tragic experiences fuel her fierce determination. "I was raped when I was 6 years old," she recalled. Her attacker was a local shopkeeper. Makoni said her mother would not allow her to report the abuse. "She said, 'Shh, we don't say that in public,' " Makoni remembered. "I had no shoulder to cry on." Three years later, she witnessed her father murder her mother. In that moment, Makoni said she realized the potentially deadly consequence of a woman's silence. "I told myself that no girl or woman will suffer the same again," she said. Believing an education would provide her the best opportunity and means to speak out, Makoni earned two university degrees and became a teacher. While teaching, she noticed that girls were dropping out of school at an alarming rate. She approached her students with an idea. "I [said] to girls, 'Let's have our own space where we talk and find solutions,' " Makoni said. Girl Child Network was born. Watch Makoni help young girls find safety and empowerment in Zimbabwe » By the end of the first year, there were 100 GCN clubs throughout Zimbabwe where girls could find support. Makoni said she was not surprised: "Every woman and girl identified with the issues that we were raising," she said. In 2000, she quit her teaching job to volunteer with GCN full time. "I decided to become an advocate because I walked my own journey to survival," she said. The following year Makoni successfully procured a piece of land and opened the organization's first empowerment village, designed to provide a haven for girls who have been abused. Girls are either rescued or referred to the village by social services, the police and the community. The healing begins as soon as a girl arrives. "In the first 72 hours, a girl is provided with emergency medication, reinstatement in school, as well as counseling," said Makoni. It is important to her that the girls are in charge of their own healing. "It gives them the confidence to transform from victims to leaders," she explained. The process helped Hope work through the times when she said "I thought my life had come to end." "They offered all they could ... as I was in | [
"What to Zimbabwe men believe?",
"How many girls were rescued by the organization?",
"What organization has rescued over 35000 girls?"
] | [
[
"if a man with HIV or AIDS rapes a virgin he will be cured of his disease."
],
[
"35,000"
],
[
"Child Network (GCN),"
]
] | Many in Zimbabwe believe a man raping a virgin can cure him of HIV or AIDS .
Betty Makoni's Girl Child Network cares for Zimbabwe's young sex abuse victims .
The organization has rescued more than 35,000 girls .
Do you know a hero? Nominations are open at CNN.com/Heroes . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Hope was 14 years old when her uncle raped her. Betty Makoni founded the Girl Child Network to help Zimbabwe's young sexual abuse victims. "He trapped me to the ground and covered my mouth with his hand," said the 18-year-old from Zimbabwe. "He threatened to kill me if I ever told anybody." So, she kept quiet. "After a while people around the villages started saying that I looked pregnant," she said. Hope was not only pregnant, but her uncle had infected her with HIV. Like many young girls in Zimbabwe, Hope was the victim of a widely held belief that if a man with HIV or AIDS rapes a virgin he will be cured of his disease. This so-called virgin myth, perpetuated by Zimbabwe's traditional healers, has led to the rape of hundreds of girls, according to UNICEF. Some of those victims are too young to walk, much less protect themselves. Betty Makoni has fought for nearly a decade to protect her country's young girls from sexual abuse. And she's witnessed some of the worst cases of the myth in action. "The youngest girl I ever came across was a day-old baby who was raped," said Makoni, 37. Through her Girl Child Network (GCN), Makoni has helped rescue 35,000 girls from abuse -- including Hope; thousands more have found an empowering community and a public forum in which to speak out. Vote now for the CNN Hero of the Year "Ten girls per day report rape cases," she said. "It means if we keep quiet, at least 3,600 girls per year may just be contracting HIV and AIDS." Makoni's own tragic experiences fuel her fierce determination. "I was raped when I was 6 years old," she recalled. Her attacker was a local shopkeeper. Makoni said her mother would not allow her to report the abuse. "She said, 'Shh, we don't say that in public,' " Makoni remembered. "I had no shoulder to cry on." Three years later, she witnessed her father murder her mother. In that moment, Makoni said she realized the potentially deadly consequence of a woman's silence. "I told myself that no girl or woman will suffer the same again," she said. Believing an education would provide her the best opportunity and means to speak out, Makoni earned two university degrees and became a teacher. While teaching, she noticed that girls were dropping out of school at an alarming rate. She approached her students with an idea. "I [said] to girls, 'Let's have our own space where we talk and find solutions,' " Makoni said. Girl Child Network was born. Watch Makoni help young girls find safety and empowerment in Zimbabwe » By the end of the first year, there were 100 GCN clubs throughout Zimbabwe where girls could find support. Makoni said she was not surprised: "Every woman and girl identified with the issues that we were raising," she said. In 2000, she quit her teaching job to volunteer with GCN full time. "I decided to become an advocate because I walked my own journey to survival," she said. The following year Makoni successfully procured a piece of land and opened the organization's first empowerment village, designed to provide a haven for girls who have been abused. Girls are either rescued or referred to the village by social services, the police and the community. The healing begins as soon as a girl arrives. "In the first 72 hours, a girl is provided with emergency medication, reinstatement in school, as well as counseling," said Makoni. It is important to her that the girls are in charge of their own healing. "It gives them the confidence to transform from victims to leaders," she explained. The process helped Hope work through the times when she said "I thought my life had come to end." "They | [
"Where is this crass belief held?",
"Who cares for the country's young sex abuse victims?",
"What do many in Zimbabwe believe?",
"how many do they care for",
"what do many believe in zimbabwe",
"how many girls have they rescued",
"How many girls have been rescued by BMGCN?"
] | [
[
"Zimbabwe,"
],
[
"Betty Makoni"
],
[
"if a man with HIV or AIDS rapes a virgin he will be cured of his disease."
],
[
"helped rescue 35,000 girls from abuse"
],
[
"if a man with HIV or AIDS rapes a virgin he will be cured of his disease."
],
[
"35,000"
],
[
"35,000"
]
] | Many in Zimbabwe believe a man raping a virgin can cure him of HIV or AIDS .
Betty Makoni's Girl Child Network cares for Zimbabwe's young sex abuse victims .
The organization has rescued more than 35,000 girls .
Do you know a hero? Nominations are open at CNN.com/Heroes . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- How does a man from an unassuming Dutch village go to being loved in South Korea, adored in Australia, revered in Russia and admired in England? Guus Hiddink, the Russia and Chelsea coach, has had much to smile about in his 22-year managerial career. By being an exceptional football manager, for one. Enjoying success around the world -- at different levels with different players in different cultures -- has made Guus Hiddink one of the most admired bosses around. Born in rural Varsseveld, near the German border, in 1946, Hiddink's early years were unremarkable. While playing semi-professional football, he spent 10 years as a gym teacher at a school for children with learning difficulties. Most of his playing days were in the midfield of De Graafschap, a smallish club with no history of winning silverware. He later spent two years playing in America before returning to retire at De Graafschap. Watch CNN's exclusive interview with Hiddink » Little, then, to suggest that here was a man who would achieve so much in his later career. But great players seldom become great managers. His first steps in that direction came at De Graafschap, Holland, where he was assistant manager before moving to the same role at Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven. See key moments from Hiddink's career » By 1987, at the age of 40, he was in charge of PSV and led them to their 1988 European Cup win, a feat unthinkable today. He almost reached the final again in 2005 during his second spell in Eindhoven. Hiddink's keeper at PSV, Hans van Breukelen, revealed some of the manager's methods. "He's very interested in people and immediately tries to create a family environment," he told Britain's Sun newspaper. "I can vividly remember him smoking and having a cup of coffee with his players. I don't know if he still smokes, but he was a chain smoker at PSV." Hiddink's resume includes stints in other high-pressure jobs such as Fenerbahce, Valencia and Real Madrid, but it's on the international scene where his shrewd tactical mind, organizational skills and motivational prowess grabbed attention. Semifinalists with Holland at the 1998 World Cup, he took over South Korea in 2001 and led the co-hosts of the 2002 World Cup to the last four. No Asian country had ever gone as far in a World Cup before and he left the job a national hero. He agreed to coach another underdog in the shape of Australia in 2005 and led them to the 2006 World Cup. There, the Socceroos had eventual winners Italy rattled for much of their second-round match before succumbing to a late, controversial penalty. Hiddink took Russia to Euro 2008, where they were beaten by Spain at the semifinal stage. Naturally his hometown Varsseveld wanted to capitalize on Hiddink's huge global popularity. The "Guuseum" was built in his honor, which for a time was particularly popular with South Koreans on a pilgrimage to see from where their idol hailed. Chelsea were in the doldrums when he arrived on a short-term deal in January as a favor to his comrade, Roman Abramovich, the club's billionaire owner. And the Hiddink magic has worked again, giving the Blues direction to a season that was drifting under previous boss Luiz Felipe Scolari. But the straight-speaking Dutchman is loyal to the project he has in charge of the Russian national side and insists he will leave Chelsea at the end of the season regardless. Sure of himself but free of ego, Hiddink knows what he wants. And, as he's repeatedly proved, he knows how to get it too. | [
"When was Hiddink born?",
"In what year was he born?",
"In which year was Hiddink born",
"Who does he currently coach",
"Hiddink has enjoyed success at what levels?",
"What type of sucess has he enjoyed",
"Which country is he coaching in?"
] | [
[
"1946,"
],
[
"1946,"
],
[
"1946,"
],
[
"Russia and Chelsea"
],
[
"different"
],
[
"Korea, adored in Australia, revered in Russia and admired in England?"
],
[
"Chelsea"
]
] | Born in 1946, Hiddink has become one of the best managers in the world .
Dutchman has enjoyed huge success at club and international level .
He's currently coach of Russia and is in charge of Chelsea until end of May . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Human rights and freedom of the press in China, the detention of terrorist suspects by the United States and Russia's treatment of political dissent are the focus of scrutiny in Amnesty International's annual report, released Wednesday, which looks at the state of human rights around the world. Amnesty International protestors outside the US Supreme Court in January dressed as Guantanamo Bay detainees. The 398-page report comes 60 years after the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Amnesty says governments still need to act on their promises. "The biggest threat to the future of human rights is the absence of a shared vision and collective leadership," the organization said in a statement. Irene Khan, Amnesty's secretary-general, said that in particular, "the human-rights flash points in Darfur, Zimbabwe, Gaza, Iraq and Myanmar demand immediate attention." The report, the group said, "reveals a world riven by inequality, scarred by discrimination and distorted by political repression." According to its count, people are tortured or subject to other ill treatment in at least 81 countries, face unfair trials in at least 54 countries and are not allowed to express themselves freely in at least 77 countries. Of the 150 countries and regions listed in the report, Amnesty paid particular attention to China, the host of this summer's Olympic Games. The group said growing numbers of human rights activists were imprisoned or harassed in China in 2007, with ethnic and religious minorities -- including Tibetans, Falun Gong practitioners and Christians -- repressed or persecuted. Death penalty statistics in China are difficult to assess, Amnesty said, but based on public reports, the group estimated that at least 470 people were executed in 2007. Amnesty also noted the repression of free speech in China and said censorship of the Internet and other media intensified last year. "The Chinese authorities maintained efforts to tightly control the flow of information," the report said. "They decided what topics and news stories could be published, and media outlets were sometimes required to respond within minutes to government directives. The authorities continued to block Web sites and to filter Internet content based on specified words and topics." Around 30 journalists and at least 50 others are known to be in prison for posting their views online, Amnesty said. Amnesty also criticized the death penalty in the United States, where 42 people were executed last year. It noted New Jersey's decision in December to abolish the death penalty made it the first U.S. state in more than 40 years to do away with executions. As it has in previous annual reports, Amnesty criticized the detention of hundreds of foreign nationals at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. "The USA must close Guantanamo detention camp and secret detention centers, prosecute the detainees under fair trial standards or release them, and unequivocally reject the use of torture and ill-treatment," Amnesty said. The group noted that Guantanamo detainees are held indefinitely, most of them without charge and without recourse to U.S. courts. Most detainees there are held in isolation in maximum-security facilities, heightening concerns for their physical and mental health, Amnesty said. In fact, more is written on the United States than any other country listed in the report. Asked about that at a press conference Tuesday, Khan said, "We certainly devote a lot of time to Sudan, to China, to Zimbabwe and other countries. But we look to the U.S. to provide leadership around the world. Governments around the world look to the United States as a role model for their own behavior." In a lengthy section on Iraq, Amnesty noted that thousands of civilians, including children, were killed or injured in ongoing sectarian violence during 2007. "All sides involved in the fighting committed gross human rights violations, some of which amounted to war crimes and crimes against humanity," the report said. Abductions, torture and murder, with bodies left in the street, occur daily, and the violence has caused 2 million Iraqis to flee to Syria, | [
"Who's report is it?",
"What do 81 countries subject people to?",
"Who were subject to torture?",
"What country had the most written about it?",
"What number of countries subject people to torture?",
"What is the focus of the report?",
"What countries are noted?",
"Who made the report?",
"What is the world riven by?"
] | [
[
"Amnesty International's"
],
[
"tortured"
],
[
"terrorist"
],
[
"China,"
],
[
"81"
],
[
"Human rights and freedom of the press in China, the detention of terrorist"
],
[
"Darfur, Zimbabwe, Gaza, Iraq and Myanmar"
],
[
"Amnesty International's"
],
[
"inequality,"
]
] | Amnesty International's annual report "reveals a world riven by inequality"
More written on United States than any other country .
Report also notes situation in Zimbabwe, Darfur, Iraq, Iran, Gaza .
At least 81 countries subject people to torture, ill treatment, report says . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Hundreds of Michael Jackson fans gathered in London on Monday to pay tribute to the tragic pop star on the night when he was supposed to be opening his 50-night residency in the city. Fans scrawl messages to the star on a wall outside the London venue where he would have been playing. The O2 arena in southeast London, where Jackson's "This is It" shows were due to be staged, had been the site of an unofficial shrine to the performer since his death last month. On Monday fans laid flowers and memorabilia, wrote messages to the star on a wall and sang Jackson songs. At 7 p.m. (2 p.m. ET) many of the crowd joined hands and sang the Jackson-penned "We Are the World," and chanted "Michael! King of Pop." Many present had bought tickets for the opening night but had decided to come anyway. "I'm here to pay tribute to the king," said Morganna Bramah, a 29-year-old Web site artist, who had just returned from Los Angeles where she had hoped to attend last week's memorial for Jackson. "It's one of the most devastating heartbreaking things that has ever happened in my life. I just felt it was my duty to pay my respects who has given so much magic and light and beauty to my life." Martin Russo, 28, and Enrico Ardito, 34, had travelled from Italy for the tribute. "I grew up with his music and he is my only idol," said Russo. "He had a special bond with his fans. Michael cared truly." Sophie Bradley, who had flown in from the Middle East, said she had come to say thank you to Jackson. "I had to come here. He was a father figure and a role model," said the 25-year-old. "It's a chance for fans to talk and share stories and just remember how much he means to us." Gemma White and Terry Shaw said they were still "in denial" about Jackson's death. "I feel like I've lost a brother, a lover and a friend," said White. "People say he was only a pop star but to us he wasn't. He was in our hearts. He was a person and the fans got to see that." "We came down here for Michael," added Shaw. "It was the last thing we could do for him. It had to be done." Jessica Prater from New York had tickets for Monday's show and had decided she would still come to London even before details of the evening's tribute were announced on Facebook. "I didn't know so many people across the world were inspired by him," the 28-year-old said. "I've met fans from Finland, Germany, France, the Congo. It's like a family reunion where you meet your long lost relatives. I'm really feeling the love and I know Michael's spirit is definitely here ." Large whiteboards were erected at the O2 to allow fans to leave messages. After the vigil they'll be moved to opposite the box office so fans can continue to pay their respects. It's been less than one week since celebrities and die-hard Jackson fans packed the Staples Center in Los Angeles for an emotional farewell to the King of Pop. Questions still surround the circumstances of his sudden death less than three weeks before the scheduled start of his London shows. Investigators are still awaiting toxicology reports from the coroner's to determine the exact cause of death. The decision by fans to stage their own farewell to Michael Jackson at the O2 follows the absence of an official plan to commemorate the singer's life in London. Concert promoters AEG Worldwide are still unable to confirm reports that a tribute concert will be held at the O2 Arena, potentially on August 29, the date of what would have been Jackson's 51st birthday. "There have been lots of talks going on about lots | [
"Where Michael Jackson fans gathered?",
"What did White say?",
"Where did Jackson fans gather?",
"What did Jackson fans do?"
] | [
[
"O2 arena in southeast London,"
],
[
"\"I feel like I've lost a brother, a lover and a friend,\""
],
[
"in London"
],
[
"gathered in London"
]
] | Jackson fans converge on London's O2 Arena Monday for memorial .
Fan Gemma White: "I feel like I've lost a brother, a lover and a friend"
Fan vigil timed to coincide with scheduled start date of Jackson's "This Is It" concerts .
Fans from U.S., Middle East and Europe were at Monday's tribute . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Hundreds of thousands of children worldwide are thought to be working full-time on tobacco farms, suffering from toxic levels of nicotine exposure and abusive labor conditions. Children as young as five-years-old work on tobacco farms in Malawi, according to Plan International. In Malawi alone there are an estimated 78,000 boys and girls employed in tobacco harvesting. On average they earn 17 cents for a 12-hour day of back-breaking, bare-handed work, according to a recent report from Plan International. Handling burley tobacco leaves without gloves, in unwashed clothes and rarely bathing, these children can absorb the same amount of nicotine in one day of harvesting that they would from smoking 50 cigarettes. "Sometimes it feels like you don't have enough breath...You reach a point where you cannot breathe because of the pain in your chest. Then the blood comes when you vomit. At the end, most of this dies and then you remain with a headache," the report quoted one child describing how he felt at the end of the day. See pictures of Malawi's child tobacco farmers » "Nicotine is water soluble and can enter via the skin, so if it has recently rained, or there is heavy dew, the nicotine migrates into the water on the leaf. If that water gets on to your shirt it essentially becomes a giant nicotine patch," explained Henry Spiller of the Kentucky Regional Poison Center. After reading the Plan report, Spiller, who has researched Green Tobacco Sickness (GTS) in children working on tobacco farms in the U.S., told CNN that the Malawi children's symptoms were "absolutely" consistent with GTS. The Minister of Labor for Malawi, Yunnus Mussa, has denied the findings of the Plan report and told CNN their figures were "absolute trash." According to Mussa, the government has been hard at work with UNICEF for the past two years to eliminate child labor and has made substantial progress. "No estate-owner has ever employed children age five to 14," he added. In 2007 UNICEF estimated that 29 percent of children ages five to 14-years-old in Malawi worked, and that the majority of those children worked in agriculture. There are more than 30,000 smallholder farmers in tobacco production and the crop contributes 70 percent of foreign exchange and 30 percent of GDP, according to the government Web site. Figures aside, the pictures speak for themselves, showing that the danger of nicotine poisoning is real and that better regulation and monitoring is needed. "There are a couple of things that could prevent this, like you should wash or change shirts," Spiller said, citing a study in which sweat rung out from tobacco workers' shirts contained up to 98mcg/mL of nicotine. As well as exploitative conditions, the children described repeated physical and sexual abuse from their supervisors. Many of the kids also complained of "sticky stuff" from the stalks that they could not wash off their hands because they had no access to soap or water, according to Glynis Clacherty, who interviewed the children first-hand for the Plan report. "We are busy working and we don't have time to go for bathing, so we develop those sores," one 15-year-old girl told Clacherty. The 44 children she interviewed were working full-time on both large estates and small family farms, but none were working for their own families, and 36 of them were orphans. The main reason the children gave for working was poverty: lack of food, clothing or money to go to school were frequently cited. "A lot think it's fine for children to work. They don't see the dangers of the pesticides or the opportunity cost of not going to school," said Susan Gunn, an expert in hazardous child labor at the International Labor Organization (ILO), referring to farmers in East Africa. "The new globalization of agriculture has a tendency to increase the demand for child labor," explained Gunn. When you have growers that are working under contract | [
"What amount of nicotine can children absorb on wet days",
"what can children absorb",
"What does Green tobacco sickness feel like?"
] | [
[
"50 cigarettes."
],
[
"the same amount of nicotine in one day of harvesting that they would from smoking 50 cigarettes."
],
[
"you don't have enough breath...You"
]
] | Children can absorb up to 50 cigarettes worth of nicotine on wet days .
Wearing gloves, washing clothes or bathing would all reduce exposure and risk .
Green Tobacco Sickness 'feels like death,' induces headaches, nausea .
Report reveals widespread abuse of child workers, withheld wages, violence . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Identifying the world's finest airports is easy. Hong Kong International Airport, Singapore's Changi and Seoul's Incheon have topped the ranks of airport awards for the last decade.
Sitting comfortably? Not at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, ranked by some as one of the worst.
These 21st-century airports boast the best shopping, classiest restaurants, as well as features such as indoor pools, orchid gardens, and free wireless Internet. See world's best airports
The world's worst airports, however, are harder to pin down. It's a crowded field to choose from and the choice depends on what you class as bad. See our pick of the world's worst airports »
If it's for danger, then Baghdad International Airport, in the middle of a war zone, should rank pretty high.
Lukla airstrip -- gateway to the Mount Everest region in Nepal -- is also a strong contender.
Landing involves a hair-raising plummet onto an uphill airstrip cut into the side of a mountain. On takeoff, the airstrip comes to an abrupt end at the edge of a mountain cliff. What do you think is the world's worst airport? Sound off below
Watch CNN's Ayesha Durgahee examine what it takes to become Airport of the year in Hong Kong. »
In 2007, TripAdvisor asked travelers to rank airports according to how easy they are to navigate, the cleanliness of the lavatories and parking facilities.
Based on these factors, the 2,500 respondents classed London Heathrow and Chicago O'Hare as the world's most hated.
Yet neither of these major hubs appeared in Foreign Policy magazine's review of the five worst airports, published in 2007.
The list here included the likes of Mineralnye Vody airport in Russia for its feral cats and daggers on sale in the departure lounge.
Charles de Gaulle also gains little affection from those that pass through its interminable terminals. As Foreign Policy says, "visitors to Paris should expect more than the grimy terminals, rude staff, confusing layout, and overpriced food."
Where was your worst airport experience in 2008? Which airport do you think is the most dangerous, uncomfortable or aggravating? Sound Off below
We're also looking for photos and video of your worst airport experiences. Send them to the Business Traveller page on CNN iReport
Here's your chance to grumble. | [
"Who has the worst airports?",
"Which airports are ranked the best by travelers?",
"What does Hong Kong, Singapore and Seoul have that are considered the world's best?",
"Where should you send your photos?",
"Who has the most terrifying terminals and rude staff?",
"Who should you send your photos to?",
"What did travelers rank?",
"Which airports do travelers rank as best?",
"Who did travelers rank as the world's best airports?"
] | [
[
"Baghdad International"
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],
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"airports according to how easy they are to navigate, the cleanliness of the lavatories and parking facilities."
],
[
"Hong Kong International"
],
[
"Hong Kong International"
]
] | Travelers rank Hong Kong, Singapore and Seoul airports as the world's best .
Which airports are the worst? Send your photos, videos to iReport .
Crowded terminals? Terrifying airstrips? Rude staff? Sound off below . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Identifying the world's finest airports is easy. Hong Kong International Airport, Singapore's Changi and Seoul's Incheon have topped the ranks of airport awards for the last decade.
Sitting comfortably? Not at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, ranked by some as one of the worst.
These 21st-century airports boast the best shopping, classiest restaurants, as well as features such as indoor pools, orchid gardens, and free wireless Internet. See world's best airports
The world's worst airports, however, are harder to pin down. It's a crowded field to choose from and the choice depends on what you class as bad. See our pick of the world's worst airports »
If it's for danger, then Baghdad International Airport, in the middle of a war zone, should rank pretty high.
Lukla airstrip -- gateway to the Mount Everest region in Nepal -- is also a strong contender.
Landing involves a hair-raising plummet onto an uphill airstrip cut into the side of a mountain. On takeoff, the airstrip comes to an abrupt end at the edge of a mountain cliff. What do you think is the world's worst airport? Sound off below
Watch CNN's Ayesha Durgahee examine what it takes to become Airport of the year in Hong Kong. »
In 2007, TripAdvisor asked travelers to rank airports according to how easy they are to navigate, the cleanliness of the lavatories and parking facilities.
Based on these factors, the 2,500 respondents classed London Heathrow and Chicago O'Hare as the world's most hated.
Yet neither of these major hubs appeared in Foreign Policy magazine's review of the five worst airports, published in 2007.
The list here included the likes of Mineralnye Vody airport in Russia for its feral cats and daggers on sale in the departure lounge.
Charles de Gaulle also gains little affection from those that pass through its interminable terminals. As Foreign Policy says, "visitors to Paris should expect more than the grimy terminals, rude staff, confusing layout, and overpriced food."
Where was your worst airport experience in 2008? Which airport do you think is the most dangerous, uncomfortable or aggravating? Sound Off below
We're also looking for photos and video of your worst airport experiences. Send them to the Business Traveller page on CNN iReport
Here's your chance to grumble. | [
"Which are the world's best airports?",
"what are ranked as the best airports",
"who ranks them",
"What problems are encountered at airports?"
] | [
[
"Hong Kong International"
],
[
"Hong Kong International"
],
[
"travelers"
],
[
"grimy terminals, rude staff, confusing layout,"
]
] | Travelers rank Hong Kong, Singapore and Seoul airports as the world's best .
Which airports are the worst? Send your photos, videos to iReport .
Crowded terminals? Terrifying airstrips? Rude staff? Sound off below . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- If climate change were a small house fire, current policy in the European Union and the United Kingdom would ensure that it would destroy not just the house but the entire suburb. Author of "Carbon Scenarios" compares global warming to a house fire that the world is currently failing to contain. That's the grim analogy offered by Paul Domjan, author of a new report, "Carbon Scenarios: Blue sky thinking for a green future", by the Stockholm Network, a London-based pan-European think tank. The report explores three scenarios on climate change, none of which leads to what's defined by the EU and UK as a 'successful outcome'; a greater than 90 percent chance of temperatures rising by no more than two degrees above pre-industrial levels. "We have failed," Domjan says, adding, "We will not prevent two degrees of warming." Continuing the house fire analogy he says, "The less than two degree scenario is a fire you can put out. With less than three degrees it spreads to other rooms but you can still put it out." He says global policy of the past ten years looks more like the third -- and worst -- scenario explored by the Carbon Scenarios report -- the one dubbed "Agree and Ignore." In that case, "your house is unrecognizably destroyed. The positive feedback cycle isn't contained. Your house catches fire, your neighbor's catches fire..." And so on. Domjan blames the failure of the current climate change policy on the constant stream of compromises by world leaders designed to keep the Kyoto agreement intact. "This dynamic of making lots of small compromises in order to keep the agreement in place has led to a situation where the agreement has lost a lot of its teeth." He points to Canada as an example, a signatory to the Kyoto agreement which has "done nothing" to implement it. "During the time it's been a signatory it's been developing massive coal sands projects which are the most polluting way of producing gas and oil in the world," he says. "There's a great international censure against the U.S. for not ratifying Kyoto but nothing has been said about Canada." "The coal sands are using so much natural gas and electricity they could have an entire nuclear facility just for themselves." The three alternative futures explored in the Carbon Scenarios report include "Kyoto Plus," "Agree and Ignore" and "Step Change." "Kyoto Plus" envisages a gradual transition to a global cap on carbon emissions by 2012. Domjan calls it a "largely successful scenario" where there's a greater than 90 percent chance of global average temperatures rising more than 3.31 degrees above pre-industrial levels by 2100. "That's not a disaster. It's still a world that's recognizable," he says. The second scenario -- "Agree and Ignore" -- predicts efforts to reduce carbon emissions will "stall and backslide" leading to "competitive regionalism." There would be a greater than 90 percent chance of global average temperatures rising no more than 4.8 degrees above pre-industrial levels by 2100. From that point, temperatures would continue to rise into the next century. The third scenario -- "Step Change" -- imagines a radical shift in global policy direction. World leaders would introduce a system of global carbon caps, giving them greater than 90 percent chance of limiting the rise in global average temperatures to 2.85 degrees above pre-industrial levels by 2100. Of the three scenarios, "Step Change" is the one Domjan personally prefers but the one he concedes is unlikely to happen. "Our proposal [for a global upstream cap] is similar to but not identical to the proposal from the Kyoto 2 project," he says. "It's a line of thinking that's been around for a while that will provide a healthy alternative to emissions trading." Under the scheme, the United Nations would impose an annual cap on the amount of | [
"What will we not prevent?",
"what did carbon scenarios report say?",
"What does the author say?",
"What are the global warming targets?",
"What does the document explore?",
"How many scenarios does the document explore?"
] | [
[
"two degrees of warming.\""
],
[
"compares global warming to a house fire that the world is currently failing to contain."
],
[
"compares global warming to a house fire that the world is currently failing to contain."
],
[
"average temperatures to 2.85 degrees above pre-industrial levels by 2100."
],
[
"three scenarios on climate change,"
],
[
"three"
]
] | Carbon Scenarios report says EU, UK global warming targets "unrealistic"
Report's author: "We have failed. We will not prevent two degrees of warming"
Document explores three scenarios for global warming under different policies .
Proposes radical shift in policy to introduce global carbon caps and permits . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- If mention of The Pirate Bay conjures up images of parrots, peg legs and planks, or geeky jargon like BitTorrent and jailbreak leaves you all at sea, this handy A-Z will help you navigate the choppy waters of the online piracy debate.
"X-Men Origins: Wolverine," starring Hugh Jackman, was downloaded over a million times after being leaked in early April.
The Screening Room's indispensable lexicon of online piracy will teach you cracking from key generators: You'll never again be caught out wondering how "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" fits into warez.
A is for anti-piracy Efforts to prevent the illegal transfer and use of copyrighted material -- often spearheaded by corporate associations like the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) -- using a variety of digital rights management (DRM) tools like encryption, product keys and serial numbers. Technologically often a step or two behind the pirates, the entertainment industry will sue for breach of copyright.
B is for Bill Gates As early as 1976, Gates wrote an open letter saying that software piracy could be a problem. Ironically, he has since said that Microsoft actually benefited from piracy in China, where over 90 percent of computers use Windows, most copies of which are pirated. The widespread use of Microsoft's operating system has enabled the software giant to gain pole position in the fast-growing market.
C is for cracking Modifying software to remove copy protection -- one of the technologies companies use to prevent unauthorized reproduction of media -- to enable the illegal duplication and proliferation of pirated material on disks and online. Mostly done by hackers, not usually for money but to gain respect within the hacker community.
D is for digital rights management (DRM) Access-control technologies used by manufacturers. Most pirating technology is created to circumvent various types of DRM in order to share copyrighted material online. Apple rid its iTunes library of DRM in early April, but is charging users 30 cents per song to upgrade to DRM-free tracks.
E is for encryption Originally used by militaries to protect secret message transmissions, encryption allows a user to transform and "lock" information that, upon transfer, can only be opened by a person who has the right "key." Encryption software is one of many anti-piracy measures designed to prevent the spread of copying and transferring copyrighted material.
F is for Free Culture movement Led by Harvard law professor Lawrence Lessig, the movement believes restrictive copyright laws are strangling humanity's creativity. Under Lessig's "Creative Commons" organization, the movement is advocating for the free copying and modification of creative works -- and rejecting what they perceive to be the culturally oppressive "permission culture" of copyright and intellectual property.
G is for Global Software Piracy This report by the Business Software Alliance suggested that 35 percent of software installed on PCs worldwide in 2006 was pirated.
H is for hackers Hackers "wiped," or erased, all the data from the Recording Industry Association of America's (RIAA) Web site in 2008. The incident, which exposed serious flaws in the RIAA's web security, was an embarrassment for the group, which represents the recording industry of the United States.
I is for International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) According to the IFPI's 2008 Digital Music Report, up to 80 percent of data traffic via Internet service providers (ISPs) is involved in the illegal transfer of pirated material.
J is for jailbreak Mostly commonly associated with the iPhone, it is the practice of downloading illicit software designed to bypass digital rights management, allowing people to upload pirated versions of official iPhone applications for free and use them on their phones.
K is for key generators Small programs found on pirate sites that allow users to crack open key-locked software like Microsoft Office or Adobe Photoshop by generating valid serial numbers for pirated copies of software that would otherwise only be included with legitimately purchased copies.
L is for Limewire One of the oldest and most popular peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing clients, Limewire | [
"What group rejects the idea of modern copyright law?",
"What does F stand for",
"What technologies companies use to try to restrict online piracy?",
"What was the run-down about"
] | [
[
"F is for Free Culture movement Led by Harvard"
],
[
"Free Culture"
],
[
"digital rights management (DRM) tools"
],
[
"online piracy debate."
]
] | A run-down of the biggest online piracy moments since Napster in 1999 .
F is for Free Culture, a group that rejects the idea of modern copyright law .
D is for DRM, technologies companies use to try to restrict online piracy .
S is for Sweden, where the "Internet trial of the century" has just concluded . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- If treating heroin addicts by giving them heroin seems counterintuitive, having the government fund that addiction to the tune of more than $22,000 per patient per year comes across as downright radical.
A heroin addict identified as Sarah says the program had an almost immediate affect on her life.
A newly released British study, however, found that daily heroin injections given to hard-to-treat addicts as part of a comprehensive program succeeded in treating those addicts and reducing crime. The use of street heroin was reduced by three quarters and the crimes committed trying to get drugs were cut by two-thirds, the study found.
"The intensity of the program is quite striking," said John Strang, who led the research team at Britain's National Addiction Centre, associated with King's College in London. "The bond that is formed and the commitment that's established between the patient coming in for treatment and the staff is far greater than you would ever ordinarily see."
Taking heroin off the streets seems to be making a difference. Researchers injected heroin in a safe, stable environment at medically supervised clinics. They crucially paired that with intensive counseling and addiction treatment.
