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tvn <tsp> never underestimate the healing power of a good nap . a 91-year-old woman in poland was declared dead november 6 and sent to a funeral home , only to wake up 11 hours later in cold storage , cnn 's polish affiliate tvn reported . now she 's home and doing fine . the doctor went to the home of janina kolkiewicz in the town of ostrow lubelski on november 6 after her family said she 'd stopped breathing , tvn reported . i checked the pulse on the forearm artery , carotid artery also , ' the doctor told tvn . i listened to the heart , to the breathing . i also examined the pupils . there were no reflexes . typical symptoms of death . ' the doctor signed the death certificate , and kolkiewicz 's family began planning services , according to tvn . then the funeral home called . authorities are trying to find out what happened . we are investigating whether the doctor exposed the woman to imminent danger of loss of life , as the lady was moved to a funeral home and kept in cold storage , ' beata syk-jankowska , a spokeswoman for the prosecutor 's office in lublin , told tvn .
but 11 hours later she woke up in a funeral home , according to tvn
george clooney <tsp> ( cnn ) -- george clooney sees no reason to keep his upcoming nuptials hush-hush . at a celebrity charity event in tuscany , italy over the weekend , the 53-year-old actor spilled a few details about his impending marriage to british human rights attorney amal alamuddin . according to people magazine , clooney was receiving a humanitarian award at the black-tie gala , and said during his acceptance speech , i met my lovely bride-to-be here in italy , whom i will be marrying , in a couple of weeks , in venice , of all places . ' the actor was of course accompanied at the soiree , called celebrity fight night , by his 36-year-old fiancee . with clooney 's documented penchant for pranks , it 'll be interesting to see whether he was telling the truth about his wedding plans -- or perhaps just playing a joke on any eager paparazzi . since the couple became engaged in the spring , they 've been largely protective of their relationship . when a daily mail report claimed that clooney and his future mother-in-law were at odds , clooney blasted the publication with a first-person piece in usa today , and then refused to accept the daily mail 's subsequent apology .
george clooney let a few wedding details slip over the weekend
amal alamuddin <tsp> ( cnn ) -- george clooney sees no reason to keep his upcoming nuptials hush-hush . at a celebrity charity event in tuscany , italy over the weekend , the 53-year-old actor spilled a few details about his impending marriage to british human rights attorney amal alamuddin . according to people magazine , clooney was receiving a humanitarian award at the black-tie gala , and said during his acceptance speech , i met my lovely bride-to-be here in italy , whom i will be marrying , in a couple of weeks , in venice , of all places . ' the actor was of course accompanied at the soiree , called celebrity fight night , by his 36-year-old fiancee . with clooney 's documented penchant for pranks , it 'll be interesting to see whether he was telling the truth about his wedding plans -- or perhaps just playing a joke on any eager paparazzi . since the couple became engaged in the spring , they 've been largely protective of their relationship . when a daily mail report claimed that clooney and his future mother-in-law were at odds , clooney blasted the publication with a first-person piece in usa today , and then refused to accept the daily mail 's subsequent apology .
the actor revealed he 'll marry amal alamuddin in venice , italy , in a few weeks
cnn chile <tsp> ( cnn ) chile 's calbuco volcano erupted again thursday , marking the third time since last week , the national service of geology and mining said . gregorio billikopf lives across lake llanquihue from the volcano has been photographing and videotaping the three eruptions and described thursday 's event as spectacular but not as severe as the two prior ones . there is still smoke on and off , but nothing so dramatic ( as before ) , ' said billikopf , a retired university adviser on agricultural issues . on a good day i can see about eight volcanoes . i understand that the rain that was announced for today would have been a disaster , ' he added . he lives in a rainy part of chile , which he described as like a garden of eden . the explosion produced an extensive plume , but it was also described as smaller than the eruptions on april 22 and april 23 , according to cnn chile . deputy interior minister mahmud aleuy said about 1,500 people were evacuated , and security measures will continue as contingency plans are operating , ' cnn chile reported thursday . for the past several days , the geology agency has maintained there was a possibility of a third eruption as part of steadily declining seismic activity in the area . a 20-kilometer ( 12-mile ) exclusion zone has been established around the crater , and chilean authorities have been keeping residents away from that zone . last week , military and police forces helped evacuate more than 4,400 residents , the interior ministry said then . the seismic event is sure to add to the volume of ash already spewed since the first eruption . ash spread to argentina in the second eruption , which occurred a day after the first . evacuations in the region involved not only people but also animals . the volcanic debris has landed and piled up in some places to a depth of almost 2 feet , the ministry of interior and public safety said . new advisories say airborne ash could reach an altitude of 12,000 feet . there was no immediate information on the strength of the third eruption , but government officials have said the second , spectacular nighttime eruption was stronger than the first one . last week in ensenada , houses , trees and even sheep were blanketed gray with ash . people were removing salmon -- a staple of the local economy -- because of fears of contamination from ash and lava . trucks were used to evacuate farm animals and pets . authorities last week issued a red alert for the popular tourist towns of puerto montt and puerto varas in southern chile . last week , people were being evacuated to puerto montt on 22 buses and military trucks , the interior ministry said . officials said that volcanic flows from calbuco caused rising water levels in the río blanco . the first eruption set off a bit of a panic in the region . at the beginning , it was small , and later , the cloud grew . and later , there was a huge cloud over you and true terror starts , ' a puerto montt resident said . another person said : it was impressive to see an enormous mushroom cloud , with the immense force of the volcano , and to see the ashes . at that point , there was a lot of panic , lots of chaos , traffic jams , people going to supermarkets , everyone looking for water , trying to take out money from the atms . ' magma expanse under yellowstone supervolcano more vast than thought the eruption is a first for many in the region . the last major eruption was in 1962 . there was a minor eruption in 1972 . calbuco also belched out a bit of gas and smoke in 1996 . cnn 's shasta darlington contributed from sao paolo , brazil . cnn 's michael pearson also contributed to this report .
about 1,500 people are evacuated , an official says , according to cnn chile
pitt <tsp> a journalist accused of striking brad pitt at the maleficent ' premiere has been charged with four misdemeanors , los angeles city attorney spokesman rob wilcox said friday . ukrainian tv reporter vitalii sediuk was charged with one count of battery , one count of assault and two violations of the los angeles municipal code , wilcox said . the code violations relate to sediuk 's stage crashing at the 2013 grammy awards , wilcox said . pitt was signing autographs wednesday at the area of the red carpet where fans are allowed to gather when sediuk allegedly jumped the rope and hit the actor in his face , according to los angeles police sgt . leonard calderon . pitt , who was there with partner angelina jolie , star of maleficent , ' continued unfazed on the carpet to give interviews . sediuk , who was due to make a first appearance in court friday afternoon , was transferred from the lapd 's hollywood precinct jail to the county 's central jail , operated by the sheriff . while his bond was initially set at $ 20,000 after his arrest , the judge could raise that since additional charges have emerged connected to the grammys incident . sediuk is infamous for red carpet pranks around the world , including kissing will smith in moscow and hugging leonardo dicaprio and bradley cooper around the knees at separate events earlier this year . sediuk , 25 , was fired from his reporter job with ukrainian television channel 1+1 after he jumped under actress america ferrera 's dress on a cannes red carpet on may 17 , a spokesman for the company told cnn . the tv network was not involved in his stunts , a spokesman said . he was already on three years of formal diversion ' -- a form of probation -- in los angeles for crashing the grammy stage during adele 's acceptance last year , according to the los angeles city attorney 's spokesman . the lawyer who represented seduik in the grammy case was surprised when cnn called him thursday about the latest arrest . attorney : client'a real nice guy' sediuk is a real nice guy , ' anthony willoughby said . i 'm really shocked that he would be accused of hitting somebody . ' this was an unfortunate and inappropriate incident that is being investigated by the lapd , ' a spokesman for disney studio , the film 's distributor , said of the incident involving pitt . police did not say whether pitt was punched or slapped , just that the attacker struck him in the face . the attacker was quickly tackled by bodyguards , handcuffed by police and hauled away to jail . he now is barred from going near pitt . los angeles police issued an emergency protective order effective for five days starting thursday , but the actor 's lawyer could ask a judge to extend it . sediuk 's celebrity pranks are usually silly , attention-getting stunts that do not involve violence . grammys stage-crasher reveals his entry plan he eluded security to get a second-row seat inside the staples center at the 2013 grammy awards , despite having no credentials . sediuk jumped onto the stage when jennifer lopez announced adele as the winner . i love you , adele , ' he is heard saying as the singer approached . he was arrested offstage and later prosecuted on two misdemeanor charges . he eventually accepted a plea deal for probation with the provision that he not go back to the staples center and stay out of trouble for three years . i think that the court overly protects the entertainment industry , ' willoughby told cnn . a not-welcome presence at events award show and premiere producers apparently black-listed sediuk after last year 's grammy incident . he was denied reporter credentials to the oscars , but he showed up anyway wearing a feathered swan outfit similar to the one worn by björk on the 2001 oscars red carpet . he was ordered to leave the venue after telling police it was a protest . will smith on the red carpet slap heard'round the world' the celebrity stunts apparently began when sediuk handed madonna an odd and unwelcomed gift of a hydrangea during a news conference at the venice film festival in september 2011 . i absolutely loathe hydrangeas , ' she said as she stuffed them under a table . do n't buy madonna hydrangeas sediuk 's infamy grew in may 2012 on a moscow red carpet where will smith was attending a movie premiere . video shows sediuk attempting to kiss the actor on the mouth . come on , what the hell is your problem ? ' smith said as he pushed the reporter away and lightly slapped him . he 's lucky i ai n't sucker punched him . ' sediuk crawled onto a red carpet and under ferraro 's dress at the cannes film festival in france earlier this month . video shows him being dragged away . it was this incident that cost him his job at the ukrainian channel , the company said . sediuk 's actions were neither suggested nor coordinated by the network , ' 1+1 tv spokesman serhiy popov told cnn on thursday . vitalii was acting on his own behalf and not on the behalf of the channel . ' the network is not helping sediuk deal with his legal problems , popov said .
brad pitt gets protective order against alleged attacker
pitt <tsp> a journalist accused of striking brad pitt at the maleficent ' premiere has been charged with four misdemeanors , los angeles city attorney spokesman rob wilcox said friday . ukrainian tv reporter vitalii sediuk was charged with one count of battery , one count of assault and two violations of the los angeles municipal code , wilcox said . the code violations relate to sediuk 's stage crashing at the 2013 grammy awards , wilcox said . pitt was signing autographs wednesday at the area of the red carpet where fans are allowed to gather when sediuk allegedly jumped the rope and hit the actor in his face , according to los angeles police sgt . leonard calderon . pitt , who was there with partner angelina jolie , star of maleficent , ' continued unfazed on the carpet to give interviews . sediuk , who was due to make a first appearance in court friday afternoon , was transferred from the lapd 's hollywood precinct jail to the county 's central jail , operated by the sheriff . while his bond was initially set at $ 20,000 after his arrest , the judge could raise that since additional charges have emerged connected to the grammys incident . sediuk is infamous for red carpet pranks around the world , including kissing will smith in moscow and hugging leonardo dicaprio and bradley cooper around the knees at separate events earlier this year . sediuk , 25 , was fired from his reporter job with ukrainian television channel 1+1 after he jumped under actress america ferrera 's dress on a cannes red carpet on may 17 , a spokesman for the company told cnn . the tv network was not involved in his stunts , a spokesman said . he was already on three years of formal diversion ' -- a form of probation -- in los angeles for crashing the grammy stage during adele 's acceptance last year , according to the los angeles city attorney 's spokesman . the lawyer who represented seduik in the grammy case was surprised when cnn called him thursday about the latest arrest . attorney : client'a real nice guy' sediuk is a real nice guy , ' anthony willoughby said . i 'm really shocked that he would be accused of hitting somebody . ' this was an unfortunate and inappropriate incident that is being investigated by the lapd , ' a spokesman for disney studio , the film 's distributor , said of the incident involving pitt . police did not say whether pitt was punched or slapped , just that the attacker struck him in the face . the attacker was quickly tackled by bodyguards , handcuffed by police and hauled away to jail . he now is barred from going near pitt . los angeles police issued an emergency protective order effective for five days starting thursday , but the actor 's lawyer could ask a judge to extend it . sediuk 's celebrity pranks are usually silly , attention-getting stunts that do not involve violence . grammys stage-crasher reveals his entry plan he eluded security to get a second-row seat inside the staples center at the 2013 grammy awards , despite having no credentials . sediuk jumped onto the stage when jennifer lopez announced adele as the winner . i love you , adele , ' he is heard saying as the singer approached . he was arrested offstage and later prosecuted on two misdemeanor charges . he eventually accepted a plea deal for probation with the provision that he not go back to the staples center and stay out of trouble for three years . i think that the court overly protects the entertainment industry , ' willoughby told cnn . a not-welcome presence at events award show and premiere producers apparently black-listed sediuk after last year 's grammy incident . he was denied reporter credentials to the oscars , but he showed up anyway wearing a feathered swan outfit similar to the one worn by björk on the 2001 oscars red carpet . he was ordered to leave the venue after telling police it was a protest . will smith on the red carpet slap heard'round the world' the celebrity stunts apparently began when sediuk handed madonna an odd and unwelcomed gift of a hydrangea during a news conference at the venice film festival in september 2011 . i absolutely loathe hydrangeas , ' she said as she stuffed them under a table . do n't buy madonna hydrangeas sediuk 's infamy grew in may 2012 on a moscow red carpet where will smith was attending a movie premiere . video shows sediuk attempting to kiss the actor on the mouth . come on , what the hell is your problem ? ' smith said as he pushed the reporter away and lightly slapped him . he 's lucky i ai n't sucker punched him . ' sediuk crawled onto a red carpet and under ferraro 's dress at the cannes film festival in france earlier this month . video shows him being dragged away . it was this incident that cost him his job at the ukrainian channel , the company said . sediuk 's actions were neither suggested nor coordinated by the network , ' 1+1 tv spokesman serhiy popov told cnn on thursday . vitalii was acting on his own behalf and not on the behalf of the channel . ' the network is not helping sediuk deal with his legal problems , popov said .
pitt and angelina jolie were at the hollywood premiere of jolie 's movie
tom brower <tsp> ( cnn ) -- hawaii state lawmaker tom brower was fed up with the state 's homeless problem . his solution , however , left him branded a vigilante . brower took a sledgehammer to abandoned shopping carts . i get a lot of complaints about stolen and abandoned shopping carts in waikiki , and i was thinking as a public servant ,'what can i do that would be practical and i can literally do overnight ,'' brower told cnn affiliate kitv . i 'm not doing anything different than doing a community cleanup , or what the city 's administration has tried to do with the issue of people illegally camping on the streets , ' he insisted . i 'm just doing it quicker . ' he began in late october and estimated that he destroyed about 30 of the carts , which are often used by homeless people . it 's not advisable ( and ) not smart , ' the state 's homeless coordinator colin kippen told kitv . it 's mean-spirited and is vigilante justice . ' callers to brower 's office slammed the lawmaker . what if i smash his car up with a sledgehammer 'cause i do n't like what i see , ' one caller said , according to cnn affiliate kgmb . brower decided to stop . i guess i should n't use the sledgehammer because it 's a really loaded image , ' he told kgmb . hawaii 's homeless problem the controversy marks the latest chapter in hawaii 's struggle with homelessness . hawaii has the highest rate of homeless per capita of any state -- about 45 people out of every 10,000 , according to the homelessness research institute . the only area with a higher rate is washington , d.c. , at about 113 per 10,000 . beautiful weather and generous public assistance programs have helped attract people to hawaii ; very high housing costs have added to the homelessness levels . one homeless man , kawika crowley , ran a long-shot campaign for u.s. congress in november . in august , the state legislature approved a pilot program to offer plane tickets off the islands for some homeless people . we 're going to send them back to their family , a strong support network system where they can get back on their feet , ' rep. john mizuno said at the time , adding that the plan would save our taxpayers a substantial amount of money . ' new york and san francisco have paid to relocate thousands of homeless people in recent years . brower wants to see hawaii take other steps , as well . i believe we should have some type of homeless campground because a lot of people on the streets , either they do n't have the discipline to go to the shelter , or they do n't want to , ' he told kitv . cnn 's casey wian contributed to this report .
lawmaker tom brower took a sledgehammer to abandoned shopping carts
waterloo bridge <tsp> london ( cnn ) -- a claude monet pastel drawing of london 's waterloo bridge has gone on display in the savoy hotel room where it was created 110 years ago . monet drew the bridge across the thames during a stay in room 618 at the hotel -- now known as the monet suite -- in january 1901 . he had intended to paint the view from his balcony in oils , but his art supplies and canvases were delayed on their way from his home in france . on monday , the picture -- one of 26 pastel views of the river created by the impressionist -- returned , albeit temporarily . it will be exhibited at the hotel until december 16 . since opening in 1889 , the savoy has played host to numerous artists , such as whistler and picasso , ' said manager kiaran macdonald . however monet 's views of the thames are without doubt the most celebrated works of art associated with the hotel . ' the picture is the only one of monet 's pastels of the river not in a museum collection . it is currently owned by a private gallery , trinity house , and is for sale for a reported $ 2.32m . monet ( 1840-1926 ) lived in london during the franco-prussian war in 1870-71 , and visited the city on several other occasions , in order to depict its buildings through the then-famous fog . london would be quite ugly if it was not for the fog , ' he wrote in a letter from the savoy on an earlier stay in 1900 .
monet pastel drawing of london 's waterloo bridge on display at the savoy hotel
el khalifi <tsp> washington ( cnn ) -- a moroccan man who admitted plotting to blow up the u.s. capitol in a suicide attack was offered martyrdom payments ' for his parents by his undercover fbi handlers , according to the man 's lawyers . amine el khalifi , 29 , will be sentenced friday and under the terms of a plea agreement he 'll receive a sentence ranging from 25 to 30 years . in a sentencing memo filed friday , el khalifi 's lawyers argued for the lower sentence and stressed he received financial support which freed him up to participate in a plot . the document said el khalifi was financially strapped living in virginia and worried about sending money home to his parents in morocco , who had suffered financial reversals . two men el khalifi knew as hussien and yusuf promised to take care of mr. el khalifi 's family in morocco by sending them $ 500 per month to commence after the attack was completed , ' according to el khalifi 's lawyers . the document also states el khalifi was given rent and grocery money amounting to at least $ 5,700 from september 2011 to february 2012 . el khalifi thought the men could assist him in a terror plot , but they were actually fbi agents . el khalifi was arrested on february 17th after he had take possession of what he thought was a suicide vest and a mac-10 semiautomatic handgun . both had been rendered inoperable by the fbi . the defense lawyers contend their client , who pleaded guilty in june , bears no ill-will against the american people ' and believed god had called on him to commit a violent act . he is relieved that his attempted crime was foiled and that no one was actually injured , ' according to the court filing . according to the lawyers , the actions of the fbi do not constitute entrapment . however , the lawyers said el khalifi was enabled by the fbi , who as part of its'sting ,'helped mr. el khalifi with the means , method and motivation for the attack . ' the fbi and the u.s. attorney 's office for the eastern district of virginia would not comment on whether the fbi promised el khalifi martyrdom payments ' as part of its ruse . however , prosecutors filed their own sentencing memo arguing el khalifi should get the higher sentence of 30 years . the defendant , on his own initiative , selected the target and date of the attack , and engaged in surveillance to ensure that his attack caused maximum casualties , ' the prosecutors wrote . according to the government , it is very lucky the fbi and not actual extremists came into the picture and started working with el khalifi . there is every reason to believe that he would have taken any opportunity he encountered in the future to commit mass murder , ' said the prosecution 's filing . el khalifi eventually would have encountered such opportunities outside the presence of undercover fbi agents . ' the'lone wolf'-- the unknowable face of terror
el khalifi is scheduled to be sentenced on friday
el khalifi <tsp> washington ( cnn ) -- a moroccan man who admitted plotting to blow up the u.s. capitol in a suicide attack was offered martyrdom payments ' for his parents by his undercover fbi handlers , according to the man 's lawyers . amine el khalifi , 29 , will be sentenced friday and under the terms of a plea agreement he 'll receive a sentence ranging from 25 to 30 years . in a sentencing memo filed friday , el khalifi 's lawyers argued for the lower sentence and stressed he received financial support which freed him up to participate in a plot . the document said el khalifi was financially strapped living in virginia and worried about sending money home to his parents in morocco , who had suffered financial reversals . two men el khalifi knew as hussien and yusuf promised to take care of mr. el khalifi 's family in morocco by sending them $ 500 per month to commence after the attack was completed , ' according to el khalifi 's lawyers . the document also states el khalifi was given rent and grocery money amounting to at least $ 5,700 from september 2011 to february 2012 . el khalifi thought the men could assist him in a terror plot , but they were actually fbi agents . el khalifi was arrested on february 17th after he had take possession of what he thought was a suicide vest and a mac-10 semiautomatic handgun . both had been rendered inoperable by the fbi . the defense lawyers contend their client , who pleaded guilty in june , bears no ill-will against the american people ' and believed god had called on him to commit a violent act . he is relieved that his attempted crime was foiled and that no one was actually injured , ' according to the court filing . according to the lawyers , the actions of the fbi do not constitute entrapment . however , the lawyers said el khalifi was enabled by the fbi , who as part of its'sting ,'helped mr. el khalifi with the means , method and motivation for the attack . ' the fbi and the u.s. attorney 's office for the eastern district of virginia would not comment on whether the fbi promised el khalifi martyrdom payments ' as part of its ruse . however , prosecutors filed their own sentencing memo arguing el khalifi should get the higher sentence of 30 years . the defendant , on his own initiative , selected the target and date of the attack , and engaged in surveillance to ensure that his attack caused maximum casualties , ' the prosecutors wrote . according to the government , it is very lucky the fbi and not actual extremists came into the picture and started working with el khalifi . there is every reason to believe that he would have taken any opportunity he encountered in the future to commit mass murder , ' said the prosecution 's filing . el khalifi eventually would have encountered such opportunities outside the presence of undercover fbi agents . ' the'lone wolf'-- the unknowable face of terror
amine el khalifi was arrested in february after taking possession of suicide vest , gun
oakland <tsp> ( cnn ) -- [ updated at 1:18 a.m . et ] from new york to los angeles and dozens and dozens of cities in between , protesters flooded the streets to denounce a missouri grand jury 's decision not to indict ferguson police officer darren wilson . a day after the country learned wilson wo n't face criminal charges for killing unarmed teenager michael brown , protests sprouted up in more than 170 u.s. cities . some demonstrations blocked bridges , tunnels and major highways . but unlike the violence that erupted in ferguson on monday night , the protests across the country tuesday night were largely peaceful . new york a massive protest wound its way from union square to fdr drive and to the united nations , times square and harlem . now it 's not clear where we 're going , ' said cnn 's miguel marquez , who was interviewing protesters as they continued marching after midnight . one demonstrator said he did n't even know about the protest until he saw it pass by his workplace on times square . he decided to join in . i just want to help bring about change ... sometimes i am profiled based on my race , ' said the protester , who is black . i think this is progress ... now we 're going to make sure things are going to change . ' as they marched , some protesters chanted , mike brown ! mike brown ! ' police , who were nearby in large numbers , stayed back and let the marchers go . oakland , california perhaps the greatest concentration of turmoil tuesday night was in oakland , where vandals smashed the windows of a car dealership and looted several businesses , including a t-mobile cell phone store . some also set several bonfires in the city . one row of bonfires stretched across a road , blocking off access , footage from cnn affiliate kpix showed . some people were seen adding more items to the fires . los angeles a stretch of the 101 freeway in los angeles was shut down in both directions after protesters took road blocks from the streets , along with debris , and placed them on the freeway , police said . and demonstrators gathered outside of the los angeles police department headquarters , officer sara faden said . faden said protesters are demonstrating peacefully . an lapd spokesman said officers are allowing people to vent . we have detained people . we do n't have any property damage to speak of , ' officer jack richter said . we are letting ( the people ) exercise their constitutional rights . ' boston mayor marty walsh estimated about 1,000 protesters took to the streets tuesday night . the gathering has been largely peaceful . it 's a beautiful thing to see , ' demonstrator daniel jose older said . complete coverage of what 's happening in ferguson denver several hundred people took to the streets of denver on tuesday night , police said . officers tried to prevent demonstrators from marching onto interstate 25 . most protesters dispersed peacefully , but a small group ' refused and grabbed officers . officers used pepper spray , and three people were arrested , police said . dallas about five protesters were arrested after marching on interstate 35 , cnn affiliate wfaa said . some 200 demonstrators gathered at dallas police headquarters before marching onto the interstate , the affiliate said . washington in washington , protesters lay down on a sidewalk outside police headquarters as if dead , according to a tweet by nikki burdine of cnn affiliate wusa . some had handwritten notes on their chests : black lives matter . ' minneapolis a woman in a group blocking an intersection was run over by a car . the star tribune newspaper reported that the driver of the car honked at the protesters before knocking a few people onto the hood of the vehicle and apparently running over the woman 's legs . she was hospitalized with very minor injuries . ' chicago about 200 members of the black youth project staged a sit-in outside mayor rahm emanuel 's office tuesday afternoon . they planned to be there for 28 hours . protesters in the new york area briefly blocked one of the entrances to the lincoln tunnel tuesday evening , but then headed off to the city 's west side . atlanta the public enemy anthem pumping from mounted speakers at a protest in downtown atlanta captured the mood of the crowd tuesday night . fight the power , ' the rapper 's voice shouted over the speaker . fight the powers that be . ... ' about 300 people tried to follow public enemy 's advice when they gathered to protest the grand jury 's decision . as helicopters circled above , black college students , white urban hipsters in skinny jeans , middle-aged socialists and black militants in berets gathered for a raucous rally to vent their anger at the events in ferguson . they have given us no justice ! we will give them no peace , ' the demonstrators chanted at they massed in front of the underground atlanta shopping district . some protesters had also gathered outside cnn center .'it 's a travesty' some atlanta protesters held signs that read enough ' and we are all one bullet away from being a hashtag . ' one demonstrator wore a t-shirt that read , racism is n't over but i 'm over racism . ' it 's a travesty ; it 's just not right , ' shaczar brown said as held up a sign that said , stop killer cops . ' seventy years ago , it was legal to kill black people , ' brown says , referring to the spate of lynchings that spread through the u.s. in the late 19th and early 20th centuries . it 's essentially still legal . ' atlanta , birthplace of the rev . martin luther king jr. , also saw emotional reaction monday night when about 200 students gathered at morehouse college to hear the grand jury 's decision . a collective gasp rippled through the crowd when it came . some of the students at the historically black men 's school looked at one another in disbelief , others started to tear up , and a few stared ahead as their jaws dropped . police sirens wailed in the distance as the students chanted : ferguson 's hell is america 's hell . ' largely peaceful protests ' i think what happened yesterday is a great injustice to everyone that 's been fighting for equality in this country , ' one chicago protester told wgn on tuesday . and i think that just because a bad decision was made does n't mean people who believe in equality are going to fall silent . ' protests have been organized in more than 30 states , the district of columbia and at least three other countries , according to information compiled by cnn and a site set up to help organize protest efforts . read what darren wilson told the grand jury'a thousand fergusons across america' cnn 's jessica ravitz , john blake , lorenza brascia , greg morrison , rob frehse , tina burnside and bill kirkos contributed to this report .
vandals in oakland , california , bust windows of a car dealership and loot stores
new york <tsp> ( cnn ) -- [ updated at 1:18 a.m . et ] from new york to los angeles and dozens and dozens of cities in between , protesters flooded the streets to denounce a missouri grand jury 's decision not to indict ferguson police officer darren wilson . a day after the country learned wilson wo n't face criminal charges for killing unarmed teenager michael brown , protests sprouted up in more than 170 u.s. cities . some demonstrations blocked bridges , tunnels and major highways . but unlike the violence that erupted in ferguson on monday night , the protests across the country tuesday night were largely peaceful . new york a massive protest wound its way from union square to fdr drive and to the united nations , times square and harlem . now it 's not clear where we 're going , ' said cnn 's miguel marquez , who was interviewing protesters as they continued marching after midnight . one demonstrator said he did n't even know about the protest until he saw it pass by his workplace on times square . he decided to join in . i just want to help bring about change ... sometimes i am profiled based on my race , ' said the protester , who is black . i think this is progress ... now we 're going to make sure things are going to change . ' as they marched , some protesters chanted , mike brown ! mike brown ! ' police , who were nearby in large numbers , stayed back and let the marchers go . oakland , california perhaps the greatest concentration of turmoil tuesday night was in oakland , where vandals smashed the windows of a car dealership and looted several businesses , including a t-mobile cell phone store . some also set several bonfires in the city . one row of bonfires stretched across a road , blocking off access , footage from cnn affiliate kpix showed . some people were seen adding more items to the fires . los angeles a stretch of the 101 freeway in los angeles was shut down in both directions after protesters took road blocks from the streets , along with debris , and placed them on the freeway , police said . and demonstrators gathered outside of the los angeles police department headquarters , officer sara faden said . faden said protesters are demonstrating peacefully . an lapd spokesman said officers are allowing people to vent . we have detained people . we do n't have any property damage to speak of , ' officer jack richter said . we are letting ( the people ) exercise their constitutional rights . ' boston mayor marty walsh estimated about 1,000 protesters took to the streets tuesday night . the gathering has been largely peaceful . it 's a beautiful thing to see , ' demonstrator daniel jose older said . complete coverage of what 's happening in ferguson denver several hundred people took to the streets of denver on tuesday night , police said . officers tried to prevent demonstrators from marching onto interstate 25 . most protesters dispersed peacefully , but a small group ' refused and grabbed officers . officers used pepper spray , and three people were arrested , police said . dallas about five protesters were arrested after marching on interstate 35 , cnn affiliate wfaa said . some 200 demonstrators gathered at dallas police headquarters before marching onto the interstate , the affiliate said . washington in washington , protesters lay down on a sidewalk outside police headquarters as if dead , according to a tweet by nikki burdine of cnn affiliate wusa . some had handwritten notes on their chests : black lives matter . ' minneapolis a woman in a group blocking an intersection was run over by a car . the star tribune newspaper reported that the driver of the car honked at the protesters before knocking a few people onto the hood of the vehicle and apparently running over the woman 's legs . she was hospitalized with very minor injuries . ' chicago about 200 members of the black youth project staged a sit-in outside mayor rahm emanuel 's office tuesday afternoon . they planned to be there for 28 hours . protesters in the new york area briefly blocked one of the entrances to the lincoln tunnel tuesday evening , but then headed off to the city 's west side . atlanta the public enemy anthem pumping from mounted speakers at a protest in downtown atlanta captured the mood of the crowd tuesday night . fight the power , ' the rapper 's voice shouted over the speaker . fight the powers that be . ... ' about 300 people tried to follow public enemy 's advice when they gathered to protest the grand jury 's decision . as helicopters circled above , black college students , white urban hipsters in skinny jeans , middle-aged socialists and black militants in berets gathered for a raucous rally to vent their anger at the events in ferguson . they have given us no justice ! we will give them no peace , ' the demonstrators chanted at they massed in front of the underground atlanta shopping district . some protesters had also gathered outside cnn center .'it 's a travesty' some atlanta protesters held signs that read enough ' and we are all one bullet away from being a hashtag . ' one demonstrator wore a t-shirt that read , racism is n't over but i 'm over racism . ' it 's a travesty ; it 's just not right , ' shaczar brown said as held up a sign that said , stop killer cops . ' seventy years ago , it was legal to kill black people , ' brown says , referring to the spate of lynchings that spread through the u.s. in the late 19th and early 20th centuries . it 's essentially still legal . ' atlanta , birthplace of the rev . martin luther king jr. , also saw emotional reaction monday night when about 200 students gathered at morehouse college to hear the grand jury 's decision . a collective gasp rippled through the crowd when it came . some of the students at the historically black men 's school looked at one another in disbelief , others started to tear up , and a few stared ahead as their jaws dropped . police sirens wailed in the distance as the students chanted : ferguson 's hell is america 's hell . ' largely peaceful protests ' i think what happened yesterday is a great injustice to everyone that 's been fighting for equality in this country , ' one chicago protester told wgn on tuesday . and i think that just because a bad decision was made does n't mean people who believe in equality are going to fall silent . ' protests have been organized in more than 30 states , the district of columbia and at least three other countries , according to information compiled by cnn and a site set up to help organize protest efforts . read what darren wilson told the grand jury'a thousand fergusons across america' cnn 's jessica ravitz , john blake , lorenza brascia , greg morrison , rob frehse , tina burnside and bill kirkos contributed to this report .
new york protester : now we 're going to make sure things are going to change '
cnn student news <tsp> ( cnn student news ) -- august 12 , 2014 this tuesday on cnn student news , we report on the yazidis : who these people are , why they 're trapped , and how some are escaping a besieged mountain in iraq . we 'll also update you on the crisis in ukraine , and we 'll explain why a mayor in missouri said his town lost control . ' also featured : a ruling that could mean a payday for some college athletes . on this page you will find today 's show transcript and a place for you to request to be on the cnn student news roll call . transcript click here to access the transcript of today 's cnn student news program . please note that there may be a delay between the time when the video is available and when the transcript is published . cnn student news is created by a team of journalists who consider the common core state standards , national standards in different subject areas , and state standards when producing the show . roll call for a chance to be mentioned on the next cnn student news , comment on the bottom of this page with your school name , mascot , city and state . we will be selecting schools from the comments of the previous show . you must be a teacher or a student age 13 or older to request a mention on the cnn student news roll call ! thank you for using cnn student news !
at the bottom of the page , comment for a chance to be mentioned on cnn student news
jack white <tsp> ( billboard ) fresh off his scorching performance at coachella saturday night ( and days before his next one on the festival 's second weekend ) , rocker jack white announced he 'll take a hiatus from touring . white will wrap his touring efforts in support of lazeretto ' with a brief , first-ever acoustic tour that will hit the only five states left in the u.s. that he has yet to play , ' according to white 's website . rounding out the acoustic quartet on tour will be fats kaplin , lillie mae rische and dominic davis . the shows will be unannounced until day-of-show , with tickets priced at $ 3 and limited to one ticket per person , to be purchased only at the venue on a first-come , first-served basis . billboard : jack white on not being a'sound-bite artist ,'living in the wrong era and why vinyl records are'hypnotic' the purposely vague announcement surely has fans ( and journalists ) scouring the internet for white 's touring history . unclear is whether white includes his work with the white stripes , the raconteurs and dead weather in his touring history , or just his solo road work . presumably , he 's including all of his touring , with all bands , as billboard could find only 29 states in which he has performed as jack white . tour dates with white stripes add another 12 states . that leaves nine states for which we could not find a show for white : hawaii ( where a show is scheduled for tomorrow , april 15 ) , arkansas , idaho , utah , wyoming , vermont , iowa , and north and south dakota . billboard : jack white plays the hits , declares'music is sacred'at coachella through the process of elimination ( surely he has played boise , little rock , and salt lake ? ) , our guess as to which five states ' white will play on the brief acoustic run : south and north dakota , wyoming , vermont and ... puerto rico ? if that 's the case , this tour is in for some long jumps , with puerto rico to vermont being a potential beast . ( though shipping acoustic instruments and ribbon mics will be a lot less taxing than a full electrified stage setup . ) ©2015 billboard . all rights reserved .
jack white taking a hiatus from touring after brief acoustic jaunt
andy sorrells <tsp> depressed and tired of trying diet after diet , andy sorrells began a faith-based weight loss program . andy sorrells lost 280 pounds and went from wearing a size 64 to wearing a size 36 . he says he started without a specific goal weight and reduced his portion sizes to lose 280 pounds . name : andy sorrells age : 29 hometown : franklin , tennessee occupation : loan processor height : 6 feet 3 inches heaviest weight : 500 pounds current weight : 220 pounds pounds lost : 280 pounds defining moment my wife , maggie , had started the weigh down workshop program . we were newlyweds and continued to gain weight . we had tried other diets but this one worked for us . how did you finally lose the weight ? diet : weigh down workshop , a spiritually based weight loss regimen . i just started without a real goal of losing a specific amount of weight and reduced my portion sizes . i spent so much of my life thinking about it and planning for it . finally , i stopped focusing on food , stopped counting calories and eating low-fat foods . you just have to eat what your body craves and reduce portion sizes . exercise : i did n't really exercise . i walked occasionally but i never followed a specific fitness regimen . how long did it take you to lose weight ? just about 17 months from january 2003 to may 2004 . my wife had tried the weigh down workshop and had success with it . i was trying diet foods and fat-free foods . but i knew there had to be a way someone could eat normal food and still lose weight . how has this changed your life ? when i was born i was close to 11 pounds and all of my life i 've dealt with weight issues . people always teased me about being overweight . once i started this program , i realized that i had to stop being angry at the world and i needed to look internally . 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 and help others .
andy sorrells wore a size 64 when he weighed more than 500 pounds
carolina panthers <tsp> ( cnn ) -- there was lots of news in the nfl this weekend . little of it had to do with the pigskin . domestic violence has dominated professional football 's story lines for weeks , and this weekend saw three star players miss their games because of issues at home . a black cloud hangs over a fourth player as california 's lieutenant governor requested that the san francisco 49ers bench a defensive end as his domestic violence case navigates the court system . here is what you may have missed : ray rice was initially cleared to play next week , until footage of him brutalizing his then-fiancee in an atlantic city , new jersey , hotel elevator surfaced . once the video was made public , the baltimore ravens cut rice , and the nfl made his suspension indefinite . there are reports that rice intends to appeal the new punishment . sen. amy klobuchar , d-minnesota , who joined 15 other women senators in asking nfl commissioner roger goodell to institute a zero-tolerance policy for domestic violence , has said it 's outrageous ' the nfl did n't try harder to obtain the tape . goodell has said no one in the league office saw footage of rice striking janay palmer until tmz posted the video online . i have a feeling there 's a lot of people that know stuff , what went on here , ' klobuchar told cnn on sunday . i 'm waiting to see if there is a major cover-up . if it shows ( goodell ) lies , there could be many factual situations where , in fact , he should step down . ' adrian peterson turned himself in to authorities in east texas on saturday after a grand jury indicted him on felony child abuse charges . he quickly posted $ 15,000 in bail and was released , the montgomery county sheriff 's office said . the minnesota vikings star running back , considered one of the best -- if not the best -- in the nfl , missed his team 's game against the new england patriots on sunday . state law says an accused person can defend himself against the charge peterson faces if he can demonstrate he was administering reasonable discipline . while the prosecutor in the case alleges peterson hurt his child with criminal negligence or recklessly , ' peterson 's attorney says his client used a switch to spank his son , thus doling out discipline much like he experienced as a child growing up in east texas . ' greg hardy was set to take the field sunday , despite being convicted of domestic violence this summer and facing a jury trial in an appeals court later this year . that changed shortly before game time when the carolina panthers announced he would sit out the team 's match against the detroit lions . authorities say hardy in may choked his then-girlfriend , threw her around , dragged her by her hair and threatened to kill her . he was sentenced in july to 18 months of probation and a 60-day suspended sentence . the 6-foot-4 , 275-pound defensive end says he is innocent and has appealed a guilty verdict rendered by a mecklenburg county judge in north carolina , but many observers wondered how rice could face suspension , but not hardy . despite sitting hardy , the panthers were accused of reacting to the new climate regarding domestic violence rather than any acting out of any concern about the crime or victim . coach ray rivera acknowledged the changed climate and said in post-game remarks , we really do have to get this right . ' sports illustrated 's richard deitsch was not impressed with hardy 's last-minute benching . they ceded to press/public pressure . it was disgrace it took this long , ' he tweeted . ray mcdonald had two tackles in the san francisco 49ers'sunday night football game against the chicago bears , but according to sports illustrated , goodell was not in attendance . goodell , who often attends stadium openings and was reportedly scheduled to be at levi 's stadium for its christening , is under fire for his handling of the rice case , prompting the women 's rights group ultraviolet to fly banners over nfl stadiums with the hashtag , # goodellmustgo . police were called to a birthday party at mcdonald 's home about 3 a.m. on august 31 and determined mcdonald had been involved in an altercation with his fiancee , who was 10 weeks pregnant , the sacramento bee reported . she showed police minor bruises on her arms and neck , the paper reported . mcdonald told cnn affiliate ktvu that the truth will come out ' after he was released from jail on felony domestic violence charges . california lt. gov . gavin newsom asked the 49ers to bench their defensive tackle sunday , saying the team 's continued insistence on playing ray mcdonald during his ongoing criminal investigation is a painful affront to every victim of domestic violence and sends a troubling message to our community and especially our children that'zero tolerance'are empty words , not real actions . ' cnn 's eliott c. mclaughlin , mary grace lucas , candy crowley , greg botelho , ray sanchez , steve almasy , kevin conlon and holly yan contributed to this report .
