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[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- The World Health Organization announced Tuesday it is still considering increasing its pandemic alert level to phase 6 because of growing worldwide cases of the H1N1 virus, or swine flu. WHO considers raising the pandemic alert level to 6 as cases of H1N1 increase worldwide. \"Globally, we are at phase 5, but we are nearing phase 6,\" said Dr. Keiji Fukuda, WHO's Assistant Director General. \"As this continues to spread internationally, some countries are moving from isolated to sustained community spread.\" Phase 6 is a declaration that many member countries have long feared could mean economic disaster. It is the highest on the WHO's pandemic alert system, and is described by the organization as a global pandemic. Fukuda was quick to remind journalists that the designation does not reflect the severity of the disease, but how widespread it is. \"Our overall assessment of severity is moderate,\" he said, \"because although the overall number of serious and fatal cases is relatively limited ... we really don't have a full handle on the number of people with serious illness.\" Fukuda said nearly 19,000 cases of the H1N1 virus have been reported in 64 countries, resulting in 117 deaths." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "World Health Organization considers increasing pandemic alert level to phase 6 .\nDesignation does not reflect the severity of the disease, but how widespread it is .\nPhase 6 is highest on pandemic alert system and means global pandemic ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- A sharp increase in the number of reported cases of the H1N1 virus in Australia may prompt the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare the first global pandemic in over forty years. Australian rugby league star Karmichael Hunt is one of several players being tested for the H1N1 virus. The number of Australian cases of the virus, commonly known as swine flu, has reached more than 1,200, with state and federal medical officers set to hold an emergency meeting in Sydney to review the country's swine flu protection measures. \"We will take each decision along the way in response to the expert medical advice,\" Prime Minister Kevin Rudd told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). On Wednesday it was announced that the entire Brisbane Broncos rugby league squad had been placed into quarantine after one of their players was suspected of having the virus. The Queensland club confirmed on its Web site that full-back Karmichael Hunt was being tested for the virus, while the sport's governing body, the National Rugby League (NRL), said Hunt had tested positive for the common flu, influenza A. With over 26,000 H1N1 cases worldwide, the WHO could move to Phase 6, the highest on its pandemic alert system. \"It's really a matter of making sure that countries are prepared as possible. We do not want people to overly panic,\" Keiji Fukuda, WHO's Assistant Director General, told ABC. In a statement a day earlier, Fukuda said the WHO had been working extremely hard preparing countries for what a potential move to a global pandemic would entail. \"I want to point out that by going to Phase 6 the activity has become established in at least two regions of the world,\" he said. \"It does not mean that the severity of the situation has increased and that people are getting seriously sick at higher numbers or higher rates than they are right now.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Australian cases of the H1N1 virus reach more than 1,200 .\nPhase 6 is highest on pandemic alert system and means global pandemic .\nDesignation does not reflect the severity of the disease, but how widespread it is ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Manila, Philippines (CNN) -- The son of a Philippines provincial governor is voluntarily turning himself in for questioning in the massacre of at least 57 unarmed civilians, a CNN affiliate reported Thursday. Andal Ampatuan Jr. -- who is the mayor of Datu Unsay and the son of Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan -- has agreed to face questioning, reported Patricia Evangelista of ABS-CBN. Ampatuan was not identified by authorities as a suspect in the killings in the southern Philippines, though victims' survivors and local media reports had done so. Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo \"is enraged by these barbaric acts,\" spokesman Cerge Remonde said. \"She has literally thrown the full force of the law and has mobilized the security and police forces of the state to go after the perpetrators.\" Philippines authorities had disbanded a paramilitary force in the southern Philippines suspected of playing a role in the massacre, the country's state-run media reported Wednesday. Remonde said the deaths were the result of a political clan war, not Muslim secessionism in that troubled region of the country. \"So far as this case is concerned, this is a limited clan political rivalry, which has been going on for some time now,\" Remonde said. The death toll grew Wednesday after 11 more bodies were recovered from a rural area of Mindanao and buried. Arroyo has declared Wednesday a national day of mourning. Arroyo's government is under intense pressure to find those responsible for planning and carrying out the abduction and killing of the group of about 60 politicians, lawyers and journalists -- and reportedly some bystanders. Suspicion has fallen on the Ampatuan family, key allies of the Arroyo administration in the Maguindanao region of the southern Mindanao province. Ampatuan family members have not commented on the slaying allegations. Remonde appeared to blame the Ampatuan clan, adding: \"There is, however, a move now by the administration party to expel the suspected clan.\" Those killed include the wife and two sisters of a local politician who plans to run for the spot vacated next year by Maguindanao's governor, Andal Ampatuan. While the investigation is ongoing, a spokesman for the country's national police has said that Andal Ampatuan Jr. has been linked to the crime, according to local media reports. \"According to the initial reports, those who were abducted and murdered at Saniag were initially stopped by a group led by the mayor of Datu Unsay,\" National Police spokesman Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina said, according to ABS-CBN News. The massacre is the worst politically motivated violence in recent Philippines history. On Monday morning, in daylight, a group of about 100 gunmen stopped a convoy carrying supporters and family members of local politician Ismael \"Toto\" Mangudadatu, witnesses and officials say. Mangudadatu had sent his wife and sisters to file paperwork allowing him to run for governor of Maguindanao in May after he had been threatened and told not to file the papers himself. He said the threats came from allies of Governor Ampatuan. The number of people kidnapped and killed was still unclear, as recovery continued at the mass grave site in Maguindanao. A car traveling behind the convoy was mistaken for being a part of the politician's contingent, a local official told the Philippines GMA News Network. The car was instead heading to a hospital, according to Tom Robles, head of the Tacurong City Employees Union, who spoke to GMA News. The driver and four passengers -- including a government employee who had suffered a mild stroke and his wife -- were rounded up and killed along with the members of the convoy ahead of them, Robles said. A police official confirmed that the car and the bodies of three of the passengers were among those recovered at the grave site, GMA reported. The state-run Philippines News Agency said the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD (Christian, Muslim, Democrats) was to meet Wednesday to discuss whether to remove the Ampatuan clan members in Mindanao from the party as a result of the killings. \"In our opinion, they were not able to fulfill their obligations to the party,\" said former Defense Secretary Gilberto \"Gibo\" Teodoro, Lakas-Kampi-CMD national president and the party's standard bearer in the 2010 elections, in a radio interview, according to PNA. Ampatuans hold leadership positions in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, including governor of the region, governor of Maguindanao and mayor of Datu Unsay. \"Like many others, I am appalled and outraged by it, and I join the rising chorus of indignation against it,\" Arroyo said. \"This is not a simple election feud between opposing clans; this is a supreme act of inhumanity that is a blight on our nation. The perpetrators will not escape justice. The law will haunt them until they are caught.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "NEW: Authorities did not identify Ampatuan as a suspect .\nDatu Unsay mayor led group that initially stopped civilians, police cite reports as saying .\nAmpatuans hold leadership positions in Mindanao .\nAuthorities disband paramilitary force in the southern Philippines ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Washington (CNN) -- Tables set in apple green, ruby and gold with arrangements of roses, hydrangeas and sweet peas awaited guests to Tuesday's White House state dinner. The place settings in fine china from three previous administrations -- Eisenhower, Clinton and George W. Bush -- are flanked by crystal glasses and five pieces of silverware. Place cards are handwritten, including two that read \"The President\" and \"Mrs. Obama.\" The first state dinner of Barack Obama's presidency, in honor of visiting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, will take place in a tent set up on the White House South Lawn, with a view of the Washington Monument. Guests will sit at round tables for 10, with the floral arrangements intended to pay homage to the state bird of India, the Indian peacock, and the dinner featuring a seasonal menu reflecting American and Indian flavors, according to the White House. The first course will be a potato and eggplant salad made with White House-grown arugula and accompanied by an onion-seed vinaigrette. Red lentil soup with fresh cheese follows, and then a choice of entrees: roasted potato dumplings with tomato chutney, chickpeas and okra for vegetarians, or green curry prawns and caramelized salsify with smoked collard greens. Dessert will be pumpkin pie tart or pear tatin with whipped cream and caramel sauce. Each course is paired with its own wine, all of American vintage. Michelle Obama worked with guest chef Marcus Samuelsson and White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford to \"create a menu that reflects the best of American cuisine, continues this White House's commitment to serving fresh, sustainable and regional food, and honors the culinary excellence and flavors that are present in Indian cuisine,\" the White House said. The herbs and lettuces were harvested from the White House Kitchen Garden started by the first lady, and honey from the White House beehive is being used to poach the dessert pears." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Dinner in honor of Indian premier will take place on White House South Lawn .\nFloral arrangements intended to pay homage to the Indian peacock .\nDinner reflecting Indian and American flavors uses herbs from White House garden ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- The high school honor student and the NFL's highest-paid defensive back stroll down the destitute streets of Skid Row. \"I can sell you something right quick,\" a drug dealer hisses. Another shouts, \"Gonna whoop your ass!\" More expletives are hurled. Seventeen-year-old Kenneth Chancey is giving a tour to Nnamdi Asomugha, showing the NFL star the streets that he and his sister used to walk to get to school while living in a Skid Row homeless shelter. Prostitutes, addicts and drug dealers scatter. \"Camera! Camera!\" they shout. The two make it safely past the park, one of the roughest areas of Los Angeles. An orange soda whizzes through the air, nearly hitting the teen and the Oakland Raiders' All-Pro cornerback worth $45 million. \"Wow,\" the teen says. \"I'm sure they watch you every Sunday, and they don't even recognize who you are.\" It is Kenneth's inner strength and his love for education that have brought together this high school class president and NFL star. \"The thing I took away is how fearless he is,\" Asomugha said later. \"The things he's been through are so big and so severe -- they were threatening our lives and throwing things at us on Skid Row. But it doesn't bother him. \"His potential meter is at 1,000 right now.\" Escaping through education . Even while Kenneth lived on Skid Row, he dreamed of attending Harvard to become a neurosurgeon. When Asomugha saw Kenneth's story on CNN, he wanted to help. He runs a foundation, the Asomugha College Tour for Scholars, that takes talented inner-city kids on tours of college campuses they otherwise would never be able to see. He's helped get 25 teens into college over the last four years. On this day, he's come to tell Kenneth that he will be among the 16 students traveling in the spring to visit schools in Washington, D.C. \"I'm thankful to be able to give back,\" Asomugha said. Hours before the Skid Row tour, Asomugha traveled to Hollywood's Helen Bernstein High School, where Kenneth is a starting running back in his senior year. They met at the school's football stadium, where Asomugha told Kenneth in person. \"This smile on my face,\" Kenneth said, \"is a freaking good thing. This is awesome!\" Asomugha leaned closer. \"You know who we're working on now?\" \"Obama?\" Kenneth asked nervously. \"We have to,\" the NFL star replied. Kenneth's fever-pitched excitement reached a crescendo, \"Oh my gosh!\" His father, Gordon Costello, joined in and handed a folded paper to Asomugha. The proud dad didn't show off football awards or his son's athletic achievements. Instead, it's Kenneth's latest report card, straight A's. \"He might overqualify for the tour,\" Asomugha said as he studied the report card. \"This shows someone with a lot of drive and ambition. These are some great grades.\" \"I'm at a loss for words,\" the teen said. \"Stuff like this doesn't happen every day.\" Asomugha came from a family where education was stressed from day one. He remembers asking his mom as a boy, \"Can I have some ice cream?\" \"No,\" she responded. \"You haven't finished your homework.\" \"I'd say, 'but I'm 3!' \" Asomugha's sister is a pediatrician, his mother holds a doctorate. Two other siblings have secondary degrees. \"I am the least educated in my family,\" Asomugha said. \"I catch a lot of heat from my family.\" The football star, who is the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history, has a degree in finance from the University of California-Berkeley. Kenneth is energized. \"I'm going to be the first one in my family to get a secondary education,\" he told Asomugha. \"And everyone will follow you,\" his father added. Kenneth spent his sixth-grade year living in a van with his mother and stepfather. His sister once was beaten up by someone who wanted her shirt. Kenneth was held up at gunpoint for his laptop. He refused to hand it over because his grandmother bought it for him. \"If you're going to shoot me, shoot me now,\" he told the would-be thief. \"He said, 'I ain't gonna kill no little kid.' \" Mantra: Always keep your head up . From February to August of this year, Kenneth lived at the Union Rescue Mission homeless shelter along Skid Row with his father and sister. After the CNN piece aired, his friend invited him and his sister, Stephanie, to stay with his family, while Kenneth's father looked for work. Outside Kenneth's earshot, the NFL star talked about how the teen is an inspiration, doing all the right things to achieve greatness in life. \"You don't hear about guys like Kenneth,\" Asomugha said. \"When you have your back against the wall and you're trying to fight and there are so many things -- so many obstacles -- against you but you're still keeping your head above the water like he's doing ... the sky's the limit.\" Kenneth says he constantly thought about dropping out to get a job to help his father financially. His dad would have none of it. \"Your education will pay off in the long run,\" his father always told him. On the tour at Skid Row, Kenneth took Asomugha to the shelter's rooftop. It's a million-dollar view of the Los Angeles skyline. It's where Kenneth studied. It's also where he learned his biggest lesson: to always keep his head up. The student and the football player leaned over the building's ledge. Down below, drug deals were being made. \"Anytime you look down over the ledge, you start to see the negative,\" Asomugha said. \"When you keep your head up, you're seeing all the positive. Was that your mantra?\" The teen smiled. \"That's how you do it in life,\" Kenneth said. \"I just try to keep my head up, to look into the future.\" Five years from now, he'll be graduating from college. The hell of Skid Row will be a distant memory. \"Once I succeed,\" he said, \"I will be able to help other people.\" CNN's Traci Tamura and Gregg Canes contributed to this report." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "NFL star Nnamdi Asomugha decides to help homeless teen after CNN report .\nKenneth Chancey, 17, lived in homeless shelter, yet made all A's and is class president .\nAsomugha will take Chancey and 19 other inner-city kids on college tour in spring ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- Could humans one day live to be 1,000, and would that be a good thing? CNN's global health show Vital Signs has teamed up with world renowned anti-aging experts to bring you an in-depth discussion on the search for immortality. Vital Signs host and CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta will be joined by best-selling author Dan Buettner who has done extensive studies on the areas in the world people live the longest, healthiest lives, known as Blue Zones, and shares their formula for a long life. The other panelist is geneticist Dr. Aubrey de Grey, best-selling author of \"Ending Aging: The Rejuvenation Breakthroughs That Could Reverse Human Aging in Our Lifetime.\" He believes regenerative medicine could, in a matter of decades, extend life expectancy to 1000 years. This special edition of Vital Signs: The Clinic will be broadcast LIVE on CNN.com and we want you to take part in the conversation. You can do that by using the soundoff comments box below, post on iReport.com or e-mail [email protected]. You can also send questions via Twitter. What would you ask the experts? Do you want to learn how to live until 100 and beyond? Or find out which diets or exercise to follow for living longer? Do you have concerns about how an aging population might impact on resources? The best questions will be featured on the show where the experts will give you tips on how to live longer. Dr. Gupta will also investigate the longevity hot spots around the world and you can tap into the secrets of their success. Watch Vital Signs: The Clinic LIVE on CNN.com on Monday November 30, at 1200 GMT. (0700 ET, 2000 HK, 1300 CET)" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Watch a LIVE webcast on CNN.com on November 30, at 1200 GMT .\nLeading anti-aging experts will share their insights on the search for immortality .\nSend them your questions via soundoff, ireport and twitter ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- Six-year-old Makayla Sitton didn't get to act in The Nutcracker Ballet. The night before she was to go on stage, she was shot to death with three others in a home in Jupiter, Florida. \"I do not know how we're ever going to recover from this, but we know where she is. She is in heaven,\" her father, Jim Sitton, told CNN affiliate WPTV-TV of West Palm Beach, Florida. \"God has blessed us with this beautiful girl, and he just took her home a little bit earlier than we wanted,\" he said, struggling to hold back tears. Police were searching Friday for a suspect in the deaths of Makayla and three others: twins Carla Merhige and Lisa Knight, 33, and Raymonde Joseph, 76, police said. Patrick Knight and Clifford Gebara were wounded in the shooting, police said. Officers were looking for Paul Michael Merhige, 35, who is thought to have left the area armed, said Jupiter police Sgt. Scott Pascarella. The dead were Merhige's twin sisters, his aunt and 6-year-old cousin. Interviews with family members suggest that Merhige \"had ongoing resentment\" for some of his relatives, said Sally Collins-Ortiz, a spokeswoman for Jupiter police. One of the victims -- Knight -- was pregnant, Collins-Ortiz said Friday. The U.S. Marshals have joined the search for Merhige, she said. The shooting occurred about 10 p.m. ET Thursday. Pascarella said he did not know the motive. Merhige is thought to have driven away in a blue 2007 Toyota Camry with Florida license plate number W42 7JT, the officer said. CNN's Leslie Tripp contributed to this report." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Four killed, 2 hurt in southern Florida on Thanksgiving night .\nPolice searching for victims' relative in connection with the shootings .\nPaul Michael Merhige, 35, may have \"had ongoing resentment\" for relatives, police say ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "New York (CNN) -- Three years ago I began research on a book dedicated to the national pastimes: shopping and buying. The plan was to devote the first half of the story to what I called the \"sell side\": the retailers, marketers and consumer researchers who have their sights trained on us. The second half would be about us, the \"buy side.\" I would explore all that attracts us -- bees to nectar-- to specific stores and products, why some of us are cheapskates and others have holes in our pockets. Then, a not-so-funny thing happened. Between the time I started my reporting and the time I handed in my finished manuscript, both the sell and the buy sides had cratered. Home prices crashed. Credit markets collapsed. The government tried feverishly to glue broken banks back together. Unemployment went up and up and up. The result: consumer spending -- as in that which drives 70 percent of the U.S. economy -- was running on fumes. Department store sales sank by double-digits. \"The golden age of spending for the American consumer has ended and a new age of thrift likely has begun,\" said a Wall Street analyst. \"Sixty percent off is the new black,\" quipped a magazine fashion writer. Gone, seemingly overnight, were the throngs of buyers from Europe and Asia who had been dragging their wheelies down Fifth Avenue in New York, loading up on shoes and handbags and leaving us American shoppers feeling, even then, like poor country cousins. Word spread that we were now living in \"the Wal-Mart moment,\" which was likely to be rather drawn out. Our longstanding fetish for bigger, faster, flashier, pricier was no more.. With the most hyped shopping day on the calendar -- Black Friday! -- upon us, we all might take a deep breath and focus, not just on where to find the best door-busters, but on more important questions: What is going on out there? In the buying and selling universe, are we witnessing a permanent change in values? Have we all turned forever frugal? The fact is, nobody's quite sure right now. Over the past several months, there have been small signs of recovery. Consumer confidence surveys offer a glimmer of hope. On the \"sell side\" retailers are viewing the holiday selling season with slightly more optimism than when they put in their holiday purchase orders six months ago. And it seems reasonable to hope that we've at least touched bottom and that the consumer escalator is on the way up again, however fitfully. But on the buy side -- our side -- things have changed dramatically, and in some ways for the better. We're shopping more with our heads, not just our hearts; we're thinking about the things we buy. A woman in Boston -- affluent, accomplished, largely unscathed by the financial collapse -- told me that when she now looks back on the expensive shoes and clothes she bought routinely just a few years ago, she \"just can't believe what I was doing.\" The Internet is now a daily, indispensable tool we use to search for better prices and seek counsel from others with firsthand knowledge of brands and stores we might be considering. The result: Up and down the socioeconomic ladder we're shopping more prudently. We're paying down credit card balances and placing greater value not just on the new and novel, the cool and the trendy, but also on value itself. Does it work? Is the price fair? Will it last? And yes, we're also splurging now and then -- on impulse purchases that can make a day all the more sweet: a new hairstyle, a brightly colored this-or-that for spring, an electronic gadget that performs amazing tricks, some useful, some just diverting. There are those who would tell us that purchases like this -- \"unnecessary!\" \"juvenile!\" etc. -- are signs of character weakness, that we are routinely \"conned\" into buying useless things by manipulative Mad Men, but I think it's more complicated. Because if there's one thing I learned after three years of watching folks shop and buy -- in good times, then bad -- it isn't that we buy that's been our problem, it's how we bought that was the issue: recklessly, and with little more than a piece of plastic or phantom home equity. But that was then. This is now, and a little self-reward -- a from-me-to-me purchase here, an I-love-you purchase there -- are hardly crimes in my book. Assuming, of course, they don't bring down the house -- this holiday season and beyond. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Lee Eisenberg ." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lee Eisenberg says a down economy has turned American spenders into scrimpers .\nIt's early to tell whether consumer habits have shifted permanently, he says .\nEisenberg: Consumers are placing a new importance on value when they buy ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (CNN) -- The de facto president of Honduras denied Wednesday that his government turned off the power at the embassy where deposed President Jose Manual Zelaya surprisingly reappeared this week, and said that the people inside were free to come and go. A soldier takes a picture Wednesday of the Brazilian Embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Honduran forces also will not enter the Brazilian embassy, where Zelaya has been housed since Monday, de facto President Roberto Micheletti said in an interview with CNN en Español. But these developments do not spare Zelaya, who was ousted in a June 28 coup, from being arrested and facing charges for violating the constitution if he leaves the safe haven of the embassy, Micheletti said. \"President Zelaya should present himself before the tribunals of justice in our country where he has charges against him,\" Micheletti said. The de facto president challenged versions of events surrounding Zelaya's return. Despite local reports citing police officials that authorities turned off the power to the embassy and surrounding area ostensibly to discourage looting, Micheletti said that a congregation of pro-Zelaya protesters at the embassy short-circuited the power themselves. As of Wednesday, power was restored to the building, Micheletti said. A nationwide curfew was lifted Wednesday, but a security cordon remained in the area around the embassy. Micheletti said that the police were there because the people inside the embassy requested the protection, and said, \"We are not impeding the exit nor the entrance of absolutely anybody.\" Zelaya's announced return has re-ignited a stand-off between the two disputed leaders of Honduras. Brazil now finds itself involved because of its embassy. Brazil wants an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting to discuss the situation, the official Brazilian news agency reported. In another development, Micheletti said he is willing to meet anywhere with ousted President Jose Manuel Zelaya as long as Zelaya agrees to abide by presidential elections scheduled for November 29. But the de facto leader said in a statement read by his foreign minister Tuesday that his offer to talk with Zelaya does not nullify an arrest warrant issued against the ousted president by the nation's Supreme Court. \"I think that what the whole world should understand about this country is that there is no immunity for anyone -- for anyone,\" Micheletti told CNN en Español. \"And, no one can be above the law.\" Micheletti's willingness to engage Zelaya seemed to be a reversal of his position. On Tuesday, he had said in an interview with local network Televicentro that Zelaya's sudden appearance would not revive negotiations to have him return to power. The United States and Brazil have said they support dialogue between the two sides, centered on the San Jose Accord, an agreement negotiated by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias. That deal calls for Zelaya to be restored to power. The Brazilian request for a Security Council meeting came after the Honduran government isolated the embassy by cutting water, power and phone lines to the building, U.S. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly confirmed to reporters Tuesday in Washington. This was the same action that Micheletti denied Wednesday. Micheletti said that other nations have not given his government a fair hearing of its position. \"This is what we Hondurans want: to be heard, for them to read our constitution, to read our laws, and to see what happened before June 28,\" Micheletti said. The de facto government argues that Zelaya was not removed in a coup, but in a constitutional transfer of power. Zelaya, a centrist whose politics took a strong turn to the left once in office, was ousted in a June 28 military-backed coup. Despite increasing political, diplomatic and economic isolation, Micheletti has steadfastly resisted pressure to allow Zelaya to return to power and Micheletti thwarted two very public attempts by Zelaya to return to his homeland. \"Yes, we are alone, but we are surviving,\" Micheletti said. \"Two months ago, people didn't think we would withstand all this time, but here we are almost three months later.\" Amnesty International issued a statement Wednesday in which the human rights group \"denounced a sharp rise in police beatings, mass arrests of demonstrators and intimidation of human rights defenders in Honduras since the June coup d'état and warned that fundamental rights and the rule of law in the Central American nation are in grave jeopardy.\" The organization said police fired tear gas Tuesday at a building housing a prominent human rights organization. Around 100 people, including women and children, were inside, Amnesty International said. Many were there to denounce what they said were police abuse while breaking up the demonstration outside the Brazilian Embassy, the rights group said. \"The situation in Honduras can only be described as alarming,\" said Susan Lee, Americas director at Amnesty International. \"The attacks against human rights defenders, suspension of news outlets, beating of demonstrators by the police and ever increasing reports of mass arrests indicate that human rights and the rule of law in Honduras are at grave risk.\" It was still not publicly known Wednesday how Zelaya got into the country and he declined to provide details, only telling CNN en Español on Tuesday that it was a 15- to 16-hour trip he took \"with the help of Hondurans.\" Journalist Elvin Sandoval contributed to this report for CNN en Español." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Amnesty International official calls situation in Honduras \"alarming\"\nHonduras reportedly cuts utilities at Brazilian Embassy in Tegucigalpa .\nBrazil official calls Honduran action on its embassy a \"serious\" move .\nOusted Honduran President Jose Manuel Zelaya inside embassy ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Editor's note: CNN Contributor Bob Greene is a best-selling author whose new book is \"Late Edition: A Love Story.\" Bob Greene says Logan, Ohio, paid an extraordinary tribute to its most dedicated football fan. (CNN) -- \"Yes, it's all gone now,\" Craig Dunn told me the other day. \"If you're not from around here, you'd never know it was ever there.\" Dunn is the sports editor of the Logan, Ohio, Daily News, a paper with a small circulation (around 4,000) and a small news staff (five people put the paper out, covering the entire county). Last fall, when I was crisscrossing the country on the CNN Election Express, I spoke with Dunn about the town's high school football stadium, which was being demolished. Bill Sauer Field, it was called. The story I wrote appeared briefly on the Political Ticker and then went away quickly; there was so much rapidly breaking news coming out of the presidential campaign that the story was little more than a blip. Yet I found myself, during the last year, thinking about Bill Sauer Field, and Logan, Ohio, and how it's possible for all of us, if we make the effort, to find the best in ourselves -- to find the best in each other. I find myself thinking about Bill Sauer, and about what that little town did for him, more than I think about almost anything else on which I reported during our long journey through America. And so, with a new football season beginning all across the United States, I spoke with Craig Dunn again the other afternoon. \"When I drive by the place where it used to be, it's not with a sense of sadness,\" he said. \"It's with pride for what this town once did.\" Bill Sauer Field was the core of public life in Logan. The town, population 7,300, gravitated to the old stadium on Friday nights in autumns to watch the high school team, the Chieftains, play their games. And who was Bill Sauer? A self-made millionaire from the community who had bestowed the stadium upon the town? A prominent local politician? A long-gone Logan football hero? No. Bill Sauer was born in Logan more than 100 years ago -- in 1908. From the time he was a little boy, he could not walk. He spoke with great difficulty. His parents, desperate, searched for answers. Logan was and is a rural community, and back then sophisticated medical diagnoses were not easy to come by. His mother and father were eventually told that the boy had cerebral palsy. He attended public school in Logan. It was not easy, of course. He was 23 by the time he graduated from Logan High School. Then, as now, the boys who were strong and swift and athletically graceful were the ones most celebrated. Bill could not even take a step on his own. But he loved the Logan sports teams, and he took pride in supporting them. Football, basketball, track and field -- he never missed a game, and he seldom missed a practice session. He would be there on the sidelines, sitting in his wheelchair, cheering for his classmates. His life didn't get any less arduous after he graduated. His father died. It became incumbent upon Bill to support himself and his mother. He sold Christmas cards; he sold magazine subscriptions. At the town's swimming pool, he ran the concessions stand. His philosophy of life, Craig Dunn told me, was basic: However often you get knocked down, you get back up one more time. Bill Sauer grew older. New generations of healthy and talented young athletes played for the Logan Chieftains on Friday nights. No matter the weather, no matter how he was feeling, Bill was always there. The Logan football stadium had been constructed in 1925. It was the heart of the town; it was what made the community feel like a community. In 1975, there was a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the stadium. On that night, it was renamed. For him. For Bill. The whole town had fallen in love with him. All of the quarterbacks who had ever thrown touchdown passes in that stadium, all of the linebackers who had ever made jarring tackles, all of the field goal kickers who had ever won games for Logan as the scoreboard clock ticked down ... and the place was renamed for the boy who could never run a single stride. As the years went by, when visiting teams would come to town, few of the opposing players would have any idea why the stadium in Logan bore the name that it did. That didn't matter. Logan knew. Bill knew. He never married or had a family. He kept going to the games, sitting on the sidelines, right up until his death in 1988. The town, by honoring him the way it did, had given his life meaning, and contentment, and joy. The decades after his death passed; the stadium grew too old, too outmoded. Finally, by last year, there could be no more delay. It was time to tear down Bill Sauer Field. It has vanished now. The new athletic complex -- Logan Chieftain Stadium, it is called -- has risen out near State Route 328. Craig Dunn, the sports editor, spends his Friday nights in the fall covering the games there. Plans are in the works, he said, to erect a plaque at the new stadium in memory of the lifelong fortitude of the town's most faithful fan. \"They want the plaque to be in a place where the Logan players can see it as they run onto the field for every game,\" Dunn said. \"They want to make sure that Bill is never forgotten.\" This can be a mean old world sometimes. But other times, when you least expect it, it can light you up. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Bob Greene." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Bob Greene: Bill Sauer was a dedicated fan of his small-town football team .\nHe says Sauer had cerebral palsy and a challenging life .\nGreene: Sauer wasn't a football star, a millionaire or a politician .\nHe says town paid him extraordinary tribute by naming stadium after him ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Peppermint oil, soluble fiber, and antispasmodic drugs can indeed help people with irritable bowel syndrome, according to an analysis of 25 years of research on the condition, which is characterized by bouts of diarrhea and constipation. \"It wasn't appreciated how much of an impact [IBS] can have on a patient's quality of life,\" says one researcher. About 10 to 15 percent of people in North America have IBS, and it's twice as common in women. However, only about one-third of people with the intestinal disorder seek treatment. The exact cause of IBS remains unknown, and that lack of knowledge has led to the use of a variety of treatments, including fiber supplements, probiotics, antidepressants, behavioral-based therapies, psychotherapy, food modification, acupuncture, and laxatives. However, many treatments are controversial because study results have been mixed. Newer and more expensive medications have been introduced to the public, but some were ineffective or withdrawn from the market due to side effects. The recent study sheds light on the cheap and readily available treatments that can help patients, says study coauthor Eamonn M. Quigley, M.D., a professor of medicine and physiology at University College Cork in Ireland. \"Medical science has tended to ignore IBS; it wasn't appreciated how much of an impact it can have on a patient's quality of life,\" he says. Health.com: Is that belly ache in your head? In the new analysis, researchers systematically reviewed 38 studies from the last 25 years; more than 2,500 volunteers were involved. That research compared therapies -- all relatively cheap, safe, and readily available -- with a placebo or with no treatment at all. The team looked at three treatments -- soluble fiber, peppermint oil, and antispasmodics, which are drugs that relax the smooth muscle in the gut and relieve cramping -- and found that they were all more effective than a placebo, according to the report in the British Medical Journal. But not all fiber is the same. The soluble fiber ispaghula husk, which is also known as psyllium and found in some bulk laxatives, significantly reduced symptoms of IBS, particularly constipation; insoluble fiber, such as bran, did not relieve symptoms. Several antispasmodic drugs helped prevent IBS symptoms, particularly diarrhea. The most effective one was hyoscine, which is sold without a prescription in the United States. Although peppermint oil was found to be the most effective of the three therapies, more data are needed, cautions Quigley. The peppermint-oil therapy was analyzed in only four trials involving 392 patients. Because past research has been mixed, doctors' treatment guidelines mention the remedies, but don't necessarily give them a ringing endorsement, says author Alex Ford, M.D., a registrar of gastroenterology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. \"I suspect that filters down to the practitioners who don't believe they work, so they try something that's newer or a bit sexier,\" Dr. Ford says. \"The problem with IBS is that it's a chronic medical condition and no drug has been shown to alter its natural history.\" Health.com: Should I be tested for IBS? The study results are not surprising, says Joanne A.P. Wilson, M.D., a professor of medicine in the gastroenterology department at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Wilson adds that such treatments are best for patients with mild or moderate IBS. However, in her practice, she's found that prescription medications need to be used for severe cases that don't respond to these treatments. Health.com: Belly flab doubles mortality risk . Prescription drugs that have been used to treat IBS include Amitiza, a drug for chronic constipation; Zelnorm, which was pulled from the market in 2007; and Lotronex, which was removed from the market because of potentially life-threatening side effects (although exceptions are now made for women with severe, diarrhea-prominent IBS who don't respond to other treatments). Enter to win a monthly Room Makeover Giveaway from MyHomeIdeas.com . Copyright Health Magazine 2009 ." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "An estimated 10 to 15 percent of people in North America have IBS .\nThe exact cause of IBS remains unknown, which has hampered treatment .\nStudy analysis: Peppermint oil, soluble fiber, and antispasmodic drugs all work ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Washington (CNN) -- A couple who allegedly crashed this week's state dinner at the White House met President Obama in a reception line at the event, a White House official told CNN on Friday. A White House photograph taken Tuesday evening shows Michaele Salahi, wearing a gold-accented red sari, clasping her hands around Obama's right hand as her smiling husband, Tareq, looks on. The dinner was held for visiting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is smiling next to the president in the photo. An investigation into Tareq and Michaele Salahi has found that Secret Service agents did not follow protocol at a security checkpoint, the Secret Service said. \"The Secret Service is deeply concerned and embarrassed by the circumstances surrounding the State Dinner on Tuesday,\" the agency said in a statement Friday. \"The preliminary findings of our internal investigation have determined established protocols were not followed at an initial checkpoint, verifying that two individuals were on the guest list.\" The Salahis, who are aspiring reality TV stars, made news when they showed up at Tuesday's state dinner. The White House says the Salahis were not invited, but their lawyer, Paul W. Garner, \"states emphatically that the Salahis did not 'crash' this event,\" according to a statement from the couple's publicist, Mahogany Jones. The Secret Service's statement says that although the Salahis went through magnetometers and other levels of screening, \"they should have been prohibited from entering the event entirely.\" \"That failing is ours,\" the statement said. The investigation continues and \"appropriate measures have been taken to ensure this is not repeated,\" the agency said. Also Friday, two Secret Service agents visited a Virginia winery to say they wanted to question the couple, according to the winery's manager. Diane Weiss, manager at the Oasis Winery in Hume, Virginia, said the agents wanted to speak with the Salahis. Weiss said she didn't know their whereabouts. The Warren County Report, a local newspaper, quoted Weiss as saying the agents said they wanted to speak with the couple and not arrest them. It also quoted her as saying that the Salahis live in Linden, Virginia, but receive mail at the winery. And the agents said it was \"imperative\" that investigators speak with the couple and that they would \"take whatever action\" is necessary if they did not, the paper quoted Weiss as saying. Weiss told CNN that the newspaper quoted her accurately, but she declined to elaborate. Meanwhile, court records have revealed a more complete picture of the Salahis, who have left an extensive paper trail in federal bankruptcy and state court filings. They are named in at least 16 different civil suits in Fauquier County, Virginia, near Washington, sometimes as plaintiffs, sometimes as defendants. Family members have sued the county and each other. The family winery, Oasis Winery, has sued Michaele Salahi. They did not respond to CNN requests for comment Thursday about their legal history or the White House dinner. \"At this time the Salahis will not make any formal comments regarding the rumors and media speculation surrounding the White House State Dinner,\" Jones, their publicist, said in a statement. Tareq and Michaele Salahi were engaged in a long court battle with his parents over the winery. Tareq Salahi sued his mother, Corinne, court records show, and the suit was dismissed. The mother sued Tareq Salahi and the case went to trial. The outcome is not clear from a Virginia courts Web site. Tareq and Michaele Salahi won control of the winery in 2007, but it has run into debt since then. Oasis Winery filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in February of this year, according to U.S. Bankruptcy Court records in the Eastern District of Virginia. Tareq Salahi is listed as company president in the filing. Listed creditors include the IRS, Fauquier County, the state of Virginia, several banks and American Express Corp., among others. The company claims about $335,000 in assets and $965,000 in liabilities." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "White House official: Couple met Obama in reception line .\nSecret Service 'embarrassed' it didn't prevent couple from entering event .\nWhite House: Tareq and Michaele Salahi appeared at state dinner uninvited .\nSecret Service looking for couple, manager says ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- A salty soup of seawater, microscopic pieces of plastic and marine debris. Those are the ingredients in the North Pacific Gyre, an ocean vortex estimated by Greenpeace to be the size of Texas, contaminated with the floating detritus of our modern lives. The sheer size of the ocean area affected has been enough to catch public attention, but a number of concerned groups are aiming to capture more than that. Project Kaisei plans to find a way to scoop up the plastic waste and devise a way to turn it into a future fuel source. It's a huge task, but led by innovator and environmentalist Doug Woodring, Project Kaisei has already embarked on a mission to the gyre. An August voyage onboard the New Horizon and Kaisei sailing ships was in partnership with Scripps Research Institute. The crews returned with samples of the water from various locations in the gyre and the most immediate discovery was the pervasiveness of plastic material found at regular points over 3,500 miles. The most heavily polluted areas of surface water in the gyre contained six times more plastic than plankton biomass. Derelict, or \"ghost\" nets, plastic crates and even toys were found by the crew. Some items like plastic bottles had become impromptu homes to varieties of marine mollusc. As well as posing hazards to the oceans through toxic contamination and to sealife through ingestion or being trapped in nets, unnatural transport systems could allow invasive species to be introduced to different areas and upset delicate ecosystems. The project now counts scientists, innovators, sailors and environmentalists among its ranks, galvanized around a desire to clean up the Pacific's plastic vortex. A further voyage next year hopes to gather more data and move closer to a practical solution to the ever increasing problem." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Voyage to the North Pacific Gyre found plastic in the ocean over 3,500 miles .\nPlastic vortex has large pieces of plastic and microscopic fragments .\nAim of voyage was to learn how to collect the waste and turn into fuel .\nProject Kaisei will embark on another mission next year ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- Dubai could lose its place on the Women's Tennis Association Tour calendar after Israeli Shahar Peer was denied entry to compete at this week's event, the WTA supremo warned Monday. Shahar Peer told CNN she learned of her visa ban Saturday, just before her scheduled flight to Dubai. Peer was scheduled to fly into the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, but was informed Saturday night by telephone that she would not be granted a visa. WTA Chairman and CEO Larry Scott said the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour \"will review appropriate future actions with regard to the future of the Dubai tournament.\" Scott added: \"The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour believes very strongly, and has a clear rule and policy, that no host country should deny a player the right to compete at a tournament for which she has qualified by ranking.\" Peer, who had just finished playing in the Pattaya Open in Thailand, where she reached the semifinal, said she is \"very, very disappointed\" to have been denied the opportunity to play in Dubai. \"They really stopped my momentum because now I'm not going to play for two weeks and because they waited for the last minute I couldn't go to another tournament either,\" Peer said from Tel Aviv. \"So it's very disappointing, and I think it's not fair.\" Watch Peer describe her disappointment » . Scott, meanwhile, confirmed: \"Following various consultations, the Tour has decided to allow the tournament to continue to be played this week, pending further review by the Tour's Board of Directors. \"Ms. Peer and her family are obviously extremely upset and disappointed by the decision of the UAE and its impact on her personally and professionally, and the Tour is reviewing appropriate remedies for Ms. Peer.