The researchers reported that benefits were evident just six weeks into treatment among users who had failed at other kinds of treatment.
One of those participants was "Sarah," who said that after coping with her addiction for more than 20 years, she lost hope that anything would work. Watch Sarah describe the program »
Sarah described how the program had an almost immediate affect on her life. She said she was able to keep a schedule, stop buying drugs on the street and gain an appreciation of what her life could be like if she wasn't so consumed by getting high.
"You'll always be an addict basically; it's about managing it and leading a positive life" said Sarah, adding, "It quickly became, well, I actually do want to stop. I don't really want to have to stick needles in me all my life."
Her biggest fear now is that the program will be cut or shut down if the government deems it too controversial.
Another patient, who asked to be identified as "Emma," said, "The morality of it was taken out of the question. I wasn't being condemned for it and at last I could start taking responsibility in a rational way."
Emma described being chaotic, confused, emaciated and always dreaming about her next fix. By contrast, she said, the program made her feel cared for, supported and, above all, confident that she could kick the heroin habit.
"This thing that was the meaning of your life is becoming the thing that is getting in the way of your life and it becomes very unattractive," she said.
Strang said the stubborn nature of heroin addiction is proof that getting addicts into treatment is really a shallow achievement, because many will eventually turn to drugs again. He believes this promising approach could change the way hard-to-treat addicts are treated and convince the government that the initial high cost offers good value.
"From the cost point of view, if you actually look at the bigger picture, cheap treatment isn't always good treatment. If cheap treatment doesn't deliver any benefit then it's particularity bad value," Strang said.
The reduction in crime found by the study mirrors results in a handful of studies in other countries.
The treatment is relatively expensive, about $22,000 per patient, per year. But in Britain many are coming to terms with the fact that keeping a person in prison can cost three times that.
If the encouraging results continue, Britain could one day set up permanent clinics around the country, dispensing heroin for its most hard-to-treat addicts. | [
"how much doe sit cost",
"How much does the program cost?",
"what did the patient say",
"what does the program do",
"What are the injections paired with?"
] | [
[
"$22,000 per patient per year"
],
[
"$22,000 per patient"
],
[
"program had an almost immediate affect on her life."
],
[
"treating heroin addicts by giving them heroin"
],
[
"intensive counseling and addiction treatment."
]
] | British program gives daily injections to addicts as part of a comprehensive program .
Injections are paired that with intensive counseling and addiction treatment .
Program costs $22,000 per patient per year; proponents say that's cheaper than jail .
Patient: "I could start taking responsibility in a rational way" |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- If your neighbor mentions their green roof you might think they have a moss problem. Maybe they are simply referring to the color. But you're unlikely to think that they have just had a mini ecosystem installed. Majora Carter says green roofs can help alleviate the problems caused by storm water Simply put, green roofs are gardens on your roof. They come in all shapes and sizes and range from a simple layer of turf to bite-sized hanging gardens of Babylon. But green roofs are not just aesthetic. They have important environmental benefits: they absorb storm water, reduce noise pollution, absorb heat (thus lessening the urban heat-island effect) and add an extra layer of insulation to buildings. That's why they are increasingly being used on new builds as the construction industry looks to make use of greener technologies.. The concept of a green roof goes back centuries: The turf roofed dwellings of the Vikings are early examples, but the modern green roof we know today was developed in Germany 50 years ago. Since then, they have become increasingly popular, yet the industry still struggles against skeptics, who believe green roofs to be expensive and liable to leaking. The exception to the rule has been Germany, where the industry is now annually worth $77 million. Even by the end of the 1990s, 50 million square meters of German roofs, the equivalent of 10 percent of flat roofs, were recorded to be green. The industry is not faring so well in other parts of the world. While the UK has seen a steady increase in interest since the 1960s, a lack of input from the industry and policy-makers has left Britain far behind Germany's booming market. In North America, green roofs have taken even longer to catch on. Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, a Canadian non-profit industry association, conducted a survey in 2005 which indicated that only 233,000 square meters of green roofs existed in North America. But this was up 80 percent from the previous year, and the market continues to grow. Majora Carter, who set up Sustainable South Bronx to help lift the area out of poverty by creating green-collar jobs, is frustrated by this difference between the European and American industries. "In Germany they are down to $20 per square meter, which is way cheaper than a regular roof here," she told CNN. "There are mandates over there because of the storm water they retain," she continued, "Which is a huge drain on their resources, as it is on ours. What we are trying to do is champion the policies behind storm water." Storm water is a growing problem in cities. The lack of permeable surfaces are loading drainage systems and increasing the risk of flooding. It's green roofs' ability to retain high levels of precipitation that are seen as way to control and slow the water run-off. The mandates Carter refers to are part of Germany's Green Area and Biotope Area Federal Law. They are not a legal requirement, but through incentives set up at a city level, the mandates have helped to encourage cheaper prices. Dusty Gedge, co-founder of Livingroof.org, a UK Web site promoting the green roof industry, believes it is the government's responsibility to help the industry grow. "We need government bodies to accept certain civil engineering benefits, such as storm water amelioration, like the Germans, Austrians and Swiss do," he told CNN. "This will encourage uptake." In many countries, the green roof industry is vulnerable to non-acceptance and a lack of understanding. Gedge says, "There are problems with the construction industry viewing vegetation as a problem and not a benefit." Green roofs also struggle against better-known technologies such as solar panels, but Gedge points out, "Solar panels can work better on green roofs than on gray roofs." Despite this lack of support, the green roof industry is growing. In London alone, there are approximately 1 million square meters of green roofs planned, with about 200,000 square | [
"What do supports say?",
"When do they date back to?",
"What is one purpose of Green Roofs?",
"How far back to green roofs date?",
"what do the supporters say",
"What percent of flat roofs are green roofs in Germany?",
"What do they also help to do?",
"what is Germany's biggest market"
] | [
[
"green roofs can help alleviate the problems caused by storm water"
],
[
"centuries:"
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[
"can help alleviate the problems caused by storm water"
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"50 years ago."
],
[
"help alleviate the problems caused by storm water"
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[
"10"
],
[
"alleviate the problems caused by storm water"
],
[
"green roof"
]
] | Green roofs date back to before the time of the Vikings .
Not just aesthetic, they help fight against climate change, especially in cities .
Germany's green roof market is the biggest, making up 10 percent of all flat roofs .
Supporters say government support is need to spur growth elsewhere . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Images of a blazing car at the entrance of the terminal building at Glasgow airport were splashed across the front pages of Britain's Sunday papers, with many warning that Britain is under attack from a new wave of terrorism. How the British press reported the Glasgow attack. The Sunday Mirror published dramatic pictures of a burning man trying to ignite explosives in the vehicle while being sprayed with water by an off-duty policeman. The News of the World had a picture of a "hero" police officer pinning down a smoldering bomber. The Sunday Telegraph newspaper said Britain was feared to be under terrorist attack for the third time in 36 hours after the attack, and following the discovery of two cars packed with explosive material and nails in London. In an editorial, The Sunday Times newspaper says London and Glasgow appeared to have had a lucky escape. "The people behind these attempted atrocities clearly have twisted minds. How else to explain an attack directed at "ladies night" at the Tiger Tiger nightclub? "For Islamists -- and there seems little doubt that Muslim extremists were behind the plot -- young women drinking, dancing and enjoying themselves embodies everything they find repulsive about western society. "There will be other weekends when we fear we will be commenting not on close shaves but on completed terrorist attacks." The Observer newspaper said Friday's aborted London bomb attack was "al Qaeda inspired" and may have been linked to five terrorism suspects who have escaped Home Office control orders and are on the run. The newspaper also reports that former British prime minister Tony Blair had launched a powerful attack on "absurd" British Islamists who have nurtured a false "sense of grievance" that they are being oppressed by Britain and the United States. Blair warns that Britain is in danger of losing the battle against terrorists unless mainstream society confronts the threat. "The idea that as a Muslim in this country that you don't have the freedom to express your religion ... I mean you've got far more freedom in this country than you do in most Muslim countries," Blair told Observer columnist Will Hutton. In an editorial, the newspaper says: "Some believe that the solution to terrorism is to resolve the myriad grievances the terrorists broadcast so violently. This is a mistake. Many such grievances are imagined -- the West does not want to 'dominate the lands of Islam,' for example. "Many more are simply not Britain's fault; we are not to blame for the parlous economic state of many Islamic countries. Instead, we should remember that it is our way of life, and the attraction it holds, that remains our best weapon. "The truth is that our democratic structures, our economy, our values and the society we have built upon them are much stronger than we often think." E-mail to a friend | [
"what was in the photos?",
"who does Tony Blair attack?",
"What does the newspaper fear?",
"what do the newspapers fear?",
"What news is splashed across the UK press?"
] | [
[
"a blazing car at the entrance of the terminal building at Glasgow"
],
[
"\"absurd\" British Islamists"
],
[
"to be under terrorist attack for the third time in 36 hours"
],
[
"under terrorist attack"
],
[
"airport"
]
] | Photos of burning cars and burned bombers splashed across UK press .
Newspapers say they fear a "new wave" of car bombings and terrorism .
Former British prime minister Tony Blair attacks "absurd" British Islamists . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- In 1981, Dr Mohga Kamal-Yanni was preparing to leave Egypt for a clinical attachment in England when her father had a heart attack. He fell in the street, and was taken to a public hospital, where Dr Kamal-Yanni kept vigil at his bedside until he regained his strength. A doctor at a hospital in India where health indicators have showed no significant improvement in seven years. During his stay in the hospital, she was appalled at the low level of healthcare available to him. "It was awful. There was no medicine," she told CNN. As a doctor, Kamal-Yanni was able to watch over her father's progress. Her professional opinion on his recovery was striking. "My father survived that heart attack for two reasons," she said. "One, because of God's will, and two, because he had a strong will. It was nothing to do with the health service." The following year, Kamal-Yanni came to England to do a clinical attachment. She found herself deeply affected by the stark contrast between the healthcare available in Britain, on the publicly funded National Health Service, and the healthcare available at home in Egypt. She found herself slipping into depression. "I couldn't talk to the patients; I couldn't talk to the doctors. I just couldn't cope with it," she revealed to CNN. "I couldn't understand why every time I saw a monitor next to a patient I was so upset." It dawned on her that the gulf in care was troubling her. "I kept thinking why on earth my dad didn't have that. The only reason was that he happened to be born in Egypt and these people had the luck to be born [in England]." Kamal-Yanni is now a senior health & HIV policy advisor at third-world charity Oxfam. Her first-hand experience of the divide between the healthcare available in richer countries, and that on offer in poorer ones, has given her the impetus to try and narrow the gap. While Western countries are pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge, discovering the potential of nanotechnology and other high-tech solutions to the developed world's diseases, like diabetes, cancer and obesity, poor countries are struggling to combat health problems such as HIV, malaria and TB. Lack of infrastructure And it's not as simple as shipping medicines and supplies in bulk quantities. Oxfam's "Paying for People" report, published in February this year, said that poor countries are suffering because they lack the infrastructure of a health service. The WHO's 2006 "World Health Report" also indicates that 4.25 million doctors, nurses and health workers are needed across 57 countries. Sub-Saharan Africa, for example, has 600,000 health workers: one million more are required. Without these key workers, it is questionable whether healthcare in poor countries can be improved. Nicky Wimble, a spokesperson for Oxfam, told CNN, "There is money coming in for drugs now, but there's no commitment to long-term aid." Governments are unable to give healthcare workers with job security and doctors and nurses, where they do exist, are largely poorly paid: so people choose other careers. "They're either becoming taxi drivers, or working for private businesses," Wimble says. This double brain-drain (one internal, one external as those who do train are tempted away by higher salaries and brighter futures in developed countries) means that even if drugs make it to poorer areas, there can be no one to administer them. "Drugs are sitting in cupboards," Wimble told CNN. "Or they're available in cities but people in rural areas don't have the bus fares to get to them." Vulnerable to disease Dr Kamal-Yanni backs this up. She told CNN, "There is no public investment in health systems so people have to pay for it. If you're poor you can't buy your healthcare and if you're a woman who happens | [
"Who won't be able to cope with SARS and avian flu?",
"What did Oxfam say of lack of infrastructure?",
"What is the greatest danger to health?",
"What did WHO say is needed worldwide?",
"What is needed worldwide?"
] | [
[
"Kamal-Yanni"
],
[
"\"Paying for People\" report, published in February this year, said that poor countries are suffering because they"
],
[
"low level of healthcare"
],
[
"4.25 million doctors, nurses and health workers"
],
[
"4.25 million doctors, nurses and health workers"
]
] | Oxfam: Lack of infrastructure is the greatest danger to health in poor countries .
WHO: 4.25 million more doctors and nurses needed worldwide .
Poor countries won't cope with SARS, avian flu .
Positive policy changes have seen number of children not in school fall by a third . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- In November we step inside the world of design as show host Becky Anderson searches for the Spirit of Architecture. The "Gherkin" designed by Norman Foster is one of the most familiar features on London's skyline. In late October, Barcelona hosts the World Architecture Festival during which the great and good will attempt to choose the best building in the world. CNN will get exclusive access to the event, the nominations, and the jury which includes some of the world's greatest architects. The program will start with an explanation of Barcelona's unique architectural heritage. It will then feature short pieces on six of the architects and the buildings that have been nominated for awards. These profiles have been filmed in Mumbai, Tokyo, Pretoria, Munich, London and Maryland. The program will also feature interviews with some of the world's leading architects including Lord Norman Foster, Zaha Hadid and Wolf D Prix. Foster is the founder of the London-based Foster and Partners architecture company which has recently won a competition to build Virgin Galactic's New Mexico Spaceport Authority Building for space tourism. In September 2007, Foster was awarded the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, for his efforts on the Petronas University of Technology, Bandar Seri Iskandar, Malaysia. Hadid meanwhile has won numerous international architecture awards and is currently involved in the construction of a 17,500-seat aquatics centre for London -- one of the venues being built for the 2012 Olympics. Finally, the Austrian-born Prix, who founded top company Coop Himmelb(l)au is a legend of the architecture world. Prix has scooped many of the top international architectural awards over the last quarter century, and today continues his active involvement in the world of design. Once we have taken you through the festival highlights, at the end of the program the best building in the world will be chosen and we will interview the winning architect. | [
"At the end of the World Architecture Festival, what will be chosen?",
"When will the best building in the world be chosen?",
"who are the interviwees",
"Where is the World Architecture Festival held?",
"where does november's show come from",
"What festival was in Barcelona?"
] | [
[
"the best building in the"
],
[
"In late October,"
],
[
"Lord Norman Foster, Zaha Hadid and Wolf D Prix."
],
[
"Barcelona"
],
[
"LONDON,"
],
[
"World Architecture"
]
] | November's show comes from the World Architecture Festival in Barcelona .
Interviewees include Norman Foster, Zaha Hadid and Wolf D Prix .
The best building in the world will be chosen at the end of the show . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- In Russia, a country often associated with consumption of mass amounts of vodka, men have an average life expectancy of just 60 years -- one of the lowest in Europe. Men in Russia have an average life expectancy of just 60 years. Life expectancy for Russian men is well below that of western European countries like Germany, where men have an average life span of 77 years, according to World Health Organization figures. "The biggest health problem facing Russia is the very high level of mortality among working aged men," says Martin McKee, an expert in Russian public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. A new dynamism appears to be taking hold of Russia as it aims to raise its prominence on the world stage. Despite having benefited from a boom in commodities prices before the global economy hit the skids, health indicators like life expectancy have shown marginal improvement. Life expectancy for men has stagnated for quite some time, and a major culprit has been high levels of alcohol consumption. Since the breakup of the Soviet Union, alcohol and tobacco use have risen, as Russians have struggled to adapt to economic change, health experts say. The transition from a system of state ownership to a market-oriented economy has not been easy for many Russians, according to Mireia Jofre-Bonet, a health economist at City University London. When the Soviet Union fell and the state disappeared, unemployment soared, and a significant portion of the population was pushed into poverty, she told CNN. Research suggests that those most vulnerable to alcoholism tend to be men with the lowest levels of education and the unemployed. A typical 18-year-old in the West has a 90 percent probability of reaching retirement age, but for young men in Russia the odds are reduced to 50 percent, says McKee. Alcoholism tends to be less of a problem among Russian women -- who have a higher average life expectancy of 73 -- but they face an equally worrisome health threat. There has been a big increase in smoking among women, who are being targeted by tobacco companies, says McKee. Traditionally, rates of smoking among Russian women have been very low, but now, he says, almost 30 percent among those under 30 smoke. "Ten years of adjusting to a new regime created lots of stress," says Jofre-Bonet. The resulting rise in alcohol and tobacco abuse have led to ailments like heart disease and cancer. Besides chronic conditions, epidemics of infectious disease, including tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, have added to the country's health woes. In the 1990s, Russia experienced a resurgence of tuberculosis, considered a disease of poverty. Since then the growth of new cases has slowed, but strains of the disease that can't be treated with the usual drugs continue to pose a serious public health threat. Meanwhile, the number of people living with HIV in Russia has more than doubled since 2001. While largely confined to injecting drug users, HIV remains a challenge. Lack of needle exchange programs has curbed efforts to combat the spread of the disease, says Annabel Kanabus, director of international AIDS charity AVERT. "The crisis is still going on. Efforts at prevention are not really working." The Russian government is attempting to tackle its health challenges. The alcohol problem improved briefly in 2006 after federal restrictions were applied to the sale of non-beverage alcohols, such as aftershave, which are commonly drunk, McKee says. But he added, there is a major challenge in ensuring that law is enforced everywhere. And while the Kremlin has invested in upgrading technical equipment in recent years, facilities are still not well equipped to deal with high levels of chronic conditions such as high blood pressure. The economic downturn isn't helping. Anxiety levels are rising as a result of soaring unemployment, and the government doesn't have enough funds to meet the needs of the health system. "There is no money. It's a big mess," says Jofre-Bonet. "The health care system cannot pay for what it | [
"What are the most common causes of death for Russian males?",
"What common habits contribute to Russian males' poor health?",
"What is the average life expectancy for a Russian man?",
"What is the average life expectancy of a Russian male?",
"What is the reason they face low life expectancy?"
] | [
[
"high levels of alcohol consumption."
],
[
"alcohol consumption."
],
[
"60 years."
],
[
"60 years."
],
[
"high levels of alcohol consumption."
]
] | Russian men face startlingly low average life expectancy of just 60 years .
Alcohol and tobacco use contributing to rise of heart disease and cancer .
Health facilities not equipped to deal with high levels of chronic conditions .
Tell CNN what you think about Russia and its resurgence . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- In a tough job market, MBA graduates seeking top-tier jobs are turning to a career networking site created by and catering to young professionals. Doostang gets its name from the Latin for "reaching for talent." Doostang is an online community that seeks to match the brightest new grads with what it says are the crème de la crème of positions in finance, consulting and tech. Exclusivity is the cornerstone of this network, which connects graduates from elite schools with top employers. The site offers its members access to selective jobs that are not really available on the open market, according to founder Mareza Larizadeh. It's able to do that because recruiting managers are drawn by the caliber of its members, which includes students from the top business schools, he says. Schools like The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Duke University's Fuqua School of Business have formed partnerships with Doostang that enable their students to access the network's premium job listings for free. "Our goal is to get great jobs in front of relevant people and relevant candidates in front of hiring managers," Larizadeh tells CNN. Larizadeh never intended to launch a career start-up. He was completing his MBA at Stanford University in 2005 when he got the idea for Doostang, which is a modified version of "reaching for talent" in Latin. Classmates were exchanging emails about career advice, and "I thought, why don't we give this some structure?" he recalls. Four years and a round of venture capital funding later, what started as a hobby designed to help friends share career information has turned into a network with approximately 600,000 members. Larizadeh estimates that roughly a dozen of the top 20 MBA programs have signed partnership deals with Doostang. While mostly U.S. focused, Doostang is also becoming more international and recently sealed a deal to provide job opportunities to INSEAD. In an age where social networking sites abound, Doostang sets itself apart by taking closely knit relationships developed offline in B-school and leveraging them online to make a better job searching experience, Larizadeh says. A member applying for a job at McKinsey, for instance, is able to connect with members of his or her Doostang network that may have a McKinsey link to gain an insider's perspective. Larizadeh believes it isn't just the quality of people and jobs that distinguishes Doostang from other careers sites like LinkedIn and executive search service The Ladders. Doostang is also distinctive in that it caters specifically to students in their 20s and 30s with most of the positions advertised geared towards people at the beginning or middle of their careers. Employers advertising positions on the site range from white shoe firms like Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to Silicon Valley titans Google and Facebook. Users initially had to be invited to join the network, but now Doostang is open to everyone. Members, however, have to pay for access to the most exclusive job postings. This helps keep the membership selective, Larizadeh said. Generally, people won't pay for membership if they aren't qualified for the jobs being advertised, he explained. The fee for premium services, which gives access to the more exclusive job postings, ranges from $25 to $40 a month. The site, which has always featured jobs at hedge funds, private equity firms and investment banks prominently, experienced a surge when the financial crisis kicked off last fall. "Even though the economy is not as bad as it used to be, we are still seeing a good uptake. Our traffic is still going strong," Larizadeh says. | [
"What is the number of members?",
"Who has partnered with Doostang?",
"What is Doostang?",
"What is the meaning of the name Doostang?",
"Which site is a networking site geared towards people in their 20s?",
"What is Doostang's total membership?",
"What is Doostang's membership?"
] | [
[
"600,000"
],
[
"The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Duke University's Fuqua School of Business"
],
[
"an online community that seeks to match the brightest new grads with"
],
[
"\"reaching for talent.\""
],
[
"Doostang"
],
[
"approximately 600,000"
],
[
"access to selective jobs"
]
] | Doostang is a career networking site geared towards 20 and 30-somethings .
Since it was founded in 2005, its membership has grown to 600,000 .
Business schools like Wharton and INSEAD have partnered with Doostang . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- In sport, being the best is not just about the having the greatest players. Here are five teams that have gone from zeroes to heroes, and in the process left their mark on sporting history. 1. The European Ryder Cup team The 1980 U.S. hockey team's 'Miracle on Ice' against the Soviet Union. Europe's Ryder Cup team has become renowned for upsetting the form book, frequently triumphing against higher ranked American opposition. Since European players were first allowed to join the British and Irish team for the famous golf tournament (to improve the level of competition) in 1979, the U.S. has won six times; Europe seven; and the teams have tied once. The slight edge enjoyed by Europe, however, belies the lowly status of their players in world golf. For the last tournament two years ago in Ireland, for example, the Americans boasted 68.4 world-ranking points and the top three players, including world number one, Tiger Woods. Compare this with just 47.8 ranking points for the Europeans. Even so Europe went on to achieve a record third consecutive win. The key to this success has been the camaraderie and teamwork exhibited by the Europeans. Their players have consistently rallied around their position as underdog, managing to achieve a level of togetherness made all the more surprising since the team is made up of a collection of nationalities that are better known for falling out with each other. 2. The 1980 U.S. Olympic ice hockey team A famous victory against a seemingly invincible Soviet Union side propelled this team of college players and amateurs to the level of national heroes. Although the U.S. team went on to win the gold medal by defeating Finland at the Winter Olympics, it was the earlier match against the Soviets that captured the popular imagination. Classed as amateurs, the Soviet players were essentially professional, and were provided with different job titles by the communist government to allow them to compete. Many of their players were considered legends of world ice hockey at the time. The U.S. team coached by Herb Brooks was, by contrast, genuinely amateur and came into the tournament in Lake Placid, New York, as rank outsiders. Their youthfulness and tenacity combined with patriotic home support saw them upset predictions, defeating the Soviets 4-3 in a match that became known as the "Miracle on Ice." The win over their Cold War enemies seized the imagination of the U.S. public -- it inspired two films and was voted the greatest sporting moment of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated. Dave Ogrean, former executive director of USA Hockey, called the victory "the most transcending moment in the history of our sport in this country." 3. The 'Crazy Gang' defeat Liverpool in the FA Cup Nobody expected lowly Wimbledon Football Club to do anything other than turn up when they played Liverpool in the 1988 FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium. Dubbed the 'Crazy Gang' by British media because of the eccentric antics of their players and staff, who included future film actor Vinnie Jones, the team was outclassed on every front. At the time Liverpool were the dominant force in English football, having won the league title that year for the seventh time in a decade. Managed by former player Kenny Dalglish and boasting a host of stars, the team was expected to cruise past Wimbledon, who had little resources and were considered something of a joke. Under the chairmanship of Lebanese businessman Samir "Sam" Hammam, Wimbledon earned a reputation for bizarre behaviour, with players setting fire to new signings football kits, and Hammam once offering to buy a camel for the team's striker if he scored 20 goals in a season. The practical jokes helped to foster an extraordinarily strong team spirit, however, which saw them topple Liverpool 1-0, with Wimbledon captain Dave Beasant the hero of the hour after he saved a penalty. 4. Joe's Jets win the Superbowl When the New York Jets took on the Baltimore Colts in the 1969 Superbowl, it was the team from Baltimore that was strong favorites. The Colts | [
"Who has often beaten the U.S. despite having low profile players?",
"What was the America's ice hockey win against the Soviets known as?",
"what did Europe's Ryder Cup team do",
"who won the miracle on ice",
"when was the new york jet win"
] | [
[
"Europe's Ryder Cup team"
],
[
"'Miracle on"
],
[
"has become renowned for upsetting the form book, frequently triumphing against higher ranked American opposition."
],
[
"hockey team"
],
[
"1969"
]
] | Europe's Ryder Cup team has often beaten the U.S. despite lower profile players .
America's ice hockey win against the Soviets is known as the "Miracle on Ice"
Wimbledon's defeat of Liverpool in the FA Cup was considered a major upset .
New York Jets Superbowl win in 1969 was inspired by quarterback Joe Namath . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- In these cash-strapped times, you might well wonder why governments around the world continue to pour millions of dollars in to their respective space programs. Space exploration has produced a host of medical benefits including the ingestible thermometer pill. But one of the very important by-products of space exploration has been the adaptation and invention of medical equipment and technologies which are making individual lives better and in many cases saving them. Most people are familiar with temper foam -- perhaps the most famous of NASA's many medical spinoffs -- which started life protecting astronauts' posteriors in the 1960s and is now used in a host of products from mattresses to athletic shoes. It is surprising to note how many aspects of space exploration have played a part in helping scientists improve the health of nations. Who would have thought that analysing fluid flow around a Space Shuttle engine would help create a tiny heart pump? Or that a water purification device for astronauts could help patients suffering from kidney disease. And that the humble hospital thermometer would be transformed by measuring infrared radiation in the stars and planets? | [
"What kind of benefits has it provided us with?",
"what has space exploration done",
"what did the space shuttle engines influence",
"What kind of pump have they influenced?"
] | [
[
"medical"
],
[
"produced a host of medical benefits including the ingestible thermometer pill."
],
[
"pump?"
],
[
"a tiny heart"
]
] | Space exploration has provided us with numerous medical benefits .
Space Shuttle engines have influenced an ingenious heart pump .
Measuring infrared radiation of the planets has revolutionized the thermometer .
NASA put the first men on the moon 40 years ago on July 20, 1969 . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Is it possible to have a building that can make you happy, sad, or even angry? The Experience Music Project in Seattle has appeared in the Forbes list of ugly buildings. Does it affect your mood? Alain de Botton thinks it is. The Swiss-born British writer, modern-day philosopher, and author of international bestseller "The Architecture of Happiness", believes there is more to buildings and architecture than we may think. Taking on 19th Century French writer Stendhal's motto that "beauty is the promise of happiness," de Botton analyzes human surroundings and considers how our needs and desires are transferred into architecture. He also discusses the amount to which architecture can affect our personal happiness. De Botton told CNN he felt that a beautiful building, or likewise, an ugly structure, could affect how we feel. "Beauty has a huge role to play in altering our mood. When we call a chair or a house beautiful, really what we're saying is that we like the way of life it's suggesting to us. It has an attitude we're attracted to: if it was magically turned into a person, we'd like who it was. "It would be convenient if we could remain in much the same mood wherever we happened to be ...but unfortunately we're highly vulnerable to the coded messages that emanate from our surroundings," he said. But, how do buildings manage to cast their bricks and mortar over our emotions? "One might say that architecture suggests a mood to us, which we may be too internally troubled to be able to take up. Its effectiveness could be compared to the weather: a fine day can substantially change our state of mind -- and people may be willing to make great sacrifices to be nearer a sunny climate," de Botton said. De Botton believed that structures communicate with us in various ways. "This book focuses our minds on the idea that buildings speak -- and on topics which can readily be discerned. They speak of democracy or aristocracy, openness or arrogance, welcome or threat, a sympathy for the future or a hankering for the past." So, indeed your own house could be making you happy or sad, de Botton suggests. "They (houses) tell us of certain moods that they seek to encourage and sustain in their inhabitants. While keeping us warm and helping us in mechanical ways, they simultaneously hold out an invitation for us to be specific sorts of people. They speak of particular visions of happiness," he said. De Botton said there are "thousands" of public buildings which are ugly and could possibly force a negative, saddening, or even potential anger-producing mood upon us. What are some examples? De Botton is quick to mention the new Westfield mall opening in Shepherd's Bush, London, which he describes as a "monument to human idiocy" which represents a "large, confused shed, which offers the wider community nothing but a windowless façade clad in nauseating green paneling, with an utter indifference to symmetry, proportion or beauty". And what other buildings could be considered a structure of sadness? Certainly, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's Experience Music Project building in Seattle has to be a nominee -- featuring in the Forbes list of the top ten ugliest buildings in the world. Elsewhere, London's Millennium Dome (or 02 Arena) and Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, are other well-known candidates for buildings that could destroy one's day, after featuring in various "ugly" lists. At the other end of the scale, de Botton has some ideas about structures we should cast our eyes upon to make us happy. While all of this is rather subjective, de Botton said there were some aesthetic values that were universally appreciated. He was particularly fond of the highly-detailed yet serene Senate House in Bloomsbury, London, and also the Georgian-style architecture of Bedford Square, also in London. It's fair to | [
"Who is the authori of The Architecture of Happiness?",
"What is the book written by?",
"Who is the author?",
"who authored The Architecture of Happiness?"
] | [
[
"Alain de Botton"
],
[
"Alain de Botton"
],
[
"Alain de Botton"
],
[
"Alain de Botton"
]
] | Alain de Botton authored The Architecture of Happiness .
He believes emotions are shown in, and can be deduced from architecture .
Architect Robert Adam disagrees with many of de Botton's ideas . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Is there a filmmaker in the world with worse luck than Terry Gilliam? He was directing Heath Ledger in "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus," when the actor died -- and it's not the first time he has lost a leading man. Is there a filmmaker in the world with worse luck than Terry Gilliam? Jean Rochefort didn't die eight years ago, but Gilliam had to abandon "The Man Who Killed Don Quixote" after a few days when 70-year-old star Rochefort became seriously ill and a flash flood washed away the entire set. The whole fiasco is captured in the documentary "Lost in La Mancha." But the animator-turned-director who made his name with the surreal opening sequences of "Monty Python" is also known for never giving up. He saved "Parnassus" by enlisting the help of Ledger's friends, among them Johnny Depp. He has even resurrected "Don Quixote," which will start shooting next year. The Screening Room talks to "The Fisher King" and "Brazil" director about Heath Ledger, the Ibiza Film Festival and why he'll never shake off the Monty Python label. The Screening Room: Heath Ledger's death during "Parnassus" was tragic, but how did you deal with losing your star in the middle of production? Terry Gilliam: I was just, it's like, now you've got to use your imagination because reality has bitten very hard. And, so, you call your friend Johnny [Depp] and say, "Heath just died. Can you help me?" And he says, "Fine, whatever. Whatever you need. I'll do it." That's how it started. Then I got Jude [Law] and Colin [Farrell], they came ... the point is that they were all friends of Heath, too. It had to be people that were close to him in order to do what we did. TSR: How do you feel about it now you've had some time to reflect? TG: The experience was awful. That's why we can laugh now. Making films is really hard, and this one was particularly hard. TSR: What is the most rewarding part of making films? TG: I don't know, I mean, you know, writing and coming up with the ideas -- that's the exciting bit. Then it's the slog of just getting through the shoot because there is never enough time TSR: You are a patron of the Ibiza Film Festival, which is only three years old. How did that come about? TG: The festival of Ibiza approached me a couple of years ago. John Hurt was already a patron, and I know John and I thought that it would be nice. I like being a patron of things, I like patronizing things. And if it's not going to be people, I'll patronize a festival. TSR: Why do you think film festivals are important? TG: The most important thing about them is you get to see films you would never get to see because the distribution system is so dominated by Hollywood. In every country, you get Hollywood movies plus local movies. Beyond that it's very hard. TSR: Tell us about how directing "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," your big feature directing break, came about? TG: With the success of "Python," we decided to make "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" and Terry Jones [fellow Monty Python member] and I said, "Anybody named Terry gets to direct the film," and the others foolishly agreed. We directed the film and our names went up as "directed by," and we were film directors. Bingo! Just like that. TSR: "Monty Python" was hugely successful, but is the downside that you'll never shake off the label of being an ex-Python? TG: Python is going to be stuck with me 'til I'm dead and probably afterwards | [
"Who was enlisted to help?",
"What is Gilliam's first name?",
"What did gilliam say?",
"Name one of Ledger's friends.",
"Who is Ledger?"
] | [
[
"Ledger's friends,"
],
[
"Terry"
],
[
"\"Heath just died. Can you help me?\""
],
[
"Johnny Depp."
],
[
"leading man."
]
] | Ledger died while shooting Gilliam's "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus"
Gilliam enlisted the help of Ledger's friends, including Johnny Depp .