the carolina panthers sit greg hardy at the last minute as his jury trial in appeals court looms
nfl <tsp> ( cnn ) -- there was lots of news in the nfl this weekend . little of it had to do with the pigskin . domestic violence has dominated professional football 's story lines for weeks , and this weekend saw three star players miss their games because of issues at home . a black cloud hangs over a fourth player as california 's lieutenant governor requested that the san francisco 49ers bench a defensive end as his domestic violence case navigates the court system . here is what you may have missed : ray rice was initially cleared to play next week , until footage of him brutalizing his then-fiancee in an atlantic city , new jersey , hotel elevator surfaced . once the video was made public , the baltimore ravens cut rice , and the nfl made his suspension indefinite . there are reports that rice intends to appeal the new punishment . sen. amy klobuchar , d-minnesota , who joined 15 other women senators in asking nfl commissioner roger goodell to institute a zero-tolerance policy for domestic violence , has said it 's outrageous ' the nfl did n't try harder to obtain the tape . goodell has said no one in the league office saw footage of rice striking janay palmer until tmz posted the video online . i have a feeling there 's a lot of people that know stuff , what went on here , ' klobuchar told cnn on sunday . i 'm waiting to see if there is a major cover-up . if it shows ( goodell ) lies , there could be many factual situations where , in fact , he should step down . ' adrian peterson turned himself in to authorities in east texas on saturday after a grand jury indicted him on felony child abuse charges . he quickly posted $ 15,000 in bail and was released , the montgomery county sheriff 's office said . the minnesota vikings star running back , considered one of the best -- if not the best -- in the nfl , missed his team 's game against the new england patriots on sunday . state law says an accused person can defend himself against the charge peterson faces if he can demonstrate he was administering reasonable discipline . while the prosecutor in the case alleges peterson hurt his child with criminal negligence or recklessly , ' peterson 's attorney says his client used a switch to spank his son , thus doling out discipline much like he experienced as a child growing up in east texas . ' greg hardy was set to take the field sunday , despite being convicted of domestic violence this summer and facing a jury trial in an appeals court later this year . that changed shortly before game time when the carolina panthers announced he would sit out the team 's match against the detroit lions . authorities say hardy in may choked his then-girlfriend , threw her around , dragged her by her hair and threatened to kill her . he was sentenced in july to 18 months of probation and a 60-day suspended sentence . the 6-foot-4 , 275-pound defensive end says he is innocent and has appealed a guilty verdict rendered by a mecklenburg county judge in north carolina , but many observers wondered how rice could face suspension , but not hardy . despite sitting hardy , the panthers were accused of reacting to the new climate regarding domestic violence rather than any acting out of any concern about the crime or victim . coach ray rivera acknowledged the changed climate and said in post-game remarks , we really do have to get this right . ' sports illustrated 's richard deitsch was not impressed with hardy 's last-minute benching . they ceded to press/public pressure . it was disgrace it took this long , ' he tweeted . ray mcdonald had two tackles in the san francisco 49ers'sunday night football game against the chicago bears , but according to sports illustrated , goodell was not in attendance . goodell , who often attends stadium openings and was reportedly scheduled to be at levi 's stadium for its christening , is under fire for his handling of the rice case , prompting the women 's rights group ultraviolet to fly banners over nfl stadiums with the hashtag , # goodellmustgo . police were called to a birthday party at mcdonald 's home about 3 a.m. on august 31 and determined mcdonald had been involved in an altercation with his fiancee , who was 10 weeks pregnant , the sacramento bee reported . she showed police minor bruises on her arms and neck , the paper reported . mcdonald told cnn affiliate ktvu that the truth will come out ' after he was released from jail on felony domestic violence charges . california lt. gov . gavin newsom asked the 49ers to bench their defensive tackle sunday , saying the team 's continued insistence on playing ray mcdonald during his ongoing criminal investigation is a painful affront to every victim of domestic violence and sends a troubling message to our community and especially our children that'zero tolerance'are empty words , not real actions . ' cnn 's eliott c. mclaughlin , mary grace lucas , candy crowley , greg botelho , ray sanchez , steve almasy , kevin conlon and holly yan contributed to this report .
senator : nfl commissioner should resign if there was a cover-up in the ray rice case
bikram choudhury <tsp> ( cnn ) for five decades , bikram choudhury built an empire . the signature hot yoga ' bearing his name drew throngs of devotees , spawning studios teaching the practice all over the world . he became a spiritual leader and celebrity icon with a long list of famous followers and friends . but now , the bikram brand is in jeopardy , with some yoga studios dropping his name after the guru was accused of rape or sexual assault by six of his former students . responding to the allegations for the first time in an exclusive interview with cnn , choudhury said he wanted to set the record straight . i want to show you , ' he said , tell the truth to the world , that i never assaulted them . ' choudhury repeatedly denied sexually assaulting anyone , saying he would never resort to physical aggression to have sex because he has so many offers . women like me . women love me , ' he said . so if i really wanted to involve the women , i do n't have to assault the women . ' he said he feels sorry for his accusers , claiming they 've been manipulated by lawyers to lie . i have nothing against them . i do n't think they 're bad people . it 's not them saying that , ' he said . they are influenced by somebody . ' but choudhury 's accusers say he 's the one who 's been lying . this stuff that he 's teaching is really good stuff , but he 's hurting people and hiding behind this good stuff so people do n't believe he 's capable of hurting people , ' said sarah baughn , a former student who now accuses choudhury of sexual assault . he 's got to stop lying behind it . and he 's got to stop doing this to people . ' choudhury is the founder of bikram 's yoga college of india . he 's featured prominently on its website , which details his system of performing 26 unique yoga poses while in a very hot room . with studios heated to 105 degrees , he credits the steamy , sweaty stretches with transforming people 's bodies and minds . he said he 's guided by a deep calling to help others . civil lawsuits filed in los angeles superior court tell the story of a different bikram choudhury , describing him as someone who preyed on young women who looked to him for guidance . besides baughn 's claim of sexual assault , five other women have come forward with civil lawsuits claiming choudhury raped them . the los angeles police department , without explanation , declined to pursue criminal charges in the cases . at first , baughn said , she felt bikram yoga would be the answer to her years of back pain and depression . it was really quite life-changing for me . ... i felt good for the first time in a while , ' she said , describing her first class . baughn said her father helped her take out a $ 7,000 loan so she could attend bikram 's teacher training . but within the first week , she said , one episode left her feeling uncomfortable . in a meeting in choudhury 's office , she said , the guru seemed to make an advance . he said ,'what should we do about us ? we need to make this a relationship . ... i 've known you from a past life .'it was instantly shocking . i felt like my whole system just sort of imploded , ' she said . then , she said , choudhury cornered her late one night , making it clear she had to sleep with him in order to advance her career . he crawled on top of me and he put his hand on my , inside of my thigh , and the other hand he wrapped around me , and he was holding me there , ' she said . he told me that he needed somebody to be with him , to massage him , to brush his hair , to spend time with him , that he was lonely . and he said ,'and i need someone to , to have sex with me .'' choudhury , she said , claimed she 'd never win a yoga competition if he did n't have sex with her . i pushed him off of me and i said ,'i can do this by myself .'and he said ,'no you ca n't . there 's no way .'and i got up and i left the room , ' she said . in another instance , she said choudhury pinned her against a door and sexually assaulted her when she was left alone with him late one night at a teacher training course . i just remember i was terrified . i did n't want to be touched again . when i reached the door , he was there , ' she said . he was only in his boxers and a t-shirt . and he pushed himself up against me and held me up against the door , ' she said . and he just started kissing all over my chest and my body . and he pushed himself into me very hard . ' ultimately , baughn said she was able to open the door and get away . choudhury said baughn 's claims are false . it 's not truth . i do n't do that . i do n't have to , ' he said . he said he makes it a practice to never be alone with any of his students . he repeatedly denied assaulting his accusers or ever having consensual sex with them . but when asked whether he 'd had sex with other students , he responded , yes and no . ' i have no intention to have sex with any of my students or any women , ' said choudhury , who said he 's been married to his wife for more than 30 years . sometimes students , they commit suicide . lots of students of mine , they commit suicide because i will not have sex with them . ' bikram claimed these encounters took place before he was married . but when asked for evidence , bikram 's attorney advised him not to give cnn names . robert tafoya , choudhury 's attorney , said there are plenty of reasons to doubt the accusers'claims . we know for a fact that these claims allegedly occurred years and years and years ago , and nobody ever came forward , ' he said . and yet , after this lawyer sends out these kinds of blasts in social media asking people if they 've been a victim of bikram choudhury , all of a sudden these people come forward and all have very similar claims . ' carney shegerian , baughn 's attorney , said that 's simply not true . when baughn started telling her story , he said , others were inspired to speak out . when she came forward and went public , it attracted other people , and the other five plaintiffs to also have a modicum of confidence to discuss what had happened to them , ' he said . baughn said she was inspired by her young daughter to come forward when she did . she 's 5 now , 5½ . but when i looked at my little girl and all i could see was 10 years down the road , or 20 years down the road , and her being just like me , the only thing i could see was her getting raped and assaulted , ' she said . choudhury vowed to clear his name . but he said the damage has already been done to his family . he cries as he describes how his wife has responded to the allegations against him . my wife never look at me anymore , ' he said . my children , my wife ... we only die once in our life . i 'm dying every day when i get up in the morning . ' the situation , he said , has destroyed his family . how can i share my heart , my spirit ? twenty-four hours a day , i work harder than any other human being . and this is the reward ? i 'm a rapist ? ' he said . shame on your culture , western culture . shame , shame . your job ( is ) to go and tell the world the truth . ' cnn 's catherine e. shoichet , dana ford and mayra cuevas contributed to this report .
yoga guru bikram choudhury denies sexual assault allegations
obama <tsp> ( cnn ) -- china 's propaganda system appears to be working hard to belittle u.s. president barack obama before he heads to asia for three key multilateral meetings . the open mockery of the democratic party 's loss in the midterm elections is likely an attempt to put the president on the defensive before he lands in beijing on monday . but it 's really little wonder that china is trying to change the subject from its own problems , both foreign and domestic . for a start , chinese president xi jinping will want no trouble from a u.s. president as he executes his anti-corruption campaign , the primary purpose of which many believe is to consolidate and further centralize his power . meanwhile , xi is also dealing with a restive empire , including a democracy movement in hong kong and unrest in xinjiang , which has seen terror attacks against chinese civilians and paramilitary officers . domestically , xi is not helping matters by clamping down on hong kong residents'rights or repressing the mostly peaceful population of xinjiang . but china 's policies are also sparking problems regionally , as xi continues to press china 's claims in the south and east china seas , something japan , the philippines and vietnam are all strongly resisting . add in the fact that china 's long and successful run of rapid investment and export-led growth is coming to an end with slack global demand and growing chinese debt , and it 's clear that obama is arriving at a politically tense time in beijing . obama , of course , faces his own domestic political issues after the thumping his party received in tuesday 's midterms , and the incoming republican senate majority will be eager to work with the president to get tougher on china and assert u.s. power and influence in asia . with all this in mind , what should obama be pushing for as he meets leaders from the region ? here 's a five-point wish list for the president that will help get u.s. policy in the asia-pacific region on track : bring the trans-pacific partnership to a quick conclusion : the tpp -- a free-trade agreement that would involve 12 countries , including the united states -- is not only good for the american economy , but is also good for u.s. foreign policy . a successful negotiation of the agreement and quick ratification in congress would demonstrate that only the u.s. can lead on trade liberalization in the asia-pacific region . push back over south china sea : obama should have the department of defense announce , in conjunction with southeast asian friends and allies , that it is implementing new moves to counter chinese coercive moves in the south china sea . this initiative should include a major effort by the united states to develop a coalition maritime domain awareness system that would allow all friends and allies to have the same real-time intelligence and information about chinese aggressive activities . this should be the building block for an allied defense organization in asia . reinvigorate japan ties : the administration should work with japan on a comprehensive plan to stop chinese coercion in the east china sea . japanese prime minister shinzo abe has outlined a forward-leaning defense strategy with plenty of room for integration of air and naval forces . there is much japan and the united states can do to ramp up shows of force and exercises to demonstrate that china will not gain anything through its continued harassment of japanese commercial and defense assets in these seas . be honest about china 's shortcomings : obama should follow china 's cue and criticize the chinese leadership . it is past time to speak forcefully about xi 's failure to reform the chinese economy and to bring up his human rights crackdown throughout china . it is also time to side with the growing number of chinese who are fighting for basic human rights . leverage america 's energy advantage : obama should take advantage of the u.s. energy revolution to shore up alliances and friendships with major gas consumers , such as taiwan , south korea , and japan . a public commitment by obama while in asia to fast-track licenses for companies seeking to export gas to friends and allies would be a serious demonstration of leadership . the reality is that china is trying to define obama as a weak leader , and by extension , the united states as a weakening country . but structurally , the u.s. is far stronger than many assume . it has close friends and allies in the region , it is becoming a net energy producer , it has the world 's most powerful and tested military , and it has a set of principles and ideals that speak to universal hopes . china has none of these things . during his time in asia , obama can begin to reverse the dangerous perception of a u.s. that is weakening while china rises . this week offers as good a time as any to start pushing back .
obama should reinvigorate ties with japan , he says
japan <tsp> ( cnn ) -- china 's propaganda system appears to be working hard to belittle u.s. president barack obama before he heads to asia for three key multilateral meetings . the open mockery of the democratic party 's loss in the midterm elections is likely an attempt to put the president on the defensive before he lands in beijing on monday . but it 's really little wonder that china is trying to change the subject from its own problems , both foreign and domestic . for a start , chinese president xi jinping will want no trouble from a u.s. president as he executes his anti-corruption campaign , the primary purpose of which many believe is to consolidate and further centralize his power . meanwhile , xi is also dealing with a restive empire , including a democracy movement in hong kong and unrest in xinjiang , which has seen terror attacks against chinese civilians and paramilitary officers . domestically , xi is not helping matters by clamping down on hong kong residents'rights or repressing the mostly peaceful population of xinjiang . but china 's policies are also sparking problems regionally , as xi continues to press china 's claims in the south and east china seas , something japan , the philippines and vietnam are all strongly resisting . add in the fact that china 's long and successful run of rapid investment and export-led growth is coming to an end with slack global demand and growing chinese debt , and it 's clear that obama is arriving at a politically tense time in beijing . obama , of course , faces his own domestic political issues after the thumping his party received in tuesday 's midterms , and the incoming republican senate majority will be eager to work with the president to get tougher on china and assert u.s. power and influence in asia . with all this in mind , what should obama be pushing for as he meets leaders from the region ? here 's a five-point wish list for the president that will help get u.s. policy in the asia-pacific region on track : bring the trans-pacific partnership to a quick conclusion : the tpp -- a free-trade agreement that would involve 12 countries , including the united states -- is not only good for the american economy , but is also good for u.s. foreign policy . a successful negotiation of the agreement and quick ratification in congress would demonstrate that only the u.s. can lead on trade liberalization in the asia-pacific region . push back over south china sea : obama should have the department of defense announce , in conjunction with southeast asian friends and allies , that it is implementing new moves to counter chinese coercive moves in the south china sea . this initiative should include a major effort by the united states to develop a coalition maritime domain awareness system that would allow all friends and allies to have the same real-time intelligence and information about chinese aggressive activities . this should be the building block for an allied defense organization in asia . reinvigorate japan ties : the administration should work with japan on a comprehensive plan to stop chinese coercion in the east china sea . japanese prime minister shinzo abe has outlined a forward-leaning defense strategy with plenty of room for integration of air and naval forces . there is much japan and the united states can do to ramp up shows of force and exercises to demonstrate that china will not gain anything through its continued harassment of japanese commercial and defense assets in these seas . be honest about china 's shortcomings : obama should follow china 's cue and criticize the chinese leadership . it is past time to speak forcefully about xi 's failure to reform the chinese economy and to bring up his human rights crackdown throughout china . it is also time to side with the growing number of chinese who are fighting for basic human rights . leverage america 's energy advantage : obama should take advantage of the u.s. energy revolution to shore up alliances and friendships with major gas consumers , such as taiwan , south korea , and japan . a public commitment by obama while in asia to fast-track licenses for companies seeking to export gas to friends and allies would be a serious demonstration of leadership . the reality is that china is trying to define obama as a weak leader , and by extension , the united states as a weakening country . but structurally , the u.s. is far stronger than many assume . it has close friends and allies in the region , it is becoming a net energy producer , it has the world 's most powerful and tested military , and it has a set of principles and ideals that speak to universal hopes . china has none of these things . during his time in asia , obama can begin to reverse the dangerous perception of a u.s. that is weakening while china rises . this week offers as good a time as any to start pushing back .
obama should reinvigorate ties with japan , he says
america <tsp> ( cnn ) the new emojis are here ! on thursday , apple released a new version of its mobile operating system that includes more diversity than ever when it comes to the race , ethnicity and sexual orientation of its emojis -- those cute little images that users can insert into text messages or emails when words alone just wo n't cut it . the reaction to this new lineup is , as should be expected with almost anything new in today 's hypersensitive climate , a range of cheers and jeers . why is any of this important , you may ask ? for many , these images are far more than tiny clip art for texting . rather they are seen as recognition that their own ethnicity , sexual orientation , race or even hair color is part of mainstream america -- despite what others might say . this matters in a digital age where texting is how most people communicate and represent themselves dozens -- if not hundreds -- of times every day . think receiving a text of an image of a person smiling . or more accurately , think of a white face smiling because up until thursday 's update , all the emojis had pale skin . but that has all changed . now there 's a range of emoji skin tones to pick from , including yellow , brown and black . i 'm sure few people will be upset with this development . but how about in december ? why ? now that will be able to choose the skin tones for each human emoji , and that will also include ... santa claus . that shrieking sound you may have heard was from fox news'megyn kelly , who famously stated in 2013 that santa claus is absolutely , definitely and without a doubt a white guy . in fact , thanks to apple , we may even see brown santa emojis this december . ( could that mean he 's a muslim santa ? ! cue even more shrieking from fox news . ) there is more . apple has now given us gay and lesbian couple emojis , kissing with a heart over their heads . this inclusiveness was cheered by at least one gay news service on twitter . it 's not yet clear if a person who likes to use same-sex kissing emoji couples can be denied service by a person who objects on grounds of religious liberty . ' but it would be interesting to hear what any of the 2016 gop presidential candidates might have to say about gay emojis . ' and i would predict some conservative will claim that the kissing gay emojis will turn children gay . the fact is , when you embrace diversity , you will still leave out other minority groups . redheads , for example , are pretty pissed off because there are no emojis featuring their hair color . in fact , supporters of a redheaded emoji have started a petition that has already garnered several thousand signatures . even expanding the flags represented by emojis , as apple has done , comes at some peril . apparently canada is overjoyed that finally apple has included it . but armenians are not happy they were left out . i must admit that being partially of palestinian heritage , it 's heartening to see that despite the fact that some refuse to recognize a palestinian state , apple has chosen to now include a palestinian flag emoji . armenia , i feel your pain . of course the bigger question in the whole diverse-emoji issue is : what took apple so long ? how hard could it have been to add different skin colors to pick from ? that the company ( finally ) did is a step in the right direction : america 's demographics are changing , so our representations of who we are -- even representations as tiny as emojis -- should reflect this . apple has evolved ' in showing diversity -- from brown people to same-sex couples . maybe religious liberty ' conservatives who discriminate will follow .
it 's just like america , but what took apple so long ? obeidallah asks
apple <tsp> ( cnn ) the new emojis are here ! on thursday , apple released a new version of its mobile operating system that includes more diversity than ever when it comes to the race , ethnicity and sexual orientation of its emojis -- those cute little images that users can insert into text messages or emails when words alone just wo n't cut it . the reaction to this new lineup is , as should be expected with almost anything new in today 's hypersensitive climate , a range of cheers and jeers . why is any of this important , you may ask ? for many , these images are far more than tiny clip art for texting . rather they are seen as recognition that their own ethnicity , sexual orientation , race or even hair color is part of mainstream america -- despite what others might say . this matters in a digital age where texting is how most people communicate and represent themselves dozens -- if not hundreds -- of times every day . think receiving a text of an image of a person smiling . or more accurately , think of a white face smiling because up until thursday 's update , all the emojis had pale skin . but that has all changed . now there 's a range of emoji skin tones to pick from , including yellow , brown and black . i 'm sure few people will be upset with this development . but how about in december ? why ? now that will be able to choose the skin tones for each human emoji , and that will also include ... santa claus . that shrieking sound you may have heard was from fox news'megyn kelly , who famously stated in 2013 that santa claus is absolutely , definitely and without a doubt a white guy . in fact , thanks to apple , we may even see brown santa emojis this december . ( could that mean he 's a muslim santa ? ! cue even more shrieking from fox news . ) there is more . apple has now given us gay and lesbian couple emojis , kissing with a heart over their heads . this inclusiveness was cheered by at least one gay news service on twitter . it 's not yet clear if a person who likes to use same-sex kissing emoji couples can be denied service by a person who objects on grounds of religious liberty . ' but it would be interesting to hear what any of the 2016 gop presidential candidates might have to say about gay emojis . ' and i would predict some conservative will claim that the kissing gay emojis will turn children gay . the fact is , when you embrace diversity , you will still leave out other minority groups . redheads , for example , are pretty pissed off because there are no emojis featuring their hair color . in fact , supporters of a redheaded emoji have started a petition that has already garnered several thousand signatures . even expanding the flags represented by emojis , as apple has done , comes at some peril . apparently canada is overjoyed that finally apple has included it . but armenians are not happy they were left out . i must admit that being partially of palestinian heritage , it 's heartening to see that despite the fact that some refuse to recognize a palestinian state , apple has chosen to now include a palestinian flag emoji . armenia , i feel your pain . of course the bigger question in the whole diverse-emoji issue is : what took apple so long ? how hard could it have been to add different skin colors to pick from ? that the company ( finally ) did is a step in the right direction : america 's demographics are changing , so our representations of who we are -- even representations as tiny as emojis -- should reflect this . apple has evolved ' in showing diversity -- from brown people to same-sex couples . maybe religious liberty ' conservatives who discriminate will follow .
it 's just like america , but what took apple so long ? obeidallah asks
apple <tsp> ( cnn ) the new emojis are here ! on thursday , apple released a new version of its mobile operating system that includes more diversity than ever when it comes to the race , ethnicity and sexual orientation of its emojis -- those cute little images that users can insert into text messages or emails when words alone just wo n't cut it . the reaction to this new lineup is , as should be expected with almost anything new in today 's hypersensitive climate , a range of cheers and jeers . why is any of this important , you may ask ? for many , these images are far more than tiny clip art for texting . rather they are seen as recognition that their own ethnicity , sexual orientation , race or even hair color is part of mainstream america -- despite what others might say . this matters in a digital age where texting is how most people communicate and represent themselves dozens -- if not hundreds -- of times every day . think receiving a text of an image of a person smiling . or more accurately , think of a white face smiling because up until thursday 's update , all the emojis had pale skin . but that has all changed . now there 's a range of emoji skin tones to pick from , including yellow , brown and black . i 'm sure few people will be upset with this development . but how about in december ? why ? now that will be able to choose the skin tones for each human emoji , and that will also include ... santa claus . that shrieking sound you may have heard was from fox news'megyn kelly , who famously stated in 2013 that santa claus is absolutely , definitely and without a doubt a white guy . in fact , thanks to apple , we may even see brown santa emojis this december . ( could that mean he 's a muslim santa ? ! cue even more shrieking from fox news . ) there is more . apple has now given us gay and lesbian couple emojis , kissing with a heart over their heads . this inclusiveness was cheered by at least one gay news service on twitter . it 's not yet clear if a person who likes to use same-sex kissing emoji couples can be denied service by a person who objects on grounds of religious liberty . ' but it would be interesting to hear what any of the 2016 gop presidential candidates might have to say about gay emojis . ' and i would predict some conservative will claim that the kissing gay emojis will turn children gay . the fact is , when you embrace diversity , you will still leave out other minority groups . redheads , for example , are pretty pissed off because there are no emojis featuring their hair color . in fact , supporters of a redheaded emoji have started a petition that has already garnered several thousand signatures . even expanding the flags represented by emojis , as apple has done , comes at some peril . apparently canada is overjoyed that finally apple has included it . but armenians are not happy they were left out . i must admit that being partially of palestinian heritage , it 's heartening to see that despite the fact that some refuse to recognize a palestinian state , apple has chosen to now include a palestinian flag emoji . armenia , i feel your pain . of course the bigger question in the whole diverse-emoji issue is : what took apple so long ? how hard could it have been to add different skin colors to pick from ? that the company ( finally ) did is a step in the right direction : america 's demographics are changing , so our representations of who we are -- even representations as tiny as emojis -- should reflect this . apple has evolved ' in showing diversity -- from brown people to same-sex couples . maybe religious liberty ' conservatives who discriminate will follow .
dean obeidallah : apple 's new emoji lineup is diverse in race , ethnicity and sexual orientation
navalny <tsp> moscow ( cnn ) -- alexei navalny has said all along that a court would convict him . not because he 's guilty , but because it would prevent him from running for mayor of moscow . on thursday , a russian court did just that to navalny , one of russian president vladimir putin 's most outspoken critics . the court , in the city of kirov , ruled that navalny was guilty of misappropriating about $ 500,000 worth of lumber from a state-owned company . he was sentenced to five years in prison . the activist has called the trial politically motivated . navalny has often accused government officials of dipping into the earnings of state-run companies . these people steal billions , ' he alleged in a cnn interview in april . i 'm making it harder for them to steal . ' he said his conviction is retaliation for taking to task the kremlin , specifically over corruption . russian authorities insist that 's not the case . but others disagree . protest leaders arrested at moscow rally the trial was a sham , the european union 's top diplomat said after navalny 's sentencing . this outcome , given the procedural shortcomings , raises serious questions as to the state of the rule of law in russia , ' eu foreign affairs chief catherine ashton said . former soviet leader mikhail gorbachev said the case had left a very serious impression , ' in a statement published in russian on the gorbachev foundation website . everything i know about this case -- how it started , how it was closed , and then opened again , how it was considered in court -- unfortunately confirms that we do not have an independent judiciary , ' he said . i am convinced that using the judiciary to fight political opponents is not acceptable . since navalny 's lawyers are filing an appeal , i believe the final full stop has not yet been put on this case . ' uk foreign secretary william hague also voiced his concern about navalny 's conviction . the decision to sentence him for five years has highlighted once again the concerns felt by many about the selective application of the rule of law in russia , ' he said . street movement three months ago , navalny 's voice boomed out over a microphone from a moscow stage in front of tens of thousands of people , as he blasted russia 's most powerful man as the foe of democracy . it was one of many street protests challenging the kremlin that have burgeoned in recent years . navalny is one of their most prominent organizers . last year , the kremlin took action . it passed new laws to curb demonstrations . then navalny was arrested and charged . he immediately believed he would not get off the hook . they did n't fabricate the case to allow that , ' he told cnn at the time . the real penalty navalny now faces a five-year prison term , a year less than the prosecutor asked for . but a jail cell is not the main punishment , he said in april . and he had anticipated that someday , he would do time for his activism . if his conviction stands , navalny will , by law , not be able to run for public office . it 's not an uncommon law . convicted felons in the united states , for example , are also prohibited from doing so . but navalny hopes through his protests to one day overturn that law , which he calls part of putin 's system . ' rachel denber , deputy director of human rights watch 's europe and central asia division , said that while the guilty verdict came as no surprise -- as the culmination of a criminal prosecution brought for political reasons with a preordained conclusion ' -- the sentence was still shocking . it can only be seen through a political lens , as part of a broader government crackdown to silence a fierce critic and the opposition movement , she said in an online statement . russia 's new laws are aimed at putting public life in russia under greater government control , and navalny 's prosecution is meant to silence a leader and messenger , ' she said . rights group amnesty international added its voice to the chorus of condemnation . the charges against navalny were highly questionable , ' and the way his guilt was supposedly proven raises serious doubts , ' said john dalhuisen , the organization 's europe and central asia program director . this was a parody of a prosecution and a parody of a trial . the case was twice closed for lack of evidence of a crime , before being reopened on the personal instruction of russia 's top investigator , ' he said . in 2012 : russia protesters demand putin 's resignation cnn 's phil black reported from moscow ; ben brumfield wrote from atlanta and laura smith-spark from london . cnn 's clare sebastian also contributed to this report .
russian court hands vladimir putin critic alexei navalny a 5-year sentence
navalny <tsp> moscow ( cnn ) -- alexei navalny has said all along that a court would convict him . not because he 's guilty , but because it would prevent him from running for mayor of moscow . on thursday , a russian court did just that to navalny , one of russian president vladimir putin 's most outspoken critics . the court , in the city of kirov , ruled that navalny was guilty of misappropriating about $ 500,000 worth of lumber from a state-owned company . he was sentenced to five years in prison . the activist has called the trial politically motivated . navalny has often accused government officials of dipping into the earnings of state-run companies . these people steal billions , ' he alleged in a cnn interview in april . i 'm making it harder for them to steal . ' he said his conviction is retaliation for taking to task the kremlin , specifically over corruption . russian authorities insist that 's not the case . but others disagree . protest leaders arrested at moscow rally the trial was a sham , the european union 's top diplomat said after navalny 's sentencing . this outcome , given the procedural shortcomings , raises serious questions as to the state of the rule of law in russia , ' eu foreign affairs chief catherine ashton said . former soviet leader mikhail gorbachev said the case had left a very serious impression , ' in a statement published in russian on the gorbachev foundation website . everything i know about this case -- how it started , how it was closed , and then opened again , how it was considered in court -- unfortunately confirms that we do not have an independent judiciary , ' he said . i am convinced that using the judiciary to fight political opponents is not acceptable . since navalny 's lawyers are filing an appeal , i believe the final full stop has not yet been put on this case . ' uk foreign secretary william hague also voiced his concern about navalny 's conviction . the decision to sentence him for five years has highlighted once again the concerns felt by many about the selective application of the rule of law in russia , ' he said . street movement three months ago , navalny 's voice boomed out over a microphone from a moscow stage in front of tens of thousands of people , as he blasted russia 's most powerful man as the foe of democracy . it was one of many street protests challenging the kremlin that have burgeoned in recent years . navalny is one of their most prominent organizers . last year , the kremlin took action . it passed new laws to curb demonstrations . then navalny was arrested and charged . he immediately believed he would not get off the hook . they did n't fabricate the case to allow that , ' he told cnn at the time . the real penalty navalny now faces a five-year prison term , a year less than the prosecutor asked for . but a jail cell is not the main punishment , he said in april . and he had anticipated that someday , he would do time for his activism . if his conviction stands , navalny will , by law , not be able to run for public office . it 's not an uncommon law . convicted felons in the united states , for example , are also prohibited from doing so . but navalny hopes through his protests to one day overturn that law , which he calls part of putin 's system . ' rachel denber , deputy director of human rights watch 's europe and central asia division , said that while the guilty verdict came as no surprise -- as the culmination of a criminal prosecution brought for political reasons with a preordained conclusion ' -- the sentence was still shocking . it can only be seen through a political lens , as part of a broader government crackdown to silence a fierce critic and the opposition movement , she said in an online statement . russia 's new laws are aimed at putting public life in russia under greater government control , and navalny 's prosecution is meant to silence a leader and messenger , ' she said . rights group amnesty international added its voice to the chorus of condemnation . the charges against navalny were highly questionable , ' and the way his guilt was supposedly proven raises serious doubts , ' said john dalhuisen , the organization 's europe and central asia program director . this was a parody of a prosecution and a parody of a trial . the case was twice closed for lack of evidence of a crime , before being reopened on the personal instruction of russia 's top investigator , ' he said . in 2012 : russia protesters demand putin 's resignation cnn 's phil black reported from moscow ; ben brumfield wrote from atlanta and laura smith-spark from london . cnn 's clare sebastian also contributed to this report .
navalny wants to run for mayor of moscow , but the conviction will prevent this
rihanna <tsp> los angeles , california ( cnn ) -- a chris brown song called not my fault ' was recorded three years ago and is not about rihanna , its producers said . chris brown pleaded guilty in an assault case regarding his ex-girlfriend rihanna . the music appeared online tuesday , a day after the singer admitted guilt to assaulting rihanna , his former girlfriend . brown 's record label also said the music was not new . ' although brown accepted a plea deal in which he could avoid jail time , any appearance that he is not remorseful could be damaging , since the judge is not bound by those terms when she sentences him in august . the song , which appeared on youtube , includes the line it 's not my fault , right ? ' the publicist for the neptunes , a music producing duo that has worked in the studio with brown , said the music was a demo recorded three years ago . she said they do not know how the song made its way onto youtube . jive records , which distributes brown 's music , said there are no'new'songs from chris brown currently being promoted by chris or his record label . ' there are several old demos circulating that are being falsely promoted as new material from chris , ' a jive records statement said . in the song , brown sings : ' i picked up the paper and the headline reads , it says'singer brokenhearted in some satin sheets .'and i 'm like , why ? we had a hell of a time . ' when i first met you , i told ya that you 'll be safe . in the midst of arguing something , falls to the floor and breaks . you look down and see what you dropped , oh , it 's your heart . ' shortie 's caught up from a long night . she 's ready to fall but she 's all right . that 's just something that can happen when you put it down . she 's caught up , it 's not my fault , right . ' you see , her mama called me , really steamed . she said'my daughter wo n't eat and she do n't sleep . she just cries .' brown was arrested in connection with an altercation that began with an argument with rihanna inside a rented lamborghini on a hollywood street in february . prosecutors agreed to recommend five years of probation and 180 days of community service for brown in exchange for his guilty plea on one count of assault with the intent of doing great bodily injury .
song was recorded three years ago , has nothing to do with rihanna , say producers
rihanna <tsp> los angeles , california ( cnn ) -- a chris brown song called not my fault ' was recorded three years ago and is not about rihanna , its producers said . chris brown pleaded guilty in an assault case regarding his ex-girlfriend rihanna . the music appeared online tuesday , a day after the singer admitted guilt to assaulting rihanna , his former girlfriend . brown 's record label also said the music was not new . ' although brown accepted a plea deal in which he could avoid jail time , any appearance that he is not remorseful could be damaging , since the judge is not bound by those terms when she sentences him in august . the song , which appeared on youtube , includes the line it 's not my fault , right ? ' the publicist for the neptunes , a music producing duo that has worked in the studio with brown , said the music was a demo recorded three years ago . she said they do not know how the song made its way onto youtube . jive records , which distributes brown 's music , said there are no'new'songs from chris brown currently being promoted by chris or his record label . ' there are several old demos circulating that are being falsely promoted as new material from chris , ' a jive records statement said . in the song , brown sings : ' i picked up the paper and the headline reads , it says'singer brokenhearted in some satin sheets .'and i 'm like , why ? we had a hell of a time . ' when i first met you , i told ya that you 'll be safe . in the midst of arguing something , falls to the floor and breaks . you look down and see what you dropped , oh , it 's your heart . ' shortie 's caught up from a long night . she 's ready to fall but she 's all right . that 's just something that can happen when you put it down . she 's caught up , it 's not my fault , right . ' you see , her mama called me , really steamed . she said'my daughter wo n't eat and she do n't sleep . she just cries .' brown was arrested in connection with an altercation that began with an argument with rihanna inside a rented lamborghini on a hollywood street in february . prosecutors agreed to recommend five years of probation and 180 days of community service for brown in exchange for his guilty plea on one count of assault with the intent of doing great bodily injury .
brown agreed to a plea deal monday in case involving ex-girlfriend rihanna
martin luther king iii <tsp> atlanta , georgia ( cnn ) -- two of the rev . martin luther king jr. 's children are suing their brother , accusing him of wrongfully taking money from their parents'estates . dexter king , left , bernice king and martin luther king iii attend a 2006 tribute for their late mother . bernice king and martin luther king iii allege that dexter king took substantial funds ' out of coretta scott king 's estate and wrongfully appropriated ' money from their father 's estate . the suit , filed thursday in fulton county superior court , serves as a very public fissure in an iconic family that has always professed unity , particularly as questions have swirled around some of their financial dealings . in a written statement friday , dexter king called the suit inappropriate and false . ' i 'm disappointed that our personal family disagreement , as it relates to the family business , has evolved into being handled in a public legal forum , ' he said . it is my hope that this inappropriate and false claim by my siblings will be swiftly resolved and we can go about the business of focusing on our parents'tremendous legacy . ' the rev . martin luther king jr. was assassinated in april 1968 in memphis , tennessee , where he was to lead garbage workers on a protest march . king 's wife , coretta scott king , also devoted her life to the civil rights movement , died in 2006 . attorneys for bernice king and martin luther king iii would not say friday how much money they are accusing dexter king of taking from their mother 's estate . bernice king is the administrator of that estate . dexter king , the suit says , controls their father 's estate , which is registered as a georgia corporation . all three children are shareholders in that corporation . the lawsuit names dexter king and the corporation as defendants . it alleges that last month , the defendants converted substantial funds from the estate 's financial account at bank of america for their own use . ' harmon caldwell , an atlanta attorney representing the plaintiffs , said dexter king is a signatory on the account , but was not authorized to transfer the funds , ' and gave his sister no notice that those funds were being transferred . ' the suit says that as a result of the transfer , plaintiffs have and will suffer financial loss . ' the lawsuit lists bernice king as a plaintiff both individually and as administrator of their mother 's estate . separately , the suit says dexter king has wrongfully appropriated assets belonging to the [ estate of the rev . martin luther king jr. ] or its shareholders for his own benefit . ' caldwell said dexter king has refused to say what has happened with some of the corporation 's money . i ca n't tell you that he 's gone out and used corporate assets for his own living expenses , ' the attorney said . what i can tell you for certainty is that by not providing martin and bernice with information about how the corporation is using its assets , he is essentially using those assets , appropriating those assets for his own benefit . ' the plaintiffs'attorneys would not estimate the size of either estate . but one , jock smith , noted that a collection of king 's manuscripts and other items was sold in 2006 for a reported $ 32 million . i do n't think it was a substantial corporation of any sort before that , ' smith said . over the years , the family of the civil rights leader has zealously protected its financial interests , at times taking legal steps even against the media for showing some of king 's most famous speeches . in 2005 , some news agencies reported on the king center , a nonprofit , having put millions of dollars into a for-profit business run by dexter king . the family rejected allegations of wrongdoing , and has generally pushed to keep financial matters private . smith said his clients made repeated efforts to reach out to their brother in recent weeks before deciding to take legal action . smith agreed with the suggestion that it was emotionally tough for the king children to file the suit . that would be the understatement of the year , smith said .
bernice king , martin luther king iii name dexter king , father 's estate as defendants
norwegian <tsp> london , england -- former culture club singer boy george has been convicted of falsely imprisoning a male escort . the judge told boy george he faced jail . norwegian audun carlsen , 29 , said the frontman with the 1980s band beat him with a metal chain as he tried to flee his london flat after a naked photo shoot . a jury at a london court found on friday that the case was proven against the 46-year-old musician -- tried under his real name of george o'dowd . the singer declined to give evidence during the trial but the jury heard he told police he handcuffed carlsen to his bed while he investigated alleged tampering with his computer . carlsen told the court o'dowd invented the story about computer tampering so he could punish him for not having sex at a previous meeting . he said : i think he could n't handle the refusal -- me not having sex with him . ' o'dowd looked grim as the verdict was delivered , according to the press association . the singer was bailed until sentencing on january 16 . judge david radford warned him that he was likely to face jail . the fact that your bail is being continued does not imply that this will be dealt with by a non-custodial sentence . i do n't want any false expectations created , ' he said .
norwegian audun carlsen said star beat him with metal chain after photo shoot
rubens barrichello <tsp> ( cnn ) -- last year 's world champion lewis hamilton has claimed pole position for sunday 's inaugural abu dhabi grand prix while his successor as formula one 's top driver , jenson button , qualified fifth . hamilton will be looking to end a disappointing year for mclaren with victory in the season finale at the new yas marina circuit , but even with a win can do no better than hold onto his fifth overall placing in f1 's first day-night event . the 24-year-old will start a race from the front of the grid for the 17th time in his career , and the fourth in the last seven races , after setting the fastest time in all three sessions . he clocked a best lap of one minute 40.948 seconds as the sun set on saturday evening to head off the red bull duo of sebastian vettel and mark webber . vettel , whose bid to prevent button clinching the world title ended last time out in brazil , timed 1:41.615 while webber recorded 1:41.726 . the car is the best it has been all year . it was a smooth lap , and it just kept getting better and better , ' hamilton told reporters . the place is just stunning . they all said it would be a great event , but it 's mind-blowing . it 's a great place to come to , a great country . the weather has been great and the people are so respectful and so welcoming . i hope we can put on a great show tomorrow . ' button 's bid to ensure the first all-british front row since 1995 came to nothing as he was out-qualified by teammate rubens barrichello for the 10th time this season . the brazilian is expected to be making his final race outing for world champions brawn , who are expected to sign nico rosberg from williams . the german , who announced during the week that he will be leaving the british team , qualified ninth as toyota 's jarno trulli and bmw sauber duo robert kubica and nick heidfeld took sixth , seventh and eighth places . kimi raikkonen , who will be making his final race appearance for ferrari , finished outside the top-10 for only the third time this season , and will start in 11th behind toro rosso 's sebastien buemi . heikki kovalainen 's chances of keeping his drive with mclaren took a blow as he finished 15th after suffering gearbox problems . the finn , fastest in friday 's practice sessions , was just ahead of two-time world champion fernando alonso , who along with renault teammate romain grosjean failed to make it beyond the opening 20-minute session . alonso , at least , can look forward to joining ferrari as raikkonen 's replacement , but frenchman grosjean faces an uncertain future as he has failed to take his chance since taking over from the sacked nelson piquet jr. former world champions ferrari will prop up the grid as veteran giancarlo fisichella again struggled ahead of what could be the final race of his career as he will be the team 's reserve driver next year when the injured felipe massa returns .