\" Scott said Peer's visa refusal has precedence: Last year an Israeli men's doubles team was denied entry to Dubai. He said the Emirate cited security reasons following recent unrest in the region. \"At that time I was in Dubai. I made it clear to the authorities, the representatives of the government, that next year when our top players wanted to play this very prestigious tournament all of them had to be allowed to play,\" Scott said. \"They had a year to work on it and solve it. We've spent time through the year discussing it. We were given assurances that it had gone to the highest levels of government,\" Scott said. \"I was optimistic they would solve it. And we've made crystal clear to the government, to the tournament organizers that there could be grave repercussions not just for tennis in the UAE but sports beyond that.\" Watch CNN's interview with Larry Scott » . The Dubai government issued a short statement through the state-owned news agency, saying that Peer was informed while in Thailand that she would not receive a visa. The agency quoted an official source in the organizing committee saying, \"The tournament is sponsored by several national organizations and they all care to be part of a successful tournament, considering the developments that the region had been through.\" Earlier an official source who did not want to be named, said, \"We should check what happened in New Zealand, when Peer was playing there with all the demonstrations against Israel during the attacks on Gaza. We have to consider securing the players and the tournament.\" In January, a small group of about 20 protestors waved placards and shouted anti-Israel slogans outside the main entrance to the ASB Classic tournament in Auckland. They were moved on before Peer played her match. The Israeli player said she's received phone calls of support from her fellow players. \"'All the players support Shahar,\" world No. 6 Venus Williams told The New York Times, adding, \"We are all athletes, and we stand for tennis.\" Peer is uncertain of her next move. She said the last-minute decision had left her at a loose end. She said she was concerned about her points and ranking and may go to the U.S. this week to try to take part in another tournament. \"I don't think it should happen,\" she said. \"I think sport and politics needs to stay on the side and not be involved. I really hope it's not going to happen again, not only to me but to any other athlete.\" CNN Dubai bureau chief Caroline Faraj contributed to this report ." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Israeli tennis player back in Tel Aviv after being denied entry for Dubai event .\nShahar Peer told night before tournament she would not be granted visa by UAE .\nWTA chief Larry Scott warned Dubai tournament could lose place on calendar .\nScott: \"This runs counter to everything we were promised and is a setback\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- On February 2, 7-year-old Cameron Dunmore crossed a street to get to his elementary school in Lithonia, Georgia. This scenario takes place thousands of times uneventfully each school day in our country. But this time Cameron did not make it to school. A crossing guard was halting traffic at the time, but the busy intersection did not have a traffic light and one vehicle did not see the boy. Cameron was struck by an SUV and died that same day in the hospital. Remind children to walk, not run, when crossing the street, so drivers have a chance to see them. As a parent who walks my young child to school every day, Cameron's story is tragically heartbreaking, but unfortunately not unique. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 5,000 pedestrians died and 70,000 were nonfatally injured in traffic crashes in 2007. Children are at particular risk because of their size, immature judgment and lack of experience with traffic rules. As we promote walking as a healthy and environmentally sound way to get to school, how can we make sure our children make it there safely? Read NHTSA's tips on walking and biking safety . Can seeing red help? Sally Flocks, president and CEO of PEDS, a pedestrian advocacy organization based in Atlanta, believes that traffic lights or flashing red lights in school zones can make a difference. She cited studies showing that having a marked crosswalk without a light may be more dangerous than having no crosswalk at all, and that yellow lights tend to get ignored compared with red. Flocks encourages the public to urge their legislators to invest in traffic safety measures such as red lights, which can ultimately benefit motorists, cyclists and pedestrians alike. Speed kills . According to a United Kingdom Department of Transportation study, speed really matters. A pedestrian hit by a car traveling 20 mph has a 5 percent chance of being killed, while one hit at 40 mph has an 85 percent chance. Flocks suggests that radar signs that tell how fast you are driving and photo enforcement of speeders at intersections near schools could help save lives. Even without the threat of getting a speeding ticket, I would hope the risk of injuring or killing someone else or ourselves would be enough to remind most of us to slow down, especially in school zones and other congested areas. Give walking and driving your undivided attention . It's well known that the distraction from talking on a cell phone while driving can be as bad as or even worse than driving drunk. New research shows that cell phone use while walking can also be distracting. Psychologist David C. Schwebel Ph.D. and his associates from the University of Alabama at Birmingham reported in the February 2009 issue of Pediatrics that preadolescents (ages 10 and 11 -- when most children are mature enough to cross the street by themselves) talking on cell phones had a greater chance of being hit or nearly hit during a simulated road-crossing exercise. Schwebel explains that crossing a street is much more complex than we may realize, with the need for assessing such variables as the approaching vehicles' direction and speed, along with the distance and time needed to cross the street. Adding a diversion such as a cell phone conversation causes risky behavior and delayed reactions. Use common safety sense . Don't check your common sense at the door when you leave for school. Encourage your children to wear brightly colored clothing. Try to walk in groups, and be sure to include adults, who are taller and more visible to drivers. Remind children to walk, and not run, when crossing the streets, so that drivers have a chance to see them. Finally, don't take any traffic risks: If you're not sure whether you can cross safely, wait until you can. It could happen anywhere . Cameron's story took place in metropolitan Atlanta, but it could happen anywhere in America, in my neighborhood or yours. Mourners have placed stuffed animals and flowers at the intersection where Cameron was killed. I'm going to put some at my crosswalk too, in hopes of reminding us all to be safer pedestrians and drivers. After all, our lives -- and our children's -- may depend on it. Jennifer Shu, M.D., is an Atlanta-area pediatrician and mother. She contributes regularly to CNNhealth.com ." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "NHTSA: Nearly 5,000 pedestrians killed, 70,000 injured non-fatally in 2007 .\nChildren at risk because of size, immature judgment, lack of experience .\nDrivers should slow down in pedestrian areas; walkers should hang up cell phone ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Editor's Note: Daniel J. Mitchell is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, a libertarian public policy research foundation. He formerly worked at The Heritage Foundation and as an economist for Republican Sen. Bob Packwood and the Senate Finance Committee. He also served on the 1988 Bush-Quayle transition team. Daniel Mitchell says an auto bailout would subsidize bad management and reward inflexible unions. (CNN) -- General Motors, Ford, Chrysler and the United Auto Workers union are pouring millions of dollars into a lobbying campaign for a taxpayer bailout. The money devoted to influence peddling in Washington would be better spent on improving quality and finding ways to reduce a bloated cost structure, but both management and UAW have decided that fleecing taxpayers is a better option. A taxpayer bailout would be a terrible mistake. It would subsidize the shoddy management practices of the corporate bureaucrats at General Motors, Ford and Chrysler, and it would reward the intransigent union bosses who have made the synonymous with inflexible and anti-competitive work rules. Perhaps most important, though, is that a bailout would be bad for the long-term health of the American auto industry. It would discriminate against the 113,000 Americans who have highly-coveted jobs building cars for Nissan, BMW and other auto companies that happen to be headquartered in other nations. These companies demonstrate that it is possible to build cars in America and make money. Putting them at a competitive disadvantage with handouts for the U.S.-headquartered companies would be highly unjust. A bailout also would be bad for General Motors, Ford and Chrysler. The so-called Big Three desperately need to fundamentally restructure their practices. More specifically, the car companies need to endure some short-term pain in order to restore long-term viability. But that won't happen if politicians raid the treasury. Getting access to taxpayer money would be akin to giving an alcoholic the key to a liquor cabinet. It also would be bad for American taxpayers and the American economy. For instance: . • A bailout will hurt the overall economy by misallocating resources. When politicians grant special favors to a certain industry or a particular union, such decisions necessarily mean that market forces are being replaced by special-interest deal-making. This type of interference with free markets is why nations such as France, Germany and Japan tend to grow more slowly and enjoy less prosperity. But if America goes down this same path of government intervention, it is inevitable that we will suffer the same fate of stagnation and higher unemployment. • A bailout will encourage other industries to seek taxpayer handouts. The Wall Street bailout was a disaster in many ways, most notably as measured by the weak stock market and economic volatility. But another negative aspect of the bailout is that other industries have now decided that it is OK to stick their snouts in the public trough, as well. First Wall Street's high fliers get a bailout. Now the inefficient management and union at the Big Three want a handout. Who will be next in line to pillage taxpayers? Giving handouts in exchange for political support is akin to getting high. Once politicians decide they like the buzz of campaign contributions, they'll turn into junkies with ordinary Americans footing the bill. • A bailout is a perverse transfer from poor taxpayers to rich taxpayers. America's Founding Fathers surely never envisaged that the federal government would take money from one group of Americans and give it to another group. Yet much of the federal budget is devoted to redistribution programs. Bailouts are a particularly bizarre form of redistribution, however, because the corporate bureaucrats at the Big Three are among the very richest Americans. The UAW bosses make extravagant salaries, as well, and even regular union workers make an average total compensation including benefits of approximately $70 per hour, far higher than the average American. The government should not be in the business of giving unearned wealth to any group of citizens, but surely liberals and conservatives both can agree that politicians should not be taking money from middle class taxpayers and giving it to upper-middle class and rich taxpayers. Advocates oftentimes admit that bailouts are not good policy, but they invariably argue that short-term considerations should trump long-term sensible policy. Their biggest assertion is that a bailout is necessary to prevent bankruptcy, and that avoiding this result is critical to prevent catastrophe. But Chapter 11 protection may be precisely what is needed to put American auto companies back on the path to profitability. Bankruptcy laws specifically are designed to give companies an opportunity - under court supervision - to reduce costs and streamline operations. Bankruptcy would not be popular in some quarters, to be sure. The bloated management structure would be streamlined and many overpaid executives would be unhappy about having to find new jobs. The UAW would be equally upset, particularly since bankruptcy might force an end to extravagant pension benefits and inefficient workplace practices. But bankruptcy is akin to getting an alcoholic to put down the bottle. There clearly will be short-term discomfort, but compassionate people recognize that this is the best approach. America is on a dangerous path. The Wall Street bailout was a mistake. It transferred a huge amount of money from the productive sector of the economy to the government, and also exacerbated \"moral hazard\" by rewarding companies and executives who made dumb decisions. But this may be the tip of the iceberg. A bailout of U.S.-headquartered auto companies also would be a mistake, as would bailouts of homeowners or any other constituency. If politicians genuinely want to help the economy, they should focus on reducing the burden of government, not increasing it. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Daniel Mitchell." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Daniel Mitchell: Bailing out the Big Three would reward shoddy management .\nA bailout would be unfair to other auto companies making cars in the U.S., he says .\nMitchell says auto execs, workers and unions are overpaid .\nBankruptcy would let the companies streamline their operations, Mitchell says ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mecca, Saudi Arabia (CNN) -- Chanting \"Allahu Akbar\" -- God is Greater than any -- more than 2 million pilgrims crossed new pedestrian bridges Saturday to perform one of the last rituals of the Hajj season. Jamarat is a re-enactment of an event when Prophet Abraham stoned the devil and rejected his temptations, according to Muslim traditions. The ritual stoning of three pillars, which occurs in the tent city of Mina -- about two miles from Mecca, was the scene of stampedes and many deaths in the 1980s and 1990s as pilgrims passed a crowded bottleneck area leading to the small pillars on the ground. But this year the Saudi government completed a new project that avoids past congestion at the site. The government has erected three massive pillars and completed a $1.2 billion, five-story bridge nearby where pilgrims can toss stones. Authorities and pilgrims say it's a roomier atmosphere and more efficient way to accommodate the faithful. \"Everything went fine so far,\" Col. Khakled Qarar Mohammadi, head of the emergency forces at Jamarat, told CNN. \"It is an immense responsibility that we had to deal with. About 3 million pilgrims move in a small geographic area at the same time wanting to do the same ritual. So we have been preparing for this for years now.\" Irtiza Hasan, a pilgrim from the United States, said all went well at the ceremony. \"The only incident I saw was that there were some handicapped women who were turned away in fears that they get hurt.\" But Mohammadi said, \"There are 10 vans on the second floor especially designated to serve the elderly and handicapped. Each van can take up to 14 pilgrims.\" As a measure to alleviate harm, according to Muslim traditions, the elderly and the handicapped can appoint someone else to stone for them. The five-story Jamarat bridge is air-conditioned at 19 degrees Centigrade, or 66 Fahrenheit, throughout the day and backed by water sprinklers that can reduce the temperature to about 29 degrees C, or 84 F. The bridge is designed to allow the addition of seven more levels to hold as many as 5 million pilgrims in the future if the need arises. According to authorities, the bridge is 950 meters (1,039 yards) long and 80 meters (87 yards) wide. Each floor is 12 meters (13 yards) high with three tunnels and 12 entrances and 12 exits in six directions. It has a helicopter pad for emergencies. According to Mohammadi, the project has 509 advanced closed-circuit television cameras monitoring pilgrims' movements. Those cameras feed into the main operations room, which oversees the Jamarat Bridge and the surrounding areas -- all screened by dozens of security officers on 72 monitors at the operation room. The stoning ritual is done over at least two days, where pilgrims stone three pillars at Mina -- believed to be where the Prophet Abraham stoned the devil when he tried to dissuade him from obeying God's orders to slaughter his son. According to tradition, the event was a test from God, who gave Abraham a ram to slaughter instead. The last ritual that marks the end of Hajj is when pilgrims go from Mina to Mecca to make a last visit to al-Masjid al-Haram, Islam's holiest site, before going back home. The ritual is called Tawaf al-Wada'a -- or farewell circumambulation in the holy mosque. It's where pilgrims go around the black cube seven times counter-clockwise asking that their Lord accept their pilgrimage and grant them another visit to the holy city." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Goverment constructed three new massive pillars, five-story bridge for Hajj ritual .\nJamarat re-enacts Abraham's stoning the devil, according to Muslim tradition .\nRitual was scene of deadly stampedes as pilgrims crammed through bottleneck .\nThe air-conditioned bridge is 950 meters long, 80 meters wide; each floor is 12 meters high ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- A proposal to house federal prisoners, including some detainees from Guantanamo Bay, in a largely vacant maximum-security prison would be an economic boost to struggling northern Illinois, state officials said Sunday. \"This is something that is very good for our state, it's good for our economy, it's good for public safety,\" Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn told reporters. Officials from the departments of Defense, Justice, Homeland Security and the federal Bureau of Prisons will visit the Thomson Correctional Center on Monday, the officials said. Quinn's office on Saturday said the officials would see whether the \"virtually vacant, state-of-the-art facility\" in Thomson, about 150 miles west of Chicago, could be of use to the Bureau of Prisons. If it is, the governor and other officials said Sunday, it could provide up to 2,000 jobs and up to $1 billion in federal money to the area. And Dick Durbin, the Senate's second-ranking Democrat, said he believes the proposal provides a \"once-in-a-lifetime opportunity\" for his state's residents. \"There are other states that want to take these jobs,\" Sen. Durbin said. \"We've got to win this competition.\" Under the proposal, he said, federal officials have said fewer than 100 detainees from the Guantanamo Bay prison camp in Cuba would be housed in the 1,600-bed facility. They would be in a wing under the control of the Department of Defense, while the Bureau of Prisons would assume responsibility for the rest of the facility. The United States is asking other countries to house some of the Guantanamo detainees when the prison is closed, said Durbin, the Senate majority whip. But those countries are asking why America is not housing some of the inmates itself, he said, and use of the Thomson facility would demonstrate to them that the United States is willing to shoulder some of the responsibility. An Obama administration official said Saturday that as part of the conversion at Thomson, the Bureau of Prisons and Defense Department would enhance security to exceed those of the nation's only supermax prison -- the U.S. Penitentiary Administrative Maximum Facility in Florence, Colorado. No person has ever escaped from the prison. The Thomson proposal, first reported Saturday by the Chicago Tribune, triggered immediate concern from critics. U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, R-Illinois, whose district covers suburban Chicago, circulated a letter addressed to President Obama to Illinois leaders Saturday, opposing the possible transfer of detainees and saying that housing them in Thomson would turn metropolitan Chicago into \"ground zero for Jihadist terrorist plots, recruitment and radicalization.\" As home to Chicago's Willis (formerly Sears) Tower -- the nation's tallest building -- \"we should not invite al Qaeda to make Illinois its number one target,\" says Kirk, who is running for the same Senate seat once held by Obama. Durbin on Sunday pointed to the federal maximum-security prison in Marion, Illinois, which he said already houses 35 people convicted of terrorism, along with members of Colombian drug gangs and Mexican drug cartels -- \"some of the most dangerous people in America.\" \"They're all in our prisons, and they're all held safely,\" he said. And \"things haven't changed in Marion, Illinois.\" Those housed in the Marion penitentiary include Ali al-Marri, who is serving a sentence of eight years and four months after pleading guilty in federal court to conspiring to provide material support to al Qaeda. The Thomson prison was built in 2001 and sat empty for five years because the state lacked the resources to open it. Despite being built as a maximum-security facility, it houses 144 minimum-security male inmates, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections Web site. \"After living in limbo for eight years, we're open to any and all alternatives for Thomson,\" said Jerry \"Duke\" Hebeler, Thomson village mayor. He estimated that the move would cut the county's unemployment in half. \"I'd never chase jobs if I thought it would jeopardize the security and safety of my neighbors and friends,\" Hebeler said. Quinn said that during the inspection Monday, \"We want to answer any and all questions that the federal authorities have.\" The Obama administration has vowed to close the Guantanamo facility, but acknowledges it is unlikely to happen by its self-imposed January 22, 2010, deadline. About 215 men are held there. They include alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who officials said Friday will be transferred to New York to go on trial in civilian court. The federal prison system houses approximately 340 inmates linked to international terrorism, including more than 200 tied to international incidents, another Obama official said. CNN's Jessica Yellin contributed to this report." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Proposal calls for using maximum-security prison in struggling northern Illinois .\nOn Monday, federal officials to visit facility in Thomson, about 150 miles west of Chicago .\n\"It's good for our economy, it's good for public safety,\" Illinois governor says .\nBut Rep. Mark Kirk says plan could make Chicago \"ground zero\" for terror plots, recruitment ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- EU border patrol missions are scouring the Italian shore in search of yet another missing vessel carrying North Africans attempting to reach Europe, a Maltese commander told CNN Thursday. Many immigrants from Africa attempt to make the perilous journey across the Mediterranean in overcrowded boats. On Friday, a French patrol frigate operating under Frontex, a EU border patrol mission, alerted Italian officials of new incoming vessels after sighting six corpses floating in the Mediterranean. Maltese army officials were unable to recover the corpses because of poor weather conditions. \"Unrelated to these corpses cited, last Friday, we monitored a fiberglass boat that originated from North Africa carrying about 30 to 35 people on board,\" said Major Ivan Consiglio from Valletta, the Maltese capital. \"Its fate is uncertain,\" he said. \"We have lost track of this boat.\" Malta is a hub for immigrants from Africa trying to reach Europe. Approximately 20,000 would-be immigrants have been apprehended on European shores just this year alone, according to Frontex figures. But many do not survive the trek. \"These waters are like the American Wild West,\" Consiglio said. \"So many boats try to cross with families and children and some never make it.\" Humanitarian groups such the Dutch-based UNITED against Racism, which keeps records on immigration, say thousands of Africans have died trying to cross the Mediterranean and the Adriatic. The trek between Sicily and Tunisia has been dubbed \"a floating cemetery for African immigrants.\" In August, 70 people died off the cost of Malta attempting to cross the Mediterranean. On Wednesday, about 300 would-be immigrants were rescued during a storm in the Italian island of Lampedusa. Consiglio said that a growing number of would-be immigrants are braving the waters of the Atlantic in overcrowded dingy boats -- a dangerous mission this time of the year. \"It's fall here, waters are choppy and covered with fog,\" he said. \"Trips are becoming even riskier and these locally-manufactured fiberglass boats don't have the same rigidity.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This year around 20,000 migrants have been apprehended on European shores .\nMalta is a hub for immigrants from Africa trying to reach Europe .\nThousands of Africans have died trying to cross Mediterranean and Adriatic ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "NEW YORK -- There's no shortage of diners in New York City, but one of its most beloved will soon be taking up residence in Alabama. The Cheyenne Diner, which opened in 1940 in New York City, shut its doors in April 2008. The Cheyenne Diner, which first opened in 1940, was split in two Monday night to begin its move on a pair of flatbed trucks some 860 miles to its new home near Birmingham. The dining experience at the Cheyenne was typical of many similar New York eateries, where more often than not, you're guaranteed a hearty meal at a comfortable price. After taking a seat in a roomy booth or even at the counter, you check out the flimsy paper placemat with innocuous historical information or a simplified map of the Greek Isles. A busboy places a glass of ice water on your table. Then it's time to break out the reading glasses and flex those muscles to heft the always lengthy menu. While it may take you several minutes to sift through it, take comfort in knowing that you may actually burn some calories by lifting this bible of comfort food. Unlike the sometimes stuffy pretense of a formal restaurant, the diner experience is generally simple, while the food offerings are diverse -- from apple pie to baked ziti and everything in between. While never known as a bastion for fine dining, the Cheyenne saw brighter days before it unceremoniously closed on a chilly Sunday in April 2008. Originally known as the Market Diner until its moniker was changed in 1986, the pre-assembled restaurant stood as a rare classic definition of free-standing diners. Its streamlined, railcar-inspired design boasts a reverse-channel illuminated neon sign. Horizontal and vertical stainless steel strips border the colorful enamel panels and wrap-around windows on its facade. Celebrities from Jerry Lewis to David Letterman entered through its curved entryway lined with glass blocks. But, like a beloved baseball team whose owner has tossed in the towel, the Cheyenne is moving to a new town for a new life in a new home. The owner of the diner, George Papas, wanted to change the flavor of the block and replace the eatery with a multilevel condo building. Enter preservationist Michael Perlman, a 26-year-old patron saint of sorts for unwanted diners. Perlman found out that the Cheyenne was facing demolition and began to look for a guardian angel to save it. He connected with Alabama businessman Joel Owens, head of the investment group NAIC, who saw the Cheyenne for sale on a Web site devoted to the preservation of New York City structures and fell in love with its \"gorgeous structure.\" \"I like it better each time I see it,\" Owens said. \"The barrel roof. The exterior facades are second to none. I think it's the most beautiful diner in the world.\" Owens and his business associate, Patti Miller, have a grand vision for the diner and eventually want to incorporate it as part of an entertainment and historic area outside of Birmingham. Once it's restored, which could take up to a year, the Cheyenne will become the first free-standing diner in Alabama, Owens said. A longtime collector of antique cars and Coca-Cola memorabilia, Owens is a firm believer in the lessons that can be learned from the past. \"If you think about what's wrong with today, in order to fix the problems of today, you've got to look back... [to] when it was better,\" Owens said. \"I think [the diner] is symbolic of the glory days. Technology and more money doesn't necessarily mean progress. We long for simpler times,\" he explained. \"These types of buildings can be an instrument for our youth to learn from the past. Teenagers need a clean environment for entertainment, a 'hang out.'\" The departure of the Cheyenne Diner brings back some bitter memories for aficionados of historic New York. The Moondance Diner encountered a similar fate in 2007, after it was put up for sale by developers who purchased the land it was sitting on and planned to build a hotel. That summer, a couple from Wyoming found the Moondance's sale notice on the American Diner Museum Web site. Perlman acted as a conduit there also, helping to broker the sale of the 1920s diner located in the SoHo section of Manhattan, which the couple planned to move to their home state. When news of the sale and move came out, the Pierces began to have some doubts. \"We're quiet people,\" said Cheryl Pierce, of La Barge, Wyoming. \"[But] the media response has been a blessing as people have shown a keen interest.\" Pierce and her husband paid $7,500 for the Moondance and ultimately invested $40,000 to move it more than 2,100 miles to La Barge, where it became a popular site in the town of 600 residents with few other restaurants. The barrel-roofed diner reopened on January 12 this year, complete with its original floor and window frames. Customers can sit at the old-fashioned soda fountain or on the outdoor patio in the summer. The menu contains the traditional diner fare -- burgers, fries and milk shakes -- but also caters to the local palate, with chicken fried steaks, ribeye steaks and prime rib. \"Business has been exceptional. We've been able to hold our own,\" said Pierce. \"We get a lot of people who take a detour to visit us.\" She noted that it's a lot of work, and a huge commitment, but said she and her husband \"have been blessed.\" \"There's never going to be another Moondance Diner,\" she said. In response to critics who complain that historic pieces of New York City are being sold off, Pierce said that in the cases of old diners, \"to keep it alive, somewhere else is the best option, [rather] than seeing it demolished. We've run into New Yorkers who are appreciative that we brought it back to life.\" Owens is hoping that will be the case with the Cheyenne, which was loved as a no-frills refuge for comfort food on Manhattan's desolate west side. But now it's served up its last order in New York. And that last order was to go." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Cheyenne Diner, opened in 1940, moves to its new home by Birmingham .\nPreservationist hooked up with Alabama businessman to save diner .\nBusinessman: Cheyenne will be the first free-standing diner in Alabama .\nCelebrities from Jerry Lewis to David Letterman were seen in New York diner ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A man dubbed \"the Field Marshal\" by one advocacy group for alleged third-world arms dealing has been arrested on charges that he conspired to illegally export U.S. F-5 fighter jet engines and parts to Iran. An Iranian F-5 fighter jet lands in southern Iran during a military exercise on June 23, 2009. Jacques Monsieur, 56, a Belgium native who currently lives in France, was arrested Friday in New York, officials said. An indictment also charges Dara Fotouhi, 54, an Iranian living in France, with participating in the alleged crime. Fotouhi remains at large, official said. Monsieur pleaded not guilty at an arraignment Wednesday in Mobile, Alabama, where he is being held. He and Fotouhi are charged with conspiracy, money laundering and smuggling, as well as violations of the Arms Export Control Act and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. According to the indictment and an affidavit filed in the case, both are experienced arms dealers who have been actively working with the Iranian government to procure military items. The F-5 Freedom Fighter, also called the Tiger, is built by Northrop and is used by the U.S. military for training. It is also sold overseas as a combat aircraft. The F-5 engine and parts are listed on the U.S. Munitions List and may not be exported from the United States without a license from the State Department, said John Morton, head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and they can not be exported to Iran without a license from the Treasury Department. In a 2002 report by the Center for Public Integrity, a citizen advocacy group, Monsieur was nicknamed \"the Field Marshal\" for allegedly acting as a middle-man in numerous arms deals with war-torn countries. The center's report said Monsieur is \"believed to be among the biggest arms traffickers in Europe\" and said he \"violated a United Nations embargo by shipping arms to Bosnia and Croatia during the long, bloody conflict in those countries, with the approval, he later claimed, of both the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and the ... French domestic intelligence service.\" Morton said his agency launched an investigation in February when Monsieur contacted an undercover federal agent and indicated he wanted to buy engines for F-5 or C-130 aircraft for export to Iran. In subsequent e-mails to the agent, Monsieur requested engines for F-5 jet fighters. Officials said the engines could be used as replacements in fighters sold to Iran by the United States before the imposition of sanctions in 1995. In March, Monsieur met with the undercover agent in Paris and again requested engines and parts, the indictment alleges. They met again in May in London, where Monsieur introduced Fotouhi as a business associate and again discussed the export of F-5 engines to Iran, according to the indictment. During this negotiation, it says, Monsieur and Fotouhi asked the agent if he could use U.S. shipping or export authorization documents that falsely indicated the items were going to Colombia. In July, Monsieur and Fotouhi wired about $110,000 from a bank in the United Arab Emirates to one in Mobile, Alabama, the indictment says. \"The two believed the funds would be used for the purchase of F-5 aircraft parts,\" Morton said. Monsieur indicated he would deposit an additional $300,000 as a down payment for the purchase of two jet engines. \"This is part of our long-standing efforts to ensure that sensitive military equipment is not exported in violation of U.S. law and against the international interests of the United States,\" Morton said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A man dubbed \"the Field Marshal\" allegedly tried to get F-5 engine parts for Iran .\nF-5 built by Northrop; used by U.S. military for training; used overseas for combat .\nImmigration and Customs Enforcement launched investigation .\nArrest part efforts to stop improper export of sensitive military equipment ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- A mushroom cloud of thick dark smoke hovered over the Puerto Rican capital after a blast ripped through a fuel storage complex near San Juan early Friday and caused a massive fire. At least one injury occurred and at least 350 people have been evacuated as about 100 firefighters worked through the night to fight the blaze, Gov. Luis Fortuno said. Firefighters said it would take a few days to control the inferno. Eleven tanks are ablaze, and firefighters are trying to cool down the remaining 29 tanks. The tanks are holding jet and diesel fuels and gasoline. Authorities are looking into the cause of the blaze, which took place at Caribbean Petroleum Corp., a storage complex on San Juan's bay that owns the Gulf brand in Puerto Rico. iReport.com: See, share, send images of the explosion . Justin Gehrke, a U.S. Army civilian employee who filed an iReport for CNN, was taken aback by the sight of the thick black smoke and took photos of the scene from his iPhone. \"I didn't expect to see a mushroom cloud from my house,\" he said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Explosion, fire rip through fuel storage complex .\nOne person injured, 350 evacuated near San Juan, Puerto Rico .\nCaribbean Petroleum Corp. tanks held jet, diesel fuels plus gasoline .\niReport.com: Are you there? Send photos, videos of the flames ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- A street vendor in Ghana's capital sells small American flags with an image of President Obama on them, in front of a billboard that proclaims \"Akwaaba\" -- or \"Welcome\" -- next to a smiling image of the U.S. leader. President Obama says he chose Ghana partly because of the \"democratic commitments\" by President Mills. When Obama arrives in Accra on Friday night, he will be the third sitting American president to visit the West African nation of Ghana. But unlike Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, Obama is only visiting Ghana and no other country in the continent. Obama said he picked Ghana as the first African country he would visit as U.S. president partly because of the \"democratic commitments\" demonstrated by President John Atta Mills, who took office in January after a close election. \"By traveling to Ghana, we hope to highlight the effective governance that they have in place,\" Obama said Tuesday in an interview with AllAfrica.com. During his 24-hour visit to Ghana, Obama will meet with the president and address parliament before he and first lady Michelle Obama tour the Cape Coast Castle, which was used in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Security has been tight all week in Accra, and Ghana plans to deploy some 10,000 security forces during Obama's visit, according to Ghana News Agency (GNA). The White House has set up SMS codes to allow people across Africa to send \"words of welcome\" via text message to Obama during his visit. Obama has already received thousands of messages, and plans to answer several of the questions sent to him, the British Broadcasting Corporation reported on Thursday. Bill Clinton was the first U.S. president to visit Ghana, in 1998, as part of a six-nation Africa tour. Obama's predecessor, George W. Bush, stopped there during a four-nation Africa tour during his last year of office that largely focused on U.S. aid programs. Ghana's government named a road after Bush to recognize his government's contribution towards the country's development. As the United States' first African-American president, Obama's trip has broader significance as well. Obama's father is from Kenya and he expressed concern about the political situation in that East African nation. \"The political parties [in Kenya] do not seem to be moving into a permanent reconciliation that would allow the country to move forward,\" Obama told AllAfrica.com. \"And Kenya is not alone in some of the problems that we've seen of late, post-election or pre-election.\" Many in Kenya were critical of Obama's decision to pick Ghana the first African nation he visited instead of his father's birthplace. During his campaign for president, Obama was hailed by many as a \"son of Kenya.\" Shortly after the White House announced the Ghana trip in May, newspaper headlines in Nairobi asked, \"Why Obama Snubbed Kenya.\" A political cartoon in one Kenyan paper showed Air Force One dropping a note to Kenya's leaders saying, \"Get your act together,\" as it flew over the country. Obama said he wanted his visit to Africa to mean more than just something to cross off his list as U.S. president. \"I actually thought that it made sense for us to connect a trip to Ghana to a previous trip with the G8 ... to show that Africa is directly connected to our entire foreign policy approach,\" Obama told AllAfrica.com. \"That it's not some isolated thing where once every term you go visit Africa for a while to check that box, but rather it's an ongoing part of a broader discussion about how we move many of these international challenges forward.\" As Ghana gears up for the visit, a group of local singers and rap artists wrote a welcome song for Obama and produced a music video on YouTube. \"President Obama, Welcome to Ghana,\" they sing, with images of U.S. and Ghanaian flags interspersed between the musicians. \"We welcome you to the Land of Gold.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "President Obama arrives in the West African nation Friday night .\nObama says he picked Ghana partly because of the \"democratic commitments\"\nGroup of local singers, rap artists write a welcome song for U.S. president .\nKenyan media wondered why Obama didn't choose to visit his ancestral nation first ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "WASHINGTON (CNN) -- An emotional Nancy Reagan helped unveil a statue of her late husband, President Reagan, on Wednesday, calling the 7-foot figure \"a wonderful likeness.\" Nancy Reagan, with House Minority Leader John Boehner, wipes away tears at Wednesday's event. \"I know Ronnie would be deeply honored to see himself with a permanent home in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol and very proud to be representing his beloved California,\" Nancy Reagan said. She appeared to battle emotions as she mentioned her last visit to the marbled hall for Reagan's memorial in June 2004. \"It's nice to be back under happier circumstances,\" she said. Watch Nancy Reagan unveil the statue » . The statue is one of two from California in the National Statuary Hall Collection donated by states to honor significant figures. Nancy Reagan stood arm-in-arm with House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio to pull down the curtain from the statue. She thanked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California for making the event possible. In her remarks, Pelosi noted that the former president's statue contains pieces of the Berlin Wall, \"as a symbol of his commitment to national security and to his success.\" The wall was torn down shortly after Reagan left office. \"I'm so grateful to Californians for giving him this honor,\" Nancy Reagan said. \"Artist Chas Fagan has captured his likeness so well, and I think the addition of the pieces of the Berlin Wall in the pedestal reflects my husband's commitment to freedom and democracy for everyone.\" The former president is credited with polices that led to the break-up of the former Soviet Union and the dismantling of the wall that divided Berlin as a symbol of Cold War politics. James Baker, a longtime Republican who served in the Cabinets of Reagan and President George H.W. Bush, recalled that Reagan inherited some major problems when he took office in 1981. Citing the former president's trademark optimism, he quoted from Reagan's first inaugural address that \"we are not, as some would have us believe, doomed to an inevitable decline.\" Nancy Reagan attended a White House ceremony Tuesday marking Barack Obama's signing of legislation authorizing a Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission. The 11-member commission will plan activities marking Reagan's 100th birthday on February 6, 2011. Reagan was president from 1981 to 1989." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "NEW: Former first lady touts husband's \"commitment to freedom\"\nCalifornia donated figure for Capitol Rotunda to honor former president .\nPelosi says statue contains pieces of Berlin Wall .\nCommission planning events to mark 100th birthday in 2011 ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "SEATTLE, Washington (CNN) -- An outbreak of flu at Washington State University showed few signs of slowing down as more students continued to report symptoms suspected of being from the H1N1 virus, school officials said Wednesday. WSU Web page gives information, advice to students who suspect they may have H1N1 virus. About 2,500 students have come down with possible cases of H1N1 since classes began August 24, said James Tinney, WSU director of media relations. He added, \"It takes about three to four days to get over the virus, so many of the people who have had it are already feeling better and are back in class.\" On Wednesday, 169 new suspected cases of the virus, also known as swine flu, were reported among the nearly 18,000 students that make up the school's Pullman, Washington campus, according to a university news release. The university said while it is no longer testing sick students to confirm H1N1, it is following guidelines from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and the local health department by \"treating all patients with influenza-like symptoms as if they have H1N1.\" Students who contact the school health services department complaining of symptoms of swine flu are urged to stay at home and drink fluids. None of the suspected H1N1 cases have required hospitalization so far, said a university news release. Watch report on what to look for with H1N1 » . Despite the high number of possible cases, media director Tinney said the students and faculty are not alarmed. \"The symptoms are fairly mild; some people have said milder than a regular case of the flu. I don't see people walking around the campus wearing masks,\" he said. Read about H1N1 facts » . But Tinney said officials were surprised that the long Labor Day weekend, when most students left campus, did not do more to interrupt the virus' spread. \"I guess we are an early test case of how this virus will spread over the population,\" Tinney said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Outbreak of flu at Washington State University shows few signs of slowing down .\nNo one suspected of having swine flu has been hospitalized so far, school says .\nSome of the people stricken say illness feels milder than regular case of flu .\nUniversity \"treating all patients with influenza-like symptoms as if they have H1N1\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A weekend incident with racial overtones at a high school for deaf students could result in criminal charges with \"enhanced penalties for a hate crime,\" Metro Police Chief Cathy Lanier said Wednesday. A black student was held against his will and then released with \"KKK\" and swastikas drawn on him in marker at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf on Sunday, she said. No charges have been filed, and no names have been released, Lanier said. The incident began when a group of black students and a group of white students were in a dorm. \"My understanding is the two groups engaged in friendly horseplay,\" she said. But, she said, the groups got \"angry with each other.\" The two groups separated, she said, but later, six white students and one black student -- all between the ages of 15 and 19 -- took one of the black students into a dorm room and \"held him there against his will.\" \"They used markers to write 'KKK' and draw swastikas on the student,\" Lanier said. The student was released after about 45 minutes. He notified dorm and school authorities, who called police. Lanier said police have identified and interviewed the students involved and the \"investigation is ongoing.\" \"The support we've received from the campus and from the school employees has been tremendous,\" Lanier said. \"And I think they're supporting us in making a very strong statement that this investigation may lead to charges that could have enhanced penalties for a hate crime.\" The school is a residential high school on the campus of Gallaudet University, a higher education facility for deaf and hard of hearing people. The high school is administered as a division of the university's Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center. Dean of Clerc Center Katherine A. Jankowski said the seven students who participated in the incident were sent home. Gallaudet provost Stephen Weiner said the school does \"not tolerate any action, behavior of this type.\" \"We are taking action,\" he said. \"We are looking at programs to help students understand we are a school with a diverse population.\" \"This incident is intolerable,\" he said. \"That's why the Metro police are involved. That's how serious we are about this incident.\" Jankowski said the school has also hired a consultant to work with the school and its students on diversity issues. On Monday, teachers and staff hosted a school-wide assembly with students related to the incident, said Jankowski. Individual and group counseling services were also available to students, teachers and staff. \"We are committed to ensuring MSSD is a safe and supportive learning environment,\" she said. E-mail to a friend ." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Groups of white, black students argued on Gallaudet University campus .\nPolice: White students and one black student later assaulted black student .\nTeens could face criminal charges, including hate crimes, police said .\nNone have been charged yet, said police ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "LONDON, England (CNN) -- Cosmologist, theoretical physicist and author, Stephen Hawking is possibly the world's greatest living scientist. Submit a question for scientist Stephen Hawking and we will put the best to him on \"The Spirit of Space\" in October. Certainly, he is a preeminent authority on all things space-related. This is the man, after all, who once said: \"My goal is simple. It is a complete understanding of the universe.\" It is this drive to get a better grasp on the laws which govern the universe that has informed Hawking's research since the early days when he was a research fellow at Cambridge University in the UK. One of his great achievements since then, together with mathematician Roger Penrose, has been to prove that Einstein's General Theory of Relativity means space and time has a beginning in the \"Big Bang\" and ends in black holes. In 1998, Hawking published \"A Brief History of Time,\" a layman's guide to the origins of the universe. The popular science book, which is aimed at helping the general public to answer questions like, \"Where did the universe come from?\" and \"Will it end and if so, how?\" is a best-seller and has since become a modern classic. As part of next month's \"The Spirit of Space\" show we are interviewing Hawking and giving Web site users the opportunity to submit a question to the professor. Please put forward your short and space-related questions in the Sound Off box below. We will put the best to him, and air his responses on \"The Spirit of Space\" in October. The Spirit of Space will air at the following times in October: . Thursday 9 October: 1300, 1730 Saturday 11 October: 0700, 1730 Sunday 12 October: 0300, 0730, 1300 ." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Submit your space-related questions for Stephen Hawking .\nWe will put the best questions to arguably the world's greatest living scientist .\nHis responses will be aired on \"The Spirit of Space\" in October ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- \"Benjamin Button\" received more life, but Batman ended up in the dark. \"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button\" scored a best actor nomination for Brad Pitt, here with Cate Blanchett. The nominations for the 81st annual Academy Awards were announced Thursday morning, and to nobody's surprise, \"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button\" did well, nabbing 13 nods to lead all films. The movie, about a man who ages in reverse, is a big film (almost three hours long) with big themes (death and love) and earned nominations for best picture, best director (David Fincher), best actor (Brad Pitt), best supporting actress (Taraji P. Henson) and best adapted screenplay along with eight nominations in other categories. \"This is a great honor for the movie, and I'm especially happy for David Fincher, for without him there would be no Ben Button,\" said Pitt in a statement. The film, based on an F. Scott Fitzgerald short story, has been a project of Fincher's for years. Gallery: The major Oscar nominees » . However, despite eight Oscar nominations, \"The Dark Knight\" -- 2008's box-office king -- only picked up one in a major category, that for Heath Ledger's performance as the villainous Joker. The late actor, who died exactly one year ago Thursday, is nominated for best supporting actor, the same award he won posthumously at the Golden Globes almost two weeks ago. Commentary: CNN.com film critic Tom Charity rates the Oscar nominations . \"The Dark Knight\" had made the short lists for the producers', directors' and writers' guilds, but those honors weren't enough to qualify it for a best picture Oscar nomination. What do you think of the nominations? Send us an iReport . \"Slumdog Millionaire,\" the sleeper hit about a Mumbai orphan who seeks fame and love through the Indian version of \"Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?\", earned 10 nominations, including best picture, best director (Danny Boyle) and best adapted screenplay. The film, which struggled to find a U.S. theatrical distributor after its initial studio folded, has dominated the awards season thus far and is considered the front-runner for best picture. Watch star Anil Kapoor talk about the reaction the film has gotten » . \"I'm ecstatic,\" Boyle said in a statement from Mumbai, where the film premiered Thursday. \"Thank you to the Academy from the cast and crew here in Mumbai where the film was made. ... It feels like you've given us a billion nominations.\" In a mild surprise, \"The Reader,\" based on the best-selling novel about a postwar German boy who has an affair with an older woman with a Holocaust-related secret, took home nominations for best picture, best actress (Kate Winslet) and best director (Stephen Daldry). \"The Reader\" comes from the Weinstein Co. -- the studio headed by producer and master Oscar player Harvey Weinstein. \"I'm extremely happy to have been nominated. And very fortunate. Playing Hanna Schmitz will always remain one of the biggest challenges I've ever been blessed with,\" Winslet said in a statement. The other best picture nominees are \"Frost/Nixon\" and \"Milk.\" Watch a rundown of the major nominations » . The Oscar nominations included a handful of other surprises. \"Revolutionary Road,\" featuring the heavyweight trio of Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio and director Sam Mendes (\"American Beauty\"), picked up just one major nomination -- a best supporting actor nod for Michael Shannon's portrayal of a troubled savant. Woody Allen, whose \"Vicky Cristina Barcelona\" was widely praised, didn't receive his usual original screenplay nomination. He can take solace in his previous 21 Oscar nominations, including three wins. One of \"Barcelona's\" performers, Penelope Cruz, received a nomination for best supporting actress. iReport.com: Deliver your acceptance speech . And Oscar favorite Clint Eastwood, who many believed would pick up an acting or directing nomination for his \"Gran Torino,\" received neither. However, Angelina Jolie, who starred in Eastwood's \"Changeling,\" earned a best actress nomination. The nominations also highlighted some lesser-known talent. Character actor Richard Jenkins, best known for his role as the deceased patriarch on the TV series \"Six Feet Under,\" received a best actor nomination for \"The Visitor.\" Melissa Leo, an actress who has had roles in such TV series as \"Law & Order,\" \"CSI\" and \"The L Word\" (as well as a regular role on \"Homicide: Life on the Street\"), earned a best actress nomination for her performance in \"Frozen River.\" \"Frozen River\" also earned a best original screenplay nomination. Two comeback stories received nominations: Robert Downey Jr., who battled back from drug abuse and incarceration to star in two 2008 hits, \"Iron Man\" and \"Tropic Thunder,\" earned a best supporting actor nomination for the latter. And Mickey Rourke, who has received raves for his performance as a struggling fighter in \"The Wrestler,\" got a best actor nomination. iReport.com: Who do you think will win? \"Milk,\" the biopic about pioneering gay politician Harvey Milk, earned nominations for star Sean Penn, director Gus Van Sant and its original screenplay as well as a best picture nod. \"Frost/Nixon,\" about the 1977 interviews between David Frost and Richard Nixon, also received best picture, actor (Frank Langella) and director (Ron Howard) nominations as well as a nod for its adapted screenplay. Josh Brolin, who was overlooked by Oscar for last year's \"No Country for Old Men,\" received his first Oscar nomination. Brolin played Dan White, Milk's assassin, in \"Milk.\" \"To me, to question how a decent guy could resort to such a monstrous act ... It's just my fascination with that kind of behavior,\" Brolin told CNN.com Live of his reasons for taking the role. As for his competition, \"I couldn't be happier to be in this group of people,\" he said. Watch Brolin discuss the complexity of the role » . Meryl Streep, nominated for \"Doubt,\" received her 15th nomination, a record for a performer. The other major performers in \"Doubt\" -- Amy Adams, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Viola Davis -- also were nominated in supporting categories. Israel's controversial \"Waltz With Bashir,\" an animated film about a soldier's memories of the 1982 war in Lebanon, received a nomination for best foreign-language film. The category's other nominees are \"The Baader-Meinhof Complex\" (Germany), \"The Class\" (France), \"Departures\" (Japan) and \"Revanche\" (Austria). The nominees for best animated feature are \"WALL-E,\" \"Kung Fu Panda\" and \"Bolt.\" \"WALL-E\" also earned a best song nomination for Peter Gabriel's \"Down to Earth.\" It will compete against two songs from \"Slumdog Millionaire.\" Bruce Springsteen's \"The Wrestler\" was left out of the category. The Oscars will be presented February 22 from Hollywood's Kodak Theatre. The broadcast will air on ABC. Hugh Jackman is scheduled to host." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Benjamin Button\" scores 13 Oscar nominations, including best picture, actor .\n\"Slumdog Millionaire,\" nominated for best picture, considered Oscar front-runner .\nHeath Ledger, who died exactly one year ago, up for best supporting actor .\n\"The Reader\" does surprisingly well; \"Revolutionary Road\" mostly snubbed ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "NEW YORK (CNN) -- With the weekend arriving and a long day finally over, 8-year-old Cherrie Mahan stepped off her yellow school bus on a chilly Friday around 4 p.m. Cherrie Mahan's third-grade school photo was used on her missing child flyers. The bus stop was about 100 yards from her home in rural Winfield Township in western Pennsylvania. But Cherrie did not make it to the hilltop trailer she lived in with her parents. She was never seen again. Investigators say her disappearance after the four mile ride home from elementary school on February 22, 1985, remains a mystery. \"It's like a black hole opened up and she fell in,'' said Cherrie's mother, Janice McKinney. She recalled that she and Cherrie's stepfather, Leroy, could hear the bus pulling up that day. Soon after Cherrie did not arrive, he went to the stop to look for her. ''He came flying back up because she wasn't there,'' McKinney said. Watch what the girl's mom has to say » . Cherrie, an only child, would soon be celebrating her 33rd birthday, but in the minds of many, she will always remain a missing girl. \"People still talk about it,'' said Trooper Frank Jendesky, the lead detective working on the case for the Pennsylvania State Police for the past 15 years. The driver and children riding the bus remember Cherrie getting off the bus with a few other students who lived nearby. One lingering detail has baffled investigators for years -- reports that a 1976 model van was following the school bus. The van, according to students, had a distinctive painted mural of a snow-capped mountain and skier wearing red and yellow clothes coming down the mountain. Despite many efforts, the van was never found and it remains unclear whether it holds a link to the puzzle. ''By now it's probably in a junkyard or somewhere,'' said Jendesky, who considers the case a kidnapping or abduction -- rather than a homicide -- because a body was not found. \"It's the not knowing that kills you,'' McKinney said. ''Every day you wonder and you look at some girl who's 33 and you wonder, 'Is that her?' I look at little kids and wonder, 'Is that my grandchild?' '' Over the years, police conducted hundreds of interviews and cleared several persons of interest, while the case file grew to more than 4,000 pages. Among his biggest frustrations, Jendesky said: \"The time lapse and a lot of the calls I've gotten over the years really had no relevance to the case.'' In the days before Amber Alerts and greater public awareness of crimes against children, McKinney said it took time before word of her daughter's disappearance became widespread. McKinney said Cherrie's case was included as a public service insert in a direct mail advertising campaign, one of the first times that approach was taken. Cherrie was especially close with McKinney's parents. She described how the girl would lovingly mimic her grandfather's daily morning walk in the garden with his hands cupped behind his back. Hanging in McKinney's dining room is a picture Cherrie drew of a rainbow, trees, birds and clouds. It says \"Mom and Dad.\" \"I have more memories of my daughter than most people get in a lifetime,'' McKinney said, remembering that Cherrie loved the children's character Strawberry Shortcake, enjoyed spelling and wanted to be an elementary schoolteacher. The day Cherrie went missing she was bringing home annual school pictures. That photo and the girl who never made it home with it became known to many on missing posters distributed across the nation. \"She was one heck of a special kid,'' McKinney said. \"And there's somebody out there that knows. And I hope that someday they have a conscience and they'll let us know. Because that's all I pray for, is to have an answer.'' Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Cherrie Mahan or those responsible for her disappearance are asked to call the Pennsylvania State Police at (724) 284-8100." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Third-grader disappeared in February 1985 .\nPolice looked for, but never found van with mural of skier .\nCherrie Mahan's missing person flyer was one of first sent by direct mail .\nKnow something? Call the Pennsylvania State Police at (724) 284-8100 ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(InStyle.com) -- So you're finally ready to settle down and make that marriage proposal? There's no better time to do it than engagement season, which, lucky for you, is now! Get inspired by these uber-romantic celebrity proposals. Brandon Routh popped the question to Courtney Ford while on a picnic. Tia Mowry and Cory Hardrict . Although the set of a slasher movie seems an unlikely place for romance to bloom, that's just where it happened for actors Tia Mowry and Cory Hardrict. Shortly after shooting began in 1999 on their film \"Hollywood Horror,\" the co-stars started spending time together. Seven years later, on Christmas Day 2006, Hardrict, 32, told Mowry, 30, that he wanted to give her a promise ring. Then, as her entire family looked on, the \"Lincoln Heights\" actor yelled, \"Psych!\" and got down on one knee to present her with a 1.5-carat diamond engagement ring. Antonio Pierce and Jocelyn Maldonado . Antonio Pierce, an NFL linebacker, met Jocelyn Maldonado during a celebrity appearance at an ESPN Fantasy Football Draft. Maldonado, a model at the event, instantly caught his eye. Pierce and Maldonado (who now hosts Mets Weekly) were inseparable over the next six months. In February 2007, Pierce treated Maldonado to a helicopter ride above Manhattan, New York, before dining at Brooklyn's The River Café. Famous for its chocolate Brooklyn Bridge cake, Pierce conspired with the restaurant's manager to place the engagement ring atop the confection, which was covered with pink rose petals. Howie Dorough and Leigh Boniello . Backstreet Boy Howard \"Howie\" Dorough got more than he bargained for after hiring Leigh Boniello to be the band's webmaster in December 2000. Boniello went on tour with the group and quickly grew close to Dorough. Six years later, the couple attended a New Year's Eve party at the New Jersey home of Boniello's father. \"I figured, what better timing,\" says Dorough, \"because all of her family was going to be there, including her 92-year-old grandmother.\" Just before the stroke of midnight, Dorough made a toast and presented Boniello with a custom-designed three-stone diamond engagement ring. Brandon Routh and Courtney Ford . Three years before actor Brandon Routh donned those famous blue tights, he tended bar at Lucky Strike Lanes in Hollywood. During a party there in 2003, actress Courtney Ford repeatedly poured out the drinks he made her as a ruse to chat him up. \"I kept asking him for another drink, telling him the one before was too strong,\" she recalls. In 2006, Routh purchased the 3-carat diamond ring that had caught Ford's eye during an earlier visit to Neil Lane. But since the two were traveling for the Superman Returns press tour, Routh asked Gilbert Adler, one of the film's producers, to hold the ring until they arrived in England. \"Poor man!\" says Routh. \"He carried it around for two and a half weeks.\" Finally, while picnicking in Glastonbury, Routh popped the question. Roselyn Sanchez and Eric Winter . Roselyn Sanchez and Eric Winter became friends after meeting at a party in 2006 and Sanchez immediately pegged him as perfect husband material. She found out for certain that he felt the same way just two days before Christmas 2007, under a full moon at midnight, in a bay off the coast of the Puerto Rican island Vieques. The two were seated in a double kayak, taking in the bioluminescent organisms shimmering in the water all alone, except for a tour guide in a second kayak. The scene should have been pure bliss, except that Sachez was concerned when their guide speedily paddled away. \"The guy knew to take off so Eric could propose, but imagine how I felt floating in this huge bay in the middle of the night with nobody around,\" Sanchez explains. \"I started calling back, 'Senor, hello! Come back!' until I realized something was going on.\" After an \"amazing speech,\" Winter pulled out a 4.3-carat brilliant-cut diamond ring by Michael Barin, Sanchez's favorite jeweler. But her joy was soon laced with anxiety over the fact that such a costly bauble was surrounded by acres of sea. \"I said, 'Put it away, please. I don't want it to drop in the water!'\" Anna Chlumsky and Shaun So . Actress Anna Chlumsky, 27, best known for her role in \"My Girl,\" was awaiting her seven-year anniversary with college sweetheart and army reservist Shaun So, 28, and hoping he might pop the question. While they were having breakfast at a café in her neighborhood a week before their anniversary, Chlumsky described a cocktail ring a friend was selling. So, who had been carrying an engagement ring for two weeks in anticipation of the perfect moment, pulled out the 1-carat, cathedral-mounted, radiant-cut bauble and asked, \"Does it look anything like this?\" Guiliana DePandi & Bill Rancic . It started out all business: Giuliana DePandi was interviewing Bill Rancic, first-season winner on \"The Apprentice\" and co-host of the Chicago, Illinois, TV show \"In the Loop with iVillage.\" But when the cameras stopped rolling in April 2006, a whirlwind -- and adventurous -- romance began. Eight months later, when Rancic, 36, popped the question during a chopper flight over Chicago, complete with champagne, Giordano's deep-dish pizza (DePandi's favorite) and Michael Bublé tunes piped into the headset. \"Bill told me we were going to look at Christmas lights,\" says DePandi. \"It was dark in the helicopter, so I didn't really get a look at the ring until the next day, when I went into shock for the second time,\" she says of the 4-carat cushion-cut diamond in a micro pavé setting Rancic helped design. Jeri Ryan and Chistophe Eme . \"He was hot!\" Shark star Jeri Ryan, 39, recalls of first glimpsing her future husband, Christophe Emé, 38, at a food-related charity event four years ago. \"He looked good in his chef's hat, and he had this ornery little spark in his eye that I really enjoy.\" After dating for two years, the couple opened Ortolan, their celebrated French restaurant in Los Angeles, California. The proposal came soon after. \"One night, Christophe covered my eyes and took me into our bedroom,\" recalls Ryan. There the die-hard romantic had placed candles, champagne and a canvas painted with the messages \"And you come with me forever\" in French and \"Grow old along with me\" in English. Emé then presented Ryan with a made-to-order cushion-cut solitaire set in pavé diamonds. Jason Priestley and Naomi Lowde . Fate has looked after Jason Priestley. On Valentine's Day 2000 the actor met Naomi Lowde, a makeup artist from Hertfordshire, England, while walking back from a play rehearsal in London. \"I was smitten,\" says Priestley, now 36. The Beverly Hills, 90210 alum and Lowde, 27, immediately began dating, and in 2002 they moved back to California together. That's when fate took another turn: On August 11, 2002, Priestley was driving his race car on a Kentucky track when he hit a wall at 180 mph. Though he sustained three skull fractures, a broken back and a bleeding artery in his neck, he pulled through. \"It was a tough time, but it was also magical because we kept each other's spirits high,\" says Lowde. \"We pushed two beds together in the hospital and put Swifty, our French bulldog, in the middle. We were together 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for three months.\" In May 2004 Priestley arranged another trip to London, England -- to the very street corner where he and Naomi first met, where he presented her with an emerald-cut, three-diamond ring by Steven Pomerantz. Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O'Connell . What happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas -- and for Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O'Connell, that's not a bad thing. Nearly four years ago the two ran into each other poolside at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. \"I was working on a documentary, and Jerry offered to help,\" recalls Romijn, 35. \"He spent a week operating the microphone, but later he told me he would have done anything. I don't think he really cared about the project, if you know what I mean.\" For their first date the couple went to see the Blue Man Group with friends, and O'Connell had Romijn in stitches. \"It was this whole Jerry show in my ear. That's how it is with Jerry. You get sucked into it!\" Evidently: A year and a half later, on September 18, 2005, O'Connell, 33, proposed to Romijn in New York with a diamond ring from Simon G. \"I got down on one knee, asked her to marry me and said, 'You better say yes' a couple of times -- there was a little bit of a pause on her part,\" says O'Connell. Romijn's take? \"Not true!\" Get a FREE TRIAL issue of InStyle - CLICK HERE! Copyright © 2009 Time Inc. All rights reserved." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Tia Mowry and Cory Hardrict got engaged on the set of a slasher movie .\nBackstreet Boy Howard \"Howie\" Dorough proposed on New Year's Eve .\nRebecca Romijn and Jerry O'Connell first met in Las Vegas, Nevada .\nJason Priestley proposed on the street corner where he and Naomi Lowde met ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- A prisoner killed in a Maryland county jail on Sunday was a victim of \"vigilante justice,\" Prince George's County Chief Executive Jack Johnson said. Ronnie White, 19, died of strangulation and asphyxiation and had two broken bones in his neck, an autopsy showed. An attorney for White's family said that because White was being held in solitary confinement at the Prince George's County Correctional Center, a corrections officer would have had to let whoever killed the prisoner into his cell. His death came two days after his arrest in connection with the death of Prince George's County police Cpl. Richard Findley, who died Friday after being struck by a truck. Authorities believe that White was driving the truck, which was thought to be stolen. Police were attempting to flag it down when Findley was struck. \"The killing of the officer is absolutely abhorrent, but also, Mr. White was presumed innocent and deserved his day in court just like any other citizens,\" Johnson said Monday night. \"We live in a constitutional democracy, and no one has the right to be judge and jury.\" The FBI's Baltimore field office said it has opened a civil rights investigation into White's death. The Justice Department said Tuesday that federal prosecutors have been in contact with the state police and FBI as well as county prosecutors and the department's own Civil Rights Division. \"In support of the Prince George's County State's Attorney's Office, which intends to retain lead responsibility for the criminal investigation, the U.S. Attorney's Office will provide guidance and legal advice to the officials looking into the death and seeking to develop evidence of criminal violations,\" the department said in a written statement. Johnson said Monday that he had requested that the Maryland State Police conduct an independent investigation into White's death. White family attorney Bobby Henry said there are only two ways someone could get into solitary confinement. Watch why death has outraged family » . \"You either have to be buzzed in from the booth -- I believe it's called the control booth -- you need a key from there, or you have to get a key from one of two officers who were assigned to his unit on that day,\" Henry said. The attorney said a \"yet to be identified person or persons took it upon themselves to be the judge, jury and executioner for Mr. White.\" \"The family of Ronnie White is absolutely, unequivocally outraged, incensed and deeply saddened that the life of their loved one could be taken so cold[ly], so callously,\" Henry said Tuesday. \"Something is dreadfully wrong with the system.\" County authorities have said that police are not suspects and that seven corrections officials and an unspecified number of supervisors were the only ones authorized to be in White's cell. None has been suspended or removed. There were no surveillance cameras in the area of the jail where White was being held. White had not had the opportunity to meet with an attorney, Henry said. A physical conducted when White was processed revealed no health issues, according to Johnson. He was checked regularly in his cell and appeared fine when corrections officers saw him at 10:15 a.m. Sunday. When officers brought him lunch 20 minutes later, he was unconscious and without a pulse, Johnson said. Henry said White's family was not notified of his death until several hours after it occurred. They were told to go to Prince George's Hospital to identify the body, he said, but upon arrival were told the state medical examiner's office had taken custody of the body and it had been taken to Baltimore. \"At this very moment, the family has not even seen the body of their loved one,\" Henry said. \"They have been denied the opportunity to start the grieving process which naturally must occur.\" He said White's family is calling upon the Department of Justice, the FBI, the Maryland State Police and county officials \"to conduct a thorough and exhaustive investigation into all of these tragic events, beginning with the events of Friday, June 27, and continuing up until this time.\" Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn Ivey said a grand jury will be convened in the case. He said his office, which will handle any prosecutions that might result, is keeping an open mind. \"We'll follow the evidence wherever it leads,\" he said. He added that he's \"never seen one like this. We've had deaths in custody, but this could be a unique one.\" CNN's Jeanne Meserve and Mike Ahlers contributed to this report." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "NEW: FBI opens civil rights investigation .\n19-year-old held in connection with death of police officer .\nRonnie White died of strangulation .\nWhite was in solitary confinement at Prince George's County Corrections Center ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (CNN) -- Electricity returned early Wednesday to a large swath of central and southern Brazil that was plunged into darkness when power from a major hydroelectric dam was lost. Up to 18 of Brazil's 26 states were left without power when electricity from the Itaipu dam was interrupted around 10:15 p.m. (7:15 p.m. ET) Tuesday, leaving Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and other cities in darkened chaos. Hundreds of people were trapped in elevators. Subways, trains and buses stopped running their routes. Video showed long snaking lines of cars at a near standstill on the roads, their headlights the only illumination. The outage also led to medical emergencies, with a report in Sao Paulo of neighbors having to rescue someone who breathes with the help of a ventilator but the back-up battery was running low. Police also reported increased robberies and looting related to the blackout. Authorities in Rio de Janeiro and other cities stepped up enforcement. Officials said up to 60 million of Brazil's nearly 200 million residents were pitched into darkness. \"I thought, 'How is this happening?' \" said Rio de Janeiro resident Wesley Ferreira. \"All of Copacabana is black.\" Power was restored to most of Brazil by 6 a.m. (3 a.m. ET), the government-run Agencia Brasil news agency said. But some water-treatment plants remained affected Wednesday. Authorities in Sao Paulo reported that 3 million residents in the metropolitan area remained without water, down from a previous 6.7 million. Sao Paulo is the largest municipality in South America, with about 11 million inhabitants in the city and nearly 20 million in the metro area. The Itaipu dam, one of the world's largest hydroelectric facilities, is shared by Brazil and Paraguay, which also lost power. Neighboring Uruguay also reported outages. Itaipu provides more than 19 percent of Brazil's energy and 87 percent of Paraguay's, Agencia Brasil said. The outage affected 18 states, the UOL Noticias news outlet said, citing Brazil's minister of mines and energy, Edison Lobao. The states of Sao Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Rio de Janeiro and Espirito Santo went totally dark, while Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso, Goias, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Parana, Acre, Rondonia, Bahia, Sergipe, Paraiba, Alagoas, Pernambuco and Rio Grande do Norte were partially affected. The Federal District in which Brasilia, the nation's capital, is located also had outages. As a point of reference as to how widespread the blackout was, it is about 2,000 miles from the southern tip of Santa Catarina to the northern tip of Pernambuco. Jorge Samek, the director general of the agency that runs the dam, said the blackouts were caused by a failure in the Brazilian power delivery system, not the hydroelectric plant at the dam. Officials said three transmission lines went out. Officials said they had not determined an official cause for the power failure, but pointed at the weather. They discounted any type of sabotage. \"Apparently, according to information that we have, it was because of meteorological conditions that were pretty adverse, with strong winds and strong rain at the same time,\" Lobao said. Some experts agreed that the electric system should not collapse because of a storm. \"There is a problem,\" said Luiz Pinguelli, director of the Post-Graduate Engineering Center at the Rio de Janeiro Federal University. \"And you can't say under any circumstances that this is due to nature. There is a transmission problem, and the worst part of it is the dimension it takes. That is to say, an accident that can tumble one line is always possible. But for the power to go out in so many cities for such a long time, that shouldn't happen.\" Some residents blamed a sudden surge in electricity use as Brazil, which is in the Southern Hemisphere, enters spring and the weather gets warmer. \"Those responsible for the energy supply do not perceive that the weather is changing and that there's a lot of hot weather in the spring,\" said Rio resident Pabla de Visconti. \"Summer promises to be hot, and everyone is turning on air-conditioners and fans.\" The nation's ability to handle basic utilities concerns some officials as Brazil prepares to host the World Cup in 2014 and the Summer Olympics two years later. \"I always say that Brazil is a country that is growing much, that everyone takes pride in, that is talked about favorably in the rest of the world, but that has a Third World infrastructure,\" said Adriano Pires, director of the Brazilian Center for Infrastructure. \"When we have consumption peaks, there are blackouts. If the government does not invest in infrastructure, the problems will be more serious each time. It will lead to the strangulation of economic growth and could embarrass the country in events like the World Cup and the Olympics.\" CNN's Alessandra Castelli and journalists Fabiana Frayssinet and Lucrecia Franco contributed to this report." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Electricity returns to central and southern Brazil after power from major hydroelectric dam was lost .\nNeighboring Paraguay, Uruguay report related blackouts .\nHydroelectric dam provides over 20 percent of Brazil's energy ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- Tillakaratne Dilshan scored his sixth Test century of a remarkable year to give Sri Lanka a fine start to the third match of their series against India in Mumbai on Wednesday. Dilshan made 109 as Sri Lanka, seeking a win to level the series at 1-1, closed on 366 for eight wickets on the opening day. All-rounder Angelo Mathews was closing on his first Test century with an unbeaten 86 on a wicket offering turn and bounce, but was rapidly running out of partners to the second new ball. India, who won the second Test in Kanpur last week by a crushing innings and 144 runs, will take over from South Africa as the top-ranked Test team in the world if they can win the series 2-0. Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh claimed four victims and slow left-armer Pragyan Ojha two but Dilshan proved a formidable opponent. He continued his superb 2009 with 10 boundaries and two sixes to reach three figures for the 11th time in Tests. He made 112 in the high-scoring draw in the first Test in Ahmedabad. Dilshan put on 93 in 20 overs for the first wicket with Tharanga Paranavitana, who made 53.before becoming Harbhajan's first victim just before lunch. India claimed three wickets in the afternoon as Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara went cheaply with Mahela Jayawardene adding 59 for the third wicket before falling victim to paceman Shanthakumaran Sreesanth. Harbhajan had Thilan Samaraweera caught in the leg-trap for one just before the tea interval. Mathews and Dilshan put Sri Lanka back on top again in the final session with a 74 stand which was ended when the opener was given out caught at short-leg off Harbhajan, with TV replays indicating he was unlucky. Prasanna Jayawardene made 43 in a sixth-wicket stand of 67 with Mathews, but he Nuwan Kulasekara and Rangana Herath fell in quick succession as India hit back again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Tillakaratne Dilshan scores sixth Test century of 2009 for Sri Lanka .\nOpener helps his side to 366 for eight on first day against India in Mumbai .\nHarbhajan Singh takes four wickets to lead Indian attack on helpful wicket ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(Mental Floss) -- We remember Henry Ford as the automotive magnate who perfected assembly line technology, but he also dabbled in ambitious social programs, including one in which he hired ex-convicts straight out of Sing Sing to staff his factories. Henry Ford, pictured in 1942, unsuccessfully attempted to increase the rubber supply with a plantation in Brazil. Although many of these efforts were successful, Ford's ill-fated foray into the Brazilian jungle was a notable and fascinating exception. The plan . If you're going to make millions of cars, you're going to need an awful lot of rubber. In 1927, Ford came up with a novel plan: He'd solve his rubber problem and test out his lofty theories about social planning. If everything went well, he could craft both a utopia full of healthy, productive workers and a direct pipeline of coveted rubber to Detroit. Ford approached the task with characteristic zeal. He talked the Brazilian government into granting him 10,000 square kilometers of land in the Amazon rain forest -- a plot that was nearly twice as big as the state of Delaware -- in exchange for a 9 percent cut of the plantation's profits. In theory, this setup seemed like one of Ford's ideas that would shake out pretty well, and in 1928, Ford sent a barge full of supplies from Michigan down to his new plantation town, which was dubbed \"Fordlandia.\" Growing rubber in the jungle . Unfortunately for Ford's stockholders, though, the captain of industry didn't always have a great eye for detail. (One famous story about Ford was that he disliked accountants so fiercely that he never had his company audited. By the end of his tenure, the Ford Motor Company allegedly had no idea exactly how much it cost to build a car.) Ford didn't check to see if the plantation was suitable for growing rubber. According to Greg Grandin, author of \"Fordlandia: The Rise and Fall of Henry Ford's Forgotten Jungle City,\" Ford never consulted any sort of expert on rubber cultivation; he just sent a bunch of supplies and managers into the jungle hoping to grow some rubber. Mental Floss: Henry Ford and others who survived bankruptcy . Ford was legendarily contemptuous of experts, but he could have saved some serious dough if he'd just hired a consultant to tell him that the plantation wasn't at all suitable for growing rubber. The land wasn't very fertile, but that wasn't the main problem. The real difficulty was that it's practically impossible to farm rubber in a plantation setting in the Amazon rainforest. To grow the trees on a commercial scale, you've got to pack them in fairly close together, and at that point they become incredibly susceptible to blight and insect attacks. Fordlandia's trees were no exception, and caterpillars and blight quickly decimated the fields. Not exactly a worker's paradise . Obviously, the rubber production part of the Fordlandia got off to a rocky start. How was the \"worker's paradise\" part of things going, though? Even more abysmally. The American managers and their families that Ford imported from Michigan weren't accustomed to the sweltering Brazilian heat and headed back north with an alarming frequency. The heavy machinery used on the plantation left deep ruts in the soft soil, which collected stagnant water and became breeding grounds for malaria-ridden mosquitoes. Ford had attempted to design Fordlandia like any American town, complete with schools, restaurants, a golf course, and shops. The catch here, though, was that the indigenous Brazilians who farmed the rubber weren't used to living in a stylized American community. Worse still, the plantation's workers were expected to work a strict shift from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., whereas normal harvesting practices in the region saw workers hit the fields before dawn, take a long break, and then head out again at twilight to save themselves the misery of working in the tropical midday heat. Food fights . Ford's influence extended all the way down to the residents' diets, and while the indigenous workers weren't crazy about having to eat American foods, they were livid about having to eat in a cafeteria setting rather than enjoying the homestyle meals to which they were accustomed. Eventually, the workers decided they'd had enough of the affront of cafeteria dining and rioted during a meal. Mental Floss: Three historical food fights . As the American managers fled to the safety of boats, the workers destroyed their mess hall and continued to riot until Brazilian soldiers came in to suppress violence. Another sticking point for the workers was Ford's insistence that his model community be entirely free of alcohol and tobacco. Although Prohibition wasn't exactly an unqualified success at home, and although alcohol was still legal in Brazil, Ford stayed firm on his booze ban. Workers who needed a drink were forced just outside the city limits to buy a bottle of cachaca; enterprising liquor salesman could simply paddle by on the river and unload their wares. Mental Floss: Why is the drinking age 21? End of the road . Eventually, even though Henry Ford steadfastly insisted that the community could thrive and help introduce American-style industrialization to the rest of the world, it became abundantly clear that the noble Fordlandia experiment was a flop. After the perfection of synthetic rubber in 1945, Ford sold the plantation at a $20 million loss and left Brazil. Just how much of a fiasco was the Fordlandia experiment? Although Ford spent 17 years trying to produce rubber on the plantation, no Ford car ever rolled off the assembly line with a single bit of Fordlandia's rubber in it. For more mental_floss articles, visit mentalfloss.com . Entire contents of this article copyright, Mental Floss LLC. All rights reserved." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The auto magnate set up a plantation in the Amazon rain forest to produce rubber .\nHe didn't research the land and found out to late it wasn't suitable for growing rubber .\nBrazilian workers rioted against U.S.-style mess hall, ban on alcohol .\nFord ultimately sold the plantation at a $20 million loss ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- Thousands of Opel workers went on strike in Germany on Thursday in protest at the decision by U.S. parent General Motors to abandon the sale of the automaker. GM shocked German public officials when it announced earlier this week its decision to keep its European Opel and Vauxhall units and cancel a planned sale to Canadian firm Magna. If Magna had bought GM's European operations thousands would have lost their jobs in Spain and at Vauxhall plants in Britain. After the announcement there were celebrations in Britain but fury in Germany, where thousands of workers fear they will face the axe. \"We want Opel to continue to exist,\" Hesse state Premier Roland Koch -- one of the biggest lobbyists for a sale to Magna and its Russian partner Sberbank -- told rallying workers at Opel headquarters in Ruesselsheim on Thursday, according to Reuters.com. \"We will have to fight again with the goal of saving jobs.\" GM announced a restructuring plan for Opel that would include cuts of as many as 10,000 jobs at the European subsidiary. About half of Opel's 50,000 workers are based in Germany. The U.S. car giant confirmed in a statement to CNN that its revised viability plan for Opel \"will likely include cuts in that range.\" Jürgen Rüttgers, premier of North Rhine-Westphalia state, where GM proposes closing a factory, told the Financial Times: \"General Motors' behaviour shows the ugly face of turbo-capitalism. That is completely unacceptable.\" German Opel workers reject GM's restructuring plan for the company, which they believe will see a drain of vehicle development from Germany to the United States, Lorenz said. Employees in Germany are not only unwilling to accept pay cuts moving forward, but they will also demand to be paid for concessions they have made, like giving up a scheduled pay rise in May, their 2008 Christmas bonus, and vacation pay for 2009, Lorenz said. GM promised to work with all the European labor unions on a plan for Opel's restructuring. The GM board of directors said an improving business environment over the past few months and the importance of Opel and its British brand, Vauxhall, to GM's global strategy were reasons to retain Opel. The board said it would begin restructuring its European operations \"in earnest\" instead, according to a news release issued late Tuesday. GM's decision is a setback for Magna, which agreed to purchase Opel and Vauxhall in September in a deal brokered by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. General Motors said in March that it wanted to sell Opel after it reported an annual loss of $30.9 billion for 2008. Opel, together with Vauxhaull, is the fourth-largest car brand in Europe after Volkswagen, Ford, and Renault. It is also GM's largest-selling brand in Europe by far, representing more than 70 percent of GM's European sales. While GM's decision may still mean layoffs as it restructures its European businesses, it may safeguard jobs in the short-term. Employees at the Vauxhall plant in Ellesmere Port, England, welcomed the news. \"I think it's a good idea, really, because a lot of people will have jobs,\" one employee told Sky News. \"We've had a three-day week now for ages,\" said another man. \"We've lost money, so now we're going to start getting some back.\" The head of the Unite union, which represents Vauxhall workers, said he was \"absolutely delighted\" that GM will retain ownership of the brand. \"GM was once the biggest company in the world and we have no reason to believe that it cannot restructure itself to address its present difficulties,\" Unite Joint General Secretary Tony Woodley said. \"My worry is that they would be forced to spin off their UK business to Magna, which simply does not have the expertise to run a global car company.\" CNN's Fred Pleitgen in Berlin, Germany, contributed to this report ." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Opel workers in Germany strike Thursday over GM's decision to abandon sale of automaker .\nGM's Opel restructuring plan could eliminate as many as 10,000 jobs .\nU.S. parent company says improving business environment behind its decision not to sell Opel .\nGM said in March it wanted to sell Opel after reporting losses of $30.9 billion ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Editor's note: Ed Rollins, a senior political contributor for CNN, was political director for President Reagan and chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee. Ed Rollins says Jack Kemp's intellect and force of personality helped guide the Republican party. NEW YORK (CNN) -- The world of politics has many players but few giants. One of the giants left the stage last week. I was privileged to have had Jack Kemp as a friend. Our friendship was not unique, because Jack Kemp had thousands and maybe tens of thousands of people who thought of themselves as his friend. He gave his friendship willingly and with a spirit of generosity. Those of us who knew him are saddened by his passing and the political world is a whole lot emptier because he's gone. When Jack entered a room he filled it with an energy and fervor and his presence was felt big-time. Every conversation with him became a debate, even if you agreed with him on an issue. Jack Kemp had no casual thoughts. I knew Jack for nearly 40 years. He was one of my early heroes. To this day I think of myself as a Reagan-Kemp Republican. We both were Californians who came out of blue-collar working-class roots. His father was a truck driver, my father a shipyard worker. We both wanted to remake the Republican Party into a party for working people where hard work was rewarded and opportunities were offered to every man and woman regardless of background, color, religion or beliefs. Jack went from a 13-year all-star career as the starting quarterback with the Buffalo Bills straight to Congress. He was first elected in 1970 and over the next four decades he was one of the most influential and popular men in the Republican Party. He was a true intellectual, a vociferous reader and was a warrior for his ideas. He took the intensity that made him the AFL's most valuable player directly to the halls of Congress without missing a beat. In his 18 years in Congress he was a leader of the new breed of conservatives. After he ran for president in 1988, he was appointed the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by President George H.W. Bush. In 1996, he was the Republican vice presidential nominee running with Sen. Bob Dole's presidential effort . Along the way he was an extraordinary husband for 50 years to his wonderful Joanne and a remarkable father to his two sons, Jeff and Jimmy, and his two daughters, Jennifer and Judith, who provided him 17 grandchildren. I was the national chairman of Jack's presidential campaign in 1988. I believed he was the rightful heir to Ronald Reagan and that his conservative principles and ideas would continue to build on the foundation that President Reagan had established. Many of us thought Jack or Sen. Paul Laxalt, Reagan's closest friend and campaign chairman, should have been the vice presidential candidate in 1980. If either of them had been selected, he likely would have been the future president and there would not have been a Bush dynasty. They were the favorites of the convention delegates and President Reagan's top choices, too. He was argued out of them because people said you couldn't have a movie star running with a football star -- or two former governors from neighboring states (California and Nevada). Be that as it may. Jack's contributions to Ronald Reagan's legacy as the tax-cutting guru and unstoppable missionary of supply side economics made much of President Reagan's domestic policy possible. Even though he had always been a quarterback, he became a blocking back for President Reagan in moving his legislation through Congress. Shortly after he became HUD secretary in 1989, several National Football League team owners came to him offering him the job of National Football League Commissioner to replace his long time friend Pete Rozelle. He told me it was the one job he always wanted. My counsel was to take it. He called me back several days later and said he couldn't, because he felt he owed it to President Bush not to walk away after so short a time and that he so wanted to help all those in the urban communities who needed help. Jack was the Republican party's greatest advocate of a \"big tent theory\" and felt the party of Lincoln needed to do more to broaden civil rights and encourage minority participation. He often said he played and showered with more African-Americans then most Republicans meet in a lifetime. They were his friends, and in sports you learn all men bleed the same color. He often repeated the line: \"I wasn't there with Rosa Parks or Dr. King or John Lewis. But I am here now, and I am going to yell from the rooftops about what we need to do.\" And just as he led his Bills to back to back championships, he drove his party to an ideology that led to the Republican Congressional majorities in the '90s. Like all of us, Jack wasn't perfect, but he was darn good. As someone who tried to manage him, I found that he wasn't manageable. I once told him: \"Jack, if I could remove half your knowledge and three-quarters of your vocabulary, I could make you into a decent candidate.\" He laughed and went on his merry way. And of course it was that incredible intellect and his passion for words as well as people that made him such a powerful force. Jack Kemp was the indefatigable happy warrior, who over the last four decades drove his party with an intellectual fervor that influenced every leader from President Reagan to Speaker Newt Gingrich. He fought for his ideas with an intensity like that of very few men I have known. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Ed Rollins." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ed Rollins: Jack Kemp helped guide Republican Party in 1980s and 1990s .\nHe says Kemp was a strong source of ideas the party put to use .\nRollins: Kemp believed in a GOP \"big tent\" and encouraged minority participation ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) -- A strong Russia is good for the United States, President Obama said in a speech in Moscow, where he is visiting in an effort to \"reset\" the countries' relations. President Obama meets with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Tuesday before heading to the G-8 in Italy. Obama delivered a commencement speech Tuesday at a Moscow graduate school. \"America wants a strong, peaceful and prosperous Russia,\" he told a large crowd at the New Economic School. \"This belief is rooted in our respect for the Russian people, and a shared history between our nations that goes beyond competition.\" He repeated the message in a meeting later with Russian business leaders, but also said Russia has to do more to fight corruption. \"We have to promote transparency, accountability, rule of law on which investments and economic growth depend,\" he said. Watch Obama discuss thoughts on Kremlin visit » . \"We want Russia to be selling us goods and we want Russia to be buying goods from us,\" he said. \"Total trade between our countries is just $36 billion. Our trade -- America's trade with Russia -- is only about 1 percent of all our trade with the world -- 1 percent -- a percent that's virtually unchanged since the Cold War.