Gilliam on Ledger, Monty Python and why filmmakers need "mule-like stupidity" |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Israeli military action in Gaza is comparable to that of German soldiers during the Holocaust, a Jewish UK lawmaker whose family suffered at the hands of the Nazis has claimed. A protester confronts police in London last weekend at a demonstration against Israeli action in Gaza. Gerald Kaufman, a member of the UK's ruling Labour Party, also called for an arms embargo on Israel, currently fighting militant Palestinian group Hamas, during the debate in the British parliament Thursday. "My grandmother was ill in bed when the Nazis came to her home town of Staszow. A German soldier shot her dead in her bed," said Kaufman, who added that he had friends and family in Israel and had been there "more times than I can count." "My grandmother did not die to provide cover for Israeli soldiers murdering Palestinian grandmothers in Gaza." Kaufman, a senior Labour politician who was raised as an Orthodox Jew, has often opposed Israeli policy throughout his career. Israel has said it initiated the operation into Gaza -- which is controlled by Hamas -- to stop rocket fire on its southern cities and towns. Thirteen Israelis, including 10 soldiers, have died in the operation in Gaza and from rocket strikes on southern Israel, according to the Israeli military. More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed, including many civilians, Palestinian medics said. During Thursday's debate, Kaufman also said that Israel needed to seek real peace and not peace by conquest, which would be impossible. He also accused the Israeli government of "ruthlessly and cynically exploiting the continuing guilt from gentiles over the slaughter of Jews in the Holocaust as justification for their murder of Palestinians." But Kaufman added that while it is necessary to talk to Hamas, which had been chosen by an electorate, it nevertheless is a "deeply nasty organization." Bill Rammell, the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, said the UK government backed an EU presidency statement calling Israeli action disproportionate. But he also criticized Hamas rocket attacks on Israel during the cease-fire between June and December 2008, adding that the militant group's "whole ethos is one of violence" and that it had "made a brutal choice to step up attacks against innocent civilians." "Nothing, not the restrictions on Gaza nor its frustration with the peace process, justifies what Hamas has done and continues to do," Rammell said. "In December, I was in Ashkelon near the Gaza border, and I heard the sirens. The fear was palpable: This is daily psychological and actual warfare." Rammell added that Hamas has "committed acts of terrorism, it is committed to the obliteration of the state of Israel, and its statement last week that it was legitimate to kill Jewish children anywhere in the world was utterly chilling and beyond any kind of civilised, humanitarian norm." The debate came on the day that Saeed Siam, Hamas' third-ranking leader in the territory, was killed by an Israeli airstrike, the Islamic militant group reported. The United Nations' main relief compound in the territory was also hit and set on fire, which U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon blamed on Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expressed sorrow over the incident but said Israeli forces were responding to militant fire near the complex. UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown described the shelling of the compound as "indefensible," media agencies reported. Speaking to Ban during a call, Brown said the UK would increase its calls for a cease-fire and also deliver aid to Gaza once a cease-fire took hold. Britain has witnessed several demonstrations since the conflict in Gaza began late last month. Last Saturday, up to 20,000 people gathered outside the Israeli Embassy in London, Metropolitan Police said. Later, parts of the crowd began pelting officers with sticks, rocks and pieces of metal barriers, police said. A similar protest Sunday was peaceful. Rallies were also held in London and Manchester last weekend in support of Israeli action against Hamas. | [
"What happened to the U.N. compound?",
"What does the lawmaker say?",
"Who are Israel being asked to talk to",
"What has the UK PM called indefensible",
"What type of choice has Hamas made"
] | [
[
"hit and set on fire,"
],
[
"Israeli military action in Gaza is comparable to that of German soldiers during"
],
[
"Hamas,"
],
[
"the shelling of the compound"
],
[
"step up attacks against innocent civilians.\""
]
] | Jewish UK lawmaker calls on Israel to talk to Hamas, a "deeply nasty organization"
UK government: "Hamas made a brutal choice to step up attacks" on civilians .
UK PM calls shelling of U.N.'s main aid HQ compound in Gaza "indefensible"
UK has seen several protests since conflict began, both pro- and anti-Israel . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- It carries the nickname "America's Finest City," and right now it appears San Diego is living up to the hype. Growing on the water: San Diego is becoming an increasingly popular super-yacht destination. Though the international financial crisis has precipitated economic woe across the United States, developments in San Diego's super-yacht industry don't appear to be slowing. Fifth Avenue Landing, a stylish new facility promising the ultimate docking experience for super-yachts up to 300 feet long, has just opened in city's downtown area. The marina, which is close to local attractions and top hotels, boasts 12 high-quality berths, each offering a concierge service. This impressive project is just the latest step in a significant development program for the west coast city, which is which is now beginning to compete with its northern neighbor, Los Angeles, as a destination for super-yacht owners. In 2005, Forbes rated San Diego as the fifth wealthiest city in the U.S. and in the years since, for the super-yacht industry particularly, the region has continued to develop rapidly. Today, the city is buzzing with super-yacht designers, builders, and brokers, and it now has plenty of facilities to accommodate the industry. There's also the annual "YachtFest" show, which will be going ahead in September this year and is expected to attract interest from super-yacht makers and owners around the world. Numerous marinas have sprung up amid the increasing interest in the city, with Kona Kai Marina, Shelter Island Marina, and The Wharf, among some of the most notable developments. Outside of the private super-yacht industry, San Diego is also home to the largest shipyard on the west coast of the U.S. -- General Dynamics' National Steel and Shipbuilding Company. Many cruise lines pass through the port and there are plans for a new cruise ship terminal to open in 2010. Much of the success in attracting super-yachts has been credited to the San Diego Super-yacht Association (SDSA) -- a collective of local super-yacht designers, builders, brokers and other interested parties that was formed in 2006. Super-yacht director of Marine Group Boat Works and founding member of the SDSA, Fred Larsson, told CNN that the key to San Diego's recent profile boost was realizing the economic needs of the industry. "San Diego had the basic requirements of super-yachts covered already with the natural deep water harbor, year round superb weather, geographic location as the gateway to the Pacific and a wonderful youthful city. Then when you add the super-yacht facility upgrades it's a no brainer. San Diego has it all," he said. Larsson said the SDSA had been instrumental in developments as the combination of shipyards, marinas and suppliers working together means they have a good all-round knowledge of what super-yacht owners want when they come to port. The combination of major refit facility improvements, new marinas, marina expansions and an effective marketing campaign are behind the success, he added. Despite the international financial crisis, which threatens to hurt the super-yacht industry around the world, Larsson said that San Diego should not suffer too much as interest from owners is still growing. "Due to the sheer size of the city and nearby cities there is so much for owners and crew to do here on their time off, the beaches are fabulous, Vegas is an hour away, there are 100 golf courses in and around San Diego. "It's a metropolitan feel with small town charm. That's what makes us different," he said. | [
"Where did a yacht docking facility open?",
"Which city is San Diego becoming a rival to as a boating destination?",
"A new super-yacht docking facility recently opened where?",
"When does San Diego's super-yacht association hold its show?",
"San Diego is becoming a rival to what city?",
"San Diego is becoming a rival against what city?",
"What city has its own annual show?",
"San Diego has it's own what?"
] | [
[
"city's downtown area."
],
[
"Los Angeles,"
],
[
"San Diego's"
],
[
"September this year"
],
[
"Los Angeles,"
],
[
"Los Angeles,"
],
[
"San Diego"
],
[
"shipyard"
]
] | A new super-yacht docking facility has recently opened in San Diego .
The city has its own super-yacht association, and annual show .
San Diego is becoming a rival to Los Angeles as a boating destination . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- It doesn't have the brutality of rugby or the physical intimidation of a boxing match, yet sailing is still one of the most dangerous sports in the world. Capsized: This French catamaran flipped near New Zealand while attempting to win the Jules Verne Trophy. This danger is never more evident than in the epic Volvo Ocean Race. The round-the-world event which begins this month in Alicante, Spain, always throws up its fair share of drama as the crews face all types of conditions right through to the race finish around July 2009. To give an idea of the extreme dangers this year's crews will face over the coming nine months, here is a look at some of the worst tragedies to strike yacht racing. There's no question about it: this is no sport for the faint-hearted. September 2008 Régates Royales-Trophée Panerai Death toll: One Wilfrid Tolhurst was killed during the famous Régates Royales-Trophée Panerai yacht race off Cannes that sees the major classic yachts in the Mediterranean gather. Skippering the eight-meter yacht, Safir, in the coastal race, Tolhurst was struck by the boat's falling mast that broke off under the impact of a collision with another boat, Rowdy. Although rescue crews reacted quickly to bring the skipper ashore, nothing could be done to save his life. A police inquiry is currently in progress to determine the cause of the incident. September 2008 Sean Whiston Perpetual Cup Race Death toll: One Kenneth Jones (46) lost his life while sailing in a race from Wicklow to the Poolbeg Yacht Club in Dublin, Ireland. It was not clear what caused the incident, however, a mayday was issued by the yacht Allanah, stating that there was 'a man in the water.' Jones was lifted from the water and transferred to Tallaght Hospital where he later died. May 2006 Volvo Ocean Race Death toll: One During the seventh leg of the race Hans Horrevoets, 32, of The Netherlands was swept overboard from ABN Amro Two in heavy seas. Although he was recovered from the water, attempts to resuscitate him were not successful. The savage storm that hit the fleet could easily have claimed more lives. The crew of Movistar abandoned ship after the aft end of their keel pivot broke away from their hull in the night -- less than 48 hours after Horrevoets died. The crew transferred to ABN Amro Two which had been standing by and was escorted by HMS Mersey back to land. December 1998 Sydney to Hobart Race Death toll: Six One of the saddest events in yachting history began at Sydney Harbor on December 26, 1998, when the annual Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race set off. Fierce storms and violent winds battered the 115-strong fleet in the famously tough event off the eastern coast of Australia and only 44 boats made it to the finish line at Hobart. Met by the massive storms, five boats sank, 66 boats retired from the race, six sailors died, and 55 sailors were taken off their yachts, most by helicopter. Among those who died were; Mike Bannister (Winston Churchill), Glyn Charles (Sword of Orion), John Dean (Winston Churchill), Bruce Guy (Business Post Naiad), Jim Lawler (Winston Churchill), Phillip Skeggs (Business Post Naiad). The vessels; Winston Churchill, VC Offshore Stand Aside, Sword of Orion, Miintinta, and Midnight Special all sank. 1989 Whitbread Round the World Race Death toll: One Competing boat Creighton's Naturally suffered a serious broach in the early hours of one morning during the second leg of the race, at about three in the morning. Crew members Anthony (Tony) Philips and Bart van den Dwey were swept over board. Both were pulled back on deck and although Van den Dwey was successfully resuscitated, after three hours of trying, crew members could not revive Philips. Several days later, by radio agreement with his relatives, Philips was buried at sea. December 1989 Sydney to Hobart Race Death toll: One Peter Taylor | [
"How recently have sailors died?",
"What contest starts in Alicantes in October?",
"What is taking place in Alicantes, Spain in October?",
"What began in Spain?",
"Sailors have died in what as recently as September?"
] | [
[
"September 2008"
],
[
"Volvo Ocean Race."
],
[
"Volvo Ocean Race."
],
[
"Volvo Ocean Race."
],
[
"sailing"
]
] | Volvo Ocean Race begins in Alicantes, Spain in October .
Sailors have died in yacht races as recently as September of this year .
The 1979 Fastnet yacht race saw 15 people die in huge storms . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- It is news that will be greeted with despair and joy in equal measure in family homes across the globe -- Computer games might be good for children. According to scientists at Brunel University in West London, "young people can experience huge benefits from participating in multi player online role playing games".
Children playing online games have their imaginations stimulated, not stunted.
On the one hand, parents will be pleased to learn that their offspring aren't wasting their time as they sit boggle-eyed in front of a computer screen, and may actually be learning important life skills needed in adulthood.
But on the other, it's just another excuse for their children to spend hour upon hour locked away in their bedroom neglecting school studies and family duties. Still, there's always the off switch.
Dr Simon Bradford and Nic Crowe of Brunel University's School of Sport and Education have just completed a three-year study of 13-16 year olds playing Runescape -- a massively popular online with over nine million members worldwide.
The findings are in contrast to ongoing criticism that children are spending too much time indoors -- either voluntarily watching television and playing computer games or at the request of concerned parents afraid to let them play in the street or in parks, where they could be the victim or a perpetrator of crime.
This so-called "bedroom culture" is, it is often argued, creating a generation of monosyllabic, culturally illiterate group of youngsters who are ill-prepared for the impending roles and responsibilities of adulthood.
Researchers have found that far from constricting young people's imagination, Runescape and similar multiplayer virtual games enhance brain activity. They offer an opportunity to experiment with different identities such as gender, race or ability. Gamers can also benefit from opportunities that they may not have access to in the real world.
"Virtual environments, like Runescape," says Nic Crowe, "form important new leisure spaces for the many young people who occupy them. In the real world, where streets or town centers have become inaccessible to many young people or are considered risky by them or their parents, it is not surprising that virtual public space has become increasingly attractive as a leisure setting."
Runescape is one of the most popular multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG) and attracts all age groups, but is particularly popular with teenagers. Players can explore a virtual world which takes its inspiration from children's fantasy games and books -- think Dungeons and Dragons and JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings -- incorporating dungeons, vast landscapes, forests and towns, with monsters to slay, quests to complete and treasure to find. The Runescape website describes the game as "an evolving world of remarkable depth and flexibility".
"Our research", says Nic Crowe, "explored how Runescape's appeal lay in the provision of an environment in which young people can experiment (symbolically) with the cultural institutions and structures of the material world -- a space in which young people can establish their presence, identity and meaning in ways that might not be accessible or permissible in their everyday lives."
Runescape isn't just about combat. If you don't want to fight the monsters you can take on the role of a craftsman providing the tools of battle. Players can also trade goods and services and build up skills through interaction with other characters.
The study revealed that many of the players were entrepreneurial, engaging in business deals online. Dr Simon Bradford says "At a time when emerging technologies such as the Internet, and computer games in particular, continue to be subject to suspicion and concern, it is important that we also recognize the benefits of what is an increasingly popular and important activity for our young people."
The Brunel University research findings follow hot on the heels of claims by computer giant IBM that online games are helping to groom future business leaders. Multiplayer online games are teaching children the core skills which are required to lead a team.
Online games like Runescape, World of Warcraft and Everquest allow players to join forces and work in closely-knit teams to | [
"what environments are important leisure spaces",
"how long was the study of Runescape",
"How long is the study of 13-16 year olds playing online game?",
"What do online games give leaders?",
"what activity gives leaders the chance to experiment",
"What were they playing?",
"What are virtual environments for young people?"
] | [
[
"\"Virtual"
],
[
"three-year"
],
[
"three-year"
],
[
"imaginations stimulated,"
],
[
"Computer games"
],
[
"online games"
],
[
"multi player online role playing games\"."
]
] | Three-year study of 13-16 year olds playing online game Runescape .
Virtual environments are important new leisure spaces for young people .
Online games give leaders the freedom to fail and to experiment . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- It is not often that football players are actively encouraged to play dirty -- unless of course they are taking part in a unique variant of the game called "Swamp Soccer" when it is virtually unavoidable. The competition is fierce in the 2009 Swamp Soccer World Championship held in Scotland Originating from the bogs of Finland, the game was started by cross-country skiers who used the football matches in knee-deep mud to strengthen their leg muscles. The first tournament took place in 1997 with 13 teams, but now annual events take place in Sweden, Iceland, Russia and Brazil which can often feature over 200 teams. What do you think of Swamp Soccer? Do you prefer Beach Football of another form of the game? Let us know your thoughts on the 'Sound off' box below. Glasgow Rangers fan Stewart Miller imported the concept to the United Kingdom after a chance meeting with founder Jyrki Vaananen while on a business trip to Iceland. Miller launched the first UK tournament in 2005 and now teams travel from all over the globe to the Scottish village of Strachur to try and become the annual Swamp Soccer World Champions. Watch the action from the bog ». "We had teams coming from as far afield as Australia and New Zealand to take part in the tournament this year so there is an international flavor to the event," Miller told CNN. "There is a huge appetite to try out new things and I think that's why Swamp Soccer is able to capture the imagination of people. "The basic rules of football also apply to Swamp Soccer with the exception that matches are played in thick mud with six players on an oversized five-a-side pitch. "It's probably one of the only sports in the world where the worse the conditions are the better the sporting spectacle!" There is no offside in Swamp Soccer while kick-offs, throw-ins, corner kicks, free kicks and penalties are taken by using the hands to drop the ball onto a chosen foot. Teams are also allowed to make unlimited substitutions although no shoe changing is allowed for the match duration. Miller believes that the oft-used quote that the state of a pitch can bridge the gap between two unevenly match teams is even more applicable with Swamp Soccer. "You could put the Brazilian national side up against an amateur team and you wouldn't know who would come out on top -- the pitch really does prove to be a leveler in this instance," he said. "Although professional footballers are precious commodities these days -- I'm not sure we'll see any stars getting caked in mud too soon, most of them are far to pampered for that. "Nobody's ever been injured seriously playing in the swamp, sometimes somebody's got a cut or two but nothing big -- so maybe when they retire from the game they might be prepared to give it a go." The imaginatively titled Real Mudrid, Mudchesthair United and Cowdungbeath were unable to make it past the group stages in the 44-team event which was won by FC Full Gunge from Poole in England who retained their title with a 1-0 victory over The Chocolate Men. This year's Swamp Soccer tournament was held in a village in the Scottish countryside but Miller revealed that he intends to bring the mud game to metropolitan areas. He added: "The future for Swamp Soccer is in the city and of course I'm certain we'll bring all the mud with us. It will certainly make a great spectacle if set up a swamp in the middle of Glasgow or Edinburgh, so watch this space." If you are interested in taking part in the 2010 Swamp Soccer World Championships visit the official Web site of the tournament. | [
"Where did competitors come from to take part in the tournament?",
"Where were the 2009 World Championships held?",
"Who started Swamp Soccer?",
"Where was Swamp Soccer started?",
"Which country is the tournament taking place?",
"Which year was the tournament held?",
"Where did the competitors come from?",
"Where were the World Championships held?",
"What year is the World Championships?",
"Where were the 2009 World Championships held?",
"Who started Swamp Soccer?",
"What was started by cross-country skiers?"
] | [
[
"all over the globe"
],
[
"Scotland"
],
[
"Jyrki Vaananen"
],
[
"the bogs of Finland,"
],
[
"Scotland"
],
[
"2009"
],
[
"as far afield as Australia and New Zealand"
],
[
"Scotland"
],
[
"2009"
],
[
"Scotland"
],
[
"cross-country skiers"
],
[
"\"Swamp Soccer\""
]
] | Swamp Soccer was started by cross-country skiers on the bogs of Finland .
The 2009 World Championships have just been held in Strachur, Scotland .
Competitors came from all over the world to take part in the tournament . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- It may look like an air mattress you might see lying around next to a swimming pool but in reality its function couldn't be less trivial. The Solar Water Disinfecting Tarpaulin could play a major role in saving lives in the developing world. The Solar Water Disinfecting Tarpaulin (SWDT) -- a new portable water purifier -- could be a major step forward in the fight against disease and mortality in the Third World. Eric Olsen, a San Francisco-based architect and the inventor of the SWDT believes the product could help eradicate the scourge of polluted water which the World Health Organization (WHO) estimate claims over 1.5 million lives every year. Not only does it purify water -- up to 20 liters -- it makes it more portable in large quantities -- a vital dual role in Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Central Asia where access to clean water is often scarce. "There are lots of products that do one or the other," Olsen told CNN. "There's a really interesting product that's been around for 10 or 12 years called the Hippo Water Roller -- a 20 gallon drum with a handle attached that allows people -- mostly women -- to transport a week's worth of water back home". Olsen also points to another product developed by the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) that has successfully tackled water impurities. According to Eawag SODIS (Solar Water Disinfection Process) is already used by more than two million in over 30 countries. "The idea of SWDT," he says, "is to combine these two products and make them into something that can do both roles effectively". Made out of a top layer of recycled low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and a bottom layer of durable rubberized nylon, the SWDT is both flexible and robust. Its design was morphologically inspired by the saguaro cactus and is adaptable to a variety of situations -- as a wrap to carry or placed on the roof of a mud hut -- and is easy to store. The SWDT uses passive solar radiation -- a water sterilizing method approved by WHO -- which disrupts the reproduction of microorganisms. Heat and UVA radiation from the sun pass through the LDPE layer and into the water cavity and are reflected back by the bottom layer of nylon. On a sunny day purification takes five hours. Olsen admits that its performance is hampered by its low density -- scratches to the surface mean it doesn't transmit the sun's rays as effectively -- but he is confident that this can be overcome with more research. Production using a Radio Frequency Welding equipment may be relatively expensive but Olsen says that the raw materials are cheap and the labor is inexpensive. "We are trying to imagine ways that this thing can be made and repaired by people where it is most needed," he said. "We are working on a sheet welding process which is much lower tech, inexpensive and also capitalizes on the handcraft skills of local people". What started out as a solo effort a little over a year ago has gradually grown into a collaborative project. Olsen's students at the California College of Arts, where he currently teaches -- he moves to a new post at Woodbury University this fall -- have lent their enthusiasm and experts from the bioscience and textile industries are increasingly coming on board. Olsen's efforts have already been recognized. The SWDT won first prize in the 2008 Next Generation Design Competition run by Metropolis Magazine -- netting him $10,000 -- and he is waiting for conformation that the invention has been selected for Wired Magazine's Next Fest show which takes place in Chicago later this year. So what next for Olsen and his invention? The aim is to adapt the original design and turn it from a water carrying wrap into a fully fledged coat and he's also looking at ways the material might be redrawn as a tent. He's currently in the process of trying to qualify for non-profit status. And with the likes of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other institutions out there, he thinks the prospects for funding | [
"Who designed the he Solar Water Disinfecting Tarpaulin?",
"What plant was the he Solar Water Disinfecting Tarpaulin inspired by?",
"What is the goal of the \"Solar Water Disinfecting Tarpaulin\"?"
] | [
[
"Eric Olsen,"
],
[
"the saguaro cactus"
],
[
"play a major role in saving lives in the developing world."
]
] | The Solar Water Disinfecting Tarpaulin aims to reduces disease and death .
The award-winning design by Eric Olsen is portable as well as a being a purifier .
Flexible and robust the design is morphologically inspired by the saguaro cactus . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- It only takes one injury to end an athlete's career. Anything that impairs an athlete's performance could mean they're no longer good enough for the top flight -- that's why the best athletes need the best treatment if they're to recover from injury.
Owen Hargreaves (L) in action before his career was cut short by tendonitis.
Manchester United star and England international footballer Owen Hargreaves is known for his versatility and exceptional work rate, but in 2008 his season was cut short by tendonitis.
Hargreaves, 27, was told he would need surgery on both knees to save his career.
That's when he decided to travel to the small mountain ski village of Vail, Colorado, to meet the "knee whisperer" -- Dr Richard Steadman.
Steadman became fascinated with the way the knee functions and how it can be injured during his university days playing American football.
Now known as "Doctor Steady," Steadman is knee specialist to the stars, counting Real Madrid ace Ruud van Nistelrooy, American football sensation Bruce Smith, and even the King of Spain among his clients.
"I just think he understands the athletes, the significance of the injuries and he's able to deal with the personalities that go along with these injuries," Hargreaves told CNN. Watch Owen Hargreaves talking about his recovery »
Steadman works with a team of 75 doctors who have together repaired some 16,000 knees.
He has developed pioneering knee treatments, including "micro-fracturing," which involves making a small hole in a patient's bone to draw out marrow blood, allowing the patient's own stem cells and growth factors to make new cartilage.
Dr. Steadman says the secret to healing athletes is letting them do what they do best. "I became convinced early in my career that mobility was important and immobility was a bad thing.
"I was one of the first ones to say, 'I don't think we'll use casts, we'll work on braces, we'll try to get motion back'," he told CNN.
Owen Hargreaves has about a month left of rehab in Vail. His days follow a strict routine: Wake up, rehab, eat lunch, rehab, eat dinner and rest.
"It's been frustrating at times," says Hargreaves.
"I don't really watch our games because as an athlete, and being so competitive, it's hard to watch when you normally would be out there."
Steadman says Hargreaves will return to football next season better than ever, adding that athletes often build inner strength from overcoming what could be a career-ending injuries.
Hargreaves shares that view. "I'm going to come back stronger and hopefully add a couple of years onto my career," he said.
For others the road to recovery can be slower. British middleweight boxer Michael Watson almost died after collapsing at the end of his 1991 title fight with Chris Eubank.
"I took a punch, everything went blank and I woke up in a bed. I thought I was dreaming," Watson told CNN.
Watson spent the next 40 days in a coma and had to undergo six brain operations. Neurosurgeon Peter Hamlyn, who operated on Watson, told CNN, "He was as close to death as I think it's possible to go, and survive. And he stayed there for longer than anyone I've ever known."
It was thought that Watson would never walk again, but after years of slow recovery, he was able to enter the 2003 London Marathon, completing it over six days. "His [recovery] is by far the most remarkable I've ever seen," said Hamlyn.
There's now a close bond between Hamlyn and Watson, and Steadman's patients are similarly grateful for their recoveries.
The hallway of Steadman's clinic is lined with the signed shirts of his former patients; the number 10 Manchester United shirt signed by Ruud van Nistelrooy reads simply "Thank you for giving back my dream." | [
"Who is treating Hargreaves?",
"What was Owen Hargreaves told?",
"Which doctor is treating Hargreaves?",
"What do athletes need if they're to recover?",
"which boxer suffered from brain injuries?",
"Who needs the best treatment?",
"Name of the football star who needed surgery to save career?",
"Who recovered slowly after his brain injuries?",
"Name of the boxer?",
"Who needed to have surgery?"
] | [
[
"Dr Richard Steadman."
],
[
"he would need surgery on both knees to save his career."
],
[
"Dr Richard Steadman."
],
[
"the best treatment"
],
[
"Michael Watson"
],
[
"athletes"
],
[
"Owen Hargreaves"
],
[
"Michael Watson"
],
[
"Michael Watson"
],
[
"Hargreaves,"
]
] | The best athletes need the best treatment if they're to recover from injury .
Football star Owen Hargreaves was told he'd need surgery to save his career .
Dr Richard Steadman, knee specialist to the stars, is treating Hargreaves .
Boxer Michael Watson recovered slowly after sustaining severe brain injuries . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- It runs on 100 per cent renewable biodiesel and holds the record for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe in a powerboat -- and now Earthrace is for sale. For sale: The green powerboat Earthrace is on the market for $1.5 million. The boat's owner, New Zealander Pete Bethune, listed Earthrace as for sale on the vessel's dedicated Web site last year, and he's now taking it on a tour of Australia and New Zealand in the hope of finding a buyer. Bethune is asking $1.5 million for the trimaran, which holds the world record for the fastest time in circling the globe in a powerboat. Earthrace achieved the feat in 60 days, 23 hours and 49 minutes; beating the old record by over two weeks. Earthrace claims to have a net zero carbon footprint by running on renewable bio diesel. Most of the fuel is believed to come from waste animal fats. The 1080 hp engine is kept cool with ducts which expel hot air and suck in cold air. See an image gallery of Earthrace » Bethune has said he hopes to pay off some debts with the sale of the boat. | [
"What kind of craft is Earthrace?",
"How much is Bethune selling Earthrace for?",
"Where is trimaran currently touring?",
"What is the asking price for Earthrace?",
"What does Earthrace hold the world record for?",
"How much is Earthrace selling for?",
"Who owns Earthrace?"
] | [
[
"green powerboat"
],
[
"$1.5 million."
],
[
"Australia and New Zealand"
],
[
"$1.5 million."
],
[
"fastest"
],
[
"$1.5 million."
],
[
"New Zealander Pete Bethune,"
]
] | Earthrace holds the world record for fastest time around the globe in a powerboat .
Owner Pete Bethune is selling Earthrace for $1.5 million .
The trimaran is currently touring Australia in the hope of finding a buyer . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- It takes a savvy film star to invest in the only business that's keeping audiences away from cinemas. In the case of India's biggest Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan that's cricket. Photographers mob Shah Rukh Khan and his wife Gauri as they arrive for the inaugural Indian Premier League players' auction, February 20, 2008. Over 45 days from April to June, India's newest big money cricket competition -- the DLF Indian Premier League -- infected the country with the kind of excitement usually reserved for the item number in the latest Bollywood blockbuster. Off the pitch, among the cheerleaders and dancing girls, was actor Shah Rukh Khan, the proud new co-owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders, a cricket team whose name was said to be inspired by David Hasselhoff's 1980s television hit. The team, captained by Indian cricketing hero Sourav Ganguly, took to the field in black and gold uniforms created by Bollywood designer Manish Malhotra; black for the color of goddess Kali and gold, because as Khan said, "We aim for gold." In fact, the Knight Riders were knocked out of the competition before the semi-finals, with Khan announcing to fans via SMS:"Al of us have become part of a failed script, a bad IPL script. Let's try and keep our chin up." Shah Rukh Khan, one of the few people in the world also known by his initials, has every reason to keep his own chin up. Twenty years after his first onscreen role in the Indian television series "Fauji," SRK -- the man and the brand -- is more popular than ever. On Sunday night, he won the Best Actor award in Bollywood's version of the Oscars -- the International Indian Film Academy Awards -- for his role as coach of the Indian national women's field hockey team in "Chak De! India." The film took nine awards in all, including Best Film and Best Director. Shah Rukh Khan's previous box-office outing, "Om Shanti Om," scooped five awards, adding icing to its title of Bollywood's highest-ever grossing film. In India, you don't have to go to the cinema to see Shah Rukh Khan. He has returned to the small screen, this time as a television quizmaster. After fronting the Indian version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," he's back with a new series, the local take on the U.S. hit "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader." If there's any proof of Shah Rukh Khan's global appeal, it comes in the form of 15 year old Shabana Shaheen who lives in Virginia in the U.S. The high school student created her own Shah Rukh Khan Fansite last year -- www.freewebs.com/srkplace. All that and she's never been to India. "The thing he's like a normal person. He's down to earth and humble," she says. "He values his family -- his parents who have passed away, his wife and children. He's so normal; he just behaves like a normal human being." Shabana inherited her love of Shah Rukh Khan from her mother who moved to the U.S. from Pakistan. In Virginia, it's not hard to keep up with the latest Bollywood action. A cinema close to Shabana's home shows the most popular productions. And then there's the internet. Shabana's website gets as many as 1000 hits a day, mainly from fans in the United Kingdom and India. "It's amazing -- so many people are crazy about him, even in Germany," she says. "A lot of people in Mexico are also apparently very big fans of his films." In part, Shah Rukh Khan's fame can be put down to expert merchandising. He's the consummate salesman, charming and keenly aware there's a huge market for his product. The Kolkata Knight Riders may be one of the newest sporting teams in the world, but within months, Khan and Co. has turned them into a lucrative brand. While they did | [
"Who is still wildly popular?",
"Who is Shah Rukh Khan?",
"Who is the owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders?"
] | [
[
"Shah Rukh Khan,"
],
[
"India's biggest Bollywood star"
],
[
"Shah Rukh Khan,"
]
] | Bollywood superstar makes sporting debut as owner of Kolkata Knight Riders .
Shah Rukh Khan still wildly popular 20 years after his television debut .
Now presents India's version of "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader"
Filming "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi," a Bollywood love story to be released late 2008 . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- It was Anabella De León's frail 86-year-old mother who answered the door when the men came knocking. "They told her, 'say to Anabella that we are going to kill her very soon,'" De León told CNN. The visit left her mother crying, anxious and shocked.
Congresswoman Anabella de Leon with her husband in London for a performance of "Seven" by Vital Voices.
That was four months ago. No attempt on her life has been made, De León said, but she still looks over her shoulder, takes alternative routes in her car, constantly checking that she's not being followed.
Anabella De León is not well known outside Guatemala. Within the Central American country though, she has made headlines as an outspoken critic of corruption. She's serving her fourth term in Congress as a member of the Patriotic Party, which last weekend elected her to one of its top posts of Third National Secretary.
The death threats are not new. Since 2002, she's been protected by at least one security guard on request from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Her 26-year-old son is also shadowed by a security guard; a precautionary move in response to earlier threats connected to De León's anti-corruption efforts.
"The fight against corruption doesn't give you friends," she said. "[It] gives you enemies, important and dangerous enemies," she told CNN during a recent trip to London for a performance of the play "Seven," which profiles De León and six other international female leaders. Read more about "Seven."
After 22 years of speaking out against corruption, first as a lawyer and then as a congresswoman, De León says she remains fearful given the legacy of violence and instability in Guatemala.
De León noted that the country had recently been shaken by one killing in particular. On May 10, a high-profile lawyer was shot dead while cycling in Guatemala City. Rodrigo Rosenberg's killing might not have made headlines had he not recorded a video message just four days earlier.
"If you are watching this message," Rosenberg said on the video, "it is because I was assassinated by President Álvaro Colom, with help from Gustavo Alejos," his private secretary.
In the video, the lawyer predicted he would be targeted for speaking out about the killings of his client, a prominent businessman and his daughter. Rosenberg claimed they were killed because they had refused to participate in acts of corruption.
President Colom has vehemently denied the claims. "We categorically reject the accusations that pretend to tie the president, first lady and private secretary as those responsible for this assassination," Colom said in a national address in May. Colom's Foreign Minister blamed Rosenberg's death on members of organized crime who he says are seeking to destabilize the country.
The case sparked street protests both for and against the president.
The government has promised a full and fair investigation into the killing and has received the support of the Organization of American States (OAS).
The inquiry is being led by the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), a United Nations-backed body established in 2007 to battle corruption in the country. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is assisting.
De León sees the killing and the political scandal as a reminder of the enormity of the problems plaguing Guatemala.