his successor jenson button qualifies fifth behind brawn teammate rubens barrichello
charlotte <tsp> charlotte , north carolina ( cnn ) -- for more than a decade , robin emmons felt helpless as her older brother lived on the streets , eating out of garbage cans . she tried repeatedly to get him help for his mental illness , but authorities told her there was nothing they could do . after he was arrested in 2008 for damaging someone 's car during a schizophrenic outburst , she was finally able to become his legal guardian and get him into a halfway house with psychiatric services . but as she watched his mental health improve , she noticed his physical health getting worse . i learned that he was becoming borderline diabetic , ' she said . he was n't like that even when he was homeless . ' she investigated and found out that the nonprofit facility was mainly feeding him packaged and canned foods because it could n't afford fresh fruits and vegetables . i had a small garden , so i thought ,'well , i 'll just put in some extra rows ,' emmons said . i began making weekly deliveries of whatever was coming up . ' she soon realized , however , that the problem extended well beyond her brother 's transitional home . while farmers markets were springing up across the city , she noticed that low-income and working-class neighborhoods had few grocery stores or places to buy fresh produce . if you do n't live in an affluent part of the city ... your easiest options are the dollar menu or the convenience store attached to a gas station , ' said emmons , 45 . for residents who lacked transportation , buying healthy food was even more difficult . it might be a trek , or they might have to borrow a car or get on a bus , ' emmons said . often , once they get there , they are paying a very high price for the food . ' a recent study from the university of north carolina at charlotte confirmed her impressions . it showed that more than 72,000 low-income city residents , many of them minorities , lived in food deserts ' -- areas without a supermarket with fresh food nearby . they also faced a greater risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death . access to fresh food is an issue for many communities throughout the united states . according to the department of agriculture , nearly 10 % of the u.s. population lives in low-income areas more than a mile from a supermarket . discovering this problem sparked something inside emmons , who had recently left her corporate job to find more meaningful work . i really thought it was an injustice . ... healthy food is a basic human right , ' she said . i decided to rip up my whole backyard and make it all a garden , and it just kind of snowballed from there . ' today , emmons has 200 volunteers helping her tend 9 acres of crops on three sites . since 2008 , she says , her nonprofit , sow much good , has grown more than 26,000 pounds of fresh produce for underserved communities in charlotte . at first , emmons donated her locally grown , chemical-free fruits and vegetables to churches and food pantries . but she soon started selling them herself in the neighborhoods that need them the most , for what she estimates is about half the price of organic produce sold in stores . with her 1,000-kilowatt smile and boundless energy , some might call emmons a goodwill ambassador for healthy eating . she 'd claim that her produce -- from cucumbers and okra to watermelon and blueberries -- can sell itself , but her enthusiasm certainly does n't hurt . everyone 's been excited about the string beans , ' she says to one customer . how are you going make yours ? ' she strives to make her food as affordable as possible . people are also able to use their food stamps to purchase anything she sells , including seeds and seedlings so they can grow the food themselves . emmons and her volunteers distribute recipe cards , too , and urge customers to attend the group 's free cooking demonstrations and canning classes . it 's all part of their mission to help people take control over what they are eating and improve their health . and customers seem hungry for all that emmons and her group are offering . we 've been really , really thrilled about the response from the community , ' emmons said . even as early as january of this year , they were calling , asking ,'when are you coming back out ?' brandy bolin says she was a junk-food junkie for much of her life , until she was diagnosed with diabetes six months ago . she immediately vowed to make eating healthy a priority for herself and her 11-year-old daughter . but because she is unemployed , waiting for her disability to come through , it has n't always been easy . we try to eat the best we can , but we often have to cut corners , ' said bolin , 38 . sometimes , that means picking the $ 1.49 mac and cheese over $ 5 worth of vegetables . ' since bolin discovered emmons'produce stand this summer , she has visited nearly every time it 's been open . i could n't believe all the beautiful , fresh vegetables , and the price that she was charging was phenomenal , ' bolin said . it 's making me and my family healthier . ' keeping this enterprise going is a labor of love for emmons , who spent years doing it for free before recently taking a small salary . but she said the work has reconnected her to ideals and interests she 's had her entire life . emmons did n't have a lot of money growing up in boston , but her parents often drove 30 miles to make sure the family had fruits and vegetables . that commitment to healthy eating carried over to adulthood , when she started gardening in charlotte . there was lots of trial and error , ' she said . but i was fascinated with the miracle of watching seed drop into the ground and see it flower and grow fruit . it was satisfying . ' emmons also has become a certified beekeeper , so local honey is now available at her stand . and her new csa initiative -- community supported agriculture -- delivers boxes of fresh produce to families every week . she has attracted local support for her nonprofit , including a local farmer who taught her to drive a tractor and lets her grow food on his land . in august , she opened a permanent farm stand on land donated by north carolina-based corporation martin marietta , and she plans to open an educational center there where she can hold classes and events that promote a healthy lifestyle . eventually , emmons would love to expand her organization across the country , combating food deserts wherever they exist . for now , she 's devoted to helping charlotte residents . when i see people coming to the farm stand ... i feel encouraged , ' she said . i feel like i am giving them a gift -- a healthier , longer , better , more delicious life . ' want to get involved ? check out the sow much good website and see how to help .
study : more than 72,000 people in charlotte , north carolina , live in such a food desert '
north carolina <tsp> charlotte , north carolina ( cnn ) -- for more than a decade , robin emmons felt helpless as her older brother lived on the streets , eating out of garbage cans . she tried repeatedly to get him help for his mental illness , but authorities told her there was nothing they could do . after he was arrested in 2008 for damaging someone 's car during a schizophrenic outburst , she was finally able to become his legal guardian and get him into a halfway house with psychiatric services . but as she watched his mental health improve , she noticed his physical health getting worse . i learned that he was becoming borderline diabetic , ' she said . he was n't like that even when he was homeless . ' she investigated and found out that the nonprofit facility was mainly feeding him packaged and canned foods because it could n't afford fresh fruits and vegetables . i had a small garden , so i thought ,'well , i 'll just put in some extra rows ,' emmons said . i began making weekly deliveries of whatever was coming up . ' she soon realized , however , that the problem extended well beyond her brother 's transitional home . while farmers markets were springing up across the city , she noticed that low-income and working-class neighborhoods had few grocery stores or places to buy fresh produce . if you do n't live in an affluent part of the city ... your easiest options are the dollar menu or the convenience store attached to a gas station , ' said emmons , 45 . for residents who lacked transportation , buying healthy food was even more difficult . it might be a trek , or they might have to borrow a car or get on a bus , ' emmons said . often , once they get there , they are paying a very high price for the food . ' a recent study from the university of north carolina at charlotte confirmed her impressions . it showed that more than 72,000 low-income city residents , many of them minorities , lived in food deserts ' -- areas without a supermarket with fresh food nearby . they also faced a greater risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death . access to fresh food is an issue for many communities throughout the united states . according to the department of agriculture , nearly 10 % of the u.s. population lives in low-income areas more than a mile from a supermarket . discovering this problem sparked something inside emmons , who had recently left her corporate job to find more meaningful work . i really thought it was an injustice . ... healthy food is a basic human right , ' she said . i decided to rip up my whole backyard and make it all a garden , and it just kind of snowballed from there . ' today , emmons has 200 volunteers helping her tend 9 acres of crops on three sites . since 2008 , she says , her nonprofit , sow much good , has grown more than 26,000 pounds of fresh produce for underserved communities in charlotte . at first , emmons donated her locally grown , chemical-free fruits and vegetables to churches and food pantries . but she soon started selling them herself in the neighborhoods that need them the most , for what she estimates is about half the price of organic produce sold in stores . with her 1,000-kilowatt smile and boundless energy , some might call emmons a goodwill ambassador for healthy eating . she 'd claim that her produce -- from cucumbers and okra to watermelon and blueberries -- can sell itself , but her enthusiasm certainly does n't hurt . everyone 's been excited about the string beans , ' she says to one customer . how are you going make yours ? ' she strives to make her food as affordable as possible . people are also able to use their food stamps to purchase anything she sells , including seeds and seedlings so they can grow the food themselves . emmons and her volunteers distribute recipe cards , too , and urge customers to attend the group 's free cooking demonstrations and canning classes . it 's all part of their mission to help people take control over what they are eating and improve their health . and customers seem hungry for all that emmons and her group are offering . we 've been really , really thrilled about the response from the community , ' emmons said . even as early as january of this year , they were calling , asking ,'when are you coming back out ?' brandy bolin says she was a junk-food junkie for much of her life , until she was diagnosed with diabetes six months ago . she immediately vowed to make eating healthy a priority for herself and her 11-year-old daughter . but because she is unemployed , waiting for her disability to come through , it has n't always been easy . we try to eat the best we can , but we often have to cut corners , ' said bolin , 38 . sometimes , that means picking the $ 1.49 mac and cheese over $ 5 worth of vegetables . ' since bolin discovered emmons'produce stand this summer , she has visited nearly every time it 's been open . i could n't believe all the beautiful , fresh vegetables , and the price that she was charging was phenomenal , ' bolin said . it 's making me and my family healthier . ' keeping this enterprise going is a labor of love for emmons , who spent years doing it for free before recently taking a small salary . but she said the work has reconnected her to ideals and interests she 's had her entire life . emmons did n't have a lot of money growing up in boston , but her parents often drove 30 miles to make sure the family had fruits and vegetables . that commitment to healthy eating carried over to adulthood , when she started gardening in charlotte . there was lots of trial and error , ' she said . but i was fascinated with the miracle of watching seed drop into the ground and see it flower and grow fruit . it was satisfying . ' emmons also has become a certified beekeeper , so local honey is now available at her stand . and her new csa initiative -- community supported agriculture -- delivers boxes of fresh produce to families every week . she has attracted local support for her nonprofit , including a local farmer who taught her to drive a tractor and lets her grow food on his land . in august , she opened a permanent farm stand on land donated by north carolina-based corporation martin marietta , and she plans to open an educational center there where she can hold classes and events that promote a healthy lifestyle . eventually , emmons would love to expand her organization across the country , combating food deserts wherever they exist . for now , she 's devoted to helping charlotte residents . when i see people coming to the farm stand ... i feel encouraged , ' she said . i feel like i am giving them a gift -- a healthier , longer , better , more delicious life . ' want to get involved ? check out the sow much good website and see how to help .
study : more than 72,000 people in charlotte , north carolina , live in such a food desert '
robin emmons <tsp> charlotte , north carolina ( cnn ) -- for more than a decade , robin emmons felt helpless as her older brother lived on the streets , eating out of garbage cans . she tried repeatedly to get him help for his mental illness , but authorities told her there was nothing they could do . after he was arrested in 2008 for damaging someone 's car during a schizophrenic outburst , she was finally able to become his legal guardian and get him into a halfway house with psychiatric services . but as she watched his mental health improve , she noticed his physical health getting worse . i learned that he was becoming borderline diabetic , ' she said . he was n't like that even when he was homeless . ' she investigated and found out that the nonprofit facility was mainly feeding him packaged and canned foods because it could n't afford fresh fruits and vegetables . i had a small garden , so i thought ,'well , i 'll just put in some extra rows ,' emmons said . i began making weekly deliveries of whatever was coming up . ' she soon realized , however , that the problem extended well beyond her brother 's transitional home . while farmers markets were springing up across the city , she noticed that low-income and working-class neighborhoods had few grocery stores or places to buy fresh produce . if you do n't live in an affluent part of the city ... your easiest options are the dollar menu or the convenience store attached to a gas station , ' said emmons , 45 . for residents who lacked transportation , buying healthy food was even more difficult . it might be a trek , or they might have to borrow a car or get on a bus , ' emmons said . often , once they get there , they are paying a very high price for the food . ' a recent study from the university of north carolina at charlotte confirmed her impressions . it showed that more than 72,000 low-income city residents , many of them minorities , lived in food deserts ' -- areas without a supermarket with fresh food nearby . they also faced a greater risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death . access to fresh food is an issue for many communities throughout the united states . according to the department of agriculture , nearly 10 % of the u.s. population lives in low-income areas more than a mile from a supermarket . discovering this problem sparked something inside emmons , who had recently left her corporate job to find more meaningful work . i really thought it was an injustice . ... healthy food is a basic human right , ' she said . i decided to rip up my whole backyard and make it all a garden , and it just kind of snowballed from there . ' today , emmons has 200 volunteers helping her tend 9 acres of crops on three sites . since 2008 , she says , her nonprofit , sow much good , has grown more than 26,000 pounds of fresh produce for underserved communities in charlotte . at first , emmons donated her locally grown , chemical-free fruits and vegetables to churches and food pantries . but she soon started selling them herself in the neighborhoods that need them the most , for what she estimates is about half the price of organic produce sold in stores . with her 1,000-kilowatt smile and boundless energy , some might call emmons a goodwill ambassador for healthy eating . she 'd claim that her produce -- from cucumbers and okra to watermelon and blueberries -- can sell itself , but her enthusiasm certainly does n't hurt . everyone 's been excited about the string beans , ' she says to one customer . how are you going make yours ? ' she strives to make her food as affordable as possible . people are also able to use their food stamps to purchase anything she sells , including seeds and seedlings so they can grow the food themselves . emmons and her volunteers distribute recipe cards , too , and urge customers to attend the group 's free cooking demonstrations and canning classes . it 's all part of their mission to help people take control over what they are eating and improve their health . and customers seem hungry for all that emmons and her group are offering . we 've been really , really thrilled about the response from the community , ' emmons said . even as early as january of this year , they were calling , asking ,'when are you coming back out ?' brandy bolin says she was a junk-food junkie for much of her life , until she was diagnosed with diabetes six months ago . she immediately vowed to make eating healthy a priority for herself and her 11-year-old daughter . but because she is unemployed , waiting for her disability to come through , it has n't always been easy . we try to eat the best we can , but we often have to cut corners , ' said bolin , 38 . sometimes , that means picking the $ 1.49 mac and cheese over $ 5 worth of vegetables . ' since bolin discovered emmons'produce stand this summer , she has visited nearly every time it 's been open . i could n't believe all the beautiful , fresh vegetables , and the price that she was charging was phenomenal , ' bolin said . it 's making me and my family healthier . ' keeping this enterprise going is a labor of love for emmons , who spent years doing it for free before recently taking a small salary . but she said the work has reconnected her to ideals and interests she 's had her entire life . emmons did n't have a lot of money growing up in boston , but her parents often drove 30 miles to make sure the family had fruits and vegetables . that commitment to healthy eating carried over to adulthood , when she started gardening in charlotte . there was lots of trial and error , ' she said . but i was fascinated with the miracle of watching seed drop into the ground and see it flower and grow fruit . it was satisfying . ' emmons also has become a certified beekeeper , so local honey is now available at her stand . and her new csa initiative -- community supported agriculture -- delivers boxes of fresh produce to families every week . she has attracted local support for her nonprofit , including a local farmer who taught her to drive a tractor and lets her grow food on his land . in august , she opened a permanent farm stand on land donated by north carolina-based corporation martin marietta , and she plans to open an educational center there where she can hold classes and events that promote a healthy lifestyle . eventually , emmons would love to expand her organization across the country , combating food deserts wherever they exist . for now , she 's devoted to helping charlotte residents . when i see people coming to the farm stand ... i feel encouraged , ' she said . i feel like i am giving them a gift -- a healthier , longer , better , more delicious life . ' want to get involved ? check out the sow much good website and see how to help .
to help them , robin emmons has grown more than 26,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables
newcastle <tsp> ( cnn ) -- newcastle united has fined their manager alan pardew £100,000 ( $ 168,000 ) for head-butting an opposition player during an english premier league match on saturday . the 52-year-old clashed with hull city midfielder david meyler during newcastle 's 4-1 win at the kc stadium . the incident happened in the 72nd minute as meyler was retrieving a ball for a throw in . pardew was sent to the stands by the referee and later apologized . i apologize to everyone . i should not have got involved in it , ' pardew said . in a statement published on the club 's official website , saturday , newcastle said that pardew 's actions were disappointing ' and unacceptable ' and took away from a positive performance on the pitch . alan unreservedly apologized immediately following the game to the player , to hull city football club and its fans , and to the fans of newcastle united , ' the nufc statement said . we have held discussions this evening with alan who has offered his sincere apologies to the club and it is clear he deeply regrets his actions . alan has accepted a formal warning from the club in relation to his behavior today and also a club fine of £100,000 . ' pardew , who has been manager of newcastle since december 2010 , will also be investigated by the english football association about the incident . read more : unstoppable bayern munich slay schalke
newcastle united manager fined £100,000 by club for clash with opposing player
newcastle <tsp> ( cnn ) -- newcastle united has fined their manager alan pardew £100,000 ( $ 168,000 ) for head-butting an opposition player during an english premier league match on saturday . the 52-year-old clashed with hull city midfielder david meyler during newcastle 's 4-1 win at the kc stadium . the incident happened in the 72nd minute as meyler was retrieving a ball for a throw in . pardew was sent to the stands by the referee and later apologized . i apologize to everyone . i should not have got involved in it , ' pardew said . in a statement published on the club 's official website , saturday , newcastle said that pardew 's actions were disappointing ' and unacceptable ' and took away from a positive performance on the pitch . alan unreservedly apologized immediately following the game to the player , to hull city football club and its fans , and to the fans of newcastle united , ' the nufc statement said . we have held discussions this evening with alan who has offered his sincere apologies to the club and it is clear he deeply regrets his actions . alan has accepted a formal warning from the club in relation to his behavior today and also a club fine of £100,000 . ' pardew , who has been manager of newcastle since december 2010 , will also be investigated by the english football association about the incident . read more : unstoppable bayern munich slay schalke
newcastle also give pardew a formal warning ; english fa set to investigate incident
kristen <tsp> washington ( cnn ) -- federal prosecutors have unsealed an affidavit that details a rendezvous in a washington hotel room last month between a prostitute and a client who a source tells cnn was new york gov . eliot spitzer . gov . eliot spitzer , with his wife , silda , by his side , apologizes to his family and to the public . the affidavit does not mention spitzer by name , but a source with knowledge of the case said the subject identified as client-9 is the governor . spitzer took office in january 2007 after serving eight years as the state 's attorney general , when he rose to national prominence as a hard-charging prosecutor . he has not been charged . spitzer , who is married with three children , went before reporters monday to confess to an undisclosed personal indiscretion , saying he had acted in a way that violates my obligations to my family , that violates my or any sense of right and wrong . ' he did not acknowledge the allegations , which were revealed monday in the new york times , nor did he take questions . watch spitzer 's apology » his alleged involvement with the ring was caught on a federal wiretap , the source said . the prostitute , identified only as kristen ' worked for the emperors club , which charged between $ 1,000 and $ 5,500 an hour and operated in new york ; los angeles , california ; miami , florida ; london , england ; and paris , france , according to court papers . according to the affidavit , defendant temeka rachelle lewis -- who is accused of working as a booking agent for the club -- wrote a text message monday , february 11 , asking the operation 's day-to-day organizer to pls let me know if ( client-9 's )'package'arrives 2mrw . appt wd be on wed. ' prosecutors say the message was a reference to a deposit . on tuesday , according to the affidavit , lewis sent a message to kristen , saying client-9 's deposit had not arrived but she should be able to do the trip ' if it arrived the next day . view a gallery of recent political sex scandals » in a later conversation , lewis and kristen discussed when the prostitute could take a train from new york 's penn station to washington 's union station , the affidavit says . client-9 would be paying for everything -- train tickets , cab fare from the hotel and back , mini bar or room service , travel time , and hotel . ' the affidavit says that , about 5 p.m. tuesday , february 12 , lewis spoke with client-9 on the telephone and told him that his package arrived today . ' the client asked lewis whom he would be meeting and , when told it was kristen , said , great , ok , wonderful . ' the two discussed how the woman would get a key to his room for a wednesday rendezvous and how they could arrange credit for future services . client-9 asked lewis to remind him what kristen looked like and lewis said that she was an american , petite , very pretty brunette , 5 feet 5 inches and 105 pounds , ' the affidavit reads . in a call to lewis , client-9 was told the balance would be $ 2,712.41 , but lewis suggested he give kristen $ 1,500 or $ 2,000 more so that he would have a credit . according to the affidavit , kristen called lewis about 9:32 p.m. wednesday , february 13 , and told her she was in client-9 's room -- no . 871 -- at the washington hotel . four minutes later , client-9 was in the hotel , lewis told kristen in another call . no more calls were logged until 12:02 a.m. thursday -- valentine 's day -- nearly 2½ hours later . at that time , kristen told lewis client-9 had left and she had collected $ 4,300 . lewis told the prostitute she 'd been told that client-9 would ask you to do things that , like , you might not think are safe -- you know -- i mean that ... very basic things , ' the affidavit says . kristen told lewis , i have a way of dealing with that . ... i 'd be like , listen dude , you really want the sex ? ' i do n't think he 's difficult , ' kristen is quoted as saying . i mean it 's just kind of like ... whatever ... i 'm here for a purpose . i know what my purpose is . i am not a ... moron , you know what i mean . ' spitzer , who built his career on rooting out public corruption as new york attorney general , became a national figure with a series of high-profile wall street investigations . he is also known for prosecuting prostitution rings . see a timeline of his life » now his lawyers may be questioned about how he paid for the alleged hotel encounter , whether the trail was concealed and whether any banking laws were circumvented as a result , the source said . the investigation into the emperor 's club , which began in october 2007 , included evidence from a confidential source identified in court papers as a prostitute who worked at the club in 2006 and was given immunity . it also included statements from an undercover officer who posed as a customer , more than 5,000 intercepted phone calls and text messages , more than 6,000 e-mails recovered with search warrants , bank records , travel and hotel records and physical surveillance . despite the high cost of the club 's services , the job was not alluring to one potential employee , who sent an e-mail to the club 's management january 28 after speaking to a friend who was working for the agency . i was n't very happy to find out that it 's only 500 ph + over 50 % commission fees ... this is the kind of money i make very easily in photo shoots and the reason i wanted to join your site [ was ] to make an extra money . ' she added : the other think [ sic ] i was a little bit shock and confuse that she had a sex with him twice in an hour and without her taking her out for dinner before . ... so i am very sorry i do n't think this is my kind of thing . ' people who know spitzer , 48 , were surprised by the allegations . to say this is a shock is an understatement , ' said cnn senior legal analyst jeffrey toobin , who went to law school with spitzer . toobin called spitzer the straightest arrow i know . ' i think there 's no question if he is involved -- and i 'm not saying he is , because we do n't know all the facts -- i would say he 'd have to resign , ' said james tedisco , the republican minority leader in the state assembly . tedisco said that spitzer 's push to reform government loses all validity if he was involved in something illegal like that . ' the republican governors association called on spitzer , a democrat , to resign to allow the people of new york to pursue honest leadership . ' the american people are tired of corrupt and hypocritical politicians . the governor of new york is just another in the long list of politicians that have failed their constituents , ' said nick ayers , executive director of the governors association . spitzer 's office , the u.s. attorney 's office in new york and new york mayor michael bloomberg all declined to comment . e-mail to a friend cnn 's kelli arena and john king contributed to this report .
affidavit : unnamed client paid kristen $ 4,300
kristen <tsp> washington ( cnn ) -- federal prosecutors have unsealed an affidavit that details a rendezvous in a washington hotel room last month between a prostitute and a client who a source tells cnn was new york gov . eliot spitzer . gov . eliot spitzer , with his wife , silda , by his side , apologizes to his family and to the public . the affidavit does not mention spitzer by name , but a source with knowledge of the case said the subject identified as client-9 is the governor . spitzer took office in january 2007 after serving eight years as the state 's attorney general , when he rose to national prominence as a hard-charging prosecutor . he has not been charged . spitzer , who is married with three children , went before reporters monday to confess to an undisclosed personal indiscretion , saying he had acted in a way that violates my obligations to my family , that violates my or any sense of right and wrong . ' he did not acknowledge the allegations , which were revealed monday in the new york times , nor did he take questions . watch spitzer 's apology » his alleged involvement with the ring was caught on a federal wiretap , the source said . the prostitute , identified only as kristen ' worked for the emperors club , which charged between $ 1,000 and $ 5,500 an hour and operated in new york ; los angeles , california ; miami , florida ; london , england ; and paris , france , according to court papers . according to the affidavit , defendant temeka rachelle lewis -- who is accused of working as a booking agent for the club -- wrote a text message monday , february 11 , asking the operation 's day-to-day organizer to pls let me know if ( client-9 's )'package'arrives 2mrw . appt wd be on wed. ' prosecutors say the message was a reference to a deposit . on tuesday , according to the affidavit , lewis sent a message to kristen , saying client-9 's deposit had not arrived but she should be able to do the trip ' if it arrived the next day . view a gallery of recent political sex scandals » in a later conversation , lewis and kristen discussed when the prostitute could take a train from new york 's penn station to washington 's union station , the affidavit says . client-9 would be paying for everything -- train tickets , cab fare from the hotel and back , mini bar or room service , travel time , and hotel . ' the affidavit says that , about 5 p.m. tuesday , february 12 , lewis spoke with client-9 on the telephone and told him that his package arrived today . ' the client asked lewis whom he would be meeting and , when told it was kristen , said , great , ok , wonderful . ' the two discussed how the woman would get a key to his room for a wednesday rendezvous and how they could arrange credit for future services . client-9 asked lewis to remind him what kristen looked like and lewis said that she was an american , petite , very pretty brunette , 5 feet 5 inches and 105 pounds , ' the affidavit reads . in a call to lewis , client-9 was told the balance would be $ 2,712.41 , but lewis suggested he give kristen $ 1,500 or $ 2,000 more so that he would have a credit . according to the affidavit , kristen called lewis about 9:32 p.m. wednesday , february 13 , and told her she was in client-9 's room -- no . 871 -- at the washington hotel . four minutes later , client-9 was in the hotel , lewis told kristen in another call . no more calls were logged until 12:02 a.m. thursday -- valentine 's day -- nearly 2½ hours later . at that time , kristen told lewis client-9 had left and she had collected $ 4,300 . lewis told the prostitute she 'd been told that client-9 would ask you to do things that , like , you might not think are safe -- you know -- i mean that ... very basic things , ' the affidavit says . kristen told lewis , i have a way of dealing with that . ... i 'd be like , listen dude , you really want the sex ? ' i do n't think he 's difficult , ' kristen is quoted as saying . i mean it 's just kind of like ... whatever ... i 'm here for a purpose . i know what my purpose is . i am not a ... moron , you know what i mean . ' spitzer , who built his career on rooting out public corruption as new york attorney general , became a national figure with a series of high-profile wall street investigations . he is also known for prosecuting prostitution rings . see a timeline of his life » now his lawyers may be questioned about how he paid for the alleged hotel encounter , whether the trail was concealed and whether any banking laws were circumvented as a result , the source said . the investigation into the emperor 's club , which began in october 2007 , included evidence from a confidential source identified in court papers as a prostitute who worked at the club in 2006 and was given immunity . it also included statements from an undercover officer who posed as a customer , more than 5,000 intercepted phone calls and text messages , more than 6,000 e-mails recovered with search warrants , bank records , travel and hotel records and physical surveillance . despite the high cost of the club 's services , the job was not alluring to one potential employee , who sent an e-mail to the club 's management january 28 after speaking to a friend who was working for the agency . i was n't very happy to find out that it 's only 500 ph + over 50 % commission fees ... this is the kind of money i make very easily in photo shoots and the reason i wanted to join your site [ was ] to make an extra money . ' she added : the other think [ sic ] i was a little bit shock and confuse that she had a sex with him twice in an hour and without her taking her out for dinner before . ... so i am very sorry i do n't think this is my kind of thing . ' people who know spitzer , 48 , were surprised by the allegations . to say this is a shock is an understatement , ' said cnn senior legal analyst jeffrey toobin , who went to law school with spitzer . toobin called spitzer the straightest arrow i know . ' i think there 's no question if he is involved -- and i 'm not saying he is , because we do n't know all the facts -- i would say he 'd have to resign , ' said james tedisco , the republican minority leader in the state assembly . tedisco said that spitzer 's push to reform government loses all validity if he was involved in something illegal like that . ' the republican governors association called on spitzer , a democrat , to resign to allow the people of new york to pursue honest leadership . ' the american people are tired of corrupt and hypocritical politicians . the governor of new york is just another in the long list of politicians that have failed their constituents , ' said nick ayers , executive director of the governors association . spitzer 's office , the u.s. attorney 's office in new york and new york mayor michael bloomberg all declined to comment . e-mail to a friend cnn 's kelli arena and john king contributed to this report .
affidavit details alleged encounter with kristen ' in hotel room
clark <tsp> atlanta , georgia ( cnn ) -- our educational system is essentially a soviet-style government-run monopoly that could only be loved by the likes of lenin and stalin . hln money expert clark howard says the american education system is n't giving taxpayers their money 's worth . now , i know that 's a strong opening statement , but consider this : the government decides where your kids go to school ; what curriculum they 'll study ; and even develops long-term educational plans just like the communists devised five-year plans . this kind of one-size-fits-all ' approach really punishes kids . and zero tolerance policies are a symptom of the stranglehold our government has on schools . for example , the supreme court recently heard a case about a 13-year-old arizona student suspected of possessing advil back in 2003 . for that crime , she was strip-searched to see if she had hidden ibuprofen pills on her body . the arizona school system maintained it had the right to do what it did . what 's more , it remained defiant through the years , constantly appealing unfavorable lower court decisions when challenged . arizona ultimately took the case all the way up to the highest court in the land . in late june , the supremes ruled 8-1 that the school system 's actions were unconstitutional . see clark discuss why he thinks governments should n't own banks » in another instance of an insane zero tolerance policy , the washington post reports that a virginia teen was suspended for two weeks last year after taking a prescription birth-control pill during lunch . this was not a religious or moral issue ; the school was instead arguing that it was illegal for students to have prescription pills on the premises . that student even faced expulsion ! this is what we 've done by not offering school choice in our nation . i have long been a fan of vouchers , charter schools and home schooling to bust up the government monopoly on the education of our children . do you think this whole issue does n't affect you because you do n't have kids ? think again . huge amounts of your taxes are still spent to support schools that are failures . if this country is going to invest so much into government-run education , we should be taking a cue from a nation like finland . simply put , the finns have the best public education system in the world . their 15 year-old students are consistently excelling in standardized testing versus any other nation , according to the results of the most recent pisa exams ( program for international student assessment ) -- a test of academic proficiency administered every three years in many countries . finnish students ranked no . 1 in science scores , and no . 2 in both math and reading . and the united states ? we come in at no . 29 in science , no . 35 in math , and a recent u.s. reading score which would n't even track in the top 10 countries in the world . in finland , children begin studying algebra , geometry and statistics in the first grade . by 15 , they speak three languages , which , of course , is not uncommon throughout europe . according to the dallas morning news , a team of texas educators recently traveled to helsinki to learn from the finns . what they found was that teachers had 100 percent freedom to educate as they saw fit . they treated their classroom like an entrepreneur would treat his or her business . contrast that to how we do things in america with our five-year plans and giant bureaucracies determining what gets taught . our brand of institutionalized education lite ' -- with far too few hours spent in the classroom and an antiquated summer vacation schedule from america 's agrarian days -- just is n't cutting it .
ask clark -- have a question or comment ? share it at ireport.com
clark <tsp> atlanta , georgia ( cnn ) -- our educational system is essentially a soviet-style government-run monopoly that could only be loved by the likes of lenin and stalin . hln money expert clark howard says the american education system is n't giving taxpayers their money 's worth . now , i know that 's a strong opening statement , but consider this : the government decides where your kids go to school ; what curriculum they 'll study ; and even develops long-term educational plans just like the communists devised five-year plans . this kind of one-size-fits-all ' approach really punishes kids . and zero tolerance policies are a symptom of the stranglehold our government has on schools . for example , the supreme court recently heard a case about a 13-year-old arizona student suspected of possessing advil back in 2003 . for that crime , she was strip-searched to see if she had hidden ibuprofen pills on her body . the arizona school system maintained it had the right to do what it did . what 's more , it remained defiant through the years , constantly appealing unfavorable lower court decisions when challenged . arizona ultimately took the case all the way up to the highest court in the land . in late june , the supremes ruled 8-1 that the school system 's actions were unconstitutional . see clark discuss why he thinks governments should n't own banks » in another instance of an insane zero tolerance policy , the washington post reports that a virginia teen was suspended for two weeks last year after taking a prescription birth-control pill during lunch . this was not a religious or moral issue ; the school was instead arguing that it was illegal for students to have prescription pills on the premises . that student even faced expulsion ! this is what we 've done by not offering school choice in our nation . i have long been a fan of vouchers , charter schools and home schooling to bust up the government monopoly on the education of our children . do you think this whole issue does n't affect you because you do n't have kids ? think again . huge amounts of your taxes are still spent to support schools that are failures . if this country is going to invest so much into government-run education , we should be taking a cue from a nation like finland . simply put , the finns have the best public education system in the world . their 15 year-old students are consistently excelling in standardized testing versus any other nation , according to the results of the most recent pisa exams ( program for international student assessment ) -- a test of academic proficiency administered every three years in many countries . finnish students ranked no . 1 in science scores , and no . 2 in both math and reading . and the united states ? we come in at no . 29 in science , no . 35 in math , and a recent u.s. reading score which would n't even track in the top 10 countries in the world . in finland , children begin studying algebra , geometry and statistics in the first grade . by 15 , they speak three languages , which , of course , is not uncommon throughout europe . according to the dallas morning news , a team of texas educators recently traveled to helsinki to learn from the finns . what they found was that teachers had 100 percent freedom to educate as they saw fit . they treated their classroom like an entrepreneur would treat his or her business . contrast that to how we do things in america with our five-year plans and giant bureaucracies determining what gets taught . our brand of institutionalized education lite ' -- with far too few hours spent in the classroom and an antiquated summer vacation schedule from america 's agrarian days -- just is n't cutting it .
clark supports vouchers , charter schools to break up government monopoly
clark <tsp> atlanta , georgia ( cnn ) -- our educational system is essentially a soviet-style government-run monopoly that could only be loved by the likes of lenin and stalin . hln money expert clark howard says the american education system is n't giving taxpayers their money 's worth . now , i know that 's a strong opening statement , but consider this : the government decides where your kids go to school ; what curriculum they 'll study ; and even develops long-term educational plans just like the communists devised five-year plans . this kind of one-size-fits-all ' approach really punishes kids . and zero tolerance policies are a symptom of the stranglehold our government has on schools . for example , the supreme court recently heard a case about a 13-year-old arizona student suspected of possessing advil back in 2003 . for that crime , she was strip-searched to see if she had hidden ibuprofen pills on her body . the arizona school system maintained it had the right to do what it did . what 's more , it remained defiant through the years , constantly appealing unfavorable lower court decisions when challenged . arizona ultimately took the case all the way up to the highest court in the land . in late june , the supremes ruled 8-1 that the school system 's actions were unconstitutional . see clark discuss why he thinks governments should n't own banks » in another instance of an insane zero tolerance policy , the washington post reports that a virginia teen was suspended for two weeks last year after taking a prescription birth-control pill during lunch . this was not a religious or moral issue ; the school was instead arguing that it was illegal for students to have prescription pills on the premises . that student even faced expulsion ! this is what we 've done by not offering school choice in our nation . i have long been a fan of vouchers , charter schools and home schooling to bust up the government monopoly on the education of our children . do you think this whole issue does n't affect you because you do n't have kids ? think again . huge amounts of your taxes are still spent to support schools that are failures . if this country is going to invest so much into government-run education , we should be taking a cue from a nation like finland . simply put , the finns have the best public education system in the world . their 15 year-old students are consistently excelling in standardized testing versus any other nation , according to the results of the most recent pisa exams ( program for international student assessment ) -- a test of academic proficiency administered every three years in many countries . finnish students ranked no . 1 in science scores , and no . 2 in both math and reading . and the united states ? we come in at no . 29 in science , no . 35 in math , and a recent u.s. reading score which would n't even track in the top 10 countries in the world . in finland , children begin studying algebra , geometry and statistics in the first grade . by 15 , they speak three languages , which , of course , is not uncommon throughout europe . according to the dallas morning news , a team of texas educators recently traveled to helsinki to learn from the finns . what they found was that teachers had 100 percent freedom to educate as they saw fit . they treated their classroom like an entrepreneur would treat his or her business . contrast that to how we do things in america with our five-year plans and giant bureaucracies determining what gets taught . our brand of institutionalized education lite ' -- with far too few hours spent in the classroom and an antiquated summer vacation schedule from america 's agrarian days -- just is n't cutting it .
hln money expert clark howard : u.s. education system is n't adding up
georgia <tsp> atlanta , georgia ( cnn ) -- it 's geek pride week in atlanta as thousands of fans take over four downtown hotels for dragon * con , an annual celebration of science fiction , fantasy , comics and gaming . karen lee and husband dillan dressed like comic book characters for dragon * con in atlanta , georgia . where else -- ok , other than san francisco or new orleans -- are city streets shut down for a ragtag parade of zombies , superheroes , robots , klingons and middle earth dwellers ? where else can comic book collectors rub shoulders with movie stars , vampires , alternate-history speculators and harry potter look-alikes , all while taking part in a lively game of godzilla bingo ? the whole thing is a bit of a shock to college football fans in town for the season-opening game between alabama and virginia tech , one of whom called it a freak show . ' but those aliens grow on you after a while . at first i thought it was really strange , ' hokies fan emily nardone of ashburn , virginia , said . but now i see everybody 's having so much fun . and i enjoy looking at the freaks . ' one dragon * con freak ' getting a lot of looks was karen lee of cullman , alabama . she was dressed a dramatic , cleavage-baring winged costume inspired by dawn ' comic book artist joseph michael linsner . lee made the costume by hand at home . my living room is completely demolished , ' she said . her husband , dillan , made up as the batman character two-face , said he could attest to the condition of the living room . lee is entered in a dawn look-alike contest with a top prize of $ 1,000 . the theory behind the concept of dawn is just paying homage to women of all shapes and sizes , ' she said . she can be blonde , brunette or redhead . so basically , it 's just inviting women to get up there and do their interpretation of what they think beauty in women is . ' ireport.com : share your pics and videos from dragon * con fashion augmented with gadgetry is what drew pendleton , south carolina , librarians gypsey teague and marla roberson to a dragon * con workshop on steampunk costuming . steampunk is sci-fi set in a victorian aesthetic . think pearl-handled , brass-barreled ray guns . the movies league of extraordinary gentlemen ' and wild wild west ' are examples of the genre . anything your imagination can come up with , you can do , ' roberson said as she marveled at a vendor 's shoes that had little copper boilers and compasses on them . but it seems there 's a certain element of snobbery in steampunk . a crew of steampunk pirates entered the room , decked out in their tricorn hats and eye patches . teague was not impressed . where 's your molecular destabilizer ? ' she sniffed . out in the hallway , steampunk time travelers candace and kane bacon were just arriving . they 're new to the game , but kane had a copper staff with dials on top and a big metal backpack with dials and knobs strapped to his back . a large brass key dangled from the sash around candace 's waist , and she carried a basket of dinosaur eggs they 'd found . some of it we had just [ lying ] around the house , antique stuff , ' candace said . other parts we got from lowe 's . the backpack is made from radio parts ; my dad is in the radio business , and he got some old radio parts for us . and yard sale gadgets . ' she said she was a steampunker before she knew what steampunking was . watch the dragon * con parade » ' i 'd always liked jules verne and h.g . wells , that type of stuff , ' she said . i decorated my living room in antiques and like , old compasses , and i did n't realize that that was steampunk until we actually got here ' to last year 's dragon * con , she said . the johnson city , tennessee , couple chose to forego the hotels and stay with a friend just outside atlanta and ride marta , the public rail system , in to the convention . marta 's central five points station was peopled saturday morning with anime heroines , a wizardess with green lipstick and an incongruous ladybug who appeared to be about 8 years old -- all mingling with football fans , a few of whom were in pretty outlandish getups themselves . watch dragon * con attendees in full regalia » there were no incidents , however , as intergalactic military police were on hand everywhere to maintain order . back at the marriott marquis , thousands of attendees snaked through lobbies on several levels . among them was melinda ellington , an international affairs student at georgia tech . she carried an orange and yellow parasol and wore a green jumpsuit as the spaceship mechanic kaylee from the short-lived joss whedon tv series firefly . ' you meet anyone who likes'firefly ,'it 's weird because we immediately become like family , ' she said on the hotel 's mezzanine . a very large , creepy , incestuous family , but family nonetheless . ' in the lobby below her , a 20-piece brass band blasted a set of henry mancini show tunes while thousands of attendees filed past . they needed to keep moving , lest anyone be late for the evil geniuses for a better tomorrow recruiting session and bake sale .