\" Watch Obama's full opening statement » . Obama later met Russian opposition leaders, speaking of the importance for the country to \"not simply tolerate dissenting voices but also to respect and recognize dissenting voices.\" Obama also spoke to civil society leaders, promising the United States will support universal values and human rights such as the rights of people to live as they choose, to have a free press and to speak their minds. On Monday Obama met with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and discussed a series of agreements -- including one on nuclear-arms reduction -- as part of an effort to strengthen ties between the one-time Cold War rivals. The two signed a deal on parameters for negotiations to replace the START agreement, with the goal of reducing nuclear weapons. START expires December 5. Watch Obama discuss arms control pact » . Under Monday's agreement, Russia and the United States will reduce their strategic warheads to a range of 1,500 to 1,675, and their strategic delivery vehicles to a range of 500 to 1,100. The numbers would be a reduction from the expiring START, which allowed 2,200 warheads and 1,600 launch vehicles. The two-day summit in Moscow was to help refocus a relationship that, according to Obama, \"has suffered from a sense of drift\" in recent years. The president reiterated that in his speech Tuesday. \"That is why I have called for a 'reset' in relations between the United States and Russia,\" Obama said. \"This must be more than a fresh start between the Kremlin and the White House, though that is important,\" he said. \"It must be a sustained effort among the American and Russian people to identify mutual interests and to expand dialogue and cooperation that can pave the way to progress.\" Obama met with Medvedev again Tuesday and with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin before heading to Italy for the Group of Eight summit. The G-8 agenda is packed with issues, including Iran, the global financial crisis, climate change and eradicating world poverty. Putin said his meeting with Obama was \"very good and substantive.\" \"We also talked about how we will be improving our relations in the near- and medium-term. It was a very well-intentioned and substantial conversation in many concrete fields. We have many points we agree on,\" Russia's prime minister said. After his speech, Obama sat down with Ed Henry, CNN senior White House correspondent, for a brief interview. The president spoke about a wide range of issues, including how much his daughters were enjoying Moscow, his impressions of Putin, relations with Iran and Michael Jackson. On Iran, Obama reiterated recent statements about the post-election protests there. \"Events in recent weeks have disturbed the world. They are not only heartbreaking, but raise questions over where leaders want to take the country,\" Obama said. \"We have to wait and see how the dust settles. But we have to speak out and say that the Iranian people have to be treated with justice.\" The president also spoke about the legacy of Michael Jackson, on the day of the pop star's public memorial program. \"No doubt he was one of greatest entertainers of our or any generation. Like Elvis, Sinatra, the Beatles, he became core part of our culture,\" Obama said. \"His extraordinary talent and music was mixed with big dose of tragedy in private life. It is important for us to affirm the best of him.\" CNN's Jill Dougherty contributed to this report." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "NEW: PM Putin: Much agreement in \"well-intentioned, substantial\" talks .\nObama cites respect for Russian people, shared history that transcends competition .\nObama is in Moscow for two-day summit with President Medvedev, Putin .\nObama, Medvedev sign \"joint understanding\" on cutting nuclear arsenals ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- The United States successfully tested a sea-based component of its missile defense shield Thursday evening, intercepting a ballistic missile with a dummy warhead over the Pacific Ocean, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency said. A dummy missile is launched from a ship during a 2008 test of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Program. The exercise was the 19th successful test in 23 attempts of the system -- known as the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Program -- since 2002. A target missile was fired from Hawaii about 5:40 p.m. (11:40 p.m. ET) and was tracked by Navy ships hundreds of miles away. The USS Hopper, one of three Navy ships tracking the launch, fired an interceptor missile, which struck the target about 100 miles above the Earth. The process -- from launch to shoot-down -- took less than five minutes, according to the U.S. military. The United States plans to use the sea-based system on Navy Aegis-class ships to protect against incoming short- to medium-range missiles fired from hostile countries. Eighty-six of the ships eventually will have the capability. Another part of the missile defense protection -- ground-based midcourse defense -- is designed to strike at long-range missiles. Both the sea-based and ground-based systems are part of the Pentagon's \"layered\" missile defense plan. Much of the missile defense program is still under development, including lasers fired from a plane that the military hopes would destroy an enemy missile during launch. Other parts of the missile defense would fire short-range missiles at incoming warheads that are close to hitting their targets. Over the past seven years, the U.S. military has spent billions of dollars on the missile defense program. Pentagon officials have said that each missile defense test costs about $85 million." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ship-based system shoots down dummy missile from hundreds of miles away .\nAegis Ballistic Missile Defense has 19 successful tests in 23 tries, agency says .\nMore than 80 U.S. Navy ships eventually will be equipped with system ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Fort Hood, Texas (CNN) -- The suspect in last week's deadly shooting spree at Fort Hood urged in 2007 that Muslims in the U.S. Army be allowed to claim conscientious objector status when it comes to fighting other Muslims in war, a defense official said Tuesday. Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan also discussed religious aspects of Islam during a presentation at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as part of a final project for his residency tenure, said the official, who has knowledge of the investigation into Hasan. \"It's getting harder and harder for Muslims in the service to morally justify being in a military that seems constantly engaged against fellow Muslims,\" Hasan said, according to a slide show that The Washington Post said Hasan used in the June 2007 presentation. \"Muslims [sic] soldiers should not serve in any capacity that renders them at risk to hurting/killing believers unjustly,\" a Hasan slide said, though he added that individual feelings \"will vary!\" Hasan is the only suspect in the shooting at the Fort Hood Army post in Texas on Thursday that left 13 people dead and 42 wounded. Twelve of the dead were soldiers. Hasan remains in intensive care at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, after having been shot by a police officer. Dr. Val Finnell, a former medical school classmate of Hasan's, described him as \"a very outspoken opponent of the war\" in the classroom and in public settings. \"He equated the war against terror with a war against Islam,\" Finnell said. He added that he was shocked by Thursday's shooting. \"However, that said, given the things that Maj. Hasan has said to me in the past and to other people, I am not surprised.\" Hasan's comments came in what was supposed to be a medical seminar, The Washington Post reported, but instead he spoke to senior Army doctors about Islam. Hasan, a psychiatrist, aimed to describe \"religious conflicts that Muslims may have with the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan,\" according to the newspaper's report. The report is based on a slideshow that The Washington Post said Hasan used in the June 2007 presentation. See the presentation and the Post's report . In a statement issued Monday night, the FBI said its investigation \"indicates that the alleged gunman acted alone and was not part of a broader terrorist plot.\" Hasan came under investigation for a time last year when his communications with radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki were intercepted by terrorism investigators monitoring the cleric's communications, a federal law enforcement official said. An employee of the Defense Department's Criminal Investigative Services, assigned to the Joint Terrorism Task Force, ultimately made the decision to drop the investigation after reviewing the intercepted communications and Hasan's personnel files. However, a senior defense department official said late Tuesday that the agency was not aware of any such communication. \"Contrary to reports we have seen in some news outlets, based on what we know now, neither the United States Army nor any other organization within the Department of Defense knew of Major Hasan's contacts with any Muslim extremists,\" the official said. \"Not until after the tragic shooting at Fort Hood last week were Major Hasan's e-mail communications first brought to our attention by federal investigators.\" President Obama traveled to Fort Hood for a memorial service on Tuesday for the victims of the shooting. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and other dignitaries also attended the service. Read profiles of the shooting victims . Hasan, 39, was wounded several times during the attack. His ventilator was removed over the weekend, and he began talking afterward, hospital spokesman Dewey Mitchell said. Federal agents attempted to interview Hasan on Sunday, but he refused to cooperate and asked for an attorney, according to senior investigative officials, who insisted they not be identified by name because of the sensitive nature of the ongoing federal investigation. Hasan has retained a lawyer, ex-military judge and retired Army Col. John Galligan, the attorney told CNN affiliate KXXV-TV. \"Like anybody that's facing criminal charges in the military arena, he's entitled to a defense counsel,\" Galligan told the station. Galligan said he had a 25-minute conversation with Hasan, and the two did not talk much about the Fort Hood shooting. \"There's still a lot to be done on the medical side,\" Galligan said. Hasan, a U.S.-born citizen of Palestinian descent, was a licensed psychiatrist who joined the Army in 1997. He was promoted to major in May and was scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan sometime soon but had been telling his family since 2001 that he wanted to get out of the military. Hasan, a Muslim, also told his family that he had been taunted after the terrorist attacks of September 11. In August, he reported to police that his car was keyed and a bumper sticker that read \"Allah is Love\" was torn off. A neighbor was charged with criminal mischief after that complaint." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Official: Let Muslims be conscientious objectors, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan said .\nFormer classmate says Hasan opposed war on terror .\nHasan remains in intensive care, has reportedly retained lawyer ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Atlanta, Georgia (CNN) -- Want to boost your spending power? Try giving your wallet a break by shopping at a dollar store. Americans have embraced the four leading chains -- Dollar General, Family Dollar, Dollar Tree and the 99¢ Only store -- in droves during the recession. This year, Dollar General's sales were up almost 10 percent quarter-over-quarter, and they're opening 450 new stores, according to The New York Times. Dollar Tree, meanwhile, planned to open 235 new stores this year. And Family Dollar's early 2009 numbers pointed to sales being up 6.5 percent year-over-year. But despite the booming sales, Consumer Reports' Money Adviser has taken a close look at this hot retail segment and found that not everything is a deal. Before I tell you what they say to stock up on and what to pass on, I want to clarify something. There are important distinctions to note among the chains. Dollar General and Family Dollar both price the majority of their items at $1, but they also offer some merchandise at higher price points. Dollar Tree and the 99¢ Only chain are the only true dollar stores where everything is $1, with no exceptions. So what did Consumer Reports find? Cotton rounds, gift wrap, birthday candles, paper bags, composition notebooks, plastic cups, security envelopes, napkins, foam plates and tissue paper are among the best deals. Yet they advised against buying jewelry (too much lead content), electrical products (possibly fake UL labels), medication (expired products) and vitamins (probably not to be from reputable sellers) at any dollar stores. Now, I've routinely bought medication like ibuprofen at dollar stores and have not found it to be past expiration date. Of course, some would argue that I can get a better deal on ibuprofen at a warehouse club. But unless you're in constant pain, who can use all those 12 million pills in the bulk container before they expire?! The research that Consumer Reports did reminded me of a similar report in Good Housekeeping several years ago. At that time, the women's magazine compared four knockoff products from the dollar stores versus four brand name products purchased elsewhere. The products included generic glass cleaner, body lotion, dishwashing liquid and detergent. The brand name products were Windex, Lubriderm, Dawn and Tide, and they proved to better than their generic counterparts. For example, a teaspoon of Dawn washed 19 dishes, while a teaspoon of the dollar brand washed only six! As for the detergent, the dollar brand failed to wash out a mustard stain that Tide did. So the message is, let the buyer beware at the dollar stores. Certainly, there are some deals to be had, but you've got to be picky." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Recession has boosted spending at dollar stores .\nCotton rounds, gift wrap, birthday candles among the best deals .\nNot all dollar stores are equal; some have more expensive items .\nSome knockoff products from dollar stores failed tests against brand names ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- Thierry Henry could face FIFA disciplinary action over his handball which helped France to qualify for the finals of the 2010 World Cup at the expense of Ireland. FIFA president Sepp Blatter told reporters in Cape Town that the Barcelona striker's \"blatant unfair play\" could land him in hot water. \"The FIFA disciplinary committee will open an investigation ... concerning the behavior of the player Thierry Henry,\" he said. \"It was blatant unfair play and was seen all around the world. I don't know the outcome of the disciplinary committee, let them make the decision. \"Fair play must be maintained in our game.\" Blatter was speaking after an extraordinary meeting of the FIFA executive committee, which was convened to consider the refereeing controversy in the France - Ireland match, incidents surrounding the Algeria - Egypt playoff tie and matchfixing in Europe. It had been widely trailed that the FIFA executive would sanction the use of two extra officials behind both goal lines in World Cup. But Blatter said that the finals in South Africa was too soon to introduce the system which has been used in the second-tier European club tournament this year. \"The experiments with the Europa League shall go on into the knockout stages next year but it has been decided, for the World Cup 2010, there is no change in the refereeing: one referee, two assistants and a fourth official.\" He went on to say that there would be further investigation into both video technology and additional referees. \"We shall have a look at technology or additional persons and this shall be done by a committee but not the referees committee alone, it will be done by the football, technical and medical committees, too,\" he added. Ireland were denied a place in the finals by a goal that should have been disallowed because Henry used his hand to control the ball before setting up William Gallas to score the aggregate decider in the second leg in the Stade de France. Ireland subsequently launched two appeals, the first for the match to be replayed, the second for them to be added to the line-up for the finals as the 33rd team. Both have been rejected, but Blatter was forced to apologize to the Irish for making public their supposedly private bid to be included as an extra team. Blatter put their request into the public domain in light-hearted comments made in Johannesburg, which left Irish football officials infuriated and insulted. \"I would like to express my regrets for the wrong interpretation of what I said. I regret what I have created and I'm sorry to the Ireland football confederation for these headlines going around the world,\" he said. \"It's a pity I communicated in this way. Sorry again.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Thierry Henry face disciplinary action over his handball in World Cup playoff match .\nFIFA president Sepp Blatter says their disciplinary committee will investigate .\nFIFA rules out use of extra officials or video technology at the finals .\nBlatter apologizes to Irish officials for comments made over their request to be 33rd team ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This week in iReport we're celebrating a couple anniversaries. It's been 20 years since the world watched the Berlin Wall fall. And, that children's television favorite \"Sesame Street\" turned the big 4-0. Meanwhile, Hurricane Ida stormed ashore, slamming the Gulf Coast. We've got all this and more in this week's video wrap-up. Berlin Wall anniversary -- Twenty years ago this week, the Berlin Wall came tumbling down in a decisive moment in a revolution that ultimately ended decades of Communist rule and signaled the end of the Cold War. For many iReporters, the fall of the wall holds personal significance. They dug into their photo albums to share memories of this historic event. Bracing for Ida -- iReporters updated on preparations and conditions as Hurricane Ida approached the Gulf Coast. Two iReporters shared several photos of preparations in Pensacola Beach, Florida, including closed roads, sandbags and high tides, saying it \"packed a pretty good punch.\" Another in New Orleans compared the rising waters from Ida with those of Gustav last year. Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street? -- The classic children's television show 'Sesame Street' turned 40 this week. CNN producers collaborated with iReporters to create a fun video alphabet that would make Jim Henson proud. iReporters of all ages also shared their memories of \"Sesame Street\" and how the show made an impact on their lives." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "iReporters remember the fall of the Berlin Wall, 20 years later .\nThe Gulf Coast braces for Hurricane Ida .\n'Sesame Street' celebrates 40 years .\nTell your stories at CNN iReport ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (CNN) -- What do you say when you meet one of the most iconic statesmen in the world? Mandela holds baby Freya as Robyn Curnow and her husband Kim look on. For someone who makes a living out of communications, I have consistently been tongue-tied around Nelson Mandela. The funny thing is I am not particularly star-struck -- as a CNN correspondent I get to interview and profile all sorts of \"famous\" people. It's just a not a big deal for me. However, with Madiba (as Mandela is often called), I feel like every moment spent with him is a gift, a blessing that I will tell my grandchildren about one day. As a South African he has a place in our hearts that is hard to define. However, my stories about my encounters with Nelson Mandela are the stuff of comedy clubs. I've never quite managed to hold my own with him. I always land up somehow embarrassing myself when I am around him; I've slipped on shiny presidential floors, got tangled up in camera equipment and made pathetically inane comments. I first met Nelson Mandela in the early 1990s. I can't remember exactly when, but it was at the Wanderers cricket stadium in Johannesburg. He visited the VIP room, during a test match, where I was working during school vacations and everybody lined up to meet him. I stood proudly and waited my turn, he came over to me. He was tall. He said to me, \"You are so gracious, I am so humbled to meet you.\" I remember thinking, if Nelson Mandela thinks I am gracious -- fantastic. I promptly turned around and ungraciously tripped on my best shoes, tumbling into the crowd behind me. I was the one humbled. Years later, I was a young reporter working for the South African Broadcasting Corporation during Mandela's presidency. I wasn't senior enough to cover the big political stories of the day so news editors only assigned me the light hearted Mandela news stories. The one I remember most was around a birthday or Christmas during which there was a photo opportunity at one of his grandson's kindergartens. Word had got out among the press that \"Twinkle twinkle little star\" was Madiba's favorite nursery rhyme, so, of course, all the children sang it for him. I sang along too, twinkle-finger actions included, it's a great song. Whether it was or not Madiba's favorite, is not something I have ever asked him. Years after that, I was taking a sabbatical from journalism and spent a year studying for my Masters degree at Cambridge University. Mandela just happened to be an honorary fellow at Magdalene College, where I was studying. He came to visit that year, giving a speech in the college's beautiful cloisters. I waved at him, as he passed by all of us students assembled in the quadrangle. Of course, he didn't wave back, but I felt gracious and humbled in his presence, protected by Magdalene's great walls. And then I turned to my awe-struck friends and said, \"Did you know his favorite song is 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star?'\" -- which kind of killed the moment. Fast forward a few more years, I reported on Mandela occasionally during my time as a correspondent at CNN London's bureau. From a distance, I saw him get older and shakier on his feet. His hair got whiter and his public engagements lessened considerably. Once in while, I would regale my friends with Madiba's stories -- yes, there are more -- like the time I sneaked into the bathroom in his presidential mansion, desperate for relief, before a long-delayed press conference and phoned a friend from within to ask whether it was morally right to steal some of Nelson Mandela's soap. ( I didn't. It isn't very gracious). Or the time, I asked Zelda la Grange, his devoted personal assistant, to take a photo of me and Madiba together before I went up to Cambridge. He agreed and came over to me, throwing his arm around me and giving me squeeze a and joking, \"Ah, I am sure your boyfriend will be jealous.\" Did you know that Nelson Mandela is a terrible flirt? Again, I became self-conscious. I was carrying my handbag over my shoulder and I didn't want the photo to look like I was Margaret Thatcher or my grandmother, for that matter, constantly clutching a handbag. So with his arm still firm around my middle, I bent down to put my handbag on the floor. That's when Zelda took the photo... unfortunately; the automatic flash went off on my camera. That's a complete no-no around Mandela -- his eyes were damaged during his years of imprisonment on Robben Island and flash photography is forbidden. So they whizzed away, slightly peeved, and I landed up with a \"Me and Mandela\" photograph that showed the president grinning into camera, holding me around the waist and me half bent over, lowering my handbag, with my head half cocked and eyes half closed. It was not mantelpiece material. I never thought I'd meet him again, up close and personal, until, last year when Zelda, ever the diplomat, like her boss, invited to me to introduce my newly born daughter, Freya, to him. My husband Kim and I had just returned back to live in South Africa, after nearly six years away in London. It was oddly nerve-racking, and I did what I always do in his presence I acted incredibly gauche, stupid and clumsy. I kept on saying: \"So how are you?\" As if he'd offer me a glass of wine, and say, \"Ya know Robyn, my knees are killing me, I'm bit worried about the situation in Zimbabwe and howz about them Mets?\" I offered my baby to him, like a little sacrificial lamb. The pictures tell it all. The ones we sent to friends (and everybody we knew), show us laughing with the world's greatest statesman. The ones we didn't email to the world show our daughter freaking out and crying. Madiba tried to placate her by wagging a finger at her and telling her, \"I am your great great grandfather.\" She freaked out some more. I think she takes after her mother." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Curnow first met Mandela in 1990 and has encountered him several times .\nMeetings usually ended less than graciously for Curnow .\nLast encounter saw Mandela trying placate Curnow's upset daughter ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- When she heard news of the Continental Airlines plane that plunged into a house in suburban Buffalo, New York, on Thursday night, killing 50 people, Jenny Gomez experienced a familiar feeling creep deep within her psyche. \"It definitely sparked those old feelings of anxiety,\" she said. The risk of dying in a jet crash has been estimated to be one in 70 million, according to an MIT analysis. Gomez, 31 and a mother of two, was never afraid to fly during her childhood and early adolescence. \"I had flown all my life since I was very small, getting on a plane to visit my grandparents at least a couple of times a year, and I was fine,\" she remembered. Then, in her late adolescence, the panicky feelings began, slowly at first, but then the anxiety and nervousness started to snowball. \"Every bump, every shake of the plane would set me off.\" Finally, during a college psychology class, she realized she fit the classic criteria for someone with a fear of flying, also known as aviophobia or aviatophobia. For five years, Gomez avoided flying altogether. \"I missed out on some really cool things in my life back then because I wouldn't get on an airplane,\" she said. An estimated 10 percent to 25 percent of the U.S. population experiences the phobia of flying, according to the American Psychological Association. View a timeline of recent notable crashes » . In contrast, the risk of dying in a domestic jet crash has been estimated to be one in 70 million, according to MIT statistician Arnold Barnett, who has performed statistical analyses for the Federal Aviation Administration. Among the causes for aviatophobia is what many will experience as a result of seeing reports about the crash near Buffalo: vicarious trauma. This is trauma that one observes and subsequently develops within based on that observation. \"They see it, and they imagine what would that be like if it happened to me,\" said anxiety disorder psychologist R. Reid Wilson. By focusing on the possibility instead of the actual probability of the plane crashing, someone who's vulnerable to such fears can grow even more anxious about flying, he said. The fear of flying constitutes one of the two most common fears humans grapple with (the other one being fear of public speaking), said Wilson, who served as lead psychologist for American Airlines' first national program for fear of flying. Gomez's development of the phobia later in life is not unusual either, Wilson said; the average age of onset is 27, which is relatively old compared with when most other phobias begin. Some people who are subject to vicarious trauma actually see the crash scene in the media and actively put themselves in the scenario. Wilson has seen patients who fixate on visualizing themselves in the plane and who go so far as to seek out information such as how long the plane fell through the sky so they can intensify the reality of the experience in their minds. \"They get wrapped up in what is actually happening. Your body reacts to what you're seeing,\" he said. Another cause of the condition is the perception of a non-dangerous event -- such as turbulence or normal sounds that planes make -- as being an actual threat to one's safety. Many people afraid to fly actually have panic disorder, which is an anxiety disorder characterized by unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms. Having what Wilson refers to as a \"constellation of other fears\" could also contribute to the phobia of flying; claustrophobia, fear of death and being afraid of turning control over to the pilot could all contribute to the ultimate fear of the not-so-friendly skies. Visit CNNhealth.com, your connection for better living . Overcoming the fear of flying begins with a solid trust in the aviation industry and the ability of the plane, the pilot and everyone involved in the safety of the flight to be competent. \"If it's about someone else, then you have no control, but if you shift your feelings of fear to yourself, then you can do something about it,\" Wilson said. Relaxation, meditation and breathing skills can improve the chances of surmounting one's distress. Distractions, such as having someone to talk to on the plane or focusing on an engrossing book, can also work to ease the tension. However, changing one's mind about the extreme unlikelihood that something would go wrong is key; relaxation and distractions serve as additional support systems. A licensed mental health professional can aid individuals seeking help to beat the fear of flying. Hypnotism can work too, especially when administered by someone trained in anxiety disorders. Virtual reality therapy, wherein a helmet is worn to simulate the experience of flying, has also been proved an effective technique, but the institutions providing virtual reality therapies are few and far between. In 2005, Gomez reached a crossroads. Her new job description would require her to travel frequently. A licensed counselor herself, she knew she could avail the services of a specialist to help her get past her fears. Perhaps the most useful part of her course of therapy, she reveals, was developing an understanding of the science behind aviation. \"If I was sitting in the cockpit, I would have had no problems at all. It's the lack of control, sitting in the back of the plane, that would get to me, so when I learned what all the sounds were and how unlikely it would be that the plane would actually fall out of the sky, that's what really helped me.\" Another aid that worked for Gomez was Xanax, a drug often prescribed by doctors to provide temporary relief from the stress of flying. Working as a mild tranquilizer, Xanax, Valium and other benzodiazepine class drugs do not remove the underlying fear but instead work to dull the sensations. When Gomez finally started to fly again, she began with Xanax, a glass of wine and a meditation CD that she would listen to during the entire flight. Her anxiety progressively subsided over the course of a year and a half of regular flying for work. \"With each successful flight, I would need less and less help from the pills or the wine,\" she said. Finally, she let go of the medication and alcohol altogether and allowed her sense of trust to keep her calm." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "10 percent to 25 percent of the U.S. population experiences the phobia of flying .\nFear can be exacerbated by watching reports of other crashes .\nAverage age of onset of such phobias is 27 .\nRelaxation, meditation, breathing skills can improve the chances of beating fear ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "KILLEEN, Texas (CNN) -- Spc. Logan Burnette arrived at Fort Hood, Texas, a week ago Wednesday to prepare for an upcoming tour of Iraq. The following day, he, like all deploying soldiers, reported to the \"ready room\" on post to fill out final paperwork. However, what was to be another day of the mundane erupted into hell on Earth. Burnette heard shots, though that's a sound to which soldiers grow accustomed. He had been hearing blanks for many months of training. But on November 5 at Fort Hood, he quickly understood that something was terribly wrong when he saw the blood -- crimson everywhere. \"Seeing bullet wounds in the back of a friend's head, seeing friends grabbing their arms, and blood just everywhere. It's a pretty hard thing to see,\" Burnette recalled. \"And not having any way to defend yourself.\" The gunman had been in the room for a while and had perfectly blended in with his Army combat uniform, his gold major rank emblazoned on his chest. No one had reason to pay him heed, Burnette said. When the madness began, the gunman popped up like a target at a shooting range. He just stood up and started firing methodically and with precision. He reloaded. And fired. Reloaded. And fired again. \"He was very swift, very tactical,\" said Burnette, sitting in a wheelchair at the Metroplex Adventist Hospital near Fort Hood, his left arm and hand bandaged. The mass shooting last week was the deadliest ever on a U.S. military base. Twelve soldiers and one civilian were killed; more than 40 others were wounded. Fifteen soldiers remained hospitalized on Wednesday, four in intensive care, according to Fort Hood spokesman Col. James Rossi. They were victims of a soldier who turned on his own, authorities say. Burnette saw the laser sights on the gunman's weapon. The shooter looked serious, intent. He screamed at the top of his lungs, \"Allahu akbar,\" which means 'God is great' in Arabic. Burnette dropped to the floor, hugging the ground for dear life. His mind was spinning. What insanity was this? \"Once I saw the blood, I realized I had to move,\" he said. \"I had to get out of there.\" Burnette began to stand up and noticed the gunman was pointing in his direction. He picked up a folding table next to him -- it was the heaviest object he could see -- and hurled it toward the shooter. He knew it would draw the gunman's attention and divert his line of sight from others. Burnette said he wasn't trying to play a hero. \"There are guys overseas doing more than what I did,\" he said. \"I just happened to be at a certain place at a certain time in the world and hopefully I made a difference.\" But that's when he got hit. He took a round that pierced his hip on the left side and tore through his abdomen. \"After the hit, I fell down, not even realizing I had been hit,\" he said. \"As I tried to get back up, I was shot in the elbow on the left arm and ... the knuckle on the left pinky finger.\" He was like a wounded animal desperate to escape the hunter's aim. \"He wanted to kill all of us,\" Burnette said. \"We were all unarmed.\" Burnette's gut felt like a knife slicing through it. He couldn't feel his leg. His left arm was numb, too. He stared at it and thought of those dummy arms that people buy at Halloween. \"Oh my God,\" he thought. \"This guy shot me.\" Burnette began moving with every ounce of strength he could muster and hid in a nearby cubicle. The gunman had started moving to the other side of the building, reloading and shooting. Reloading and shooting. Burnette knew he had to get out of that building. \"As I started to run, I fell again, not realizing I couldn't use my left leg.\" After falling, Burnette said, he \"threw all of my body weight ... towards that door as hard and as fast as possible.\" \"Once I hit that front door, I began to low crawl, about five meters up a hill just, you know, pushing my body forward with everything I had,\" he said. A staff sergeant grabbed him by his uniform collar and dragged him into an office and locked the door. \"Everything is going to be all right,\" the sergeant told him, as he began administering first aid. Burnette said he doesn't know the sergeant's name, but he will recognize him instantly if their paths ever cross again. \"Our Father who art in heaven ... hallowed be thy name.\" Burnette, a practicing Catholic, lie on the ground, repeating the prayer over and over again. He didn't know whether he would see his wife again. A week later, Burnette has undergone two operations and still has a bullet lodged in his right hip. On Wednesday, he was making his way to the Army's Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, for further treatment. He knows that's where Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, the accused shooter, is also being treated. \"I can't really think about it,\" Burnette said. \"I have a lot of faith in our military, our judicial system -- and God.\" Soldiers are taught from day one that you help the wounded, even when they are enemies in combat, even the guy who shot you. \"Don't get me wrong,\" he said, \"Everything in your heart wants to [unleash] anger at this person, but we have to trust that our system works somehow. \"By no means am I happy that he is in better shape than a lot of my comrades,\" Burnette said about the suspect. \"But I'm not here to play God, either.\" Ultimately, Burnette said, he is sorry for a man who feels the need to execute unarmed personnel, his comrades, in the name of God. Does he pity the Fort Hood shooter? \"Yeah,\" he said, pausing. \"To an extent.\" CNN's Sanjay Gupta and Danielle Dellorto contributed to this report." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Spc. Logan Burnette's original day at Fort Hood turned to nightmare .\nBurnette says he threw table at accused shooter Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan .\nBurnette is being transferred to same hospital that houses Hasan ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- Hundreds of U.S. and Afghan soldiers have embarked on a major operation against militants in the eastern Afghan region of Tora Bora, near the border with Pakistan, officials have told CNN. File photo of the remote mountain Tora Bora region on the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Air and ground strikes under way in the remote mountain region are aimed at large numbers of militant fighters. The troops are targeting \"hundreds of hardened al Qaeda and Taliban in dug-in positions,\" said officials familiar with the intelligence. The operation started two days ago in the region, where al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was once thought to be hiding. The Bush administration has been criticized for not sending enough ground forces to Tora Bora in December 2001 to capture the militant after the invasion that toppled the Taliban. \"U.S. and Afghan forces engaged al Qaeda and other violent extremist fighters in eastern Afghanistan during a combined arms assault using precision munitions. There have been no substantiated reports of civilian casualties in this engagement,\" said Capt. Vanessa R. Bowman, a U.S. Army spokeswoman. \"The targets were carefully chosen to pinpoint enemy positions and eliminate the likelihood of harming innocent civilians,\" she said. \"This region has provided an ideal environment to conceal enemy support bases and training sites, as well as plan and launch attacks aimed at terrorizing innocent civilians, both inside and outside the region.\" Also Wednesday, a manager at a private British security firm in Afghanistan was shot and killed in the capital Kabul, a spokesman for the company said. \"We did lose a manager today in Kabul to unknown assailants,\" Christopher Beese, spokesman for ArmorGroup International, said Wednesday. He said next of kin have been notified and an inquiry into the incident has begun. The name of the man, a British national, was not released. \"It's bad news. He was a very well-respected man,\" Beese said, noting that the victim had experience in Afghanistan going back to the early 1980s. Beese -- who said the man's role was to run the administration of the 1,200-person-strong security presence in the country -- described the man as a \"logistics manager\" and \"all things to all people.\" The firm, which has been operating in Afghanistan since 2002, mostly provides diplomatic protection and has contracts with the British and American governments. The man recruited and trained Afghan guards and was the most senior administrator at the company's Kabul base, Camp Anjuman, the company said. E-mail to a friend . CNN's Joe Sterling contributed to this report." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hundreds of U.S. and Afghan soldiers embark on major operation in Tora Bora .\nThey are using air, ground strikes to target al Qaeda, Taliban .\nOsama bin Laden was once thought to be hiding in remote mountain region .\nU.S. Army: No substantiated reports of civilian casualties ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Another Hollywood marriage is ending -- but this one was no flash in the pan. Robin Wright Penn and Sean Penn had been married 11 years. Sean Penn and Robin Wright Penn are divorcing, according to their representative, Mara Buxbaum. People magazine first reported the split Thursday night. The actors began dating after they met making the 1990 movie \"State of Grace.\" They married in 1996, and have two children, Dylan Frances, 16, and Hopper Jack, 14. Previously, Penn was married to Madonna for four years, while Wright was married to actor Dane Witherspoon for two years. In addition to \"State of Grace,\" Penn and Wright appeared together in 1997's \"She's So Lovely\" and 1998's \"Hurlyburly,\" and both are set to appear in Barry Levinson's next film, \"What Just Happened?,\" due out in 2008. Penn, 47, won a best actor Oscar for 2003's \"Mystic River,\" and was nominated for best actor for \"Dead Man Walking,\" \"Sweet and Lowdown,\" and \"I Am Sam.\" His latest directorial effort, \"Into The Wild,\" has received four SAG Award nominations and two Golden Globe nominations. Wright, 41, is best known for her title role in \"The Princess Bride\" and for starring opposite Tom Hanks in \"Forrest Gump.\" E-mail to a friend ." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sean Penn, Robin Wright Penn had been married 11 years .\nPair met while making 1990's \"State of Grace\"\nCouple has two children; has made three films together, with fourth due out ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- For 8-year-old Ryan Mohar, an elevator isn't just an elevator. He spends hours pressing the buttons and riding up and down, preferring this to the slew of alternatives that his teachers offer -- even candy. Ryan Mohar, who has autism, gets treated with ABA approaches at the Marcus Autism Center. Ryan is one of many American children with autism, a neurological disorder characterized by repetitive behaviors or limited interests, and difficulties with communication and social interactions. At the Marcus Autism Center in Atlanta, Georgia, Ryan and other children with communication and behavior difficulties get help through a rigorous empirical method called Applied Behavior Analysis. \"Decades of research has shown that that is the treatment of choice, and results in the best gains in terms of skill acquisition and behavior problem reduction for kids with autism and other developmental disabilities,\" said Alice Shillingsburg, program coordinator of the center's Language and Learning Clinic. The effectiveness and nature of ABA is particularly relevant as many parents fight for insurance companies to cover it and other autism treatments. The organization Autism Speaks has endorsed bills in 25 states that would require private health insurance policies to cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders for anyone under the age of 21. The legislation would specifically be targeted at ABA and other structured autism therapies. Only eight states have autism insurance reform, according to Autism Speaks. While ABA encompasses a broad range of practices of studying and changing behavior, the one usually associated with autism is called discrete trial instruction. A trial consists of a cue, the opportunity to respond and a reward. Watch therapists using applied behavior analysis on Ryan » . For example, a therapist might try to teach a child who likes sweets to request candy. The trial gets repeated over and over so that the child learns that candy comes only as a result of the request. The clinicians at Marcus Autism Center carefully record how many trials the child successfully completes. Learn more about autism » . \"If suddenly they can emit some vocal response, and suddenly when they do that, candy appears -- someone delivers candy to them -- that's a very powerful response for that child,\" said Nathan Call, director of Behavior Treatment Clinics at the Marcus Autism Center. Analysts examine progress based on such data at least once a day -- sometimes five or six times a day -- and will change the treatment plan if necessary. In Ryan's case, a trial begins when his clinical specialist takes him near the elevator and asks him to hand over a card -- his way of requesting access to the elevator. If Ryan gives the card, he gets to go to the elevator, and that is the end of one trial. If he does not, his helpers walk him away, and a new trial begins. Experts working with Ryan hope that teaching him to ask for the things he enjoys -- elevator rides, elevator buttons -- will help him stop running away, which he does even at home. In fact, Ryan wears a GPS-equipped ankle bracelet so that police can track him if he gets far from home. ABA is very effective, but the term \"cure\" is inaccurate, experts said. Autism describes a broad range of characteristics, not an underlying cause, Call said. ABA techniques can produce significant behavior changes, however. \"The goal is not necessarily for the child to have hit all of their developmental milestones, necessarily, but rather it's hopefully to get them to a point where they're able to take advantage of a more typical or less restrictive educational environment,\" he said. Studies have shown that 60 percent of high-functioning children can lose their diagnosis of autism by age 8 by using ABA, according to the Kennedy Krieger Institute, a leading center in autism research and treatment in Baltimore, Maryland. Not everyone is so enthusiastic about ABA, however. Dr. Max Wiznitzer, associate professor of pediatric neurology at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, cautions that the treatment should fit the child, and ABA may not work as well for some children as other types of therapy. An alternative approach is play-based therapy, whereby the therapist takes cues from the child rather than the other way around. For example, if a child is bouncing a ball, the therapist would take that as an opportunity to encourage the child to bounce the ball back to him or her, Wiznitzer said. One of the pioneers of ABA is Ivar Lovaas, a child psychologist who in the 1960s began investigating how to help children who injured themselves. His research showed that components of ABA could reduce these behaviors. The therapy has evolved since then, however. In the beginning, the approach to ABA was more dogmatic and \"cookie-cutter,\" Wiznitzer said. A child who cooperated got a reward, but a child who did not cooperate got a punishment such as yelling or a squirt of water. \"ABA in a classic sense is a very restricted, very limited program that has issues with the ability to generalize the learned skill outside of the ABA environment,\" he said. A family once told him that their child showed great restaurant manners -- but only in the basement, he said. Today, many analysts who use ABA as a guide go more with the flow of the needs of the child, he said. ABA isn't just for children with autism -- the methods have been used for people of all ages, with and without disabilities. Staff members at Marcus Autism Center try to help children use the skills they learn outside of the artificial environment of the classroom. \"They're doing research here on finding the best way to create those moments where the child really needs information in order to complete a preferred task or to gain access to a preferred activity or a preferred outcome,\" Call said. Another criticism of ABA is that children become mechanical because they learn to have only one specific response for a given prompt in real life. Call's response is that variability is just another behavior that can be taught, but noted that there are trade-offs. Parents have input in the decision to focus more on teaching a lot of different skills, rather than to teach several responses in any one situation. \"Oftentimes, the goal is to focus more on giving as many functional skills as possible to that child, so they can have as fulfilling a life as they can,\" Call said. ABA is extremely costly, however. For the behavior clinics, therapy sessions at Marcus Autism Center begin at $60 per hour, and go higher in price depending on the expert who is providing the treatment -- a session with someone with a master's or doctorate may cost more. A person with autism costs society about $3.2 million over the course of his or her lifetime, according to a 2007 study in the journal Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. Direct medical costs for the first five years are, on average, about $35,000, the study said. For children from non-English-speaking families, two staff members at Marcus Autism Center speak Spanish, and an outside translator can be brought in if necessary for other languages, said Chris Tullis, a clinical specialist. But the Association for Behavior Analysis International told CNN that it does not have any \"board-certified therapists\" in Atlanta who report speaking Spanish. As for Ryan, after only about two weeks at Marcus Autism Center, his screaming has come down from more than 200 times an hour to about 38, Call said. \"It looks promising, but we've got 10 more weeks to actually find out what's really going to work the best with Ryan,\" Tullis said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Applied behavior analysis is a rigorous empirical method to teach behaviors .\nAutism Speaks has endorsed bills in 25 states to make insurance cover ABA .\nResearch: 60 percent of high-functioning kids can lose autism diagnosis with ABA .\nFive-year medical costs for children with autism, on average, about $35,000 ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Editor's note: Kevin Pho, a primary care physician in Nashua, N.H., blogs at KevinMD.com . Dr. Kevin Pho says health reform can't succeed as long as there's a shortage of primary care doctors. (CNN) -- When President Obama recently cited the number of Americans without health insurance, he declared that, \"We are not a nation that accepts nearly 46 million uninsured men, women, and children.