The country has been struggling to recover from a bloody 36-year civil war which ended in 1996. According to the United Nations, Guatemala has one of the highest murder rates in the world, with many killed by street gangs or in robberies. Almost 2,000 violent deaths were recorded in the first four months of this year and the Office of Human Rights warns 2009 is on track to become the most violent year in the country's recent history. Offenders know there's little chance of being caught. The U.N. says only two percent of crimes are ever solved.
Meanwhile, the gap between rich and poor is more like a chasm and social services are suffering as | [
"what President Álvaro Colom denies allegations of?",
"What fight does she tell CNN about?",
"what Anabella De León tells CNN of her fight against?",
"who is in the fight"
] | [
[
"assassination,\""
],
[
"against corruption"
],
[
"corruption"
],
[
"Anabella De León's"
]
] | Congresswoman Anabella De León tells CNN of her fight against corruption .
De Leon: "People in Guatemala are tired, tired of injustice... abuses"
Guatemala gripped by political crisis after murder of a high-profile lawyer .
President Álvaro Colom denies allegations of involvement in the murder . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- It was against the terms of the Russia/Georgia cease-fire, brokered by France's President Nicolas Sarkozy. It was directly in contravention of the request not to do it from President George W. Bush of the United States. But Russia's President Dimitri Medvedev has gone and done it anyway. He has made Russia the first country to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Russian President Dmitri Medvedev says it has recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. So does that, as some of the more fevered commentators are suggesting, amount to a new Cold War? It certainly ratchets up the East-West tension still further. It breaks the terms of a cease-fire which insisted Georgia's territorial integrity should be respected. Russia's announcement that it will station troops in the two territories to ensure their "security", a word others might spell as "subservience", is a direct provocation. It is, says Georgia, an illegal "annexation". Other European nations have hastened to condemn it as an unacceptable rewriting of borders by force. What do you think of Russian recognition? U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, currently in the Middle East, points out that it is in contravention of U.N. Security Council resolutions that the Russians have accepted. Sarkozy has called a meeting of EU leaders for Monday to look at Georgia and at future relations with Russia. But before we start talking about a new Cold War -- and Western leaders from Bush down are being careful not to do so-- we should examine the context. After the military action initiated by Georgia early in August, there never was a chance that South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which have in effect been independent since the early 1990s, would return to control by Tblisi. Applying a blowtorch isn't necessarily the best way of settling what had become known as "frozen conflicts". Russia has long been in a position to bully and has now been given the excuse to do so. For years the two disputed territories have survived on Russian military and economic assistance. Although Abkhazia seeks fuller independence, a large number of South Ossetians, perhaps 70 or 80 per cent of them, have Russian passports and would vote for membership of the Russian Federation. Both disputed territories use the rouble. But this isn't, and never has been, just about Georgia. It is about the reassertion of regional power by a country which had smarted for years over the collapse of the Soviet Union and the eastward march of NATO, swallowing up former members of the Warsaw Pact. What we are seeing is a resurgent Russia currently prepared to strut the beach kicking sand in everybody's eyes and defying any affronted party to take them on. When NATO leaders met in the wake of the invasion of Georgia and came up with nothing more concrete than the "suspension of normal relations", the weakness of a divided West was all too obvious to Putin and Medvedev. They have now taken the next step down the line of provocation. "Scrap the NATO-Russia Council altogether and see if we care!" is the message. And, playing as the back-beat sub-theme through all this is the question of Kosovo, a question which looks very different according to whether you are seated in Moscow, Belgrade, Brussels or Washington. "If it was right for the Kosovar Albanians to be given the right to declare independence from Serbia, then why shouldn't the people of South Ossetia be allowed to choose separation from Tblisi?" demand the Medvedev-Putin supporters in the Russian Parliament. "Ah yes," some say, "but what about those threats from Moscow to turn Russian missiles against Poland now that the Poles have agreed to host the anti-missile batteries for the US missile defense plan? Isn't that a dangerous new escalation?" Again, it depends where you are sitting. "How would Washington like it if the Russians were to stage anti-missile batteries in Mexico?" is Moscow's answer. What seems to be forgotten amid the current rhetorical battle is | [
"Who opposes the decision?",
"President signs order recognizing what?",
"What Russian President signed an order ?",
"The Russian president signed the order recognizing independence of which territories?"
] | [
[
"Russian President Dmitri Medvedev"
],
[
"independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia."
],
[
"Dimitri Medvedev"
],
[
"South Ossetia and Abkhazia."
]
] | Russian president signs order recognizing independence of Georgian territories .
West opposes the decision, says that it impinges on Georgian international borders .
Overshadowing the issue is the West's recognition of Kosovo independence .
Analysis: The worst the West could do is to utter threats it does not follow through . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- It was inevitable that a tragedy on the scale of Hillsborough, when 96 Liverpool fans were crushed to death during an FA Cup semifinal with Nottingham Forest, would have a transformative effect on English football.
A Liverpool supporter Wednesday, outside Anfield. Ninety-six fans died from the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.
But there was little reason to believe 20 years ago that, rather than being pushed even further towards the margins of society, the sport was on the brink of a revolution that would give birth to a global sporting phenomenon.
Even before Hillsborough, it had seemed as if there was something irredeemably rotten at the heart of English football.
Hooliganism, a scourge synonymous with the English game, had receded from its peak in the 1970s but English clubs were outlawed from European competition after rampaging Liverpool fans caused a wall to collapse at Brussels' Heysel Stadium before the 1985 European Cup final, causing the deaths of 39 people, mostly supporters of the Italian side Juventus.
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, showing little understanding or patience for the traditions of the sport, had virtually ghettoized fans, promoting a scheme to have each supporter issued with an identity card.
On the field, sides such as Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest were renowned for their attractive play but elsewhere a corrosive cult of long ball football pervaded the game.
That trend seemed to find vindication when arch-exponents Wimbledon, who in the course of a decade had bullied and scrapped their way through four divisions to reach the top flight, defeated Liverpool in the 1988 FA Cup final, prompting match commentator John Motson to declare that "the Crazy Gang have beaten the Culture Club."
With its clubs banned from Europe, many top British players opted to leave England altogether -- Gary Lineker and Mark Hughes to Barcelona, Glenn Hoddle to Monaco, Chris Waddle to Marseille -- adding further to the sense of terminal malaise.
Hillsborough had not been caused by hooliganism but the tragedy was a product of the environment that hooliganism had created; stadiums resembling decrepit fortresses, the fans caged inside steel bars and heavy-handed policing which treated all supporters equally -- as potential troublemakers.
Coupled with Heysel and a fire at Bradford in 1985 in which 56 fans died, it also served to reinforce the belief that going to a football match was something which could put your life in danger.
In "The Last Game: Love, Death and Football," a book examining the lasting impact of the events of 1989 on the sport, author Jason Cowley describes Hillsborough as English football's "psychological moment, the point of no return."
"The culture of the game had to change definitely if football was ever to be perceived as anything more than the preserve of the white, working class male, a theatre of hate and of violence, often racist and misogynistic excesses, if it was to survive at all," says Cowley.
English football not only survived but within a few years had reinvented itself, in the elite "Premier League" division of the country's top clubs at least, as an internationally recognized super brand capable of attracting the world's best players and broadcast around the planet.
The engine for this transformation, in the wake of Hillsborough, was the Taylor Report, an inquiry into the causes of the disaster which called for the steel fences inside grounds to be dismantled and for the phasing out of the traditional terraces of standing fans with all-seater stadiums.
Initially clubs received government funding to help them meet the costs but the sport was about to receive an injection of cash that would radically change its financial prospects.
Despite its poor reputation, there remained a huge appetite for televised football -- ironically, itself a by-product of the fact that many supporters were no longer going to matches.
Realizing this, the country's top clubs broke away from the game's traditional power structure, setting up the Premier League and selling TV rights for £191 million ($286 million) to media tycoon Rupert Murdoch's newly established satellite television venture, BSkyB.
The money was a shot in the arm | [
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"who sold the rights?",
"When was it transformed?",
"What was the Hillsbourough tragedy?",
"What is the most watched?",
"What was the disaster?",
"What status does the English Premier League now have?",
"how long has it been since the tragedy?",
"What has happened to English football following the Hillsborough tragedy?",
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] | [
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"the country's top clubs"
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],
[
"something"
]
] | English football has been transformed in 20 years since Hillsborough tragedy .
Disaster created impetus for all-seater grounds, improvements in infrastructure .
Top clubs also benefited from creation of Premier League and sale of TV rights .
The English Premier League is now the world's most watched sporting league . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- It's 2020. You get home from work, kick off your shoes and relax -- on your very own tropical island. That night, your friends teleport over with other glamorous guests, all nipped, tucked and primped to perfection, for a hedonistic cocktail party at your five-star beach house, decked out in expensively understated chrome, crystal and fine Italian furniture.
Experts say the use of virtual worlds like Second Life may be widespread by 2020
But this is no billionaire way of life. If virtual worlds become the next Facebook phenomenon, experts predict that logging on to a luxury lifestyle could be attainable for all of us -- and we might even spend more money on our online homes than on our real-life surroundings.
With over 30 million users worldwide, 8.5 million photos uploaded each day and 15 billion page views a month, Facebook is undoubtedly the Internet's flavor of the month. But by 2020, virtual worlds may have surpassed social networking sites as the place to spend time online. Experts believe that the draw of 3-D spaces where our avatars can hang out with our friends -- and meet new ones -- may tempt away even the most ardent Facebook addict.
David Knighton, a 35-year-old Second Life user from Jacksonville, Florida, is one of many netizens exploring virtual worlds. He's been visiting the site for over a year and told CNN that he enjoys its social dimension. "I've met several good friends in Second Life, who are still friends to this day in the 'real world'" he said.
At times, David has spent six hours a day, seven days a week on Second Life. But what is the draw of a virtual world? Are they only attractive to tech-heads? David doesn't think so. He says, "Experience plays a role in acceptance to be sure, but Second Life takes hold more on a social and creative level. Someone who signs in and recognizes those aspects of Second Life will immediately be hooked."
This is backed up by blogger and writer Caleb Booker, who has tracked virtual worlds from phone "party lines" through the first one-player text-based computer adventures to the two- and three-dimensional Internet worlds that are burgeoning today.
Booker believes that, in a society that's increasingly mobile, virtual worlds help us hold our far-flung social networks together. He cites the example of his mother-in-law, who recently moved to a new city and uses Facebook to stay in touch with her three daughters. "They're all busy, so virtual world technologies and Web 2.0 apps are the best and most convenient ways to keep up," he told CNN.
Booker says that virtual worlds take this interaction to a more sophisticated level. "I don't even have to worry about cab fare if I want to have a little get-together with my friends from the UK and the US tonight," he said.
And he thinks that it's only a matter of time before virtual worlds follow Facebook and explode in popularity. "Bottom line: if people are using email for social interaction, they'll probably be interested in other ways to be social online."
Life-like avatars
Interaction on Facebook, MySpace and other social networking sites is mainly limited to text, with the ability for users to add photos and video. But in a virtual world, people are represented by avatars: computer-generated figures which can look uncannily like ourselves -- if we choose. They can walk like us, they'll soon talk like us and they can interact with each other.
As 3-D technology becomes increasingly sophisticated, Booker says that photo-realistic avatars are just around the corner, and will become increasingly convincing.
"Eye movement, breathing, and realistic expressions will be the easy part," he revealed. "The hard part will come with things like synching mouth movements with voice recognition. That's something we might not quite have nailed by 2020, but there will definitely be some kind of engine that attempts it by | [
"what virtual worlds",
"what does the experts say about the young users?",
"Experts believe what will be widespread by 2020?",
"Online worlds could replace what site?",
"On what year experts believe virtual worlds will be widespread?",
"what could replace facebook as most popular internet phenomenon?"
] | [
[
"like Second Life"
],
[
"predict that logging on to a luxury lifestyle could be attainable for all of us"
],
[
"use of virtual worlds"
],
[
"social networking"
],
[
"2020"
],
[
"virtual worlds"
]
] | By 2020, experts believe virtual worlds will be widespread .
Online worlds could replace Facebook as most popular Internet phenomenon .
Experts say young users could lead spartan lives offline, luxurious lives online .
But Star Trek-style fully-interactive holodecks still some way off . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- It's no secret that the music industry has not made an ideal transition into the digital era. Is the iPod, iTunes and independent Web promotion the future of music? Or can record labels fight back? Album sales are falling, P2P file sharing is rife, and a plethora of new artists are using the Internet as a platform for gaining international exposure. With the introduction of MySpace Music, three major record labels -- Sony BMG, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group -- are hoping to launch a counter-strike to the technological developments and online activities that have rocked their industry. But, how far can the record labels go towards getting back those good old days where they were uncontested as they reaped the lion's share of profits from the music industry? Experts CNN spoke to for a Just Imagine article had contrasting views on what the coming years hold for the industry. Long-time music industry figure Bob Lefsetz was critical of the new venture. "Radio on demand, in one's home, in front of the computer, which is what MySpace actually is, is not a sexy alternative to owning what you want and taking it to the beach, to the party, to your workout," he said, comparing it with Apple's iTunes and iPod. Lefsetz feels the record labels have to face serious decline, unless they can come up with a new business model. Well-known music artists' rights advocate, educator and industry commentator, Moses Avalon, was more positive about MySpace Music's hopes and the future of the record label industry. Music industry lecturer Andrew Dubber, meanwhile, believed the future would be characterized by change, and that there is no set model for the future of the recording industry. Now, we want to know what you think. Give us your views on the future of the music industry. Do you have a business model you think the record labels should adopt to build a strong future? Or, do you think the industry has no future at all? Do you think Web sites like tunecore.com, rawrip.com and sellaband.com hold the power now? Post your comments in the Sound Off box below. We'll publish the best. | [
"What is declining in the music industry?",
"What company is the music venture involved with?",
"What should you post?",
"What did MySpace plan to do to help the music industry?",
"Are record sales declining?",
"What is happening to record sales?",
"What has been happening to record sales in the music industry?",
"What social media site was involved in this music venture?",
"What venture might save the music industry?"
] | [
[
"record labels"
],
[
"Sony BMG, Universal"
],
[
"your comments"
],
[
"launch a counter-strike"
],
[
"are falling,"
],
[
"are falling,"
],
[
"are falling,"
],
[
"MySpace"
],
[
"\"Radio on demand,"
]
] | We take a look at the future of the music industry as record sales decline .
Will MySpace music venture between major labels save the industry?
What do you think? Post your views and we'll publish the best. |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- It's not every day the average Joe gets to take a peek at the personal possessions of a royal. Juan Carlos, the King of Spain, pictured on board his 52-foot racing yacht But, this month CNN's MainSail program has been lucky enough to go on board Juan Carlos I -- the King of Spain's racing yacht. We get a unique insight into just what a royal's boat looks like and the kinds of technological toys and state-of-the-art equipment a King likes to equip it with. Speaking with the one of the boat's crew members, Ignacio Triay, CNN MainSail presenter Shirley Robertson finds that the King's boat is, indeed, at the cutting edge of modern sailing. The 52ft vessel is raced by a crew of 15 people and has competed in some of the world's most popular yacht racing series, racing alongside the very cream of the world's sailing talent. Video: See on board the King of Spain's yacht » Triay, who has been sailing for the King of Spain for over 20 years, said the boat contains all of the best modern electronic and sailing equipment. For more sailing features -- including the 10 weirdest sailing terms you'll ever hear -- visit the MainSail homepage. | [
"What type of equipment does the boat have?",
"How long is the boat?",
"Who gets on board with the King of Spain?",
"Who boarded the King of Spain's racing yacht?",
"What requires a crew of 15?"
] | [
[
"best modern electronic and sailing equipment."
],
[
"52-foot"
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[
"CNN's MainSail program"
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[
"CNN's MainSail program"
],
[
"52-foot racing yacht"
]
] | CNN MainSail gets on board the King of Spain's racing yacht .
The boat is a 52-foot racing yacht that requires a crew of 15 .
A crew member from the boat says it is full of state-of-the-art equipment . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Italian football manager Carlo Ancelotti has gone from Milan to London in less than a day. Carlo Ancelotti will take over as manager of Chelsea from July 1 this year. Just 24 hours after resigning from his highly-successful eight-year stint at Italy's AC Milan, he has been announced as the new manager of English Premier League club Chelsea -- replacing temporary manager Guus Hiddink. Chelsea, who won the FA Cup at the weekend, were looking for a permanent manager for the start of next season -- and Ancelotti has been signed on a three-year deal to the west-London club. A statement on Chelsea's web site read: "Carlo was the outstanding candidate for the job. He has proved over a long period his ability to build teams that challenged for, and have been successful in, major domestic and European competitions." Ancelotti, who turns 50 next week, has been in management since 1995, when he took charge of Italian Serie B club Reggiana. Although he only spent one season at Reggiana, he managed to earn them promotion to the top-flight Serie A league. Since then he has managed Parma and Juventus, before taking on the San Siro-based giants AC Milan. Is Ancelotti's appointment the right move for Chelsea? Tell us in the Sound Off box below. As a manager he has enjoyed plenty of success, particularly in his time at the Rossoneri. He steered Milan to the Coppa Italia in 2003, the Serie A title in 2003--04, the UEFA Champions League in both 2002--03 and 2006--07, the UEFA Super Cup in 2003 and 2007 and the FIFA Club World Cup crown in 2007. Before entering management, Ancelotti had a significant playing career as a midfielder with AS Roma and AC Milan. During his time at both clubs he amassed three Serie A titles, two European Cups, and he also won the Coppa Italia four times with Roma. He is one of only six people to ever win the Champions League as both a player and manager -- a list which includes current Barcelona manager and this year's winner, Josep Guardiola. Ancelotti also represented Italy on 26 occasions, scoring once. He played in the 1986 and 1990 World Cups alongside players such as Roberto Mancini and the recently-retired Paolo Maldini. Despite his management success at AC Milan, it has been widely reported that his relationship with the club's owner, Silvio Berlusconi, has not been strong in 2009. He takes over at Chelsea as the permanent replacement for Luiz Felipe Scolari, although Guus Hiddink has been in charge since Scolari was sacked from Stamford Bridge in February. | [
"Where is Chelsea located?",
"Who is the manager of AC Milan?",
"Who was appointed new manager?",
"How long was Ancelotti in charge of AC Milan?",
"Who is Carlo Ancelotti?"
] | [
[
"west-London"
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"Carlo Ancelotti"
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] | London football club Chelsea appoint Carlo Ancelotti as their new manager .
Ancelotti has been in charge of Italian giants AC Milan for the past eight years .
As a manager, Ancelotti has enjoyed multiple Italian and European successes .
The Italian previously represented his country as a player, scoring one goal . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- James Bond would be lost without them -- those madcap gadgets merging two technologies that help him beat the bad guys and save the planet. The underwater watch with a built-in Geiger counter, for example; or the car that doubles as a submarine; or the exploding bagpipes and missile-launching wheelchair.
An artist's impression of what a Flying Electric Generator might look like
Now a U.S. company has taken a leaf out of 007's book and developed a similarly unlikely "combination" technology.
The "villain" in this case is not a psychotic, cat-stroking megalomaniac, but something both more prosaic and, potentially, more threatening -- global warming: in particular, how to meet the world's energy needs without swamping the planet with clouds of atmosphere-clogging pollutants.
And the madcap gadget that might just provide a solution? A helicopter that doubles as a wind turbine. Or, to give it its technical name, a FEG (Flying Electric Generator).
The brainchild of Australian engineering specialist Professor Bryan Roberts, the FEG is being developed by San Diego-based company SkyWindPower.
Code-cracker turned turbine enthusiast
The latter is headed by David Shepard, who started his career cracking Japanese military ciphers during World War Two, and went on to create the Farrington B numeric font that appears on credit cards around the world.
Shepard has long been convinced of the need for a new global energy source to reduce reliance on carbon-emitting fossil fuels.
For the last two decades his attention has focused on the electricity-generating potential of high-altitude winds, and when he learnt of Professor Roberts' prototype "gyromill" -- a flying wind turbine that the Australian had been developing since 1979 -- he decided it offered the best model for realizing that potential.
The two men started working together in 2002, and the FEG is the result.
High-altitude winds
The guiding principle of the FEG is that wind speed and constancy are far greater at high altitude than they are on the ground, especially in the two major jet streams - the Sub-Tropical Jet and the Polar Front Jet - that exist in each hemisphere (at around 30 degrees and 60 degrees latitude respectively).
A turbine at great height, so the theory goes, can generate far more power than a similar turbine at or near ground level. It has been estimated that capturing just one percent of the available energy of these high altitude winds would meet the electricity needs of the entire planet.
"The winds a few miles above the mid latitudes of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres are far stronger and more persistent than the winds just above us," Shepard told CNN.
"This results in potentially being able to generate electricity for over eighty percent of the time, as opposed to thirty percent of the time at ground-based wind turbine sites.
"The largest ground-based wind turbines currently produce about five megawatts each. We expect typical FEGs to produce about 20 megawatts each."
Helicopter technology
But how do we get a working turbine up to the necessary height -- at least 15,000 ft (4600 meters) above the earth's surface? That's where helicopter technology comes in.
Taking the form of a giant H-shaped frame, the prototype FEG has four huge blades at the four points of the H, each blade 10.7 meters (35 feet) in diameter. These act like the rotors of a helicopter, lifting the FEG to the required height.
Once in place, the blades not only keep the FEG air-born, providing lift like the surface area of a kite, but also act as turbines, turning dynamos within the platform that generate electricity, which is transmitted back to earth through a vast aluminum tethering cable.
An in-built GPS (Global Positioning System) uses satellite technology to ensure that the FEG always remains in the same place, both vertically and horizontally.
According to Shepard, development is already at an advanced stage.
"Professor Roberts demonstrated a FEG in Australia at an altitude of sixty feet | [
"Who has developed a flying wind turbine?",
"What has a US company developed?",
"What is the FEG (Flying Electric Generator)?",
"What height would it hover at?"
] | [
[
"SkyWindPower."
],
[
"A helicopter that doubles as a wind turbine."
],
[
"A helicopter that doubles as a wind turbine."
],
[
"least 15,000 ft"
]
] | U.S. company develops "flying" wind turbine .
Wind energy far greater at high altitude .
FEG (Flying Electric Generator) would hover at 15,000 feet .
Massive air-born wind farms envisaged . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Jewish groups on Wednesday rejected as inadequate an apology by Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone for remarks in which he praised German Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. Bernie Ecclestone: "Many people in my closest circle of friends are Jewish." During an interview with The Times newspaper last week the billionaire spoke of the Nazi dictator's ability to "get things done." But after a storm of criticism, Ecclestone issued a statement on Tuesday in which he said: "I unreservedly apologize for the remarks I made regarding Hitler in a recent interview. I am extremely distressed and embarrassed that these remarks have been used as suggesting that I support Hitler or Saddam Hussein. I would never support such people. "I should never have been so foolish as to have been drawn into discussing these people but the fault was entirely mine, which I deeply regret." On Wednesday Jon Benjamin, Chief Executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, rejected the apology. "Mr. Ecclestone's comments were crass, ignorant and insensitive," he said in a statement issued to CNN. "There is no excuse for praising one of history's most evil men for being good at being bad." Tell us what you think of Ecclestone's comments In his statement on Tuesday, the 78-year-old appeared to reignite the controversy by remarking: "During the 1930s Germany was facing an economic crisis, but Hitler was able to rebuild the economy, building the autobahns and German industry. "That was all I meant when I referred to him getting things done. "I'm an admirer of good leadership, of politicians who stand by their convictions and tell the voters the truth. I'm not an admirer of dictators who rule by terror." He told The Jewish Chronicle on Tuesday he regretted offending people who took his remarks "the wrong way." Ecclestone had earlier been described by the newspaper's editor, Stephen Pollard, as "either an idiot or morally repulsive." Germany's Central Council of Jews had urged motor racing teams to boycott Formula One over Ecclestone's comments but cautiously welcomed the apology. However one of the group's leaders pointed out that the F1 chief's remarks about the man who presided over the deaths of six million Jews had caused great pain. "If Ecclestone says he was an idiot, I will certainly not contradict him," Dieter Graumann, vice president of the council, told Handesblatt newspaper. "Apologizing is better than not apologizing. But the glorification of a mass murderer is not a trivial offense." German media also reported that Guenther Oettinger, premier of the southern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, had canceled a meeting with the Briton at this weekend's German Grand Prix at Nurburgring because of his comments about Hitler. The F1 chief had told the German newspaper Bild: "Many people in my closest circle of friends are Jewish. Anyone who knows me knows that I would never attack a minority." | [
"which group dismiss apology?",
"about what he apologizes?",
"What did the Billionaire speak about?",
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"who is bernie ecclestone?",
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"did ecclestone apologize"
] | [
[
"Jewish"
],
[
"for the remarks I made regarding Hitler"
],
[
"Nazi dictator's ability to \"get things done.\""
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[
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"remarks in which he praised German Nazi leader Adolf Hitler."
],
[
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[
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[
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] | F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone apologizes for praising Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler .
Billionaire had spoken of Hitler's ability to "get things done"
Jewish groups dismiss as inadequate Ecclestone's apology . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- John Darwin's wife said her husband faked his own death to avoid mounting debts and holed up in the family home for years, hiding from his own sons, according to UK media reports. Anne Darwin said her husband, believed by police and his sons to have been lost at sea five years ago, recently returned to the UK, faking amnesia, because he missed his now-adult children, according to The Daily Mirror. "I didn't think he would get away with it but he had had enough of being dead," she is quoted as saying. John Darwin, 57, is being questioned by police in northeastern England following his arrest on suspicion of fraud, a spokesman for Cleveland, England, police said. Darwin walked into a police station in London last weekend -- five years after he was thought to have died after the remains of a canoe he paddled into the North Sea, off northeastern England, washed up on shore. Darwin was declared dead by a coroner in 2003, 13 months after his disappearance in March 2002. His wife, the paper reported, described how the prison officer and former teacher discussed faking his death just before he disappeared because of mounting debts. When John Darwin vanished she said she thought he was dead -- until, she is reported to have said, he turned up on the doorstep of the family home at Seaton Carew, northeastern England, one year later. "I didn't even recognize him at first," Anne Darwin told the newspaper, adding that her husband looked thin, dirty and smelled dreadful. "I was relieved he was alive, of course. But I was also very angry with him." She said that her husband stayed at the home on and off before he got a one-room apartment in another part of the large house so he could vanish if friends or family arrived, also disguising himself with a hat or limp when he went outside. But hiding away began to take its toll, Anne Darwin reportedly said, and the pair decided to leave Britain. Her husband traveled on a false passport to look at property in Cyprus and inquire about buying a catamaran in Gibraltar, she said, before they finally settled in Panama. She went to live there six weeks ago. She is believed to be in the United States after leaving Panama on a flight late Thursday, a Panamanian immigration representative has told CNN. Anne Darwin, the newspaper said, stated that it was always her plan to repay two insurance policies in her husband's name: one, a life insurance policy, for £25,000 ($50,000); and another for £130,000 ($265,000), which was paid to their home loan company to pay off the mortgage in the event of her husband's death. The newspaper said she was not paid for her story and accepts she is likely to be arrested upon her return to Britain. Following his reappearance last weekend, John Darwin was initially reunited with his two sons, who released a joint statement saying their father claimed to have amnesia dating back to June 2000. But in a statement released by Cleveland police Thursday, the sons, Mark, 31, and Anthony, 29, said they were in an "angry and confused state of mind" and they wanted no further contact with their parents. After media reports Thursday that Anne Darwin had confessed to knowing her husband was alive, the sons said: "If the papers' allegations of a confession from our mam are true, then we very much feel that we have been the victims in a large scam." "In the short space of time following our dad's appearance in London on Saturday, we have gone through a rollercoaster of emotion," the statement said. "From the height of elation at finding him to be alive to the depths of despair at the recent stories of fraud and these latest pictures," it added. "How could our mam continue to let us believe our dad had died when he was very much alive? We | [
"How old wass John Darwin?",
"What is the suspicion connected with the reappearance?",
"How old is Darwin?",
"Where was the man while assumed to be dead?",
"What is Darwin being questioned about?",
"What was he being questioned for?",
"Who said he faked his death?",
"What was thought to be the fate of John Darwin?",
"How old is John Darwin?",
"Why did he fake his death?"
] | [
[
"57,"
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[
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],
[
"57,"
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[
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[
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[
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],
[
"have died after the remains of a canoe he paddled into the North Sea, off northeastern England, washed up on shore."
],
[
"57,"
],
[
"avoid mounting debts"
]
] | Reports: Wife says he faked his death to avoid debts, hid in their home for years .
John Darwin, 57, thought to have drowned at sea off northeastern England in 2002 .
Reappeared last week; being questioned on suspicion of fraud .
Sons of the couple say they are in an "angry and confused state of mind" |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Josephs and Marys in search of a room at the inn this Christmas are being made an offer they can't refuse. Mary and Joseph ride a donkey to Bethlehem in a performance of the Nativity story near Guildford, England. A British hotel chain is promising free accommodation to couples who share their first names with the couple from the Christian Nativity story. Almost 30 Josephs and Marys had already signed up for the free night's stay at the Travelodge, said Shakila Ahmed, a spokeswoman for the hotel chain. "The 'gift' of a free night's stay is to make up for the hotel industry not having any rooms left on Christmas Eve over 2000 years ago when the original 'Mary and Joseph' had to settle for the night in a stable," the company says on its Web site. The offer is good at any one of the chain's 322 hotels in the United Kingdom, the Web site says. The couples must bring proof of identity and must prove that they are in a long-term relationship. "If you satisfy the criteria, you get a free night in a family room for two adults and two children," Ahmed said. "There's also parking space for a donkey if needed," she joked. Ahmed said the offer, which will run from Christmas Eve to Twelfth Night -- December 24 to January 5 -- had been very well-received. "We've had a lot of interest. I think people like the fact that it resonates with the Nativity story at a time when the actual meaning of Christmas often becomes forgotten in festive overkill," she said. Couples can register their names at a special e-mail address set up by Travelodge, which has hotels across the Britain, Ireland and Spain, Ahmed said. E-mail to a friend | [
"who share names with the couple?",
"what They also have to prove?",
"What number of couples have signed up for the free night's stay?",
"Do they have to prove they are married"
] | [
[
"from the Christian Nativity story."
],
[
"proof of identity and must"
],
[
"Almost 30"
],
[
"The couples must bring proof of identity and must"
]
] | Couples who share names with the couple from the Nativity story get free room .
Almost 30 Josephs and Marys have signed up for the free night's stay .
Couples have to bring proof of identity .
They also have to prove that they are in a long-term relationship . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Karma caught up with former Culture Club singer Boy George on Friday when a court sentenced the star to 15 months for falsely imprisoning a male escort, a court spokeswoman said.
George O'Dowd, also known as Boy George, arrives at Snaresbrook Crown Court, in east London.
Full details of the sentence weren't immediately clear.
A jury unanimously found the pop star and DJ, whose real name is George O'Dowd, guilty of the charge last month after a seven-day trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court in northeast London.
The jury determined O'Dowd, 47, had chained male escort Audun Carlsen to a wall at his apartment in London's hip Shoreditch neighborhood. Carlsen had also said the singer beat him with a metal chain. Watch as Boy George arrives at court »
O'Dowd, who maintained his innocence, came to court Friday sporting a multicolored tattoo on his bald head, none of his trademark makeup, and a black winter coat.
The star quit Culture Club in 1987 after a string of hits with the group, including "Karma Chameleon," "Do you really want to hurt me?" and "Church of the Poison Mind."
He has since become a DJ and revived his singing career, releasing a single last year called "Yes we can," inspired by Barack Obama and featuring clips of the U.S. president-elect.
O'Dowd is no stranger to the law. In August 2006, he spent five days cleaning the streets of Manhattan as part of a community service sentence for falsely reporting a break-in at his New York City home.
He has also publicly battled drug addiction. | [
"Who was jailed for falsely imprisoning a male escort?",
"What is Boy George's real name?",
"who was the victim",
"former what singer",
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] | [
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"Audun Carlsen"
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[
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"Audun Carlsen"
]
] | Former Culture Club singer jailed for falsely imprisoning a male escort .
The victim, Audun Carlsen, claimed he was also beaten with a chain .
Boy George, whose real name is George O'Dowd, has battled drug addiction .
He spent 5 days cleaning the streets of Manhattan in 2006 on community order . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Karma caught up with former Culture Club singer Boy George on Friday when a court sentenced the star to 15 months for falsely imprisoning a male escort, a court spokeswoman said. George O'Dowd, also known as Boy George, arrives at Snaresbrook Crown Court, in east London. Full details of the sentence weren't immediately clear. A jury unanimously found the pop star and DJ, whose real name is George O'Dowd, guilty of the charge last month after a seven-day trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court in northeast London. The jury determined O'Dowd, 47, had chained male escort Audun Carlsen to a wall at his apartment in London's hip Shoreditch neighborhood. Carlsen had also said the singer beat him with a metal chain. Watch as Boy George arrives at court » O'Dowd, who maintained his innocence, came to court Friday sporting a multicolored tattoo on his bald head, none of his trademark makeup, and a black winter coat. The star quit Culture Club in 1987 after a string of hits with the group, including "Karma Chameleon," "Do you really want to hurt me?" and "Church of the Poison Mind." He has since become a DJ and revived his singing career, releasing a single last year called "Yes we can," inspired by Barack Obama and featuring clips of the U.S. president-elect. O'Dowd is no stranger to the law. In August 2006, he spent five days cleaning the streets of Manhattan as part of a community service sentence for falsely reporting a break-in at his New York City home. He has also publicly battled drug addiction. | [
"What was the former Culture Club singer jailed for?",
"What is Boy George's real name?"
] | [
[
"falsely imprisoning a male escort,"
],
[
"O'Dowd,"
]
] | Former Culture Club singer jailed for falsely imprisoning a male escort .