college football fans caught unawares by atlanta , georgia , freak show '
connecticut <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a calculated , cold-blooded predator . ' that was how connecticut judge james bentivegna described a then 22-year-old joshua komisarjevsky on december 20 , 2002 , when the defendant was sentenced after being convicted on 12 counts of burglary . today , komisarjevsky -- now 31 -- sits in a connecticut courtroom , where a jury will weigh his guilt on murder charges , and potentially pave the way for a death sentence . prosecutors say that on july 23 , 2007 , komisarjevsky and an accomplice , steven hayes , invaded the home of dr. william petit , raped and strangled his wife , jennifer hawke-petit , molested one of their daughters , and set the house on fire before attempting to flee . hawke-petit and her daughters -- 17-year-old hayley petit and 11-year-old michaela petit -- died in the invasion of their cheshire , connecticut , home . dr. william petit , although severely beaten , managed to escape and crawl to a neighbor 's residence . hayes was sentenced to death in december , after being convicted of 16 out of the 17 charges related to the three deaths . both suspects had lengthy criminal records when they were arrested for the petit invasion . komisarjevsky 's long rap sheet , in particular , suggest that he was a troubled young man with a penchant for nighttime burglary and crystal meth . officials with the connecticut board of pardons and paroles declined to speak with cnn , citing a gag order in the case . but over 200 pages of komisarjevsky 's parole records have been released , which -- along with previous court testimony -- help paint a picture of the accused . one of his former attorneys , william gerace , said that komisarjevsky came from a close , religious family . but at the age of 14 , he began using drugs -- the same year , he claims , that he found out that he was adopted . by 18 , komisarjevsky had found his drugs of choice : crystal meth and cocaine . he told the parole board that he stole money and electronics from upscale homes to feed his drug habit . yet a transcript from his 2002 sentencing paints komisarjevsky as more than just the average thief . according to a police statement read aloud in court that day , komisarjevsky admitted that he broke into his first house when he was 14 years old . i always wore gloves , with the exception of one incident when i was 14 . i always acted alone . approximately a year and a half ago , i acquired night vision goggles ... i used the night-vision equipment during the burglaries ( over ) the past year , ' he said , according to the transcript . gerace , who was komisarjevsky 's defense attorney at the time , stressed that a need for money , to pay for drugs , drove his client . but he admitted that the way he went about it was unusual . ninety-nine percent of burglaries are ( committed by ) junkies -- there 's nothing romantic about what they do , ' said gerace . that was the first time i 'd seen something as exotic as that . ' komisarjevsky confessed that he only broke into homes at night and never during the day -- a point stressed by prosecutors in the 2002 trial . they said his affinity for breaking into people 's homes at night showed that he wanted a confrontation , since that was the time when the residents were the most likely to be at home . speaking during his december 2002 sentencing , komisarjevsky appeared repentant . he addressed the court saying , i 've turned my back on my faith in god and my family . and in doing so , i fell flat on my face and deep into hard drugs ... the crimes i committed was weighing so heavily on my shoulders . ' but the judge was not moved by komisarjevsky 's show of remorse , sentencing him to nine years in prison plus six years of special parole , which has greater restrictions than typical probation . in april 2007 , he was paroled . and three months later , komisarjevsky was arrested for the petit home invasion and murders . what happened then , and what may have driven komisarjevsky , remains a mystery to gerace , his former attorney . he was a very complex young man . i do n't think i 've met anyone quite that complex , and i sensed there was an abundance of issues that had to be dealt with , ' gerace said . i wish him well , and i hope the jury makes the right decision . '
prosecutors say he killed a connecticut woman and set a fire that killed her daughters
atlantic coast <tsp> myrtle beach , south carolina ( cnn ) -- after earning a reputation as a killer in haiti , tropical storm hanna amounted to little more than a windy rainstorm along the atlantic coast on saturday . water almost covers the dock at the marine corps air station marina near the new river in north carolina . no states have expressed any damage that they could n't handle , ' said glenn cannon , the federal emergency management agency 's assistant administrator for disaster operations . he said there were some concerns about flooding near rivers and in low-lying areas . we 're monitoring hanna , but it seems to be a heavy rain event , ' he said . according to the associated press , hanna did cause one death in a traffic accident on interstate 95 in maryland . many people in huntington , virginia , about 8 miles northwest of virginia beach , voluntarily evacuated saturday afternoon because of concerns about flooding , fairfax county public information officer merni fitzgerald said . the area , which has flooded in the past , was receiving heavy rain , she said . she could not provide an exact number of people who had evacuated . the storm drenched the carolinas and virginia with heavy rain pushed by 55-mph winds as it zipped northward near 30 mph ( 48 kph ) , the national hurricane center reported at 11 p.m . et saturday . at that hour , the center of the storm was 90 miles ( 145 kilometers ) west-southwest of long island , new york , and about 135 miles ( 220 kilometers ) southwest of providence , rhode island . hanna would travel the coast all the way up to canada 's maritime provinces by sunday night , forecasters said . hanna came ashore at 3:20 a.m . et near the north carolina-south carolina state line . it caused a surge of 1 to 2 feet of water along the shore and was expected to deliver 4 to 6 inches of rain , with some areas getting more . flooding , wind damage and power outages were minor across the carolinas , according to emergency officials . view a map of hanna 's projected path » ' it 's actually going fairly well , with some reports of minor flooding , ' said south carolina emergency management spokesman derrec becker . about 10,000 south carolina homes were without power saturday morning , mostly in the myrtle beach area , becker said . he also said 444 south carolina residents were staying in 15 shelters . in north carolina , nearly 12,000 homes had no electricity , mostly in the counties near where hanna came in , said state emergency management spokesman mark van sciver . see what impact hanna had on wrightsville beach , north carolina » no deaths were reported , flooding was limited , and no highways were closed , van sciver said . nearly 1,500 residents sought refuge saturday in 49 emergency shelters in north carolina , van sciver said . the storm snarled some travel plans . it triggered delays for arrivals to philadelphia international airport in pennsylvania and departures from newark international airport in new jersey and john f. kennedy international airport in new york , the federal aviation administration said . delays at jfk airport averaged about four hours , the faa said . hanna 's eye made landfall near little river inlet at the south carolina-north carolina line , according to cnn meteorologists . watch wind whip a south carolina beach » pounding waves flattened some sand dunes on the beaches at oak island , north carolina , just east of the storm 's landfall . the island 's ocean crest pier , rebuilt after hurricane floyd destroyed it nine years ago , held up under hanna , but the american flag flying above it was in tatters and barely attached to its pole by sunrise . by saturday afternoon , the hurricane center had discontinued a tropical storm warning southward from cape hatteras , north carolina . a tropical storm warning covered much of the east coast from cape hatteras to merrimack river , massachusetts , about 31 miles north of boston . the warning included all of chesapeake bay , washington , new york harbor and long island sound , as well as popular vacation islands martha 's vineyard , block island and nantucket . the warning means tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours . ireport.com : are you getting soaked ? hanna caused severe flooding and killed at least 137 as it lingered for several days over and just off the coast of haiti . u.n. relief supplies started arriving in the beleaguered country friday , even as hurricane ike threatens to do even more damage . ike will pass near or over the turks and caicos islands , just north of haiti , and the southeastern bahamas in the next day , the hurricane center said . ike 's impact on the united states is less certain , but it could brush south florida and hit the gulf coast as a major hurricane next week . ireport.com : there 's now a pond in my car '
4 to 6 inches of rain expected all along atlantic coast
colombians <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a former african naval chief appeared in a new york city court friday accused of being a drug kingpin involved in smuggling cocaine from latin american paramilitaries into the united states . rear adm. jose americo bubo na tchuto , once head of guinea bissau 's navy , was seized on a boat on the atlantic ocean by officials from the u.s. drug enforcement agency . four other guinea-bissau citizens -- manuel mamadi mane , saliu sisse , papis djeme and tchamy yala -- have also been detained . two more men , rafael antonio garavito-garcia and gustavo perez-garcia , both colombian , were arrested in a related operation friday in colombia . they remain there pending extradition to the united states . the five african men appeared in a u.s. magistrate court in new york friday . dea administrator michele leonhart said the arrests were significant victories ' against terrorism and international drug trafficking . alleged narco-terrorists such as these , who traffic drugs in west africa and elsewhere , are some of the world 's most violent and brutal criminals , ' she said in a dea statement . they have no respect for borders , and no regard for either the rule of law or who they harm as a result of their criminal endeavors . ' according to the dea , na tchuto , djeme and yala all face charges of conspiracy to import narcotics into the united states . if found guilty , they could face life in prison . na tchuto was designated a drug kingpin by the u.s. treasury department in 2010 , at which point he was chief of staff of guinea-bissau 's navy . he was subsequently arrested over his alleged involvement in an attempted coup in 2011 and then freed after another coup in 2012 . the two colombians , along with mane and sisse , were charged with conspiring to engage in narco-terrorism ; conspiring to import narcotics into the united states ; and conspiring to provide aid to the revolutionary armed forces of colombia , or farc , as the guerrilla group is commonly known , by storing farc-owned cocaine in west africa . mane , sisse and garavito-garcia were also charged with conspiring to sell weapons , including surface-to-air missiles , to be used to protect farc cocaine processing operations in colombia against u.s. military forces . the arrests were the culmination of a long-standing undercover operation in guinea-bissau and elsewhere , the dea said . na tchuto , djeme and yala were detained tuesday in international waters near cape verde , off the west african coast , the dea said , while mane and sisse were arrested in a west african nation two days later and handed over to u.s. authorities . they were then flown to the united states . guinea-bissau , a small coastal nation of about 1.6 million people sandwiched between senegal and guinea , has been wracked by successive coups and attempted coups since it gained independence from portugal in 1974 . the current transitional government took over after the last military-backed coup in april 2012 . a u.s. justice department report in 2011 highlighted west africa 's growing role in the international drugs trade -- and put guinea-bissau at the center of that illegal activity . due to its lack of law enforcement capabilities , its susceptibility to corruption , its porous borders , and its strategic location , guinea-bissau remains a significant hub of narcotics trafficking on the verge of developing into a narco-state , ' the report said . while many officials within the government of guinea-bissau recognize the extent of the drug problem and express a willingness to address it , a crippling lack of resources and capacity remains a hindrance to real progress in combating drug trafficking . ' the report pointed to na tchuto 's then-position as navy chief as likely to further entrench drug cartels in the permissive operating conditions prevailing in guinea-bissau . ' according to the indictment unsealed friday in new york , mane , sisse , garavito-garcia and perez-garcia agreed to receive and store multi-ton shipments of farc-owned cocaine in guinea-bissau ' where it would be held before being shipped to the united states . once there , it would be sold for the farc 's gain . the defendants also agreed that a portion of the cocaine would be used to pay guinea-bissau government officials for providing safe passage for the cocaine through guinea-bissau . ' na tchuto , in discussions with undercover dea sources , allegedly noted that it would be a good time to carry out the plan because the guinea bissau government was weak after the recent coup . he allegedly offered to use a company he owned to help with the plan and said his fee would be $ 1 million per 1,000 kilograms of cocaine received in guinea bissau , the indictment said . the farc , designated a foreign terrorist organization by the united states , and the colombian government have been at war since the 1960s . though it began as an insurgency and continues to champion leftist causes , the farc is sometimes criticized for eschewing its beliefs in favor of running drugs . colombia is one of the world 's top cocaine producers , and the farc is thought to make hundreds of millions of dollars from the illicit trade each year . the five african suspects are due back in court later this month .
they and two colombians were arrested as part of a dea undercover operation
guillermo del toro <tsp> london , england ( cnn ) -- eight years ago , gael garcia bernal and diego luna became global pin-ups for the resurgence in mexican filmmaking after their memorable breakthrough in coming-of-age road movie y tu mama tambien . ' rudo y cursi ' reunites luna and bernal , who became pin-ups for the resurgence in mexican filmmaking with y tu mama tambien ' in 2001 . today , luna and bernal 's on-screen chemistry has once again grabbed the public 's attention , this time in mexico , where their latest film rudo y cursi ' made box-office history . it became the fourth highest-grossing film in the country 's history when it was released at the end of 2008 . rudo y cursi , ' approximately translated as tough and corny , tells the story of two rural banana farmers who , after being'spotted'by a crooked talent scout , gain instant celebrity in the mexican soccer league playing for opposing teams . but , mesmerized by women and fast cars and unable to defy their demons , they look on powerless as the dream disintegrates in front of them almost as suddenly as it arrived . the movie touches on fame , poverty and corruption , but for its makers , it is ultimately a tale of brotherhood . it was written written and directed by carlos cuaron , and is the first release from groundbreaking new production venture cha cha cha films . cha cha cha was established by mexico 's three leading directors who are also renowned internationally -- carlos'brother alfonso cuaron ( children of men ' ) , alejandro gonzalez inarritu ( babel ' ) and guillermo del toro ( pan 's labyrinth ' ) . all three serve as producers on the film . in pictures : bernal and garcia in rudo y cursi ' » ' originally i wanted to make a fake documentary about a footballer from a humble background who made it big and then disappeared mysteriously , ' carlos cuaron told cnn . but i told this idea to gael [ garcia bernal ] and diego [ luna ] , and they both said they wanted to play the part . i had one part and two actors . so i made up another brother and forgot about the fake documentary . ' cuaron also cast bernal and luna -- best friends since childhood in mexico city who were so keen to do the film the signed up before they saw a script -- against type and against their wishes . both had originally wanted to play the opposite character : bernal the abrasive rudo , and luna the romantic cursi . they were eventually dissuaded by cuaron who said : i do n't want to make y tu mama tambien 2 . ' the idea behind cha cha cha films was conceived by cuaron senior , del toro and innaritu when the trio -- a kind of all-stars of mexican cinema -- found themselves with a surprise 16 nominations and 4 awards at the 2007 oscars . the idea came out of a desire to pool their their rising bargaining power and maximize their clout in hollywood -- and , of course , out of friendship . the company was born out of friendship and sibling sympathies , ' del toro told cnn . when carlos was originally writing the script , his bother , alfonso told him thought it was perfect for cha cha cha . the venture formalizes a working relationship del toro , innaritu and alfonso cuaron have had for years , but they freely admit they spend little time together . rather it is a case of exchanging ideas and honing each other 's writing over the phone and via email from all over the globe . del toro , for example , is currently in new zealand directing peter jackson 's follow-up to his wildly successful lord of the rings ' trilogy , the hobbit . ' it would appear that the mexican trio have created an ideal creative environment for themselves , cha cha cha has been criticized for forgetting their mexican heritage in the rush to embrace hollywood . it is not a criticism they take lightly . watch cuaron , bernal and garcia talking about rudo y cursi ' ' i do n't care about mexican films , about indie films , about hollywood films , ' says alfonso . just good or bad movies . yes , it 's great that we have a common background as mexican creators , but once you are a creator you have a common language with creators from all around the world . ' for del toro , the company will extend the influence of mexican cinema not diminish it : we want to give mexican cinema , if you want to call it that , the credentials and right to exist in world cinema . people do n't think twice when [ italian filmmaker ] bernardo bertolucci is doing a movie about china called'the last emperor .' but in your mind , latin american filmmakers are only doing latin american films . we 're trying to show that it 's important to have roots , but not borders . ' the bittersweet drama has played to big laughs all over mexico and the u.s. , but for its makers , it is not simply a comedy . people talk about this film as if it 's a comedy but i question that , ' says alfonso . the elements are very dramatic and actually very tragic , and the ending has a very bittersweet tone . ' according to del toro , the movie says there 's a way to be comfortable with failure , and finding you 're emotionally more satisfied in failing . ' failure though , is not an issue overly burdening cha cha cha 's three amigos , ' -- their second film , biutiful , ' set in barcelona , directed by inarritu and starring javier bardem is currently being edited in spain . alfonso told cnn his next movie would be shot in france and scotland , and would be in french and english , though that too will be a cha cha cha film . ' carlos cuaron is the only one who is unhappy , despite the unprecedented success of his directorial debut . for me it 's difficult , ' he says . whenever i see the movie , i only see the flaws . nobody else sees them . ' not even your mother ? ' asks bernal . no , not my mother , ' says the director . she thinks i 'm a genius . '
alejandro gonzalez inarritu , alfonso cuaron , guillermo del toro behind film
mexican <tsp> london , england ( cnn ) -- eight years ago , gael garcia bernal and diego luna became global pin-ups for the resurgence in mexican filmmaking after their memorable breakthrough in coming-of-age road movie y tu mama tambien . ' rudo y cursi ' reunites luna and bernal , who became pin-ups for the resurgence in mexican filmmaking with y tu mama tambien ' in 2001 . today , luna and bernal 's on-screen chemistry has once again grabbed the public 's attention , this time in mexico , where their latest film rudo y cursi ' made box-office history . it became the fourth highest-grossing film in the country 's history when it was released at the end of 2008 . rudo y cursi , ' approximately translated as tough and corny , tells the story of two rural banana farmers who , after being'spotted'by a crooked talent scout , gain instant celebrity in the mexican soccer league playing for opposing teams . but , mesmerized by women and fast cars and unable to defy their demons , they look on powerless as the dream disintegrates in front of them almost as suddenly as it arrived . the movie touches on fame , poverty and corruption , but for its makers , it is ultimately a tale of brotherhood . it was written written and directed by carlos cuaron , and is the first release from groundbreaking new production venture cha cha cha films . cha cha cha was established by mexico 's three leading directors who are also renowned internationally -- carlos'brother alfonso cuaron ( children of men ' ) , alejandro gonzalez inarritu ( babel ' ) and guillermo del toro ( pan 's labyrinth ' ) . all three serve as producers on the film . in pictures : bernal and garcia in rudo y cursi ' » ' originally i wanted to make a fake documentary about a footballer from a humble background who made it big and then disappeared mysteriously , ' carlos cuaron told cnn . but i told this idea to gael [ garcia bernal ] and diego [ luna ] , and they both said they wanted to play the part . i had one part and two actors . so i made up another brother and forgot about the fake documentary . ' cuaron also cast bernal and luna -- best friends since childhood in mexico city who were so keen to do the film the signed up before they saw a script -- against type and against their wishes . both had originally wanted to play the opposite character : bernal the abrasive rudo , and luna the romantic cursi . they were eventually dissuaded by cuaron who said : i do n't want to make y tu mama tambien 2 . ' the idea behind cha cha cha films was conceived by cuaron senior , del toro and innaritu when the trio -- a kind of all-stars of mexican cinema -- found themselves with a surprise 16 nominations and 4 awards at the 2007 oscars . the idea came out of a desire to pool their their rising bargaining power and maximize their clout in hollywood -- and , of course , out of friendship . the company was born out of friendship and sibling sympathies , ' del toro told cnn . when carlos was originally writing the script , his bother , alfonso told him thought it was perfect for cha cha cha . the venture formalizes a working relationship del toro , innaritu and alfonso cuaron have had for years , but they freely admit they spend little time together . rather it is a case of exchanging ideas and honing each other 's writing over the phone and via email from all over the globe . del toro , for example , is currently in new zealand directing peter jackson 's follow-up to his wildly successful lord of the rings ' trilogy , the hobbit . ' it would appear that the mexican trio have created an ideal creative environment for themselves , cha cha cha has been criticized for forgetting their mexican heritage in the rush to embrace hollywood . it is not a criticism they take lightly . watch cuaron , bernal and garcia talking about rudo y cursi ' ' i do n't care about mexican films , about indie films , about hollywood films , ' says alfonso . just good or bad movies . yes , it 's great that we have a common background as mexican creators , but once you are a creator you have a common language with creators from all around the world . ' for del toro , the company will extend the influence of mexican cinema not diminish it : we want to give mexican cinema , if you want to call it that , the credentials and right to exist in world cinema . people do n't think twice when [ italian filmmaker ] bernardo bertolucci is doing a movie about china called'the last emperor .' but in your mind , latin american filmmakers are only doing latin american films . we 're trying to show that it 's important to have roots , but not borders . ' the bittersweet drama has played to big laughs all over mexico and the u.s. , but for its makers , it is not simply a comedy . people talk about this film as if it 's a comedy but i question that , ' says alfonso . the elements are very dramatic and actually very tragic , and the ending has a very bittersweet tone . ' according to del toro , the movie says there 's a way to be comfortable with failure , and finding you 're emotionally more satisfied in failing . ' failure though , is not an issue overly burdening cha cha cha 's three amigos , ' -- their second film , biutiful , ' set in barcelona , directed by inarritu and starring javier bardem is currently being edited in spain . alfonso told cnn his next movie would be shot in france and scotland , and would be in french and english , though that too will be a cha cha cha film . ' carlos cuaron is the only one who is unhappy , despite the unprecedented success of his directorial debut . for me it 's difficult , ' he says . whenever i see the movie , i only see the flaws . nobody else sees them . ' not even your mother ? ' asks bernal . no , not my mother , ' says the director . she thinks i 'm a genius . '
film has gone down in mexican history as fourth most popular box office hit ever
mexican <tsp> london , england ( cnn ) -- eight years ago , gael garcia bernal and diego luna became global pin-ups for the resurgence in mexican filmmaking after their memorable breakthrough in coming-of-age road movie y tu mama tambien . ' rudo y cursi ' reunites luna and bernal , who became pin-ups for the resurgence in mexican filmmaking with y tu mama tambien ' in 2001 . today , luna and bernal 's on-screen chemistry has once again grabbed the public 's attention , this time in mexico , where their latest film rudo y cursi ' made box-office history . it became the fourth highest-grossing film in the country 's history when it was released at the end of 2008 . rudo y cursi , ' approximately translated as tough and corny , tells the story of two rural banana farmers who , after being'spotted'by a crooked talent scout , gain instant celebrity in the mexican soccer league playing for opposing teams . but , mesmerized by women and fast cars and unable to defy their demons , they look on powerless as the dream disintegrates in front of them almost as suddenly as it arrived . the movie touches on fame , poverty and corruption , but for its makers , it is ultimately a tale of brotherhood . it was written written and directed by carlos cuaron , and is the first release from groundbreaking new production venture cha cha cha films . cha cha cha was established by mexico 's three leading directors who are also renowned internationally -- carlos'brother alfonso cuaron ( children of men ' ) , alejandro gonzalez inarritu ( babel ' ) and guillermo del toro ( pan 's labyrinth ' ) . all three serve as producers on the film . in pictures : bernal and garcia in rudo y cursi ' » ' originally i wanted to make a fake documentary about a footballer from a humble background who made it big and then disappeared mysteriously , ' carlos cuaron told cnn . but i told this idea to gael [ garcia bernal ] and diego [ luna ] , and they both said they wanted to play the part . i had one part and two actors . so i made up another brother and forgot about the fake documentary . ' cuaron also cast bernal and luna -- best friends since childhood in mexico city who were so keen to do the film the signed up before they saw a script -- against type and against their wishes . both had originally wanted to play the opposite character : bernal the abrasive rudo , and luna the romantic cursi . they were eventually dissuaded by cuaron who said : i do n't want to make y tu mama tambien 2 . ' the idea behind cha cha cha films was conceived by cuaron senior , del toro and innaritu when the trio -- a kind of all-stars of mexican cinema -- found themselves with a surprise 16 nominations and 4 awards at the 2007 oscars . the idea came out of a desire to pool their their rising bargaining power and maximize their clout in hollywood -- and , of course , out of friendship . the company was born out of friendship and sibling sympathies , ' del toro told cnn . when carlos was originally writing the script , his bother , alfonso told him thought it was perfect for cha cha cha . the venture formalizes a working relationship del toro , innaritu and alfonso cuaron have had for years , but they freely admit they spend little time together . rather it is a case of exchanging ideas and honing each other 's writing over the phone and via email from all over the globe . del toro , for example , is currently in new zealand directing peter jackson 's follow-up to his wildly successful lord of the rings ' trilogy , the hobbit . ' it would appear that the mexican trio have created an ideal creative environment for themselves , cha cha cha has been criticized for forgetting their mexican heritage in the rush to embrace hollywood . it is not a criticism they take lightly . watch cuaron , bernal and garcia talking about rudo y cursi ' ' i do n't care about mexican films , about indie films , about hollywood films , ' says alfonso . just good or bad movies . yes , it 's great that we have a common background as mexican creators , but once you are a creator you have a common language with creators from all around the world . ' for del toro , the company will extend the influence of mexican cinema not diminish it : we want to give mexican cinema , if you want to call it that , the credentials and right to exist in world cinema . people do n't think twice when [ italian filmmaker ] bernardo bertolucci is doing a movie about china called'the last emperor .' but in your mind , latin american filmmakers are only doing latin american films . we 're trying to show that it 's important to have roots , but not borders . ' the bittersweet drama has played to big laughs all over mexico and the u.s. , but for its makers , it is not simply a comedy . people talk about this film as if it 's a comedy but i question that , ' says alfonso . the elements are very dramatic and actually very tragic , and the ending has a very bittersweet tone . ' according to del toro , the movie says there 's a way to be comfortable with failure , and finding you 're emotionally more satisfied in failing . ' failure though , is not an issue overly burdening cha cha cha 's three amigos , ' -- their second film , biutiful , ' set in barcelona , directed by inarritu and starring javier bardem is currently being edited in spain . alfonso told cnn his next movie would be shot in france and scotland , and would be in french and english , though that too will be a cha cha cha film . ' carlos cuaron is the only one who is unhappy , despite the unprecedented success of his directorial debut . for me it 's difficult , ' he says . whenever i see the movie , i only see the flaws . nobody else sees them . ' not even your mother ? ' asks bernal . no , not my mother , ' says the director . she thinks i 'm a genius . '
mexican superstars gael garcia bernal , diego luna star together
kosovo <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the syrian army assaulted the city of houla on may 25 , murdering 90 people , 30 of them children younger than 10 . amateur video reveals rows of bodies , adults and children , riddled with bullet holes and filling makeshift morgues . earlier , reports from homs described people tortured , doused in gasoline and set on fire , with the death toll including men , women and children . the red cross announced it is withdrawing its workers in damascus , leaving only 50 core workers , and the arab red crescent has suspended its first aid efforts in aleppo after repeated attacks on its vehicles and facilities by the syrian army . civilian residences are shelled with artillery and tanks and bombed from planes , day after day . what else would it take for the civilized world to conclude that the line has been crossed and decent people can no longer stand by ? true , the atrocities in syria do not compare in scope to those of the holocaust ; however , they have one major common element : they are not the work of some gangs , like those in mexico ; terrorists , like al qaeda in iraq ; or foreign intruders , like the pakistani taliban in afghanistan . they are the acts of a national government , a government that is systematically using its military to hammer its own people . here , there are no difficulties in determining who is involved , and above all , who is in charge . the media sticks punctiliously to professional standards and keeps reminding us that this or that report about the last outrage is unconfirmed . ' the new york times notes that reports on summary executions by syrian security forces in baba amr remain unconfirmed . ' although this or that detail may not be verifiable , the syrian authorities do not deny that most of the reported barbaric acts have taken place . they merely claim that they are dealing with foreign terrorists and are entitled to a free hand . q & a : what options are left in syria ? the united states and other democracies claim that they are stymied by the u.n. security council 's refusal to authorize the use of all means necessary ' to stop the carnage , leaving the blood of syrian civilians on the hands of russia and china , who threaten to veto the kind of resolution that legalized the intervention in libya . but when the west faced atrocities on a smaller scale in kosovo and could not gain the u.n. 's blessing , it acted decisively and effectively . the bloodshed was stopped . if the west were to proceed in syria , countries could point to a unanimous u.n. general assembly resolution known as r2p , which states that all governments have a responsibility to protect their own people . the resolution warns governments that if they do not discharge this responsibility , they forfeit their right to sovereignty and the international community has not only a right to interfere , but a duty . we are told that the rebels include extreme islamists , even al qaeda elements , who are hostile to the west and may commit atrocities of their own . indeed , the rebels lined up against the wall and shot dead several bashar al-assad loyalists in aleppo on august 1 . there is also the fear that rebels might incite a civil war among syria 's various ethnic groups , a result that would cost many additional lives . our goal should be limited : pressure al-assad 's regime to negotiate with the rebels on major reforms but not to hand them victory . we surely do not want to repeat the mistake we made in iraq , in which the army and most civil servants were fired and the country plunged into anarchy and lawlessness . above all , we must warn the rebels that we shall cease all support for them if they commit atrocities , a step we did not undertake in libya , resulting in some very distressing consequences . finally , we are cautioned that the syrian military is mightier , better equipped and more able to fight than the libyan one was . well , it is a year and half since the syrian conflict began , and the army so far has been unable to gain an upper hand against disorganized , poorly equipped , untrained rebels . it seems obvious that al-assad 's troops are hardly a match for the american military machine . no one in his right mind suggests that the u.s. should invade syria . but the u.s. could bomb the command and control centers of the syrian army and , above all , the compound of those who are responsible for the brutal slaughtering of civilians -- al-assad and his inner circle . the goal would be to punish the leaders of this campaign , to stop the slaughtering of civilians , to force those in charge to negotiate a settlement with the rebels and to warn other tyrants who watch syria from the sidelines that they should not believe that they could act with impunity if they were to follow a similar course . frankly , it may be too late . the rebels might not be ready to deal with the syrian regime , even if those who head it are replaced . and the regime might collapse and the country plunge into chaos and increased bloodshed at any moment . however , if america and its allies act , it will be clear that there is a limit to our tolerance -- that we will not hide behind the veto of russia and china and refuse to move when large-scale crimes are committed by a government against its own people . the opinions in this commentary are solely those of amitai etzioni .
the west stopped atrocities in kosovo without u.n. ok and could do so in syria , he says
ghana <tsp> ( cnn ) -- ghana , the four time champion of the african cup of nations , took a giant step towards qualifying for the quarterfinals following a 1-0 win over mali in south africa thursday . mubarak wakaso 's 38th minute penalty was enough to separate the two teams in a game which the black stars dominated . but the contest could have turned out in a very diferent fashion had ghana goalkeeper fatau dauda been sent off for deliberately handling the ball outside of his penalty area . mourinho mentors cape verde 's'special one' the incident occurred with just eight minutes played in port elizabeth when dauda clearly used his hands to field the ball and deny mali a clear effort on goal . the referee remarkably only produced a yellow card , a decision which was later criticized by mali coach patrice carteron . he told reporters : the referee did not help us because he ought to have sent off the ghana goalkeeper rather than just booking him for handling the ball outside his area . ghana was better , especially in the first half , but we still have a game to qualify for the next round and so we will forget this match and focus on our next game . ' after the early let-off , ghana began to assert itself and came close to taking the lead when emmanuel agyeman badu crashed a header against the post . africa cup of nations 2013 : the teams but ghana did n't have to wait long for the breakthrough as wakaso stroked home from the spot following adam tamboura 's foul on agyeman badu . mali tried to force an equalizer after the break and seydou keita came close to connecting with mahamane traore 's pass , but ghana held out for the points . we were much more tactically disciplined in this game than against dr congo , but i know we can do a lot better than we did today , ' ghana coach kwesi appiah told reporters . captain asamoah gyan added : it was a difficult game . we needed to win and now we have four points , but we need more to qualify to the next stage and so we will not underrate niger . ' the result leaves ghana at the top of group b on four points from its two games , one point clear of mali going into the final round of games . in the day 's other game , niger held on for its first ever point at the africa cup of nations after holding democratic republic of congo to a goalless draw . with such great players from niger , you can only be proud of them , ' niger coach gernot rohr told reporters . i 'm very happy we have made some kind of history by collecting our first cup of nations point . we have made some progress in this competition after losing all three matches in gabon last year . ' niger 's modibo sidibe wasted his side 's best chance on 10 minutes when he ran clear on goal only to fire his effort against the base of the post . fuad ibrahim eyes africa cup of nations chance dieumerci mbokani went close for the leopards , having his fierce effort well saved by niger goalkeeper daouda kassaly . west bromwich albion midfielder youssouf mulumbu then fired wide as democratic republic of congo continued to pile on the pressure . niger 's kassaly continued to keep his side in the contest with a couple of outstanding saves , while at the other end , moussa maazou went close with a header . ghana , which last won the competition in 1982 , will face niger in its final group game on monday with mali taking on democratic republic of congo .
ghana leads table from mali with one group game remaining
ghana <tsp> ( cnn ) -- ghana , the four time champion of the african cup of nations , took a giant step towards qualifying for the quarterfinals following a 1-0 win over mali in south africa thursday . mubarak wakaso 's 38th minute penalty was enough to separate the two teams in a game which the black stars dominated . but the contest could have turned out in a very diferent fashion had ghana goalkeeper fatau dauda been sent off for deliberately handling the ball outside of his penalty area . mourinho mentors cape verde 's'special one' the incident occurred with just eight minutes played in port elizabeth when dauda clearly used his hands to field the ball and deny mali a clear effort on goal . the referee remarkably only produced a yellow card , a decision which was later criticized by mali coach patrice carteron . he told reporters : the referee did not help us because he ought to have sent off the ghana goalkeeper rather than just booking him for handling the ball outside his area . ghana was better , especially in the first half , but we still have a game to qualify for the next round and so we will forget this match and focus on our next game . ' after the early let-off , ghana began to assert itself and came close to taking the lead when emmanuel agyeman badu crashed a header against the post . africa cup of nations 2013 : the teams but ghana did n't have to wait long for the breakthrough as wakaso stroked home from the spot following adam tamboura 's foul on agyeman badu . mali tried to force an equalizer after the break and seydou keita came close to connecting with mahamane traore 's pass , but ghana held out for the points . we were much more tactically disciplined in this game than against dr congo , but i know we can do a lot better than we did today , ' ghana coach kwesi appiah told reporters . captain asamoah gyan added : it was a difficult game . we needed to win and now we have four points , but we need more to qualify to the next stage and so we will not underrate niger . ' the result leaves ghana at the top of group b on four points from its two games , one point clear of mali going into the final round of games . in the day 's other game , niger held on for its first ever point at the africa cup of nations after holding democratic republic of congo to a goalless draw . with such great players from niger , you can only be proud of them , ' niger coach gernot rohr told reporters . i 'm very happy we have made some kind of history by collecting our first cup of nations point . we have made some progress in this competition after losing all three matches in gabon last year . ' niger 's modibo sidibe wasted his side 's best chance on 10 minutes when he ran clear on goal only to fire his effort against the base of the post . fuad ibrahim eyes africa cup of nations chance dieumerci mbokani went close for the leopards , having his fierce effort well saved by niger goalkeeper daouda kassaly . west bromwich albion midfielder youssouf mulumbu then fired wide as democratic republic of congo continued to pile on the pressure . niger 's kassaly continued to keep his side in the contest with a couple of outstanding saves , while at the other end , moussa maazou went close with a header . ghana , which last won the competition in 1982 , will face niger in its final group game on monday with mali taking on democratic republic of congo .
ghana defeats mali 1-0 in port elizabeth to top group b
mali <tsp> ( cnn ) -- ghana , the four time champion of the african cup of nations , took a giant step towards qualifying for the quarterfinals following a 1-0 win over mali in south africa thursday . mubarak wakaso 's 38th minute penalty was enough to separate the two teams in a game which the black stars dominated . but the contest could have turned out in a very diferent fashion had ghana goalkeeper fatau dauda been sent off for deliberately handling the ball outside of his penalty area . mourinho mentors cape verde 's'special one' the incident occurred with just eight minutes played in port elizabeth when dauda clearly used his hands to field the ball and deny mali a clear effort on goal . the referee remarkably only produced a yellow card , a decision which was later criticized by mali coach patrice carteron . he told reporters : the referee did not help us because he ought to have sent off the ghana goalkeeper rather than just booking him for handling the ball outside his area . ghana was better , especially in the first half , but we still have a game to qualify for the next round and so we will forget this match and focus on our next game . ' after the early let-off , ghana began to assert itself and came close to taking the lead when emmanuel agyeman badu crashed a header against the post . africa cup of nations 2013 : the teams but ghana did n't have to wait long for the breakthrough as wakaso stroked home from the spot following adam tamboura 's foul on agyeman badu . mali tried to force an equalizer after the break and seydou keita came close to connecting with mahamane traore 's pass , but ghana held out for the points . we were much more tactically disciplined in this game than against dr congo , but i know we can do a lot better than we did today , ' ghana coach kwesi appiah told reporters . captain asamoah gyan added : it was a difficult game . we needed to win and now we have four points , but we need more to qualify to the next stage and so we will not underrate niger . ' the result leaves ghana at the top of group b on four points from its two games , one point clear of mali going into the final round of games . in the day 's other game , niger held on for its first ever point at the africa cup of nations after holding democratic republic of congo to a goalless draw . with such great players from niger , you can only be proud of them , ' niger coach gernot rohr told reporters . i 'm very happy we have made some kind of history by collecting our first cup of nations point . we have made some progress in this competition after losing all three matches in gabon last year . ' niger 's modibo sidibe wasted his side 's best chance on 10 minutes when he ran clear on goal only to fire his effort against the base of the post . fuad ibrahim eyes africa cup of nations chance dieumerci mbokani went close for the leopards , having his fierce effort well saved by niger goalkeeper daouda kassaly . west bromwich albion midfielder youssouf mulumbu then fired wide as democratic republic of congo continued to pile on the pressure . niger 's kassaly continued to keep his side in the contest with a couple of outstanding saves , while at the other end , moussa maazou went close with a header . ghana , which last won the competition in 1982 , will face niger in its final group game on monday with mali taking on democratic republic of congo .
ghana leads table from mali with one group game remaining
mali <tsp> ( cnn ) -- ghana , the four time champion of the african cup of nations , took a giant step towards qualifying for the quarterfinals following a 1-0 win over mali in south africa thursday . mubarak wakaso 's 38th minute penalty was enough to separate the two teams in a game which the black stars dominated . but the contest could have turned out in a very diferent fashion had ghana goalkeeper fatau dauda been sent off for deliberately handling the ball outside of his penalty area . mourinho mentors cape verde 's'special one' the incident occurred with just eight minutes played in port elizabeth when dauda clearly used his hands to field the ball and deny mali a clear effort on goal . the referee remarkably only produced a yellow card , a decision which was later criticized by mali coach patrice carteron . he told reporters : the referee did not help us because he ought to have sent off the ghana goalkeeper rather than just booking him for handling the ball outside his area . ghana was better , especially in the first half , but we still have a game to qualify for the next round and so we will forget this match and focus on our next game . ' after the early let-off , ghana began to assert itself and came close to taking the lead when emmanuel agyeman badu crashed a header against the post . africa cup of nations 2013 : the teams but ghana did n't have to wait long for the breakthrough as wakaso stroked home from the spot following adam tamboura 's foul on agyeman badu . mali tried to force an equalizer after the break and seydou keita came close to connecting with mahamane traore 's pass , but ghana held out for the points . we were much more tactically disciplined in this game than against dr congo , but i know we can do a lot better than we did today , ' ghana coach kwesi appiah told reporters . captain asamoah gyan added : it was a difficult game . we needed to win and now we have four points , but we need more to qualify to the next stage and so we will not underrate niger . ' the result leaves ghana at the top of group b on four points from its two games , one point clear of mali going into the final round of games . in the day 's other game , niger held on for its first ever point at the africa cup of nations after holding democratic republic of congo to a goalless draw . with such great players from niger , you can only be proud of them , ' niger coach gernot rohr told reporters . i 'm very happy we have made some kind of history by collecting our first cup of nations point . we have made some progress in this competition after losing all three matches in gabon last year . ' niger 's modibo sidibe wasted his side 's best chance on 10 minutes when he ran clear on goal only to fire his effort against the base of the post . fuad ibrahim eyes africa cup of nations chance dieumerci mbokani went close for the leopards , having his fierce effort well saved by niger goalkeeper daouda kassaly . west bromwich albion midfielder youssouf mulumbu then fired wide as democratic republic of congo continued to pile on the pressure . niger 's kassaly continued to keep his side in the contest with a couple of outstanding saves , while at the other end , moussa maazou went close with a header . ghana , which last won the competition in 1982 , will face niger in its final group game on monday with mali taking on democratic republic of congo .