\" Uninsured patients often delay preventive care, waiting to seek medical attention only when their conditions worsen. This leads to more intensive treatment, often in the emergency department or hospital where costs run the highest. Universal health coverage is therefore a sensible goal, and the reforms being considered all make considerable effort to provide everyone with affordable health care. But expanding coverage cannot succeed as long as there remains a shortage of primary care clinicians. After all, what good is having health insurance if you can't find a doctor to see you? Massachusetts is often held out as a model for national health reform, and the bills being considered in Washington emulate much of that state's 2006 landmark universal coverage law. As a physician in neighboring New Hampshire, I have had the opportunity to observe the effect of the Massachusetts reforms. Today, 97 percent of Massachusetts residents have health insurance, the highest in the country. But less publicized are the unintended consequences that the influx of half a million newly insured patients has had on an unprepared primary care system. The Massachusetts Medical Society reported that the average wait time for a new patient looking for a primary care doctor ranged from 36 to 50 days, with almost half of internal medicine physicians closing their doors entirely to new patients. And when you consider that Massachusetts already has the highest concentration of doctors nationwide, wait times will likely be worse in other, less physician-abundant parts of the country, should universal coverage be enacted federally. When patients are forced to wait weeks to obtain medical care, they inevitably find their way into the emergency department for treatment that ordinarily can be handled in a doctor's office. Indeed, since health reform was passed, according to state data provided to the Boston Globe, Massachusetts emergency rooms have reported a 7 percent increase in volume, which markedly inflates costs when you consider that emergency room treatment can be up to 10 times more expensive than an office visit for the same ailment. Alwyn Cassil, a spokeswoman for the nonpartisan Center for Studying Health System Change, told HealthDay News that expanding coverage without improving access to care is a \"recipe for failure,\" as well as unsustainable, \"because it will just bankrupt us.\" Massachusetts is finding out just how difficult it is to fiscally maintain universal coverage. In part due to soaring health costs, the state Legislature has proposed reducing health benefits for 30,000 legal immigrants and cutting funding to inner-city hospitals like Boston Medical Center, which, according to the Boston Globe, may \"force it to slash programs and jeopardize care for thousands of poverty-stricken families.\" The success of universal health coverage depends on an adequate supply of primary care providers. But the Association of American Medical Colleges is forecasting a shortage of 46,000 primary care physicians by 2025, a deficit that not only will balloon under any universal coverage measure, but cannot be made up as doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants all gravitate towards more lucrative specialty practice. It's not only the financial incentives that need to substantially change for primary care to prosper. More important, the working conditions for the physicians already in the field have to improve. A recent survey in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that roughly half of primary care doctors reported practicing in a work environment \"strongly associated with low physician satisfaction, high stress ... and [an] intent to leave.\" Primary care clinicians routinely face unreasonable time pressures, a chaotic work pace, and bureaucratic impediments. Onerous paperwork requirements that obstruct patient care have to be reduced. And instead of the current system which encourages doctors to rush through as many office visits as possible, physicians who take the time to counsel, guide, and address all of their patients' concerns should be rewarded. Better valuing the doctor-patient relationship will increase satisfaction, not only for physicians, but for their patients as well. Such solutions, however, have been largely absent from the health reform conversation. Although it is a moral imperative for every American to have access to health insurance, alleviating the shortage of primary care providers is of equal importance. The prospect of suddenly adding tens of millions of patients to an overburdened primary care system has the potential to make the already dire state of American health care even worse. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Kevin Pho." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Kevin Pho: It's important to extend coverage to the uninsured .\nHe says reform can't work if there aren't enough doctors to care for all .\nPho says Massachusetts is finding it can't provide care to those newly covered .\nPho: Adding tens of millions of patients could strain system ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- A man charged with murder in the deaths of 11 women pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity Thursday, said Ryan Miday, a spokesman for the Cuyahoga County, Ohio, prosecutor. A grand jury has indicted Anthony Sowell on 85 counts, following the discovery of 11 sets of human remains at his Cleveland, Ohio, house in October. The charges include several counts of aggravated murder with a \"mass murder specification,\" meaning multiple people were killed in a similar fashion, said Bill Mason, the Cuyahoga County prosecutor. Sowell, 50, faces rape and kidnapping charges as well and also has been charged with brutalizing three other women and raping two of them, Mason said. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Sowell. Investigators arrested him in October after authorities serving a search warrant in a rape case discovered the remains of six women in and around his house. Subsequent searches turned up the remains of five others. All 11 remains were of African-American women. Police used cadaver dogs Wednesday to search Sowell's childhood home, just outside Cleveland. \"We're just trying to cover all our bases,\" said Scott Wilson, spokesman for the FBI, which is assisting local detectives in the case. Authorities have said they are looking at the unsolved slayings of three women in East Cleveland to determine if they share any similarities with the remains found at Sowell's house. The indictment against Sowell also alleges that he assaulted women on December 8, 2008, and on September 22 and October 20 of this year. The women in September and October were raped, and the other woman was punched and choked before escaping, Mason said. Sowell's charges in those cases include attempted murder, rape or attempted rape, kidnapping, robbery and felonious assault. Sowell has pleaded not guilty to charges in the September 22 rape. On October 20, neighbors reported seeing a naked woman fall from the second floor of his house. Firefighters responded and later notified police. But the woman told officers she fell off the roof while she was at the home \"partying,\" police said earlier. No charges were filed at the time. Sowell threatened his victims and warned them not to contact police, Mason said. It's possible there are others, he added, and urged anyone who has not come forward to do so. Sowell \"knew what he was doing was wrong at the time he was doing it,\" the prosecutor said. As of last month, Sowell was on suicide watch at the request of his public defender, Kathleen DeMetz. She had said a psychiatric evaluation of Sowell had been ordered but was unlikely to happen until after an indictment was filed. Cuyahoga County Sheriff Bob Reid told reporters this week that Sowell has been a \"model prisoner,\" is kept in an isolated unit and has declined visitation requests. Most of the victims were strangled by ligature -- which could include a string, cord or wire -- and at least one was strangled by hand, officials said. Seven still had ligatures wrapped around their necks. The skull of one woman was wrapped in a paper bag and stuffed into a bucket in the home's basement. Sowell served 15 years in prison for a 1989 attempted rape and was released in 2005. He was required to register as a sex offender. After the discovery of the 11 women, police in mid-November used thermal imaging in an attempt to see if any additional human remains were on the property and dug certain areas by hand. No more remains were found." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Suspect pleads not guilty by reason of insanity .\nAnthony Sowell accused in deaths of 11 women .\nRemains of African-American women found at Cleveland, Ohio, house .\nCadaver dogs also search Sowell's childhood home ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "LONDON, England (CNN) -- From bedroom creators to big studios, hand-drawn to CGI, animation has charmed and entertained children -- and, increasingly, adults -- for many years. The Screening Room went to Annecy in France to discover the secrets of success in animated films... Annecy has hailed animators like director Tim Burton, seen here receiving a special award at Annecy in 2006. Annecy is the Cannes of animation. The French town, which lies close to the Swiss border just 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Geneva, has hosted the International Animated Film Festival for almost half a century and attracts a younger crowd than many of the major film festivals. With prizes for long and short features, television and student animation, Annecy highlights a wide variety of different types of animation and budgets. One veteran of Annecy is Craig Decker, known as worldwide cult figure \"Spike\" and co-founder of \"Spike and Mike's Sick & Twisted Festival of Animation.\" Beginning 30 years ago as a means of bringing independent animation to new audiences, the touring festival was instrumental in showcasing the early works of legendary animators such as Tim Burton, Pixar's John Lasseter and Aardman's Nick Park, as well as the first episode of \"Beavis and Butthead.\" Spike explained to CNN the challenge of getting animation taken seriously. He said, \"Originally we had to deal with the stigma. We showed great films like National Film Board of Canada [pieces], or \"Tin Toy\" by John Lasseter, works of art, masterpieces that take two to three years to make, and we had to deal with, 'What is it? Cartoons like Bugs Bunny or something like that?' And over the years we've educated the public, and we've put animation in the context of a very cool thing [with] a young, hip, adult audience of 18 and over.\" Stop-motion classics . One of Spike and Mike's biggest fans, Nick Park, won the Annecy award for Best TV Animation with \"Shaun the Sheep,\" a spin-off from \"A Close Shave,\" one of Aardman's famous Wallace and Gromit short features that grabbed an Oscar. Stop-motion is also close to the heart of director Tim Burton, who employed the technique on \"Corpse Bride\" and \"The Nightmare Before Christmas.\" He said, \"Because it's such an old-fashioned technique, a lot of it truly has to do with finding the right group of animators, the right group of people to build the puppets, because a lot of things are being done by computer now. Very few people are doing this style of animation.\" Allison Abbate, a producer on \"Corpse Bride,\" added, \"Stop motion is an age-old process as far as animation in film-making goes. It hasn't really changed since the days of King Kong - we used new technology in 'Corpse Bride' to bring it into a new century.\" Appropriate animation . \"I think there's room for all types of animation,\" she continued. \"It depends on the story. The story should really decide how you tell it. I think there are stories that are better made in 2-D and CGI and that's what you'd go for.\" 2-D animation is the mainstay of Japanese anime - a subject so vast it will command its own feature in a subsequent edition of the Screening Room. The film \"Paprika\" has won worldwide critical praise during the past year as a sophisticated example of the art, whose keenest supporters are sometimes contemptuous of their Hollywood animation counterparts. Asia is becoming an increasingly powerful force in animation, where companies who traditionally provided a cheap source of labor for animation studios are now using their skills to take a leading role in the creative process. UTV Toons is one of several Indian companies forming partnerships with big U.S. production houses to make new animated features. Combination of skills . Animation requires a combination of several skills, as producer Allison Abbate explained. She told CNN that animators face many complex challenges. \"Animators have to know how to move things, how things work anatomically in a space, but they also have to know how to act, how to emote and that is what makes animation so different from live action. It is so crafted, one frame at a time.\" But Spike points out that the rewards animation promises can be very high. \"Obviously in features, look at the most successful films,\" he told CNN. \"They're nearly all animated Pixar pieces or, if it's live action, it's the special effects animation that carries the film.\" And the future? Spike believes animation is going mobile. He said, \"Internationally, what's exciting is with new media: with digital; with broadband; with mobile phones. That's where we're going with our stuff.\" E-mail to a friend ." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The International Animated Film Festival in Annecy is the Cannes of animation .\nFestival highlights the best in animation, from student work to studio shorts .\nExperts say the future of animation is on mobile devices ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- What could be bigger than the appointment of the first female minister in Saudi Arabia? Saudi King Abdullah made more than one noteable appointment to his council of ministers. Possibly the appointment of a new minister of justice who may actually help her get equal rights with her male counterpart. Right now, Norah al-Faiz, the new deputy minister for women's education, is bound by the same laws as every other woman in the land. She can do only what her closest male relative permits. For many women of her status and education, that law is interpreted liberally, but for the vast majority, it is not. Over the weekend, at a single stroke, King Abdullah set Saudi Arabia on what appears to be an irreversible new course, one of modernization. He replaced the conservative ministers of justice and the head of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice with people closer to his way of thinking. The king also appointed a new head of the central bank, SAMA -- widely seen by financial experts as a wise move -- and brought in young blood and fresh ideas to the Majlis al Shura, the closest thing the country has to a parliament. That these changes happened should not be a surprise. Since he took over as king in August 2005, when his ailing half-brother Fahd died, King Abdullah has been working quietly to bring about change. Indeed, al-Faiz used to lead the king's Center for National Dialogue, a sort of talking shop that allowed issues such as women's rights to be debated. The hope was that as discussions about change bubbled up in national and regional arenas, they would also filter out to newspapers and onto television. It's exactly what's been happening. The king is well into his 80s and inherited many ministers and other top officials almost as old as him. Many had been in their posts for decades, and many, unlike the king, held their conservative upbringings more than half a century ago to be models for the country's future. So when a judge recently upheld the marriage of a 47-year-old man to an 8-year old-girl, there was a public backlash. Why? Because debate about this issue had percolated into the public arena. And suddenly the judge looked out of step with society. It's not what made the king decide to replace the minister of justice; it just highlights how his steady behind-the-scenes work has helped him outflank the sizeable conservative segment of Saudi society. What the king and many of his fellow royals have realized for a long time is that no country is an island, least of all one as rich and prosperous as Saudi Arabia. The kingdom's large and rapidly growing young population watches satellite TV, surfs the Internet and chats on Blackberries with friends in Europe, and it expects a different future than the one currently on offer. The sweeping changes remove some of the ministers most likely to hold back the next generation. The old Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice commission head, who runs the religious police, is an example. He has been replaced with someone closer to the king's thinking, according to a deputy minister I talked with. The religious police patrol shopping malls and streets, enforcing religious laws such as ones requiring women to keep their heads covered and refrain from talking to men who aren't their relatives. They rile the youngsters who strain for more freedom. But no one is expecting revolutionary change overnight. Saudi Arabia is not about to become a \"permissive society.\" Religious law, long-held customs and deep religious principles are not up for negotiation. After all, the Saudi king derives respect and authority from his role as \"guardian\" of Islam's two holiest sites, Mecca and Medina. To be less than thoroughly religious would not wash, even with Saudi's moderates. King Abdullah is calculating that he is making change at a pace people can cope with. On a recent visit to a shopping mall where religious police had taken a back seat for the past year, it seemed to me the octogenarian king is just about keeping up. The religious police were in the background, and among young girls in particular, headscarves were gone and lipstick was in bright abundance." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With minister picks, king appears to have put Saudi Arabia on a new course .\nWoman at education post is kingdom's first female minister .\nConservative justice minister, head of religious police have been replaced ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- When Maggie Sorrells looks at her husband, Andy, she doesn't see the man she married. In fact, most days, she doesn't even recognize herself. Maggie and Andy Sorrells weighed 440 pounds and 505 pounds, respectively, at their heaviest. Before the Franklin, Tennessee, couple met online, both had endured lifelong struggles with weight and emotional overeating. Together, they had a combined weight of nearly 1,000 pounds. Maggie, who had a family history of heart disease and diabetes, had been warned by her doctor at the age of 27 that she wouldn't live to see 30. But her real moment of truth came when she visited her mother in the hospital. \"The biggest shock of my entire life was stepping on a hospital scale and realizing I weighed 440 pounds,\" she recalls. Until that moment, Maggie says she never knew how much she weighed, because she was too heavy to register on a household scale. Andy, like Maggie, tried countless diets but failed to keep the weight off. At his heaviest, he was 505 pounds and had to have most of his size 64 clothing made by his mother to fit his 6-foot-3-inch frame. See before-and-after photos of CNN.com I-Reporters » Obesity took an emotional and physical toll on the couple. Andy says people constantly teased him about his weight and he eventually withdrew. He battled depression and took anti-depressants for seven years. Maggie, on the other hand, tried to conceal her misery by making other people laugh. \"I was so depressed and so miserable. I was always the funny fat girl, but on the inside I was miserable,\" recalls Maggie. \"It held me back in many ways and I started to accept it as being genetic and felt this was just the way I was going to be.\" Though she never let her obesity keep her from traveling or socializing, it had affected her quality of life. Maggie had to use a seatbelt extension on airplanes and was once asked to get off a roller-coaster at an amusement park. In August 2002, the couple was married and they soon made a decision that would forever change their lives. Before getting married, a friend introduced Maggie to The Weigh Down Workshop, a faith-based weight loss program, which teaches people to conquer their addiction to food, as well as other substances and vices, by turning to God. Maggie says she was never consistent or committed enough to stick with the program. But shortly after their wedding, the couple started packing on the pounds and while Andy tried another diet, Maggie gave Weigh Down another try. \"At the end of 2002 and the beginning of 2003, I called Weigh Down and started taking the classes,\" says Maggie. \"My whole life, I had always wanted somebody to [lose weight] with me. But I knew if I wanted it bad enough, I would have to do it alone.\" She began to lose weight. \"I ate whatever I craved, but only when I was truly hungry and then I ate a lot more slowly, so I could tell when to stop,\" Maggie says. In February 2003, after seeing his wife's results, Andy stopped counting calories, gave up the low-fat foods and reduced his portion sizes. Fifteen months later, he had lost 257 pounds. \"Once I started this program, it changed my outlook on my entire life. I realized that being happy is a choice. I can either be filled with hate and despair or I can be happy,\" says Andy, who realized he no longer needed the anti-depressants. Maggie's weight loss was more gradual. Shortly after starting the program, Maggie became pregnant with the couple's first child. Sadly, she lost the baby when she was seven months pregnant. \"Many of our family members were afraid that we would turn back to food after we lost our first daughter, since we had turned to food to solve our problems our whole lives,\" remembers Maggie. Faith, she says, helped her overcome the loss and continue on the program. Three years later, she had not only lost 300 pounds but she also gave birth to another daughter, Lily. Last week, the couple welcomed their son, Jacob. How has the weight loss changed their lives? Maggie, who now weighs 140 pounds and wears a size six, and Andy, who weighs 220 pounds and wears a size 36, say they had no idea their lives could be this good. \"It blows my mind that we look the way we do,\" says Maggie. The couple shares their success and strategy for weight loss by leading online classes for Weigh Down. Maggie believes if just one person's life can be changed by her story then her struggle will have been worth it. \"I want people to know there is hope. I looked for hope my whole life,\" says Maggie. \"I want that person who is just like the old me to look at where I am now and know that you want to be here!\" iReport.com: Have you lost weight? Send your story, photos and video E-mail to a friend ." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Maggie and Andy Sorrells once had a combined weight of nearly 1,000 pounds .\nDoctors warned Maggie that she wouldn't live to the age of 30 .\nA faith-based program and portion control helped them shed 580 pounds ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- An Alaska lottery held to raise money for a group that helps sexual abuse victims had a surprise winner: a convicted sex offender. Alec Ahsoak in an undated photograph. Alec Ahsoak, who according to the state sex offender registry was convicted in 1993 and 2000 for sexual abuse of a minor, came forward Saturday with the winning ticket for the $500,000 Lucky Time Pull Tabs jackpot. Proceeds of the lottery help Standing Together Against Rape in Anchorage, a nonprofit group that offers support to sexual assault victims among other services. \"It's not how we had envisioned the story going,\" Nancy Haag, the group's executive director, told CNN Radio. Alaska has the highest per capita number of rape cases in the United States, according to FBI statistics. \"With a ranking that high, it's ironic that the person who wins is a convicted sex offender,\" Haag added. Ahsoak's past was first revealed by KTUU-TV in Anchorage on Sunday. His attorney, Lance Wells, did not immediately return a call Monday from CNN. Efforts to reach lottery organizer Abe Spicola, who owns Lucky Times Pull Tabs, were unsuccessful late Monday. But Spicola told the Anchorage Daily News that Ahsoak \"was going to buy a house and said he was going to donate part of it to God, and, you know, charity.\" CNN's Samira J. Simone and April Willliams contributed to this report." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lottery winner reportedly convicted in 1993 and 2000 for sexual abuse of a minor .\nProceeds of the lottery help Standing Together Against Rape in Anchorage .\nFBI: Alaska has the highest per capita number of rape cases in the United States ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- You'd think someone who lasted 17 years as host of a television program in this day and age -- particularly a show as venerable as NBC's \"Tonight Show\" -- would be receiving praise and honor. Jay Leno has rarely impressed critics, but he's been the No. 1 late-night host for almost 15 years. Not so Jay Leno, whose final \"Tonight Show\" is Friday. \"Without fail, Leno's show fills an hour and kills an hour,\" wrote The Associated Press' Frazier Moore in a recent column on Leno's \"Tonight\" legacy. \"For 17 years in late night he has vigorously played a game of lowered expectations, and met them.\" Ouch. Leno has never been the critics' favorite. David Letterman, who watched Leno receive Johnny Carson's \"Tonight Show\" desk but never Carson's blessing, has long been touted as the King of Late Night's true successor with his CBS show. Conan O'Brien, who began his run as Letterman's NBC successor facing howls of derision, leaves it with some critics' hopes that he'll infuse the \"Tonight Show,\" his new home as of Monday, with new life. Watch how the late-night scene is changing » . And Leno? He'll leave behind the heavily rimshotted jokes, the Dancing Itos, the \"Jaywalking\" and \"Headlines\" bits -- all the things that drove Letterman and O'Brien fans up the wall -- with an audience of 5 million, still tops among late-night TV shows. And he'll be moving to prime time in September. Some CNN iReporters, asked to choose between Leno and O'Brien, say it's no contest. iReport: Whom do you prefer? \"I feel like Jay Leno is more for men and women,\" said iReporter Melissa Fazli of Yorba Linda, California. \"Where I think Conan O'Brien, only men get. ... I don't get his sense of humor.\" \"Jay Leno is like everybody's cool guy to go to. You want to hang out with Jay,\" said Kyle Aevermann of Itasca, Illinois. Leno's comedy has usually played off his regular-guy persona. In the 1980s, when he was a regular guest on Letterman's \"Late Night,\" Dave used to welcome a wound-up Leno with a jovial, \"What's your beef, Jay?\" To which Leno -- who looked like a cross between a class clown and a Boston greaser -- would respond with a well-turned wisenheimer riff on being stuck in the middle seat on airplanes or evil-twin plots on television. (YouTube is full of Leno's old \"Late Night\" appearances.) Moore and other critics may criticize Leno for \"lowered expectations,\" but upon taking the reins of \"Tonight\" on May 25, 1992, Leno opted for a more Jack Paar-esque \"Tonight\" show, mixing raconteurs among the comedians, actors and pop singers. Along with the usual entertainers -- Tom Cruise, Rosie O'Donnell -- among his early guests were opera singer Kathleen Battle, humorist P.J. O'Rourke and author-reporter Robert Krulwich. But the show, also beset by infighting between Leno's then-executive producer and NBC brass, suffered in the ratings, often finishing behind Letterman's CBS \"Late Show,\" which premiered in 1993. Sources give various reasons for the turnaround -- a new set, Leno's growing comfort, broader jokes -- but generally pinpoint the moment Leno became late night's leader to the appearance of one guest: Hugh Grant. The actor, who was promoting his film \"Nine Months,\" appeared on \"Tonight\" in July 1995, just after his arrest for consorting with a prostitute. Leno led off the interview with a humorously exasperated, \"What the hell were you thinking?\" The audience picked up, and \"Tonight\" has led the late-night ratings ever since. Entertainment Weekly recently named the Grant interview the best moment of Leno's \"Tonight\" tenure. Leno, though he's been portrayed as a ferocious backroom infighter -- before striking a deal for the 10 p.m. talk-variety show he'll lead in the fall, he made no secret of his willingness to leave NBC -- generally lets criticism go by like a morning mist. \"Trash talking is a part of the competition,\" he said after hearing about a jab from ABC's Jimmy Kimmel. \"You do your best. It gives you the impetus to prove them wrong.\" And the man must be doing something right. Until being hospitalized last month, he'd never missed a \"Tonight\" taping. He's done 3,775 episodes, about 750 fewer than Carson, but in 13 fewer years. He still gets out on the road, recently putting on free shows for Detroit autoworkers. In fact, the criticism aimed at Leno can be reminiscent of the complaints aimed at reliable-but-dull cars. When an auto executive was asked why his top-selling vehicle -- often compared to vanilla ice cream -- remained so popular, he pointed out that although some people may find vanilla ice cream boring, a lot of people like it. Leno, a major auto buff, must know what he means." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Jay Leno concludes 17 years as \"Tonight Show\" host Friday .\nLeno has been criticized for dumbing down the show, but he's been No. 1 for years .\nHe'll be succeeded by Conan O'Brien; in fall, he'll launch prime-time show ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- Akil Vohra quit a lucrative job in international trade litigation to take up something he strongly believes in -- as a legal expert, a Muslim and, most importantly, he says, as an American. He wanted to make sure that Muslims could fulfill zakat, one of the five pillars of Islam that mandates the giving of alms. Zakat is especially important during the holy month of Ramadan, which ends on Saturday. But after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, a dark cloud hung over Muslim charities as the federal government heightened scrutiny over terrorism concerns. Zakat suddenly became a risky religious obligation. Agencies all over America from women's shelters and health clinics to inner-city community centers saw donation checks dry up. \"The fear of giving was very real, said Vohra, 33, who now works for San Francisco-based Muslim Advocates, an agency that was created to address two needs in post-September 11 America: racial profiling of Muslims and charitable giving. Muslim Advocates partners with the Better Business Bureau to attain accreditation for Muslim nonprofits so that agencies can attain greater transparency and overcome perceptions of wrongdoing. Plus, people can feel more at ease about their donations. The Muslim Charities Accreditation Program, which began in August 2008, examines nonprofits and trains agency leaders to comply with the federal government's legal and financial regulations, said Vohra, the program's legal counsel. Just before the start of Ramadan a month ago, three nonprofit organizations had met all 20 standards required for accreditation. Vohra said several others are going through the process. In turn, Vohra hopes that Muslim charities will start seeing more dollars come their way. \"We don't make comments on which group to give to,\" Vohra said. \"What we're concerned about is giving the right way -- best practices for zakat. \"To be able to give freely is a right of all Americans.\" he said. Vohra takes phone calls from people around the nation seeking guidance. \"We're planning to send money,\" people tell him. \"Is this group OK? What's the best way to send our donation?\" Because of the widespread concerns, Muslim Advocates decided to upload a guidance video on YouTube. It asks people to consider donating to U.S.-registered tax exempt charitable organizations. It tells them to make the intent of their donation clear, keep records and perhaps ask for proof that the funds were used for their intended purpose. The guidance became essential after the federal government cracked down on Muslim groups in 2001, Vohra said. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, the Bush administration froze the assets of three U.S. charities -- the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, Global Relief Foundation and Benevolence International Foundation -- during Ramadan in 2001. Six others have been shuttered to date, the ACLU said. Only one, the Holy Land Foundation, was tied to terrorism after five of its leaders were convicted of providing money to the Palestinian militant group Hamas. \"The government's actions against these three charities were the start of a pattern of conduct that violated the fundamental rights of American Muslims' charitable giving in accordance with their faith,\" the ACLU wrote in a report published in June. It said the result was that many in the American Muslim community restricted or stopped their donations altogether out of fear that they would be investigated for terrorism. Vohra, however, is hopeful the tide is turning. President Obama signaled change in his historic speech to the Muslim world delivered in Cairo, Egypt, earlier this year. Obama said he was committed to working with American Muslims to ensure they can fulfill zakat. Vohra said the accreditation program, along with new government perspective, can return confidence and comfort to a religious obligation for Muslims. \"It's been tough for American Muslims post 9/11,\" he said. \"This has to do with civic engagement, to be treated as full Americans.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "U.S. government started cracking down on Muslim charities after 9/11 attacks .\nDonation checks to shelters, community centers started to dry up .\nCharities hope accreditation will overcome perceptions of wrongdoing ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- The war in Afghanistan may no longer be forgotten but the true victims always are. Having been denied healthcare and education under the Taliban, Afghan women are now training as midwives . Women and children in the landlocked Asian country have continuously paid the ultimate price throughout the decades of conflict and war. It is their lives that are considered not precious enough to save. A woman here dies every 29 minutes due to childbirth complications, according to the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) -- one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. One in four children die before they reach the age of five because of the lack of health care and medical facilities in their cities and villages. But ignorance is also deadly. Misguided cultural pride prevents men from allowing their women to see a doctor, merely because the doctor could be male. And in many cases, it's not just women who die from childbirth-related issues. It is young girls forced into marriage before they even reach puberty. Their still-forming bodies cannot handle the complications of childbirth. But there are women in Afghanistan stepping up within the crowds of the forgotten and pushing past the barriers. They are training as midwives across the country to help bring change and save lives. \"A woman can help a woman more,\" midwifery student Fariha Ibrahimi told CNN. \"We have to introduce them with what to do, what foods to eat, how to take care of themselves. \"[We] tell their husbands how to treat them. There are some husbands who beat their wives to the point where they can no longer even get pregnant.\" At the Ibni Sina Balkhi Midwifery Training Center in Kabul, dozens of future midwives study and practise in the hope of bringing a brighter future to their countrywomen. \"It's very heartbreaking,\" Ibrahimi said of the situation women face. \"Afghanistan has gone through so much war and most girls were not allowed to get an education, so I want to study and bring forth something new.\" Sympathy for Afghan women is the strongest motivating force among students in this field: Many know personally what is like to live in a society where pregnant women are ignored and forgotten. \"We live in an area where we are far from any clinic or hospital and there are a lot of difficulties there for pregnant women,\" Nourzia, a student and mother, told CNN. \"It's very difficult for them to reach a hospital. This is why I was so keen in learning this profession and helping these women; so in the future they are in less danger.\" All the women here are training with the permission and support of their families. They are leading the way to a brighter tomorrow for Afghan women -- one that may one day catch up with the rest of the world. \"The world is moving forward and he didn't want me to sit around jobless,\" said future midwife, Maurina whose husband is supportive of her new career. \"He wanted me to push ahead in this field, especially a field in which our people need help in.\" There are still many obstacles left and these women are still in the minority. According to the World Health Organization there are only about 2,000 trained midwives servicing Afghanistan's population of just under 33 million. But that is a giant leap from just eight years ago when most women were denied an education, medical care and the basic necessities of survival under the Taliban regime. It will take many years to change mindsets instilled by decades of brutality. But these women prove that maybe, just maybe, the next generation can fix the mistakes of the last." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Afghanistan has one of the highest rates of maternal and infant mortality in the world .\nA woman dies in childbirth every 29 minutes, one in four children die before age 5 .\nIn Kabul, dozens of women are now studying to become midwives to help save lives ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Dangerous cocktails of prescription drugs were pumped into Anna Nicole Smith \"almost to the point of stupefaction\" and eventually led to her death, California Attorney General Jerry Brown said Friday. Anna Nicole Smith's boyfriend Howard K. Stern was among those charged Thursday. Brown called Smith's longtime partner and attorney Howard K. Stern the \"principal enabler\" in a conspiracy with two doctors for giving the \"known addict\" thousands of prescription pills. Stern and a doctor were jailed on charges of conspiring to furnish drugs before her death in 2007, authorities said. \"Stern and Dr. Sandeep Kapoor were arrested and later released from a Los Angeles County jail Thursday night after each posted a $20,000 bond, a police spokesman said. Dr. Khristine Eroshevich also faces charges and is expected to turn herself in Monday, authorities said. The doctors and Stern devised a plan to use fake names so Smith could be prescribed \"thousands of pills,\" Brown said. Her doctors knew she was addicted and gave her drugs \"excessively,\" Brown said. \"The quantity of the drugs, the variety of the drugs, the combination at any given point and her continuing to use that; that, to a professional, is clear evidence of addiction,\" Brown said. \"These cocktails of methadone and antidepressants and sleeping pills and Xanax, you put all that into a cocktail, it explodes and can cause death, injury and permanent morbidity and disability,\" he said. Watch Brown speak to the media » . Brown said he hoped the charges send a loud and clear message. \"Doctors do not have a license to pump innocent and often vulnerable people full of dangerous chemicals,\" he said. Smith, 39, was pronounced dead February 8, 2007, after being found unconscious in her hotel room at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino near Hollywood, Florida. The former Playboy playmate and reality TV star died from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs, a coroner said. Several prescription medications -- both in Smith's and Stern's names -- were found in the room after her death. Officials said prescription and over-the-counter drugs were found in Smith's system, including three antidepressant or anti-anxiety drugs. Also found in toxicology testing was human growth hormone and chloral hydrate, a sleep medication, officials said. Stern and Kapoor, both 40, and Eroshevich, 61, each were charged with eight felonies, including conspiring to furnish controlled substances, unlawfully prescribing a controlled substance and obtaining fraudulent prescriptions from June 2004 to January 2007 -- only weeks before Smith's death. Kapoor and Eroshevich also were each charged with obtaining a prescription for opiates by \"fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.\" And each was charged with one count of obtaining a prescription for opiates by giving a false name or address, according to the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office. Smith was buried in the Bahamas on March 2, 2007, next to the grave of her son, Daniel, who had died in September 2006, days after the birth of her daughter, Dannielynn. Brown said his office will aggressively target California doctors who over-prescribe dangerous drugs. \"People think those drug dealers on the street corners are the only threat,\" he said. \"As a matter of fact, people in white smocks and pharmacies and with their medical degrees are a growing threat, and we aim to curtail it and curb it in the best way we can.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "NEW: Attorney General calls Howard K. Stern the \"principal enabler\" in conspiracy .\nEx-playmate drugged \"almost to the point of stupefaction,\" California AG says .\nHoward K. Stern, Sandeep Kapoor, Khristine Eroshevich charged with eight felonies .\nThe three are accused of conspiring to furnish drugs before her death ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "ST. PAUL, Minnesota (CNN) -- Sex columnist Dan Savage and author of the popular syndicated sex advice column \"Savage Love,\" made his way to St. Paul, Minnesota, to attend the Republican National Convention where he is filming a piece for HBO's \"Real Time with Bill Maher.\" Sex columnist Dan Savage is reporting on the GOP convention for HBO's \"Real Time with Bill Maher.\" Planted in the CNN Grill, Savage shares his thoughts on John McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin, tells us what a sex columnist is doing at a political convention, and gives us his take on who's sexier, Democrats or Republicans. Here are five questions for Dan Savage: . CNN: You're here because you're a lifelong Republican? Savage: No, that's not true, actually. I'm a Democrat, although I am a registered Republican in Washington State, but just to drive the Washington State Republican Party up the wall. CNN: Why are you here? Savage: I was here to see if I could find any evidence of George W. Bush at the convention. And I found very little. There was that satellite feed. I bought this button [points to Dick Cheney button on his shirt]. This will be the only time you'll see Dick Cheney at the convention is when you see me walk by with this button ... I wasn't able to purchase it here ... I mean you talk to Republican delegates walking around, a lot of them will admit that George Bush has been a major disappointment and they're happy that he's not here. And one of the reasons that they're happy he's not here is that they don't want America reminded that four years ago and eight years ago, these same delegates ... thought George Bush walked on water. CNN: Why would \"Real Time with Bill Maher\" send a sex columnist to cover the Republican National Convention? Savage: Because when you're a sex writer in America you have to write about politics because politicians will not stop obsessing about it -- screwing around with people's sex lives. Often when I write about politics in \"Savage Love,\" my sex advice column, people write to me and say, \"you're a sex columnist, stick to sex.\" And I'll say -- I usually respond -- \"I'll be able to stick to sex when politicians stick to politics and leave our sex lives alone, and stop politicizing our sex lives.\" But they do. And it's one of the major differences between the two political parties, our sexual issues. And so my view is very relevant, I feel very at home here. CNN: Any thoughts on McCain's running mate choice? Savage: I think Palin has been the clown car of the vice presidential nominee. You never know what's going to pop out of Palin next. CNN: Who's sexier: Republicans or Democrats? Savage: Well, there's just something about those Young Republicans. They're very sexy. They're very tense and nervous. I spoke to a lot of them because I've been running around the convention asking teenagers throughout the convention if they're virgins or not. 'Cuz I feel like I have a right to know because we've invested over a billion dollars in abstinence education programs under George Bush." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Savage: Here to see if I could find any evidence of George W. Bush at the convention .\nSavage: I found very little of Bush or Cheney .\nSavage: \"I think Palin has been the clown car of the vice presidential nominee\"\nSavage: \"You never know what's going to pop out of Palin next\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- A Chicago, Illinois, nightclub accused of barring six African-American students last week will participate in a rally against discrimination late next month, the senior class president of Missouri's Washington University said Wednesday. Fernando Cutz, 21, said the group and Original Mother's in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood had reached an agreement that would also see the nightclub sponsoring four fundraisers and its managers attend diversity training classes. \"What we are looking to do is to turn this negative into a positive,\" the text of Cutz's remarks said. \"To make sure that all of us learn from what happened to these six students in Chicago 10 days ago and that we move forward, together, in a productive manner. ... \"We would also like to show that the best way of fighting discrimination can be by reaching out and extending a helpful hand to those who need it,\" Cutz said at a news conference. The club has also agreed to a private apology to the six students and a public apology to the senior class, which was in Chicago for a two-day class trip. The students complained to state and federal agencies after six African-American members from their senior class trip celebration were denied admission to the club on October 17. Bar personnel cited dress code violations -- specifically baggy jeans -- in barring the African-American students, Cutz said. At one point, a white student and a black student exchanged jeans to see what would happen. The white student was admitted while his classmate still was kept outside, Cutz said. After the students' news conference, an attorney representing the club said the bar would be working with the students to fight discrimination and will issue an apology because they had a bad experience at Mother's. But Brad Grayson said the club does not believe it discriminated against the group. \"There was no intention to admit white kids with baggy jeans and exclude black kids with baggy jeans,\" he told the Chicago Tribune newspaper. In his remarks Wednesday, Cutz said the students wanted to avoid being \"caught up in the hype\" of the situation and \"forget the values that we are truly fighting for.\" Mother's representatives will speak at the rally, which will be held in in Chicago in late November, he said. The celebration at Original Mother's had been arranged with the bar in advance by the student class board, which includes two of the African-American students who later were denied entry, Cutz said. He said he was already inside the bar with some 200 other students, none of whom are African-American, when the first group of African-American classmates arrived. Cutz said he quickly learned that the manager of the bar had denied the six students entry, and he said the manager told the students their baggy pants violated the bar's dress code. Cutz, who is white, said he confronted the manager. \"These six [students] were better-dressed than I was,\" Cutz told CNN. He told the students to \"go back to the hotel and change.\" But the manager of the bar stepped in to say that he had made his decision and that the six men could not return to the bar even if they changed clothes, Cutz said. The students became \"more agitated\" and \"set up an experiment,\" Cutz said. Class Treasurer Regis Murayi, who is black, exchanged jeans with a white student, Jordan Roberts, who -- being 3 inches shorter than Murayi -- looked \"substantially baggy.\" Roberts approached the same manager who had turned away the African-American students, paid the entry fee and was allowed in, Cutz said. CNN's Susan Candiotti and Ross Leavitt contributed to this report." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Club accused of barring black Washington University students from entering .\nSenior class president says bar will participate in rally .\nManagers will be sent to diversity training .\nStudents want to \"turn this negative into a positive,\" president says ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- A shoeless Tiger Woods snored on their lawn while the golfer's wife stood silently by in the minutes after his SUV crashed into a tree, neighbors told Florida investigators. The Florida Highway Patrol on Thursday released the audio recording of their interview of Wood's longtime neighbors who rushed out of their house in the early hours of last Friday to help Woods. Troopers issued a careless driving citation to Woods for the crash, but he will not face criminal charges, police said Tuesday. Woods, 33, struck a fire hydrant and a tree with his 2009 Cadillac SUV in his luxury neighborhood near Windermere, Florida, early Friday, police said. Kimberly Harris said she was awake in her bedroom when she heard \"a faint, continuous knocking sound for about 10 or 15 minutes.\" It was unclear from the interview what Harris heard. Harris eventually noticed headlights shining toward her house from a vehicle on the lawn, so she awakened her brother, Jarius Adams. \"It's Tiger, dial 911,\" Harris said her brother yelled after rushing outside. \"I saw Tiger lying on the ground,\" Adams said. \"Elin was talking to him,\" he said, referring to Woods' wife, Elin Nordegren. \"'Can you please help me, can you please help me?' \" he said she asked. After that, she \"wasn't very verbal,\" Adams said. \"She was actually very quiet. Just kind of in shock, you know, just kind of sitting there.