The victim, Audun Carlsen, claimed he was also beaten with a chain .
Boy George, whose real name is George O'Dowd, has battled drug addiction .
He spent 5 days cleaning the streets of Manhattan in 2006 on community order . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Kimi Raikkonen has lambasted McLaren's Lewis Hamilton for the pit-lane accident that ended both of their races at the Canadian Grand Prix. Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen is far from happy after Lewis Hamilton pushed him out of the Canadian Grand Prix. Hamilton's McLaren rammed into the back of world champion Raikkonen's Ferrari as the Finn and Robert Kubica, the race's eventual winner, were waiting at a red light after the safety car was forced into action on lap 17. Raikkonen, while claiming not to be angry, was clearly far from impressed. "There's not much I can say. My race was ruined by Hamilton's mistake. "Obviously, anyone can make mistakes, as I did two weeks ago in Monaco, but it's one thing to make a mistake at 200 hundred [miles] per hour but another to hit a car stopped at a red light. "I'm not angry because that doesn't achieve anything and does not change my result. I am unhappy because I had a great chance of winning." Raikkonen, who has failed to score points in the previous two races, said he had to start winning again. "There is still a long way to go in the championship and it is still very close and we have everything we need to regain the ground we have lost." Ferrari team sporting director Stefano Domenicali said Hamilton had made a "serious mistake." "I think the penalty imposed by the FIA [Hamilton was given a 10-place grid penalty for the French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours] is in line with it, even if it does not restore what was a lost opportunity for us. "Kimi was in an excellent position to fight for the win" Hamilton, for his part, was apologetic. "I don't know what happened to be honest," Hamilton said. "I was comfortably in the lead, it was looking like an easy win. Then I went in for the pit stop. It was not a good stop and I saw the two guys in front of me battling in the pit lane. "I saw the red light but by that time it was a bit late. It was not exactly a racing incident as such, it was unfortunate. It was one of those things. It is different to if you crash into the wall and you are angry. It is not like that. I apologize to Kimi for ruining his race." | [
"What was ruined after red light?",
"Who said his race was ruined?",
"What did Hamilton not see?",
"What was Hamilton given?",
"Who lambasts for pit lane accident?",
"Who was given a 10-place grid penalty?",
"Who was given the grid penalty?",
"Who lambasted McLaren's Lewis Hamilton for pit-lane accident",
"Who did Kimi Raikkonen lamblast?"
] | [
[
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[
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[
"[Hamilton"
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[
"[Hamilton"
],
[
"Kimi Raikkonen"
],
[
"Lewis Hamilton"
]
] | Kimi Raikkonen lambasts McLaren's Lewis Hamilton for pit-lane accident .
Finn says his race was 'ruined' after Hamilton didn't see red light .
Hamilton was given a 10-place grid penalty for the French Grand Prix . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Last year's inaugural Prix Pictet photography award for environmental sustainability produced a stunning shortlist of photos. Ed Kashi has documented the impact oil has made on the Niger Delta in Africa. This year is no different with 12 photographers in the running for the first prize of 100,000 CHF ($97,500). The theme in 2009 is described simply as "Earth." The aim is to highlight how man exploits the planet's resources and how this impacts the landscapes and communities surrounding them. In an extraordinary series of photos Canadian Christopher Anderson captures how the quest for raw materials affects Venezuela. In "The Diminishing Present," Portuguese-born Edgar Martins records forest landscapes in the moments before they are engulfed by flames. In "Curse of the Black Gold: 50 Years of Oil in the Niger Delta," Ed Kashi captures the impact of the oil industry on Nigeria's environment and people since it was first discovered five decades ago. Kashi, an American photojournalist, spent three years compiling his photos of the Niger Delta, making a total of five trips to the troubled region. Kashi told CNN: "It was truly one of the most graphic examples of economic inequity that I have ever seen. Especially with the backdrop of hundreds of billions of oil wealth that has been generated over the previous 50 years." As a result of his work, Kashi says that his photos are now being used by universities and NGOs to raise awareness to try and effect change. To him, this has been one of the most gratifying and exciting by-products of his work. One of this year's most intriguing entries is by Sammy Baloji, who superimposes colonial black and white archive photos of Belgian-run mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo and places them over his color images of the decaying mines as seen today. Nadav Kander's images of China's Yangtze River depict communities adjusting to the changes caused by the re-routing of the country's largest river. And, Andreas Gursky has captured an extraordinary image of an ocean of rubbish at a landfill site in Mexico City. Darren Almond's ethereal images of China's Yellow Mountain Range are made all the more magical through the knowledge that they were shot using only the light of the Moon. All the nominees' pictures showcase the power of the camera when in the hands of master craftsmen. Click here to view some of the short-listed images » The winner will be announced by Prix Pictet honorary president, Kofi Annan, on October 22 at the Passage de Retz gallery in Paris. All the short-listed photos can be seen at the same gallery for one month after the award. Further exhibitions are planned in Greece and Dubai and the Netherlands. If you can't attend the exhibitions, there is a book entitled "Earth," published by teNeues which showcases the work of all Prix Pictet nominees. | [
"What is the prize?",
"How many photographers are up for the award?",
"What is the shortlist focused on?",
"What is the award called?",
"How many nominees were there?",
"How much is the prize?",
"About how many USD is the prize?",
"What was the photography award subject field?",
"How much is the prize?",
"How many photographers are shortlisted for the Prix Pictet photography award?",
"What is the prize money for the Prix Pictet photography award?",
"When is the winner announced?",
"When is the winner of the Prix Pictet photography award announced?",
"How many photographers are up for the award?"
] | [
[
"100,000 CHF ($97,500)."
],
[
"12"
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[
"environmental sustainability"
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[
"Prix Pictet"
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[
"12"
],
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"100,000 CHF ($97,500)."
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[
"100,000 CHF ($97,500)."
],
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],
[
"October 22"
],
[
"12"
]
] | Shortlist for Prix Pictet photography award highlights destruction of natural resources .
Twelve world-renowned photographers are up for the award .
Prize of 100,000 CHF ($97,500) goes to the winner announced on October 22 . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Leaders of the world's largest economies agreed on Thursday to a package worth more than $1 trillion to tackle the global economic crisis.
Barack Obama: "The challenge is clear" for world leaders to tackle the economic crisis.
U.S. President Barack Obama called the deal "a turning point in our pursuit of global economic recovery." The plan calls for reform of the international banking system and the injection of more than $1 trillion into the world financial system.
The Group of 20 is taking "unprecedented steps" to attack the global economic downturn, stimulate growth and expand loans to troubled nations, Obama said at the close of the group's meeting in London.
"The challenge is clear," the U.S. president said. "The global economy is contracting. Trade is shrinking. Unemployment is rising. The international financial system is nearly frozen." Watch Obama's speech »
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown heralded the emergence of a "new world order" Thursday following the release of what he called an "unprecedented" package of measures to tackle the crisis.
The deal agreed by the leaders of the world's largest economies included reform of the international banking system and the injection of more than $1 trillion into the world financial system. Watch what was agreed to at the summit »
French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who had voiced concerns prior to the summit about the wisdom of pumping further public money into economies already in recession, welcomed Thursday's agreement -- though hinted at unresolved disagreements behind the scenes.
There had been concerns that a rift was opening up between the approach being championed by the U.S. and Britain -- more economic stimulus -- and that favored by France and Germany -- more banking regulations.
Sarkozy said the agreement represented "great progress" on reform of financial institutions and said "a page had been turned." Merkel described the deal as "a very, very good, almost historic compromise."
The six-point plan includes banking reform measures and more than $1 trillion to be spent on restoring credit, growth and jobs, as well as measures clamping down on tax havens and a commitment to build a green and sustainable economy. iReport: What's the economy like where you are?
Much of the G-20 communique issued at the end of the London summit restated promises and goals that international leaders had made earlier, relying on language such as "we remain committed" and "we reaffirm our historic commitment."
But Brown said: "Our message is clear and certain. We believe that in this new global age our prosperity is indivisible. We believe global problems require global solutions," Brown said.
"I think a new world order is emerging and with it the foundations of a new and progressive era of international cooperation." Watch Brown's statement »
Brown said the new rescue package, which includes a commitment to treble the resources available to the International Monetary Fund to $750 billion, amounted to "the largest macro economic stimulus the world has ever seen."
Along with existing national stimulus measures, Brown said efforts to bolster economies amounted to more than $5 trillion.
The six-point consensus consisted of measures to:
Obama said: "We owe it to all of our citizens to act and to act with urgency. We have agreed upon a series of unprecedented steps to restore growth and prevent a crisis like this from happening again."
"We have rejected the protectionism that could deepen this crisis. ... This cooperation between the world's leading economies signals our support for open markets," he said. "Second, we are committed to comprehensive reform of a failed regulatory system."
Obama added: "We can rebuild our global prosperity if we act with the sense of common purpose, persistence, and optimism that our moment demands."
Obama said the United States would also provide $448 million in additional aid to vulnerable nations which he described as "future drivers of world economic growth."
Brown said the G-20 would meet again later in | [
"How many points does the plan have?",
"What country is Barack Obama president of?",
"How much will be injected into the world financial system?",
"Approximately how much money will be injected into the world financial system>",
"How many points does the plan to strengthen regulation in the financial sector include?",
"What did Obama say?"
] | [
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] | U.S. President Barack Obama: Unprecedented steps to restore growth .
World leaders say the agreed measures will shorten the recession .
More than $1 trillion will be injected into the world financial system .
Six-point plan also strengthens regulations in the financial sector . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Leading British Cabinet minister Jacqui Smith's political future is in doubt after her husband admitted to paying for adult movies with taxpayers' money.
Jacqui Smith surrounded by media outside her sister's home, whom she lives with in London.
The home secretary's husband, Richard Timney, has apologized for the "embarrassment" he caused his wife, while she has promised to repay the money spent, including the £10 ($14) charge for the two films, the British Press Association reported.
According to British media reports, Smith had not seen the videos and was "mortified" that they had "mistakenly" been paid for using her MP's expense account.
Timney, who Smith pays £40,000 ($56,000) a year to be her office manager, submitted an expense claim last June for a £67 ($95) Virgin Media bill for television services in the couple's family home in Redditch, Smith's constituency, The Guardian newspaper reported.
It reported the bill included two adult films, at a cost of £5 ($7) each, as well as two viewings of the heist movie "Ocean's 13" and one of "Surf's Up," a children's film about a penguin.
The revelations could not come at a worse time for Smith, who is already being investigated by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards over her decision to claim at least £116,000 ($164,000) in second-home allowances for her family home since becoming an MP.
She has claimed the second-home allowance for her family home while living with her sister in London. Smith designated her sister's house as her "main" residence, allowing her to claim the money for her family home.
Conservative and opposition leader David Cameron described the latest news as "deeply embarrassing" for Smith.
He said Smith had "questions to answer," PA reported.
"I do not think this individual thing is the issue. I think she has got some questions to answer about the second home issue. It does seem to me pretty incredible to claim that the home where her family is, that is not her main home.
"I think this goes to a deeper problem, which is the second home allowance for MPs. The prime minister has ordered a review but he has sort of kicked it into the long grass.
"The review doesn't start until September, it is not going to report until after the next election. That is hopeless. We have got to get on with it."
Prime Minister Gordon Brown defended Smith.
"The home secretary is doing a great job and I do not think this issue should be allowed to detract from everything she is doing to ensure we protect the public and keep our neighborhoods safe," he said.
"She has done the right thing by taking steps to rectify the mistake that was made as soon as she became aware of it.
"This is very much a personal matter for Jacqui. She has made her apology, her husband has made clear that he has apologized."
Last week Brown ordered a review of the complex and opaque system of MPs' pay and allowances.
Do you think Smith should resign? | [
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"Who is the home minister's husband?",
"how much money is spent on porn videos?",
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] | British Cabinet minister Jacqui Smith's political future is in doubt .
Home minister's husband, Richard Timney, has apologized over porn purchases .
Smith has promised to repay money spent on porn videos . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Leaving school at 16 is not normally the route to success. But Richard Branson did just that, setting up a magazine and then entering the record business. Now his brand is behind more than 300 companies -- from cola to trains, from phones to planes making Virgin a global name. Soon Virgin will reach galactic proportions. In 2009 Richard Branson hopes to take tourists into space. CNN's Todd Benjamin caught up with the billionaire in London and asked what drives him to create such a diverse enterprise. Branson: What drives me to create a lot of different businesses is simply a feeling that we can, most likely, do it better than other people in particular areas. We won't create a business if somebody else is doing it really well, the only time we'll create one is if it's not being done well. Benjamin: How would you describe your own personality? Branson: I love people, I love to learn. I never went to university so I see my life as one long university education I never had. I'm very inquisitive, hence the fact we've gone to 350 different businesses, which is quite unusual for a western company. Benjamin: You run your companies as a series of independent companies. What do you look for in your key lieutenants? Branson: Number one, the Virgin brand is absolutely paramount, they must do nothing to damage the reputation of the brand. And the second thing is to look after their team of people. Benjamin: Your headmaster when you left high school said to you ''Branson, congratulations, I predict you'll either go to prison or become a millionaire.'' What was it in your character that you think made him make that observation? Branson: Well I suspect the fact that at age 13 I'm writing him letters on how he could organize the catering better and how the school could save money, and if they save money they could then put it into better facilities for the students. And I managed to persuade him to give me a study to start my magazine and it was only when he actually finally came to me and said "Look, you're either going to have to do your school work or your magazine," that I said "Well, goodbye. I'm off to do the magazine, but thanks very much." Benjamin: In your autobiography you write about being four-years-old and your mother stops the car and makes you get out and what does she make you do? Branson: We were on the way to my grandmother's house in Devon, and I think about three miles before we got there she made me get out and told me to find my own way to my grandmother's house. Basically, her approach was to try and get us to stand on our own two feet and she went to extreme measures sometimes to do so. Benjamin: Without your persona do you think the Virgin brand could have ever become what it became? Branson: I think the particular Virgin brand perhaps needed me, in the past, to get out there and be adventurous, and therefore to give the brand an adventurous feeling; take on the big guys, which we did, and beat the big guys and that's what's created the Virgin brand. I think now if my balloon pops, or the space ship just continues to go into space, or whatever, I think the brand is strong enough to withstand all that and it'll continue to grow. E-mail to a friend | [
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] | Richard Branson, founder of Virgin, talks to CNN's Todd Benjamin .
Branson left school at 16 to work on a magazine he had set up .
He is now responsible for over 300 businesses under the Virgin brand . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- London commuters crammed onto buses, scrambled for taxis, cycled or simply walked on Wednesday as a strike by Tube workers shut down most of the subway network. Commuters queue for packed buses in London on Wednesday morning. The strike began Tuesday at 7 p.m. (2 p.m. ET) but the first full effects were felt during Wednesday's morning commute. The strike was set to last for 48 hours with a normal service resuming Friday morning, according to Transport for London (TfL), which runs the city's transportation network. The RMT trade union called the strike after talks with management over pay, job cuts, and disciplinary issues broke down. "RMT doesn't resort to industrial action lightly," General Secretary Bob Crow said in a statement. "The fact is that Tube workers have been driven into walking out today." Transport Commissioner Peter Hardy said the talks had been making progress on all issues and he urged the RMT to return to the table. "The RMT leadership says we were close to a deal," Hardy said in a statement. "If that is the case, then they should call off the strike, return to talks ... and resolve this issue without any more disruption to Londoners." TfL was running extra buses and free shuttle services across the River Thames during the strike. Electronic travel cards used for the TfL network were temporarily being allowed on all train lines in greater London, it said. While most services on the Tube were shut because of the strike, one line -- the Northern line -- was running normally and five others were running on a reduced schedule, TfL said. "It's been really good," a girl on Oxford Street told CNN about her commute. "The Northern line is running perfectly." Still, some bus services were packed with commuters who normally ride the underground trains or who failed to find a taxi. "I think we'd all like to strike for more money, but unfortunately we can't," said one woman at Oxford Circus, where the Tube is closed. Others hit the pavement and walked. "It's OK -- quite refreshing," said a man on Regent Street. He said he had just walked from Liverpool Street Station, a train station as well as a Tube stop that is more than 2.5 miles away. The RMT represents about half of the 20,000 employees on the Tube, a TfL spokeswoman said. Other unions including Unite and TSSA represent the rest, she said, and were not on strike. | [
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] | London transport system crippled as Tube workers go on strike .
Normal service not due to resume until Friday morning .
Buses crammed with commuters; many chose to cycle, walk to work .
RMT trade union called strike in dispute over pay, job cuts, disciplinary issues . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- London police have arrested a man in connection with a brazen daylight robbery of a jewelry store last week, they announced Wednesday. Security camera footage shows images of the men wanted by police. The 50-year-old man was arrested on Monday, police revealed. Some $65 million in merchandise was stolen in the August 6 robbery. On Tuesday police released surveillance camera photos of two men sought for questioning over the heist as well as images of some of the rings, bracelets, necklaces and watches taken from Graff Jewellers on central London's New Bond Street. A total of 43 items were taken, with a value of about £40 million, or about $65 million, Scotland Yard said. The heist occurred August 6, when two men walked into the jewelry store at about 4:40 p.m. and threatened employees with handguns. As the robbers were leaving the store, they brought a female worker outside with them before leaving in a blue BMW, Scotland Yard said. A shot was fired outside the store, but no one was injured. The men abandoned the BMW nearby, firing a second shot into the ground, Scotland Yard said. Police believe they switched to a silver Mercedes, then later to a black vehicle, possibly a Ford or Volkswagen. "This was a well-planned robbery with a number of vehicles used to help the robbers escape," Detective Chief Inspector Pam Mace said in the statement. "These men are extremely dangerous and fired at least two shots in busy London streets as they made their getaway. Watch how robbers rip off London jewelers » "Someone knows who these men are," she said. "They would undoubtedly have spoken about (the robbery) before or boasted about it afterwards. I would urge anyone who recognizes them, knows the whereabouts of the jewelry or has any other information to contact us." The images show the two men dressed in suits and ties. One man is white, about 30, police said. The second is a black man believed to be in his 30s with short hair. Both men are thought to have spoken with London accents, Scotland Yard said. The robbery is the latest in a spate of daytime thefts at jewelry stores and designer shops in London's exclusive shopping areas of Bond Street, which includes New Bond Street. Groups of men or teenagers typically stage "smash and grab" robberies, in which they break the windows and steal anything they can get their hands on before speeding away in waiting cars or motorbikes. A CNN camera crew filming in March on Oxford Street, near Bond Street, caught a group of thieves speeding away on motorbikes from a jewelry store they had just robbed. The thieves choose to strike during the day when a store's security system is typically disarmed, even though the store and sidewalk may be crowded with people. | [
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] | London police arrest man in connection with brazen daylight robbery of jewelry store .
43 items were taken, with a value of about £40 million, or about $65 million .
Police released surveillance images of two men wanted for questioning Tuesday . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- London's newest hotelier Mark Fuller is showing commendable bravado for someone about to open a luxury hotel during a global recession. Entrepreneur Mark Fuller in the Sanctum Soho hotel, a rock'n'roll "haven of hedonism" in London. "F*** the recession, let's get on with it," he says, while sitting on the roof terrace of the Sanctum Soho, a 30-room establishment dubbed the rock'n'roll hotel, as much for its "anything goes" service philosophy as the pedigree of its owners, which include the co-managers of heavy metal band Iron Maiden. "We do not recognize there is a credit crunch because we believe you should battle through it," Fuller says, adding, "If you get panicky and scary about things like this, you're no man at all." Besides, he admits, three years ago when he started working on the concept of an 'alluring haven of hedonism' (as the hotel is described on its Web site), the credit crunch didn't exist. And by the time it hit, it was too late to pull out. "We wouldn't do anyway," Fuller insists, adding "fortune favors the brave, as they say." See images of the rock star hotel » The former band manager turned entrepreneur, is looking quite the rock star tonight, decked head-to-toe in black while a shiny silver skull stares ominously from his belt buckle. Downstairs, staff are frantically preparing for a launch party that promises to be heavy on champagne, cocktails and celebrities. It's almost like the crunch doesn't exist. This is Fuller's world and he's hoping plenty of people will want to join it. "In every downturn in the economic climate I think people look for some affordable glamour and escape," he says. Fuller also owns and runs the Embassy Hotel, an exclusive nightclub in the upmarket London suburb of Mayfair which he plans to franchise in Dubai, Istanbul and Abu Dhabi. The partners in his new hotel venture ooze rock credential: Iron Maiden co-managers Rod Smallwood and Andy Taylor. While Taylor has experience running a restaurant and hotel, "The Inn on the Green," Smallwood's experience in the hotel industry is based on 30 years on the road with Iron Maiden. Last year he stayed in 80 hotels in 40 countries and one of his biggest gripes is returning to his hotel after a gig and finding the bar is closed. "You want good service, and you want the bars open, and you want good food available," he says from the roof terrace equipped with a bar and Jacuzzi he's taken to calling "my lounge." Smallwood expects to stay in the hotel once a week and says it will become a London bolt-hole for the band. While non-music types and the tone-deaf are welcome to stay in the hotel, over-enthusiastic groupies are not. "If you're on the road for three months, you can never escape," Smallwood says. "The fans, some of them, think they have a God-given right, just because they're staying in the same hotel, to put a camera in your face over your cornflakes." "The rule here is no autographs and no photographs," he says firmly. "Say Paul Weller is sitting in the corner having a beer, and you go and ask for an autograph or photograph, you will not stay here again." Along with privacy and a beer at all hours, guests have access to an on-call guitar doctor, a necessity, apparently, if you break a string while strumming in your room. Guests who have inadvertently left their guitar at home can hire one from reception. The rock star concept extends to the room decor. The silver wallpaper and mirrored columns may appear garish in daylight, but at 3 a.m. one suspects they add a touch of glamour. Free standing baths are a bold leap from the bed and the mini | [
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] | Entrepreneur braves recession to open rock'n'roll hotel in London's Soho .
Sanctum Soho offers roof terrace with 24 hour bar, Jacuzzi, guitar doctors .
Rooms sparkle with silver wallpaper, free standing baths and champagne .
Backers include Iron Maiden co-managers Rod Smallwood and Andy Taylor . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- London's subway system was engulfed by thousands of revelers Saturday night, marking the introduction of an alcohol ban on the mass transit network.
Revelers hit London's subway system Saturday night to mark the introduction of an alcohol ban.
Eyewitnesses have described how some drunken partygoers, often dressed in fancy dress, fought, damaged subway trains and vomited.
Authorities were forced to close six stations on the network, including major transportation hubs at Liverpool Street, Baker Street and Euston.
A spokesman for British Transport Police, which patrols the network, said that police had been told of a large "large amount" of disorder and "multiple instances of trains being damaged", causing them to be pulled from service, the UK's Press Association reported, adding: "This was an unfortunate end to what should have been a fun event." There were reports of at least 17 arrests.
Much of the disorder concentrated on the Circle Line, which encircles the center of the city.
Many reports say that the night had begun good-naturedly.
Web programmer, David Mudkips, 25, from east London, told PA that the event was "Like rush hour but fun. There were people's sweaty armpits in my face but I didn't care because I was drinking."
Student Frankie Abbott, 21, also from east London, said earlier in the evening: "It might be fun to do the whole night but I think it's going to get a bit messy. There are guys drinking from funnels already."
Sailor Peter Moore, 35, from Brighton on the southern English coast, told the agency his night was "Drunken, I just downed a can of beer in 10 seconds. It's sweaty on there but I'm going round and round until I vomit."
As the evening progressed the situation deteriorated.
Photographer Desmond Fitzgerald, 48, from south London, told PA that by 11pm at Gloucester Road subway station he was afraid someone might slip onto the tracks due to the amount of spilt alcohol on the platform.
"At first the atmosphere was happy but anarchic, defiant," he said, with people wearing hats and having a good time.
As the journey progressed, more heavily drunk people joined the train, he added.
"Then a fight broke out between about five people, but because we were so tightly packed in it soon spread throughout the carriage and I had to struggle to escape to the next one," he told PA.
"The atmosphere had really changed by this point. People were ripping off adverts and maps and being sick all over the place.
"When it pulled in to Embankment people fell out and carried on fighting on the platform. Thankfully police were there, and they handled it very well."
Many of those gathered had learnt of the party on social networking Web sites, through groups with names such as "Circle Line Party - Last day of drinking on the tube", which had 850-plus members listed by Saturday lunchtime, and "Party/Flashmob on the Underground", with 1,300-plus names listed.
The anti-drinking strategy was introduced by newly elected London mayor Boris Johnson. He said before the party occurred: "I'm determined to improve the safety and security of public transport in London and create a better environment for the millions of Londoners who rely on it. The ban has the full support of the Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police.
"I firmly believe that banning the drinking of alcohol on London's public transport will create a better traveling environment for all Londoners and that if we drive out antisocial behavior and so called minor crime then we will be able to get a firm grip on more serious crime."
But Bob Crow, General Secretary of the Rail Maritime and Transport Union of which many subway staff are members, countered that the ban put workers at greater risk of of attack, reported PA, saying it was "half-baked." | [
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] | Revelers mark alcohol ban on London subway system, cause chaos .
Police say at least 17 arrests, subways stations shut as thousands gather .
Many had learnt of the event through social networking Web sites .
London mayor says he introduced alcohol ban for better traveling environment . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Madonna's planned adoption of a Malawian girl will apparently go forward, despite earlier opposition from the girl's family, a reporter for the ITN television network told CNN Sunday. The pop star arrived in Malawi on Sunday.
Madonna holds her adopted Malawian son, David Banda, in 2007.
"The family, I'm told, were admittedly reluctant to agree to this, but they've softened after learning more about this, the upbringing that Mercy will be given and they think perhaps it is in her best interest," ITN reporter Martin Geisler told CNN.
The girl, who is about 4, is named Mercy James. Her uncle is scheduled to sign adoption agreement papers in a Malawian court on Monday, Geisler said.
Geisler said Malawians' public opinion toward Madonna softened after she was interviewed by the Malawi Nation newspaper and released family photographs showing a happy David Banda -- a Malawian boy she adopted more than two years ago.
"The sense, I'm told, in Malawi after that, was, 'Well, the little boy looks well, he looks happy, he looks well looked after. Perhaps we shouldn't be so hard on her,'" said Geisler.
A British children's charity earlier asked the pop star to reconsider her reported plans to adopt a girl from the country.
Save the Children spokesman Dominic Nutt said the child would be better off staying in Malawi than being raised by the recently divorced singer, who has three other children, including the adopted Malawian boy.
"The best place for a child is in his or her family in their home community," he said. "Most children in orphanages have one parent still living, or have an extended family that can care for them in the absence of their parents."
Critics of the singer had argued she should donate money to orphanages in Malawi, rather than adopt another child.
The charity argued that foreign adoptions should happen only if a child does not have any relatives, and all other options have been considered.
The 50-year-old performer is a big supporter of Malawi. She made a documentary, "I Am Because We Are," which highlighted poverty and AIDS and other diseases devastating Malawi's children. She also helps run a nonprofit group, Raising Malawi, which implements initiatives to help the needy in the southeastern Africa nation.
On Sunday, Madonna toured the village of Chinkhota, assessing plans to build a school there and other possible Raising Malawi investments.
CNN's Nesta Distin contributed to this report. | [
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] | The superstar arrived in Malawi on Sunday .
She reportedly wants to adopt a young girl named Mercy James .
The child's family has reportedly consented to the adoption .
Save the Children spokesman says Madonna should reconsider the move . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Masks beneath masks, the click-clack of Mahjong tiles and the sheen of silk cheongsams: Taiwanese director Ang Lee ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"; "Brokeback Mountain") brings an intoxicating tale of lies, deceit and corruption to the screen with his latest film, "Lust, Caution". Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Tang Wei star in Ang Lee's latest film, "Lust, Caution" Japanese-occupied Shanghai, 1942. Mrs Mak, an impeccably coiffed Chinese lady, makes a telephone call from a cafe, then sits and waits. Cue a flashback to 1938, where her story begins. Mrs Mak is not the sophisticate she appears -- just a few years earlier, she was shy drama student Wong Chia Chi. Ang Lee's adaptation of Eileen Chang's short story tells the tale of a girl caught up in the winds of change of World War II. The fast-paced erotic thriller tracks Wong Chia Chi's transformation from bookish student to collaborator bait. The film has already received wide acclaim, winning Lee his second Golden Lion at Venice with a Golden Globe nomination for Best Foreign Language Film already in the bag. "Lust, Caution" cleaned up at Taiwan's Golden Horse awards, scooping seven trophies including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, which went to Tony Leung Chiu Wai, and Best Newcomer, for Wei Tang. Wei Tang plays Wong Chia Chi, a student in Hong Kong whose fate is set when she meets Kuang Yu Min (Lee-hom Wang), a handsome fellow student who wants to use drama to provoke his compatriots to rebel against the Japanese. As Kuang's leading lady, Wong Chia Chi blossoms, but when Kuang urges his fellow players to move from inspiration to action, she finds herself at the center of a plot to ensnare and murder Japanese collaborator Mr Yee (Tony Leung Chiu Wai). Dressed in cheongsams and primped and curled to perfection, Wong Chia Chi sets out on the biggest role of her life. As Mrs Mak, she gains Lee's trust through his wife, and the plot progresses as planned until an unexpectedly fatal twist spurs her to flee. Cut to Shanghai three years later: Wong Chia Chi is caught in a listless existence when Kuang unexpectedly re-enters her life. He lures her back into the unfinished sting operation, and before long she and Mr Lee, now head of the collaborationist secret service, are engaged in a torrid affair that pushes her soul and her loyalty to the limit. Newcomer Wei Tang gives a startlingly assured and subtle performance. At times, she seems to mirror Wong Chia Chi's transformation into Mrs Mak from dowdy student to rouged mistress, but she rises to the challenge and ably carries the film on her slender shoulders. As she is thrust into the spotlight by Kuang, stripped mechanically of her virginity in readiness for her role as temptress, and placed alongside Mr Lee, Wei Tang, with serene stillness, lets Wong Chia Chi be swept along to her final destiny. Every diamond demands the right setting to sparkle, and Tony Leung Chiu Wai's generous performance as the enigmatic Mr Lee lets his co-star shine. Leung is pitch-perfect, and shows his quality as he lets Lee's beautifully impassive mask shift and slip, revealing a tightly-wound coil of repressed emotion beneath. Leung is remarkable: a highly skilled actor capable of expressing a world of emotion in the smallest muscle movement. The audience is left to imagine the horrors he unleashes during his interrogations of Chinese resistance fighters. The already-infamous sex scenes can appear a little clumsy and contorted at times, less intimate than acrobatic; it's when Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Wei Tang sit in silence that they most project how intimate and electric their connection really is. The lead characters are ably supported by a stirling cast, most notably a splendidly nuanced performance from Joan Chen as Mrs Lee, forced to turn a blind eye to her husband's affairs, both in business and of the heart, while Asian pop superstar Wang Leehom gives a convincing and | [
"Who is the newcomer?",
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[
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[
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] | Ang Lee's latest film, "Lust, Caution" is a film-noir spy tale set in Shanghai .
"Lust, Caution" is the follow-up to 2005's Oscar-winning "Brokeback Mountain"
Asian cinema icon Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and newcomer Wei Tang star .
Too perfect in parts, with OTT sex scenes, the film is still a killer thriller . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Mega-rich Middle Eastern investors are the latest wave of businessmen being linked with some of the biggest clubs in English soccer.
Sulaiman Al Fahim eyes Chelsea, while Liverpool's fans also see a change of ownership looming.
They follow an influx of 'foreign' owners led by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich at Chelsea, and Americans at Manchester United and Liverpool.
Sheikh Mansour, a member of the oil-rich Abu Dhabi royal family, has transformed the financial fortunes of Manchester City -- a team long in the shadow of its more successful neighbor United -- since buying the club last summer.
He bought Brazilian Robinho for a record £32.5 million ($45 million) at the start of the season, has spent millions more on players in the January 2009 transfer window and had a bid to sign Kaka, a former World Player of the Year, for a record-busting £100 million ($138 million) fail.
At the weekend British newspapers suggested that two of the Premier League's "Big Four" are attracting the attention of wealthy Gulf investors.
Not for the first time, the Kuwaiti Al Kharafi family was linked with Liverpool FC, currently owned by Americans Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
Meanwhile, Dr Sulaiman Al Fahim, an Emirates property mogul and TV personality, is fronting an audacious bid to buy a controlling interest in Chelsea from Abramovich.
Jassim al Kharafi has shot down speculation that his family is interested in buying Liverpool.
The Kharafis, who made much of their estimated $9.7 billion fortune in construction and fast-food interests, have been in talks with Liverpool before.
They considered a bid last year after the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, abandoned his efforts to buy the club.
But that may not be the end of the story. Some analysts think potential suitors are biding their time, as Liverpool's current American owners approach the deadline for refinancing their takeover of the club. That would mean renegotiating the terms of a whopping £350 million ($550 million) loan by July.
Most analysts think it highly unlikely in the current economic climate that the banks will want to refinance the loan. So if the Kharafi family denies interest in the club, that may be an act of brinkmanship to drive down the price as the July deadline looms.
Dr Sulaiman Al Fahim, on the other hand, has already successfully overseen one takeover.
He came to the public's attentions after fronting the Abu Dhabi United Group's bid for Manchester City, only to be removed when he made several audacious claims concerning City's future transfer policy.
Now he's back, fronting a collection of investors who want to get their hands on Chelsea FC.
"It's not entirely clear if Chelsea is for sale, but regardless of that, we first need to see if we are in a position to buy it," Al Fahim told Arabian Business.com. "Given that Roman Abramovich has invested over £500 million ($694 million) into the club, it would not be cheap...but through a number of investors, there is money available to put together a deal."