ghana defeats mali 1-0 in port elizabeth to top group b
niger <tsp> ( cnn ) -- ghana , the four time champion of the african cup of nations , took a giant step towards qualifying for the quarterfinals following a 1-0 win over mali in south africa thursday . mubarak wakaso 's 38th minute penalty was enough to separate the two teams in a game which the black stars dominated . but the contest could have turned out in a very diferent fashion had ghana goalkeeper fatau dauda been sent off for deliberately handling the ball outside of his penalty area . mourinho mentors cape verde 's'special one' the incident occurred with just eight minutes played in port elizabeth when dauda clearly used his hands to field the ball and deny mali a clear effort on goal . the referee remarkably only produced a yellow card , a decision which was later criticized by mali coach patrice carteron . he told reporters : the referee did not help us because he ought to have sent off the ghana goalkeeper rather than just booking him for handling the ball outside his area . ghana was better , especially in the first half , but we still have a game to qualify for the next round and so we will forget this match and focus on our next game . ' after the early let-off , ghana began to assert itself and came close to taking the lead when emmanuel agyeman badu crashed a header against the post . africa cup of nations 2013 : the teams but ghana did n't have to wait long for the breakthrough as wakaso stroked home from the spot following adam tamboura 's foul on agyeman badu . mali tried to force an equalizer after the break and seydou keita came close to connecting with mahamane traore 's pass , but ghana held out for the points . we were much more tactically disciplined in this game than against dr congo , but i know we can do a lot better than we did today , ' ghana coach kwesi appiah told reporters . captain asamoah gyan added : it was a difficult game . we needed to win and now we have four points , but we need more to qualify to the next stage and so we will not underrate niger . ' the result leaves ghana at the top of group b on four points from its two games , one point clear of mali going into the final round of games . in the day 's other game , niger held on for its first ever point at the africa cup of nations after holding democratic republic of congo to a goalless draw . with such great players from niger , you can only be proud of them , ' niger coach gernot rohr told reporters . i 'm very happy we have made some kind of history by collecting our first cup of nations point . we have made some progress in this competition after losing all three matches in gabon last year . ' niger 's modibo sidibe wasted his side 's best chance on 10 minutes when he ran clear on goal only to fire his effort against the base of the post . fuad ibrahim eyes africa cup of nations chance dieumerci mbokani went close for the leopards , having his fierce effort well saved by niger goalkeeper daouda kassaly . west bromwich albion midfielder youssouf mulumbu then fired wide as democratic republic of congo continued to pile on the pressure . niger 's kassaly continued to keep his side in the contest with a couple of outstanding saves , while at the other end , moussa maazou went close with a header . ghana , which last won the competition in 1982 , will face niger in its final group game on monday with mali taking on democratic republic of congo .
niger hold democratic republic of congo to goalless draw
tombstone <tsp> tombstone , arizona ( cnn ) -- the six forest service rangers suddenly crouched , whispering , on their way up the rocky mountain trail . it was early friday afternoon , the first day of the tombstone shovel brigade , and the rangers were out in force , hiking to the spot where dozens of volunteers worked with picks and shovels to move and bury tombstone 's makeshift water line . shhh ! look ! do you see it ? the rangers stopped in their tracks . binoculars emerged from pockets , and fingers pointed to a stand of trees . and there it was , a mexican spotted owl , perched high in a pine tree . it was a male , the rangers said , with his back turned to the intruders . he scratched and preened . but mostly , the owl seemed to be watching the nest in a nearby sycamore tree where his mate tended to an owlet . the owl is a threatened species , and until a few days ago its presence in fire-scorched miller canyon was a matter of speculation . but now that it has surfaced , the owl could be a game-changer in the water war between the u.s. forest service and the wild west city made famous by the 30-second gunfight at the o.k . corral . tombstone is trying to repair a 26-mile pipeline that has brought mountain spring water into the city since 1881 . it was damaged during last summer 's monument fire and monsoon rains that brought mud , water and boulders crashing down the denuded slopes . the miller peak wilderness area , where owls nest in the trees above tombstone 's pipeline , was hit particularly hard . sections of pipeline simply vanished , and tombstone 's reservoir ran dry by august . kevin rudd , project manager for the tombstone pipeline , said the repaired pipeline needs to be shored up or it surely will be washed away when the monsoon rains return next month . planned tasks for the shovel brigade include reinforcing the spring and diverting its flow by using boulders , sand , downed trees and other flood debris . as for the owl , nobody could say for certain after the fire whether it would return . but it 's the big reason why the forest service would n't simply hand tombstone a permit to use heavy construction equipment to fix the pipeline . tombstone responded by taking the feds to court . since then , the conflict has escalated , taking on a life of its own . tombstone now asserts that it owns 25 springs in the huachuca mountains and should n't have to ask anyone for permission to maintain its own water line . the forest service says tombstone holds permits for just five springs , and it argues the city is trying to exploit a natural disaster to expand its water system . with the conservative goldwater institute taking on tombstone 's legal work , the court battle has blossomed into a full-blown states rights dispute . tombstone is getting the attention of activists from utah , new mexico and other western states who say the federal government has gone too far . it has become ground zero in a rekindled sagebrush rebellion . i 'd love to say that this is a partisan issue and that if this administration changes , it 's going to be all sweetness and light , ' said caren cowan , a tombstone native who now heads the new mexico cattle growers association . but i have 22 years of experience telling me otherwise . it 's not a partisan issue . ' cowan said she has battled the forest service often on behalf of ranchers in her state and has found that people in washington just do n't understand the west . they do n't understand the wide open spaces and how we live and how we manage the land . ' the federal government controls millions of acres in the west , and some folks believe the feds have reneged on a promise to turn over large swaths to local control once statehood was achieved . it 's a battle cry once made by oilmen and ranchers , and now state and local governments are taking up the cause . the leaders of the jarbidge shovel brigade , which in 2000 used volunteer muscle power to move a boulder and reopen a wilderness road near elko , nevada , rallied to tombstone 's side . a nonprofit organization was set up , and tombstone so far has received $ 2,000 in donations and about 400 shovels . the jarbidge contingent then traveled to tombstone , hiked up the mountain and labored on the pipeline . so did ken ivory , a state representative from utah , who won passage of legislation that seeks to turn over federal land to his state . he says the conflict playing out in tombstone is an example of the forest service dictating to , rather than working with , local government officials . he says the feds suddenly cut off tombstone 's access to springs and roads the city has maintained for 130 years under an arbitrary and irrational federal policy . ' as a result , ivory said , tombstone is minutes away from going up in smoke ' because it is a wooden town in the middle of the desert in the middle of a drought . ' at the center of the debate is the mexican spotted owl . what is more important , owls or the people of tombstone ? ' james upchurch , a forest service supervisor who oversees the wilderness , was asked in court earlier this year . upchurch responded that there was no easy answer , which left jaws dropping on tombstone 's side of the courtroom . so far , the forest service had been winning in court ; tombstone 's request for an emergency injunction went all the way to the u.s. supreme court but was turned down . the feds seemed to be losing in the court of public opinion , though . tombstone tells a compelling story , portraying the forest service as a rogue agency of obstructionist , tree-hugging bureaucrats . the forest service had offered little comment , and when it did say something , it sounded to the people of tombstone , well , tree-hugging and bureaucratic . but the rangers came out in force on friday , presenting their helpful side . a group of forest service firefighters hiked up the mountain and used a two-man crosscut saw to take down a tree and clear a path for the pipeline . while everyone agrees the relationship between tombstone city officials and forest service rangers has improved in recent weeks , their differences simmer just below the surface . the agency is working with the city to come up with a plan to keep water flowing to tombstone , but it is n't standing down . the forest service granted permits thursday for the city to bring the all-volunteer shovel brigade into the canyon to shore up the pipeline . tombstone has until 8 p.m. saturday to finish the job . and so , under an unforgiving desert sun , about 100 people -- including old west cowboy types with monikers such as whiskers ' and cowboy doug ' -- gathered at tombstone 's old high school football field friday for the first day of an event that was billed as part protest and part work party . cowan , who heads the cattle growers group , grew up in tombstone and remembers playing powder puff football on that field during the 1970s . her great-grandfather was among tombstone 's first settlers and made a name for himself in banking and ranching , but she considers herself an economic refugee from arizona . ' she says she knows all too well how difficult navigating forest service regulations can be . the idea that the forest service is trying to take water away from my hometown is just beyond words , ' she said . i 'm very proud to be here today to help and to fight . we 're going to fix this , and the forest service is going to listen . ' the three-mile hike up the mountain was grueling in the 100-degree heat . the trail is steep and rocky , and some of the volunteers did n't make it to the top . those who did found themselves moving boulders , digging trenches and sliding on gravelly slopes . soaked with sweat , they staggered down the mountain after a couple of hours of hard labor . it 's just a lot of manual labor , ' said ben headen , president of tombstone 's american legion post . it was frustrating , he said , because we should n't be doing it by manual labor , we should be using equipment . ' his friend tim ferrick , a fellow veteran , said he considered it his patriotic duty ' to stand up for tombstone 's water rights . meanwhile , tombstone 's cause has found a champion in washington . u.s. rep. jeff flake , an arizona republican , recently introduced h.r . 5971 , the emergency water supply restoration act . it proposes to set aside forest service restrictions against the use of construction equipment during state-declared water emergencies . flake and nancy sosa , tombstone 's archivist , were among the witnesses who testified before a subcommittee of the house on friday . flake said : the unforeseen consequences of federal laws and regulations threaten to do something outlaws , economic busts and the arizona desert could n't : kill the town too tough to die . '
in washington , tombstone 's cause has found a champion in arizona congressman
tombstone <tsp> tombstone , arizona ( cnn ) -- the six forest service rangers suddenly crouched , whispering , on their way up the rocky mountain trail . it was early friday afternoon , the first day of the tombstone shovel brigade , and the rangers were out in force , hiking to the spot where dozens of volunteers worked with picks and shovels to move and bury tombstone 's makeshift water line . shhh ! look ! do you see it ? the rangers stopped in their tracks . binoculars emerged from pockets , and fingers pointed to a stand of trees . and there it was , a mexican spotted owl , perched high in a pine tree . it was a male , the rangers said , with his back turned to the intruders . he scratched and preened . but mostly , the owl seemed to be watching the nest in a nearby sycamore tree where his mate tended to an owlet . the owl is a threatened species , and until a few days ago its presence in fire-scorched miller canyon was a matter of speculation . but now that it has surfaced , the owl could be a game-changer in the water war between the u.s. forest service and the wild west city made famous by the 30-second gunfight at the o.k . corral . tombstone is trying to repair a 26-mile pipeline that has brought mountain spring water into the city since 1881 . it was damaged during last summer 's monument fire and monsoon rains that brought mud , water and boulders crashing down the denuded slopes . the miller peak wilderness area , where owls nest in the trees above tombstone 's pipeline , was hit particularly hard . sections of pipeline simply vanished , and tombstone 's reservoir ran dry by august . kevin rudd , project manager for the tombstone pipeline , said the repaired pipeline needs to be shored up or it surely will be washed away when the monsoon rains return next month . planned tasks for the shovel brigade include reinforcing the spring and diverting its flow by using boulders , sand , downed trees and other flood debris . as for the owl , nobody could say for certain after the fire whether it would return . but it 's the big reason why the forest service would n't simply hand tombstone a permit to use heavy construction equipment to fix the pipeline . tombstone responded by taking the feds to court . since then , the conflict has escalated , taking on a life of its own . tombstone now asserts that it owns 25 springs in the huachuca mountains and should n't have to ask anyone for permission to maintain its own water line . the forest service says tombstone holds permits for just five springs , and it argues the city is trying to exploit a natural disaster to expand its water system . with the conservative goldwater institute taking on tombstone 's legal work , the court battle has blossomed into a full-blown states rights dispute . tombstone is getting the attention of activists from utah , new mexico and other western states who say the federal government has gone too far . it has become ground zero in a rekindled sagebrush rebellion . i 'd love to say that this is a partisan issue and that if this administration changes , it 's going to be all sweetness and light , ' said caren cowan , a tombstone native who now heads the new mexico cattle growers association . but i have 22 years of experience telling me otherwise . it 's not a partisan issue . ' cowan said she has battled the forest service often on behalf of ranchers in her state and has found that people in washington just do n't understand the west . they do n't understand the wide open spaces and how we live and how we manage the land . ' the federal government controls millions of acres in the west , and some folks believe the feds have reneged on a promise to turn over large swaths to local control once statehood was achieved . it 's a battle cry once made by oilmen and ranchers , and now state and local governments are taking up the cause . the leaders of the jarbidge shovel brigade , which in 2000 used volunteer muscle power to move a boulder and reopen a wilderness road near elko , nevada , rallied to tombstone 's side . a nonprofit organization was set up , and tombstone so far has received $ 2,000 in donations and about 400 shovels . the jarbidge contingent then traveled to tombstone , hiked up the mountain and labored on the pipeline . so did ken ivory , a state representative from utah , who won passage of legislation that seeks to turn over federal land to his state . he says the conflict playing out in tombstone is an example of the forest service dictating to , rather than working with , local government officials . he says the feds suddenly cut off tombstone 's access to springs and roads the city has maintained for 130 years under an arbitrary and irrational federal policy . ' as a result , ivory said , tombstone is minutes away from going up in smoke ' because it is a wooden town in the middle of the desert in the middle of a drought . ' at the center of the debate is the mexican spotted owl . what is more important , owls or the people of tombstone ? ' james upchurch , a forest service supervisor who oversees the wilderness , was asked in court earlier this year . upchurch responded that there was no easy answer , which left jaws dropping on tombstone 's side of the courtroom . so far , the forest service had been winning in court ; tombstone 's request for an emergency injunction went all the way to the u.s. supreme court but was turned down . the feds seemed to be losing in the court of public opinion , though . tombstone tells a compelling story , portraying the forest service as a rogue agency of obstructionist , tree-hugging bureaucrats . the forest service had offered little comment , and when it did say something , it sounded to the people of tombstone , well , tree-hugging and bureaucratic . but the rangers came out in force on friday , presenting their helpful side . a group of forest service firefighters hiked up the mountain and used a two-man crosscut saw to take down a tree and clear a path for the pipeline . while everyone agrees the relationship between tombstone city officials and forest service rangers has improved in recent weeks , their differences simmer just below the surface . the agency is working with the city to come up with a plan to keep water flowing to tombstone , but it is n't standing down . the forest service granted permits thursday for the city to bring the all-volunteer shovel brigade into the canyon to shore up the pipeline . tombstone has until 8 p.m. saturday to finish the job . and so , under an unforgiving desert sun , about 100 people -- including old west cowboy types with monikers such as whiskers ' and cowboy doug ' -- gathered at tombstone 's old high school football field friday for the first day of an event that was billed as part protest and part work party . cowan , who heads the cattle growers group , grew up in tombstone and remembers playing powder puff football on that field during the 1970s . her great-grandfather was among tombstone 's first settlers and made a name for himself in banking and ranching , but she considers herself an economic refugee from arizona . ' she says she knows all too well how difficult navigating forest service regulations can be . the idea that the forest service is trying to take water away from my hometown is just beyond words , ' she said . i 'm very proud to be here today to help and to fight . we 're going to fix this , and the forest service is going to listen . ' the three-mile hike up the mountain was grueling in the 100-degree heat . the trail is steep and rocky , and some of the volunteers did n't make it to the top . those who did found themselves moving boulders , digging trenches and sliding on gravelly slopes . soaked with sweat , they staggered down the mountain after a couple of hours of hard labor . it 's just a lot of manual labor , ' said ben headen , president of tombstone 's american legion post . it was frustrating , he said , because we should n't be doing it by manual labor , we should be using equipment . ' his friend tim ferrick , a fellow veteran , said he considered it his patriotic duty ' to stand up for tombstone 's water rights . meanwhile , tombstone 's cause has found a champion in washington . u.s. rep. jeff flake , an arizona republican , recently introduced h.r . 5971 , the emergency water supply restoration act . it proposes to set aside forest service restrictions against the use of construction equipment during state-declared water emergencies . flake and nancy sosa , tombstone 's archivist , were among the witnesses who testified before a subcommittee of the house on friday . flake said : the unforeseen consequences of federal laws and regulations threaten to do something outlaws , economic busts and the arizona desert could n't : kill the town too tough to die . '
volunteer shovel brigade heads to hills to fix tombstone water line by hand
iran <tsp> ( cnn ) -- an iranian human-rights activist and nobel laureate has joined the legal team of an iranian-american journalist convicted of spying and jailed in iran . shirin ebadi , a civil rights leader in iran , was awarded the nobel peace prize in 2003 . shirin ebadi , who won a nobel peace prize in 2003 , took up the case of roxana saberi at the request of saberi 's family , her father , reza saberi , told cnn wednesday . ebadi heads the center for defenders of human rights in iran . saberi , 31 , was sentenced saturday to eight years in prison after a one-day trial that was closed to the public . president obama , as well as other u.s. and international officials sharply denounced the decision . the rev . jesse jackson has offered to travel to iran to help seek saberi 's release . if our voices are heard in iran today , i would be anxious to travel with a delegation to iran , if we are permitted , and make an appeal for her freedom , ' said the longtime civil rights activist , according to his rainbow push coalition . jackson , 67 , spoke tuesday at a peace conference in kuala lumpur , malaysia . whenever we 've brought people out of captivity , whether in syria , cuba , iraq or yugoslavia , or liberia , it 's always opened a diplomatic door to reduce tensions , ' he said . saberi 's attorneys said they will appeal her conviction . judiciary chief ayatollah hashemi shahroudi ordered the head of tehran 's justice department to make sure the appeals process is quick and fair . jackson has offered in the past to help release american hostages , most recently in 2005 . at that time , he said he was willing to use his role as a religious leader to help secure the release of roy hallums , who was kidnapped along with five others in baghdad in november 2004 . hallums was freed in september 2005 when u.s. troops raided the farmhouse where he being held outside baghdad . in 1984 , jackson secured the release of a navy pilot held in syria . in 1991 , he helped secure the release of 500 international guests ' held in iraq . and in 1999 , he persuaded yugoslavia to release three u.s. soldiers held there during the kosovo conflict . obama has called for saberi 's release , saying he is gravely concerned with her safety and well-being . ' watch how u.s.-iranian relations are complicated » ' we are working to make sure that she is properly treated , and to get more information about the disposition of her case , ' obama said sunday . she is an american citizen , and i have complete confidence that she was not engaging in any sort of espionage . ' iranian officials initially said saberi was held for buying a bottle of wine . the foreign ministry later said she was detained for reporting without proper credentials . saberi , who comes from north dakota , has been living in iran since 2003 , said the committee to protect journalists , a journalists'advocacy group . she has freelanced for national public radio and other news organizations , and was writing a book about iranian culture . iranian authorities revoked her press credentials in 2006 , but saberi continued to file short news items without permission , the journalists'group said . saberi was detained in january , although no formal charges were disclosed . on april 9 , word emerged that saberi had been charged with espionage . without press credentials and under the name of being a reporter , she was carrying out espionage activities , ' hassan haddad , a deputy public prosecutor , told the iranian students news agency . authorities also said saberi had confessed . her father said he thinks she was coerced into making damaging statements . cnn 's shirzad bozorgmehr contributed to this report .
2003 nobel peace prize winner shirin ebadi offers to help in iran
iran <tsp> ( cnn ) -- an iranian human-rights activist and nobel laureate has joined the legal team of an iranian-american journalist convicted of spying and jailed in iran . shirin ebadi , a civil rights leader in iran , was awarded the nobel peace prize in 2003 . shirin ebadi , who won a nobel peace prize in 2003 , took up the case of roxana saberi at the request of saberi 's family , her father , reza saberi , told cnn wednesday . ebadi heads the center for defenders of human rights in iran . saberi , 31 , was sentenced saturday to eight years in prison after a one-day trial that was closed to the public . president obama , as well as other u.s. and international officials sharply denounced the decision . the rev . jesse jackson has offered to travel to iran to help seek saberi 's release . if our voices are heard in iran today , i would be anxious to travel with a delegation to iran , if we are permitted , and make an appeal for her freedom , ' said the longtime civil rights activist , according to his rainbow push coalition . jackson , 67 , spoke tuesday at a peace conference in kuala lumpur , malaysia . whenever we 've brought people out of captivity , whether in syria , cuba , iraq or yugoslavia , or liberia , it 's always opened a diplomatic door to reduce tensions , ' he said . saberi 's attorneys said they will appeal her conviction . judiciary chief ayatollah hashemi shahroudi ordered the head of tehran 's justice department to make sure the appeals process is quick and fair . jackson has offered in the past to help release american hostages , most recently in 2005 . at that time , he said he was willing to use his role as a religious leader to help secure the release of roy hallums , who was kidnapped along with five others in baghdad in november 2004 . hallums was freed in september 2005 when u.s. troops raided the farmhouse where he being held outside baghdad . in 1984 , jackson secured the release of a navy pilot held in syria . in 1991 , he helped secure the release of 500 international guests ' held in iraq . and in 1999 , he persuaded yugoslavia to release three u.s. soldiers held there during the kosovo conflict . obama has called for saberi 's release , saying he is gravely concerned with her safety and well-being . ' watch how u.s.-iranian relations are complicated » ' we are working to make sure that she is properly treated , and to get more information about the disposition of her case , ' obama said sunday . she is an american citizen , and i have complete confidence that she was not engaging in any sort of espionage . ' iranian officials initially said saberi was held for buying a bottle of wine . the foreign ministry later said she was detained for reporting without proper credentials . saberi , who comes from north dakota , has been living in iran since 2003 , said the committee to protect journalists , a journalists'advocacy group . she has freelanced for national public radio and other news organizations , and was writing a book about iranian culture . iranian authorities revoked her press credentials in 2006 , but saberi continued to file short news items without permission , the journalists'group said . saberi was detained in january , although no formal charges were disclosed . on april 9 , word emerged that saberi had been charged with espionage . without press credentials and under the name of being a reporter , she was carrying out espionage activities , ' hassan haddad , a deputy public prosecutor , told the iranian students news agency . authorities also said saberi had confessed . her father said he thinks she was coerced into making damaging statements . cnn 's shirzad bozorgmehr contributed to this report .
rev . jesse jackson offers to go to iran to help negotiate saberi 's release
iran <tsp> ( cnn ) -- an iranian human-rights activist and nobel laureate has joined the legal team of an iranian-american journalist convicted of spying and jailed in iran . shirin ebadi , a civil rights leader in iran , was awarded the nobel peace prize in 2003 . shirin ebadi , who won a nobel peace prize in 2003 , took up the case of roxana saberi at the request of saberi 's family , her father , reza saberi , told cnn wednesday . ebadi heads the center for defenders of human rights in iran . saberi , 31 , was sentenced saturday to eight years in prison after a one-day trial that was closed to the public . president obama , as well as other u.s. and international officials sharply denounced the decision . the rev . jesse jackson has offered to travel to iran to help seek saberi 's release . if our voices are heard in iran today , i would be anxious to travel with a delegation to iran , if we are permitted , and make an appeal for her freedom , ' said the longtime civil rights activist , according to his rainbow push coalition . jackson , 67 , spoke tuesday at a peace conference in kuala lumpur , malaysia . whenever we 've brought people out of captivity , whether in syria , cuba , iraq or yugoslavia , or liberia , it 's always opened a diplomatic door to reduce tensions , ' he said . saberi 's attorneys said they will appeal her conviction . judiciary chief ayatollah hashemi shahroudi ordered the head of tehran 's justice department to make sure the appeals process is quick and fair . jackson has offered in the past to help release american hostages , most recently in 2005 . at that time , he said he was willing to use his role as a religious leader to help secure the release of roy hallums , who was kidnapped along with five others in baghdad in november 2004 . hallums was freed in september 2005 when u.s. troops raided the farmhouse where he being held outside baghdad . in 1984 , jackson secured the release of a navy pilot held in syria . in 1991 , he helped secure the release of 500 international guests ' held in iraq . and in 1999 , he persuaded yugoslavia to release three u.s. soldiers held there during the kosovo conflict . obama has called for saberi 's release , saying he is gravely concerned with her safety and well-being . ' watch how u.s.-iranian relations are complicated » ' we are working to make sure that she is properly treated , and to get more information about the disposition of her case , ' obama said sunday . she is an american citizen , and i have complete confidence that she was not engaging in any sort of espionage . ' iranian officials initially said saberi was held for buying a bottle of wine . the foreign ministry later said she was detained for reporting without proper credentials . saberi , who comes from north dakota , has been living in iran since 2003 , said the committee to protect journalists , a journalists'advocacy group . she has freelanced for national public radio and other news organizations , and was writing a book about iranian culture . iranian authorities revoked her press credentials in 2006 , but saberi continued to file short news items without permission , the journalists'group said . saberi was detained in january , although no formal charges were disclosed . on april 9 , word emerged that saberi had been charged with espionage . without press credentials and under the name of being a reporter , she was carrying out espionage activities , ' hassan haddad , a deputy public prosecutor , told the iranian students news agency . authorities also said saberi had confessed . her father said he thinks she was coerced into making damaging statements . cnn 's shirzad bozorgmehr contributed to this report .
ebadi heads the center for defenders of human rights in iran
ebadi <tsp> ( cnn ) -- an iranian human-rights activist and nobel laureate has joined the legal team of an iranian-american journalist convicted of spying and jailed in iran . shirin ebadi , a civil rights leader in iran , was awarded the nobel peace prize in 2003 . shirin ebadi , who won a nobel peace prize in 2003 , took up the case of roxana saberi at the request of saberi 's family , her father , reza saberi , told cnn wednesday . ebadi heads the center for defenders of human rights in iran . saberi , 31 , was sentenced saturday to eight years in prison after a one-day trial that was closed to the public . president obama , as well as other u.s. and international officials sharply denounced the decision . the rev . jesse jackson has offered to travel to iran to help seek saberi 's release . if our voices are heard in iran today , i would be anxious to travel with a delegation to iran , if we are permitted , and make an appeal for her freedom , ' said the longtime civil rights activist , according to his rainbow push coalition . jackson , 67 , spoke tuesday at a peace conference in kuala lumpur , malaysia . whenever we 've brought people out of captivity , whether in syria , cuba , iraq or yugoslavia , or liberia , it 's always opened a diplomatic door to reduce tensions , ' he said . saberi 's attorneys said they will appeal her conviction . judiciary chief ayatollah hashemi shahroudi ordered the head of tehran 's justice department to make sure the appeals process is quick and fair . jackson has offered in the past to help release american hostages , most recently in 2005 . at that time , he said he was willing to use his role as a religious leader to help secure the release of roy hallums , who was kidnapped along with five others in baghdad in november 2004 . hallums was freed in september 2005 when u.s. troops raided the farmhouse where he being held outside baghdad . in 1984 , jackson secured the release of a navy pilot held in syria . in 1991 , he helped secure the release of 500 international guests ' held in iraq . and in 1999 , he persuaded yugoslavia to release three u.s. soldiers held there during the kosovo conflict . obama has called for saberi 's release , saying he is gravely concerned with her safety and well-being . ' watch how u.s.-iranian relations are complicated » ' we are working to make sure that she is properly treated , and to get more information about the disposition of her case , ' obama said sunday . she is an american citizen , and i have complete confidence that she was not engaging in any sort of espionage . ' iranian officials initially said saberi was held for buying a bottle of wine . the foreign ministry later said she was detained for reporting without proper credentials . saberi , who comes from north dakota , has been living in iran since 2003 , said the committee to protect journalists , a journalists'advocacy group . she has freelanced for national public radio and other news organizations , and was writing a book about iranian culture . iranian authorities revoked her press credentials in 2006 , but saberi continued to file short news items without permission , the journalists'group said . saberi was detained in january , although no formal charges were disclosed . on april 9 , word emerged that saberi had been charged with espionage . without press credentials and under the name of being a reporter , she was carrying out espionage activities , ' hassan haddad , a deputy public prosecutor , told the iranian students news agency . authorities also said saberi had confessed . her father said he thinks she was coerced into making damaging statements . cnn 's shirzad bozorgmehr contributed to this report .
2003 nobel peace prize winner shirin ebadi offers to help in iran
ebadi <tsp> ( cnn ) -- an iranian human-rights activist and nobel laureate has joined the legal team of an iranian-american journalist convicted of spying and jailed in iran . shirin ebadi , a civil rights leader in iran , was awarded the nobel peace prize in 2003 . shirin ebadi , who won a nobel peace prize in 2003 , took up the case of roxana saberi at the request of saberi 's family , her father , reza saberi , told cnn wednesday . ebadi heads the center for defenders of human rights in iran . saberi , 31 , was sentenced saturday to eight years in prison after a one-day trial that was closed to the public . president obama , as well as other u.s. and international officials sharply denounced the decision . the rev . jesse jackson has offered to travel to iran to help seek saberi 's release . if our voices are heard in iran today , i would be anxious to travel with a delegation to iran , if we are permitted , and make an appeal for her freedom , ' said the longtime civil rights activist , according to his rainbow push coalition . jackson , 67 , spoke tuesday at a peace conference in kuala lumpur , malaysia . whenever we 've brought people out of captivity , whether in syria , cuba , iraq or yugoslavia , or liberia , it 's always opened a diplomatic door to reduce tensions , ' he said . saberi 's attorneys said they will appeal her conviction . judiciary chief ayatollah hashemi shahroudi ordered the head of tehran 's justice department to make sure the appeals process is quick and fair . jackson has offered in the past to help release american hostages , most recently in 2005 . at that time , he said he was willing to use his role as a religious leader to help secure the release of roy hallums , who was kidnapped along with five others in baghdad in november 2004 . hallums was freed in september 2005 when u.s. troops raided the farmhouse where he being held outside baghdad . in 1984 , jackson secured the release of a navy pilot held in syria . in 1991 , he helped secure the release of 500 international guests ' held in iraq . and in 1999 , he persuaded yugoslavia to release three u.s. soldiers held there during the kosovo conflict . obama has called for saberi 's release , saying he is gravely concerned with her safety and well-being . ' watch how u.s.-iranian relations are complicated » ' we are working to make sure that she is properly treated , and to get more information about the disposition of her case , ' obama said sunday . she is an american citizen , and i have complete confidence that she was not engaging in any sort of espionage . ' iranian officials initially said saberi was held for buying a bottle of wine . the foreign ministry later said she was detained for reporting without proper credentials . saberi , who comes from north dakota , has been living in iran since 2003 , said the committee to protect journalists , a journalists'advocacy group . she has freelanced for national public radio and other news organizations , and was writing a book about iranian culture . iranian authorities revoked her press credentials in 2006 , but saberi continued to file short news items without permission , the journalists'group said . saberi was detained in january , although no formal charges were disclosed . on april 9 , word emerged that saberi had been charged with espionage . without press credentials and under the name of being a reporter , she was carrying out espionage activities , ' hassan haddad , a deputy public prosecutor , told the iranian students news agency . authorities also said saberi had confessed . her father said he thinks she was coerced into making damaging statements . cnn 's shirzad bozorgmehr contributed to this report .
ebadi heads the center for defenders of human rights in iran
paz <tsp> washington ( cnn ) -- roughly half of all americans now think the white house was behind the internal revenue service decision to target conservative political groups , according to a recent cnn/orc international poll , a growing belief at odds with information recently provided to cnn by congressional investigators . the information includes a full transcript of the may 21 deposition of holly paz , a high-ranking irs official placed on administrative leave as a result of her role in the scandal . paz was questioned extensively by investigators from the house oversight and government reform committee , which is chaired by one of the administration 's fiercest congressional critics , california gop rep. darrell issa . the transcript of paz 's deposition , examined by cnn this week , shows an agency plagued more by bureaucratic ineptitude than partisan political scheming . irs agents are revealed as politically tone deaf and blind to what was being done , or not done , in different offices that presumably should have been in closer contact . politics was not something they were interested in , ' paz told investigators . because they are so apolitical , they are not as sensitive as we would like them to be as to how things might appear . ' paz is a top official at the irs division responsible for reviewing applications for tax-exempt status . some critics argue the division intentionally intimidated and harassed tea party and other conservative groups , often delaying the processing of their applications for months or years . an inspector general 's report released last month found that an irs unit in cincinnati had used criteria that included conservative labels such as tea party ' to target certain groups for extra questioning . irs rules prevent groups engaged in excessive political activity from becoming tax exempt , but the agency has struggled to develop clear guidelines on the matter . the targeting began in 2010 and ended last year when senior irs officials learned of it , according to the report . boehner :'who is going to jail'over irs scandal last month , 37 % of the public thought the white house was tied to the irs controversy . now , 47 % say the white house was directing the irs , according to the latest cnn/orc international survey . democrats are sensitive to the charge , which some analysts contend has contributed to a recent drop in president barack obama 's approval ratings . maryland rep. elijah cummings , the top democrat on issa 's panel , released the full transcript on tuesday of the deposition of a self-described conservative republican ' irs manager who has denied any administration involvement in the scandal . the manager also insisted that the initial decision to flag tea party groups for additional scrutiny originated with lower level irs staff in cincinnati , not upper management in washington or elsewhere . this interview transcript provides a detailed first-hand account of how these practices first originated , and it debunks conspiracy theories about how the irs first started reviewing these cases , ' cummings said . releasing this transcript serves the best interest of congress and the american people by ensuring that there is an accurate and fair picture of the management challenges facing the irs . ' obama : irs actions intolerable and inexcusable ' the move by cummings drew a sharp rebuke from issa , who has also released certain elements of the investigation at different points . i am deeply disappointed that ranking member cummings has decided to broadly disseminate and post online a 205 page transcript that will serve as a roadmap for irs officials to navigate investigative interviews with congress , ' issa said . americans who think congress should investigate irs misconduct should be outraged by mr. cummings'efforts to obstruct needed oversight . ' issa and cummings have both promised in appearances on cnn 's state of the union ' to release transcripts of all of the depositions conducted in the investigation . for her part , paz told investigators from two house committees that questions about certain applications often remained unanswered because irs agents were simply waiting for guidance ' from washington that was never provided . meanwhile , agency leaders in washington remained unaware that applicants were not receiving final answers . paz was under the impression that the tea party ' label was internal irs shorthand for all cases regarding groups involved in campaign politics . it was really just an efficient way to refer to this issue , ' paz told investigators , noting that the first case identified with political campaign activity related to an application from a tea party group . it 's like calling soda'coke'or you know , tissue'kleenex .'they knew what they meant , and the issue was campaign intervention . ' applications for tax-exempt status was an area that did not get a great deal of attention ... outside the irs , ' paz added . it 's only been in recent years that it 's something that has gotten , you know , more media attention and congressional attention . ' many irs employees have been with the agency for decades ' and were used to a world where how they talked about things internally was not something that would be public or that anyone would be interested in , ' paz said . so i do n't think they thought much about how it would appear to others . they knew what they meant , and that was sort of good enough for them . ' paz insisted she never took part in any discussion about targeting conservatives . she also noted other cases in recent years involved a denial of tax-exempt status for liberal groups , an assertion challenged by critics . i had no indication that we were not being balanced in what we were doing , ' she said . paz noted that she was personally involved in a review of roughly 40 cases in the fall of 2010 , an acknowledgment undercutting claims that the cincinnati office was solely to blame for the debacle . roughly half of the cases involved groups with the words tea party ' in the name . tea party and other conservative activists are planning to hold a rally on capitol hill on wednesday to protest the irs actions .
paz : politics was not something they were interested in '
paz <tsp> washington ( cnn ) -- roughly half of all americans now think the white house was behind the internal revenue service decision to target conservative political groups , according to a recent cnn/orc international poll , a growing belief at odds with information recently provided to cnn by congressional investigators . the information includes a full transcript of the may 21 deposition of holly paz , a high-ranking irs official placed on administrative leave as a result of her role in the scandal . paz was questioned extensively by investigators from the house oversight and government reform committee , which is chaired by one of the administration 's fiercest congressional critics , california gop rep. darrell issa . the transcript of paz 's deposition , examined by cnn this week , shows an agency plagued more by bureaucratic ineptitude than partisan political scheming . irs agents are revealed as politically tone deaf and blind to what was being done , or not done , in different offices that presumably should have been in closer contact . politics was not something they were interested in , ' paz told investigators . because they are so apolitical , they are not as sensitive as we would like them to be as to how things might appear . ' paz is a top official at the irs division responsible for reviewing applications for tax-exempt status . some critics argue the division intentionally intimidated and harassed tea party and other conservative groups , often delaying the processing of their applications for months or years . an inspector general 's report released last month found that an irs unit in cincinnati had used criteria that included conservative labels such as tea party ' to target certain groups for extra questioning . irs rules prevent groups engaged in excessive political activity from becoming tax exempt , but the agency has struggled to develop clear guidelines on the matter . the targeting began in 2010 and ended last year when senior irs officials learned of it , according to the report . boehner :'who is going to jail'over irs scandal last month , 37 % of the public thought the white house was tied to the irs controversy . now , 47 % say the white house was directing the irs , according to the latest cnn/orc international survey . democrats are sensitive to the charge , which some analysts contend has contributed to a recent drop in president barack obama 's approval ratings . maryland rep. elijah cummings , the top democrat on issa 's panel , released the full transcript on tuesday of the deposition of a self-described conservative republican ' irs manager who has denied any administration involvement in the scandal . the manager also insisted that the initial decision to flag tea party groups for additional scrutiny originated with lower level irs staff in cincinnati , not upper management in washington or elsewhere . this interview transcript provides a detailed first-hand account of how these practices first originated , and it debunks conspiracy theories about how the irs first started reviewing these cases , ' cummings said . releasing this transcript serves the best interest of congress and the american people by ensuring that there is an accurate and fair picture of the management challenges facing the irs . ' obama : irs actions intolerable and inexcusable ' the move by cummings drew a sharp rebuke from issa , who has also released certain elements of the investigation at different points . i am deeply disappointed that ranking member cummings has decided to broadly disseminate and post online a 205 page transcript that will serve as a roadmap for irs officials to navigate investigative interviews with congress , ' issa said . americans who think congress should investigate irs misconduct should be outraged by mr. cummings'efforts to obstruct needed oversight . ' issa and cummings have both promised in appearances on cnn 's state of the union ' to release transcripts of all of the depositions conducted in the investigation . for her part , paz told investigators from two house committees that questions about certain applications often remained unanswered because irs agents were simply waiting for guidance ' from washington that was never provided . meanwhile , agency leaders in washington remained unaware that applicants were not receiving final answers . paz was under the impression that the tea party ' label was internal irs shorthand for all cases regarding groups involved in campaign politics . it was really just an efficient way to refer to this issue , ' paz told investigators , noting that the first case identified with political campaign activity related to an application from a tea party group . it 's like calling soda'coke'or you know , tissue'kleenex .'they knew what they meant , and the issue was campaign intervention . ' applications for tax-exempt status was an area that did not get a great deal of attention ... outside the irs , ' paz added . it 's only been in recent years that it 's something that has gotten , you know , more media attention and congressional attention . ' many irs employees have been with the agency for decades ' and were used to a world where how they talked about things internally was not something that would be public or that anyone would be interested in , ' paz said . so i do n't think they thought much about how it would appear to others . they knew what they meant , and that was sort of good enough for them . ' paz insisted she never took part in any discussion about targeting conservatives . she also noted other cases in recent years involved a denial of tax-exempt status for liberal groups , an assertion challenged by critics . i had no indication that we were not being balanced in what we were doing , ' she said . paz noted that she was personally involved in a review of roughly 40 cases in the fall of 2010 , an acknowledgment undercutting claims that the cincinnati office was solely to blame for the debacle . roughly half of the cases involved groups with the words tea party ' in the name . tea party and other conservative activists are planning to hold a rally on capitol hill on wednesday to protest the irs actions .