\" Nordegren told investigators she used a golf iron to smash a rear window so she could unlock the door to get her husband out after the wreck. Woods appeared to have a cut lip, but he wasn't bleeding much, Adams told the troopers. \"Maybe if you'd have bitten your lip, or something like that,\" he said. \"Nothing on his shirt, nothing on his hands.\" It was a cool morning, so Adams and Harris covered Woods with a blanket and put pillows under his head, Adams said. \"I tried to just keep everyone kind of calm,\" he said. When a trooper asked if Woods was unconscious, Adams said, \"At that point, he was, uh, he was snoring.\" \"He was snoring?\" the investigator asked. \"He was actually snoring,\" he said. Adams said he never smelled alcohol on Woods' breath. Woods eventually was placed in an ambulance and taken to a hospital. He was released several hours later. The police report called his injuries serious, but a spokesman for Woods described them as minor. Woods cited the injuries as the reason for his decision not to attend his own charity golf tournament this week." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Shoeless Tiger Woods snored on neighbor's lawn as his wife stood by after car crash .\nNeighbor said she was alerted to accident by headlights shining into home from vehicle on lawn .\n\"She was actually very quiet. Just kind of in shock,\" neighbor said of Woods' wife .\nNeighbors didn't smell alcohol on Woods as they covered him with blanket, gave him pillows ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- Biologist Matt Aresco has been carrying a big burden for years. A biologist says that wherever he can get it, he'll take money to protect turtles from a killer stretch of road. He's made it his mission to save thousands of turtles from near-certain death on one of the worst turtle-killing highways in America, U.S. Route 27 just north of Tallahassee, Florida. The road skirts Lake Jackson, but that didn't stop the turtles from wanting to get to the other side. In three years, Aresco counted nearly 9,000 dead turtles. \"There were days when I would find 200 turtles attempting to cross,\" he told CNN. \"It was unreal.\" But what sounds unreal to some in Washington is the solution to the turtle trouble: $3.4 million in federal stimulus money to build a series of walls and tunnels under the highway so the turtles and other creatures don't have to take on the cars and trucks roaring overhead. U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, an Oklahoma Republican, highlighted the turtle crossing in a blistering report on what he called the 100 worst projects in the stimulus bill. \"They are wasteful projects, and most of us don't want to steal money from our grandkids to do something that's really stupid right now,\" he said. Members of the turtle contingent in Florida were less than thrilled to be singled out. \"You've got 30- to 40-pound box turtles as big as a manhole cover, and 12-foot alligators,\" said Leon County Commissioner Cliff Thaell. \"Now if Sen. Coburn was to drive his SUV speeding down Highway 27 [at] 60 miles per hour tonight and met one of those fellows, he would have an unpleasant encounter.\" But according to the White House, the stimulus money is all about jobs, not turtles. Thaell said he expected \"dozens\" of jobs to be created in the construction of the tunnels, but he could not be precise. The jobs that will last only as long as it takes to build the tunnels, and Aresco says he'd rather get the money to help the turtles from other sources. But after years watching the creatures die, and trying to slow the carnage with makeshift fences, he says he'll take the money wherever he can get it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Biologist wants to end deaths of turtles on highway near Tallahassee, Florida .\n$3.4 million in federal money sought to build walls, tunnels to protect creatures .\nReport says the road work is among 100 worst projects in stimulus bill .\nBut project supporters say jobs will be created, creatures and drivers will be safer ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- A barn fire that killed two men and dozens of horses in Ohio on Saturday shows no sign of criminal intent, authorities said. The Ohio State Fire Marshal said the cause of the fire, at the Lebanon Raceway near Cincinnati in southwestern Ohio, is undetermined. \"However, investigators have ruled out criminal intent,\" it said in a written statement. The ages and identities of the men are not yet known. Initially, officials reported that 65 horses perished, but later put the number at 43. The state fire marshal said that preliminary information from the men's autopsies may be available by Sunday. The fire began in the northwest corner of the barn, according to the state fire marshal's office. It would not release the specific origin of the fire because of the investigation. The Warren County Fair Board -- which operates the track -- confirmed the men's deaths and the destruction of the barn, but couldn't say how many horses were killed. It said in a statement that harness racing scheduled for Saturday night has been canceled. Firefighters from 11 departments, which received the call just before 5 a.m., cleared debris and extinguished hot spots during the day. For more than 50 years, the Warren County Fair Board has been operating the county fair grounds, which includes \"a harness racing track and supporting facilities that are leased for harness racing meets to two harness racing clubs,\" according to the statement issued by a fair board attorney, Bill Schroeder. Schroeder said the fire was first noticed by a neighbor and that the barn, harness-racing carriages, and other racing equipment have been destroyed. Firefighters kept the flames from spreading to other barns, officials told CNN affiliate WHIO-TV. State and local fire officials are working to determine what sparked the fire. Follow CNN affiliate WHIO's local coverage . Follow CNN affiliate WLWT's local coverage . Another barn fire at the fairgrounds killed 35 horses in 1988, Warren County Commissioner Pat South said, according to the Springfield (Ohio) News-Sun newspaper." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "NEW: Ohio State Fire Marshal: \"Investigators have ruled out criminal intent\"\nDeath toll comes down from earlier reports of 65 .\nTwo men who died are still unidentified; autopsies will be conducted Sunday .\n11 departments respond to fire just before 5 a.m." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- Manny Pacquiao returned home to a hero's welcome in his native Philippines on Friday after wresting the WBO welterweight title from Miguel Cotto on a 12th round technical knockout in Las Vegas. 'Pacman' has a fanatical following in the Philippines which has been further enhanced by his record breaking victory as he claimed his sixth world title at a different weight by beating Cotto on Saturday night. \"Welcome home, the world's bext boxer of all time,\" read a banner as thousands of fans greeted the 30-year-old. Following his hard-fought victory over Puerto Rican Cotto, all the talk is of a cash-rich superfight with American Floyd Mayweather Jr. next year. Leading promoter Bob Arum said he is ready to put the pay-per-view extravaganza at the 147-pound welterweight class, with Las Vegas the preferred venue. Pacquiao played down the possibility as he talked to reporters on his return. \"We are not forcing a fight with him. It is right that he is the one challenging me, because my fights score more on pay-per-view,\" he said. Pacquiao has greatly enhanced his reputation with successive wins over Oscar de la Hoya, Britain's Ricky Hatton and Cotto. Mayweather returned to the ring with a comfortable win over Juan Manuel Marquez and has the reputation for grossing massive receipts from his pay-per-view appearances. For the moment, Pacquiao will spend time at home with his wife, Jinkee, and three children and is also set to pursue his ambition to enter Filippino politics, standing for a congressional seat in his home island of Mindanao." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Manny Pacquiao returns home to Philippines after Las Vegas triumph .\nPacman won world title at sixth different weight after beating Miguel Cotto .\nCash-rich fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the offing in the United States ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The beautifully ornate Catholic church in the nation's capital has seen its share of history and controversy. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and Chief Justice John Roberts attend Red Mass in 2005. In 1963, the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle was the site of John F. Kennedy's funeral. After the service, on the steps outside, the slain president's young son famously saluted his father's memory. But the church is also the site of an annual Mass that has drawn criticism for what many see as an unhealthy mix of politics, the law and religion. Washington's annual Red Mass, which celebrates the legal profession, will be held this year on Sunday, October 4 -- the day before the Supreme Court begins its new term. Several justices traditionally attend, along with congressional leaders, diplomats, cabinet secretaries and other dignitaries. Past presidents have also attended, though there is no word yet on whether President Obama will appear. It is a Catholic service, but power brokers of other faiths are asked to attend the invitation-only event. Justice Stephen Breyer, who is Jewish, is a regular. The Mass \"takes its name from the color of the vestments. ... [It] goes back centuries, to Rome, to France to England,\" Washington Archbishop Donald Wuerl said. \"There was the idea [to] bring all the people who are involved in the law ... once a year so that together, they can simply pray for the wisdom of God.\" The church, built starting in the 19th century, is considered one of Washington's hidden gems. Tucked between modern office buildings a few blocks from the White House, it is a mix of architectural styles, a hint of ancient Roman style, a splash from the Italian Renaissance and a definite Byzantine flavor. St. Matthew, noted Monsignor Ronald Jameson, was the patron saint of civil servants, appropriate in a city where the federal government dominates the workforce. Five justices attended last year's Red Mass, which was similar in tone to other recent gatherings. Cardinal John Patrick Foley, who has held several prominent positions in the Catholic Church, noted many parts of the Bible \"sound very much like American ideals\" and reminded the members of the high court to build a society \"of justice, of peace and of love.\" Critics of the service, however, find the attendance of leading decision-makers, including members of the highest court in the land, to be inappropriate. \"The truth is, this was set up as a way to basically lecture and give information to the justices,\" said the Rev. Barry Lynn, president of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. \"There is no other institution that has this special way to talk to the justices on the Supreme Court.\" The Red Mass was started in Washington in 1952 by the John Carroll Society, a lay Catholic group of prominent lawyers and professionals. Chief Justice John Roberts' wife, Jane, is an officer of the group. Lynn, an ordained minister with the United Church of Christ, noted the Mass was begun after several high court decisions that were disapproved of by the archdiocese. \"They figured if they got all the justices together and chatted them up in a worship service, they might be able to convince them to see the law their way,\" he said. In 1989, a top church official used the occasion of the Mass to call for a return to \"religiously based moral values\" and lament the \"inviolable, impenetrable and towering wall\" between church and state. In 1986, Washington Cardinal James Hickey attacked the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade ruling legalizing abortion. Among those in attendance that year were then-Chief Justice William Rehnquist and Justices Antonin Scalia and William Brennan, both Catholics. One member of the court who no longer attends is Ruth Bader Ginsburg who, like Breyer, is Jewish. Ginsberg said she grew tired of being lectured to by Catholic officials. \"I went one year, and I will never go again, because this sermon was outrageously anti-abortion,\" Ginsburg said in the book \"Stars of David: Prominent Jews talk About Being Jewish\" by author Abigail Pogrebin. \"Even the Scalias, although they're much of that persuasion, were embarrassed for me.\" Six Catholics now sit on the high court: Roberts, Scalia, Anthony Kennedy, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Sonia Sotomayor. Church officials, however, said they do not attempt to lobby or seek to persuade anyone who attends the service. Wuerl likens the experience to putting aside the partisanship and troubles in the world and seeking comfort in a shared community and a sacred place. Americans have \"been very careful about ... not allowing any one tradition or church to become the state church,\" he said. \"But from the very beginning, we've always said we need to hear the voice of faith in all the discussion that is a part of determining what we want to do.\" Lynn takes a different tack. \"I don't think there is any doubt that people in that congregation, including the Supreme Court justices, are going to listen to what is said. They might hear something phrased in a way you might never hear it in the court, but it might become a lingering factor in their decisions. ... People who are concerned about the Red Mass worry about this kind of undue influence, an influence that no other group, religious or otherwise, has on those nine men and women.\" Their sharply differing perspectives show that, more than two centuries after the Constitution's ratification, the interpretation of the First Amendment and the role of religion in American society remain hotly contested questions. CNN's Elaine Quijano contributed to this report." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Annual Catholic Mass in Washington celebrates the legal profession .\nIt began in 1952; several Supreme Court justices regularly attend .\nIt is touted as a chance for those involved in law to pray for wisdom .\nCritic says Mass set up to \"lecture and give information to the justices\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Terrorists are likely to use a weapon of mass destruction somewhere in the world in the next five years, a blue-ribbon panel assembled by Congress has concluded. Police watch over travelers at New York's Grand Central Terminal before Thanksgiving. They are more likely to use a biological weapon than a nuclear one -- and the results could be devastating, the chairman of the commission told CNN. \"The consequences of a biological attack are almost beyond comprehension. It would be 9/11 times 10 or a hundred in terms of the number of people who would be killed,\" former Sen. Bob Graham said. He cited the flu virus that killed millions of people in 1918 as an example. \"Today it is still in the laboratory, but if it should get out and into the hands of scientists who knew how to use it for a violent purpose, we could have multiple times the 40 million people who were killed 100 years ago,\" he said. Watch how officials worry about a biological terror attack » . The U.S. government \"needs to move more aggressively to limit\" the spread of biological weapons, the commission said in its report. Graham warned that such measures would be costly, but were necessary. \"The leadership of this country and the world will have to decide how much of a priority ... they place on avoiding the worst weapons in the world getting in the hands of the worst people in the world,\" he said. \"It is not going to be cheap. It is not going to be accomplished without some sacrifices. It won't be accomplished without putting this issue ahead of some other competing national and international goals. But I think our safety and security depend upon doing so,\" he added. Graham said a biological attack was more likely than a nuclear one because it would be easier to carry out. Biological weapons \"are more available,\" he said. \"Anthrax is a natural product of dead animals. Other serious pathogens are available in equally accessible forms.\" \"There are so many scientists who have the skills to convert a pathogen from benign, helpful purposes into an illicit, very harmful weapon,\" he added. But the commission warned that there is also a threat of nuclear terrorism, both because more countries are developing nuclear weapons and because some existing nuclear powers are expanding their arsenals. \"Terrorist organizations are intent on acquiring nuclear weapons,\" said the report, which was published Tuesday on the Internet and will be officially released Wednesday. CNN obtained a copy of the report Monday evening. It cited testimony before the commission from former Sen. Sam Nunn, who said that the \"risk of a nuclear weapon being used today is growing, not receding.\" The report recommends a range of measures, including increased security and awareness at biological research labs and strengthening international treaties against the spread of biological and nuclear weapons. \"Many biological pathogens and nuclear materials around the world are poorly secured -- and thus vulnerable to theft by those who would put these materials to harmful use, or would sell them on the black market to potential terrorists,\" the report warned. The commission expressed particular concern about the nuclear programs of Iran and North Korea, and about Pakistan, which it described as \"the intersection of nuclear weapons and terrorism.\" While observing that Pakistan is a U.S. ally, the report said, \"the next terrorist attack against the United States is likely to originate from within the Federally Administered Tribal Areas\" in Pakistan. The tribal areas lie in northwest Pakistan where the government exerts little control; the United States says it is a haven for militants from both Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan. Congress created the commission to investigate and report on WMD and terrorism in line with a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission, which compiled a report on the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. Commissioners heard testimony from more than 250 experts from around the world over the course of their six-month investigation. CNN's Jeanne Meserve contributed to this report." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "NEW: Next terror attack on U.S. likely to originate in Pakistan tribal areas, report says .\nTerrorists with biological weapons could kill millions, panel's chairman says .\nBiological attack more likely than nuclear attack, report says .\nNumber of nations with nuclear weapons also growing, panel says ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "HAMILTON, Bermuda (CNN) -- Two of four Uyghurs relocated to Bermuda after seven years of detention in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, denied Friday that they had ever been terrorists and expressed gratitude toward U.S. President Barack Obama for working to free them. Salahidin Abdalahut and Kheleel Mamut were two of four Uyghurs released from Gitmo. Thirteen remain there. Asked what he would say to someone who accused him of being a terrorist, one of the men, Kheleel Mamut, told CNN's Don Lemon, \"I am no terrorist; I have not been terrorist. I will never be terrorist. I am a peaceful person.\" Speaking through an interpreter who is herself a Uyghur who said she was sympathetic toward the men, the other man -- Salahidin Abdalahut -- described the past seven years as \"difficult times for me ... I feel bad that it took so long for me to be free.\" The two Chinese Muslims were among four relocated from Guantanamo to Bermuda; another 13 remain in detention on the island. He said he had traveled to Afghanistan not to attend any terrorist training camps but because -- as a Uyghur -- he had been oppressed by the Chinese government. \"We had to leave the country to look for a better life, a peaceful life, and Afghanistan is a neighboring country to our country, and it's easy to go,\" he said. \"It is difficult to obtain a visa to go to any other places, so it was really easy for us to just travel to Afghanistan.\" Asked what he hoped to do next, he said, \"I want to forget about the past and move on to a peaceful life in the future.\" In addition to the four relocated from Guantanamo to Bermuda, another 13 Uyghurs remain in detention on the island. The four were flown by private plane Wednesday night from Cuba to Bermuda, and were accompanied by U.S. and Bermudian representatives as well as their attorneys, according to Susan Baker Manning, part of the men's legal team. The men, who are staying in an apartment, are free to roam about the island. Mamut accused the Bush administration of having held them without cause, and lauded Obama for having \"tried really hard to bring justice and he has been trying very hard to find other countries to resettle us and finally he freed us.\" He appealed to Obama to carry out his promise to shut Guantanamo Bay within a year. \"I would like President Obama to honor that word and to free my 13 brothers who were left behind and all of the rest of the people who deserve to be free,\" Mamut said. Asked how he had been treated in Guantanamo Bay, Mamut said, \"It is a jail, so there will be difficulties in the jail that we have faced and now, since I am a free man today, I would like to forget about all that. I really don't want to think about those days.\" He cited a proverb from his homeland that means, \"What is done cannot be undone.\" Asked if he had anything to say to anyone watching, he said, \"Thank you very much for those people who helped me to gain freedom.\" He said he had spoken earlier in the day with his family. \"They told me, \"My boy, my son, congratulations on your freedom.' \" The move has had international repercussions, including causing a rift between the United States and Britain. A British official familiar with the agreement but not authorized to speak publicly on the matter told CNN the United States had informed London of the agreement \"shortly before the deal was concluded.\" A U.S. official, speaking on background, said the British feel blindsided. Bermuda is a British \"overseas territory.\" The four were twice cleared for release -- once by the Bush administration and again this year, according to a Justice Department statement. The issue of where they go is controversial because of China's opposition to the Uyghurs' being sent to any country but China. Uyghurs are a Muslim minority from the Xinjiang province of far west China. The 17 Uyghurs had left China and made their way to Afghanistan, where they settled in a camp with other Uyghurs opposed to the Chinese government, the Justice Department said in its statement. They left Afghanistan after U.S. bombings began in the area in October 2001 and were apprehended in Pakistan, the statement said. \"According to available information, these individuals did not travel to Afghanistan with the intent to take any hostile action against the United States,\" the statement said. However, China alleges that the men are part of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement -- a group the U.S. State Department considers a terrorist organization -- that operates in the Xinjiang region. East Turkestan is another name for Xinjiang. China on Thursday urged the United States to hand over all 17 of the Uyghurs instead of sending them elsewhere. The United States will not send Uyghur detainees cleared for release back to China out of concern that they would be tortured by Chinese authorities. China has said no returned Uyghurs would be tortured. A senior U.S. administration official told CNN that the State Department is working on a final agreement with Palau to settle the 13 remaining Uyghur detainees. CNN's Don Lemon and Brian Vitagliano in Hamilton, Bermuda, and Jill Dougherty contributed to this report." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Two Uyghurs relocated from Guantanamo spoke Friday with CNN's Don Lemon .\nBoth denied having been terrorists and expressed gratitude toward U.S. president .\nFour of the Chinese Muslims were relocated to Bermuda; 13 remain at Gitmo .\nIncident has had international repercussions centering on where to relocate men ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- A fire at a karaoke bar and discotheque in Medan, in Indonesia's North Sumatra province, killed at least 20 people Friday night, according to a hospital. At least two people survived, according to Aida Sofiati of the Pringadi Hospital in Medan. Sofiati said 20 people were killed. Mohammad Zein, a fire official, said the blaze started around 10 p.m., but firefighters were able to extinguish it within a half-hour. He said the cause of the fire was not known." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Blaze hits karaoke bar and discotheque in Medan, in North Sumatra province .\nMedan hospital official says at least two people survived .\nFire official: Fire started around 10 p.m., was extinguished within half-hour; cause isn't known ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- Federal authorities are moving to rein in the man dubbed \"America's Toughest Sheriff\" after complaints that immigration raids by his deputies amounted to unconstitutional roundups of Latinos. Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio supervises an inmate relocation in Phoenix, Arizona. Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the Maricopa County, Arizona, sheriff's department have had an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security since 2007 that allows his department to enforce federal immigration laws. But Arpaio says the federal agency is moving to revise the agreement to limit that power to checking the immigration status of inmates already in his Phoenix jail. Arpaio has cultivated his image as \"America's Toughest Sheriff,\" a nickname earned by his treatment of Maricopa County inmates. Many of his prisoners are housed in tents and forced to wear pink underwear, and he once boasted of feeding them on less than a dollar a day. Now he faces a Justice Department investigation into allegations of civil rights abuses, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona is suing the sheriff over immigration raids conducted by his department. The class-action lawsuit alleges that Arpaio has abused the power delegated to him under his agreement with Homeland Security, known as the 287(g) program. \"He's unconstitutionally acted to racially profile many persons in the community, persons who appear or are Latino,\" ACLU lawyer Dan Pochoda told CNN. Pochoda said the five-term sheriff has launched a series of high-profile raids to appeal to \"his anti-immigration base.\" Arpaio told CNN's \"American Morning\" the allegations were \"garbage\" and said he would continue to use state laws to crack down on undocumented immigrants in his county. \"We do not go on street corners and grab people that look like they're from another country,\" he said. \"Pursuant to our duties, when we come across illegals, we take action.\" Watch what Arpaio has to say » . Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, who was Arizona's governor before taking her Cabinet post, told CNN that Arpaio is reacting prematurely to decisions that have not yet been finalized. But Arpaio says he's now become the poster boy of the emotionally charged immigration debate and is losing authority for political reasons. \"They don't want to aggravate the Hispanic community, aggravate the businesspeople who hire the illegals, and they want amnesty,\" he said. Arpaio said he planned to continue his operations \"with no changes.\" \"We do enforce traffic violations. All law enforcement does that, and comes across some serious criminals, which we do in our crime suppression,\" he said. \"We go into workplaces under the state law, and we arrest people in the workplace there illegally with identity theft situations and human smuggling.\" But according to a 2008 policy report on effective law enforcement by the Goldwater Institute, a libertarian-leaning watchdog group based in Phoenix, Arpaio's department \"falls seriously short of fulfilling its mission.\" The report found that Maricopa County has \"diverted resources away from basic law-enforcement functions to highly publicized immigration sweeps, which are ineffective in policing illegal immigration.\" CNN Correspondent Thelma Gutierrez contributed to this report." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Some say his deputies' raids were unconstitutional roundups of Latinos .\nSheriff: Federal agency wants to limit him to checking inmates' immigration status .\nSheriff rejects allegations that he abused power, violated civil rights .\nHomeland Security chief says he's reacting prematurely to decisions yet to be made ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "ROME, Italy (CNN) -- The Italian media call her \"Foxy Knoxy,\" portray her as a \"devil with an angel's face,\" and there are 11 Facebook pages dedicated to her, all in Italian. Both Raffaele Sollecito (left) and Amanda Knox deny charges of murder and sexual assault. Amanda Knox, 21, is an American college student from Seattle, Washington, who is on trial for murder in Perugia, Italy. The case has given Knox almost pop star status there. She was voted the top woman in an online \"person of the year\" poll by an Italian TV channel in December, beating out Carla Bruni, the Italian-born French first lady. Seven of the 11 Facebook pages champion her innocence; four seem convinced that Knox is pure evil. A sampling of comments: \"No to Amanda. No to her superstardom\" ... \"She's a sociopath\" ...\"Everyone is not sure if she is guilty or not and that she will lead us to a new existential awareness. Please shout with me your anger. ... Let's say no. Let's say Knox.\" Knox and former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, 24, are charged with murdering and sexually assaulting one of Knox's roommates, British exchange student Meredith Kercher, on November 1, 2007. They insist they are innocent and are disputing the allegations. Knox and Sollecito are due back in court today. The last time Knox appeared before the panel of eight judges, she wore a T-shirt quoting The Beatles: \"All you need is love.\" Prosecutor Giuliano Mignini alleges that Kercher, 21, was killed because she refused to participate in a drug-fueled sex game played by Knox, Sollecito, and a third man, Ivory Coast native Rudy Hermann Guede. In court papers, prosecutors stated that Sollecito held Kercher by her wrists while Knox poked at her with a knife and Guede sexually assaulted her. The case is being tried in Perugia, a university town about 115 miles north of Rome that is better known for its chocolate than for its scandalous murder trials. According to the prosecutor's office, Kercher had been in Italy for two months as part of a year-long course with Leeds University, where she was working toward a degree in European Studies. She shared a house with Knox, a University of Washington student in the same exchange program, and two Italian housemates. The crime scene, which has become a tourist attraction, has been broken into twice, police say. Knox and Sollecito were arrested November 6, 2007, and were kept in prison while an investigation continued. The judge overseeing the investigation found both were capable of committing the crime again, fleeing the country or tampering with the evidence. Police sought charges in July 2008, and they were ordered to trial in October. The trial began January 16 and has been held mostly on weekends. Italian newspapers assigned their top crime reporters, and the case has received unprecedented international coverage. Knox has appeared on the cover of People magazine, which shares a corporate parent with CNN. A random sampling of women on the streets of Rome showed that all of them had heard of the case and most believed Knox and Sollecito were at the very least implicated in the slaying. The superheated publicity surrounding the case helped make Knox a household name in Italy. She is usually portrayed as a femme fatale. Consider these headlines: . • \"Sex, lies and stabbings\" • \"Lovers without any inhibitions\" • \"And in prison, she even tries to sun tan\" Italian journalists also have plastered their newspapers with photos they found of Knox on the Internet, especially images that showed her as a \"wild girl.\" They pounced on the \"Foxy Knoxy\" nickname they found on her MySpace page, even though her parents later explained the high school moniker came from the way Knox played soccer, quick like a fox. Although Italian law limits the publication of court and police records, the media ban is less strict than in many European countries. While it is not exactly legal to publish police investigative reports, no journalist has gone to jail in Italy for doing it. Among the items leaked: Knox's diary, various police interrogations, photos of Kercher's body, video of Kercher's body (which wound up on YouTube but has been pulled), and video of the Italian forensic police carrying out their investigation. Eventually, even the leaks made headlines, leading to more speculation. Knox can do no right in the Italian media. If she appears reserved and timid in court, she is portrayed as someone with plenty to hide. If she smiles or laughs in court, she's called disrespectful. As far as the Italian media is concerned, Knox is the mastermind who manipulated those around her and seduced her Italian boyfriend and led him astray. While Knox and Sollecito's preliminary hearings were being held in October, Guede was convicted of murder after a fast-track trial. His lawyers had hoped that the speedy resolution of the case would give him a break at sentencing. He got 30 years in prison. According to testimony at Guede's trial, his fingerprints were found in the house, and his DNA was linked to Kercher's body. He has never denied being in the house the night of the slaying but insists he didn't kill her. He says he had an \"appointment\" with her that night and was in the bathroom when she was killed. Sollecito and Knox say they weren't at the house the night of the slaying. They say they both were at Sollecito's house. But the alibi has been contradicted by witnesses at the trial. Eighty-six media outlets sent 140 journalists to cover the opening of the trial in January, but publicity has waned since then. The Italian 24-hour news channel TG24 no longer breaks into its programming with multiple updates. Knox, for now, has been relegated to the pages preceding the sports or weather report. But Italians love their murder cases, and attention has shifted to other crime news. A mother is accused of killing her toddler son, a husband and wife are accused of multiple killings. Their courtrooms are now filled with spectators who wait in line an hour or more. The Perugia courtroom still is packed, but the long line is gone. That is likely to change, however, as testimony shifts to the defense case." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Murder trial makes American student notorious in Italy .\nAmanda Knox, 21, is accused with former boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito .\nBritish student Meredith Kercher found dead in house shared with Knox .\nItalian media portrays Knox as seductive femme fatale ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "REDMOND, Washington (CNN) -- Should a bridge that would connect two campuses at Microsoft's headquarters be funded with $11 million from the federal stimulus package? An artist's rendering shows how the proposed bridge would be constructed over a busy highway. Critics of using stimulus money for the bridge say it would give the software giant a break on a pet project. They also say it serves as a warning sign of how some stimulus money is not being used to finance new projects but is being diverted to public works already under way. Supporters argue the bridge is an ideal public-private partnership that will benefit an entire community while fulfilling the stimulus package's goal of getting people back to work. \"It's going create just under 400 jobs for 18 months constructing the bridge,\" says Redmond Mayor John Marchione. \"It's also connecting our technical sector with our retail and commercial sectors so people can cross the freeway to shop and help traffic flow.\" See a larger image of the proposed bridge » . Marchione applied for federal stimulus money after costs jumped on the project from $25 million to $36 million. Marchione says the increase in costs were due to a rise in construction prices and because the bridge will be built on a diagonal in order to connect Microsoft's original East campus with a newer West campus that are split by a public highway. Microsoft is hardly getting the bridge for free. The company is contributing $17.5 million or a little less than half the tab of the $36 million bridge, which would be open for public use. And even though the bridge goes from a parking lot behind Microsoft's West campus across a highway to an entrance of Microsoft's East campus, Marchione says, people other than Microsoft employees would use the overpass. \"We're not a one-company town,\" Marchione says. \"Our traffic studies show that Microsoft traffic would be about 42 percent of the bridge, yet Microsoft is paying for about 50 percent of the bridge, so we think we are getting fair value. \"The United States taxpayer is leveraging their dollars, and I think everyone is getting a fair deal.\" But a watchdog group monitoring how stimulus money is being spent says the taxpayer in this case is getting ripped off. \"This is $11 million where we are substituting public money for private money, and that means there's some other project that would have a greater benefit than a bridge to Microsoft that's not being built,\" says Steve Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense. But without the stimulus money, Marchione counters, the bridge may not have been built. Microsoft had \"capped out\" its contribution to the project, he explains. And the economic tough times have affected even the biggest companies. \"Microsoft laid off 5,000 people in January,\" Marchione points out. Ellis doesn't buy it. \"Let's face it. Microsoft is one of the most lucrative companies in the country,\" Ellis says. \"They could have easily funded this out of pocket change. This is really about getting while the getting is good. Uncle Sam has a big wallet that's there for the taking, and Redmond wanted to take it -- and Microsoft was happy to let them pick up that part of the tab.\" Microsoft did not respond to CNN requests for an interview on the bridge project. But in a posting online, Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith wrote: \"As the largest employer in Redmond, Microsoft takes its responsibility to the surrounding community seriously. We have spent over $50 million to assist the City of Redmond and other local governments with street construction, transit facilities, water and sewer facilities and fire equipment.\" Last week, Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire certified 138 projects, including the bridge, to receive stimulus funding. Construction is expected to begin in June. Michael Ennis of the Washington Policy Center, a Seattle-based not-for-profit group that advises policy makers, said there are many reasons the bridge project is a good one. \"Any time you can include the private sector in funding transportation projects, it's a win-win situation,\" Ennis explains. \"The state has a monopoly on our roads system. Even if Microsoft wanted to pay for this project on their own, legally they are required to work with the public sector.\" But Ennis also says the bridge does not fit with the kind of projects the stimulus plan is meant to bankroll. \"This project would have moved forward regardless of having the federal money or not, so it doesn't have any additional benefit to the economy,\" he says. As he pedaled on his bicycle to work, one Microsoft employee saw the issue in much simpler terms. \"It's going to cut about two miles off my ride each day,\" he said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Project would build bridge between Microsoft's two campuses .\nMicrosoft paying for about half of the $36 million project .\nMayor backs plan, says bridge will benefit entire community .\nTaxpayer watchdog group says project a good example of waste ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Federal agents have arrested more than 1,300 suspected gang members, including 343 with violent criminal histories, in the past three months, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency said Tuesday. Gang weapons and paraphernalia are displayed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2006. \"Violent foreign-born gang members and their associates have more than worn out their welcome, and to them I have one message: good riddance,\" Julie L. Myers, assistant secretary of Homeland Security for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said in a news release. Of those arrested, 374 face criminal charges, officials said. The rest face deportation, they said. During the nationwide crackdown, immigration and customs agents worked with law enforcement counterparts in 23 cities in what officials described as a \"summer surge.\" The most arrests were made in the New York area (205) and Miami, Florida (160), but gang members were arrested in cities as small as Boise, Idaho, and Fort Smith, Arkansas. Watch agents in action in suspected gang roundup » . Myers told a Washington news conference that some of \"the worst of the worst\" gang offenders had been taken off U.S. streets. One of the gangs targeted has been MS-13, which is believed to be the fastest growing group in the United States as well as one of the most violent, the agency said. The FBI estimates MS-13 has about 10,000 members in the country, along with tens of thousands in Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador, where the gang originated in the late 1980s. \"MS-13 still seems to be the primary gang and the most violent gang still out there, and it is penetrating throughout the United States,\" said Marcy Forman, director of investigations for the agency. Don Hunter, sheriff of Collier County in southwest Florida, said MS-13 was present in what he called the \"upscale\" community. \"We are not unique, we have transnational gangs, we have homegrown gangs,\" Hunter told the news conference. But he said cooperation among federal and local agencies had made it possible to put a dent in gang operations. The sweep was part of the agency's Operation Community Shield anti-gang initiative, which started in 2005, and has resulted in arrests of more than 7,000 alleged members and their associates from more than 600 gangs, the agency said. E-mail to a friend . CNN's Kelli Arena and Kevin Bohn contributed to this report." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Immigration and Customs sweep part of initiative started in 2005 .\nArrests took place over three-month period in 23 cities .\nOf those arrested, 374 face criminal charges; the rest will be deported ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off after inspiring Real Madrid to an incident-packed 4-2 victory at home to Almeria on Saturday night, in which he created a goal, scored one and also missed a penalty. The world's most expensive player helped Real bounce back from last weekend's 1-0 \"El Clasico\" defeat to Barcelona as the big-spending capital outfit came back from 2-1 down in an explosive final 20 minutes. However, unbeaten Barca stayed five points clear at the top -- having played one more match -- with a 2-1 victory at Deportivo La Coruna as Lionel Messi scored twice. Ronaldo, making his first appearance at the Bernabeu in two months following ankle problems, crossed for Sergio Ramos to head the opening goal in the 31st minute. However, Fernando Soriano leveled with a deflected shot in the 58th minute and Kalu Uche put lowly Almeria head just three minutes later as Real failed to clear a corner. The hosts equalized with 17 minutes left as Argentina forward Gonzalo Higuain kept up his hot scoring run with a predatory finish after the Almeria defense did not deal with a cross from the left. With eight minutes remaining, Ronaldo went down under the challenge of the onrushing Diego Alves, but the goalkeeper saved his resulting penalty -- however, Karim Benzema followed up to smash in the rebound to put Real ahead. Ronaldo wrapped it up a minute later from Higuain's low cross, and was booked for tearing off his shirt to pose in front of his adoring fans. The Portugal captain received his second yellow card five minutes later for kicking out at Michel, but it was not costly as Real completed a morale-boosting win ahead of Tuesday's Champions League trip to Marseille. Barcelona, whose European title defense is still in the balance ahead of Wednesday's trip to Dynamo Kiev, took the lead against Deportivo in the 27th minute when Messi scored with a trademark neat finish. However, Adrian leveled in the 39th minute with a header after an error by Sergi Busquets, who returned from suspension. But Messi, named Europe's top player for 2009 during the week, put Barca ahead again with 10 minutes left from Pedro's cross and Zlatan Ibrahimovic followed up his winner against Real by wrapping up the victory on 88. Third-placed Sevilla again failed to keep pace with the leaders after being held 1-1 at home by mid-table Valladolid, who had a player sent off. Angola striker Manucho put the visitors ahead in the 33rd minute with a glancing header from Diego Costa's cross but five minutes later Borja Fernandez was red-carded for a lunge on Diego Perotti. Sevilla, who were held at home by Malaga last weekend, leveled with a penalty from Luis Fabiano just before halftime after Marcos brought down Jesus Navas. Brazil striker Fabiano squandered two golden second-half opportunities as Valladolid held on, meaning Valencia can move above Sevilla with victory away to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. Atletico Madrid moved further away from relegation trouble with a 2-0 victory at promoted strugglers Xerez, with star strikers Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero scoring in each half. Uruguay international Forlan put Atletico ahead in the 29th minute from a cross by Jose Antonio Reyes, while Argentina's Aguero doubled the lead on 65 with a low shot from 12 yards." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Cristiano Ronaldo sent off after inspiring Real Madrid to 4-2 victory at home to Almeria .\nWorld's most expensive player scores goal, sets one up and misses a penalty .\nReal trail Spanish leaders Barcelona by five points after the Catalans beat Deportivo 3-1 .\nBall d'Or winner Lionel Messi scores twice and Zlatan Ibrahimovic nets the third goal ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Perugia, Italy (CNN) -- Family members of Meredith Kercher said Saturday they were satisfied with the verdict that found American Amanda Knox and her Italian ex-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, guilty of the fatal knifing of the British student. \"Ultimately we are pleased with the decision,\" said Lyle Kercher, Meredith Kercher's brother. \"But it was not a moment of celebration. We are here because our sister was brutally murdered.\" The victim's sister, Stephanie Kercher, talked Friday about her family's grief. \"Our lives have been on hold, really. You can't really carry on as normal,\" she said. \"You have to take each day as it comes. It's not ever going to be the same without [Meredith].\" Knox and Sollecito were found guilty of murder Friday after a lengthy, sensational trial. Knox was given a 26-year sentence; Sollecito was sentenced to 25 years. Both will appeal, attorneys said. Knox and Sollecito were convicted on all charges except theft. The pair was accused of staging a theft to cover up the killing. Authorities said 300 euros (about $444) was discovered missing from Kercher's purse. The pair must pay 5 million euros ($7.4 million) to Kercher's family. In addition, Knox must pay 40,000 euros (nearly $60,000) to a man whom she falsely accused of the killing. One of Knox's sisters said Saturday that Amanda \"had a rough night.\" Her mother, Edda Mellas, said, \"She had a lot of support. The inmates and the guards were all taking great care of her. They care a lot. \"Amanda, like the rest of us, is extremely disappointed -- upset about the decision,\" Mellas said. \"We're all in shock; we're all heartened by the support\" that she said residents of Perugia and other Italians had shown. \"People from all over the world have been sending us messages of support all through the night,\" Mellas said. \"We told her she's going to get out of there. It's [just] going to take a little longer.\" Sollecito's lawyer, Luca Maori, criticized his client's punishment -- less than the life sentence the prosecution requested but far short of exonerating Sollecito -- as making no sense. \"For the grave crimes they claimed, you either sentence them to life. ... or you acquit. There is no middle way,\" Maori said. Public prosecutor Giuliano Mignini told CNN he feels he presented a strong case. He said about 20 magistrates worked alongside police during the investigation. However, he said that in the face of the planned appeals, clearly the conviction is not final. Learn how the murder case played out . People who disagree with the verdict should at least respect it, because so many professionals were involved in the investigation, Mignini said. \"I believe, evidently, that they think there was violence. They are the deputies who establish the foundation\" of charges, he said. \"And they did this.\" The victim's mother said she believed the defendants were guilty of the slaying. \"You have to go with the evidence,\" Arline Kercher said. Take a look at the evidence against Knox . Knox's lead defense attorney, Luciano Ghirga, said that when he met with his client Saturday morning, she was angry and continued to proclaim her innocence. He told CNN the situation has been a trying experience, and Knox hardly slept Friday night after the verdict. She was consoled by the other prisoners, who managed get her a cup of warm milk, Ghirga said. The jury reached its verdict after deliberating nearly 11 hours on the 11 counts. Jurors must submit an explanation of how they reached their decision to the judge within 90 days, and this \"jury motivation\" will be made public. Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of life in prison. Italy does not have the death penalty. CNN's Richard Greene and Hada Messia contributed to this report." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "NEW: Sentence makes no sense, co-defendant's lawyer says .\nKnox, her former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito sentenced for Meredith Kercher's murder .\nAppeals mean convictions not final, Italian prosecutor says .\nMeredith Kercher's sister: \"It's not ever going to be the same\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- The Philippine House of Representatives and Senate were meeting Monday to debate the imposition of martial law in the country's south by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the aftermath of last month's massacre of 57 civilians. As required by law, the president issued a report Sunday explaining her reasons for making the proclamation for the province of Maguindanao. \"Lawless elements have taken up arms and committed public uprising against the duly constituted government and against the people of Maguindanao,\" Arroyo said in a 20-page letter to the leaders of the House and Senate. Martial law went into effect Friday night, allowing arrests without a warrant. Army spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr. said it was necessary to impose peace following what has been called a politically motivated massacre. He added that Congress would have to approve any extension beyond 60 days. The House and Senate might jointly convene on Tuesday to discuss the president's report, House Speaker Prospero Nograles said Sunday, according to the Philippine News Agency. The debate began as elite forces of the Philippine National Police clashed in the town of Datu Unsay with suspected followers of the politically powerful Ampatuan family, which has been implicated in the massacre, the Philippine News Agency reported Monday. Reports said the armed men offered stiff resistance on Sunday against government security forces in a 10-minute firefight, withdrawing after government reinforcements arrived. No casualties were reported on either side. Charges of rebellion will be leveled against many of those arrested since martial law was implemented, Philippine Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said Saturday, CNN affiliate ABS-CBN reported. At least six members of the Ampatuan family have been arrested, including Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., according to ABS-CBN. Ampatuan, whose father is governor of Maguindanao, has been accused of directing the killings and has been charged with 25 counts of murder. One of the massacre victims implicated members of the Ampatuan family before she died, the affiliate reported. Over the weekend, authorities raided at least one warehouse and ranch belonging to the family. They confiscated firearms, ammunition and vehicles, Maj. Randolph Cabangbang, deputy of operations for the eastern Mindinao command, told CNN. The military was looking at arresting at least 100 people tied to the massacre, ABS-CBN reported. The Philippine military is investigating its own forces in connection with the case as well, Brawner said. Asked why martial law was imposed 12 days after the killings, Cabangbang said authorities \"were trying to build a case, a tight case\" against suspects. \"But it is taking long to build a case, so I think the government gave us a free hand in arresting those who are suspects, and allowed us to search, even without warrant. So we really need this declaration of state of martial law.\" Violence in the run-up to elections is not uncommon in the country. The Maguindanao massacre, however, is the worst politically motivated violence in recent Philippine history, according to state media. The victims included the wife and sister of political candidate Ismael \"Toto\" Mangudadatu, who had sent the women to file paperwork allowing him to run for governor of Maguindanao. He said he had received threats from allies of Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., the father of the accused mayor, saying he would be kidnapped if he filed the papers himself. Maguindanao is part of an autonomous region in predominantly Muslim Mindanao, which was set up in the 1990s to quell armed uprisings by people seeking an independent Muslim homeland in the predominantly Christian Asian nation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Arroyo outlines reasons for martial law declaration in 20-page letter .\nReport: House, Senate might jointly convene Tuesday, House Speaker says .\nAt least six members of Ampatuan family arrested, ABS-CBN reports .\nAuthorities raid at least one warehouse and ranch belonging to family ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Like many young men, Josh Nahum loved a thrill. That's why he took up skydiving. But on Labor Day weekend in 2006, he had an accident while skydiving in Colorado, fracturing his femur and skull. Josh Nahum, right, died at 27 from a bacterial infection he got while being treated for skydiving injuries. Josh spent six weeks in the intensive care unit. Slowly, his condition improved, and his doctors predicted that with rehabilitation, he could fully recover in a year or two. But instead of recovering, Josh developed a bacterial infection. He died two weeks later at the age of 27. \"One nurse, who was trying to be comforting, said, 'These things happen,' \" says Victoria Nahum, Josh's stepmother. \"That's true, but they happen way more often than they need to happen.\" According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Josh is one of 99,000 people who die each year because of infections acquired in the hospital. As Betsy McCaughey, the former lieutenant governor of New York, put it, \"You don't often come across such a big problem that you can prevent.\" After being contacted by families like the Nahums, McCaughey started the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths. After Josh died, the Nahums started the Safe Care Campaign. These groups, and others, have advice about what you can do to keep yourself safe in the doctor's office and hospital, from the waiting room to the operating room. 1. Bring your own toys . At the pediatrician's office, don't let your child play with the toys or books in the waiting room. \"They're covered with bacteria,\" McCaughey says. Also, don't let your child crawl on the floor; bacteria there could get into cuts on their knees or hands. \"This is one place you ought to keep your child sitting still or on your lap,\" she says. 2. Heat up your car . Yes, we know that sounds strange. But studies show staying warm before and during surgery can help you fight infection. So the Institute for Healthcare Improvement suggests that in cold weather, you heat up the car, wear warm clothes on the way to the hospital, ask the hospital staff to give you plenty of blankets while you wait for surgery, and ask how they plan to keep you warm during surgery. 3. Want to touch me? Wash your hands first. Many people feel uncomfortable asking this. Nahum suggests putting it like this: \"I didn't see you wash your hands. Do you mind doing it in front of me?\" Dr. Vicki Rackner, a patient advocate, also has a few ideas for lightening things up. \"In the hospital, you can have the grandkids make a sign that says, 'Please wash your hands and keep Grandma healthy.' \" Watch more on preventing hospital infections » . Another suggestion: Put a dish of wrapped candy near the sink and say 'Could you please wash your hands, and oh, please take some candy with you when we're done.' \" If the doctor or nurse has gloves on, are you safe? \"Don't be falsely assured by gloves,\" McCaughey says. \"If they put on gloves without washing their hands first, those gloves are immediately contaminated.\" 4. Ask where that syringe has been . Doctors offices sometimes reuse syringes -- it's unusual, but it happens. In fact, there have been 14 documented outbreaks of hepatitis since 1999 because of reused syringes. The recent outbreak in Nevada, where 50,000 people will be notified that they might have been infected at a colonoscopy clinic, is one example. It's not an easy question to ask, but when someone's heading at you with a syringe, ask if this is the first time it's been used. Dr. Thomas Frieden, commissioner of the New York City Department of Health, suggests phrasing it like this: \"I read in the paper that some doctors are reusing syringes. I can't imagine anyone would do that. Do you?\" 5. Having surgery? Speak up! A week or so before surgery, ask your doctor whether you should wash your skin daily with a disinfectant such as chlorhexidine to prepare. Also, ask whether you should have a nasal or skin swab for MRSA, the superbug that causes many hospital infections. If you've got it, you can be treated with antibiotics. The day of surgery, if the surgical site needs to be shaved, ask to be clippered, not shaved with a razor, which can create nicks where bacteria thrive. Also on the day of surgery, if your doctor has ordered IV antibiotics just before surgery, make sure you get them, as they're sometimes forgotten. One last note: If you or a loved one has a urinary catheter in the hospital, be extra vigilant -- they can become breeding grounds for bacteria. First, ask if one is truly necessary. \"If the patient is awake and oriented and alert and can use a bedpan, it may not be needed,\" says Dr. John Jernigan, a medical epidemiologist at the CDC. If you get one, make sure it comes out ASAP, since the longer it's in, the riskier it becomes. Ask the same questions about central venous catheters, (also called central lines), another potential host for bacteria. \"My brother was in the hospital and needed a central venous catheter for his procedure,\" Jernigan says. \"The day after surgery, I asked the nurse, 'Are you all still using this? Do you still need it?' And she checked and came back and said, 'We don't need it anymore, we'll take it out.' \" Nahum says it all boils down to this: Passivity kills. \"People need to start participating instead of just being spectators when it comes to their medical care,\" she says. \"You need to do your due diligence.\" CNN Medical News associate producer Jennifer Pifer and associate archive coordinator Sarah Edwards contributed to this report." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "CDC: 99,000 people die annually from hospital-acquired infections .\nDon't forget the basics: Make people wash their hands before touching you .\nStaying warm before, during surgery can help fight infection; ask for extra blankets .\nBefore surgery, if shaving is required, request clippers, not a razor, which can nick ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. military will stop publishing the number of Taliban and insurgents it kills in Afghanistan under orders from the senior U.S. military spokesman for the American-led coalition. A French soldier mans a gun Sunday during maneuvers in Afghanistan's Kapisa province. Rear Adm. Gregory Smith ordered the change as part of the new military strategy in the war that focuses on protecting Afghan citizens rather than killing militants. \"Indicating the number of insurgents killed has little relevance to impacting the lives of Afghans. In fact, if that were the only purpose and metric, you would likely only extend the time it takes to bring about an end to the insurgency,\" Smith said in an e-mail to CNN responding to a query about the change. The issue of publishing enemy body counts has been extremely sensitive to the U.S. military since the Vietnam War when the military regularly published large enemy body counts but seemed to be failing overall to make progress in the war. In the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Pentagon has shifted policies several times, both publishing numbers in news releases on particular engagements and firefights and also declaring it would not publish body counts. In the past some military officials have said the numbers have been part of individual releases to the media as a means of demonstrating success against enemy forces. Smith said, \"We conduct operations not aimed at killing insurgents, although in many instances that is the outcome, but to over time clear areas of insurgency and give the people a chance to reconnect with official forms of governance and to rebuild their lives, socially and economically.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "U.S. will stop publishing number of Taliban and insurgents killed in Afghanistan .\nChange is part of a new military strategy that focuses on protecting Afghans .\nIssue of publishing enemy body counts has been sensitive to military since Vietnam ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- Thirty-six people were killed and dozens were injured in explosions at a market in Lahore, Pakistan, on Monday, an official said. Rizwan Naseer, chief of Lahore's rescue service, also said 109 people were wounded. The explosions did not appear to be a suicide attack but could instead have been bombs detonated by remote control, Punjab Police Chief Tariq Salim said. The nation's state-run news agency, Associated Press of Pakistan, said the blasts were the result of \"bomb explosions.\" The explosions occurred at Moon Market in the Iqbal Town neighborhood, the news agency said. It cited Iqbal Town Division's Ali Nasir Rizvi as saying most of the victims were women. Khusro Pervaiz, a senior government official in Lahore, said in a television interview that 60 people had been taken to five Lahore hospitals. The blasts happened around 8:45 p.m. at the popular market, said Rai Nazar Hayat, a spokesman for Lahore police. Earlier, ten people were killed -- including two police officers -- when a suicide bomber detonated outside a district courthouse in Peshawar on Monday, officials said. At least 36 were injured, six of them seriously, said Dr. Hameed Afridi, CEO of the Lady Reading Hospital. The bomber got out of a rickshaw and detonated himself, according to witnesses. The attacker was wearing a suicide jacket with about 6 kilograms of explosives, said Shafqat Malik, head of the North West Frontier Province bomb disposal unit. Peshawar is the capital of the Northwest Frontier Province, where the Pakistani government waged a recent military offense against Taliban militants. Meanwhile, five people were hurt in a bomb attack in Quetta on Monday morning, said Jamil Kakar, a Quetta police official. The explosives were placed in a car and destroyed two other cars and three motorbikes. The courthouse attack comes three days after four militants armed with guns and grenades stormed a mosque in Rawalpindi frequented by military personnel. At least 36 were killed and 75 wounded. Among the dead were 17 children, according to military officials. Also killed were an army general and eight other military officials, six of senior rank. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the mosque bombing. The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan reiterated its claim in an e-mail to CNN the next day, after media outlets quoted officials who doubted the group's participation. \"We reconfirmed it, that the TTP has done it and will do more which are already planned,\" the group said in the e-mail. \"We once again mention that we are not against the innocent people and the state of Pakistan but against those officers and ministers who are American by hearts and minds and Pakistani just by faces.\" Rawalpindi is the headquarters of the Pakistani army. CNN's Reza Sayah contributed to this report." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "36 dead, dozens hurt following two explosions at market in Lahore .\nExplosions could have been bombs detonated by remote control, police say .\nTen killed, including two police officers, in suicide attack in Peshawar ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Buenos Aires, Argentina (CNN) -- A former Miss Argentina died Sunday after complications arising from plastic surgery, the official Telam news agency said. Solange Magnano, 37, died in a hospital after being transferred from a clinic where she underwent an elective surgery on her buttocks on Wednesday, the agency reported. Magnano ran her own modeling agency in Argentina, and had been a model and Miss Argentina in 1994. She also was the mother of 7-year-old twins. The cause of her death was under investigation, authorities said. News of her death shocked her fans. By Monday, a tribute page on the social networking site Facebook had more than 830 members. \"This is a horrible day. We will miss you, Sol,\" one Facebook poster wrote. \"You couldn't be any more beautiful than you already were,\" another person added. \"You had to pay with your life.\" Magnano's most recent project was a runway show to be held in December in her hometown of San Francisco, Argentina, according to Telam. In recent years, Argentina has become an international destination for plastic surgery. The costs of such procedures there are much lower than in other countries. Estimates say that 1 in 30 Argentines has gone under the knife, making surgeons here some of the most experienced on the globe. Medical tourism has seen a huge jump over the past decade, and is projected to be a $100 billion global industry by 2010, according to the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Solange Magnano, 37, died Sunday following elective surgery on buttocks .\nMagnano ran her own modeling agency, had 7-year-old twins .\nArgentina has become popular destination for plastic surgery .\nAround 1 in 30 Argentines estimated to have gone under the knife ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Tokyo, Japan (CNN) -- Four American teenagers, all children of U.S. military personnel, have been arrested on charges of attempted murder after a woman was knocked off her motorbike with rope strung across two poles, Japanese police said. The four suspects -- two 15-year-old boys, a 17-year-old girl and an 18-year-old man -- were taken into custody on Saturday, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department said. They are accused of causing a severe head injury to a 23-year-old restaurant employee by stringing a rope between poles across a road. U.S. Forces Japan was informed of the August incident in late October, a public information officer said. There was no clear explanation for the delay in the handover of the suspects to police, other than it involved rules between Washington and Tokyo covering U.S. forces and their dependents in Japan. The U.S. military presence and its impact on Japanese residents have been a thorny issue over the years. Most recently, residents of the Japanese island of Okinawa, where the U.S. maintains a large military presence, have blamed American troops for crime and noise. In 2008, a 14-year-old Okinawa girl alleged that a Marine had raped her. The prosecutor released the Marine after the girl decided not to pursue charges. In 1995, a 12-year-old girl was gang-raped by three servicemen. A Japanese court convicted all three men. Both incidents caused a furor in Japan. Then-Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda called the 2008 incident \"unforgivable ... It has happened over and over again in the past and I take it as a grave case.\" It is unclear what, if any, role the military can take in the case. The 1960 Status of Forces Agreement between the United States and Japan gives Japan jurisdiction over \"the members of the United States armed forces, the civilian component, and their dependents\" in cases of offenses committed in Japan and punishable under Japanese law. The agreement also says the United States must cooperate in investigating such offenses. CNN's Kyung Lah and Yoko Wakatsuki contributed to this report." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Suspects range in age from 15 to 18 years of age .\nThey are accused of stringing a rope between poles across a road .\nA restaurant employee, 23, received a severe head injury .\nIncident occurred in August, follows other crimes connected to U.S. military personnel ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- Armored cars patrolled the streets of Zimbabwe's capital and residents flocked to banks Thursday after limits on cash withdrawals were lifted in the inflation-ravaged African nation. With prices rising even more than once a day, shopping is a mathematical proficiency test for Zimbabweans. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe had capped maximum daily withdrawals at 500,000 Zimbabwean dollars -- about 25 U.S. cents, and about a quarter of the price of a loaf of bread. But faced with mounting chaos in a country already in economic free fall, the bank decided last week to raise that limit to 100 million dollars ($50 U.S.) per week. Soldiers were deployed to all banks in anticipation of throngs of people lining up to withdraw money Thursday, when the increase took effect. Wednesday, police chased depositors away and arrested union leaders who planned to protest the limits. Zimbabwe's inflation rate of 231 million percent is the world's highest. In addition, the country is faced with a growing outbreak of cholera that its government declared a national emergency Thursday. The outbreak has killed at least 565 people and sickened more than 11,000, the U.N. Humanitarian Affairs Office said. Medical professionals blame the resurgence of the water-borne disease on the lack of safe water in many parts of the country. The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions said 69 people were arrested across the country during Wednesday's demonstrations. Amnesty International has demanded to know the whereabouts of human rights activist Jestina Mukoko, whom it said was abducted at dawn Wednesday by armed men in plainclothes posing as police. And angry, unpaid soldiers clashed with foreign currency exchangers and some civilians Monday, three days after troops who had failed to get cash from their banks looted shops they suspected to be illegally dealing in foreign currency." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Residents flock to banks after limits on cash withdrawals lifted; troops patrol streets .\nCentral bank caps maximum daily withdrawals at 500,000 Zimbabwean dollars .\nBank last week raise that limit to 100 million dollars ($50 U.S.) per week .\nZimbabwe's inflation rate of 231 million percent is the world's highest ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- The Philippine House of Representatives and Senate were meeting Monday to debate the imposition of martial law in the country's south by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the aftermath of last month's massacre of 57 civilians. As required by law, the president issued a report Sunday explaining her reasons for making the proclamation for the province of Maguindanao. \"Lawless elements have taken up arms and committed public uprising against the duly constituted government and against the people of Maguindanao,\" Arroyo said in a 20-page letter to the leaders of the House and Senate. Martial law went into effect Friday night, allowing arrests without a warrant. Army spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr. said it was necessary to impose peace following what has been called a politically motivated massacre. He added that Congress would have to approve any extension beyond 60 days. The House and Senate might jointly convene on Tuesday to discuss the president's report, House Speaker Prospero Nograles said Sunday, according to the Philippine News Agency. The debate began as elite forces of the Philippine National Police clashed in the town of Datu Unsay with suspected followers of the politically powerful Ampatuan family, which has been implicated in the massacre, the Philippine News Agency reported Monday. Reports said the armed men offered stiff resistance on Sunday against government security forces in a 10-minute firefight, withdrawing after government reinforcements arrived. No casualties were reported on either side. Charges of rebellion will be leveled against many of those arrested since martial law was implemented, Philippine Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said Saturday, CNN affiliate ABS-CBN reported. At least six members of the Ampatuan family have been arrested, including Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., according to ABS-CBN. Ampatuan, whose father is governor of Maguindanao, has been accused of directing the killings and has been charged with 25 counts of murder. One of the massacre victims implicated members of the Ampatuan family before she died, the affiliate reported. Over the weekend, authorities raided at least one warehouse and ranch belonging to the family. They confiscated firearms, ammunition and vehicles, Maj. Randolph Cabangbang, deputy of operations for the eastern Mindinao command, told CNN. The military was looking at arresting at least 100 people tied to the massacre, ABS-CBN reported. The Philippine military is investigating its own forces in connection with the case as well, Brawner said. Asked why martial law was imposed 12 days after the killings, Cabangbang said authorities \"were trying to build a case, a tight case\" against suspects. \"But it is taking long to build a case, so I think the government gave us a free hand in arresting those who are suspects, and allowed us to search, even without warrant. So we really need this declaration of state of martial law.\" Violence in the run-up to elections is not uncommon in the country. The Maguindanao massacre, however, is the worst politically motivated violence in recent Philippine history, according to state media. The victims included the wife and sister of political candidate Ismael \"Toto\" Mangudadatu, who had sent the women to file paperwork allowing him to run for governor of Maguindanao. He said he had received threats from allies of Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., the father of the accused mayor, saying he would be kidnapped if he filed the papers himself. Maguindanao is part of an autonomous region in predominantly Muslim Mindanao, which was set up in the 1990s to quell armed uprisings by people seeking an independent Muslim homeland in the predominantly Christian Asian nation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Arroyo outlines reasons for martial law declaration in 20-page letter .\nReport: House, Senate might jointly convene Tuesday, House Speaker says .\nAt least six members of Ampatuan family arrested, ABS-CBN reports .\nAuthorities raid at least one warehouse and ranch belonging to family ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- There have been conflicting accounts of how former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto died Thursday. Here is a timeline of the accounts reported by CNN. Late Thursday, Pakistan time: . • Pakistani police say that a suicide bomber killed 14 people at a rally in Rawalpindi organized by Bhutto supporters. A Bhutto spokesman says the opposition leader was rushed away from the scene and was safe. Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto arrives at a campaign rally Thursday in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. • Pakistan's Geo Television Network, quoting Bhutto's husband, Asif Ali Zardari, reports the ex-premier was critically wounded in the bombing. • Former Pakistani government spokesman Tariq Azim Khan says Bhutto was hurt leaving the rally, but there is no indication whether she was shot or hurt in the bombing. Reports from police and the Bhutto camp conflict over whether she was injured. • Geo TV quotes Zardari saying his wife suffered a bullet wound to the neck after the suicide bombing. • Khan and Pakistan's primary television networks report Bhutto is dead. Television reports indicate she died of bullet wounds suffered after the suicide bombing. • Khan says it appears Bhutto was shot, but he adds it's unclear whether bullets or shrapnel caused her wounds. • Doctors and a spokesman for Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party confirm the ex-premier's death, but it remains unclear how she was killed. • Police tell CNN that a suicide bomber riding a motorcycle detonated himself near Bhutto's motorcade. She was rushed to nearby Rawalpindi General Hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead. Khan says it's unclear if a bullet or shrapnel dealt the fatal wounds. Friday morning, Pakistan time: . • The Pakistani Interior Ministry tells the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan that Bhutto died of a gunshot wound to the neck. The suicide bomber fired shots before blowing himself up, the ministry tells the news agency. A photographer for Getty Images confirms hearing three shots before the blast. • CNN quotes a witness who describes Bhutto's killer as a \"thin young man jumping toward the vehicle and opening fire.\" Friday evening, Pakistan time: . • The Interior Ministry tells the Associated Press of Pakistan that flying shrapnel from a suicide bomb killed Bhutto. The bomber also shot at her with a pistol, the ministry tells the state-run news agency, but Bhutto suffered no injuries from bullets. • Interior Ministry spokesman Brig. Gen. Javed Iqbal Cheema, citing a medical report, says Bhutto was hit on the right side of her skull with shrapnel. • Another Associated Press of Pakistan report quotes Dr. Mussadiq Khan saying that Bhutto showed \"no signs of life\" on her arrival at Rawalpindi General Hospital and that she was pronounced dead about 40 minutes later. • Cheema says Bhutto died after fracturing her skull on a sunroof lever in her vehicle. Contrary to previous reports, she did not die from bullet or shrapnel wounds and nothing entered her head, the Interior Ministry spokesman said. • Cheema says that Bhutto \"fell down or perhaps ducked\" when gunshots rang out. She apparently hit her head on a lever, Cheema said, adding that it was stained with blood. • Khan, the doctor who treated Bhutto before she was declared dead, says the former prime minister had a \"big wound\" on the side of her head \"that usually occurs when something big, with a lot of speed, hits that area.\" E-mail to a friend ." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Pakistani government now says Bhutto died after hitting head on sunroof lever .\nReports early Friday said Bhutto died from a gunshot wound to the neck .\nReports later Friday said flying shrapnel from a suicide bomb killed Bhutto ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- Seiji Ozawa is Asia's most successful conductor, a maestro in a quintessentially Western art form, and a die-hard Boston Red Sox fan. But the affable 74-year-old is used to crossing cultural boundaries. Born in Manchuria during the Japanese occupation - his father a Buddhist, his mother a Presbyterian - he was raised in Tokyo, and greatly influenced by western culture and a Christian upbringing. His love of music was first explored through the church, but later he studied at the Toho School of Music in Tokyo. A career as a pianist was curtailed when the 16-year-old sports-loving Ozawa broke two fingers during a rugby match. From Toho he traveled to Europe and New York to further his studies. It was a steep learning curve where he learnt how to deal first-hand with other cultures and prejudices. \"I have many problem, beginning. Um... maybe now, I don't know, but beginning especially. It was difficult. Some people ask me, 'You came from China, you came from Japan, do you really understand Bach or do you really understand Mozart?'\" he told CNN. After years abroad, his return to Japan in 1962 to conduct the NHK Symphony Orchestra for six months was far from a happy homecoming; the orchestra rebelled and refused to play for him. \"I made mistake, and I think it was too soon [for me] to take a professional orchestra for six months and at the end I think they had enough. \"I think I was a little bit stuck up... I mean, I was conducting the best orchestra in Japan already I'm still 26 or 27. Very young. And I think I'm sure during rehearsal I say something not so nice. And in Japan very bad if conductor say something not so nice. But I learned, so I become more careful and I think I started more studying, so not make mistake. \"But in a way, it may sound very strange, but really it did me good that boycott.\" It meant Ozawa explored opportunities outside of Japan, directing festivals and orchestras across Europe, Canada and the U.S. He became musical director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra a post he held for 29 years until 2004. He left Boston for Vienna to embrace a new challenge with the State Opera. As well as the challenge of a new city and repertory, Ozawa believes it was a move that rounded out his musical education, even if he was 68-years-old at the time. When a young conductor his interest in opera had been fostered by his early tutor Herbert von Karajan. \"He said if you don't study this, one half of Mozart you'll never touch and almost 99 percent of Wagner, almost 100 percent of Puccini and Verdi, you know, half of Mozart is gone.\" While Ozawa will step down from his position at the Vienna State Opera next summer, he will remain active in directing, conducting and educating the next generation in classical music. \"I have big hope all Asiatic people and countries... everybody love music basically,\" he said. \"Teaching has become, I think, more and more important my life, really.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Seiji Ozawa was musical director of Boston Symphony Orchestra for 29 years .\nSuccessful career has seen Ozawa conduct some of world's greatest orchestras .\nHad to deal with prejudice and expectation as Asian in Western dominated art form ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Editor's note: CNN.com has a business partnership with CareerBuilder.com, which serves as the exclusive provider of job listings and services to CNN.com. If you've rewritten that résumé several times and sent out dozens of applications but your job search still shows no promise, you might not be the problem. One frequently overlooked but critical factor in finding a new job is your state's unemployment rate. You can have the experience and skills of an employer's dream, but they won't do you any good if there just aren't enough jobs available. The unemployment rate is the percentage of job seekers in the work force who are still looking for work. The higher the percentage, the more difficult it is to find a job. The national unemployment rate is 5 percent, based on the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). If you're looking for a job, you should see how your state compares to the rest of the country. Here are the 10 worst states to find work ranked by their unemployment rates. 1. Michigan Unemployment rate: 7.6 percent Population: 10,071,822 Mean annual wage: $41,230 Top industry: Trade, transportation and utilities (18.4 percent)*** . 2. Mississippi Unemployment rate: 6.8 percent Population: 2,918,785 Mean annual wage: $30,460 Top industry: Government (21.2 percent) 3. South Carolina Unemployment rate: 6.6 percent Population: 4,407,709 Mean annual wage: $33,400 Top industry: Trade, transportation and utilities (19.4 percent) 4. Alaska Unemployment rate: 6.5 percent Population: 683,478 Mean annual wage: $43,920 Top industry: Government (25.9 percent) 5. California Unemployment rate: 6.1 percent Population: 36,553,215 Mean annual wage: $44,180 Top industry: Trade, transportation and utilities (18.9 percent) 6. District of Columbia Unemployment rate: 6.1 percent Population: 588,292 Mean annual wage: $61,500 Top industry: Government (33.3 percent) 7. Ohio Unemployment rate: 6 percent Population: 11,466,917 Mean annual wage: $37,360 Top industry: Trade, transportation and utilities (19.3 percent) 8. Arkansas Unemployment rate: 5.9 percent Population: 2,834,797 Mean annual wage: $30,870 Top industry: Trade, transportation and utilities (20.6 percent) 9. Nevada Unemployment rate: 5.8 percent Population: 2,565,382 Mean annual wage: $36,000 Top industry: Leisure and hospitality (26.5 percent) 10. Kentucky Unemployment rate: 5.7 percent Population: 4,241,474 Mean annual wage: $33,490 Top industry: Trade, transportation and utilities (20.4 percent) *Unemployment rates, mean annual wages and industry percentages obtained from BLS in January 2008. Percentages based on nonfarm payrolls, seasonally adjusted. **Population figures based on U.S. Census Bureau data. ***Top industries are those that employ the largest percentage of a state's labor force. E-mail to a friend . Copyright CareerBuilder.com 2009. All rights reserved. The information contained in this article may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority ." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "High unemployment rates can handicap job seekers .\nMichigan, Mississippi and South Carolina have highest rates .\nAlaska's top industry is government ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Baghdad, Iraq (CNN) -- Iraqi parliament members adjourned on Saturday without reaching an accord on a controversial new elections law, and the lawmakers could make another try to forge and pass legislation tomorrow. Abdul Bari al-Zebari and Mahmoud Othman, Kurdish members of the Council of Representatives, told CNN that the session is adjourned until Sunday because lawmakers didn't forge an agreement. Passage of the law on Sunday is expected to ensure that national elections would be held on January 16. Al-Zebari said several Sunni Arab parliament members boycotted the Saturday session and doubts there will be a Sunday vote. Othman told CNN that lawmakers couldn't reach an accord over the issue of Kirkuk and said some Sunni Arab and Turkmen members left the session. But the biggest roadblock to a new election law is the question of how balloting should unfold in the ethnically diverse, oil-rich province of Kirkuk, where Kurds displaced during Saddam Hussein's rule have returned to claim their land. The power struggle among Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen has been a political hot potato. Kurds have long regarded Kirkuk -- the province and the city of the same name -- as an integral part of Kurdistan, and many want it to be part of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region. Arabs and Turkmen also lay claim to the city and province, and all the groups want their voices and votes to be adequately represented in the political system. Disgruntled Arab and Turkmen residents say many more Kurds have moved into Kirkuk than were displaced, and that allowing them to vote would create an unfair advantage. Arabs and Turkmen want special measures to adjust for the increased numbers because they believe many of the Kurdish immigrants are there illegally. The Kurds insist there should be no special voting procedures and reject a United Nations' proposal that singles out Kirkuk for special treatment. The disagreements among the groups spurred the postponement of provincial elections in Kirkuk last January because officials there could not agree on how to apportion seats among the ethnic groups." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "New election law will ensure that national elections take place January 16 .\nBiggest roadblock is how balloting should unfold in Kirkuk, where Kurds stake claim to land .\nKurds regard Kirkuk as part of Kurdistan; Arabs and Turkmen also lay claim to it ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN Student News) -- December 9, 2009 . Download PDF maps related to today's show: . • Baghdad, Iraq • Kabul, Afghanistan • New Orleans, Louisiana . Transcript . THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: Hi, I'm Carl Azuz. You've landed on CNN Student News. First Up: Job Creation . AZUZ: During a speech yesterday, President Obama offered some ideas on how to create new jobs and help out the country's economy: offering tax breaks to small businesses, expanding some of the government's stimulus programs, and spending more funds on infrastructure projects -- things like roads, bridges and water systems. The thing is, all of that costs money. And that's where the TARP comes in. That's the Troubled Asset Relief Program, the financial industry bailout passed last year. The bailout ended up not costing as much as expected, and President Obama thinks the extra could be used to help out in other ways. U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: The TARP program was flawed and we have worked hard to correct those flaws and manage it properly. And today, TARP has served its original purpose and at much lower cost than we expected. In fact, because of our stewardship of this program and the transparency and accountability that we put in place, TARP is expected to cost taxpayers at least $200 billion less than it was anticipated just this past summer. AZUZ: Couple of things to keep in mind here, though. First, White House officials say that they can't just use TARP money to pay for infrastructure projects; the program just doesn't work like that. And second, some Republicans are outraged by the idea of spending any unused TARP funds because they say that money was supposed to help pay off the country's debt. REP. JOHN BOEHNER, (R) MINORITY LEADER: This makes me so angry. I was there. I know all about TARP. First, it was never intended that all this money would ever have to be spent. But any money that wasn't spent was to go to the deficit. And the idea of taking this money and spending it is repulsive. Health Care Debate . AZUZ: Senators are considering alternatives to part of their health care legislation. Specifically, the so-called public option: That's a government-run health insurance program. Senate Republicans, and some Democrats and Independents, are against that plan. A group of Democratic senators was working to come up with some other ideas that could replace the public option. Late last night, they said they had reached an agreement. If the Senate passes its health care bill, that doesn't make it law. It would still need to be combined with the House bill, and then that final version would need to pass both the House and the Senate. Baghdad Bombings . AZUZ: The head of Iraq's government says that a series of suicide bombings is designed to create chaos in that country and prevent progress toward elections that are scheduled for next year. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki called yesterday's terrorist attacks \"cowardly.\" The five explosions killed more than 125 people and injured more than 440 others. The bombings all took place within minutes of each other Tuesday morning. They targeted several government buildings around the capital city of Baghdad, as well as a neighborhood and a business district. Is this Legit? TOMEKA JONES, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Is this legit? Hillary Clinton is the U.S. secretary of defense. Not legit! Robert Gates is the defense secretary. He was appointed by President George W. Bush, and President Obama asked him to stay on the job. Defense Secretary Visit . AZUZ: It's Mr. Gates' job to advise the president on military issues like the war in Afghanistan. And that is where the defense secretary is right now, meeting with military officials and Afghan leaders following President Obama's announcement that he plans to send 30,000 additional U.S. forces to Afghanistan. Barbara Starr has more on Mr. Gates' trip there and some of the challenges that U.S. troops face there. (BEGIN VIDEO) BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Defense Secretary Roberts Gates arrived in Afghanistan on an unannounced trip. He is here, of course, for the first time since President Obama made the announcement that 30,000 additional U.S. troops will be headed to this war zone. The defense secretary plans to meet with troops, commanders, and he has already met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai to talk about the way ahead, Secretary Gates assuring Karzai that the U.S. has a continuing commitment to this country. But where we are right now, at FOB, Forward Operating Base, Shank, south of Kabul, really illustrates the continuing security challenge in this country. The U.S. Army task force that operates here has already had the plus-up from 300 troops to 3,000 troops operating in this region to try and get a handle on security against the Taliban and the insurgents. One of their major jobs here is to continue every day to secure Highway 1, the main road to Kabul. The road is secure right now, they tell us, because the troops, U.S. and Afghan troops, are out patrolling every day. If the troops weren't out there, the feeling is that the Taliban and the insurgents would again rear their head and control the road and really hinder commerce and development in this region. So, that's the bottom line here. It's a continuing, spotty security picture. Where the troops are, security improves. But where the troops are not located, security still very troublesome in many areas of this country. (END VIDEO) Promo . AZUZ: Another member of President Obama's Cabinet, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, can have an impact on your education. Ed Henry, CNN Senior White House correspondent, is going to interview Secretary Duncan, and Mr. Henry wants to know what you would ask Duncan if you had the chance. So, teachers and students, share your questions on our blog. We'll share them with Henry, and you might hear your question answered on our show. Shoutout . MATT CHERRY, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Time for the Shoutout! When does winter officially start? If you think you know it, shout it out! Is it: A) October 31, B) November 15, C) December 21 or D) January 1? You've got three seconds -- GO! Winter begins around December 21, which is the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. That's your answer and that's your Shoutout! Wintry Weather . AZUZ: Don't tell that to the folks who are already getting hammered by the first major storm of the season. States out west got slammed by two to three feet of snow, winds whipping around at up to 90 miles per hour. Even some desert states felt the freeze. Check out this video from Arizona! The storm is making its way east, and as of yesterday, parts of Iowa and Minnesota were both under a blizzard warning. Green Collar Training . AZUZ: Some homes are protected against winter cold by weatherizing, which keeps heat in and costs down. Installing it is an example of a green-collar job, work that's focused on the environment. Christine Romans shows us how some folks are learning to be part of a green-collar world. (BEGIN VIDEO) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hot air is coming into your house. You know that you're losing, what? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Energy. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Energy. CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: The skills taught here are green. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is recycled newspaper. ROMANS: And so are the students. SUZY MASON, PROGRAM DIRECTOR, LOUISIANA GREEN CORPS: We do work with 17- to 24-year-olds who lack work history, are often low income, court involved. Our corps members don't want to hang out on the street. They want to be productive. They want to work. ROMANS: That's where Louisiana Green Corps comes in. Based in New Orleans and funded through a grant from the U.S. Labor Department, the program teaches young adults how to weatherize and rehabilitate homes. MASON: We're giving a general base of construction knowledge, carpentry skills. We also emphasize academic improvement, work readiness, and really encourage our corps members to make positive life decisions. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's a lot of work to be done in New Orleans. ROMANS: One of the people doing that work is LA Green Corps graduate Chris Williams. After completing the program, he landed a job with local contractor Brotherhood Way, weatherizing homes and building new ones. CHRIS WILLIAMS, LOUISIANA GREEN CORPS GRADUATE: I believe that this program helps kids by, you know, letting them see that there is another way, you know, besides, you know, maybe they aren't, you know, high... maybe they don't have their high school diploma, or maybe they aren't the ones who go to college. So this program, you know, it invites them in and it gives them the opportunity to learn a trade, you know, to learn a skill. On average, their energy bill will be $20-$30 on a month. ROMANS: Despite Chris's success, jobs are still hard to come by. So far, out of 177 LA Green Corps graduates, 37 percent have found jobs and a third have gone back to school. Even those who didn't immediately find work have achieved something. DAVID WEATHERSBY, BROTHERHOOD WAY: For Chris and so many other young adults, when they finish the program, they are ready to be thrown into the work force. ROMANS: So, when the job market does turn around, they're ready. Christine Romans, CNN, New York. (END VIDEO) Before We Go . AZUZ: Before we go, we have some really cool pictures for you today, but as neat as they look, it doesn't seem like a good idea. Up to 20-foot waves -- swells so powerful that people staying in a hotel near the shore could feel them crash -- they thundered in to the Hawaiian island of Oahu on Tuesday. They kept tourists from sleeping, ate up tons of beach, and despite the power and the danger, yep, surf's up! Hope these guys know what they're doing. Goodbye . AZUZ: Because for amateurs like me, it would've been a total washout. CNN Student News is rolling in again tomorrow, keeping you current on more headlines. We'll see you then." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Consider why a proposal for unused bailout money is causing controversy .\nLearn about some security challenges facing U.S. troops in Afghanistan .\nHear how a program helps young people prepare for green-collar jobs .\nUse the Daily Discussion to help students understand today's featured news stories ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- Yemen told outside powers Wednesday to stay out of its battle with a Shiite rebel group in its northwest amid concerns that Iran and Saudi Arabia are being drawn into the conflict. The statement, carried by the state news agency Saba and attributed to a Foreign Ministry source, followed a statement of concern for Yemen's \"national unity and territorial integrity\" by Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on Tuesday. \"We welcome what Mottaki affirmed about Iran's position towards Yemen's unity and stability, and Yemen reaffirms that it definitely rejects the interference in its internal affairs by any party,\" the statement said. It said Yemen's battle with the Houthi, a Shiite Muslim rebel movement, is \"an internal Yemeni affair, and Yemen can solve its issues without any interference from others.