The moves highlight just how important money from the region has become. Manchester City has already smashed the British transfer record after signing Robinho and paid what many think are generous fees for other players during a slow transfer window.
Middle Eastern investors have been offered the chance to buy anyone from Newcastle United, who are enduring a poor season in the Premiership, to Charlton Athletic, struggling in the second tier of English football.
Companies based in the Gulf have been involved in huge sponsorship deals, like the Dubai-owned Emirates Airline who gave Arsenal £100 million for naming rights for their stadium.
Not everyone is happy however. UEFA president Michael Platini has criticized the influx of foreign owners into the Barclays Premier League, claiming that clubs are losing touch with their roots as a result.
"Do you want in Liverpool an Arab sheikh as president with one Brazilian coach and nine or eleven African players?" Platini | [
"Who looks to buy Liverpool and Chelsea?",
"what did the region do",
"Who wants to buy a Premier League club?",
"Who is Platini?"
] | [
[
"Middle Eastern investors"
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[
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[
"wealthy Gulf investors."
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] | Two new Arab investors look to buy Liverpool and Chelsea .
They're the latest businessmen to look at buying a Premier League club .
The region has pumped millions of dollars into the game in recent years .
UEFA boss Platini is wary of foreign owners. What do you think? Have your say . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Michael Jackson fans who purchased tickets for his final concerts will receive a full refund or, if they chose, a commemorative ticket, the concert promoter said Tuesday. A fan shows off the first ticket bought at the O2 Centre in London for one of Michael Jackson's concerts. "The world lost a kind soul who just happened to be the greatest entertainer the world has ever known," said Randy Phillips, president and chief executive officer of AEG Live. "Since he loved his fans in life, it is incumbent upon us to treat them with the same reverence and respect after his death." Fifty sold-out Jackson concerts were scheduled for the O2 Arena in London, starting July 13, with admission costing at least $105. The shows were billed as the final concerts of his career and were called "This Is It." Tell us what you think -- would you take the ticket or the refund? Fans who decide they would rather have a souvenir will receive a ticket conceived by Jackson. There are eight designs that include holographic images of the entertainer on the front. Images of the tickets will be available on michaeljacksonlive.com in coming days, according to the promoter. Refunds will be processed by the issuing ticketing agencies -- See, Ticketline, Ticketmaster and Viagogo. Billboard magazine has estimated that $85 million in tickets were sold for the concert series. Additional packages, merchandise and secondary market sales could have raised the total to $115 million. AEG Live declined to comment on the figures. Jackson was expected to earn $50 million from the London shows. He died Thursday in California after his doctor found him in bed not breathing, but with a slight pulse. Efforts to revive the 50-year-old singer failed and he was pronounced dead at a Los Angeles medical center. | [
"How much was Jackson expected to earn from the London shows?",
"How many London shows were sold out?",
"How many Jackson concerts were scheduled to start?",
"When was the sold-out concerts scheduled to start?",
"What will they get if they choose a souvenier?",
"Where was the tour scheduled to start?"
] | [
[
"$50 million"
],
[
"Fifty"
],
[
"Fifty"
],
[
"July 13,"
],
[
"full refund"
],
[
"the O2 Arena in London,"
]
] | "This Is It" ticket holders who choose a souvenir will get tickets conceived by Jackson .
Fifty sold-out Jackson concerts were scheduled to start July 13 in London .
Jackson was expected to earn $50 million from the London shows . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Michael Jackson had a level of hero worship on a par with Elvis Presley or the Beatles but he was the first black star to inspire such a massive following around the world. Michael Jackson, the ultimate showman, craved attention and was rarely disappointed. Total worldwide sales of more than 350 million records over his 40-year career give just a hint of the adoration there was for the "King of Pop." The fact that his death came on the eve of a comeback tour in London will leave his devotees feeling even more bereft. While his career -- and wealth -- had waned greatly in recent years, there was still enough support for the concerts to sell out at a rate of nearly 40,000 an hour. Fans from as far afield as Japan, Germany and Dubai queued to buy their tickets. Steve Greenberg, founder and CEO of S-Curve Records, was a disc jockey in Tel Aviv, Israel, when "Thriller" first dropped and witnessed first-hand how Jackson became an international icon. His was a global appeal, Greenberg said, among fans and artists worldwide. "He was as big in the Middle East and Southeast Asia as he was in America and Europe," Greenberg said. "He had that universality that not many people had. The Beatles had it, Muhammad Ali had it, but not many other people have had it." Jackson was known for far more than his music though. Speaking after his death in Los Angeles was announced, U.S. civil rights campaigner Rev. Al Sharpton paid tribute to the work of a "trailblazer" in helping people around the world through his charities. How will you remember Michael Jackson? Sharpton added that the song Jackson co-wrote with Lionel Richie, "We Are the World," a 1985 charity single that raised an estimated $50 million for famine relief in Africa, ushered in Live Aid and the era of celebrity philanthropy. Jackson was the supreme showman who had an unrivalled knack of grabbing headlines. From his precocious abilities as the 11-year-old singer in the Jackson 5 to his legendary "moon-walk" dance, the star craved attention, and was rarely disappointed. Jackson "as big as it gets" » But in the years after his colossal 1982 hit album "Thriller" and its 1987 follow-up "Bad," much of the focus did not cast him in a good light. In 1996 the lead singer of Pulp, Jarvis Cocker, caused a furor at the Brit Awards in London when he invaded the stage during Jackson's performance of "Earth Song" in protest "at the way Michael Jackson sees himself as some kind of Christ-like figure with the power of healing." Jackson failed to see the humor in Cocker's mockery, responding that he was "sickened, saddened, shocked, upset, cheated, angry" by the protest. He also alleged that Cocker had attacked children on stage, something that the Pulp singer denied. But many in the music industry backed Cocker, who was arrested but later released without charge. The theme of children was one that continued to haunt Jackson. In 2002 he caused a public outcry by dangling his baby son Prince Michael II from a third-floor hotel balcony in Germany before the world's press. He later said he regretted the incident. Watch video of the incident » And in a 2003 interview with British journalist Martin Bashir that was supposed to repair his image around the world, the singer revived allegations of child abuse when he said of sharing a bed with a young boy: "It's a beautiful thing. It's very right, it's very loving. Because what's wrong with sharing a love?" A warrant was issued for his arrest on charges of sexually molesting 12-year-old Gavin Arvizo. Jackson surrendered himself to police amid a media furor. In the 2005 trial conducted in the glare of the world's media spotlight, Jackson was cleared of child molestation charges. Following the trial, Jackson's finances took a hit and he was forced to | [
"Who was adored?",
"Where were Michael's fans from?",
"What did total sales exceed?",
"How long was Michael Jackson's career?",
"How much did he make in sales?",
"How many records has Michael Jackson sold?",
"Where do Michael Jackson's fans come from?",
"How many records did he sell over his career?",
"Who paid tribute to his charity work?",
"What type of records did he produce?",
"How long was Michael Jackson's career?",
"Who is Rev. Al Sharpton?"
] | [
[
"Michael Jackson,"
],
[
"Japan, Germany and Dubai"
],
[
"more than 350 million"
],
[
"40-year"
],
[
"more than 350 million records"
],
[
"more than 350 million"
],
[
"Japan, Germany and Dubai"
],
[
"350 million"
],
[
"Rev. Al Sharpton"
],
[
"Pop.\""
],
[
"40-year"
],
[
"U.S. civil rights campaigner"
]
] | Michael Jackson was adored by fans around the world .
Total sales exceeding 700 million records over his 40-year career .
U.S. civil rights campaigner Rev. Al Sharpton paid tribute to his charity work . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- More than 100 Romanians fled their homes Tuesday night in Belfast, Northern Ireland, following what politicians called "racist attacks and intimidation." A Romanian woman and her child are escorted by police in Belfast on Wednesday. "On Tuesday evening, when the Romanians saw their windows starting to be smashed, they felt the threats were very real and contacted the police," said Trish Morgan, the media relations manager at the Belfast City Church, which took them in. A church member was advised by the police that "the situation was getting too tense," and that the group -- 113 people in all -- needed to find a safe place that could accommodate them quickly. The member contacted the church, and that's where they went, Morgan said. The Romanians were "quite scared" upon arrival at the church but "relieved to be out of the situation," she added. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown Wednesday condemned what one member of Parliament called "appalling racist attacks," and said he hoped the authorities would be able to "take all the action necessary to protect them." Martin McGuinness, the deputy first minister of Northern Ireland -- a province of the United Kingdom -- visited the families on Wednesday, his party Sinn Fein announced. "People are shocked and completely disgusted by this incident," he said in a statement "I came here this morning to show very clearly my commitment to facing up to any form of intimidation in our community, no matter where it may come from. "I met with numerous families who are genuinely fearful for their lives and those of their families; I held a five-day-old baby girl in my arms today. She was born in Belfast and now forced to leave her home as a result of attacks by racist, criminal thugs," McGuinness said. He was speaking at the O-Zone leisure center, where the families have moved because the space is larger than the church. Race-hate crime in south Belfast has increased in the past six months, Sinn Fein equality and human rights expert Vincent Parker said. The incident came only a day after violence broke out at an anti-racism rally in support of Romanians in Belfast. Belfast Lord Mayor Naomi Long called Monday's scuffles "totally unacceptable." "A small minority of people have sadly taken away from an event which had been organized by the local community to show solidarity for their Romanian neighbors, and to express their abhorrence at their homes being subjected to racist attacks," she said Tuesday. CNN's Eve Bower contributed to this report. | [
"Who condemn politicians?",
"Who condemned racist attacks and intimidation?",
"Who condemned the attacks?",
"What does UK PM Brown encourage?",
"how many Romanians flee?",
"Who fled their homes?",
"Who sheltered the Romanians?",
"Who was sheltered by a local church?"
] | [
[
"British Prime Minister Gordon Brown"
],
[
"British Prime Minister Gordon Brown"
],
[
"British Prime Minister Gordon Brown"
],
[
"\"take all the action necessary to protect them.\""
],
[
"More than 100"
],
[
"More than 100 Romanians"
],
[
"Belfast City Church,"
],
[
"100 Romanians"
]
] | 113 Romanians flee homes in Belfast after windows smashed .
Romanians were sheltered by local church, later moved to leisure center .
Northern Irish politicians condemn "racist attacks and intimidation"
UK PM Brown urges authorities to "take all action necessary to protect them" |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- More than 150 people have abandoned a sinking cruise liner that collided with an iceberg in Antarctic waters, a Chilean navy captain told CNN. The ship sent out a distress call at around 10 p.m. ET Thursday. Passenger ship Explorer reported problems near the South Shetland Islands, south of Argentina. The area is in a sector of Antarctica claimed by the United Kingdom. Capt. Carlos Munita of the Chilean navy said they received a distress call from the Explorer, saying the vessel had hit an iceberg around 10 p.m. ET Thursday. He added a Norwegian rescue ship had arrived at the scene. Tour companies describe the Explorer as a passenger ship which runs tours between South America and Antarctica. Some 154 people are reported to be on board ship, which carries a Liberian flag, including 100 passengers. However the nationalities of those on board is not yet known. Passengers and crew have been evacuated onto lifeboats, but the captain and the first officer are reported to have stayed on board. "The great majority of people, including all the passengers, have been safely taken off the Explorer and are now being recovered by the first of the vessels to arrive on scene in response to the distress call," Dave Jardine-Smith, head of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's (MCA) search and rescue team in England said. "The passengers and crew from the Explorer have not been in lifeboats very long," Jardine-Smith said. "They should be, hopefully, in good condition. We are told that there are no injuries." Earlier, Mark Clark, a spokesman for the MCA told the Press Association five ships were on their way to help the sinking vessel. "She hit something and is taking on a serious amount of water, that is all we know." The temperature in the area is said to be at around minus 5C, with a sea temperature at around minus 1C, forecasters told the Press Association. Stephen Davenport, senior forecaster with MeteoGroup, said:"It wouldn't take long for hypothermia to set in at that kind of temperature in the sea. "They do get very bad storms down that way, and gale force winds especially, because there is no land in the way," he told PA. Lt. Matt Alex from the US Coast Guard Atlantic Area command center said the boat is owned by Gap Adventures, based in Toronto, Canada. E-mail to a friend | [
"what is the number of passengers evacuated?",
"what is the count of passengers evacuated from ship?",
"What was the ship's name?",
"Who remained on board the ship?",
"What number of passengers were evacuated from the ship?",
"who remain on board during the sink?",
"what was the amount o passengers that passengers evacuated from a ship after it struck object in Antarctic waters?",
"what is the name of the ship?",
"who remain on board?",
"Who remained on board?"
] | [
[
"More than 150"
],
[
"More than 150"
],
[
"Explorer"
],
[
"154 people"
],
[
"More than 150"
],
[
"captain and the first"
],
[
"More than 150"
],
[
"Explorer"
],
[
"captain and the first"
],
[
"the captain and the first"
]
] | 150 passengers evacuated from a ship after it struck object in Antarctic waters .
Ship, named Explorer, was expected to sink, British coastguards said .
Passengers in lifeboats, captain and first officer remain on board . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- More than six hundred workers at Total's Lindsey oil refinery in Northern England have been told they no longer have jobs after staging what the company calls an "unofficial, illegal walk out." Protesters gathered outside Total's Lindsey oil refinery on Friday, June 19, after hundreds of striking workers were sacked. The steel workers started striking last Thursday after one contractor axed 51 jobs while another employer on the same site was recruiting. Protesters gathered outside Total's Lindsey oil refinery Friday with placards calling for solidarity from fellow workers. The dispute has prompted a number of wildcat strikes at power stations and oil refineries around the United Kingdom. The workers' union GMB, which represents around half of the sacked workers, estimates that, as of late yesterday, up to 4,000 other workers at four power stations and three oil refineries had walked off the job in sympathy. Early this afternoon, Total confirmed that negotiations had started between the workers' employers and ACAS, the British Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. Earlier, in a statement posted on its Web site, Total announced that its contractors had started the process of ending employment contracts for 647 workers on the HDS-3 construction project. The statement said the project has been temporarily shut down and that all employees had until 5pm on Monday to reapply for their jobs. Phil Davies, national secretary and head of the manufacturing section at the GMB Union, told CNN the invitation to a job interview would only stoke workers' anger. "I think that would just humiliate people to be quite honest and it will put their backs up and make them more determined to win it," he said. He said union representatives were in the process of gathering information to hold an official industrial ballot, a process that could take six weeks. The British Press Association published one sacked Lindsey worker's appeal for support from fellow union members: "We are asking for support from workers across the country which I am sure will be given. Total will soon realize they have unleashed a monster." Workers at the Lindsey oil refinery walked off the job for more than one week in early February to protest against the hiring of hundreds of foreign workers. They returned to work after the unions and the company gave assurances that half the jobs would go to British workers. | [
"What is the ACAS?",
"Who is in negotiations?",
"how many refineries on strike",
"What do the striking workers have to do",
"What caused the axing?",
"When did the dispute start?",
"how many workers were axed",
"What were striking workers told to do?",
"Is the strike over?"
] | [
[
"British Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service."
],
[
"workers' employers and ACAS,"
],
[
"three"
],
[
"reapply for their jobs."
],
[
"\"unofficial, illegal walk out.\""
],
[
"Friday, June 19,"
],
[
"More than six hundred"
],
[
"they no longer have jobs"
],
[
"They returned to work"
]
] | NEW: Total says the workers' employers and ACAS are in negotiations .
Hundreds of striking workers at Total oil refinery told to reapply for their jobs .
Dispute started after 51 workers were axed, while another company was hiring .
Strike prompted walk outs at four power stations, three refineries in the UK . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Move over Susan Boyle. A week after the Scottish woman became a global sensation following a barnstorming audition on "Britain's Got Talent," a 12-year-old Welsh boy with a Motown voice has been hailed for his "life-changing" performance on the TV show after earning a standing ovation from Simon Cowell. Jafargholi impressed the "Britain's Got Talent" judges with a rendition of "Who's Loving You." Shaheen Jafargholi's prospects looked bleak when the infamously hard to impress Cowell brought the audition to an abrupt halt just one verse into his rendition of "Valerie," the Zutons' song covered by Amy Winehouse. "You've got this really wrong," Cowell told him. "What do you sing apart from that?" Jafargholi instead offered to perform "Who's Loving You," written by Smokey Robinson and performed by a young Michael Jackson with the Jackson Five, bringing screams of delight from the audience as he launched into a note-perfect rendition that brought a beaming Cowell and fellow judges Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden to their feet. "This is how one song can change your life," Cowell told him. "This may be the start of something special for you young man." Watch Shaheen Jafargholi perform on "Britain's Got Talent" » Writing in his blog for the show, Morgan said Jafargholi had been the stand-out act of the show and tipped him as a possible challenger to Boyle for the TV talent show's £100,000 ($146,000) prize. "Once Simon got him to sing the right kind of song for his voice, he was sensational. Like a young Stevie Wonder," Morgan said. In an interview for the show, Jafargholi said he had been singing since he was two years old. "When I was a bit older my mum got me some singing lessons and my voice just got bigger and bigger," he said. "Hopefully this is going to be my big break." Last week's performance by Boyle, the 47-year-old with a Broadway voice who claimed to have never been kissed, brought the show global attention, with her version of the Les Miserables' tune "I Dreamed a Dream" gaining more than 32 million hits on YouTube as well as earning her a string of U.S. media appearances, including on CNN's Larry King Live. Jafargholi has some way to go to match Boyle's success. By Monday morning a YouTube link to his performance had been watched just 330,000 times. Who do you prefer? Susan Boyle or Shaheen Jafargholi? Sound Off below | [
"Who earned standing ovation from Simon Cowell?",
"Who gave Shaheen a standing ovation?",
"What type of voice does he has?",
"Who shined on \"Britain's Got Talent\" with Motown voice?",
"Whose performance has made show become a global hit?",
"-old Welsh boy shines on \"Britain",
"What did Cowell tell him to do?",
"Who gave the standing ovation?",
"Who earned a standing ovation?",
"Who was in Britain's got talent?",
"What type of voice has the boy?"
] | [
[
"Shaheen Jafargholi's"
],
[
"Simon Cowell."
],
[
"Motown"
],
[
"Shaheen Jafargholi's"
],
[
"Susan Boyle."
],
[
"Got Talent,\""
],
[
"sing the right kind of song for his voice,"
],
[
"Simon Cowell."
],
[
"12-year-old Welsh boy"
],
[
"Shaheen Jafargholi's"
],
[
"Motown"
]
] | 12-year-old Welsh boy shines on "Britain's Got Talent" with Motown voice .
Shaheen Jafargholi earned standing ovation from judge Simon Cowell .
Cowell had earlier halted Jafargholi's audition and got him to change songs .
Show has become a global hit following Susan Boyle's performance last week . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- New data released Thursday suggests that the Arctic Ocean will be "largely ice free" during summer within a decade. As the Arctic sea ice melts, polar bears face extinction. The report, complied by the UK-based Catlin Arctic Survey and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), is the latest research into ice thickness in the Arctic. Researchers predict that within 20 years ice cover will be completely gone during the warmer months. The expedition, which was completed in May, was led by UK explorer Pen Hadow. He and his team collected data by manually drilling into the ice and noting its thickness along a 450-kilometer route across the northern part of the Beaufort Sea. They found that the area surveyed was comprised almost exclusively of first year ice. Scientists think this is significant because traditionally the region has been made up of much older, thicker ice. "Discovering this area of younger ice provides another body of information that supports the rapidly emerging scientific consensus that it's going to be nearer 10 years from now that we will see roughly 80-85 percent free waters in the Arctic Ocean," Hadow told CNN. Measurements taken by Hadow and his team report that the ice-floes were on average 1.8 meters thick -- which, according to scientists, is too thin to survive next summer's ice melt. Professor Peter Wadhams, head of the Polar Ocean Physics Group at the UK's University of Cambridge said: "With a large part of the region now first year ice, it is clearly more vulnerable. The area is now more likely to become open water each summer, bringing forward the potential date when the summer sea ice will be completely gone." Professor Wadhams, who has analyzed the expedition data, added: "The Catlin Arctic Survey data supports the new consensus view that the Arctic will be ice-free in summer within about 20 years, and much of that decrease will be happening within 10 years." Click here to see pictures of the expedition » Martin Sommerkorn from the WWF International Arctic Program believes that the changes in sea-ice cover in the region are likely to increase global temperatures further. "Such a loss of Arctic sea ice has recently been assessed to set in motion powerful climate feedbacks which will have an impact far beyond the Arctic itself," Sommerkorn said. "Arctic sea ice holds a central position in our Earth's climate system. Take it out of the equation and we are left with a dramatically warmer world," he added. Hadow fears that the current climate models developed by scientists may not be extreme enough. But he is hopeful that this new data will spur world leaders into action. "We are now in a loss period," Hadow told CNN. "Maybe losing this sea ice, this roof on the top of our planet in going to be an important moment, a big visual aid to the science that in combination can bring about some sort of global agreement on emissions." | [
"What did the measurements show?",
"What do scientists warn of?",
"What did the survey capture?",
"what is going to disappear?",
"where was the survey captured?"
] | [
[
"ice-floes were on average 1.8 meters thick"
],
[
"ice free\" during summer within a decade."
],
[
"the Arctic will be ice-free in summer within about 20 years, and much of that decrease will be happening within 10 years.\""
],
[
"Arctic sea ice"
],
[
"the Arctic."
]
] | New report says Arctic sea ice will largely disappear in summer within a decade .
Survey captured latest data on ice thickness in Northern part of Beaufort Sea .
Measurements show the ice-floes surveyed were on average 1.8 meters thick .
Scientists warn that Arctic ice melt is likely to set off "powerful climate feedbacks" |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Nine of the 11 Pakistani nationals being held in an alleged terror plot in northern England were released Tuesday, according to police. Police officers guard a house in Manchester, England, following raids and arrests of terror suspects. The arrests were made the week before Easter and came quickly after Britain's chief terrorism officer, who has since resigned, exposed a list of people who were suspected of planning an al Qaeda-linked attack. Britain's Greater Manchester Police said the men were released into the custody of the U.K.'s border agency, which will determine whether they can legally remain in England. Police and the border agency said they want the men deported, even though investigators apparently were unable to find enough evidence to charge them with crimes. "We are seeking to remove these individuals on grounds of national security. The government's highest priority is to protect public safety," said a statement from the agency. "Where a foreign national poses a threat to this country, we will seek to exclude or to deport, where this is appropriate." Twelve people originally were arrested April 8, and one had been released before Tuesday. Two people remained in custody, authorities said. Police said that at the time of the arrests, their investigation compelled them to take action, even without the blunder made by Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick. The document he was carrying when photographed outside 10 Downing Street contained the names of those to be arrested, and a source said photographers were able to easily read the names when they enlarged the photographs. Once the word was out, police rushed to make the arrests. Authorities said those actions would have been taken in the following 24 hours anyway. The men -- ranging in age from 18 to 22 -- were arrested in Manchester, about 200 miles northwest of London. They had been held for 13 days without being charged. Police will need to seek an extension by Wednesday to be able to continue holding the two remaining suspects without charges. Police say they are continuing to review evidence collected in the case and are searching at least one more house CNN's Paula Newton in London contributed to this report. | [
"Who do they want deported?",
"what did they do?",
"On what grounds does the agency want men removed?",
"Who wants men deported?",
"What did the Agency say?",
"Where was the terror plot?"
] | [
[
"Nine of the 11 Pakistani nationals being held in an alleged terror plot in"
],
[
"suspected of planning an al Qaeda-linked attack."
],
[
"national security."
],
[
"Police and the border agency"
],
[
"\"We are seeking to remove these individuals on grounds of national security. The government's highest priority is to protect public safety,\""
],
[
"northern England"
]
] | Border officials want men deported despite lack of evidence to charge them .
Agency: We want to remove men "on grounds of national security"
Men had been held in association with alleged terror plot in northern England .
Widespread arrests made after police official photographed with name of suspects . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Nothing says true love like releasing a caged butterfly, don't you think? Wayne Rooney and Coleen McLoughlin are to be paid $5 million for the picture rights to their wedding. The butterflies are reported to be the piece-de-resistance of England's most anticipated celebrity wedding of the year. Wayne Rooney, the best English footballer of his generation, and Coleen McLoughlin, his High School sweetheart, were to marry in an estimated $10 million ceremony in Italy Thursday. As they kiss, guests are apparently meant to open boxes and release the butterflies. The moment has been pilloried widely in the British media, tacky and over the top they all think, but is it just sour grapes? It has been a long and, at times, bumpy road for the couple to the altar. One littered with fierce criticism from the British press, which has enjoyed nothing more than lampooning Rooney and McLoughlin for being 'common.' The Daily Mail once even asked: "Is this Britain's ghastliest couple?" Rooney has been dubbed "Shrek" and "Mr Potato Head" due to his looks and his background as the son of a school dinner lady who grew up on a council estate is often referred to in a disparaging way. McLoughlin, meanwhile, has been subjected to page upon page of bitter stories about her weight, shopping sprees and her lack of closeness to Victoria Beckham. There has also been fierce criticism over the fact she has managed to become a millionaire in her own right. It's all down to Rooney apparently, and nothing to do with her appearing to be quite a decent person, who did well at school and has cleverly managed to parlay some of her fame into various media and advertising projects. Anyone who has seen her television show -- Coleen's Real Women -- can see she is a decent, bubbly person, who is very good at putting people at ease. Much to the media's fury, the couple have sold the rights to cover the wedding to OK magazine for a record $5 million. However they're not pocketing all the cash themselves, with an undisclosed sum from the fee to be donated to the Claire House children's hospice in Cheshire -- where McLoughlin's disabled foster sister Rosie is cared for. The queen's grandson, Peter Phillips and his bride Autumn Kelly, recently received $1m from Hello magazine to cover their wedding but they didn't receive an eighth of the opprobrium now directed at the more generous, but lower class, Rooney and McLoughlin. Moreover, in lieu of presents, Rooney and McLoughlin have also asked guests to donate money to the Alder Hey children's hospital in Liverpool. The wedding might be over the top, with a private yacht and luxury jet for guests (they are covering the guests' costs), expensive plonk and a $200,000 wedding dress, but at least the couple have worked hard for what they have. Their success despite a working-class background appears to be the greatest source of frustration for critics. It's just not on that someone who wasn't born into privilege and didn't go to a posh school can enjoy their wealth. That would be ugly. If anything, the couple's relationship and success is a triumph over adversity. They have known each other since McLoughlin was 12, but she spent two years fending off Rooney's entreaties to go out on a date. He finally got his chance when he saw her struggling to fix a broken bicycle chain. He rode over to help, popped the question again and got a yes. Surely they should be congratulated for creating their own modern fairytale complete with butterflies? The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the writer. | [
"Who got married?",
"People from what background appear to be the critic's greatest annoyance?",
"What is the biggest annoyance the critics have?",
"Who married in a lavish ceremony?",
"What did Wayne Rooney do?",
"Which English football star marry in lavish ceremony?",
"What appears to be critics' greatest annoyance?",
"What appears to be the critics' greatest annoyance?",
"Who was married in a lavish ceremony?",
"What English football star married his sweetheart?"
] | [
[
"Wayne Rooney and Coleen McLoughlin"
],
[
"working-class"
],
[
"Their success despite a working-class background"
],
[
"Wayne Rooney and Coleen McLoughlin"
],
[
"marry"
],
[
"Wayne Rooney,"
],
[
"Their success despite a working-class background"
],
[
"Their success despite a working-class background"
],
[
"Wayne Rooney and Coleen McLoughlin"
],
[
"Wayne Rooney,"
]
] | English football star Wayne Rooney and sweetheart marry in lavish ceremony .
Glen Scanlon says media have launched bitter attacks on the couple .
Working-class background appears to be critics' greatest annoyance, he says . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Oasis front man Noel Gallagher has quit the rock group after a fallout with his bandmate brother, he announced late Friday. "It's with some sadness and great relief to tell you that I quit Oasis tonight," Noel Gallagher said in a brief statement on the band's Web site. "People will write and say what they like, but I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer." Noel Gallagher is the band's lead guitarist and songwriter, and Liam Gallagher is the lead singer. The band is currently on a European tour for its album, "Dig Out Your Soul." Noel Gallagher apologized to fans who had bought tickets for upcoming gigs in France, Germany and Italy. Oasis had to cancel its headlining performance at the V Festival in Britain over the weekend because Liam Gallagher said he was sick and couldn't sing. He later apologized for the cancellation and quashed rumors that it was the band's last-ever British gig. Disputes between the brothers have been in the public eye in the past, but never before has one of the brothers gone so far as to leave the band. Oasis shot to stardom with its 1994 album, "Definitely Maybe," which contained the band's first major hit, "Supersonic." The follow-up, "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?" produced one of group's most famous tracks, "Wonderwall." The Manchester band was one of the pioneers of the Britpop movement of the early '90s, along with British band Blur. | [
"What album did Oasis release in 1994?",
"Who left the band?",
"What was the name of the 1994 album?",
"Who wanted to leave the band?",
"What other band was famous?"
] | [
[
"\"Definitely Maybe,\""
],
[
"Noel Gallagher"
],
[
"\"Definitely Maybe,\""
],
[
"Noel Gallagher"
],
[
"Blur."
]
] | Never before has one of the brothers gone so far as to leave the band .
Oasis shot to stardom with its 1994 album, "Definitely Maybe"
The band was one of the pioneers of Britpop, along with Blur . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher on Saturday denied that he is the man shown pointing at the Google Street View camera as it drove past his local pub in London last summer. Liam Gallagher says the figure captured on Google Earth outside a pub in London is not him. "Just saw google earth apparently that's meant to be me, who ... wears legwarmers with reeboks?? Not this kid!! LG," he wrote on Twitter. Though available for a while in the United States, Google Street View only launched in Britain last week. As in America, the launch in Britain prompted people all over the country to try to find themselves or spot funny images and famous faces on the service. Gallagher was apparently spotted outside The Queens pub in Camden, in north London, a place he's known to frequent. The picture shows a man dressed in a dark T-shirt and long shorts sitting at an outdoor table. He points at the camera, obviously having seen the Google car and its Street View camera drive by. The service blurs people's faces so it is hard to confirm whether it is Gallagher. Though the man isn't wearing legwarmers, Gallagher is apparently talking about the man's ankle-high shoes and thick black socks. | [
"what was the name of the band",
"what was he doing?",
"what does Liam Gallagher deny?",
"what did gallagher say about the man?",
"who denied it?"
] | [
[
"Oasis"
],
[
"sitting at an outdoor table."
],
[
"denied that he is the man shown pointing"
],
[
"the figure captured on Google Earth outside a pub in London is not him."
],
[
"Liam Gallagher"
]
] | Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher denies Google Earth appearance .
Fans said man captured on camera drinking outside London pub was singer .
Gallagher said the man was too embarrassingly dressed to be him . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- On March 30 the Open Skies treaty went into effect, liberalizing air travel between the U.S. and Europe. But how will the ease of restrictions on transatlantic routes affect business travelers? Under Open Skies, European and U.S. airlines will be given unlimited access between Europe and U.S. points. The treaty puts an end to the exclusive arrangement granted to British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, United Airlines and American Airlines to fly transatlantic out of London Heathrow. But with the airport currently operating at almost-maximum capacity, new flights will be severely limited. As a result competition is fierce for Heathrow slots, with airlines paying as much as $60 million to get their hands on them. For each flight that is added, another less lucrative service is scrapped. Airlines are giving priority to high-yield business routes to and from Heathrow. While European carriers are now allowed to fly from any point within E.U across the Atlantic, the U.S. domestic market remains closed to them. Operators in Europe hope that a second phase of the Open Skies deal will mean a relaxation of restrictions on European airlines' investment in U.S. carriers and the ability for European airlines to compete in the U.S. domestic market. The issue is pending in U.S. Congress. If the U.S. doesn't deliver, there is a clause in the agreement that states the Open Skies treaty -- phase I included -- can be torn up. Industry experts foresee some fare wars in both economy and business-class. Service options are also likely to improve as competition intensifies. U.S. airlines will vie with BA, the dominant carrier at Heathrow, that currently has flights to 24 U.S. cities. The biggest challenge to the incumbent airlines operating out of Heathrow will come from carriers in the SkyTeam alliance, that includes Air France and KLM, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines News, and Continental Airlines. Before Open Skies, the SkyTeam alliance offered no transatlantic routes to and from Heathrow. By summer they will offer 10 percent of these flights. SkyTeam carriers will be located for the first time in Terminal 4. Given the size of the market for U.S.-London flights, airlines will continue to offer services from Gatwick, London's second-busiest airport. Open Skies will intensify competition for ailing U.S. airlines on what has been their most profitable route. Analysts expect to see consolidation between U.S. airlines as they combine international networks to beat competition. One advantage U.S. airlines can offer is opportunity for connecting flights to other European cities as well as on to Asia and the Mideast. European carriers on the other hand, cannot operate domestic flights within the U.S. New flights and new airlines Oneworld Alliance British Airways will shift its Dallas and Houston services from Gatwick to Heathrow and its Warsaw operation to Gatwick. Flights to Detroit and Harare will be axed. In June, the airline will also launch services between Continental Europe and New York. Operated by subsidiary OpenSkies, the daily flights will fly from either JFK or Newark to Brussels or Paris CDG using Boeing 757s from its existing fleet. In the future, OpenSkies plans to fly to other business centers, including Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Milan, Madrid, Zurich, and Geneva. BA will also commence business-only flights between New York and London City Airport next year using Airbus A318 jets in a 32-seat layout. SkyTeam Airline Alliance's new transatlantic flights starting between March 30 and June 2008 • Air France in joint venture with Delta: daily service to Los Angeles • Continental: twice-daily service to Houston and twice-daily service to Newark Liberty International (EWR) from May 29 2008 • Delta in joint venture with Air France: daily service to Atlanta and twice-daily service to New York JFK • Northwest in joint venture with KLM: daily service to Detroit, daily service to Minneapolis and daily service to Seattle. Slots were secured as a result of Air France ditching four daily rotations from London to Paris Charles de Gaulle and KLM dropping three of its slots to Northwest from Eindhoven and Rotterdam. Non-aligned airlines Aer Lingus launched services from Dublin to Washington DC, | [
"Where will the biggest challenge come from?",
"What will come from the SkyTeam alliance?",
"When will BA launch services?",
"who will launch services",
"when do new flights start",
"What will start this year?",
"what is the biggest challenge",
"Where will BA launch services?",
"What is SkyTeam alliance?",
"Where will the biggest challenge to Heathrow incumbents come from?",
"Where do new flights start from this year?",
"When are the new flights starting?"