deposition of irs official holly paz shows no political motivation behind irs scandal
paz <tsp> washington ( cnn ) -- roughly half of all americans now think the white house was behind the internal revenue service decision to target conservative political groups , according to a recent cnn/orc international poll , a growing belief at odds with information recently provided to cnn by congressional investigators . the information includes a full transcript of the may 21 deposition of holly paz , a high-ranking irs official placed on administrative leave as a result of her role in the scandal . paz was questioned extensively by investigators from the house oversight and government reform committee , which is chaired by one of the administration 's fiercest congressional critics , california gop rep. darrell issa . the transcript of paz 's deposition , examined by cnn this week , shows an agency plagued more by bureaucratic ineptitude than partisan political scheming . irs agents are revealed as politically tone deaf and blind to what was being done , or not done , in different offices that presumably should have been in closer contact . politics was not something they were interested in , ' paz told investigators . because they are so apolitical , they are not as sensitive as we would like them to be as to how things might appear . ' paz is a top official at the irs division responsible for reviewing applications for tax-exempt status . some critics argue the division intentionally intimidated and harassed tea party and other conservative groups , often delaying the processing of their applications for months or years . an inspector general 's report released last month found that an irs unit in cincinnati had used criteria that included conservative labels such as tea party ' to target certain groups for extra questioning . irs rules prevent groups engaged in excessive political activity from becoming tax exempt , but the agency has struggled to develop clear guidelines on the matter . the targeting began in 2010 and ended last year when senior irs officials learned of it , according to the report . boehner :'who is going to jail'over irs scandal last month , 37 % of the public thought the white house was tied to the irs controversy . now , 47 % say the white house was directing the irs , according to the latest cnn/orc international survey . democrats are sensitive to the charge , which some analysts contend has contributed to a recent drop in president barack obama 's approval ratings . maryland rep. elijah cummings , the top democrat on issa 's panel , released the full transcript on tuesday of the deposition of a self-described conservative republican ' irs manager who has denied any administration involvement in the scandal . the manager also insisted that the initial decision to flag tea party groups for additional scrutiny originated with lower level irs staff in cincinnati , not upper management in washington or elsewhere . this interview transcript provides a detailed first-hand account of how these practices first originated , and it debunks conspiracy theories about how the irs first started reviewing these cases , ' cummings said . releasing this transcript serves the best interest of congress and the american people by ensuring that there is an accurate and fair picture of the management challenges facing the irs . ' obama : irs actions intolerable and inexcusable ' the move by cummings drew a sharp rebuke from issa , who has also released certain elements of the investigation at different points . i am deeply disappointed that ranking member cummings has decided to broadly disseminate and post online a 205 page transcript that will serve as a roadmap for irs officials to navigate investigative interviews with congress , ' issa said . americans who think congress should investigate irs misconduct should be outraged by mr. cummings'efforts to obstruct needed oversight . ' issa and cummings have both promised in appearances on cnn 's state of the union ' to release transcripts of all of the depositions conducted in the investigation . for her part , paz told investigators from two house committees that questions about certain applications often remained unanswered because irs agents were simply waiting for guidance ' from washington that was never provided . meanwhile , agency leaders in washington remained unaware that applicants were not receiving final answers . paz was under the impression that the tea party ' label was internal irs shorthand for all cases regarding groups involved in campaign politics . it was really just an efficient way to refer to this issue , ' paz told investigators , noting that the first case identified with political campaign activity related to an application from a tea party group . it 's like calling soda'coke'or you know , tissue'kleenex .'they knew what they meant , and the issue was campaign intervention . ' applications for tax-exempt status was an area that did not get a great deal of attention ... outside the irs , ' paz added . it 's only been in recent years that it 's something that has gotten , you know , more media attention and congressional attention . ' many irs employees have been with the agency for decades ' and were used to a world where how they talked about things internally was not something that would be public or that anyone would be interested in , ' paz said . so i do n't think they thought much about how it would appear to others . they knew what they meant , and that was sort of good enough for them . ' paz insisted she never took part in any discussion about targeting conservatives . she also noted other cases in recent years involved a denial of tax-exempt status for liberal groups , an assertion challenged by critics . i had no indication that we were not being balanced in what we were doing , ' she said . paz noted that she was personally involved in a review of roughly 40 cases in the fall of 2010 , an acknowledgment undercutting claims that the cincinnati office was solely to blame for the debacle . roughly half of the cases involved groups with the words tea party ' in the name . tea party and other conservative activists are planning to hold a rally on capitol hill on wednesday to protest the irs actions .
paz 's assertion is at odds with belief of growing number of americans
irs <tsp> washington ( cnn ) -- roughly half of all americans now think the white house was behind the internal revenue service decision to target conservative political groups , according to a recent cnn/orc international poll , a growing belief at odds with information recently provided to cnn by congressional investigators . the information includes a full transcript of the may 21 deposition of holly paz , a high-ranking irs official placed on administrative leave as a result of her role in the scandal . paz was questioned extensively by investigators from the house oversight and government reform committee , which is chaired by one of the administration 's fiercest congressional critics , california gop rep. darrell issa . the transcript of paz 's deposition , examined by cnn this week , shows an agency plagued more by bureaucratic ineptitude than partisan political scheming . irs agents are revealed as politically tone deaf and blind to what was being done , or not done , in different offices that presumably should have been in closer contact . politics was not something they were interested in , ' paz told investigators . because they are so apolitical , they are not as sensitive as we would like them to be as to how things might appear . ' paz is a top official at the irs division responsible for reviewing applications for tax-exempt status . some critics argue the division intentionally intimidated and harassed tea party and other conservative groups , often delaying the processing of their applications for months or years . an inspector general 's report released last month found that an irs unit in cincinnati had used criteria that included conservative labels such as tea party ' to target certain groups for extra questioning . irs rules prevent groups engaged in excessive political activity from becoming tax exempt , but the agency has struggled to develop clear guidelines on the matter . the targeting began in 2010 and ended last year when senior irs officials learned of it , according to the report . boehner :'who is going to jail'over irs scandal last month , 37 % of the public thought the white house was tied to the irs controversy . now , 47 % say the white house was directing the irs , according to the latest cnn/orc international survey . democrats are sensitive to the charge , which some analysts contend has contributed to a recent drop in president barack obama 's approval ratings . maryland rep. elijah cummings , the top democrat on issa 's panel , released the full transcript on tuesday of the deposition of a self-described conservative republican ' irs manager who has denied any administration involvement in the scandal . the manager also insisted that the initial decision to flag tea party groups for additional scrutiny originated with lower level irs staff in cincinnati , not upper management in washington or elsewhere . this interview transcript provides a detailed first-hand account of how these practices first originated , and it debunks conspiracy theories about how the irs first started reviewing these cases , ' cummings said . releasing this transcript serves the best interest of congress and the american people by ensuring that there is an accurate and fair picture of the management challenges facing the irs . ' obama : irs actions intolerable and inexcusable ' the move by cummings drew a sharp rebuke from issa , who has also released certain elements of the investigation at different points . i am deeply disappointed that ranking member cummings has decided to broadly disseminate and post online a 205 page transcript that will serve as a roadmap for irs officials to navigate investigative interviews with congress , ' issa said . americans who think congress should investigate irs misconduct should be outraged by mr. cummings'efforts to obstruct needed oversight . ' issa and cummings have both promised in appearances on cnn 's state of the union ' to release transcripts of all of the depositions conducted in the investigation . for her part , paz told investigators from two house committees that questions about certain applications often remained unanswered because irs agents were simply waiting for guidance ' from washington that was never provided . meanwhile , agency leaders in washington remained unaware that applicants were not receiving final answers . paz was under the impression that the tea party ' label was internal irs shorthand for all cases regarding groups involved in campaign politics . it was really just an efficient way to refer to this issue , ' paz told investigators , noting that the first case identified with political campaign activity related to an application from a tea party group . it 's like calling soda'coke'or you know , tissue'kleenex .'they knew what they meant , and the issue was campaign intervention . ' applications for tax-exempt status was an area that did not get a great deal of attention ... outside the irs , ' paz added . it 's only been in recent years that it 's something that has gotten , you know , more media attention and congressional attention . ' many irs employees have been with the agency for decades ' and were used to a world where how they talked about things internally was not something that would be public or that anyone would be interested in , ' paz said . so i do n't think they thought much about how it would appear to others . they knew what they meant , and that was sort of good enough for them . ' paz insisted she never took part in any discussion about targeting conservatives . she also noted other cases in recent years involved a denial of tax-exempt status for liberal groups , an assertion challenged by critics . i had no indication that we were not being balanced in what we were doing , ' she said . paz noted that she was personally involved in a review of roughly 40 cases in the fall of 2010 , an acknowledgment undercutting claims that the cincinnati office was solely to blame for the debacle . roughly half of the cases involved groups with the words tea party ' in the name . tea party and other conservative activists are planning to hold a rally on capitol hill on wednesday to protest the irs actions .
deposition of irs official holly paz shows no political motivation behind irs scandal
almeria <tsp> ( cnn ) -- real madrid shot to the top of la liga on saturday night after they won and their city rivals atletico suffered a shock loss at almeria . diego simeone 's side surrender first place on goal difference following a four-goal swing on saturday night as real madrid beat villarreal 4-2 and atletico lost 2-0 . relegation-threatened almeria scored twice in the last 10 minutes to seal an unlikely victory with both goals coming courtesy of midfielder verza -- the second from the penalty spot after atletico goalkeeper daniel aranzubia saw red . carlo ancelotti 's side had a more routine evening at the bernabeu in large part thanks to gareth bale . with cristiano ronaldo serving the first game of a three-match suspension after being sent off last weekend , it was left to the bale , who returned to action after missing the three previous games with a calf injury , to guide los blancos to three points . the welsh international put real ahead in the seventh minute , seizing on a mistake by center back chechu dorado before chipping the ball home past goalkeeper sergio asenjo to score his 11th goal of the season . eighteen minutes later , bale turned provider with a cross from the right which was met by karim benzema who doubled the lead . the visitors put themselves back in the game two minutes before the break with a superb strike from mario gaspar , but madrid settled supporter 's nerves by re-establishing a two-goal lead in the 64th minute -- 20-year-old striker jese providing the finish . back came villarreal five minutes later with a giovani dos santos free kick which set up what could have been a nervous last 20 minutes for the home side , but the game was put to bed by benzema with his second of the night in the 76th minute . the results give both real and atletico 57 points from 23 games but with real shading the goal difference by one ( plus 41 goals versus plus 40 ) . elsewhere in la liga , rayo vallecano recorded a resounding 4-1 win over malaga to lift the second-from-bottom side level on 20 points with 18th place valladolid who play elche on sunday . valencia moved up to eighth with an even more emphatic win following their brilliant 3-2 win at the nou camp last weekend . a 5-0 drubbing of bottom side betis sevilla means juan antonio pizzi 's side are now level on 31 points with sevilla who will be hoping they can repeat valencia 's trick when they host barcelona on sunday evening . over in italy , there were wins for all three home sides on saturday . third-place napoli were 3-1 winners over ac milan who remain in 10th place . fourth-place fiorentina beat atalanta 2-0 while udinese beat chievoverona 3-0 . leaders juventus travel to hellas verona on sunday while second-place roma will face local rivals lazio in the stadio olimpico . donetsk mourns maicon a busy day of european football was marred by tragedy off the pitch as shakhtar donetsk announced their brazilian striker maicon pereira de oliveira had been killed in a car accident . a statement published on the club 's website read : fc shakhtar regretfully informs that on 8 february 2014 the life of a footballer maicon pereira de oliveira tragically ended . he died in a car crash in donetsk . ' he was a talented footballer , open and friendly guy . maicon loved life and knew how to make it positive and bright . tragic , untimely and absurd death took away a wonderful person from our ranks . maicon was only 25 years old . it is a terrible bereavement for each of us . fc shakhtar expresses condolences and sympathy to maicon 's family and friends . may he rest in peace ... ' maicon joined the ukrainian champions from volyn lutsk in 2012 and made six appearances . at the time of his death he was on loan to fellow ukrainian side illichivets mariupol . shakhtar captain darijo srna said : i have no words . we have lost a very good man , a friend , a colleague , a friend . this is a difficult and tragic moment in the life of shakhtar and its fans . ' read more : liverpool hammer arsenal read more : bayern munich march on
atletico slump to 2-0 defeat at almeria and drop to second on goal difference
m2m <tsp> cincinnati , ohio ( cnn ) -- the build-up has been years in the making . from the cartoons that many of us watched as children , we envisioned a world where machines and robots would penetrate every aspect of our lives , where each household would have a rosie the robot to cook , clean , and put the kids to bed . well , for most of us that washed our own dishes last night , we know that we are not there yet . the questions are : why are n't we there yet and when will we get there ? well , the world of machines is real and it 's coming . many refer to it as machine-to-machine ( m2m ) , the internet of things , or the industrial internet . all of these terms describe the same thing : automated technology that allows machines to exchange information with one another , resulting in a tangible benefit . this exchange of information is rapidly changing the way we work and live . you likely benefit from this technology every day without even knowing it . m2m applications are guiding you in your connected vehicles to the nearest starbucks , or allowing you to remotely monitor your home from a smartphone . the applications bleed even more heavily into the enterprise space where companies are using m2m solutions to do everything from tracking the position of a high-value asset traveling through europe to controlling the flow rate of an oil pipeline in north dakota from an office in new york . read related : 7 craziest things connected to the internet so , with this technology available , why are n't we there yet ? why is n't m2m permeating every aspect of our business and personal lives yet ? and , more importantly , why am i still doing my own dishes ? well , it is not due to lack of demand . analysts and industry experts project that the internet of things will grow from connecting about 100 million devices today to more than two billion devices by 2021 -- representing a staggering 30 % compound annual growth rate ( cagr ) . do i think that this type of growth will become a reality ? yes , but there are a couple of complexities that will first need to be worked out . as a matter of fact , complexity is the first of two threats to m2m growth . many enterprise m2m solutions require months , if not years , and a significant financial commitment to get to deployment . with those daunting hurdles facing many technology decision makers , and despite an average return on investment at around 40 % , companies are deferring their m2m strategies . obviously , this has to change in order for m2m to reach its immense promise . we need to get to a point where implementing an m2m strategy involves a matter of hours or days instead of months and years . when that is a reality , then we will start to see the realization of what m2m can be for both enterprise and consumer use . read related : cisco 's new , smarter network for the internet of things the second threat to m2m growth has to do with the shift in the mobile industry towards 3g and 4g networks . at first glance , that seems a bit odd . how could enhancing the technology that m2m sits on pose a threat to its very future ? as mobile carriers negotiate with limited spectrum to support 4g rollouts , 2g networks are often sacrificed . the problem created is that m2m applications not only lose support , but they face significant expenses to enter into a 3g or 4g system where their data usage does not come close to justifying the costs , not to mention the significant capital investment required for a pricey 3g or 4g compatible device . although i believe that m2m applications will evolve to a point where a 4g network will make sense , i do n't believe that we are there yet , nor will we be there for at least a couple more years . thus , 2g will have to remain an integral part of the growth of the industry for the time being , and fortunately there are carriers that have pledged ongoing support for 2g . as momentum for the proliferation of the internet of things builds to forecasted levels and enterprises and individuals enter this brave new world , there will be some bumps along the road . however , it will be a much smoother and quicker ride into the future if application providers can find easy-to-implement solutions supported by networks that meet their tactical and financial objectives . when we get to that point , then you might just be able to kick back a little and let rosie handle things . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of john horn .
m2m technology allows machines to exchange information with one another
open <tsp> ( cnn ) -- she 's the latest teen prodigy to emerge from golf 's conveyor belt and if she keeps producing stellar performances like this 15-year-old lydia ko may well shelve her plans to stay an amateur . the kiwi stormed to the top of the leaderboard at the australian women 's open in canberra with a ten-under-par round of 63 that included 11 birdies , one eagle and , astonishingly , three bogeys . ko 's round meant she eclipsed her playing partners , world no . 1 yani tseng and american michelle wie , another player who grabbed worldwide attention when she qualified for the women 's u.s . amateur public links championship aged just 10 . the teenager , who was born in south korea , won her third professional tournament last week in her native new zealand and leads by a shot in canberra from colombian mariajo uribe . and despite giving notice of her intentions , even if she were to win the â£1.2 million tournament , she wo n't be able to claim any prize money as she still is still an amateur . after my bogey on my first hole , which was the 10th , i thought'what 's today going to be like ?'but after a couple of birdies , i started to feel pretty comfortable , ' she told the tournament 's official website . ko needed just 30 shots to complete her front nine holes and her illustrious playing partners thought she could be on course for a record-breaking round of 59 . but ko played down that it was on her mind during her round : i 've played good before and gone triple , par bogey or whatever . i did n't really think about what i was going to shoot . it was one shot at a time . ' her performance certainly made a lasting impression on her partners . playing with lydia , five-under ( par ) is like nothing , ' said tseng , from taiwan . she still looks like 15 . i do n't know how she hits the ball that well . i 'm not even close to her at 15 . she is only 15 but she looks like a pro , so i mean i treat her like a pro , but i treat her like a child , too . i feel i 'm getting old , ' the 24-year-old added . ko might now shelve plans to go to college and hone her game there in favor of turning professional . her coach and mentor guy wilson hinted at the prospect after her victory at the new zealand open . he told fairfax media : realistically she 's probably going to look to turn pro next year , only because the opportunities now are pretty obvious . wasting two years at college could be a disadvantage , ' the australian women 's open has a purse of $ 1.2 million but as an amateur , ko wo n't be able to share in the spoils even if she ends up winning . but she does look set to improve on her official world ranking of 30 . ko 's tally of ten-under is the lowest score ever recorded at the women 's australian open , trumping karrie webb 's nine-under 64 in melbourne 13 years ago . but due to preferred lies being in operation , where a player can clean and place their ball as long as it is on the fairway , due to several parts of the course being wet from over watering , ko 's 63 will not go into the record books .
fifteen-year-old lydia ko fires an opening round of 63 to lead australian women 's open
tamil <tsp> colombo , sri lanka ( cnn ) -- angered by what he perceived as the systemic discrimination of the minority tamils by successive sri lankan governments , 18-year-old velupillai prabhakaran , armed with just a revolver , set out in 1972 to right the perceived wrongs by forming a militant group . sri lanka 's defense ministry says this handout photo shows troops with a captured tamil tiger craft . that group eventually morphed into the tamil tigers , who have engaged in a brutal 25-year insurgency for an independent tamil state that has left more than 70,000 dead . along the way , the group has been declared a terrorist organization in 32 countries , pioneered the use of women in suicide attacks and , according to the fbi , invented the suicide belt . it was also behind the assassination of two world leaders -- the only terrorist organization to do so . over the weekend , the militants offered to silence ' their guns after an intense military offensive decimated their ranks , usurping them from their stronghold in the north and east of the country , and cornered the remaining rebels on a small stretch of land . watch more on the possible end to the conflict » on monday afternoon , the sri lankan government said it had killed prabhakaran . if the rebels now follow through on their announcement , the action will potentially mark the end of the longest-running civil war in asia . who are the tamils ? the tamils are an ethnic group that makes up about 12 percent of sri lanka 's population of about 20 million . they mostly dominate the northern and eastern part of the country . tamils are mostly hindu and speak tamil . that sets them apart from sri lanka 's majority group , the sinhalese , who make up 74 percent of the population . they are buddhists and speak sinhala . the tension between the two ethnic groups date to the british colonization of the country -- an island in the indian ocean , south of india . at the time , the country was known as ceylon . many sri lankans regarded the tamils as british collaborators and resented the preferential treatment they received . the tables turned when the country achieved independence in 1948 and the sinhalese majority dominated government . it was the tamils then who claimed they were being discriminated against in politics , employment and education . by the 1970s tamil politicians were demanding a separate tamil state . it would be called tamil eelam . in this climate prabhakaran emerged with his militant group , formally known as the liberation tigers of tamil eelam . who is prabhakaran ? prabhakaran operated from a secret jungle base in the northeastern part of the country , granting few media interviews and remaining an elusive figure to even many tigers . he was reputed to wear a cyanide capsule around his neck -- to swallow rather than risk capture . and he reportedly expected the same dedication from his troops . as a result , few tigers have been captured alive . to prabhakaran 's supporters he was a hero fighting for the rights of his people . the sri lankan government deemed him a war criminal with disregard for civilian casualties . he was wanted by interpol on charges including terrorism and organized crime . in 1975 , three years after forming his group , prabhakaran was accused of fatally shooting the mayor of jaffna , his birthplace . prabhakaran was also accused of masterminding the killing of then-indian prime minister rajiv gandhi in 1991 in the tamil-dominated indian state of tami nadu . sri lankan authorities allege that prabhakaran was avenging gandhi 's decision to send indian peacekeepers to sri lanka . two years later , a tigers'suicide bomber , allegedly acting under prabhakaran 's orders , detonated explosives that killed sri lanka 's then-president , ranasinghe premadasa , during a rally . watch aid agencies fear for sri lanka » who are the tamil tigers ? the tigers reportedly number about 10,000 , recruited from villagers in tamil-dominated areas and unemployed tamil youths who think they were passed over for jobs because of their ethnicity . their armed struggle began in july 1983 when the tigers killed 13 sinhalese soldiers . it led to , what was until then , the largest outburst of violence in the island 's history . hundreds of tamils were killed , thousands left homeless and more than 100,000 fled to south india . despite being vastly outnumbered , the tigers have -- until now -- shown no signs of being overpowered by the sri lankan military . the tigers are infamous for suicide bombings , with men and women strapping on suicide vests for more than 200 attacks against sri lankan citizens and dozens of high-profile political leaders . in addition to perpetrating the attacks that killed gandhi and premadasa , the rebels have carried out the assassinations of two lawmakers and four ministers . a suicide bomber targeted sri lankan then-president chandrika kumaratunga in december 1999 while she was campaigning for re-election . she was wounded but survived . the tigers , however , have refrained from targeting western tourists out of fear that foreign governments would crack down on tamil expatriates who raise money for them abroad , the u.s. state department said . have there been peace talks ? periodically fighting has briefly halted because of a handful of peace agreements . by february 2002 the tigers had dropped their demands for a separate homeland in exchange for a power-sharing deal with the government . norway and some other countries agreed to monitor the ceasefire . a year later the rebels dropped out of the negotiations , saying they were being marginalized . they launched a suicide bombing campaign soon after . what led to renewed fighting ? in january 2008 the sri lankan government announced it was annulling the nearly six-year-old truce with the rebels , declaring that it would crush the rebels . the fighting intensified with security forces driving the rebels from their strongholds in the east and north of the country . the government asked the rebels to lay down arms ; the rebels vowed to continue . caught in the crossfire were civilians , thousands of whom were displaced and hundreds killed . international aid groups expressed concern that both the government and the rebels disregarded civilian safety even in no-fire zones and hospitals . both sides blamed the other for civilian casualties and exaggerated accounts of their victories . with journalists not allowed into the battle zones , their claims could not be independently confirmed . on sunday , the tigers posted an urgent statement ' on a pro-rebel web site , saying the battle had reached its bitter end . ' we have decided to silence our guns , ' the statement said . euphoria gripped the war-wracked nation . and sri lanka 's president mahinda rajapaksa readied to announce to tuesday that military operations had ended . but one last order of business awaited : the capture , dead or alive , of prabhakaran . in the past , the tigers have emerged from near-defeat . but if prabhakaran 's death is confirmed , the government is optimistic that it can write off the tigers . cnn 's melissa gray contributed to this report , which includes information from various sources . they include the u.s. state department , the fbi , interpol , human rights watch , the council on foreign relations , the cia factbook , and previous cnn reports .
tamil leader reportedly wore a cyanide capsule around his neck
snaptu <tsp> ( cnn ) -- consumer demand for mobile media is growing fast , but the smartphone app market has quickly become heavily saturated and fairly confusing . perhaps one of the best ways for a company to increase its customer base is to go after the kinds of phones that the majority of mobile users in the u.s. and elsewhere currently have -- feature phones . feature phones are usually cheaper devices that offer less computing ability than smartphones . this weekend , facebook acquired snaptu , a platform that delivers java-based apps that run on most feature phone models . according to comscore , as of january 2011 only about 28 % of all mobile phones in the u.s. were smartphones . this means 72 % of u.s. cell phones are feature phones , most of which have a broad array of features , including the ability to run java-based apps . in january , facebook launched a snaptu-powered feature phone app , which brought easier facebook access to more than 2,500 mobile devices worldwide . but so far , facebook 's feature phone app is only for use in markets outside the u.s . recently , the weblog readwriteweb noted that feature phone apps make a lot of sense for companies seeking to grow their user base in emerging mobile markets worldwide . the market for feature phone apps represents a huge growth opportunity right here in the u.s . so i would n't be surprised if snaptu and other feature phone app platforms , such as getjar , start attracting more interest and investment and start rolling out richer offerings for u.s. mobile users . the main reason for this is that most smartphone data plans are likely to remain pretty costly , and the majority of mobile users are very cost-conscious . increasing consolidation among u.s. carriers wo n't bring monthly bills down . for instance , at & t 's newly proposed acquisition of t-mobile would increase market consolidation by absorbing the lowest-cost major u.s. carrier , which consumers union believes will lead to rate increases for current t-mobile customers ( among other problems for consumers ) . earlier this year , qualcomm announced that it 's making opera mini the default browser on its brew mp operating system , which powers a huge portion of u.s. feature phones . this move will make web browsing much easier on feature phones , and it could spark a far greater appetite for mobile content and services among feature phone users . at the same time , feature phones are getting smarter and easier to use . for instance , the new htc freestyle , available from at & t , emulates the htc sense android interface , but it 's powered by brew mp and it does n't require a two-year contract . when it comes to user experience , apps probably make much more sense on feature phones than smartphones in the long run . one of the great strengths of smartphones is their fully featured , easy-to-use web browsers . increasingly these will support html5 functionality , which allows web pages to work more like apps . since it 's much easier and cheaper to develop for the mobile web than for several native app platforms , a lot of smartphone services that are delivered mainly via apps today probably will migrate to a mobile browser experience . feature phones will probably always lag behind smartphones in terms of web browser usability . ( opera mini is nice and fast , but it 's definitely nowhere near the experience of mobile safari or dolphin hd . ) so on feature phones , apps are probably the best way to deliver a richer and more user-friendly experience . of course , wireless carriers would have to play ball for the feature phone app market to grow . right now , carriers control which java-based apps customers can download onto feature phones . for the u.s. feature phone app market to take off , carriers would have to loosen restrictions . i doubt facebook would have bought snaptu if it only wanted to introduce apps outside of the u.s . they 're probably also looking to get an early jump on a huge and largely underserved u.s. consumer market . stay tuned . the feature phone app space is probably about to get very interesting . the opinions expressed in this post are solely those of amy gahran .
facebook just bought snaptu , a platform for apps that run on feature phone models
arab <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a friend of mine who works in advertising recently got called for a job in riyadh , saudi arabia . knowing i have traveled in the middle east , she asked me if she should take it . i said it might be interesting in terms of cultural anthropology , but do n't expect to enjoy yourself . the social and legal restrictions on women are rampant . in the end she turned it down , and one big reason was her trepidation about how she would be treated . western women work in the notoriously misogynistic gulf states , mostly in pr for governments and doing business with multinationals . but the biggest contingent of foreign women working in those countries -- the millions of bangladeshi , indonesian and filipino servants -- are off the radar . the events of this past week should be regarded as their , and the native women 's , silent scream . marte deborah dalelv , an interior designer working in qatar , reported being raped last year while on a business trip to dubai . although her alleged attacker was arrested and jailed , so was she . a court sentenced her to 16 months in prison for having unlawful sex . world outrage at the kafkaesque situation apparently provoked the dubai potentate sheikh mohammed bin rashid al maktoum to pardon ' dalelv . she gets her passport back and is free to go home . she told reporters in dubai she planned to get out soon . the incident should be a wake-up call for any woman , and any man who cares about women , working in or doing business with the petro-cash soaked gulf states . it is a reminder to us that no matter how many glittery skyscrapers they build , no matter how many jewels of western culture they attract -- the sorbonne , guggenheim and nyu in the united arab emirates , for example -- their laws are stacked against women . to convict a rapist in the united arab emirates , he must confess or at least four muslim men who witnessed the rape must come forward . norway 's government helped negotiate dalelv 's release , perhaps motivated by the 72,000 signatures collected by outraged facebookers . that is not always the case . in 2008 , an australian woman who reported being gang-raped served eight months in jail . in december 2012 , a british woman reported being raped by three men in dubai and was found guilty of drinking alcohol without a license and fined . in january 2010 , a british woman reported being raped by an employee at a dubai hotel . she was charged with public intoxication and having sex outside of marriage . davelv thanked the emir for pardoning her ( for what , exactly ? ) , but royal forgiveness of a rape victim is not enough . we ought to be pressuring the leaders of dubai , and other gulf states , all the time , and not just when foreign women are victims . the u.s. , incredibly , has had three female secretaries of state in a row who never put this issue on the table despite many meetings with kings and princes . we should be applying much more political and diplomatic pressure on these countries to give women their basic human rights . we should also be supporting the brave women in these countries fighting for change . a slender young saudi woman named manal al sharif has been courageously fighting for women 's right to drive in the kingdom . she 's been jailed . the rich and powerful nation where she lives and works forbids women from driving by refusing to grant them driver 's licenses and arrests those who do drive . the saudis'justifications include the risible statements from religious muftis who preach that driving is a gateway activity to promiscuous sex . the real reason women saudi arabia forbids women from driving is that the law regards them as children for life . females remain legally under male guardianship ' from cradle to grave in the gulf theocracies . mobility profoundly threatens that lopsided intimate power structure . in 2011 , our nation 's 14 female u.s. senators signed a letter urging saudi arabia to let women drive . should n't there have been 100 senators'signatures -- male and female -- on such a letter ? in any other circumstance where biased laws affected men , too , we would see a more coordinated response . what if a nation forbade an ethnic group from driving , forced its members to walk about in blankets in desert heat and criminalized them for being victims of violence ? absolute power , as the saying goes , corrupts absolutely . the abysmal state of gender relations in the theocracies includes girls in their early teens forced into marriage , rampant and unreported domestic violence and -- as in the dalelvy case -- laws that offer no protection for rape victims but instead make them criminals . the arab spring has n't done much for women anywhere in the arab world , and least of all in the gulf states , which have avoided any revolutionary activity by crushing dissent and jailing people without charge . dubai , with its cool , gleaming skyscrapers , has earned a reputation as a playground for the world 's wealthiest people . al jazeera , owned by the qatari princes , is a reputable news organization not just in arabic but in english as well . the trouble is that these visible advancements are attached to medieval attitudes toward women . and the real victims are not western women , who can come and go at will , but the millions of powerless women who live in those countries . dalelv -- blond , first world and educated -- gets to go home to her mother and friends in norway . how many female rape victims are languishing in the emirs'and sheikhs'jails or ostracized by society for life or suffering in silence for the crime ' of having been sexually assaulted ? our silence is a measure of the power of petro-dollars and a powerful signal about where women 's human rights rank on the world stage . until and unless gulf state leaders start making some pro-female changes , women invited to work in these countries should boycott all job offers . maybe if the emirs are isolated in their all-male 21st century utopia , they will begin to change . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of nina burleigh .
she says arab spring has n't done much for women : do n't be fooled by modern skyscrapers
arab <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a friend of mine who works in advertising recently got called for a job in riyadh , saudi arabia . knowing i have traveled in the middle east , she asked me if she should take it . i said it might be interesting in terms of cultural anthropology , but do n't expect to enjoy yourself . the social and legal restrictions on women are rampant . in the end she turned it down , and one big reason was her trepidation about how she would be treated . western women work in the notoriously misogynistic gulf states , mostly in pr for governments and doing business with multinationals . but the biggest contingent of foreign women working in those countries -- the millions of bangladeshi , indonesian and filipino servants -- are off the radar . the events of this past week should be regarded as their , and the native women 's , silent scream . marte deborah dalelv , an interior designer working in qatar , reported being raped last year while on a business trip to dubai . although her alleged attacker was arrested and jailed , so was she . a court sentenced her to 16 months in prison for having unlawful sex . world outrage at the kafkaesque situation apparently provoked the dubai potentate sheikh mohammed bin rashid al maktoum to pardon ' dalelv . she gets her passport back and is free to go home . she told reporters in dubai she planned to get out soon . the incident should be a wake-up call for any woman , and any man who cares about women , working in or doing business with the petro-cash soaked gulf states . it is a reminder to us that no matter how many glittery skyscrapers they build , no matter how many jewels of western culture they attract -- the sorbonne , guggenheim and nyu in the united arab emirates , for example -- their laws are stacked against women . to convict a rapist in the united arab emirates , he must confess or at least four muslim men who witnessed the rape must come forward . norway 's government helped negotiate dalelv 's release , perhaps motivated by the 72,000 signatures collected by outraged facebookers . that is not always the case . in 2008 , an australian woman who reported being gang-raped served eight months in jail . in december 2012 , a british woman reported being raped by three men in dubai and was found guilty of drinking alcohol without a license and fined . in january 2010 , a british woman reported being raped by an employee at a dubai hotel . she was charged with public intoxication and having sex outside of marriage . davelv thanked the emir for pardoning her ( for what , exactly ? ) , but royal forgiveness of a rape victim is not enough . we ought to be pressuring the leaders of dubai , and other gulf states , all the time , and not just when foreign women are victims . the u.s. , incredibly , has had three female secretaries of state in a row who never put this issue on the table despite many meetings with kings and princes . we should be applying much more political and diplomatic pressure on these countries to give women their basic human rights . we should also be supporting the brave women in these countries fighting for change . a slender young saudi woman named manal al sharif has been courageously fighting for women 's right to drive in the kingdom . she 's been jailed . the rich and powerful nation where she lives and works forbids women from driving by refusing to grant them driver 's licenses and arrests those who do drive . the saudis'justifications include the risible statements from religious muftis who preach that driving is a gateway activity to promiscuous sex . the real reason women saudi arabia forbids women from driving is that the law regards them as children for life . females remain legally under male guardianship ' from cradle to grave in the gulf theocracies . mobility profoundly threatens that lopsided intimate power structure . in 2011 , our nation 's 14 female u.s. senators signed a letter urging saudi arabia to let women drive . should n't there have been 100 senators'signatures -- male and female -- on such a letter ? in any other circumstance where biased laws affected men , too , we would see a more coordinated response . what if a nation forbade an ethnic group from driving , forced its members to walk about in blankets in desert heat and criminalized them for being victims of violence ? absolute power , as the saying goes , corrupts absolutely . the abysmal state of gender relations in the theocracies includes girls in their early teens forced into marriage , rampant and unreported domestic violence and -- as in the dalelvy case -- laws that offer no protection for rape victims but instead make them criminals . the arab spring has n't done much for women anywhere in the arab world , and least of all in the gulf states , which have avoided any revolutionary activity by crushing dissent and jailing people without charge . dubai , with its cool , gleaming skyscrapers , has earned a reputation as a playground for the world 's wealthiest people . al jazeera , owned by the qatari princes , is a reputable news organization not just in arabic but in english as well . the trouble is that these visible advancements are attached to medieval attitudes toward women . and the real victims are not western women , who can come and go at will , but the millions of powerless women who live in those countries . dalelv -- blond , first world and educated -- gets to go home to her mother and friends in norway . how many female rape victims are languishing in the emirs'and sheikhs'jails or ostracized by society for life or suffering in silence for the crime ' of having been sexually assaulted ? our silence is a measure of the power of petro-dollars and a powerful signal about where women 's human rights rank on the world stage . until and unless gulf state leaders start making some pro-female changes , women invited to work in these countries should boycott all job offers . maybe if the emirs are isolated in their all-male 21st century utopia , they will begin to change . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of nina burleigh .
westerners can leave , she says , but arab women and foreign servants must stay and endure
ayoob <tsp> ( cnn ) -- some analysts have attributed the recent downing of a u.s. rq-170 sentinel high-altitude reconnaissance drone in iran to that nation 's increasingly sophisticated capability to launch cyber attacks . others have dismissed the idea that iran was capable of bringing down an rq-170 , arguing that iranian air defenses do not have the capability to track an aircraft with radar-evading technology . either way , the incident clearly demonstrates american concerns regarding iran 's nuclear capacity , as the drone was likely sent over iranian territory to spy on its nuclear program . i find the argument that iran is engaged in developing a nuclear weapons program credible . i am also convinced that iran will not test a device , but rather will acquire the capability to produce a weapon quickly if its strategic environment deteriorates to such an extent that it feels it must . i am further convinced that an israeli or american strike or strikes against its nuclear facilities would put iran 's nuclear program back by a few years but would not be able to terminate it . in fact , such strikes would provide tehran with the legitimacy to go ahead and acquire nuclear weapons capability in full view of the world and with international sympathy . it is time for world leaders to recognize the inevitability of iran acquiring nuclear weapons capability , even if it remains untested , with tehran following the policy and adopting the rhetoric of deliberate ambiguity . moreover , the major powers that act as the self-appointed guardians of the current international nuclear order need to recognize that treaties and other legal documents are not the primary determinants when it comes to state decisions regarding acquisition of nuclear capability . it is a country 's strategic environment that principally determines such a decision . iran 's strategic environment is such that it makes the decision by iran 's policy makers to acquire nuclear weapons appear rational both to themselves and to the wider iranian public . this is why leading opposition figures are as opposed to suspending uranium enrichment as regime hard-liners . the foremost opposition presidential candidate , mir-hossein moussavi , in an interview with the financial times in the run-up to the elections in 2009 , stated categorically : no one in iran would accept suspension . ' the strategic rationality of such a policy was recognized in a candid moment by none other than israel 's defense minister , ehud barak . in an appearance on charlie rose ' last month , barak was asked whether he would want to acquire nuclear weapons if he were an iranian government minister . barak responded very candidly : probably , probably . i know it 's not -- i mean i do n't delude myself that they are doing it just because of israel . they look around , they see the indians are nuclear , the chinese are nuclear , pakistan is nuclear , not to mention the russians . ' while downplaying the israeli nuclear weapons capability , barak neglected to mention that iran 's policy makers perceive the american nuclear and non-nuclear armada in the persian gulf and the arabian sea as the greatest threat to their security . all this obviously makes for a dangerous strategic environment as far as tehran is concerned , regardless of the nature of the iranian regime . the american decision to invade non-nuclear iraq while desisting from militarily confronting a nuclear north korea surely tells iran 's rulers that even rudimentary nuclear capability can deter potential american and allied designs to attack iran , whether to topple its regime or impair its nuclear capacity . given the near-certainty that iran is launched on an irreversible course for nuclear weapons capacity , there are only two strategies that can be used -- if not to stop the nuclear program , then at least to make it less threatening to american interests . the first is for the united states to actively promote the idea of a nuclear weapon-free zone ( nwfz ) for the middle east that would include both israel and iran . iran has supported calls for a nwfz for several years , most recently at a nuclear disarmament conference it hosted in april 2010 , as long as it included israel as well as iran . however , promoting a nwfz in the middle east does not appear realistic for the united states in the short run because israel is stubbornly opposed to it before a permanent solution is found to the israeli-palestinian conflict . furthermore , domestic constraints , including a highly pro-israel congress , would not allow the u.s. administration to seriously pursue this course . the other option is to accept iran 's status as a near-nuclear power and engage it in substantive discussions about the future architecture of regional security in the broader middle east , and more specifically in the persian gulf , where iran is the indispensable power . this would entail a drastic revision of the current american strategy of isolating and quarantining iran , and replacing it with one that accommodates iran 's regional aspirations and attempts to find areas of convergence rather than confrontation with tehran . the american approach to india in the 1990s and the 2000s could form the model for such a policy . such a change of course is likely to pose a major but not insuperable challenge to american policy makers , given the current atmosphere of mutual hostility surrounding washington 's relations with tehran . it would require creative diplomacy on the part of the white house and the state department , including signaling iran that the united states recognizes its pre-eminent status in the persian gulf region ( much as washington did with india in south asia ) and the legitimate role that goes with it . it will also mean reducing the paranoia currently afflicting iran 's policy makers because of their fear of encirclement by nuclear powers . if this means that the international community has to learn to live with a near-nuclear iran , then this is the price it must be willing to pay for stability and security in this crucial region . as recent experience has demonstrated , economic sanctions and military threats are only likely to stiffen the iranian resolve to acquire nuclear weapons as well as to act as the spoiler ' not only in the energy-rich persian gulf but also in the strategically important broader middle east region . furthermore , american hostility toward iran reinforces the domestic legitimacy of the iranian regime and discredits the democratic opposition , an outcome that is not in the long-term interest of the united states . the opinions expressed in this column are solely those of mohammed ayoob .