\" Battles between Yemeni government forces and rebels have raged intermittently for five years, and government troops launched a new offensive in late summer. Saudi Arabia, Yemen's northern neighbor, turned its air force against suspected Houthi rebels last week after it said the rebels had crossed into Saudi territory. The Houthi claimed that the airstrikes occurred within Yemeni territory, a claim both the Saudi and Yemeni governments denied. The persistent fighting has raised concerns that Yemen -- where U.S. officials say al Qaeda is attempting to establish a new foothold in the region -- could be the stage for a proxy struggle between Shiite-dominated Iran and the Sunni-led Saudi monarchy. Yemen says the conflict is about reasserting government authority and is not a sectarian war. Yemen has accused Iran of supporting the rebels. A Yemeni government official told CNN on Tuesday that Yemen's navy was \"on the highest state of alert\" after an Iranian boat was captured near Yemeni and Saudi territorial waters last week. In Washington, however, a senior State Department official told CNN that although the U.S. government is concerned about the Yemeni conflict it does not see any sign of an Iranian hand in the Houthi revolt. The State Department has been in touch with the Yemenis and Saudis about the need to reduce tensions but is yet to be convinced that Iran is involved in Yemen, the official said. The United Nations has expressed alarm over the fighting and said there has been a \"significant increase\" in the number of people displaced in recent weeks. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees estimates as many as 175,000 people have been affected by the conflict since 2004, U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq said Tuesday. CNN's Mohammed Jamjoom and Elise Labott contributed to this report." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Yemen battles with Shiite rebels in its northwest .\nIran foreign minister expressed concern for Yemen's territorial integrity .\nSaudis launched airstrikes against rebels ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(Tribune Media Services) -- Kristin Budden's hotel promises her a refund for her nonrefundable hotel room after a hurricane strikes. But months later, there's no sign of the money and the hotel has gone into radio silence. Should she kiss the money goodbye? A guest's hotel promised her a refund, but she hasn't received anything. Q: I think that you may be my only hope! My father and I were supposed to meet in San Antonio before a conference. Lucky for us, the weekend that we were to be in San Antonio was the same weekend Hurricane Ike plowed through Texas. After experiencing Gustav just two weeks prior in Baton Rouge, I was not very keen on going for round two. My flight was canceled, anyway. We had made reservations at the Holiday Inn on the Riverwalk for the weekend. The rate was pre-paid and nonrefundable, which at the time of booking was fine. However, when we saw where the hurricane was headed, we called to cancel our reservations independently. After some discussion about the storm, the hotel told us both independently that, due to the extreme circumstances, we would receive refunds. I have an e-mail from the hotel regarding my \"refund.\" Despite numerous e-mails to the hotel over many months, we've received nothing. Any assistance that you can offer me would be greatly appreciated. -- Kristin Budden, Baton Rouge, Louisiana . A: I think Holiday Inn owes you a refund. Not because of the hurricane, or because it was the right thing to do (although both are true) but because a hotel representative promised one in writing. If you had disputed the hotel charge on your credit card -- which would have been one of your options -- then the e-mail from your hotel is almost like money in the bank. During a dispute, a hotel may counter that by citing its nonrefundability policy, but from your credit card's perspective, a written statement from the property that it agrees to override its rule is compelling evidence in your favor. Many resorts offer hurricane guarantees that give guests a no-questions-asked refund when a storm is on the way. Holiday Inn wasn't one of those hotels as far as I can tell, but the commonly accepted practice in the travel industry is to not hold a customer accountable for a trip that can't be taken because of circumstances beyond his or her control. (Remember, we let travel companies off the hook when they can't operate a plane because of bad weather or a hotel shuts down during a flood -- it's only fair that they should do the same thing for us.) It looks as if you limited your correspondence to the hotel. In a situation like this, it's useful to begin with a brief, polite e-mail to the corporate guest-relations section on its Web site. Many hotels pass these complaints along to the hotel and may fine it if the grievances aren't resolved quickly. However, dealing with the hotel directly puts it under no such pressure and it may feel as if it can ignore your repeated requests. Next time you reserve a room during hurricane season, consider one that's refundable. And if not, then at least consider taking out a travel insurance policy that would cover you if a hurricane hit your hotel. I contacted Holiday Inn on your behalf and it promised you a full refund. Christopher Elliott is the ombudsman for National Geographic Traveler magazine. E-mail him at [email protected]. Copyright 2009 CHRISTOPHER ELLIOTT, DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A Holiday Inn agreed to give a guest a refund due to an approaching hurricane .\nThe hotel said via email it would make an exception to its nonrefundable rate .\nThe guest tried for months to get her money back .\nThe Troubleshooter contacted the hotel and it promised to deliver the refund ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- A wildfire continued its rampage through the San Bernardino National Forest in Southern California on Monday, but the U.S. Forest Service said fire crews were gaining ground. The Sheep Fire in Southern California has burned thousands of acres and left this bus a charred ruin. \"Firefighters have made very good progress against the Sheep Fire. It's currently at approximately 7,500 acres with 20 percent containment,\" U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Robin Prince said Monday. The fire, which was reported Saturday afternoon in the Lytle Creek area, quickly grew to 3,500 acres by early Sunday and forced about 4,000 people in the community of Wrightwood from their homes. \"People are going to have to hold off on getting back to their homes until we get a little better containment lines on the fire, but things are looking really good,\" according to Prince. More than 1,200 firefighters were battling the blaze, and numerous firefighting aircraft have dropped water and retardant on the wildfire. Back fires have been set to protect homes at the eastern edge of Wrightwood, authorities said. The weather was cooperating Monday, unlike over the weekend when a high-wind warning remained in effect and gusty winds helped fan the flames. \"There's very little smoke. There's a few flare ups here and there, but if the winds pick up, we could still have some problems. So that's why we're holding off on letting people go back into the mandatory evacuated area,\" said Prince. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in San Bernardino County on Sunday so the state can mobilize agencies and equipment to help fight the fire." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sheep Fire is about 7,500 acres with 20 percent containment, Forest Service says .\nAbout 4,000 people in San Bernardino County forced from their homes .\nDespite more cooperative weather, people not let back into homes yet ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- The New Zealand All Blacks gave their nation double reason for cheer with a 20-6 win Italy before a massive crowd at the San Siro in Milan. With their football counterparts qualifying for the 2010 World Cup finals with a win over Bahrain earlier on Saturday, it was left to Graham Henry's men to complete the double. But they were given a tough fight by underdogs Italy, who were inspired by an 80,000 crowd in a stadium normally reserved for Serie A giants Inter and AC Milan. Henry fielded a largely second-string team after last week's 19-12 defeat of Wales in Cardiff. Italy briefly led as former Australian rugby league international Craig Gower kicked a penalty. But New Zealand pulled ahead with two Luke McAlister penalties and Corey Flynn put them further ahead with the only try of the game after 25 minutes. McAlister landed another penalty before halftime to send the visitors into the break with a 14-3 lead. After the interval he kicked two further penalties with Gower getting his second for Italy. The All Blacks next play England, who saw off Argentina 16-9 at Twickenham in a poor quality match in difficult conditions. A late try by Matt Banahan gave Martin Johnson's men the edge and his sixth win from 13 games in charge. Fly-half star Jonny Wilkinson provided all of England's points in the first half, with a drop-goal and two penalties as the scores were tied at 9-9 at the half. Center Martin Rodriguez, one of a trio of Argentina debutants, kicked three penalties from five attempts to keep them level until the late home try. In other international action, former England coach Andy Robinson led his new Scotland team to a 23-10 win over Fiji. Johnnie Beattie and Graeme Morrison went over for tries for Scotland at Murrayfield. On Friday night, France shocked world champions South Africa 20-13 in Toulouse. The Tri-Nations champions paid the price for ill-discipline as Julien Dupuy kicked four penalties and Morgan Parra one. Winger Vincent Clerc capped a fine performance for the home side with a try. South Africa's points came from Morne Steyn with a penalty and drop-goal as well as converting a fine try by captain John Smit." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "New Zealand All Blacks beat Italy 20-6 in rugby union international .\nA massive crowd of 80,000 watched the game in San Siro stadium .\nEngland and Scotland register wins over Argentina and Fiji .\nFrance score superb win over world champions South Africa ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Washington (CNN) -- It's the oldest trick in the political playbook: Call together a \"summit\" of fancy people so you'll appear to be focused on work that must get done. Thursday, the White House convened CEOs from companies such as Boeing, AT&T, Comcast and Dow Corning, top leaders of the United Steelworkers, United Food and Commercial Workers, American Federation of Teachers unions, Ivy League academics and a few small-business representatives to brainstorm how the country might generate much-needed jobs. A schmooze-fest is nice, but the hard work of putting America back to work will be done by entrepreneurs, not the leaders of the biggest companies in the nation and the heads of big unions. The mom-and-pop shops, garage start-ups and small businesses across the country will put Americans back on the payroll. According to the Census Bureau, nearly all net job creation in the U.S. since 1980 has been generated by firms operating less than five years. This means that our job generators are likely not on the White House guest list. They are home working long hours to meet payrolls on tight deadlines and scraping by with limited resources. While others can advocate for the merits of entrepreneurship, and will hopefully do so, our job creators are strangely left out. Innovators from Oregon to Tennessee are the ones who will generate new jobs. Commerce Department data show that small companies represent 99.1 percent of all employer firms (a firm is an aggregation of all establishments owned by a parent company, even in multiple locations.). They pay nearly 45 percent of U.S. private payroll and have generated 60 to 80 percent of net new jobs annually over the past decade. A few start-ups from the last century may be familiar: Disney, Burger King, Fed-Ex, CNN and Microsoft all started during a period of economic downturn. Today, each of these companies employs thousands of people in the U.S. and abroad. Recent research shows that more than half of the 2009 Fortune 500 companies were launched during a recession or bear market. In 2002, when the tech bubble burst, I graduated from business school just a few miles from Google. The start-up was a mysterious algorithm-based business, little known and lesser understood. Today, Google employs 20,000 people worldwide. So the question is how can we foster the next Google? Policy-makers can't predict breakthrough technologies, but they can create an environment that will encourage innovation. How to start? First, provide further access to capital. Last week, two Small Business Administration stimulus provisions that helped to get millions of dollars to small-business owners ran out of funding. The provisions, passed as part of the Recovery Act, raised the maximum guarantee on SBA loans to 90 percent and reduced or eliminated fees associated with the loans, making it more attractive for banks to lend during the downturn. Access to capital is the lifeblood of small businesses. We must renew these provisions and provide even greater access to credit. Helping fledgling companies grow fuels the economy from the bottom up. Second, welcome immigrants who are job generators. We are a country of immigrants, and yet in recent years, we have made it incredibly difficult for immigrants to launch companies in the U.S. Why not create a new visa for entrepreneurs? Increasingly venture capitalists, angel investors and innovators are advocating a \"start-up visa\" offered to immigrant entrepreneurs who want to start a company in the United States. In 2008, nearly 40 percent of technology company founders were foreign-born; 52 percent of Silicon Valley company founders were foreign-born, including the founders of Google, Yahoo, eBay and Intel, to name a few. Why chase these innovators away when we need jobs and should be hanging an \"innovators wanted\" sign on our front door? Third, match funds for early investors. Early investors need incentives to put money behind companies that will create U.S. jobs. We have channeled billions of dollars to preserve \"too big to fail\" institutions. Why not make federal matching dollars available to catalyze smart investment in next generation businesses? Investors could keep their normal returns and a share of returns on federal matching funds could go back to the government to further revitalize our weakened economy. Instead of preserving outdated jobs, we need to fuel the creation of future employment prospects. Early-stage investors with a track record of success can help make this happen. Obama came into office on an entrepreneurial platform. His campaign catalyzed involvement at the grassroots level. Tapping into new technologies such as YouTube, Facebook and other social networks, our president benefited from entrepreneurial advances. It is time for the White House to return to its campaign roots. Since Obama's inauguration, our unemployment rate has risen from 7.6 percent to 10.2 percent. It is time to stop propping up outmoded and overleveraged institutions and start betting on the new men and women who offer hope for greater prosperity. Supporting entrepreneurs is change we can believe in. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Amy M. Wilkinson." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Amy M. Wilkinson says Obama's summit had mostly CEOs, union reps, academics .\nBut, she says, most job creation in the U.S. since 1980 has been from start-up firms .\nWilkinson: Government funds and policies should target entrepreneurs ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "SILVER SPRING, Maryland (CNN) -- Thomas Cuddy enlisted in the U.S. Army 28 years ago, but he's facing his greatest battle now that he's out. Retired veteran Thomas Cuddy is so weakened by ALS that he often can't catch himself when he slips. Cuddy spends most of his days in his small apartment in Silver Spring, Maryland, reading on his couch, and working at his computer. He leaves only when it is absolutely necessary; the trek down the three flights of stairs is exhausting and dangerous. He slips easily, and he does not have the strength to catch himself. Thomas suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, after the legendary baseball star who lent his name to the mysterious illness over 60 years ago. His doctors have told him to stop working but he cannot afford to, so he works when his body will let him. He is able to work from home most days -- he's a community relations officer, command speechwriter and medical publications reviewer based at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. But as typing becomes an increasingly strenuous chore, even this will become too much to bear. Thomas hopes this day comes later rather than sooner. Sitting idly is not is his nature, but ever so slightly, that is changing. \"This is a disease where...one day you wake up and you can walk, and the next day you can't,\" he says. \"And once you lose it, you can never get it back.\" ALS is a progressive disease that attacks neurons in the brain, eventually leading to total paralysis. It affects 20,000 to 30,000 Americans at any given time, according to the ALS Association. It can take up to 10 years to fully develop, but by the time it is diagnosed, it is usually fatal within two to five years. ALS was first classified as a disease in 1869, yet there are still few clues as to its cause. Researchers are just as far from finding an effective treatment or cure. In fact, just one drug has been approved by the FDA to treat ALS, and has been proved only to extend life by a few months. \"They have no idea what is happening to us. I'm taking it one day at a time,\" Thomas says. Thomas has found that many of his brothers suffer from the illness as well -- his fellow veterans, that is. \"There have been recent studies that have been proven that if you are a veteran, your chances of developing ALS are double that of anyone else,\" Thomas says. Dr. Mark Weisskopf, an assistant professor at the Harvard School of Public Health, said that doctors took notice as a large number of veterans of the first Gulf War began to report \"non-specific neurological conditions.\" Several subsequent studies published in the last decade have established an increased rate of ALS among Gulf War veterans. Weisskopf was co-author of a study in 2005 that found that men with any history of military service are about 60 percent more likely to develop ALS than men who did not serve in the military. He concluded that \"the branch, length of service, and where you served didn't seem to matter.\" The cause of this connection is still unknown. Weisskopf says that there may be an environmental trigger, but due to the immensity of potential exposures to which military personnel are subjected, no one has been able to pinpoint exactly what that trigger might be. For men who are trained to fight for their lives, this disease is perhaps the ultimate torture. \"The way we are in the military, if you show us an enemy, we'll defeat it, \"Thomas says. \"It's really hard to identify what you're fighting. I'm just fighting to stay alive.\" The Department of Veterans Affairs established ALS as a service-connected disease on September 23, 2008. This acknowledgment gives veterans suffering from ALS access to much-needed benefits such as health care, disability compensation, and many other essential support systems. While it may seem as if the VA has moved slowly in reacting to these studies, Weisskopf notes that there is still a lot that is unknown about the connection between ALS and military service. \"In that regard, I commend the VA in taking this step before many scientists are fully convinced,\" Weisskopf says. Nonetheless, for those suffering from ALS, navigating the vast bureaucracy at the VA can be an exasperating process. Veterans such as Thomas find themselves in the helpless position of watching their disease advance at a much faster pace than their paperwork. When he filed for disability last March, Thomas was told that his request could take up to a year to be approved -- if it is approved. For now he waits. Despite his deteriorating condition, Thomas has chosen to remain positive. Each day, he carefully gets out of bed and tests his legs, hopeful that he is able to walk for one more day. He is all too aware that he will wake up one day soon and his limbs will no longer work. Someday, he will lose the ability to talk, and eventually, he will stop breathing. But today, he can do all of these things, and he is grateful. \"What I do all day long, is I tell myself in six months, I will probably be in much worse condition, and in six months I would give anything to be where I am today,\" he says. \"So today I'm happy with what I have.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "ALS, a progressive disease, attacks brain neurons leading to total paralysis .\nIt affects 20,000 to 30,000 Americans at any one time but vets have twice the risk .\nThe VA listed ALS as a service-connected disease on September 23, 2008 .\nRetired vet Thomas Cuddy navigates VA bureaucracy as his disease progresses ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "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 research and attention to detail, which in this case included collaborating closely with the FBI to check facts -- although Mann subsequently chose to gloss over some elements for the sake of the story. Mann filmed in many of the locations where Dillinger's story took place almost 80 years ago, including the Biograph Theater on Lincoln Avenue in Chicago, where the bandit was finally shot dead by FBI agents as he came out of a Clark Gable movie. They also shot at Little Bohemia Lodge in Manitowish Waters in the far north of Wisconsin, the site of one of Dillinger's most famous showdowns with the FBI. Dillinger was hiding out there after a botched robbery. When the feds finally caught up with him, two men were killed in the vicious gunfight. \"We were able to shoot not just in the actual place where this happened, but in his actual room,\" says Mann. \"There's a certain kind of magic for Johnny Depp to be lying in the bed that John Dillinger was actually in.\" A lot of Dillinger's success was down to superior guns and getaway cars. Depp, who has experience shooting guns from previous productions, had to learn a completely different technique for the heavy guns of the time. Depp says shooting the Thompson submachine gun was one of the highlights of the production: \"When you've got a beast like that strapped to you and you're emptying magazines, a 50-round drum, it's a good feeling.\" The ride may have been thrilling for Depp but he also recognizes that the Depression-era setting has some extra significance these tight-belted times. \"You know,\" says Depp, \"We're in the middle of a recession, teetering on a depression. It's time to view the banks and grown-ups for what they are.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Johnny Depp plays charismatic bank robber John Dillinger in \"Public Enemies\"\nDepression-era tale of first Public Enemy No. 1, idolized as modern-day Robin Hood .\nDillinger's gang killed 10 men, wounded seven during a spree of less than one year .\nDepp on Dillinger: \"I always kind of admired him, oddly\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "LONDON, England (CNN) -- A schoolteacher from southern England with no previous filmmaking experience has given amateurism a good name by directing her pupils in a feature film fit for Hollywood. Alice Ralph, 18, stars in \"Far From the Madding Crowd\" as Bathsheba Everdene. It has taken a year of hard work using only one camera, but teachers and pupils at The Gryphon School in Sherborne, Dorset, recently premiered their 110-minute long adaptation of English novelist Thomas Hardy's seminal 1874 work \"Far From the Madding Crowd.\" \"When I watched it for the first time, it was actually quite an emotional experience,\" director/producer and Head of Drama Rosita Clarke told CNN. \"It's a kind of relief to see the efforts of what you've worked on and achieved an absolute reality.\" Clarke is the driving force behind the project and says many people didn't believe she would be able to pull off a feature film when she first came up with the idea. \"Miss Clarke pitched the idea, and said she was going to make a feature film and we all thought she was joking,\" said 18-year-old Ben Jones, a Gryphon student, who plays Sergeant Troy in the film. \"But we all kind of went along with it and it's turned into this.\" Clarke was inspired to make the feature after she directed a play with some film footage in it the previous year. \"I thought to myself, 'I'm going to make a film,'\" she said. After getting permission from the school, Clarke sat down with Hardy's book during the school summer holidays and over two weeks wrote a screenplay. In August 2008, Gryphon's Hardy feature went into production. \"Far From the Madding Crowd\" unfolds against the backdrop of rural 19th Century England and tells the story of beautiful Bathsheba Everdene who inherits a farm from her uncle and finds herself loved by three men. The feature was filmed over weekends, holidays and snatched evenings after school. It is full of exquisite costumes, gorgeous Dorset vistas and faultless acting from students aged between 16 and 18-years old. Despite the demands of the shooting schedule, the students say they were able to fit in their schoolwork around it. \"As far as the study goes, it's been ok,\" said Jones. Watch CNN The Screening Room's Myleene Klass report on the Gryphon School's London premiere . The pupils involved say it didn't undermine their studies, and in some cases helped it by giving them an invaluable experience in an industry they would like to work in in the future. \"Some of us want to get into the profession and this experience has been really valuable,\" said Jack Buckley, 18, who plays shepherd Gabriel Oak. \"We haven't done any film acting before and it's very different to stage acting so we've learn a lot about that.\" But the experience has not been without challenges: Using just one camera Clarke and her team had to film a fire in a 19th Century hayrick [haystack], work with livestock including sheep and shoot large crowd scenes. In total 130 pupils worked on the film in roles from hair and make-up to walk-on parts. Alice Ralph, 18, who stars as Bathsheba, says acting for the camera was one aspect that took some getting used to. \"At first I found it really hard to get used to the camera. I found it really awkward,\" she said. \"I remember the first shoot. I couldn't even say my lines.\" Emotional scenes shot up-close requiring convincing tears and restrained acting also proved a challenge for the students who are used to acting on stage. \"The emotional scenes were actually really difficult,\" said Ralph. \"I found them quite hard to get, with the crying and things but with Mrs Clarke's help she put me in a situation and I'd use emotional memory and I'd get there in the end.\" Clarke had no experience of filmmaking when she started up and used the Internet and books to learn about lighting and camera angles. She also picked up some tips on camera work from her 21-year-old son, Sunny, a broadcast production student. Sunny also edited the film and Clarke says he had the editor's final word and helped her to keep the film slick. \"I wanted as many students as possible to have a little showing, and he's looking at it from a professional level of final finish.\" The film cost a little over $11,000 (£7,000) to make, much of which Clarke raised from banks and supermarkets in the local community. \"We haven't had money and we couldn't get the sound right all the time and it got dark too quickly because we were trying to get it all done and it's just been so pressurized,\" says Clarke. Nevertheless, she was always convinced she would successfully complete the film -- \"It wasn't ever not going to happen.\" For Clarke the best bit of the film is \"the success for the students. What they're feeling. What they must be feeling. That just blows me away. \"That's what makes me proud and if I've helped them on their way.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The school in southern England made a feature-length film starring pupils .\n130 pupils spent a year filming Hardy's \"Far From the Madding Crowd\"\nFilm cost $11,000 and includes a fire scene, animal-wrangling and crowd scenes .\nSome pupils involved hope to go on to work in film industry ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Crack-addicted Felicia Anderson was pregnant with her third child when an ultrasound changed the direction of her life. After inpatient rehab, Felicia Anderson sought help from Mothers Making a Change to help beat her addiction. \"You could hear that baby's heartbeat strong and steady. Really, that's her personality today, a strong, vibrant little girl. And at that time, laying there, tears starting rolling down my face,\" Anderson, 44, recalled. In that moment, Anderson vowed to stay off drugs, something she'd been unable to do in more than a decade addicted to crack cocaine, even when she was pregnant with her first two children. Anderson didn't think she could do it alone, so, like almost 2 million Americans a year, she entered a treatment program. Anderson spent three weeks in residential treatment -- all she could afford -- but didn't think that was enough, so she enrolled in Mothers Making a Change, a year-long outpatient drug and alcohol program in Atlanta, Georgia. Three times as many Americans choose outpatient treatment as residential treatment, or rehab. It costs less, is more likely to be covered by insurance and does not require participants to leave work or their families for a month or more. The outpatient program Anderson chose, Mothers Making a Change, is designed especially for pregnant women and women with young children. Anderson was both. At the time, her oldest daughter, Sierra, was 5; her middle child, Anicia, was almost 2. In addition to therapy and education, Mothers Making a Change provided transportation and offered free child care while Anderson was there. When she completed the program, Mothers Making a Change helped her find a job. \"I can say with everything in me, with every bit of my breath, that program helped me turn my life around,\" said Anderson, who now runs a program to help the developmentally disabled in DeKalb County, Georgia. Interactive: Addiction and the brain » . Like most programs, residential or outpatient, Mothers Making a Change is built on the 12 steps pioneered by Alcoholics Anonymous. Among them: Admit you're powerless over your addiction, and turn your life over to a higher power. \"It's important in my opinion to have a connection with your spiritual world, your higher power,\" Anderson said. \"So I thank God, first of all, for giving me a second chance in life.\" Anderson began drinking and smoking marijuana in high school. She moved on to snorting cocaine and then smoking it. She said her drug use began spiraling out of control when her husband, an Army infantryman, committed suicide after returning from Operation Desert Storm. She said the crack numbed her pain. Watch Felicia Anderson describe her experience » . Anderson tried to hide her addiction, but the lies became harder to maintain. She lost weight. She couldn't keep a job. And she began stealing to keep her children clothed and fed and to support her habit. She even stole their Christmas presents. \"The gifts would be under the tree, and I needed some crack, and I would take whatever present was there,\" Anderson recalled. \"The crack was my friend. The crack was my job. The crack was my children. You know, it was my life. So no matter how bad I wanted to stop, I couldn't stop,\" she said. Anderson said she even smoked crack as she went into labor with her second child. \"That's to tell you how bad off, how out of control, how much it didn't matter,\" she said. \"But I couldn't stop. I couldn't stop.\" Caught shoplifting repeatedly, Anderson said, she was facing a five-year prison sentence in Maryland for violating probation when her brother Brian Robinson intervened. He convinced the judge to let Anderson and her two daughters come to Georgia with him and to let his sister check into rehab instead of going to jail. Like many addicts, Anderson hit rock bottom before seeking treatment. Counselors and others say most addicts get help only when they get in trouble at home, at work, with their health or with the law. Anderson went for her ultrasound and had an epiphany. \"Something inside me -- and I would say it's the voice of God -- saying, 'You can do this.' And laying there at that moment, I did say to myself, 'I can do this. Let me try to do this.' That was a turning point for me,\" Anderson said. \"That baby that was born was born drug-free.\" Anderson said that she has been drug-free for 12 years and that she's lucky: Her older two children did not suffer any health consequences from her addiction. Anderson now has everything she had lost for a big part of her adult life: a stable home life, a job. Also, she's engaged. \"There's all kinds of beautiful things happening for me and my daughters right now.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When she heard her baby's heartbeat, Felicia Anderson vowed to give up drugs .\nShe could afford 3 weeks in residential treatment, then moved to outpatient .\nThree times as many Americans choose outpatient treatment as residential rehab .\nAnderson, now clean 12 years, says program \"helped me turn my life around\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- It's not just for French kissing or for showing your dissatisfaction. Besides showing off at concerts, licking lollipops, and teasing, the tongue could help people gain mobility. Aside from everyday functions of chewing, swallowing, talking and tasting, the tongue has new uses such as steering wheelchairs and helping blind people see. Also in Spain last month, doctors transplanted a tongue as part of a face transplant surgery. \"The tongue is considered very much like the trunk of an elephant or the tentacle of the octopus. It's the same kind of structure with how many shapes, configurations the trunk or tentacle can assume,\" said E. Fiona Bailey, an assistant professor of physiology at The University of Arizona in Tucson. \"Researchers realize there is a lot of potential there.\" Transplanting tongues . A team of surgeons in Spain last month performed a face transplant, which is considered the first to include the tongue and jaws. A 43-year-old man who lost his jaws and tongue after a cancer battle 11 years ago received a transplant for the bottom third of his face, according to the Hospital La Fe in Valencia, Spain. Dr. Pedro Cavadas, the surgical team leader, said the objective was for the patient to recover feeling in his face and also to swallow, talk, feel and taste with his tongue again. But the first tongue transplant in 2003 had short-lived results. Doctors in Austria transplanted a tongue to a 42-year-old cancer patient. The cancer returned and the patient died 13 months after the surgery, according to a 2008 article written by his doctors in the journal Transplantation. A transplant recipient has to take immune suppressing drugs so he or she won't reject the new organ. But this puts the person at risk for cancer recurrence because of the weakened immune system, said Dr. Douglas Chepeha, a head and neck surgical oncologist at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center in Ann Arbor. Unlike liver or kidney transplants, reconnecting the tongue is also more complex because of its nerves, said Chepeha, who is the director of the microvascular program. \"A nerve is not like a single wire in your house,\" he said. \"When we say a nerve, there are literally thousands if not hundred thousands of tiny little fibers. It'll be like taking a fiber optic cable and cutting it -- let's say that cable had 100,000 fibers in it -- how do you realign it?\" Chepeha said: \"If we can get some way of knowing which way to hook the nerves up, someday it'll work better. Right now, we're not there.\" Driving wheelchairs . A new kind of wheelchair allows people who cannot use their hands and feet to steer using simple tongue movements. This technology can assist people who have spinal cord injuries, said Maysam Ghovanloo, an assistant professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Unlike hands and feet, the tongue has a distinct advantage because it doesn't connect to the spinal cord, he said. To use the wheelchair, a magnet the size of a lentil sits on the driver's tongue affixed by edible glue. When the person in the wheelchair touches a certain tooth with his or her tongue, the wheelchair moves -- for example, a left tooth, the wheelchair will turn left. Magnetic sensors trace the movement of the tongue and transmit the directions to get the wheelchair moving. \"The tongue is always moving, but the technology is smart enough to tell the difference between natural movements and the tongue movements [meant to steer the wheelchair],\" Ghovanloo said. Researchers conducted clinical trials this summer in which people with spinal cord injuries navigated through an obstacle course using their tongues. Those who had recently been injured were more receptive to driving with their tongues than others who have gotten used to the existing technology, Ghovanloo said. The tongue-driven wheelchair is not available to the public yet, pending more clinical trials in 2010. Aiding vision . Researchers devised an instrument to allow users to \"see\" through the tongue. Called the BrainPort, the vision device sits on the tongue to help blind people get a sense of their environment. The device, which is the size of a postage stamp, connects to a digital video camera. The camera paints the visual scene in front of a person by turning it into gentle stimulations on the tongue that feel like bubbles. For example, when a person moves across the room, the device creates vibrations across the tongue to resemble the movement. Aimee Arnoldussen, a neuroscientist at the device maker's company, Wicab Inc., said scientists turned to the tongue because \"the tongue has a high density of nerve endings, which makes it sensitive.\" Other parts of the body, such as the back, were not sufficiently sensitive. The fingertips were sensitive enough, but people wanted full use of their hands to grip a cane or to grab objects. Placing the device \"on the tongue inside the mouth, frees the hands to interact with environment,\" Arnoldussen said. Plus, the device can be hidden in the mouth. The device is still in development, but Arnoldussen said the company hopes to make it available to the public within the next year. E-tongue senses sweet . Scientists at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign developed a handheld device the size of a business card, which can taste the sweetness in food and drinks. This could lead to the first electronic tongue that would be able to identify sources of sweetness. \"We could determine what sweetener would be in your tea,\" researcher Christopher Musto told CNN Radio. The device can distinguish among 14 kinds of sweeteners, from natural sugars to artificial ones such as Splenda. Musto described two possible applications: This would be a first step toward an electronic tongue and second, it could be a handheld device that would determine what sweetener and the amount." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Researchers turn to the tongue for new ways to help people with disabilities .\nSpanish doctors performed face transplant including tongue this summer .\nEngineers are testing a wheelchair that can be steered by the tongue ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Six gay men were shot dead by members of their tribe in two separate incidents in the past 10 days, an official with Iraq's Interior ministry said. In the most recent attack, two men were killed Thursday in Sadr City area of Baghdad after they were disowned by relatives, the official said. The shootings came after a tribal meeting was held and the members decided to go after the victims. On March 26, four additional men were fatally shot in the same city, the official said, adding that the victims had also been disowned by their relatives. The official declined to be identified because he is not authorized to speak to the media. Witnesses told CNN that a Sadr City cafe, which was a popular gathering spot for gays, was also set on fire." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In the most recent attack, two men were killed Thursday in Sadr City area of Baghdad .\nWitnesses tell CNN a Sadr City cafe, also popular with gay men, was set on fire .\nShootings came after tribal meeting when members decided to go after the victims ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- Panathinaikos sacked Dutch coach Henk Ten Cate on Tuesday after the Greek side lost the league leadership to arch rivals Olympiakos. Ten Cate took over at the Athens-based side last season as Panathinaikos looked to end the dominance of Olympiakos, who have won every Greek championship bar one since 1997. They led the standings until a 2-0 defeat to Olympiakos saw the champions move one point clear of Panathinaikos after 13 games. Panathinaikos are also still in the Europa League and Greek Cup, but this did not prove enough to save Ten Cate, who will be replaced by Nikos Nioplias, the coach of the Greece under-21 team. Ten Cate, who was assistant manager at English Premier League side Chelsea, told the official Panathinaikos Web site that it had been an \"honor\" to be in charge. \"I have laid the groundwork for this team. I respect the fact that some people may not be happy with the general picture, but my assistants and I have given everything to succeed.\" The 54-year-old was assistant at Chelsea under Avram Grant and was previously number two at Barcelona to Frank Rijkaard. Panathinaikos was his first managerial position and he took them to the last 16 of last season's Champions League, but could not dislodge Olympiakos in the Greek title race. He was on a two-year contract, which still had six months to run on his departure. The 45-year-old Nioplias, was bullish in his official statement on taking charge. \"My aim is to achieve with the team as a coach what I have achieved as a player -- win titles.\" He has an excellent record with the Greek age group teams, taking the under-19 team to the final of the European championship and leading the under-21 squad to the top of their European championship group. On other managerial news, Sinisa Mihajlovic has taken charge of Catania after the Serie A side dispensed with Gianluca Atzori on Monday. Former Bologna coach Mihajlovic has signed a two-year deal with Catania, who are second bottom of the Italian standings." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Coach Henk Ten Cate sacked by Greek giants Panathinaikos .\nPanathinaikos second in Greek league to arch rivals Olympiakos .\nTen Cate was formerly assistant coach at Chelsea and Barcelona .\nCatania appoint Sinisia Mihajlovic as coach in place of Gianluca Atzori ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "You are a summarization AI. Provide a succinct and relevant summary of the provided text." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(CNN) -- When George Pinon thinks of colors, he associates them with what other people have described. George Pinon leads tour groups through Dialog in the Dark, an exhibit that simulates the blind experience. \"They say that red is supposed to be a warm color, a hot color. I heard that apples are red and roses are red. I heard that plants are green, the grass is green,\" he said. \"That's all you can do, you know?\" Pinon, who lives in Atlanta, Georgia, has been blind since age 3, when a high fever caused optic nerve damage. He leads small tour groups through Dialog in the Dark, an exhibit traveling around the world that aims to foster understanding between people with and without vision. For about an hour, visitors navigate different environments in complete darkness, relying on all senses except sight, and ask questions of their visually impaired guide, whose face they don't see until leaving. Stumbling in darkness makes the Dialog visitor appreciate how visually oriented the world is -- how would you go grocery shopping? How would you cross the street? -- as well as the reliance on other senses such as sound and touch to navigate the world. Investigating preventions, therapies . Researchers continue to search for methods of preventing and treating blindness. A new study in the Journal of Archives of Ophthalmology shows that a single serving of fish per week is associated with a reduced risk of incident early age-related macular degeneration, a disease that is the leading cause of severe vision loss in people older than 60. The macula, a part of the retina that allows central vision, deteriorates in this condition. Stem cells may also hold promise for AMD. The London Project to Cure Blindness, with support from pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, is working on a therapy from human embryonic cells. The project's goal is to begin human clinical trials by 2011. The therapy aims to use embryonic stem cells to replace the cells that have been lost because of the disease. Through surgery, the cells would be implanted to restore vision. Read more about AMD . Interpreting the world . A variety of devices have been developed to help visually impaired individuals interact with the world around them. Some of these technologies use Braille. There are Braille codes for alphabets, mathematics, science, music and even computer programming, all based on the system of characters called cells, which consist of six dots in two parallel columns. But fewer than 10 percent of the 1.3 million legally blind individuals in the United States read Braille, according to the National Federation of the Blind. Only 10 percent of blind children are learning the system of raised dots that allows blind people to read and write through touch. Reasons for this include a shortage of teachers qualified to teach Braille and misconceptions about the system, such as that it's difficult to learn, the organization said in a recent report. The National Federation of the Blind has worked with technology developers to enhance Braille to adapt to the needs to visually impaired people, said Mark Riccobono, executive director of the organization's Jernigan Institute. The organization's International Braille and Technology Center for the Blind in Baltimore, Maryland, has nearly every tactile and speech output technology available for blind people to learn how to use. A mechanical device called a refreshable Braille display raises and lowers a set of pins to form characters, translating words on a computer screen into Braille. The pins refresh and translate subsequent text as the user scrolls down on a computer screen. Riccobono, who has glaucoma and has been losing vision throughout his life, did not learn Braille as a child and believes that he missed out on literacy opportunities. He discovered Braille in college, which cut his study time down by 50 percent, he said. Braille is the only equivalent to print for visually impaired individuals, he said. \"Listening is not the same as actively reading something and seeing how words are spelled,\" he said. \"Sometimes technology is used as an excuse to not provide Braille.\" Still, Pinon, who reads Braille, uses speech access software to browse the Internet. He also noted that some movie theaters provide a special earpiece that has voice commentary describing what's on screen, and some DVDs have commentary features also. Some visually impaired individuals use a knfbReader, a device that takes a picture of text, such as a menu, and reads it back. The Amazon Kindle, a digital reader for books and magazines, now has speech access, a feature for which the National Federation for the Blind advocated. Read more about the voice capabilities of Kindle 2 . Improving sight through technology . There are also technologies that allow visually impaired people to use other senses to orient themselves. One new device is called BrainPort, which allows the user to \"see\" through the tongue. BrainPort consists of an electrode array the size of a postage stamp on the surface of the tongue, which communicates with a digital camera, a base unit and a hand-held controller. The device electrically stimulates the tactile receptors on the tongue. The electrode array has a spatial map such that, as people move across a room, the vibration goes across the tongue. \"People are able to adapt and be trained to interpret this as spatial information,\" said Dr. William Seiple, vice president for research at the nonprofit Lighthouse International in New York. The device is being tested at Lighthouse, which has a mockup bedroom, bedroom and kitchen to help visually impaired individuals learn how to handle real-life situations. Watch as one patient gets an artificial corneal transplant » . Another avenue of research is the retinal implant. The user experiences something akin to what a person with sight sees when pressing on a closed eyelid: flashes of light, Seiple said. The rays of the electrode in the eye produce these flashes, which the brain learns to interpret. \"We've all done this throughout our lives,\" he said. \"We have to interpret what's out there in the world.\" Getting around without seeing . The U.S. Mint introduced the first coin with readable Braille in March, but not for general circulation. Only 400,000 are minted, and they cost more than $30 each. The National Federation of the Blind can receive surcharges from sales. Since paper bills have no obvious tactile indicators, blind individuals can ask for their money bill by bill at the bank and fold it in different ways to know what they're getting, Pinon said. He tends to use debit cards when possible. As sighted people feel around with canes in the dark at Dialog, Pinon helps them along with the sound of his voice and, for the lost ones, a gentle pat on the shoulder. Pinon has a dog to help him navigate. He has a wife and three children. He even enjoys traveling, sampling the smells, tastes and sounds of foreign voices. Moving to a new place -- from Florida to Georgia -- was somewhat challenging, but, as he told a group of Dialog visitors seated in total darkness, \"You have to be adventurous and explorative and just get out and get to know the area a little bit. \"You pretty much have to be fearless,\" he said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Fewer than 10 percent of legally blind individuals in the U.S. read Braille .\nBrainPort allows the user to have spatial orientation through vibrations on the tongue .\nStem cells may also hold promise for age-related macular degeneration .\nAnother avenue of research is the retinal implant ." } ]