] | [
[
"carriers in the SkyTeam alliance, that includes Air France and KLM, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines News, and Continental Airlines."
],
[
"The biggest challenge to the incumbent airlines operating out of Heathrow"
],
[
"between March 30 and June 2008"
],
[
"European and U.S. airlines"
],
[
"between March 30 and June 2008"
],
[
"Open Skies treaty"
],
[
"carriers in the SkyTeam alliance,"
],
[
"between Continental Europe and New York."
],
[
"includes Air France and KLM, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines News, and Continental Airlines."
],
[
"carriers in the SkyTeam alliance,"
],
[
"London Heathrow."
],
[
"March 30"
]
] | Biggest challenge to Heathrow incumbents will come from SkyTeam alliance .
New flights start this year from Air France, Continental, Delta and Northwest .
BA will launch services between Continental Europe and New York in June . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- On the surface, the similarities are striking; they were both princesses born in the 1940s in a foreign land. Young and beautiful, the long-haired brunettes soon fell in love and followed their men to the United States where they built a reputation for steely determination and strength. Diane von Furstenberg's comic book image appears in the window at the London launch of her Wonder Woman collection. Thirty years later, in the 1970s, one was rewarded with her own fashion empire, the other, her own TV show. The only thing really separating them was the magic lasso. Oh, and the invisible plane, and maybe the bracelets that deflect bullets... Belgian-born New York designer Diane von Furstenberg has used Diana Prince, aka Wonder Woman, as inspiration for her latest collection, a brightly-colored clothing range that proves dressing like a cartoon character needn't involve teaming knee-high boots with hot pants. The influence of the American stars and stripes are evident in the collection, but in the star piece, a full-length dress, they blend together in muted tones, hinting only at their origin rather than screaming out superhero. The collection was launched in London last night, a day after Barack Obama stormed home as the next President of the United States. Diane von Furstenberg watched the election results from a London hotel room, having lodged an absentee vote from Asia. "I think it's amazing -- I think we need him desperately," she said. In what could only be a gift from the marketing gods, images of the President-elect dressed as Superman started appearing on street corners in the U.S. in the lead-up to the election. Obama has insisted he's no superman, but do the images demonstrate that America is hoping and searching for a superhero? If not Superman, maybe Wonder Woman? "It's not about a superhero," says Diane von Furstenberg. It's just because he's bright and he's willing to do the work. And he's young and he has energy, and that's it." Of all of America's superheroes -- and there are many -- Wonder Woman is seen as one of the most patriotic. She literally wears the stars and stripes. See images of Wonder Woman through the ages and the DVF collection » She was created in 1941 during World War II by William Moulton Marston as a female alternative to the plethora of male action heroes who were saving the world in comic books of the day. He also invented the lie detector, the early version of Wonder Woman's "Lasso of Truth." As the story goes, Wonder Woman was an Amazonian princess who left her home on Paradise Island to fight the "Axis powers" in the world of man. By day, she was Diana Prince who, with a quick spin, transformed into Wonder Woman, ready to destroy Nazi enemies, foil Japanese plots and expose international spy rings. In the early 1970s, she became a cover girl for feminism, appearing on the cover of the inaugural "Ms." magazine. Fame followed on television when she was immortalized by actress Lynda Carter. After years of lying low, she starred in a popular exhibition "Superheroes: Fantasy and Fashion" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York earlier this year. Curator Andrew Bolton says, "When designers look to Wonder Woman there are two things they seem to refer to -- her role as Amazon woman, this strong powerful Amazonian figure -- and her as a symbol of America, a symbol of democracy." In 2001, John Galliano for Christian Dior used Wonder Woman as inspiration for a rather risque ensemble which included a red and white striped jacket, starry gold bustier and tiny knickers. Bolton says the 9/11 attacks in 2001 sparked a resurgence in American patriotism that's been strengthened this week with the election of a man with a mandate for change. "I think that the idea of patriotism has become much more potent, certainly in light of recent events," Bolton says. "It's | [
"who inspired diane von furstenberg's latest fashion collection?",
"Which of Diane von Furstenberg's fashion collections did Wonder Woman inspire?"
] | [
[
"Diana Prince, aka Wonder Woman,"
],
[
"a brightly-colored clothing range"
]
] | Wonder Woman inspired Diane von Furstenberg's latest fashion collection .
The 1940s comic book character is considered one of America's most patriotic .
Diane Von Furstenberg: "There's a Wonder Woman inside every one of us"
Proceeds will go to Vital Voices, a group that empowers women worldwide . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- One million free text messages will be sent every day for 12 months from Monday in South Africa in a bid to raise HIV awareness and encourage testing for the disease. Former South African president Nelson Mandela launched a similar cell phone initiative in 2003. The ambitious Project Masiluleke is being rolled out across the country after a pilot period that saw calls to a AIDS national helpline shoot up by 200 percent, organizers say. The United Nations estimates that there are currently six million people living with HIV in South Africa and just one in 10 get the treatment they need. "South Africa is the epicenter of the global HIV epidemic," said HIV activist Zinny Thabethe in Octorber at an annual conference for the social innovation network Pop!Tech, an organization instrumental in developing the concept. 'Project Masiluleke,' or 'Project M' was set up to try to encourage people to seek testing and treatment in a country where cell phones are abundant. Africa is cited as the fastest growing mobile-phone network in the world. In South Africa, more than 80 percent of the population has one -- the country has a population of 49 million, and it is estimated that 43 million have cell phones. Almost 95 percent of the phones are prepaid. The initiative plans to broadcast millions of health messages every month to phones across South Africa. "This is the largest ever use of cell phones for health information," said Gustav Praekelt, one of the project's originators. "There is near universal coverage," said Praekelt during the launch of the project. "And in the absence of other services, the mobile phone has become the central component for people to get access to information." Organizers say 'Project M' will offer South Africans the privacy to get tested and pursue treatment options and counseling by staff who are HIV positive themselves. The system sends the messages using a so-called "Please Call Me" (PCM) service. This free form of text messaging, common across Africa, allows someone without any phone credit to send a text to a friend asking them to call. Each sent PCM message has the words "Please Call Me," the phone number of the caller, and space for an additional 120 characters. The extra space is normally filled with advertising, which helps offset the cost of running the service. The message reads: "Frequently sick, tired, losing weight and scared that you might be HIV positive? Please call AIDS Helpline 0800012322." Encouraging people to get tested is a huge challenge in a country where people with the AIDS virus still face stigma and shame. However, 'Project M' appears to be having an impact, since it was initiated in October. "We have observed a dramatic increase in the call rate to the AIDS Helpline -- from approximately 1,300 calls per day to a new average of 3,600," said Milo Zama, Projects Development Manager for LifeLine, one of the partners. Trained operators provide callers with accurate healthcare information, and referrals to local testing clinics Many of the messages are broadcast in English and in local languages such as Zulu. As well as Pop!Tech, the project has been developed and funded by HIV charities and technology and design firms, including Nokia Siemens, MTN, the Praekelt Foundation, iTeach and National Geographic. Pop!Tech's Director of Communications Jason Rzepka told CNN there are plans to expand the project to other affected countries after its official launch in February 2009. He said: "One of the objectives of the February launch event will be to secure additional funding, so we can continue to expand Project Masiluleke into its planned 2nd and 3rd phases beyond South Africa." | [
"how many texts will be free",
"How many free texts will be sent everyday for a year?",
"What have the Project Masiluleke seen a rise in?",
"What does the initiative plan to do?",
"How many free texts will be sent?",
"What do the initiative plans to send evert month?"
] | [
[
"One million"
],
[
"One million"
],
[
"calls to a AIDS national helpline"
],
[
"phones across South Africa."
],
[
"One million"
],
[
"millions of health messages"
]
] | One million free texts will be sent every day for 12 months from Monday .
Project Masiluleke has seen rise in use of AIDS helpline during pilot project .
The initiative plans to send millions of health messages every month . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- One revolutionized women's hair in the 1960s. Another brought fear to Middle Earth. Another is a champion golfer who now designs courses all over the world. Christopher Lee is famous for playing Count Dracula and his roles in "Lord of the Rings" and "Star Wars" films. Vidal Sassoon, Christopher Lee and Nick Faldo are among those recognized this year on Queen Elizabeth's birthday honors list. Lee and Faldo will both receive knighthoods, meaning they can now be known as "Sir Christopher" and "Sir Nick." Lee, 87, is famous for his portrayal of dark villains, starting with Count Dracula in a series of movies from the late 1950s until the 1970s. He gained a new generation of fans in in the past decade through is role as the bad wizard Saruman the White in the the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, and as the evil Count Dooku in two "Star Wars" prequels. World-famous golfer Nick Faldo holds six major championship titles -- three from the British Open and three from the Masters. He has the record for the longest streak of majors played -- 48 -- dating to the 1987 British Open, according to the PGA Tour. Faldo is now almost as famous for designing golf courses as he is for playing the sport. He also serves as a television commentator. A knighthood is the highest honor, and recipients may use the title "Sir" before their names. The equivalent for women is to be awarded the title of "Dame." They recognize a "pre-eminent contribution" in any field. Next come CBEs, or Commanders of the Order of the British Empire, which recognize contribution to a slightly lesser degree. Recipients may not use the title of sir or dame but may use the initials after their names. Sassoon will be awarded a CBE for his services to the British hairdressing industry. It recognizes a lifetime of achievement for Sassoon, who as a young boy spent years in a London orphanage after his father left and his mother could not afford to care for him. Later, after his mother dreamed of her son being in a barber shop, she apprenticed him to a local barber. That began a career that saw him develop two classic hairstyles of the Sixties -- the Bob and the even shorter Five-Point Cut -- along with an eponymous hair care line, range of hair care tools, and chain of salons. Also receiving a CBE is Jonathan Pryce, a Golden Globe-nominated actor who has had roles in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies, "Ronin," and the James Bond film "Tomorrow Never Dies." He won a best actor award in 1995 at Cannes for his part in the movie "Carrington." Actor Alan Cumming will receive an OBE, or Order of the British Empire, awarded for notable achievement in any field. He was recognized for "services to film, theater and the arts and to activism for equal rights for the gay and lesbian community." A large number of artists and others in creative fields are featured on this year's list. Andrew Motion, who was Britain's poet laureate until he stepped down this year, will receive a knighthood, and several names in fashion will also receive awards. Fashion designer Jeff Banks will receive a CBE; Frances Marie Corner, the head of the London College of Fashion, will receive an OBE; and MBEs will go to Christopher Bailey, the creative director at Burberry, and Natalie Massenet, the founder of online designer shopping site Net-a-Porter. Honors lists are published twice a year -- once on New Year's Day and once in June, to mark the queen's "official" birthday. The queen's actual birthday is in April but she celebrates it in June because the weather is better. | [
"What is Jonathan Pryce honored for?",
"When is the honor day?"
] | [
[
"a Golden Globe-nominated actor who has had roles in the \"Pirates of the Caribbean\" movies, \"Ronin,\" and the James Bond film \"Tomorrow Never Dies.\" He won a best actor award in 1995 at Cannes"
],
[
"once on New Year's"
]
] | Hairdresser Vidal Sassoon, golfer Nick Faldo honored by UK's queen .
"Dracula" star Christopher Lee knighted in Queen Elizabeth's birthday honors list .
Actors Jonathan Pryce and Alan Cumming also honored . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- One year after the collapse of banking stalwart Lehman Brothers, the administrator of its European business says the full impact on creditors may not be known until 2010. One year ago cameras caught shocked Lehman Brothers' employees leaving the building with boxes. Tony Lomas, a partner for PricewaterhouseCoopers, has been sorting through the financial remains of the banking giant's European division since last September, when it became clear the bank would file for bankruptcy. He says administrators are still some months from finalizing the total amount owed to Lehman's creditors. "That will come at some point, maybe in the course of calendar 2010," Lomas said. "But up until that point we won't know the quantum of claims are. We have very complex trading relationships with a very large proportion of our counterparties. And we've got six thousand or so live counterparties out there." Watch the full interview with Tony Lomas » Within a week of Lehman's collapse, Lomas sold Lehman's equity trading business to Nomura. The deal saw about half of Lehman's 5,000 employees in Europe move over to the Japanese investment bank. The agreement didn't include Lehman's trading positions, the infrastructure, the intellectual property, or the building. "One of the big reasons why we retained the infrastructure here was because we knew we were going to be dependent on it for many years to come because of the complexity of what we were unraveling," Lomas said. Some 400 to 500 Lehman's staff still work in the London office for its administrators, poring through trading records and unwinding complex financial positions. "We expect a significant number of those people to be with us for a reasonably significant time to work through all this," Lomas said. Among those who lost their jobs from Lehman Brothers, some such as former employee Caroline White, have turned their backs on the financial sector. White has since forged a new career in fashion and plans to unveil her first piece on Tuesday night. The former banker hasn't put her last career completely behind her. Her collection includes a laptop bag with the Lehman's logo. "I themed it with a Lehman's theme because I think its quite appropriate. I wanted to show where I have come from, and where I am going," the designer said. The future is less clear for the London-based administrators who say their job will not be done for several years. "This could well take more than 10 years to resolve, all the issues," Lomas said. "By that time, it will outdate me." He is confident creditors will receive some of their money. In the past year the administrators have recouped $9 billion dollars in cash, most of which has been invested in government-backed securities. "Our priority is to keep it safe and make sure we don't lose it," Lomas said. One year on, he said the job hasn't become any easier. "Reflecting back on the astonishment if you like of being appointed administrator here in the UK and contemplating what lay ahead of us, I don't think I underestimated or understated the complexity of the task. It has proved to be every bit of that." "There remains a very significant amount of complex still work to do," he added. CNN's Jim Boulden contributed to this report | [
"When will the full amount owed to creditors be known?",
"How many people still work in London?",
"Who is the lehman adminstrator?",
"Who is dealing with the financial crisis in Europe?",
"How long will the financial crisis take to resolve?",
"What positions are most affected by this event?",
"How many people still work for Lehman?"
] | [
[
"2010."
],
[
"Some 400 to 500"
],
[
"Tony Lomas,"
],
[
"Lehman Brothers,"
],
[
"more than 10 years"
],
[
"employees in Europe"
],
[
"5,000"
]
] | Lehman administrator in Europe says significant amount of work still to do .
Full amount owed to creditors may not be known until some time in 2010 .
Up to 500 people still work for Lehman in London, unwinding trading positions .
Lomas: "This could well take more than 10 years to resolve" |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- One year before the FIFA World Cup kicks off, 26 teams of gay and lesbian footballers are battling for global supremacy in the Gay Soccer World Championships. Players from the London Stonewall Lions hold the 2008 Gay World Soccer Championship trophy aloft Co-ordinated by the International Gay & Lesbian Football Association (IGLFA), the tournament, which began on Sunday, is being hosted by the Federal Triangles club in Washington D.C., and supported by the local Major League Soccer (MLS) side D.C. United. IGLFA spokesman Michael Pranikoff told CNN that the competition has been running annually since 1992. "We started very small. There were just a few clubs from around the world. But we have gone from strength to strength. Last year the tournament was in London and sanctioned by the Football Association." Pranikoff said there are no professional players involved, but the standard of play is strong and the teams in the top divisions are very competitive. Although the tournament involves club sides -- rather than national teams, there is still a strong international feel with players from the U.S., United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Germany, Australia, Denmark, Belgium, Sweden, Argentina, Italy, and Norway all taking part. The London Stonewall Lions are the reigning champions in the men's division and expected to figure in Sunday's final at Trinity Washington University, he said. Despite the competitive nature of the event, Pranikoff said there are also less serious divisions where there is a more important message. "When you are on the pitch it's all about the game. But it's also about providing an environment where people can be free to be who they are. "It's a lot about camaraderie too. There are a lot of places in the world where gays and lesbians aren't accepted." So, is the competition restricted to only gay and lesbian players? Not at all, said Pranikoff. "It's very open, we don't discriminate." He said gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and heterosexual players were all welcome to play. Pranikoff said he is happy with how the 2009 event is unfolding, despite numbers being slightly down on what was expected -- due to the effects of the recession, swine flu and the upcoming Out Games in Denmark which has made attending the football tournament unaffordable for some teams. "This year we didn't have as big a global turnout as we hoped for but there have been a lot of challenges -- so we're pleased to have 26 teams here." Outside of organizing the current world championships, the IGLFA has also been involved in helping other organizations at stamping out homophobia, Pranikoff said. | [
"What is being held in Washington DC?",
"How many countries are competing?",
"how many teams compete",
"how many countries compete",
"Who has supported the tournament?",
"Twenty-six teams have how many countries will be competing?",
"Who supports the tournament?"
] | [
[
"2008 Gay World Soccer Championship"
],
[
"26 teams"
],
[
"26"
],
[
"players from the U.S., United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Germany, Australia, Denmark, Belgium, Sweden, Argentina, Italy, and Norway all taking part."
],
[
"local Major League Soccer (MLS) side D.C. United."
],
[
"U.S., United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Germany, Australia, Denmark, Belgium, Sweden, Argentina, Italy,"
],
[
"the local Major League Soccer (MLS) side D.C. United."
]
] | The Gay World Soccer Championships are being held in Washington D.C.
Twenty-six teams with players from 12 different countries are competing .
Major League Soccer team D.C. United have supported the tournament . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Opponents of controversial plans to use hybrid human-animal embryos for research spoke out Tuesday, calling the practice unnecessary, unnatural, and reprehensible a day after British lawmakers voted to allow it. Advocates of hybrid cells say animal eggs from which a nucleus has been removed are simply "empty shells." The British parliament debated the issue Monday as part of its discussion of the Human Fertilization and Embryology Bill, which will update legislation on reproduction and embryos. "Crossing the species barrier in this way is deeply, deeply reprehensible, undesirable," said Josephine Quintavalle, a bioethicist who founded Comment on Reproductive Ethics (CORE). The research involves emptying an animal egg and filling it with human cells. The resulting embryo is allowed to develop for 14 days -- during which time scientists harvest the stem cells -- before being destroyed. Scientists hope working with those stem cells will lead to treatments for serious conditions like motor neuron disease, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's, and they say using hybrids overcomes the shortage of human embryos. "The use of animal eggs will provide a valuable resource to embryo research scientists," argued Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo. Lawmakers were allowed to vote according to conscience and the legislation passed comfortably, though not without opposition. "If an embryo could talk, perhaps it would echo what Mary Shelley did say in 'Frankenstein': 'I, the miserable and the abandoned, an abortion to be spurned out and kicked and trampled on,'" Conservative Party lawmaker Edward Leigh told parliament. Supporters of the research dispute the numerous "Frankenstein" references and say it does not create monsters. Stephen Minger, director of the stem cell biology lab at King's College in London, said the practice begins with the removal of an animal egg's nucleus, which contains all of the chromosomes, thereby stripping the egg of its "species identity." "It's an empty shell," Minger said. "By putting a human cell -- not just a nucleus, but in our case an intact human cell -- into the egg, you confer a human genetic identity onto that." The approved bill creates a legal framework for the scientific research on hybrid embryos. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown feels so strongly about the benefits of the research that he wrote a column Sunday in The Observer newspaper calling it an "inherently moral endeavor," but ethics groups and others disagree. "I think we all know that we don't reproduce with animals," Quintavalle said. "Humans do not reproduce with animals. Whether it's done in the laboratory or not doesn't make it right." Quintavalle urged the government and the scientific community to wait until a new method of research emerges which does not mix animal and human genetic material. Human Genetics Alert, a secular independent watchdog, said it found defects among existing hybrid embryos which raise doubts about whether mixed embryos can produce useful stem cells. "I'm very, very unimpressed with the scientific case for doing that," said David King, a former molecular biologist who now heads the HGA. "The science is so weak and the ethical concerns are so significant, I think you have to weigh that." The scientific arguments in favor of the research have been "overhyped," King said, and offer no hope of a cure for those suffering with genetic disorders. "Very little, I think, will come out of it and I think hopes are being raised that will be cruelly disappointed," King said. The Human Fertilization and Embryology Bill was drawn up in 1990, when science and government were unaware that current hybrid-embryo developments were possible, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health told CNN. The original bill did allow the mixing of human and animal eggs, but only for the purpose of testing the fertility of human sperm, said the spokeswoman, who declined to be named in line with policy. The practice was known as the "hamster test" because hamster eggs were used. The revised bill now allows hybrid embryos | [
"What did opponents say about the controversial technique?",
"What can stems cell research lead to a cure of?",
"What kind of embryos does the bill approve for stem cell research?",
"What bill did UK lawmakers approve?",
"Who approved a bill allowing use of hybrid embryos in stem cell research?"
] | [
[
"calling the practice unnecessary, unnatural, and reprehensible"
],
[
"for serious conditions like motor neuron disease,"
],
[
"hybrid human-animal"
],
[
"The Human Fertilization and Embryology"
],
[
"British parliament"
]
] | UK lawmakers approve bill allowing use of hybrid embryos in stem cell research .
Opponents describe controversial technique as "deeply, deeply reprehensible"
Advocates say use of animal embryos helps overcome shortage of human embryos .
Scientists say stem cells have potential to cure conditions such as Parkinson's . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Our resident coach and technical expert Chris Meadows has plenty of experience in the sport and has worked with some of the biggest names in golf. Chris has worked with more than 100,000 golfers throughout his career. Growing up beside Nick Faldo, Meadows learned that success in golf comes through developing a clear understanding of, and being committed to, your objective. A dedicated coach from an early age, he soon realized his gift was the development of others. Meadows simple and holistic approach to learning has been personally shared with more than 100,000 golfers in a career spanning three decades. Many of his instructional books have become best-sellers, his career recently being recognized by the Professional Golfers' Association when he was made an Advanced Fellow of the PGA. Chris has been Living Golf's resident golf expert since 2003. | [
"where work Chirs Meadows?",
"what Chris was made an Advanced Fellow?"
] | [
[
"Living Golf's"
],
[
"Meadows"
]
] | Chris Meadows has worked with some of golf's big names .
He has personally coached more than 100,000 golfers .
Chris was made an Advanced Fellow of the PGA . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Paying for sex with trafficked or exploited women would become a crime under new laws proposed by the UK government Wednesday.
Under proposed laws, it would be illegal to buy sex from a trafficked or exploited woman in the UK.
The act of purchasing sex is not currently a criminal offense in England and Wales -- although there are laws against paying for sex in a public place and persistently soliciting prostitutes.
Now UK Home Secretary (interior minister) Jacqui Smith says she is proposing the new measures to protect vulnerable women and tackle the demand for prostitution.
Britain's interior ministry, known as the Home Office, introduced the new measures Wednesday after a six-month review that looked at what else the government could do to protect women being exploited for sexual gain.
"I want to do everything we can to protect the thousands of vulnerable women coerced, exploited or trafficked into prostitution in our country, and to bring those who take advantage of them to justice," Smith said in a statement.
Smith said the new measures will shift the focus onto sex buyers because they create demand for prostitution and demand for the trafficking of women for sex.
"There will be no more excuses for those who pay for sex," she added.
As part of the review, the government looked at the experience of other countries including Sweden -- which has criminalized paying for sex -- and the Netherlands, where brothels are licensed.
The government estimates around 80,000 people are involved in prostitution in Britain, with about 4,000 women having been trafficked for sexual exploitation. It says the prostitution market nationwide is worth up to £1 billion ($1.52 billion).
Trafficking is the movement of women from one place to another for the purposes of sex. British Authorities have said trafficking usually involves the trafficker promising to bring a woman to Britain for a better life and then forcing her into prostitution.
The measures -- which must be approved by Parliament -- would mean that those committing the new offense would be given a criminal record and fined £1,000 ($1,520) -- even if it was a person's first offense and the offender did not know the prostitute was being controlled by a pimp or had been trafficked.
Police would also be given powers to close and seal premises suspected of being used for sexual exploitation, such as brothels, which the government said will prevent further exploitation and abuse from taking place.
Current law prohibits curb crawling, which involves soliciting prostitutes from a motor vehicle persistently or in a manner that causes annoyance to the neighborhood. It also prohibits "persistent soliciting," which is essentially curb crawling without a car.
But representatives of sex workers attacked the plans Wednesday, saying they will force prostitution further underground and make women more vulnerable to violence.
"It's going to really make it more difficult for men to use the sex industry, and it's going to mean that women are going to have to take more risks in order to earn the same money," said Cari Mitchell, a spokeswoman for the English Collective of Prostitutes. "It's also going to drive it underground. It's going to increase the stigma."
Mitchell said the government's figures are inflated, and that most immigrant women working as prostitutes have not been trafficked and are working independently.
The new measures, she said, confuse prostitution with trafficking and take the focus off those women who may be vulnerable.
"Of women who may be trafficked and forced, what they need is to be able to come forward and report to the police without any fear of being deported," Mitchell told CNN.
The new restrictions on curb crawling won't end the practice, Mitchell said, but simply give prostitutes less time to weigh up any potential dangers before getting in the client's car. | [
"How many women trafficked for sexual exploitation?",
"What group is being targeted?",
"What will the measures do?",
"What are women being trafficked for in the U.K.?",
"4000 are trafficked in the UK for what purpose?",
"What will cause the prostitution to move underground?",
"Who is introducing new proposals to clamp down on sex trade?"
] | [
[
"4,000"
],
[
"trafficked or exploited women"
],
[
"Paying for sex with trafficked or exploited women would become a crime"
],
[
"sex"
],
[
"sexual exploitation."
],
[
"Under proposed laws, it would be illegal"
],
[
"UK government"
]
] | UK government: Around 4,000 women trafficked in the UK for sexual exploitation .
Interior ministry introduces new proposals to clamp down on sex trade .
Minister: Measures will shift the focus onto sex buyers because they create demand .
Sex workers representative: Move is counterproductive, will force prostitution underground . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Pete Sampras and Roger Federer are two of the modern era's greatest tennis players. Between them, they have won a staggering 27 Grand Slam singles titles -- and yet, neither player has ever won the French Open. Tennis great Pete Sampras won 14 Grand Slam tournaments but never managed a French Open victory. That legendary players like Sampras and Federer have somehow failed to win at Les Internationaux de France de Roland Garros is just one of the reasons why this Grand Slam tournament holds such a special place on the tennis calendar. The French Open is notably the only Grand Slam event contested on clay -- a factor that separates it from the other three majors, and more than anything else defines the tournament. The layers of crushed brick that constitute the orange-red clay courts of Roland Garros are what brought Sampras -- and still bring Federer -- so much grief. Fellow greats John McEnroe, Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg also failed to win the coveted title. The reason clay may have affected the natural games of these players is because the surface slows the ball and produces a slightly higher, loopier bounce than grass or hard courts. This means the high-power serve of someone like Sampras is negated, opening the way for players with a different style of game. To this extent, the French Open helped create the legend of one of the finest players of all time -- Swedish star Bjorn Borg. Borg won a record six times at Roland Garros. He also won five Wimbledon titles -- but never managed an Australian or U.S. Open crown, both tournaments fought out on hard courts. Describing what makes the French Open so special in an rare one-on-one interview with Indian Web site Rediff.com in 2001, Borg said: "It is toughest to win on clay. It is easily the most draining, the toughest Slam." Offering advice to Sampras, who was at the time still playing for a French Open title, Borg added, "I would advise him to concentrate on mental strength, to build it up, to hold that strength over the course of the fortnight. "Along with that, you also need a great deal of physical strength. And most importantly, you have to believe that you can win on clay." It is not surprising therefore, that Spanish players -- who are generally well-accustomed to playing on clay -- have come to dominate the tournament in recent years. Nine of the last 12 French Open finals have featured at least one Spaniard. The tournament is still held in high regard by France's population. A record crowd of more than 450,000 people came to watch the action at Roland Garros in 2008, and according to the tournament organizers, it is the most-watched French event in the world. First played in 1891 as a national tournament, it became an international event in 1925, and in 1928 moved to the Roland Garros facility at Porte d'Auteuil in Paris, where it remains today. Its chosen title, Roland Garros, was the name of a legendary World War One French aviator, who had frequented the tennis venue when he studied in Paris. The 2009 edition of what Borg called "the toughest Slam" promises to be just as entertaining and draining as those that have gone before. World number one Rafael Nadal is searching for his fifth consecutive title to usurp Borg's record of four in a row, which he currently equals. Meanwhile, world number two Roger Federer is looking to avenge three consecutive final defeats at the hands of Nadal. In the women's draw, the tournament appears wide open. Last year's champion Ana Ivanovic has slipped to eighth in the world rankings, while the top four ranked players have only one French Open title between them. | [
"What legendary players have failed to win French Open title?",
"Who have failed to win the title?",
"What is the only Grand Slam tennis event held on clay courts?",
"What have legendary players like Sampras and Federer have failed to do?",
"What did Four-time winner Bjorn Borg on the French Open say?",
"Who said \"it is toughest to win on clay\"?"
] | [
[
"Pete Sampras and Roger Federer"
],
[
"Sampras and Federer"
],
[
"The French Open"
],
[
"won the French Open."
],
[
"\"It is toughest to win"
],
[
"Borg"
]
] | Legendary players like Sampras and Federer have failed to win French Open title .
Roland Garros is the only Grand Slam tennis event held on clay courts .
Four-time winner Bjorn Borg on the French Open: "It is toughest to win on clay" |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Photographer Terry O'Neill is famous for his iconic images Hollywood stars in the 1960s and 1970s. One of the 1970s hottest actresses, Faye Dunaway photographed by Terry O'Neill in 1976. He made his name capturing the era's A-listers including Audrey Hepburn, Orson Welles and Brigitte Bardot in a uniquely relaxed and natural way. Always polite and professional in his approach, his informal and spontaneous style captured the spirit of the times. Rising stars, including rock bands The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, did not want the wooden, pre-fabricated images typical of the 1950s. As a result O'Neill became much in demand and his star began to rise alongside that of his subjects. During the 1980s Terry became the photographer of choice for Hollywood, and his commissions from the time are nothing short of a catalogue of global superstardom. Terry's success continued into the 1990s and with 65 pictures held by London's National Portrait Gallery, he is today revered as one the great British photographers. Born in the east end of London in 1938, he began his photographic career working for an airline at Heathrow Airport as part of their photographic unit. Terry O'Neill's images will be on exhibition through Getty Images Gallery in a pop-up gallery at Westfield, London from 7th July until 3rd August. | [
"where are his prints on show?",
"Where is the show?",
"Where is a collection of his prints on show?",
"Where did O'Neil begin his career?",
"where did o'neill begin his career?",
"who did he photograph?"
] | [
[
"Getty Images Gallery in a pop-up gallery at Westfield, London"
],
[
"Westfield, London"
],
[
"Getty Images Gallery in a pop-up gallery at Westfield, London"
],
[
"working for an airline at Heathrow Airport"
],
[
"working for an airline at Heathrow Airport"
],
[
"Hollywood stars"
]
] | O'Neill began his career at The Daily Sketch a picture paper in the 1960s .
Photographed Hollywood icons such as Brigitte Bardot and Paul Newman .
A collection of O'Neill's prints are on show at the National Portrait Gallery in London . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Picture this: The European champions and current highest-ranked soccer team in the world, Spain, are beaten 3-0...by a team of robots.
On the way: Robots are developing steadily towards the goal of beating humans at football.
It may sound ridiculous, but robot developers in Asia, the U.S. and Europe are dreaming of that very goal.
Working under the umbrella organizations FIRA (Federation of Robot-Soccer Association) and the RoboCup Federation, researchers and developers are aiming to advance robot technology to the point that a team of humanoids can beat the best humans in the sport by 2050.
Since robot soccer competitions began in the mid-1990s, researchers have already made significant developments towards their goal.
Phil Culverhouse of the Center for Robotics and Intelligent Systems at the University of Plymouth told CNN that the first robots in competition were controlled by humans and many were on wheels or four-legged, but that is changing.
"Since 2007 the team have progressed to bipedal robots that have cameras on board," he said. "Our robots are autonomous -- they have no control from outside sources. The cameras try to work out where the goal is, where the ball is and where the other players are."
Further robotic developments appear to be close. Researchers at Carlos III University of Madrid released a study in the March 2009 online edition of 'Expert Systems with Applications,' showing they had refined a technique known as machine-learning.
Basically, the scientists were able to teach a virtual player simple reactions to visual stimuli -- based upon how real humans react in the same situation.
Do you think robots will one day be able to beat humans at football? Sound Off box below.
This year robots will go head-to-head at both the RoboCup event in Austria in June/July and the FIRA RoboWorld Cup in Korea in August. The most advanced classes at present are the bipedal classes for 'humanoid' robots.
Co-chair of RoboCup 2009, Gerald Steinbauer, told CNN this year's event was the 13th edition of the cup, and he was impressed by progress by advances since the competitions began.
"At the last RoboCup in China 2008 we had games of teams of three humanoid playing attractive soccer. They walk on two feet, fight for the ball and of course score... so we are approaching the goal," he said.
Culverhouse said interest in both events had steadily grown, especially since the two-legged robots had been introduced. This year up to 3,000 competitors from 40 countries are expected at RoboCup.
"This has been extremely effective in gaining interest. These are much more exciting to watch. We have seen a steep level of change in interest from not just young people but everybody."