mohammed ayoob : iran inevitably will acquire nuclear weapons capability
ayoob <tsp> ( cnn ) -- some analysts have attributed the recent downing of a u.s. rq-170 sentinel high-altitude reconnaissance drone in iran to that nation 's increasingly sophisticated capability to launch cyber attacks . others have dismissed the idea that iran was capable of bringing down an rq-170 , arguing that iranian air defenses do not have the capability to track an aircraft with radar-evading technology . either way , the incident clearly demonstrates american concerns regarding iran 's nuclear capacity , as the drone was likely sent over iranian territory to spy on its nuclear program . i find the argument that iran is engaged in developing a nuclear weapons program credible . i am also convinced that iran will not test a device , but rather will acquire the capability to produce a weapon quickly if its strategic environment deteriorates to such an extent that it feels it must . i am further convinced that an israeli or american strike or strikes against its nuclear facilities would put iran 's nuclear program back by a few years but would not be able to terminate it . in fact , such strikes would provide tehran with the legitimacy to go ahead and acquire nuclear weapons capability in full view of the world and with international sympathy . it is time for world leaders to recognize the inevitability of iran acquiring nuclear weapons capability , even if it remains untested , with tehran following the policy and adopting the rhetoric of deliberate ambiguity . moreover , the major powers that act as the self-appointed guardians of the current international nuclear order need to recognize that treaties and other legal documents are not the primary determinants when it comes to state decisions regarding acquisition of nuclear capability . it is a country 's strategic environment that principally determines such a decision . iran 's strategic environment is such that it makes the decision by iran 's policy makers to acquire nuclear weapons appear rational both to themselves and to the wider iranian public . this is why leading opposition figures are as opposed to suspending uranium enrichment as regime hard-liners . the foremost opposition presidential candidate , mir-hossein moussavi , in an interview with the financial times in the run-up to the elections in 2009 , stated categorically : no one in iran would accept suspension . ' the strategic rationality of such a policy was recognized in a candid moment by none other than israel 's defense minister , ehud barak . in an appearance on charlie rose ' last month , barak was asked whether he would want to acquire nuclear weapons if he were an iranian government minister . barak responded very candidly : probably , probably . i know it 's not -- i mean i do n't delude myself that they are doing it just because of israel . they look around , they see the indians are nuclear , the chinese are nuclear , pakistan is nuclear , not to mention the russians . ' while downplaying the israeli nuclear weapons capability , barak neglected to mention that iran 's policy makers perceive the american nuclear and non-nuclear armada in the persian gulf and the arabian sea as the greatest threat to their security . all this obviously makes for a dangerous strategic environment as far as tehran is concerned , regardless of the nature of the iranian regime . the american decision to invade non-nuclear iraq while desisting from militarily confronting a nuclear north korea surely tells iran 's rulers that even rudimentary nuclear capability can deter potential american and allied designs to attack iran , whether to topple its regime or impair its nuclear capacity . given the near-certainty that iran is launched on an irreversible course for nuclear weapons capacity , there are only two strategies that can be used -- if not to stop the nuclear program , then at least to make it less threatening to american interests . the first is for the united states to actively promote the idea of a nuclear weapon-free zone ( nwfz ) for the middle east that would include both israel and iran . iran has supported calls for a nwfz for several years , most recently at a nuclear disarmament conference it hosted in april 2010 , as long as it included israel as well as iran . however , promoting a nwfz in the middle east does not appear realistic for the united states in the short run because israel is stubbornly opposed to it before a permanent solution is found to the israeli-palestinian conflict . furthermore , domestic constraints , including a highly pro-israel congress , would not allow the u.s. administration to seriously pursue this course . the other option is to accept iran 's status as a near-nuclear power and engage it in substantive discussions about the future architecture of regional security in the broader middle east , and more specifically in the persian gulf , where iran is the indispensable power . this would entail a drastic revision of the current american strategy of isolating and quarantining iran , and replacing it with one that accommodates iran 's regional aspirations and attempts to find areas of convergence rather than confrontation with tehran . the american approach to india in the 1990s and the 2000s could form the model for such a policy . such a change of course is likely to pose a major but not insuperable challenge to american policy makers , given the current atmosphere of mutual hostility surrounding washington 's relations with tehran . it would require creative diplomacy on the part of the white house and the state department , including signaling iran that the united states recognizes its pre-eminent status in the persian gulf region ( much as washington did with india in south asia ) and the legitimate role that goes with it . it will also mean reducing the paranoia currently afflicting iran 's policy makers because of their fear of encirclement by nuclear powers . if this means that the international community has to learn to live with a near-nuclear iran , then this is the price it must be willing to pay for stability and security in this crucial region . as recent experience has demonstrated , economic sanctions and military threats are only likely to stiffen the iranian resolve to acquire nuclear weapons as well as to act as the spoiler ' not only in the energy-rich persian gulf but also in the strategically important broader middle east region . furthermore , american hostility toward iran reinforces the domestic legitimacy of the iranian regime and discredits the democratic opposition , an outcome that is not in the long-term interest of the united states . the opinions expressed in this column are solely those of mohammed ayoob .
ayoob : u.s. must engage iran in discussions about security in the middle east
madonna <tsp> ( instyle ) -- it 's been almost three decades since the first-ever mtv video music awards . and from the very beginning , stars like madonna aimed to please their fans by shocking them , with a combination of risqué routines -- remember that like a virgin ' floor dance ? -- and outré fashion . so , in anticipation of the award show 's 27th iteration , which airs on sunday , september 12 at 9 p.m. est , instyle looks back at five of the most memorable vma performances and appearances ever , and wonders : can we still be shocked , or have we seen it all ? we 'll be watching . 1984 at the inaugural ceremony in 1984 , madonna attained instant superstar status thanks to a scandalous rendition of her already-controversial single , like a virgin . ' clad in a lingerie-inspired wedding dress , ' complete with veil , boy toy ' belt , gloves , and a see-through polka dot skirt , she danced atop a giant cake , writhed on the floor and generally set the bar sky high for all subsequent would-be pop stars . see all of the vma style shockers 1999 lil'kim did n't perform at the 1999 show , which may have been for the best , given the extreme precariousness of her glittering purple ensemble . instead , she presented the award for best hip-hop video with the help of a slightly nonplussed-looking mary j. blige and diana ross , who could n't resist reaching over and jiggling the pasty-covered part at the podium . 2000 it was britney spears 's second time at the vmas -- she 'd debuted the previous year , singing a relatively tame version of her first single , ... baby one more time . ' but in 2000 , she stepped up and changed the game , opening with a cover of the rolling stones' satisfaction ' ( which she performed while dressed in a menswear-style pinstriped suit ) , before segueing into her hit oops ! ... i did it again , ' and tearing off her shirt , jacket and pants to reveal a surprising nude-tone two-piece bodysuit . instyle.com : britney spears 's style transformation 2003 in 2003 , for the 20th video music awards , vma mvps britney and madonna teamed up ( along with christina aguilera ) for a startling performance that nabbed each of them a second spot on our top-five list . the show opened with each of the younger stars paying tribute to madonna 's first-ever vma appearance nineteen years earlier , singing like a virgin ' in not-so-virginal white . then the material girl herself turned up in a suit to sing hollywood ' ... and to kiss britney , then christina , on the lips . ( missy elliot popped out of a wedding chapel ' to rap the finale . ) instyle.com : madonna 's transformation 2009 lady gaga began her performance at last year 's vmas precisely where madonna ended hers 25 years before : dressed in white and rolling on the ground . but it 's difficult to imagine anyone -- even madge -- engineering the spectacle that followed as gaga ran through poker face , ' and papparazzi , ' then wrapped things up by rubbing fake blood all over her torso , face and hair . ( she even got some in her eye , for maximum ick . ) the other ensembles she donned that night were only slightly less startling : her sheer red alexander mcqueen dress , topped with a lace mask and matching crown , was a standout . instyle.com : lady gaga 's most gaga outfits want more vma style shockers ? visit instyle.com to see the rest of our picks ! get a free trial issue of instyle - click here ! copyright © 2010 time inc. all rights reserved .
britney and madonna teamed up ( along with christina aguilera ) in 2003
madonna <tsp> ( instyle ) -- it 's been almost three decades since the first-ever mtv video music awards . and from the very beginning , stars like madonna aimed to please their fans by shocking them , with a combination of risqué routines -- remember that like a virgin ' floor dance ? -- and outré fashion . so , in anticipation of the award show 's 27th iteration , which airs on sunday , september 12 at 9 p.m. est , instyle looks back at five of the most memorable vma performances and appearances ever , and wonders : can we still be shocked , or have we seen it all ? we 'll be watching . 1984 at the inaugural ceremony in 1984 , madonna attained instant superstar status thanks to a scandalous rendition of her already-controversial single , like a virgin . ' clad in a lingerie-inspired wedding dress , ' complete with veil , boy toy ' belt , gloves , and a see-through polka dot skirt , she danced atop a giant cake , writhed on the floor and generally set the bar sky high for all subsequent would-be pop stars . see all of the vma style shockers 1999 lil'kim did n't perform at the 1999 show , which may have been for the best , given the extreme precariousness of her glittering purple ensemble . instead , she presented the award for best hip-hop video with the help of a slightly nonplussed-looking mary j. blige and diana ross , who could n't resist reaching over and jiggling the pasty-covered part at the podium . 2000 it was britney spears 's second time at the vmas -- she 'd debuted the previous year , singing a relatively tame version of her first single , ... baby one more time . ' but in 2000 , she stepped up and changed the game , opening with a cover of the rolling stones' satisfaction ' ( which she performed while dressed in a menswear-style pinstriped suit ) , before segueing into her hit oops ! ... i did it again , ' and tearing off her shirt , jacket and pants to reveal a surprising nude-tone two-piece bodysuit . instyle.com : britney spears 's style transformation 2003 in 2003 , for the 20th video music awards , vma mvps britney and madonna teamed up ( along with christina aguilera ) for a startling performance that nabbed each of them a second spot on our top-five list . the show opened with each of the younger stars paying tribute to madonna 's first-ever vma appearance nineteen years earlier , singing like a virgin ' in not-so-virginal white . then the material girl herself turned up in a suit to sing hollywood ' ... and to kiss britney , then christina , on the lips . ( missy elliot popped out of a wedding chapel ' to rap the finale . ) instyle.com : madonna 's transformation 2009 lady gaga began her performance at last year 's vmas precisely where madonna ended hers 25 years before : dressed in white and rolling on the ground . but it 's difficult to imagine anyone -- even madge -- engineering the spectacle that followed as gaga ran through poker face , ' and papparazzi , ' then wrapped things up by rubbing fake blood all over her torso , face and hair . ( she even got some in her eye , for maximum ick . ) the other ensembles she donned that night were only slightly less startling : her sheer red alexander mcqueen dress , topped with a lace mask and matching crown , was a standout . instyle.com : lady gaga 's most gaga outfits want more vma style shockers ? visit instyle.com to see the rest of our picks ! get a free trial issue of instyle - click here ! copyright © 2010 time inc. all rights reserved .
at the inaugural ceremony in 1984 , madonna attained instant superstar status
nsa <tsp> ( cnn ) -- unacceptable . illegitimate . and against the law . that 's how the mexican government responded sunday to new allegations of u.s. spying reported by der spiegel . according to the german news magazine , the national security agency systematically ' eavesdropped on the government . it hacked the public e-mail account of former mexican president felipe calderon , which was also used by cabinet members , der spiegel said . the magazine quoted documents leaked by former nsa contractor edward snowden . snowden deserves a nobel prize , his father says ' this practice is unacceptable , illegitimate and against mexican and international law , ' mexico 's foreign ministry said in a statement . it added that it would push for speedy investigation . in a relationship between neighbors and partners , there is no room for the practices alleged to have taken place , ' the ministry said . a senior u.s. state department official told cnn that the mexican government reached out about the report , and that the two governments will be discussing it via diplomatic channels . the nsa said it would not comment publicly on every specific alleged intelligence activity , and as a matter of policy we have made clear that the united states gathers foreign intelligence of the type gathered by all nations . report : u.s. intercepts french phone calls on a'massive scale' ' as the president said in his speech at the u.n. general assembly , we 've begun to review the way that we gather intelligence , so that we properly balance the legitimate security concerns of our citizens and allies with the privacy concerns that all people share , ' the agency added . in september , mexico and brazil summoned u.s. ambassadors after media reports that the united states had spied on their countries'presidents . a brazilian news report described the alleged espionage , citing glenn greenwald , a brazil-based journalist who similarly obtained documents from snowden . one of the alleged nsa documents leaked to greenwald dates from june 2012 , a month before mexican president enrique pena nieto was elected . in it , the candidate talks about whom he would select for his cabinet if elected . the documents did not reference any specific communications with brazilian president dilma rousseff but show the methods the nsa allegedly used to track e-mails and mobile phone communications with close advisers . it was very clear in the documents that they had already carried out the spying , ' greenwald told globo tv 's sunday night program fantastico . ' they are n't talking about something they are planning ; they are celebrating their spying successes . ' nsa mines facebook for connections cnn 's elise labott , evan perez , shasta darlington and catherine e. shoichet contributed to this report .
nsa : the u.s. gathers foreign intelligence of the type gathered by all nations '
nsa <tsp> ( cnn ) -- unacceptable . illegitimate . and against the law . that 's how the mexican government responded sunday to new allegations of u.s. spying reported by der spiegel . according to the german news magazine , the national security agency systematically ' eavesdropped on the government . it hacked the public e-mail account of former mexican president felipe calderon , which was also used by cabinet members , der spiegel said . the magazine quoted documents leaked by former nsa contractor edward snowden . snowden deserves a nobel prize , his father says ' this practice is unacceptable , illegitimate and against mexican and international law , ' mexico 's foreign ministry said in a statement . it added that it would push for speedy investigation . in a relationship between neighbors and partners , there is no room for the practices alleged to have taken place , ' the ministry said . a senior u.s. state department official told cnn that the mexican government reached out about the report , and that the two governments will be discussing it via diplomatic channels . the nsa said it would not comment publicly on every specific alleged intelligence activity , and as a matter of policy we have made clear that the united states gathers foreign intelligence of the type gathered by all nations . report : u.s. intercepts french phone calls on a'massive scale' ' as the president said in his speech at the u.n. general assembly , we 've begun to review the way that we gather intelligence , so that we properly balance the legitimate security concerns of our citizens and allies with the privacy concerns that all people share , ' the agency added . in september , mexico and brazil summoned u.s. ambassadors after media reports that the united states had spied on their countries'presidents . a brazilian news report described the alleged espionage , citing glenn greenwald , a brazil-based journalist who similarly obtained documents from snowden . one of the alleged nsa documents leaked to greenwald dates from june 2012 , a month before mexican president enrique pena nieto was elected . in it , the candidate talks about whom he would select for his cabinet if elected . the documents did not reference any specific communications with brazilian president dilma rousseff but show the methods the nsa allegedly used to track e-mails and mobile phone communications with close advisers . it was very clear in the documents that they had already carried out the spying , ' greenwald told globo tv 's sunday night program fantastico . ' they are n't talking about something they are planning ; they are celebrating their spying successes . ' nsa mines facebook for connections cnn 's elise labott , evan perez , shasta darlington and catherine e. shoichet contributed to this report .
der spiegel : nsa systematically ' eavesdropped on mexican government
mandela <tsp> ( cnn ) -- as the world says goodbye to nelson mandela , the task of ensuring his legacy becomes the world 's responsibility . his life has been described as an evolution from militant freedom fighter , to prisoner , to unifying figure and eventual elder statesman -- in the process winning the hearts and minds of world leaders and average citizens alike . in his 95 years he accomplished what many thought impossible . held prisoner for 27 years and later becoming south africa 's first democratically elected president , he practiced reflection , negotiation and incredible stubbornness . his capacity for forgiveness and reconciliation made him one of the most remarkable and respected individuals of modern times . whether it 's battling racism , offering a helping hand or long-overdue forgiveness , here are several practical suggestions to keep mandela 's legacy alive . make the best of your current situation ' it is possible that if i had not gone to jail and been able to read and listen to the stories of many people . ... i might not have learned these things , ' mandela once said in 2000 during an interview with the christian science monitor . he said reading biographies helped him realize problems make some people , while destroying others . his mother and eldest son both died while he was imprisoned . while he had ample reason to remain bitter about his mistreatment , instead he wrote in long walk to freedom , ' his 1995 autobiography , prison is itself a tremendous education in the need for patience and perseverance . it is , above all , a test of one 's commitment . ' do n't judge a book by its cover ' i have been surprised a great deal sometimes when i see somebody who looks less than ordinary , but when you talk to the person and he ( or she ) opens his mouth , he is something completely different , ' mandela said in the same interview about how his prison experience taught him to respect even the most ordinary people . anthony f. lemieux , an associate professor of communication at georgia state university in atlanta said avoiding the temptation to put people in narrowly fixed categories is one of mandela 's greatest legacies . people are complex and dynamic , capable of change and evolving , ' lemieux said . it would have been easy for mandela to become and remain jaded after what he had experienced , lemieux added . even for the people who kept mandela locked up , the former president said they were n't bad people . mr mandela was at pains to point out that not every prison warder or apartheid official was bad . this view was underpinned throughout by his assertion that to get along in life one should see the good in all people , ' said a nelson mandela centre of memory statement on a collection of writings about his prison time . use your passion to persuade others ' if you have an objective in life , then you want to concentrate on that and not engage in infighting with your enemies , ' mandela continued during the interview . you want to create an atmosphere where you can move everybody toward the goal you have set for yourself . ' remaining focused on a goal despite adversity requires a deep level of commitment . ask anyone whose ever overcome great odds to achieve their version of greatness . lemieux said different situations are going to draw different things out people , but it 's never as simple as distilling the experience down to a type of person . ' practically none of us knows how we will react in complex situations and interactions . change yourself first ' one of the most difficult things is not to change society -- but to change yourself , ' mandela said in 1999 at a tribute to billionaire businessman douw steyn , who had made his johannesburg residence available to mandela as a retreat after his prison release in 1990 . while mandela clearly fought for change in the world he lived in , he also changed himself . while imprisoned , he reflected on his wild man ' behaviors . he also said he neglected to show any gratitude to those who had helped him when he was poor , after he experienced some success as a lawyer . lemieux points out his change from violence to peace was profound . throughout the violence and chaos , ultimately , it was n't the violent conflict that led to social change . ' do n't be afraid to acknowledge weaknesses ' if you come across as a saint , people can become very discouraged . i was once a young man and i did all the things young men do , ' mandela told the christian science monitor . in his twilight , mandela was at pains to publish and acknowledge his weaknesses and shortcomings in his family life , in his relationships with women and his first wife , evelyn , ' john battersby wrote for cnn . he was keen to dispel any notion of sainthood that might be bestowed on him . to this day , mandela 's weaknesses , his turbulent youth and his sometimes tempestuous relationships with women can still detract from the iconic status that mandela achieved in his own lifetime . but , the responsible airing of his weaknesses -- including his own acknowledgment -- in fact humanized mandela and focused on his extraordinary strength of character and commitment in overcoming both his weaknesses and adversity in his own lifetime . it augmented mandela 's greatness . ' get educated -- educate others ' education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world , ' mandela said during a speech at the university of the witwatersrand in johannesburg in 2003 . mandela failed twice to complete his bachelor 's degree and readily admitted he was a poor student . eventually he earned a law degree . six weeks after being elected president in 1994 , mandela called on south africans to solve the country 's profound education crisis , ' bloomberg reported this year . the task to make south africa a learning and learned nation belongs to all of us , ' he said in a speech . but the country 's schools are near the bottom in international rankings . unqualified teachers , inadequate training and corruption are among the problems . still , officials say almost all south african children now attend school , bloomeberg reported . look people in the eye and shake their hands ' nelson mandela made such a common gesture something transcendent -- a greeting that crossed all societal barriers , a symbol of reconciliation , even a declaration of victory , ' wrote cnn 's tom cohen in his piece , nelson mandela : man of many handshakes . ' before meeting visiting dignitaries or political adversaries in five-star hotel conference rooms , mandela made sure to approach the security guards , servers and other workers outside to shake their hands , cohen wrote . they went wild when mandela concluded his final statement during a conference by offering his hand to f.w . de klerk , south africa 's last apartheid-era president , as an expression of unity , saying that despite their differences , he was willing to work with his adversary . de klerk had little choice but to grasp it . i look at not only how people treat me , but how they treat others , ' lemieux said . sometimes this ( how they treat others ) is more important . ' a simple handshake , lemieux said , can convey to others that the person making the gesture is demonstrating the belief that , this person has value , has a perspective . ' maintain a sense of humor ' you sharpen your ideas by reducing yourself to the level of the people you are with and a sense of humor and a complete relaxation , even when you 're discussing serious things , does help to mobilise friends around you . and i love that , ' mandela said in a 2005 interview , published by the nelson mandela foundation . at election rallies in 1994 , cohen wrote , mandela repeatedly elicited trilling howls of ululation from women of all ages when he explained how voters should search their ballots for the picture of the very handsome young man ' -- referring to himself -- to mark their support for the anc . cnn 's robyn curnow examined mandela 's the importance of his ability to charm and cajole . ' the cult of mandela had become so pronounced that celebrities , world leaders and ordinary people often became tongue-tied and gibbering when they met him , ' she said . self-mockery was a typically savvy mandela ploy to ensure that people would relax around him . ' forgive ' it enables me to go to bed with an enriching feeling in my soul and the belief that i am changing myself [ by reconciling with former adversaries ] , ' mandela told the christian science monitor about his experiences with douw steyn . steyn was a white businessman who befriended mandela and began sharing his resources with the poor . for someone who had been imprisoned , it ( forgiveness ) was a fundamentally transformative experience , ' lemieux said . he explained that people unable to forgive may experience an inability to move forward . johann lochner was a johannesburg police officer from 1986 to 1990 . in an essay submitted to cnn ireport , lochner describes responding to a shopping mall bombing scene and stepping over body parts . we suspected that the deceased may have been affiliated with the umkhonto we sizwe , the militant arm of the african national congress , ' lochner wrote . he describes the police department , as well as the city , as greatly divided . ' mandela wanted to find a way to unite all the people of south africa -- something only the power of forgiveness could produce , ' he said . to this day , i am so passionate about the role forgiveness played in madiba 's life . i remember so clearly how i had to personally take steps to overcome the ingrained apartheid mentality in south africa . ' it 's almost like a miraculous , supernatural transformation had taken place in mandela 's life , and consequently , in the whole nation . forgiveness freed madiba , ' lochner said , and forgiveness freed his country , ' nelson mandela from joel gautraud on vimeo . .
simple changes in everyday behavior can honor mandela 's legacy
mandela <tsp> ( cnn ) -- as the world says goodbye to nelson mandela , the task of ensuring his legacy becomes the world 's responsibility . his life has been described as an evolution from militant freedom fighter , to prisoner , to unifying figure and eventual elder statesman -- in the process winning the hearts and minds of world leaders and average citizens alike . in his 95 years he accomplished what many thought impossible . held prisoner for 27 years and later becoming south africa 's first democratically elected president , he practiced reflection , negotiation and incredible stubbornness . his capacity for forgiveness and reconciliation made him one of the most remarkable and respected individuals of modern times . whether it 's battling racism , offering a helping hand or long-overdue forgiveness , here are several practical suggestions to keep mandela 's legacy alive . make the best of your current situation ' it is possible that if i had not gone to jail and been able to read and listen to the stories of many people . ... i might not have learned these things , ' mandela once said in 2000 during an interview with the christian science monitor . he said reading biographies helped him realize problems make some people , while destroying others . his mother and eldest son both died while he was imprisoned . while he had ample reason to remain bitter about his mistreatment , instead he wrote in long walk to freedom , ' his 1995 autobiography , prison is itself a tremendous education in the need for patience and perseverance . it is , above all , a test of one 's commitment . ' do n't judge a book by its cover ' i have been surprised a great deal sometimes when i see somebody who looks less than ordinary , but when you talk to the person and he ( or she ) opens his mouth , he is something completely different , ' mandela said in the same interview about how his prison experience taught him to respect even the most ordinary people . anthony f. lemieux , an associate professor of communication at georgia state university in atlanta said avoiding the temptation to put people in narrowly fixed categories is one of mandela 's greatest legacies . people are complex and dynamic , capable of change and evolving , ' lemieux said . it would have been easy for mandela to become and remain jaded after what he had experienced , lemieux added . even for the people who kept mandela locked up , the former president said they were n't bad people . mr mandela was at pains to point out that not every prison warder or apartheid official was bad . this view was underpinned throughout by his assertion that to get along in life one should see the good in all people , ' said a nelson mandela centre of memory statement on a collection of writings about his prison time . use your passion to persuade others ' if you have an objective in life , then you want to concentrate on that and not engage in infighting with your enemies , ' mandela continued during the interview . you want to create an atmosphere where you can move everybody toward the goal you have set for yourself . ' remaining focused on a goal despite adversity requires a deep level of commitment . ask anyone whose ever overcome great odds to achieve their version of greatness . lemieux said different situations are going to draw different things out people , but it 's never as simple as distilling the experience down to a type of person . ' practically none of us knows how we will react in complex situations and interactions . change yourself first ' one of the most difficult things is not to change society -- but to change yourself , ' mandela said in 1999 at a tribute to billionaire businessman douw steyn , who had made his johannesburg residence available to mandela as a retreat after his prison release in 1990 . while mandela clearly fought for change in the world he lived in , he also changed himself . while imprisoned , he reflected on his wild man ' behaviors . he also said he neglected to show any gratitude to those who had helped him when he was poor , after he experienced some success as a lawyer . lemieux points out his change from violence to peace was profound . throughout the violence and chaos , ultimately , it was n't the violent conflict that led to social change . ' do n't be afraid to acknowledge weaknesses ' if you come across as a saint , people can become very discouraged . i was once a young man and i did all the things young men do , ' mandela told the christian science monitor . in his twilight , mandela was at pains to publish and acknowledge his weaknesses and shortcomings in his family life , in his relationships with women and his first wife , evelyn , ' john battersby wrote for cnn . he was keen to dispel any notion of sainthood that might be bestowed on him . to this day , mandela 's weaknesses , his turbulent youth and his sometimes tempestuous relationships with women can still detract from the iconic status that mandela achieved in his own lifetime . but , the responsible airing of his weaknesses -- including his own acknowledgment -- in fact humanized mandela and focused on his extraordinary strength of character and commitment in overcoming both his weaknesses and adversity in his own lifetime . it augmented mandela 's greatness . ' get educated -- educate others ' education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world , ' mandela said during a speech at the university of the witwatersrand in johannesburg in 2003 . mandela failed twice to complete his bachelor 's degree and readily admitted he was a poor student . eventually he earned a law degree . six weeks after being elected president in 1994 , mandela called on south africans to solve the country 's profound education crisis , ' bloomberg reported this year . the task to make south africa a learning and learned nation belongs to all of us , ' he said in a speech . but the country 's schools are near the bottom in international rankings . unqualified teachers , inadequate training and corruption are among the problems . still , officials say almost all south african children now attend school , bloomeberg reported . look people in the eye and shake their hands ' nelson mandela made such a common gesture something transcendent -- a greeting that crossed all societal barriers , a symbol of reconciliation , even a declaration of victory , ' wrote cnn 's tom cohen in his piece , nelson mandela : man of many handshakes . ' before meeting visiting dignitaries or political adversaries in five-star hotel conference rooms , mandela made sure to approach the security guards , servers and other workers outside to shake their hands , cohen wrote . they went wild when mandela concluded his final statement during a conference by offering his hand to f.w . de klerk , south africa 's last apartheid-era president , as an expression of unity , saying that despite their differences , he was willing to work with his adversary . de klerk had little choice but to grasp it . i look at not only how people treat me , but how they treat others , ' lemieux said . sometimes this ( how they treat others ) is more important . ' a simple handshake , lemieux said , can convey to others that the person making the gesture is demonstrating the belief that , this person has value , has a perspective . ' maintain a sense of humor ' you sharpen your ideas by reducing yourself to the level of the people you are with and a sense of humor and a complete relaxation , even when you 're discussing serious things , does help to mobilise friends around you . and i love that , ' mandela said in a 2005 interview , published by the nelson mandela foundation . at election rallies in 1994 , cohen wrote , mandela repeatedly elicited trilling howls of ululation from women of all ages when he explained how voters should search their ballots for the picture of the very handsome young man ' -- referring to himself -- to mark their support for the anc . cnn 's robyn curnow examined mandela 's the importance of his ability to charm and cajole . ' the cult of mandela had become so pronounced that celebrities , world leaders and ordinary people often became tongue-tied and gibbering when they met him , ' she said . self-mockery was a typically savvy mandela ploy to ensure that people would relax around him . ' forgive ' it enables me to go to bed with an enriching feeling in my soul and the belief that i am changing myself [ by reconciling with former adversaries ] , ' mandela told the christian science monitor about his experiences with douw steyn . steyn was a white businessman who befriended mandela and began sharing his resources with the poor . for someone who had been imprisoned , it ( forgiveness ) was a fundamentally transformative experience , ' lemieux said . he explained that people unable to forgive may experience an inability to move forward . johann lochner was a johannesburg police officer from 1986 to 1990 . in an essay submitted to cnn ireport , lochner describes responding to a shopping mall bombing scene and stepping over body parts . we suspected that the deceased may have been affiliated with the umkhonto we sizwe , the militant arm of the african national congress , ' lochner wrote . he describes the police department , as well as the city , as greatly divided . ' mandela wanted to find a way to unite all the people of south africa -- something only the power of forgiveness could produce , ' he said . to this day , i am so passionate about the role forgiveness played in madiba 's life . i remember so clearly how i had to personally take steps to overcome the ingrained apartheid mentality in south africa . ' it 's almost like a miraculous , supernatural transformation had taken place in mandela 's life , and consequently , in the whole nation . forgiveness freed madiba , ' lochner said , and forgiveness freed his country , ' nelson mandela from joel gautraud on vimeo . .
expert warns against using mandela examples as solution for all problems
africa <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the u.s. health system has been preparing since late march for the news we announced tuesday : the first case of ebola diagnosed in the united states . in this age of global travel , we anticipated that a traveler from a country with an ebola outbreak would come to the united states and develop symptoms once they arrived . but from everything we know now , there appears to be no risk that anyone on this patient 's flights from liberia to the united states was exposed to the virus . can you catch ebola on a plane ? clinicians on the front lines have been one key to our safety : identifying patients with both a history of travel and symptoms indicating they might have ebola , immediately isolating them , consulting their local or state health departments , and getting the patients tested as needed . indeed , since the outbreak began in africa , cdc has consulted with state and local health departments on almost 100 cases in which travelers had recently returned from west africa and showed symptoms that might have been caused by ebola . of those cases , 14 were considered to be truly at risk . specimens from 13 were tested and ebola was ruled out in all 13 cases . but now cdc labs have confirmed our nation 's first u.s.-diagnosed ebola patient . i understand this can be deeply troubling news , especially after what we have witnessed ebola do in west africa . but there are distinct differences in what will happen here . the united states has a strong health care system and dedicated public health professionals -- all hard at work right now -- to make sure this case will not threaten the community at large , or the nation . a person who is sick from ebola virus disease can be cared for in u.s. hospitals when the patient is isolated in a private room with a private bathroom and contact with them is highly controlled . every health care worker must meticulously follow every single infection control protection we recommend . how the ebola virus spreads public health officials , meanwhile , are also identifying people who have had close personal contact with the newly diagnosed patient and will follow up with them for 21 days , the longest known incubation period for ebola . if they develop any signs of the disease , those people will be isolated , tested and cared for . the fact is that cdc has been preparing for this day , working around the clock with local and state health departments to enhance surveillance and laboratory testing capacity , provide recommendations for health care infection control and other measures to prevent disease spread , and deliver guidance and tools for health departments to conduct public health investigations . your ebola questions answered i 'm not going to promise that we can stop this at just one case , but i can tell you we have the advantage because the right steps are being taken , and i am therefore confident we will stop ebola in its tracks here in the united states . and there is one final thing to remember , even as the first case here grabs the headlines : we must be relentless in stopping its spread in west africa . after all , after all is said and done here , that is the only way to truly and completely protect the health security of america -- and the world . complete coverage on ebola
clear differences between ebola in africa and what will happen in u.s. , says tom frieden
ebola <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the u.s. health system has been preparing since late march for the news we announced tuesday : the first case of ebola diagnosed in the united states . in this age of global travel , we anticipated that a traveler from a country with an ebola outbreak would come to the united states and develop symptoms once they arrived . but from everything we know now , there appears to be no risk that anyone on this patient 's flights from liberia to the united states was exposed to the virus . can you catch ebola on a plane ? clinicians on the front lines have been one key to our safety : identifying patients with both a history of travel and symptoms indicating they might have ebola , immediately isolating them , consulting their local or state health departments , and getting the patients tested as needed . indeed , since the outbreak began in africa , cdc has consulted with state and local health departments on almost 100 cases in which travelers had recently returned from west africa and showed symptoms that might have been caused by ebola . of those cases , 14 were considered to be truly at risk . specimens from 13 were tested and ebola was ruled out in all 13 cases . but now cdc labs have confirmed our nation 's first u.s.-diagnosed ebola patient . i understand this can be deeply troubling news , especially after what we have witnessed ebola do in west africa . but there are distinct differences in what will happen here . the united states has a strong health care system and dedicated public health professionals -- all hard at work right now -- to make sure this case will not threaten the community at large , or the nation . a person who is sick from ebola virus disease can be cared for in u.s. hospitals when the patient is isolated in a private room with a private bathroom and contact with them is highly controlled . every health care worker must meticulously follow every single infection control protection we recommend . how the ebola virus spreads public health officials , meanwhile , are also identifying people who have had close personal contact with the newly diagnosed patient and will follow up with them for 21 days , the longest known incubation period for ebola . if they develop any signs of the disease , those people will be isolated , tested and cared for . the fact is that cdc has been preparing for this day , working around the clock with local and state health departments to enhance surveillance and laboratory testing capacity , provide recommendations for health care infection control and other measures to prevent disease spread , and deliver guidance and tools for health departments to conduct public health investigations . your ebola questions answered i 'm not going to promise that we can stop this at just one case , but i can tell you we have the advantage because the right steps are being taken , and i am therefore confident we will stop ebola in its tracks here in the united states . and there is one final thing to remember , even as the first case here grabs the headlines : we must be relentless in stopping its spread in west africa . after all , after all is said and done here , that is the only way to truly and completely protect the health security of america -- and the world . complete coverage on ebola
clear differences between ebola in africa and what will happen in u.s. , says tom frieden
ebola <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the u.s. health system has been preparing since late march for the news we announced tuesday : the first case of ebola diagnosed in the united states . in this age of global travel , we anticipated that a traveler from a country with an ebola outbreak would come to the united states and develop symptoms once they arrived . but from everything we know now , there appears to be no risk that anyone on this patient 's flights from liberia to the united states was exposed to the virus . can you catch ebola on a plane ? clinicians on the front lines have been one key to our safety : identifying patients with both a history of travel and symptoms indicating they might have ebola , immediately isolating them , consulting their local or state health departments , and getting the patients tested as needed . indeed , since the outbreak began in africa , cdc has consulted with state and local health departments on almost 100 cases in which travelers had recently returned from west africa and showed symptoms that might have been caused by ebola . of those cases , 14 were considered to be truly at risk . specimens from 13 were tested and ebola was ruled out in all 13 cases . but now cdc labs have confirmed our nation 's first u.s.-diagnosed ebola patient . i understand this can be deeply troubling news , especially after what we have witnessed ebola do in west africa . but there are distinct differences in what will happen here . the united states has a strong health care system and dedicated public health professionals -- all hard at work right now -- to make sure this case will not threaten the community at large , or the nation . a person who is sick from ebola virus disease can be cared for in u.s. hospitals when the patient is isolated in a private room with a private bathroom and contact with them is highly controlled . every health care worker must meticulously follow every single infection control protection we recommend . how the ebola virus spreads public health officials , meanwhile , are also identifying people who have had close personal contact with the newly diagnosed patient and will follow up with them for 21 days , the longest known incubation period for ebola . if they develop any signs of the disease , those people will be isolated , tested and cared for . the fact is that cdc has been preparing for this day , working around the clock with local and state health departments to enhance surveillance and laboratory testing capacity , provide recommendations for health care infection control and other measures to prevent disease spread , and deliver guidance and tools for health departments to conduct public health investigations . your ebola questions answered i 'm not going to promise that we can stop this at just one case , but i can tell you we have the advantage because the right steps are being taken , and i am therefore confident we will stop ebola in its tracks here in the united states . and there is one final thing to remember , even as the first case here grabs the headlines : we must be relentless in stopping its spread in west africa . after all , after all is said and done here , that is the only way to truly and completely protect the health security of america -- and the world . complete coverage on ebola
cdc chief : u.s. health system has been preparing since march for first u.s. ebola case
ebola <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the u.s. health system has been preparing since late march for the news we announced tuesday : the first case of ebola diagnosed in the united states . in this age of global travel , we anticipated that a traveler from a country with an ebola outbreak would come to the united states and develop symptoms once they arrived . but from everything we know now , there appears to be no risk that anyone on this patient 's flights from liberia to the united states was exposed to the virus . can you catch ebola on a plane ? clinicians on the front lines have been one key to our safety : identifying patients with both a history of travel and symptoms indicating they might have ebola , immediately isolating them , consulting their local or state health departments , and getting the patients tested as needed . indeed , since the outbreak began in africa , cdc has consulted with state and local health departments on almost 100 cases in which travelers had recently returned from west africa and showed symptoms that might have been caused by ebola . of those cases , 14 were considered to be truly at risk . specimens from 13 were tested and ebola was ruled out in all 13 cases . but now cdc labs have confirmed our nation 's first u.s.-diagnosed ebola patient . i understand this can be deeply troubling news , especially after what we have witnessed ebola do in west africa . but there are distinct differences in what will happen here . the united states has a strong health care system and dedicated public health professionals -- all hard at work right now -- to make sure this case will not threaten the community at large , or the nation . a person who is sick from ebola virus disease can be cared for in u.s. hospitals when the patient is isolated in a private room with a private bathroom and contact with them is highly controlled . every health care worker must meticulously follow every single infection control protection we recommend . how the ebola virus spreads public health officials , meanwhile , are also identifying people who have had close personal contact with the newly diagnosed patient and will follow up with them for 21 days , the longest known incubation period for ebola . if they develop any signs of the disease , those people will be isolated , tested and cared for . the fact is that cdc has been preparing for this day , working around the clock with local and state health departments to enhance surveillance and laboratory testing capacity , provide recommendations for health care infection control and other measures to prevent disease spread , and deliver guidance and tools for health departments to conduct public health investigations . your ebola questions answered i 'm not going to promise that we can stop this at just one case , but i can tell you we have the advantage because the right steps are being taken , and i am therefore confident we will stop ebola in its tracks here in the united states . and there is one final thing to remember , even as the first case here grabs the headlines : we must be relentless in stopping its spread in west africa . after all , after all is said and done here , that is the only way to truly and completely protect the health security of america -- and the world . complete coverage on ebola
21 days is the longest known incubation period for ebola , frieden says
obama <tsp> syrian president bashar al-assad should heed u.s. warnings to neither use nor move chemical or biological weapons , lest he risk crossing a red line ' and provoke a u.s. military response , president barack obama said monday . we can not have a situation where chemical or biological weapons are falling into the hands of the wrong people , ' obama told reporters at the white house . we have been very clear to the assad regime -- but also to other players on the ground -- that a red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized . that would change my calculus ; that would change my equation . ' obama added that u.s. officials are monitoring the situation very carefully ' and have put together a number of contingency plans . saudi support for syrian rebels shaped by tribal , religious ties ' we have communicated in no uncertain terms with every player in the region that that 's a red line for us and that there would be enormous consequences if we start seeing movement on the chemical weapons front or the use of chemical weapons . ' obama 's remarks appeared to ratchet up his stance on the matter . last month , talking about syrian forces , he told a vfw convention , they will be held accountable by the international community and the united states should they make the tragic mistake of using those weapons . ' the syrian regime probably has the largest and most advanced chemical warfare program in the arab world , ' michael eisenstadt , director of the military and security studies program at the washington institute for near east policy , told cnn last month . it includes thousands of tube and rocket artillery rounds filled with mustard-type blister agents , thousands of bombs filled with the nerve agents sarin and possibly vx , and binary-type and cluster cw warheads filled with nerve agents for all its major missile systems . its cw infrastructure is believed to include several production facilities and numerous storage sites , mostly dispersed throughout the western half of the country , ' eisenstadt said . syria is thought to have a biological warfare research and development program , but is not known to have offensive biological warfare agents , eisenstadt said . the nation is not a party to the organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons . that 's the body of the chemical weapons convention dedicated to eliminating the weapons . israeli president shimon peres has said his country too is preparing contingency plans to attack syria 's chemical weapons arsenal if israel is directly threatened . in september 2007 , israeli jets bombed a building in syria that the u.n. nuclear agency eventually concluded was very likely a nuclear reactor . ' obama 's warning on monday came as muslims in syria celebrated the second of three days of feasting to honor the end of the holy month of ramadan , with the holiday 's message of amity and tolerance contrasting sharply with reality . u.n. observer mission in syria ends , violence continues at least 150 people were killed monday , including two children and their mother in daraa , the opposition local coordination committees of syria said . a japanese journalist was killed during a gun battle in aleppo , the japanese foreign ministry said tuesday . mika yamamoto , 45 , worked for the independent japan press news agency and had been reporting on the free syrian army . her body was taken to turkey , where officials were working to get more information , the ministry said . also among the dead in syria were 10 bodies discovered splayed on the ground in the damascus suburb of qaboun . video posted by activists showed at least one of the victims lying on his back , blindfolded , his arms stretched above his head . others showed victims with bruised flesh and dark red splotches on their clothes . cnn can not authenticate the video . another video , said to have been shot sunday in the town of talbeesa , north of homs , showed children being pushed on swings . the swings are attached to the gun of a tank on which adults are standing , chanting , victory for the rebels ! ' in a third video , showing the same tank , a man says to the camera , we will enter homs with this tank and liberate all of syria , god willing ! ' daraa province , where the conflict began in march 2011 as peaceful anti-government demonstrations , has suffered heightened violence in recent days . it is also the home province of vice president farouq al-sharaa , who rebels say has defected from the regime . on sunday , the charred bodies of 20 people were discovered in the daraa city of hirak , and 31 other people were killed in the province , the lcc said . government forces executed 14 people in daraa hours after they were detained , the opposition network said . hirak took another beating monday , when mortars and rockets rained down on the city , the lcc said . inside syria : nobody imagined it would turn into this since the syrian crisis began 17 months ago , more than 20,000 people -- most of them civilians -- have been killed , opposition activists say . complete coverage of cnn inside syria
obama calls the movement or use of chemical or biological weapons a red line '
foster <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a judge in the united arab emirates on thursday sentenced an american to one month in jail for being in possession of police handcuffs , his lawyer said . adam foster , 30 , of burdett , new york , was taken into custody at the conclusion of the hearing in dubai to begin serving his sentence , his lawyer , yousuf khalifa hammad , told cnn . foster had been detained for more than two months in the uae on charges of stealing police handcuffs , an allegation he vehemently denied and said he only confessed to after being tortured . i ca n't say he was happy . but he did n't show any ( anger ) . he accepted the judgment , ' hammad said . the judge 's ruling brings to an end a case that was the focal point of a grassroots writing campaign organized via facebook . nearly 2,000 people wrote letters to the uae 's ambassador to the united states on foster 's behalf , demanding his release . thanks to everyone that who has supported me during all of this , ' foster wrote in a brief message late wednesday on facebook . i ca n't stress enough how much that means to me . court is in less than 12 hours .. not going to get much sleep tonight . ' foster faced up to seven years in prison on charges of theft of government property , possession of police paraphernalia and theft at night . officials in the uae did not responded to multiple requests by cnn for comment . foster has been given credit for four days served during his initial detention and could have an additional seven days shaved off his sentence for good behavior , hammad said . the u.s. state department has confirmed that foster has been detained since february 26 . american consular officers met him on february 28 before uae authorities released him on bail march 1 . investigators claim foster stole a pair of official police handcuffs during questioning in an unrelated matter at a dubai police station the night before he was due to leave the city , according to his attorney , hammad . foster has said it was a coincidence , saying he was brought in for questioning because he was in possession of a bottle of korean rice wine -- a parting gift from colleagues . he was released without charges . foster said he found the handcuffs a day earlier on the ground at a mall parking lot , about a mile and half from the police station where he was questioned . i was thinking'souvenir ,'' foster told cnn last week . they were lying on the ground . so i picked them up . ' foster , who was on his way home after a six-week stint as a contractor for dubai energy water authority , was arrested after authorities found the handcuffs in his luggage during a routine security screening at the dubai airport . after hours of maintaining his innocence during police questioning , he was beaten and forced to confess , foster said . he claims he was told to take off his shoes and socks , and handcuffed to a chair while one of two officers used a coil to whip the bottom of his feet . he also said he was punched in the face . foster said he then signed a confession written in arabic . foster said he recanted his confession after he was released from jail . nearly 2,000 people appealed to yousef al otaiba , the uae ambassador to the united states , and jeffrey d. feltman of the state department 's bureau of near eastern affairs to intervene on foster 's behalf . thinking of you and praying for strength for you and your family ! ' wrote facebook user christin cherkis bresett . hundreds of others have posted messages of support . last year , uae authorities detained nicholas moody of nevada for more than three months on charges of possessing weapons accessories -- parts that could accompany a gun , though no firearm itself . moody was arrested during an 18-hour layover in abu dhabi while heading back from iraq . a judge later dismissed the charges .