Despite the increasing profile, Culverhouse said there are still plenty of major challenges before the humanoids can seriously compete with humans.
"This is still a long way from competing against humans. The next big challenge to be met is to get robots walking like humans and then running like humans.
"One of the most challenging things is getting a robot to walk on uneven terrain without falling over," he said, explaining that some fall over after kicking at goal. (Although, it's not hard to think of professional footballers who have suffered the same problem.)
The University of Plymouth team is currently researching how robot's feet can be improved, and hope to release a concept later this year that could usher in a new era of in foot design.
For Steinbauer, the critical issues are that of perception and cognitive abilities.
"Perception is one of our major problems. It is important that a robot is able to understand a scene like a human does. If you enter a complete unknown room you are able to recognize the important things like furniture and also relations and functions of objects very fast," he said.
"Despite huge progress in this area we are far behind the capabilities of animals or humans.
"And of course there's cognitive | [
"What are the robots being built for?",
"What do scientists hope?",
"Since when have robots been competing in regular soccer contests?",
"In what year are scientists hopeful to beat the top team of humans?"
] | [
[
"the goal of beating humans at football."
],
[
"release a concept later this year that could usher in a new era of in foot design."
],
[
"mid-1990s,"
],
[
"2050."
]
] | FIRA and RoboCup organizations promoting development of robots .
Robots have been competing in regular soccer contests since the mid-'90s .
Scientists hope to be able to beat world's top team of humans by 2050 .
Robotics developments tested in robo-soccer have uses in other fields . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Picture this: you're sat down for the Football World Cup final, or a long-awaited sequel to the "Sex and the City" movie and you're watching all the action unfold in 3-D on your coffee table. The future of television? This image is an impression of what 3D holographic television may look like. It sounds a lot like a wacky dream, but don't be surprised if within our lifetime you find yourself discarding your plasma and LCD sets in exchange for a holographic 3-D television that can put Cristiano Ronaldo in your living room or bring you face-to-face with life-sized versions of your gaming heroes. The reason for renewed optimism in three-dimensional technology is a breakthrough in rewritable and erasable holographic systems made earlier this year by researchers at the University of Arizona. Dr Nasser Peyghambarian, chair of photonics and lasers at the university's Optical Sciences department, told CNN that scientists have broken a barrier by making the first updatable three-dimensional displays with memory. "This is a prerequisite for any type of moving holographic technology. The way it works presently is not suitable for 3-D images," he said. The researchers produced displays that can be erased and rewritten in a matter of minutes. To create television sets the images would need to be changing multiple times each second -- but Peyghambarian is very optimistic this can happen. He said the University of Arizona team, which is now ten-strong, has been working on advancing hologram technology since 1990 -- so this is a major step forward. He believes that much of the difficulty in creating a holographic set has now been overcome. "It took us a while to make that first breakthrough, but as soon as you have the first element of it working the rest often comes more rapidly," he said. "What we are doing now is trying to make the model better. What we showed is just one color, what we are doing now is trying to use three colors. The original display was four inches by four inches and now we're going for something at least as big as a computer screen." There are no more great barriers to overcome now, he said. The breakthrough has made some long-time researchers of the technology believe that it could now come to fruition. Tung H. Jeong, a retired physics professor at Lake Forest College outside Chicago who had studied holography since the 1960s told NJ.com; "When we start talking about erasable and rewritable holograms, we are moving toward the possibility of holographic TV ... It has now been shown that physically, it's possible." And what might these holographic televisions look like? According to Peyghambarian, they could be constructed as a screen on the wall (like flat panel displays) that shows 3-D images, with all the image writing lasers behind the wall; or it could be like a horizontal panel on a table with holographic writing apparatus underneath. So, if this project is realized, you really could have a football match on your coffee table, or horror-movie villains jumping out of your wall. Peyghambarian is also optimistic that the technology could reach the market within five to ten years. He said progress towards a final product should be made much more quickly now that a rewriting method had been found. However, it is fair to say not everyone is as positive about this prospect as Peyghambarian. Justin Lawrence, a lecturer in Electronic Engineering at Bangor University in Wales, told CNN that small steps are being made on technology like 3-D holograms, but, he can't see it being ready for the market in the next ten years. "It's one thing to demonstrate something in a lab but it's another thing to be able to produce it cheaply and efficiently enough to distribute it to the mass market," Lawrence said. Yet, there are reasons to be optimistic that more resources will be channeled into developing this technology more quickly. The Japanese Government is pushing huge financial and technical weight into the development of three-dimensional, virtual | [
"What type of television could come out of the wall or up from a table?",
"what Holographic televisions?",
"Who created the first rewritable and erasable holographic images?"
] | [
[
"holographic"
],
[
"3D"
],
[
"researchers at the University of Arizona."
]
] | Researchers have created the first rewritable and erasable holographic images .
Holographic televisions could come out of the wall or up from a table .
The 3-D hologram technology could have uses in surgery or in the military . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Plans to rejuvenate a dilapidated London icon -- known worldwide to movie and music fans -- were unveiled last week. The redevelopment of Battersea Power Station includes a new eco-dome and a solar chimney. Battersea Power Station, which has dominated the west London skyline since 1933, will -- subject to planning approval -- undergo an $8 billion redevelopment including shops, homes, a hotel, offices and a striking 300 meter eco-tower. The building appeared on the cover of the 1977 Pink Floyd album "Animals," complete with a giant pig floating above its four distinctive towers. It has also appeared in numerous movies including sci-fi drama "The Children of Men", new Batman feature "The Dark Knight" and Alfred Hitchcock's "Sabotage." Real Estate Opportunities Ltd (REO), who currently own the 38 acre site say the defunct and crumbling edifice will be: "brought back to life in the most spectacular way. It will be a place to live, work and play". An Irish development company, REO is planning to spend $300 million repairing the old coal-powered station and get it working again -- this time producing energy from biofuels, waste and other renewable energy sources. At the heart of the regeneration stands a vast new chimney and eco-dome, which as well as housing apartments and offices will act as a vast solar ventilation system cutting down the building's energy demand by two thirds. Managing Director of REO's development manager, Treasury Holdings UK, Rob Tincknell describes it as "a power station for the 21st century...supporting a truly sustainable, zero carbon development". Uruguayan architect Rafael Vinoly whose daunting job it was to come up with a workable new design for the much loved site describes the old power station as a "remarkable architectural presence". In creating a vast transparent chimney Vinoly hopes that it will contrast with what he describes as the "monumental mass" of J. Theo Halliday and Sir Giles Gilbert Scott's original design. Of course, we've been here before. Since the turbines were shut down for the final time in 1983 the power station -- situated on the south bank of the river Thames -- has been the subject of several failed redevelopment ventures. In 1983, a scheme proposed by UK businessman John Broome promised to turn the power station into a gigantic theme park. But by the decade's close and despite the enthusiastic backing of UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher his funding package for redevelopment, much like the site itself, were in a ruinous state. In 1996, development company Parkview International headed up by Victor Hwang acquired the freehold for the site. By the time its current owners REO bought the site a decade later another over ambitious redevelopment scheme -- which included a single table restaurant atop one of the four chimneys -- had come and gone. By now the entire site was in a pretty parlous state -- the chimneys being declared beyond repair and threatened with imminent demolition. This new proposal has already provoked a chorus of dissent. Writing in London's Evening Standard newspaper, architecture critic Rowan Moore described the idea as: "spectacularly, riotously, extravagantly nuts," telling the developers and planners to: "Forget it. Do not try to compromise with a tower two-thirds as high. Do not build a tower. Aim for zero-carbon and beautiful buildings...". The Guardian's resident architecture expert Jonathan Glancey gave the designs a cool reception describing them as; "more than a little over the top". CNN spoke to Keith Garner, an architect and member of the Battersea Power Station Community Group about the new proposals. He didn't mince his words. "If you take it as a serious proposal, it's immensely harmful," he said. "It is a massive tower -- about the same size as the gherkin. Battersea Power Station is a Grade II* listed building. If you put a tower of that mass next to it, you are going to diminish its significance. "If you are serious about rescuing this building | [
"what are the plans to rejuvenate for?",
"What is this project about?",
"what do the critics think of plan?",
"What plans have been unveiled?",
"What forms a part of a 21st century blueprint for sustainability?"
] | [
[
"Battersea Power Station"
],
[
"The redevelopment of Battersea Power Station"
],
[
"\"spectacularly, riotously, extravagantly nuts,\""
],
[
"$8 billion redevelopment including shops, homes, a hotel, offices and a striking 300 meter eco-tower."
],
[
"redevelopment of Battersea Power Station"
]
] | New plans to rejuvenate the iconic Battersea Power Station site have been unveiled .
A new chimney and eco-dome form part of a 21st century blueprint for sustainability .
Critics remain unconvinced that the new development is desirable or achievable . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Playing the Nintendo Wii Fit could improve balance and help avoid falls in seniors, researchers taking part in a new study suggest. Researchers in Aberdeen think playing Wii Fit may improve the elderly's balance and lower risks of falling. The University of Aberdeen, Scotland and the UK's National Health Service (NHS) have embarked on a four month study on people over 70 to observe any changes in balance after regular use of the Wii Fit. The video game has different activities including yoga poses, push ups, strength, balance and aerobic exercises. The Wii Fit includes a balance board that records movements and gives feedback on performance. Dr Marie Fraser, a specialist registrar at Woodend Hospital in Scotland, UK, is carrying out the research. She told CNN: "Falls are the most common cause of accidental injury in older people and the most common cause of accidental deaths in 75-year-olds and over." It is hoped that using the Wii Fit's balance board can improve elderly people's balance and confidence. Dr Alison Stewart, who devised the study said she came up with the idea while working in the Osteoporosis department at the University of Aberdeen, after seeing a large number of fractures in old people who had fallen. Stewart, a commercial research manager with the NHS, said she then decided to research how to improve older people's balance. She told CNN: "There exists a medical fitness device that improves balance, but it is expensive and I could not get the funding. "That's when I looked up the Wii and discovered it is very similar to the other equipment, but less expensive. "What is great about the Wii is it also has an entertainment value. The fact that it is enjoyable also makes the compliance rate higher." The latest study comes as another pilot study at Southern Cross University, Australia looked at the benefits of using the Wii to help Parkinson's sufferers. A group of seven older people with and without the degenerative condition took part in the pilot project, and were put through an almost daily regime of playing the Nintendo Wii. Associate Professor Rick van der Zwan who led the research said initial results were "positive." They ultimately hope to determine the effectiveness of computer games in developing muscle strength and co-ordination and reducing the risk of falls for people with Parkinson's. "People generally start to develop the disease in their 50s or 60s. It leads to inertia and people become unstable on their feet," said Van der Zwan in a media statement. "What we are trying to do is reduce the risk of serious harm. These people are nine times more likely to fall over than someone without the disease and falls in this older age group can be very serious." Van der Zwan now wants to recruit 15 more research participants to broaden the study. Since its launch in 2006 the Nintendo Wii has seen a huge rise in the number of elderly players. At one senior citizen home in north-east England, staff introduced the popular games console at Christmas in all five of its homes. "Everyone loves it and we noticed it has improved the physical fitness of residents who play," Rachel Todd of McArdle Care told CNN. Todd believes the device's entertainment value not only improves residents' fitness levels, but also their mental fitness. Among the Wii Fit fans at the home are 74-year-old Ian Fisher and 86-year-old Betty Dennis. "I always loved sports, particularly football" Dennis told CNN. "But I had a stroke six months ago and am now in a wheelchair." "Since the Wii I really feel movement in my right arm has improved, which is all I need to play skittles." Her bowling partner Fisher told CNN he recently played the boxing game on Wii Fit with his four-year-old great-grandson. "It really spans all ages, although my great-grandson knocked me out twice," the former bricklayer said. | [
"Who is studying what Wii Fit can do?",
"What might improve older people's balance?",
"What is the most common cause of accidental death in the elderly?",
"Who is feeling the benefits?",
"what Residents in English nursing home feel the physical and mental benefits?",
"Who is feeling the physical and mental benefits of Wii?"
] | [
[
"Dr Alison Stewart,"
],
[
"Playing the Nintendo Wii Fit could"
],
[
"\"Falls"
],
[
"Australia"
],
[
"of using the Wii to help Parkinson's sufferers."
],
[
"Ian Fisher"
]
] | Researchers study whether Wii Fit can can improve older people's balance .
Residents in English nursing home feel the physical and mental benefits of Wii .
Falls are the most common cause of accidental deaths in elderly, says researcher . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Police have launched an investigation after a young disabled sportsman traveled to Switzerland to commit suicide, UK media report. Daniel James, who played rugby for England under-16s, was paralyzed during match practice last year. Daniel James, 23, from Sinton Green in western England was paralyzed from the chest down in March 2007 when a rugby scrum collapsed on top of him during match practice, dislocating his spine, the UK's Press Association has reported. Worcestershire Coroner's Service, which is conducing an inquest into the circumstances of his death, states on its Web site that James died on September 12 after he "traveled to Switzerland with a view to ending his own life. He was admitted to a clinic where he died." The inquest was adjourned on September 19 for reports. West Mercia police say that a man and a woman are helping the force with their enquiries. Assisting someone to commit suicide is illegal in the UK, as it is in most other European countries. What do you think of assisted suicide? James, who played rugby for England under-16s, was a university student at the time of his injury last year. He is believed to be the youngest person from the UK to have traveled to Switzerland to commit suicide. In a statement Friday, reported by PA, James' parents said that he had attempted to kill himself several times already. Watch why James opted for suicide » "His death was an extremely sad loss for his family, friends and all those that care for him but no doubt a welcome relief from the 'prison' he felt his body had become and the day-to-day fear and loathing of his living existence, as a result of which he took his own life. "This is the last way that the family wanted Dan's life to end but he was, as those who know him are aware, an intelligent, strong-willed and some say determined young man," PA reported James' parents as saying. "The family suffered considerably over the last few months and do wish to be left in peace to allow them to grieve appropriately." James' parents added that their son, "an intelligent young man of sound mind," had never come to terms with his condition and was "not prepared to live what he felt was a second-class existence". Adrian Harling, the family solicitor, would not comment on the investigation, PA reported. More than 100 people from the UK who have committed suicide in Switzerland have traveled to the Dignitas Clinic in Forch. It is not known if James attended the clinic. Switzerland, along with Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, are the only European countries where authorities will not prosecute those who assist with suicide. | [
"Where did James commit suicide?",
"How old was Daniel James?",
"Is it legal to assist with suicide in the UK?",
"Who committed suicide?",
"What is legal in Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg?",
"Whose death was the pair interviewed about?",
"Where did the young rugby player commit suicide?",
"Which game did James play?",
"Where is assisted suicide legal?",
"Where did the rugby player commit suicide?"
] | [
[
"Switzerland"
],
[
"23,"
],
[
"commit"
],
[
"Daniel James,"
],
[
"assist with suicide."
],
[
"James,"
],
[
"Switzerland"
],
[
"rugby"
],
[
"Switzerland, along with Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, are the only European countries"
],
[
"Switzerland"
]
] | Young rugby player, paralyzed after accident, commits suicide in Switzerland .
Police interview man and woman about the death of Daniel James, 23 .
It is illegal in UK and much of Europe to assist with suicide .
Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Police in Belgium arrested 14 Muslim extremists on Friday after uncovering a plot to free an al Qaeda suspect from prison using weapons and explosives.
Nizar Trabelsi appeared before a correctional court in 2005 for assault and battery against a prison warden.
Security across the small European state was stepped up in the wake of the alleged conspiracy, a spokeswoman for Belgium's federal prosecutors told a news conference.
Lieve Pellens said the conspirators planned to liberate Nizar Trabelsi, a Tunisian terrorist suspect who has been in custody since his arrest two days after the September 11 attacks on New York in 2001.
Trabelsi, a former professional soccer player in Germany, was jailed for 10 years in 2003 for planning to blow up a NATO military base in Belgium that housed American soldiers.
The 37-year-old admitted planning to drive a car bomb into the canteen at Kleine Brogel, an air base where about 100 American military personnel are stationed.
Trabelsi, who testified to a Belgium court that he intended kill American soldiers, claimed to have met Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan after joining anal Qaeda group.
Pellens said most of the arrests were in the capital Brussels.
In the wake of the arrests, she said extra police were being deployed on transport networks, at railway stations and airports and commercial centers to guard against a terrorist attack over the busy holiday period.
"Since it is not excluded that this group developed other projects and because the state of emergency in this period of the year is higher, the federal prosecutor and the examining magistrate decided to take no risks and intervene in the biggest possible way," Pellens told the news conference that was broadcast on Belgium television.
On its Web site, the U.S. Embassy in Brussels issued an alert to American citizens in Belgium to maintain a high level of vigilance, especially in crowded public places.
However, it said it had "no information to indicate that U.S. citizens or facilities are an intended target." E-mail to a friend | [
"How many Muslims were arrested?",
"Who was was jailed for 10 years in 2003 for trying to bomb an air base ?",
"Who said the Muslims have been arrested?",
"Who was jailed for 10 years?",
"Who was jailed for 10 years in 2003?",
"Belgian officials arrested how many men?",
"Where was the canteen located?",
"Which countries officials say 14 Muslims arrested for trying to free terrorist from prison ?",
"He admitted planning to drive a car bomb into the canteen at what place ?"
] | [
[
"14"
],
[
"Nizar Trabelsi"
],
[
"Lieve Pellens"
],
[
"Trabelsi,"
],
[
"Trabelsi,"
],
[
"14"
],
[
"Kleine Brogel,"
],
[
"Belgium"
],
[
"Kleine Brogel,"
]
] | Belgian officials say 14 Muslims arrested for trying to free terrorist from prison .
Nizar Trabelsi was jailed for 10 years in 2003 for trying to bomb an air base .
He admitted planning to drive a car bomb into the canteen at Kleine Brogel . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Police officers responsible for protecting the British royal family handled firearms when drunk, traded pornography and steroids and sat on Queen Elizabeth II's throne in comical poses, it has been alleged in a London court. The former royal protection officer was responsible for security at Buckingham Palace. The allegations were made Tuesday by John Cooper, the lawyer for former royal protection officer Paul Page, who is accused of defrauding colleagues and friends to fund a life of luxury, The British Press Association reported. According to PA, the claims were made during a lengthy cross-examination of Adam McGregor, a colleague of Page who left service at London's Buckingham Palace in 2005, who has accused the former officer of "conning" him out of thousands of dollars. At one point Cooper "suggested" there had been a procedure among armed officers at the palace whereby one officer on duty would sleep while the others kept watch for their superior. McGregor denied any knowledge of this and all other allegations of wrongdoing among his colleagues at the iconic Royal residence. However, when pressed further he did admit to sitting on one of the thrones, but did not recall doing any "comical poses." The court also heard that officers protecting the royals lost more than £250,000 ($365,800) to a spread betting venture called "The Currency Club," one of a number of apparently successful sidelines Page allegedly set up to clear spiraling debts, PA said. According to the BBC, Page extracted around £3 million ($4.4 million) from some 57 lenders or investors. Cooper suggested that McGregor had been "one of those police officers" using mobile patrols to deliver cash to other police officers based in Royal Protection who were involved in financial matters. The accusation was again denied by McGregor. He instead claimed he had been "totally sucked in" by Page. "I was totally sucked in by Paul he is a very charismatic person," he said, before adding that he had acted "very naively and very stupidly" in some of his dealings with his former colleague. The prosecution claimed much of the money was promptly laundered by Page's wife before being gambled away, as Page himself hid his dishonesty behind a " veneer of credibility" fueled by a fleet of expensive cars and claims he was a highly "adept" property developer and market speculator, PA said. Father of five Page, 37, from Essex in south-east England, has denied five charges -- two of fraudulent trading, one of intimidation, threatening to take revenge and making a threat to kill between January 1, 2003 and March 30, 2007. His wife Laura, 42, denied "being concerned in an arrangement facilitating dealings with criminal property," intimidation and threatening to kill. | [
"Who did they defraud?",
"who are accused of defrauding colleagues?",
"What methods did they use to defraud?",
"Who else was allegedly involved?"
] | [
[
"colleagues and friends"
],
[
"Paul Page,"
],
[
"a spread betting venture called \"The Currency Club,\""
],
[
"other police officers"
]
] | Paul and Laura Page accused of defrauding colleagues to fund a life of luxury .
Page's lawyer suggested other royal officers were involved in wrongdoing .
Prosecution: Page's colleagues lost $365,800 to a spread betting scam .
Royal Protection service responsible for security of Britain's Royal family . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Police on the picturesque island of Jersey in the English Channel detained a 68-year-old man Tuesday as part of their investigation into alleged abuses at a long-closed government-run children's home. A woman walks past the Haut de la Garenne children's home. Spokeswoman Louise Nibbs said the man was helping authorities with their inquiries into "a number of historic rapes and indecent assaults." But, Nibbs added, the man's detention was not "directly related" to the Haut de la Garenne children's home. Rather, he is part of a wider inquiry into abuses that authorities are investigating, she said. "We can now also confirm that the alleged offenses in question took place in the 1960s and 1970s," she said. "We are not able to say at this time where the offenses took place." Nibbs did not release the man's name or disclose any other details. The man has not been charged with a crime, Nibbs said. Jersey is a British crown dependency, located 14 miles off the coast of Normandy near France. In January, police arrested another man -- a former warden who was charged with three counts of indecent assault on underage girls in the late 60s and early 70s. The man, 76-year-old Gordon Wateridge, has not entered a plea yet, Nibbs said. The announcement in January that fragments of a child's skull had been discovered under a stairwell in the building has sparked more than 160 allegations of child abuse there dating back to the 1960s, authorities say. The building opened in 1867 and housed up to 60 children at any one time. It underwent several renovations and closed in 1986 only to reopen as a youth hostel in 2004. Possible clues to the abuse alleged to have occurred inside include writing found on a wall that "refers to somebody being bad," Jersey Deputy Police Chief Lenny Harper said in February. "We have no idea at the moment who put it there or, indeed, how long it's been there." Police said much of what they found, including shackles, matches accounts given by witnesses. Several former residents allege they suffered physical and sexual abuse in a storeroom. Police suspect there could be four bricked-up chambers underground. Several alleged victims have talked about abuse occurring in a large concrete trough in the basement, which was originally the first floor of the building. In February, authorities said they had compiled "well over 40" suspects who are alive, and a number of others who are dead. The investigation has taken officials to Australia, Thailand, Germany and the British mainland. Some of those who have reported abuse have taken their complaints to the news media. "There was one occasion, in the sick bay, where I was made to fondle another boy -- if you didn't, you were threatened you wouldn't come out alive," said Carl Denning, who said he was taken to the home at the age of 5 and said one of his friends committed suicide after being raped there. "You'd go to bed at night, sleeping, and all of a sudden your arms would be held down and the next thing you know you're getting raped," recalled Peter Hannaford, who spent the first 12 years of his life there. "You were subject to constant abuse. ... It was every night, and you were scared to go to bed." Stuart Syvret, a local politician, told CNN the building had long been known "as a place where young boys were punished severely, where they suffered." He alleged a "long-established culture of covering up alleged abuses" -- a claim the local government denies. The investigation began in 2006, when police were alerted to the possibility that pedophiles had worked at the institution. That led to the discovery of the skull fragment. The institution housed wards of the state -- primarily neglected and abandoned children. A remand wing housed children who had been convicted of crimes. The allegations mar the carefully cultivated | [
"Age of the man arrested in the children's home abuse probe?",
"Where did this abuse take place?",
"What charges is the man being questioned for?",
"How many people claim they were abused?",
"What 68-year-old was arrested?",
"What was the alleged site of many abuse cases?",
"How many people claimed abuse at a home?",
"Who was arrested in probe?",
"What is the man being questioned about?",
"How old was this suspect?",
"Name of the home?"
] | [
[
"68-year-old"
],
[
"government-run children's home."
],
[
"abuses at a long-closed government-run children's home."
],
[
"more than 160"
],
[
"man"
],
[
"Haut de la Garenne children's home."
],
[
"160 allegations"
],
[
"Gordon Wateridge,"
],
[
"\"a number of historic rapes and indecent assaults.\""
],
[
"68-year-old"
],
[
"Haut de la Garenne"
]
] | Jersey police say 68-year-old man arrested in children's home abuse probe .
Man being questioned about a number of alleged rapes .
More than a 100 people claim they were abused at Haut de la Garenne home . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Police say they are investigating the disappearance of more than $400,000 worth of jewelry from a photo shoot involving Lindsay Lohan in London on June 6. Jewels are missing from an Elle magazine photo shoot of Lindsay Lohan. "Items of jewelry went missing from an Elle photoshoot ... and the matter is now being investigated by the police," the fashion magazine said in a statement to CNN. "Elle has no reason to believe that Lindsay Lohan was in any way responsible and has no further comment to make." Lohan's representative told CNN the actress was "happy to cooperate," and that "No one has contacted Lindsay" about the investigation. The magazine would not say whether the 22-year-old actress wore the jewelry in the photo shoot, and could not say when the photos would be published. "The theft was reported to a central London police station on 8 June 2009 after earrings and a necklace, believed to be diamond and estimated to be worth in the region of £250,000 [$410,000], were found to be missing approximately two days earlier," London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement. No arrests have been made, the police said. Big Sky Studios in London, where the shoot took place, refused to comment. CNN's Nicola Goulding, Max Foster, Laura Perez Maestro and Jonathan Wald contributed to this report. | [
"What magazine was the spread for?",
"What magazine was Lohan doing a spread for?",
"What did Lohans representative say she was?",
"Where did the jewelry disappear from?",
"What did Logan's representative tell CNN?",
"What magazine was Lindsey Lohan doing a spread for?"
] | [
[
"Elle magazine"
],
[
"Elle"
],
[
"\"happy to cooperate,\""
],
[
"an Elle magazine photo shoot of Lindsay Lohan."
],
[
"the actress was \"happy to cooperate,\" and that \"No one has contacted Lindsay\" about the investigation."
],
[
"Elle"
]
] | Police are investigating disappearance of jewelry from Lindsay Lohan photo shoot .
Lohan was doing photo spread for Elle magazine .
Magazine: "No reason to believe that Lindsay Lohan was in any way responsible"
Lohan's representative told CNN the actress was "happy to cooperate" |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Pop star George Michael was cautioned by police in London after being arrested in public toilets on suspicion of possessing drugs, the UK's Press Association reported.
George Michael has talked candidly about drug use in the past.
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said a 45-year-old man had been arrested in the Hampstead Heath area of London on Friday. He was later released with a caution for possession of class A and class C drugs.
The statement did not name Michael, but other sources confirmed his identity.
Reports Sunday said Michael had been arrested following a tip-off to police from a suspicious toilet attendant, PA said.
The 45-year-old, who has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, has talked openly about his use of drugs in the past.
In an inteview with the BBC last year he admitted: "I'm a happy man and I can afford my marijuana so that's not a problem."
Last May he pleaded guilty to driving while unfit through drugs and was banned from driving for two years after being found slumped behind the wheel of his car. | [
"Police were tipped off by whom?",
"Who was arrested for drug possession in a London public toilet?",
"What classes of drugs did he have?",
"What classes were the drugs George Michael was arrested for?",
"Who was arrested for drugs in London public toilet?",
"What kinds of drugs did he have?",
"Who was arrested in London?",
"Who tipped off the police to the drugs?",
"What was released?",
"Who tipped off the police here?",
"Who was tipped off?",
"Who was arrested?"
] | [
[
"suspicious toilet attendant,"
],
[
"George Michael"
],
[
"class A and class C"
],
[
"class A and class C"
],
[
"George Michael"
],
[
"class A and class C"
],
[
"George Michael"
],
[
"suspicious toilet attendant,"
],
[
"George Michael"
],
[
"a suspicious toilet attendant,"
],
[
"police"
],
[
"George Michael"
]
] | George Michael cautioned after being arrested for drugs in London public toilet .
Pop star was released with a caution for possession of class A, class C drugs .
Press reports claim police were tipped off by a suspicious toilet attendant . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Pop star George Michael was cautioned by police in London after being arrested in public toilets on suspicion of possessing drugs, the UK's Press Association reported. George Michael has talked candidly about drug use in the past. In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said a 45-year-old man had been arrested in the Hampstead Heath area of London on Friday. He was later released with a caution for possession of class A and class C drugs. The statement did not name Michael, but other sources confirmed his identity. Reports Sunday said Michael had been arrested following a tip-off to police from a suspicious toilet attendant, PA said. The 45-year-old, who has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, has talked openly about his use of drugs in the past. In an inteview with the BBC last year he admitted: "I'm a happy man and I can afford my marijuana so that's not a problem." Last May he pleaded guilty to driving while unfit through drugs and was banned from driving for two years after being found slumped behind the wheel of his car. | [
"Who was arrested?",
"Who tipped off police?",
"What class drugs did the star have in possession?",
"What did he possess?",
"Who tipped police off?",
"Who tipped police?",
"Where was Michael arrested?",
"Where did the crime happen?",
"What did the star posses?",
"Who was arrested for drugs in a public restroom?",
"Who reportedly tipped off the police?"
] | [
[
"George Michael"
],
[
"suspicious toilet attendant,"
],
[
"C"
],
[
"class A and class C drugs."
],
[
"a suspicious toilet attendant,"
],
[
"suspicious toilet attendant,"
],
[
"London"
],
[
"LONDON, England"
],
[
"class A and class C drugs."
],
[
"George Michael"
],
[
"a suspicious toilet attendant,"
]
] | George Michael cautioned after being arrested for drugs in London public toilet .
Pop star was released with a caution for possession of class A, class C drugs .
Press reports claim police were tipped off by a suspicious toilet attendant . |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Predatory mice are threatening the albatross population on a remote south Atlantic island and have caused the birds' worst nesting season on record, a British bird charity says. Baby albatross on a remote Atlantic island are threatened by killer house mice. The research from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds indicates bad news for the Tristan albatross, whose only home is Gough Island in the middle of the south Atlantic. House mice not native to the island are threatening the Tristan albatross with extinction, the RSPB said. The mice are also threatening the native population of bunting, one of the world's largest finches, the RSPB said. "Without removal of the mice, both the albatross and the bunting that live there are doomed to extinction," Grahame Madge, a conservation spokesman for the RSPB, told CNN. The mice on the island eat the chicks of the albatross and bunting before they make it to the fledgling stage, the RSPB said. This makes it especially difficult for the albatross population to survive because the birds lay eggs only once every two years -- a very low reproductive rate compared to other birds, Madge said. "What [the mice] are affecting is the ability of the albatross to produce enough young to sustain the population," he said. Adult Tristan albatross are threatened by longline fishing at sea, a practice in which boats put up numerous 100-meter long fishing lines baited with squid or fish. The albatrosses are attracted to the bait and while some manage to steal it successfully, many more get snagged and drown, Madge said. Because of the impact from house mice, introduced to the island by sealers in the 18th and 19th centuries, conservation alliance BirdLife International earlier this year listed both the Tristan albatross and the Gough bunting as critically endangered -- the highest threat level before extinction. Gough Island, a British territory almost midway between Argentina and South Africa, is a place of stunning natural beauty. The island is not inhabited by humans. Gough Island and nearby Inaccessible Island are both listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. A survey of the albatross on Gough Island in January showed 1,764 adults incubating eggs, the RSPB said. A later survey revealed only 246 chicks had survived to fledgling. "We've known for a long time that the mice were killing albatross chicks in huge numbers," said RSPB scientist Richard Cuthbert, who recently visited the island to assess the problem. "However, we now know that the albatrosses have suffered their worst year on record." The bunting suffer because the mice eat their eggs and chicks, and may also compete with them for food in the winter, Cuthbert said. "The decline in bunting numbers is alarming," said Peter Ryan of the University of Cape Town, who has been studying buntings on the island since the 1980s. "Without urgent conservation action to remove the mice, both the albatross and the bunting are living on borrowed time." The RSPB has been studying whether it is possible to remove the mice. It said trials so far look promising, but it urged the British government to step up funding for the project. It said eradicating the mice from Gough Island would solve the primary conservation threat facing both bird species. The RSPB said it had been working with New Zealand conservationists on a program to remove the smaller mice by dropping poisoned bait from helicopters. Tristan albatrosses are one of 22 species of albatross in the world. Albatrosses principally live in the southern Atlantic but some also live in the Pacific, the RSPB says. Albatrosses are among the largest flying birds, weighing up to 25 pounds (22.5 kilograms). One species -- the wandering albatross -- has a wingspan of 11 feet, the RSPB says. The birds can fly thousands of miles without a pause, and their only need to touch land is to nest and raise their young, the RSPB says. | [
"What area are the mice threatening the local animals?",
"What animals are threatening the albatross?",
"What animal is threatening large finches?",
"What threatens albatross in the south Atlantic?",
"What is threatening the albatross population?",
"What are the house mice killing and eating?",
"What are the house mice eating?",
"What native birds are also at risk?",
"What are the mice eating?",
"Mice are threatening which birds?",
"What are the mice killing?",
"Are mice native to the island?",
"What are mice threatening?",
"what does mice are killing?",
"who is threatening the albatross population?",
"Where are the mice located?"
] | [
[
"Gough Island in the middle of the south Atlantic."
],
[
"Predatory mice"
],
[
"mice"
],
[
"Predatory mice"
],
[
"Predatory mice"
],
[
"albatross"
],
[
"chicks of the albatross and bunting before they make it to the fledgling stage,"
],
[
"Tristan albatross,"
],
[
"the chicks of the albatross and bunting"
],
[
"albatross"
],
[
"finches,"
],
[
"not"
],
[
"the albatross population"
],
[
"albatross"
],
[
"Predatory mice"
],
[
"island"
]
] | Predatory mice are threatening the albatross population on a south Atlantic island .
House mice not native to the island are killing and eating chicks .
Mice are also threatening the native population of large finches . |
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