new : adam foster was taken into custody in court to immediately begin serving sentence
foster <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a judge in the united arab emirates on thursday sentenced an american to one month in jail for being in possession of police handcuffs , his lawyer said . adam foster , 30 , of burdett , new york , was taken into custody at the conclusion of the hearing in dubai to begin serving his sentence , his lawyer , yousuf khalifa hammad , told cnn . foster had been detained for more than two months in the uae on charges of stealing police handcuffs , an allegation he vehemently denied and said he only confessed to after being tortured . i ca n't say he was happy . but he did n't show any ( anger ) . he accepted the judgment , ' hammad said . the judge 's ruling brings to an end a case that was the focal point of a grassroots writing campaign organized via facebook . nearly 2,000 people wrote letters to the uae 's ambassador to the united states on foster 's behalf , demanding his release . thanks to everyone that who has supported me during all of this , ' foster wrote in a brief message late wednesday on facebook . i ca n't stress enough how much that means to me . court is in less than 12 hours .. not going to get much sleep tonight . ' foster faced up to seven years in prison on charges of theft of government property , possession of police paraphernalia and theft at night . officials in the uae did not responded to multiple requests by cnn for comment . foster has been given credit for four days served during his initial detention and could have an additional seven days shaved off his sentence for good behavior , hammad said . the u.s. state department has confirmed that foster has been detained since february 26 . american consular officers met him on february 28 before uae authorities released him on bail march 1 . investigators claim foster stole a pair of official police handcuffs during questioning in an unrelated matter at a dubai police station the night before he was due to leave the city , according to his attorney , hammad . foster has said it was a coincidence , saying he was brought in for questioning because he was in possession of a bottle of korean rice wine -- a parting gift from colleagues . he was released without charges . foster said he found the handcuffs a day earlier on the ground at a mall parking lot , about a mile and half from the police station where he was questioned . i was thinking'souvenir ,'' foster told cnn last week . they were lying on the ground . so i picked them up . ' foster , who was on his way home after a six-week stint as a contractor for dubai energy water authority , was arrested after authorities found the handcuffs in his luggage during a routine security screening at the dubai airport . after hours of maintaining his innocence during police questioning , he was beaten and forced to confess , foster said . he claims he was told to take off his shoes and socks , and handcuffed to a chair while one of two officers used a coil to whip the bottom of his feet . he also said he was punched in the face . foster said he then signed a confession written in arabic . foster said he recanted his confession after he was released from jail . nearly 2,000 people appealed to yousef al otaiba , the uae ambassador to the united states , and jeffrey d. feltman of the state department 's bureau of near eastern affairs to intervene on foster 's behalf . thinking of you and praying for strength for you and your family ! ' wrote facebook user christin cherkis bresett . hundreds of others have posted messages of support . last year , uae authorities detained nicholas moody of nevada for more than three months on charges of possessing weapons accessories -- parts that could accompany a gun , though no firearm itself . moody was arrested during an 18-hour layover in abu dhabi while heading back from iraq . a judge later dismissed the charges .
foster says he was tortured into confessing to a crime he did n't commit
foster <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a judge in the united arab emirates on thursday sentenced an american to one month in jail for being in possession of police handcuffs , his lawyer said . adam foster , 30 , of burdett , new york , was taken into custody at the conclusion of the hearing in dubai to begin serving his sentence , his lawyer , yousuf khalifa hammad , told cnn . foster had been detained for more than two months in the uae on charges of stealing police handcuffs , an allegation he vehemently denied and said he only confessed to after being tortured . i ca n't say he was happy . but he did n't show any ( anger ) . he accepted the judgment , ' hammad said . the judge 's ruling brings to an end a case that was the focal point of a grassroots writing campaign organized via facebook . nearly 2,000 people wrote letters to the uae 's ambassador to the united states on foster 's behalf , demanding his release . thanks to everyone that who has supported me during all of this , ' foster wrote in a brief message late wednesday on facebook . i ca n't stress enough how much that means to me . court is in less than 12 hours .. not going to get much sleep tonight . ' foster faced up to seven years in prison on charges of theft of government property , possession of police paraphernalia and theft at night . officials in the uae did not responded to multiple requests by cnn for comment . foster has been given credit for four days served during his initial detention and could have an additional seven days shaved off his sentence for good behavior , hammad said . the u.s. state department has confirmed that foster has been detained since february 26 . american consular officers met him on february 28 before uae authorities released him on bail march 1 . investigators claim foster stole a pair of official police handcuffs during questioning in an unrelated matter at a dubai police station the night before he was due to leave the city , according to his attorney , hammad . foster has said it was a coincidence , saying he was brought in for questioning because he was in possession of a bottle of korean rice wine -- a parting gift from colleagues . he was released without charges . foster said he found the handcuffs a day earlier on the ground at a mall parking lot , about a mile and half from the police station where he was questioned . i was thinking'souvenir ,'' foster told cnn last week . they were lying on the ground . so i picked them up . ' foster , who was on his way home after a six-week stint as a contractor for dubai energy water authority , was arrested after authorities found the handcuffs in his luggage during a routine security screening at the dubai airport . after hours of maintaining his innocence during police questioning , he was beaten and forced to confess , foster said . he claims he was told to take off his shoes and socks , and handcuffed to a chair while one of two officers used a coil to whip the bottom of his feet . he also said he was punched in the face . foster said he then signed a confession written in arabic . foster said he recanted his confession after he was released from jail . nearly 2,000 people appealed to yousef al otaiba , the uae ambassador to the united states , and jeffrey d. feltman of the state department 's bureau of near eastern affairs to intervene on foster 's behalf . thinking of you and praying for strength for you and your family ! ' wrote facebook user christin cherkis bresett . hundreds of others have posted messages of support . last year , uae authorities detained nicholas moody of nevada for more than three months on charges of possessing weapons accessories -- parts that could accompany a gun , though no firearm itself . moody was arrested during an 18-hour layover in abu dhabi while heading back from iraq . a judge later dismissed the charges .
foster : court is in less than 12 hours .. not going to get much sleep tonight '
operation renewal of hope <tsp> ( cnn ) as saudi forces pounded southern yemen with a fresh series of airstrikes wednesday , houthi rebels called for peace talks . the u.n.-sponsored talks should resume but only after a complete halt of attacks , ' houthi spokesman mohammed abdulsalam said in a facebook post . the previous round of talks between houthi rebels and the government of yemeni president abdu rabu mansour hadi failed in january after rebels attacked the president 's personal residence and presidential palace in sanaa , the yemeni capital . on tuesday , saudi arabia announced the end of its operation decisive storm , a nearly monthlong air campaign against houthi positions . the saudi-led coalition said a new initiative was underway , operation renewal of hope , focused on the political process . but less than 24 hours later , after rebel forces attacked a yemeni government military brigade , the airstrikes resumed , according to security sources in taiz . five airstrikes targeted a weapons depot in the province late wednesday , two taiz security officials said . explosions lasted for about 40 minutes , they said . it was unclear whether it was a resumption of the operation or a short-term series of strikes . meanwhile , houthis released yemeni defense minister mahmoud al-subaihi in sanaa on wednesday , according to a senior saudi source speaking on condition of anonymity . the houthis had said they detained the defense minister at an air base near the yemeni port city of aden on march 26 , shortly before the saudis began their airstrike campaign . the rebels captured the base that day as part of an advance on the aden area . the united nations demanded al-subaihi 's release earlier this month . saudi arabia and its coalition partners launched airstrikes on houthi positions across yemen starting on march 26 , hoping to wipe out the iranian-allied rebel group that overthrew the government and seized power . the saudis say they want to restore the yemeni government -- a key u.s. ally in the fight against al qaeda -- which was kicked out of the capital by the rebels earlier this year . this month , saudi officials said airstrikes have degraded houthi-controlled military infrastructure , including key buildings in sanaa . the campaign achieved its objectives by a very good planning , very precise execution , by the courage of our pilots , our sailors , our soldiers , ' said brig . gen. ahmed asiri , a saudi military spokesman . a senior saudi official told cnn that the houthis agreed to nearly all demands ' of the u.n. security council . former yemeni president ali abdullah saleh and his family will leave yemen and never return for a position in politics , the source said . a statement from the saudi embassy in washington outlined objectives of the next phase of operations , including protecting civilians , enhancing humanitarian and medical assistance , confronting terrorism and creating an international coalition to provide maritime security . ground troops will continue to protect the border and confront any attempts to destabilize the situation , asiri said . military action will be taken if needed . houthi leader :'anyone who thinks we will surrender is dreaming' but beyond the military campaign , the saudis and their allies have said they want to find a political solution for the violence-plagued nation . the aim is to bring back security and stability through establishing a political process , ' said a statement from saudi arabia , the united arab emirates , bahrain , qatar and kuwait . hadi , who claims he 's yemen 's legitimate leader , thanked the saudi-led coalition . he is working with the saudis and other allies to return to his country . we promise to restructure the yemen military to ensure that it serves the people of yemen , ' hadi said , calling on the houthis to withdraw , and saying that he would return to yemen at the right time ' to rebuild the country . you will witness many changes in the days to come in our mission to build an institutional government and military , far from rebel militancy , ' said hadi . in the country 's south , security officials on wednesday reported two u.s. drone strikes against al qaeda militants in mukalla . six suspected militants died in the attack . this is the second drone strike in three days . on monday , six militants were killed when drone strikes targeted two vehicles in shabwah , west of mukalla . a u.s. military official told cnn on tuesday that the united states is conducting manned reconnaissance ' off yemen . the official stressed that the repositioning of u.s. ships over the last few days was not done to interdict iranian ships , but to ensure freedom of navigation and maritime security . why is saudi arabia bombing yemen ? cnn 's nic robertson , salim essaid , jethro mullen , tim lister , anas hamdan , jamie crawford and journalist hakim almasmari contributed to this report .
next phase , called operation renewal of hope , ' will focus on political process
po toi o <tsp> london , england ( cnn ) -- perveen crawford became hong kong 's first female pilot in 1995 and is soon to be hong kong 's first female astronaut when she blasts off to sub-orbital space as a paying customer on virgin galactic 's spaceshipone . po toi o is in clear water bay in the new territories , hong kong . the hong kong socialite shows us around her city 's favorite haunts . for the best seafood in the city , crawford recommends po toi o a small fishing village at clear water bay in the new territories , hong kong . at the village 's two seafood restaurants diners can sample the freshest fish picked from teeming water tanks and enjoy specialties such as fried mantis shrimp with peppery salt and fried rice with sea urchin . there 's also a 300-year-old temple in the village and hiking trails abound in the hills around the bay . po toi o is a 45-minute drive from hong kong island and can be reached using minibus route 16 from po lam and by car along the po toi o chuen road . another of hong kong 's hidden gems is the retro-chic china club on the 13th floor of the old bank of china building on bank street . the style is 1930s shanghai with traditional furniture as well as contemporary chinese art and dazzling views from the balcony . on the menu is traditional chinese food ( monosodium glutamate is completely banned ) as well as western tea , coffee and cakes during the day . china club , the 13/f , the old bank of china building , bank street , central , hong kong . telephone : 25218888 .
for the best seafood try po toi o a small fishing village in the new territories
zadora <tsp> ( cnn ) -- singer-actress pia zadora landed in jail after she allegedly fought with her teenage son when he would n't go to bed early saturday , police said . zadora , 61 , was charged with domestic violence battery and coercion for allegedly scratching 16-year-old jordan 's ear as she tried to take his cell phone when he dialed 911 , according to a las vegas metropolitan police report . jordon told police his mother and her husband -- las vegas police det . michael jeffries -- were drinking alcohol in their home before the incident . the trouble began around 11 p.m. when his mother said she was tired and she ordered him to bed , the police report said . jordan said he told his mom he wanted to stay outside and talk because it was a weekend night , ' the report said . zadora became upset and angry ' and got the hose and started squirting everyone , insisting that jordan go to bed and mike jr . leave . ' she then scratched her husband 's face and was punching and scratching ' her 32-year-old stepson , the report said . several hours later -- at 4:30 a.m. -- the mother and son wrestled ' over jordan 's cell phone , it said . pia then grabbed him from behind around his head , grabbing his eyes and face , leaving a scratch on his left ear , ' the report said . jordan got away and pia came up and again grabbed him from behind encircling his neck in the process . ' when police arrived , they were not allowed inside the home , but they realized a police officer -- jeffries -- lived there , the report said . two officers found an unlocked door in the rear and entered , the report said . metro police . come out with your hand up , ' an officer announced . what are you doing in my house ? ' an unknown male voice replied . i then stated that he knew why we were there and to come out so we could talk , ' the reporting officer wrote . why do n't you f -- king come back here and get me ! ' the unknown male shouted , the report said . the police officers retreated from inside the home and waited for swat officers to surround the house , the report said . zadora later told police she did not come out because she thought her husband , a detective would take care of it . ' after a couple of hours of sleep -- with the swat officers still surrounding her house -- she said she called 911 and operators told her to go outside , which she did . zadora 's fame is partially based on her involvement in a hollywood awards scandal in 1982 . when the hollywood foreign press association gave her the golden globe best female newcomer award , it triggered allegations that her wealthy then-husband had influenced the selection by entertaining voters at his casino . cnn 's greg morrison contributed to this report .
zadora 's fame is partly based on a hollywood awards scandal in 1982
zadora <tsp> ( cnn ) -- singer-actress pia zadora landed in jail after she allegedly fought with her teenage son when he would n't go to bed early saturday , police said . zadora , 61 , was charged with domestic violence battery and coercion for allegedly scratching 16-year-old jordan 's ear as she tried to take his cell phone when he dialed 911 , according to a las vegas metropolitan police report . jordon told police his mother and her husband -- las vegas police det . michael jeffries -- were drinking alcohol in their home before the incident . the trouble began around 11 p.m. when his mother said she was tired and she ordered him to bed , the police report said . jordan said he told his mom he wanted to stay outside and talk because it was a weekend night , ' the report said . zadora became upset and angry ' and got the hose and started squirting everyone , insisting that jordan go to bed and mike jr . leave . ' she then scratched her husband 's face and was punching and scratching ' her 32-year-old stepson , the report said . several hours later -- at 4:30 a.m. -- the mother and son wrestled ' over jordan 's cell phone , it said . pia then grabbed him from behind around his head , grabbing his eyes and face , leaving a scratch on his left ear , ' the report said . jordan got away and pia came up and again grabbed him from behind encircling his neck in the process . ' when police arrived , they were not allowed inside the home , but they realized a police officer -- jeffries -- lived there , the report said . two officers found an unlocked door in the rear and entered , the report said . metro police . come out with your hand up , ' an officer announced . what are you doing in my house ? ' an unknown male voice replied . i then stated that he knew why we were there and to come out so we could talk , ' the reporting officer wrote . why do n't you f -- king come back here and get me ! ' the unknown male shouted , the report said . the police officers retreated from inside the home and waited for swat officers to surround the house , the report said . zadora later told police she did not come out because she thought her husband , a detective would take care of it . ' after a couple of hours of sleep -- with the swat officers still surrounding her house -- she said she called 911 and operators told her to go outside , which she did . zadora 's fame is partially based on her involvement in a hollywood awards scandal in 1982 . when the hollywood foreign press association gave her the golden globe best female newcomer award , it triggered allegations that her wealthy then-husband had influenced the selection by entertaining voters at his casino . cnn 's greg morrison contributed to this report .
zadora scratched her son 's ear as they wrestled over his cell phone , police say
zadora <tsp> ( cnn ) -- singer-actress pia zadora landed in jail after she allegedly fought with her teenage son when he would n't go to bed early saturday , police said . zadora , 61 , was charged with domestic violence battery and coercion for allegedly scratching 16-year-old jordan 's ear as she tried to take his cell phone when he dialed 911 , according to a las vegas metropolitan police report . jordon told police his mother and her husband -- las vegas police det . michael jeffries -- were drinking alcohol in their home before the incident . the trouble began around 11 p.m. when his mother said she was tired and she ordered him to bed , the police report said . jordan said he told his mom he wanted to stay outside and talk because it was a weekend night , ' the report said . zadora became upset and angry ' and got the hose and started squirting everyone , insisting that jordan go to bed and mike jr . leave . ' she then scratched her husband 's face and was punching and scratching ' her 32-year-old stepson , the report said . several hours later -- at 4:30 a.m. -- the mother and son wrestled ' over jordan 's cell phone , it said . pia then grabbed him from behind around his head , grabbing his eyes and face , leaving a scratch on his left ear , ' the report said . jordan got away and pia came up and again grabbed him from behind encircling his neck in the process . ' when police arrived , they were not allowed inside the home , but they realized a police officer -- jeffries -- lived there , the report said . two officers found an unlocked door in the rear and entered , the report said . metro police . come out with your hand up , ' an officer announced . what are you doing in my house ? ' an unknown male voice replied . i then stated that he knew why we were there and to come out so we could talk , ' the reporting officer wrote . why do n't you f -- king come back here and get me ! ' the unknown male shouted , the report said . the police officers retreated from inside the home and waited for swat officers to surround the house , the report said . zadora later told police she did not come out because she thought her husband , a detective would take care of it . ' after a couple of hours of sleep -- with the swat officers still surrounding her house -- she said she called 911 and operators told her to go outside , which she did . zadora 's fame is partially based on her involvement in a hollywood awards scandal in 1982 . when the hollywood foreign press association gave her the golden globe best female newcomer award , it triggered allegations that her wealthy then-husband had influenced the selection by entertaining voters at his casino . cnn 's greg morrison contributed to this report .
the trouble began when zadora said she was tired and ordered her son to bed , police say
world player of the year <tsp> london , england ( cnn ) -- it 's fair to say david beckham may be seeing more green off the football pitch than he does on it . reason to smile : david beckham is the highest-earning footballer in the world , according to forbes despite a difficult and expensive period negotiating an extended release from his la galaxy club -- beckham has been named as the world 's highest-earning footballer by forbes magazine . the magazine has ranked the top 20 top-paid footballers in the world -- a list that includes many of today 's top players and some ageing heroes who are still rolling in cash . the 33-year-old beckham , currently on loan with italian club ac milan as part of an extended deal from la galaxy , earned an estimated $ 46 million last year , according to forbes . it calculates that the briton has earned $ 95m in the past two years -- $ 66m of which has come from endorsement contracts . although his long-running deal with pepsi ended in december last year , his currently resurgent career is likely to provide a boost for the coming few seasons . behind beckham in the forbes list is his brazilian ac milan team-mate , ronaldinho , who earned an estimated $ 33m in 2008 . rounding out the top five places are ( respectively ) ; thierry henry , kaka and last year 's fifa world player of the year , cristiano ronaldo . see our gallery of the top twenty highest-paid footballers in the world , according to forbes » ronaldo 's earnings of $ 21 million came primarily from his manchester united wages ( $ 12m ) , while endorsements from companies such as nike and coca-cola made up the remaining $ 9m . the portugal player 's namesake -- brazilian ronaldo -- is still on the list at number 12 , having earned $ 15m despite being sidelined for much of the year with a serious knee injury and returning to his homeland to play club football . partner in the sports business group at deloitte , dan jones , told cnn that only a tiny percentage ' of footballers earned more from product endorsements than they do from their player wages . it 's only the very , very top . for the vast majority of footballers , the wages they earn from their clubs will be their greatest source of income . ' jones said beckham 's continuing popularity beyond the world of football in both the u.s. and in europe would likely ensure he remains around the top of the rich list for a few years to come . he is now a grand icon that in some sense transcends what he does on the football field , ' jones said . however , jones added he was impressed with the way beckham had made strong efforts to reinstate his image as being primarily a footballer over the last 18 months . what do you think of the top earners ? are there players that deserve to be earning more than these 20 ? share your thoughts in the sound off box below .
world player of the year for 2008 , cristiano ronaldo , is fifth on the list
elian <tsp> miami , florida ( cnn ) -- it has been 10 years since federal agents raided the gonzalez family home in miami 's little havana neighborhood , seizing 6-year-old elian gonzalez . today , the house is a museum where visitors can see a virtual shrine to the boy -- now a 16-year-old military student in cuba -- and his brief time in the united states . his school uniform still hangs in the closet , along with dozens of outfits that he never got a chance to wear . his toys are on display inside the house , as well as a giant image of the infamous associated press photo showing a federal agent pointing a weapon toward elian and donato dalrymple , who had been hiding the boy in a bedroom closet . the story is still very vivid in this area , ' says ruby feria , a local radio reporter who covered the story . people think that it was just yesterday that they took elian . ' the custody dispute that led to elian 's seizure made national headlines , partly because of the possible impact on already tense u.s.-cuban relations and also on the 2000 presidential election . elian was found off the coast of fort lauderdale , florida , in november 1999 , the only survivor of a group of 13 cuban migrants trying to make it to the united states . his mother was among the dead . his father , in cuba , demanded his return , but relatives in miami refused to release him , touching off a seven-month international custody battle . eventually , attorney general janet reno decided to send elian back to cuba , but she failed to persuade his relatives in miami to relinquish custody of elian to his father . so , during the predawn hours of april 22 , 2000 , armed federal agents raided delfin gonzalez 's home and seized the boy , reuniting him with his father . vice president al gore , who was running for president at the time , broke ranks with the clinton administration , calling for the matter to be settled in florida 's family court system . gore was accused of pandering to florida 's cuban-american voters , because the state was a battleground state in the presidential vote . today , largely sheltered from prying eyes , 16-year-old elian attends a cuban military academy in the cuban city of matanzas . state media recently published photos of the trim-haired teen in his olive green and red uniform participating in the annual congress of the union of communist youth . cnn 's shasta darlington spoke to elian 's grandmother in his hometown of cardenas . she said he comes home every weekend to visit his family there . now he 's a man , a little man , ' said maria quintana , standing on the porch of the modest house where elian used to live with his father . he has a normal life , the way he wants it . ' a plaque denouncing what many in cuba call the miami mafia ' hangs on the front of the house . she said elian gets top grades , but still has time for a lot of girlfriends , just like any normal boy . ' elian 's immediate family has moved to another part of town to avoid outside intrusions on their life . when elian returned to cuba in june 2000 , he and his father found themselves with front-row seats to cuban president fidel castro 's rallies . castro himself had led the battle to bring elian back . on more than one occasion , elian himself took the stage . it 's been five years since i returned with my dad , ' he said at one event . and it was possible because of my family , the cuban people and commander fidel . ' castro and elian also had a personal relationship . the aging president attended his birthday celebrations . since castro was sidelined by illness , elian has largely disappeared from the media and public events . cardenas -- like miami -- has a museum honoring elian , but it tells a different story . it features a statue of a defiant young elian , photos and even the original t-shirt worn by one of the fishermen who found the boy drifting at sea . a sculpture of a giant middle finger reads cuba 's answer , ' apparently being flipped at the country 's nemesis to the north . will it ever be possible for elian to lead a normal , quiet life ? it 's up to elian , ' one of the museum tour guides said . he could play a role in the country 's future , but only if he wants to . ' cnn 's kelly marshall and john zarrella in miami , florida , shasta darlington and david ariosto in cardenas , cuba , contributed to this report
federal agents took elian gonzalez , 6 , from his relatives'miami home on april 22 , 2000
elian <tsp> miami , florida ( cnn ) -- it has been 10 years since federal agents raided the gonzalez family home in miami 's little havana neighborhood , seizing 6-year-old elian gonzalez . today , the house is a museum where visitors can see a virtual shrine to the boy -- now a 16-year-old military student in cuba -- and his brief time in the united states . his school uniform still hangs in the closet , along with dozens of outfits that he never got a chance to wear . his toys are on display inside the house , as well as a giant image of the infamous associated press photo showing a federal agent pointing a weapon toward elian and donato dalrymple , who had been hiding the boy in a bedroom closet . the story is still very vivid in this area , ' says ruby feria , a local radio reporter who covered the story . people think that it was just yesterday that they took elian . ' the custody dispute that led to elian 's seizure made national headlines , partly because of the possible impact on already tense u.s.-cuban relations and also on the 2000 presidential election . elian was found off the coast of fort lauderdale , florida , in november 1999 , the only survivor of a group of 13 cuban migrants trying to make it to the united states . his mother was among the dead . his father , in cuba , demanded his return , but relatives in miami refused to release him , touching off a seven-month international custody battle . eventually , attorney general janet reno decided to send elian back to cuba , but she failed to persuade his relatives in miami to relinquish custody of elian to his father . so , during the predawn hours of april 22 , 2000 , armed federal agents raided delfin gonzalez 's home and seized the boy , reuniting him with his father . vice president al gore , who was running for president at the time , broke ranks with the clinton administration , calling for the matter to be settled in florida 's family court system . gore was accused of pandering to florida 's cuban-american voters , because the state was a battleground state in the presidential vote . today , largely sheltered from prying eyes , 16-year-old elian attends a cuban military academy in the cuban city of matanzas . state media recently published photos of the trim-haired teen in his olive green and red uniform participating in the annual congress of the union of communist youth . cnn 's shasta darlington spoke to elian 's grandmother in his hometown of cardenas . she said he comes home every weekend to visit his family there . now he 's a man , a little man , ' said maria quintana , standing on the porch of the modest house where elian used to live with his father . he has a normal life , the way he wants it . ' a plaque denouncing what many in cuba call the miami mafia ' hangs on the front of the house . she said elian gets top grades , but still has time for a lot of girlfriends , just like any normal boy . ' elian 's immediate family has moved to another part of town to avoid outside intrusions on their life . when elian returned to cuba in june 2000 , he and his father found themselves with front-row seats to cuban president fidel castro 's rallies . castro himself had led the battle to bring elian back . on more than one occasion , elian himself took the stage . it 's been five years since i returned with my dad , ' he said at one event . and it was possible because of my family , the cuban people and commander fidel . ' castro and elian also had a personal relationship . the aging president attended his birthday celebrations . since castro was sidelined by illness , elian has largely disappeared from the media and public events . cardenas -- like miami -- has a museum honoring elian , but it tells a different story . it features a statue of a defiant young elian , photos and even the original t-shirt worn by one of the fishermen who found the boy drifting at sea . a sculpture of a giant middle finger reads cuba 's answer , ' apparently being flipped at the country 's nemesis to the north . will it ever be possible for elian to lead a normal , quiet life ? it 's up to elian , ' one of the museum tour guides said . he could play a role in the country 's future , but only if he wants to . ' cnn 's kelly marshall and john zarrella in miami , florida , shasta darlington and david ariosto in cardenas , cuba , contributed to this report
there are museums about the elian gonzalez incident in miami and cuba
elian <tsp> miami , florida ( cnn ) -- it has been 10 years since federal agents raided the gonzalez family home in miami 's little havana neighborhood , seizing 6-year-old elian gonzalez . today , the house is a museum where visitors can see a virtual shrine to the boy -- now a 16-year-old military student in cuba -- and his brief time in the united states . his school uniform still hangs in the closet , along with dozens of outfits that he never got a chance to wear . his toys are on display inside the house , as well as a giant image of the infamous associated press photo showing a federal agent pointing a weapon toward elian and donato dalrymple , who had been hiding the boy in a bedroom closet . the story is still very vivid in this area , ' says ruby feria , a local radio reporter who covered the story . people think that it was just yesterday that they took elian . ' the custody dispute that led to elian 's seizure made national headlines , partly because of the possible impact on already tense u.s.-cuban relations and also on the 2000 presidential election . elian was found off the coast of fort lauderdale , florida , in november 1999 , the only survivor of a group of 13 cuban migrants trying to make it to the united states . his mother was among the dead . his father , in cuba , demanded his return , but relatives in miami refused to release him , touching off a seven-month international custody battle . eventually , attorney general janet reno decided to send elian back to cuba , but she failed to persuade his relatives in miami to relinquish custody of elian to his father . so , during the predawn hours of april 22 , 2000 , armed federal agents raided delfin gonzalez 's home and seized the boy , reuniting him with his father . vice president al gore , who was running for president at the time , broke ranks with the clinton administration , calling for the matter to be settled in florida 's family court system . gore was accused of pandering to florida 's cuban-american voters , because the state was a battleground state in the presidential vote . today , largely sheltered from prying eyes , 16-year-old elian attends a cuban military academy in the cuban city of matanzas . state media recently published photos of the trim-haired teen in his olive green and red uniform participating in the annual congress of the union of communist youth . cnn 's shasta darlington spoke to elian 's grandmother in his hometown of cardenas . she said he comes home every weekend to visit his family there . now he 's a man , a little man , ' said maria quintana , standing on the porch of the modest house where elian used to live with his father . he has a normal life , the way he wants it . ' a plaque denouncing what many in cuba call the miami mafia ' hangs on the front of the house . she said elian gets top grades , but still has time for a lot of girlfriends , just like any normal boy . ' elian 's immediate family has moved to another part of town to avoid outside intrusions on their life . when elian returned to cuba in june 2000 , he and his father found themselves with front-row seats to cuban president fidel castro 's rallies . castro himself had led the battle to bring elian back . on more than one occasion , elian himself took the stage . it 's been five years since i returned with my dad , ' he said at one event . and it was possible because of my family , the cuban people and commander fidel . ' castro and elian also had a personal relationship . the aging president attended his birthday celebrations . since castro was sidelined by illness , elian has largely disappeared from the media and public events . cardenas -- like miami -- has a museum honoring elian , but it tells a different story . it features a statue of a defiant young elian , photos and even the original t-shirt worn by one of the fishermen who found the boy drifting at sea . a sculpture of a giant middle finger reads cuba 's answer , ' apparently being flipped at the country 's nemesis to the north . will it ever be possible for elian to lead a normal , quiet life ? it 's up to elian , ' one of the museum tour guides said . he could play a role in the country 's future , but only if he wants to . ' cnn 's kelly marshall and john zarrella in miami , florida , shasta darlington and david ariosto in cardenas , cuba , contributed to this report
today , elian attends a cuban military academy in matanzas , cuba
miami <tsp> miami , florida ( cnn ) -- it has been 10 years since federal agents raided the gonzalez family home in miami 's little havana neighborhood , seizing 6-year-old elian gonzalez . today , the house is a museum where visitors can see a virtual shrine to the boy -- now a 16-year-old military student in cuba -- and his brief time in the united states . his school uniform still hangs in the closet , along with dozens of outfits that he never got a chance to wear . his toys are on display inside the house , as well as a giant image of the infamous associated press photo showing a federal agent pointing a weapon toward elian and donato dalrymple , who had been hiding the boy in a bedroom closet . the story is still very vivid in this area , ' says ruby feria , a local radio reporter who covered the story . people think that it was just yesterday that they took elian . ' the custody dispute that led to elian 's seizure made national headlines , partly because of the possible impact on already tense u.s.-cuban relations and also on the 2000 presidential election . elian was found off the coast of fort lauderdale , florida , in november 1999 , the only survivor of a group of 13 cuban migrants trying to make it to the united states . his mother was among the dead . his father , in cuba , demanded his return , but relatives in miami refused to release him , touching off a seven-month international custody battle . eventually , attorney general janet reno decided to send elian back to cuba , but she failed to persuade his relatives in miami to relinquish custody of elian to his father . so , during the predawn hours of april 22 , 2000 , armed federal agents raided delfin gonzalez 's home and seized the boy , reuniting him with his father . vice president al gore , who was running for president at the time , broke ranks with the clinton administration , calling for the matter to be settled in florida 's family court system . gore was accused of pandering to florida 's cuban-american voters , because the state was a battleground state in the presidential vote . today , largely sheltered from prying eyes , 16-year-old elian attends a cuban military academy in the cuban city of matanzas . state media recently published photos of the trim-haired teen in his olive green and red uniform participating in the annual congress of the union of communist youth . cnn 's shasta darlington spoke to elian 's grandmother in his hometown of cardenas . she said he comes home every weekend to visit his family there . now he 's a man , a little man , ' said maria quintana , standing on the porch of the modest house where elian used to live with his father . he has a normal life , the way he wants it . ' a plaque denouncing what many in cuba call the miami mafia ' hangs on the front of the house . she said elian gets top grades , but still has time for a lot of girlfriends , just like any normal boy . ' elian 's immediate family has moved to another part of town to avoid outside intrusions on their life . when elian returned to cuba in june 2000 , he and his father found themselves with front-row seats to cuban president fidel castro 's rallies . castro himself had led the battle to bring elian back . on more than one occasion , elian himself took the stage . it 's been five years since i returned with my dad , ' he said at one event . and it was possible because of my family , the cuban people and commander fidel . ' castro and elian also had a personal relationship . the aging president attended his birthday celebrations . since castro was sidelined by illness , elian has largely disappeared from the media and public events . cardenas -- like miami -- has a museum honoring elian , but it tells a different story . it features a statue of a defiant young elian , photos and even the original t-shirt worn by one of the fishermen who found the boy drifting at sea . a sculpture of a giant middle finger reads cuba 's answer , ' apparently being flipped at the country 's nemesis to the north . will it ever be possible for elian to lead a normal , quiet life ? it 's up to elian , ' one of the museum tour guides said . he could play a role in the country 's future , but only if he wants to . ' cnn 's kelly marshall and john zarrella in miami , florida , shasta darlington and david ariosto in cardenas , cuba , contributed to this report
federal agents took elian gonzalez , 6 , from his relatives'miami home on april 22 , 2000
miami <tsp> miami , florida ( cnn ) -- it has been 10 years since federal agents raided the gonzalez family home in miami 's little havana neighborhood , seizing 6-year-old elian gonzalez . today , the house is a museum where visitors can see a virtual shrine to the boy -- now a 16-year-old military student in cuba -- and his brief time in the united states . his school uniform still hangs in the closet , along with dozens of outfits that he never got a chance to wear . his toys are on display inside the house , as well as a giant image of the infamous associated press photo showing a federal agent pointing a weapon toward elian and donato dalrymple , who had been hiding the boy in a bedroom closet . the story is still very vivid in this area , ' says ruby feria , a local radio reporter who covered the story . people think that it was just yesterday that they took elian . ' the custody dispute that led to elian 's seizure made national headlines , partly because of the possible impact on already tense u.s.-cuban relations and also on the 2000 presidential election . elian was found off the coast of fort lauderdale , florida , in november 1999 , the only survivor of a group of 13 cuban migrants trying to make it to the united states . his mother was among the dead . his father , in cuba , demanded his return , but relatives in miami refused to release him , touching off a seven-month international custody battle . eventually , attorney general janet reno decided to send elian back to cuba , but she failed to persuade his relatives in miami to relinquish custody of elian to his father . so , during the predawn hours of april 22 , 2000 , armed federal agents raided delfin gonzalez 's home and seized the boy , reuniting him with his father . vice president al gore , who was running for president at the time , broke ranks with the clinton administration , calling for the matter to be settled in florida 's family court system . gore was accused of pandering to florida 's cuban-american voters , because the state was a battleground state in the presidential vote . today , largely sheltered from prying eyes , 16-year-old elian attends a cuban military academy in the cuban city of matanzas . state media recently published photos of the trim-haired teen in his olive green and red uniform participating in the annual congress of the union of communist youth . cnn 's shasta darlington spoke to elian 's grandmother in his hometown of cardenas . she said he comes home every weekend to visit his family there . now he 's a man , a little man , ' said maria quintana , standing on the porch of the modest house where elian used to live with his father . he has a normal life , the way he wants it . ' a plaque denouncing what many in cuba call the miami mafia ' hangs on the front of the house . she said elian gets top grades , but still has time for a lot of girlfriends , just like any normal boy . ' elian 's immediate family has moved to another part of town to avoid outside intrusions on their life . when elian returned to cuba in june 2000 , he and his father found themselves with front-row seats to cuban president fidel castro 's rallies . castro himself had led the battle to bring elian back . on more than one occasion , elian himself took the stage . it 's been five years since i returned with my dad , ' he said at one event . and it was possible because of my family , the cuban people and commander fidel . ' castro and elian also had a personal relationship . the aging president attended his birthday celebrations . since castro was sidelined by illness , elian has largely disappeared from the media and public events . cardenas -- like miami -- has a museum honoring elian , but it tells a different story . it features a statue of a defiant young elian , photos and even the original t-shirt worn by one of the fishermen who found the boy drifting at sea . a sculpture of a giant middle finger reads cuba 's answer , ' apparently being flipped at the country 's nemesis to the north . will it ever be possible for elian to lead a normal , quiet life ? it 's up to elian , ' one of the museum tour guides said . he could play a role in the country 's future , but only if he wants to . ' cnn 's kelly marshall and john zarrella in miami , florida , shasta darlington and david ariosto in cardenas , cuba , contributed to this report
there are museums about the elian gonzalez incident in miami and cuba
the hobbit <tsp> ( cnn ) -- eavesdropping is n't cool -- - unless , of course , you 're bilbo baggins trying to get the scoop on the dastardly dragon smaug . in an exclusive extended clip from the first installment of peter jackson 's the hobbit ' trilogy , pop culture 's beloved hobbit ( as played by martin freeman ) is seen overhearing an intense debate between gandalf ( ian mckellen ) and elrond ( hugo weaving ) . in december 2012 's the hobbit : an unexpected journey , ' bilbo baggins is drawn into a dangerous mission to reclaim the dwarf kingdom of erebor from the beastly smaug . led by the warrior thorin oakenshield ( richard armitage ) , baggins teams with a group of 13 dwarves on a quest that pits them against a host of foes , from goblins to giant spiders . to gandalf , this journey is crucial , but elrond is n't so sure . check out the video above to find out why . the hobbit : an unexpected journey ' arrives on dvd/blu-ray november 5 . this year 's second part , the hobbit : the desolation of smaug , ' arrives in theaters december 13 , with the final installment , the hobbit : there and back again , ' opening december 17 , 2014 .
extended clip from the hobbit ' shows a talk between gandalf and elrond
south korean <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the new north korean leader kim jong un has brought disney characters and fun fairs to the images disseminated by the secretive regime 's state media . the question now is whether his rule has also added a touch of south korean pop culture . a video published on www.uriminzokkiri.com , a north korean government website , draws on imagery from the highly successful pop video gangnam style ' by the rapper psy to poke fun at a south korean presidential candidate . the north korean video starts with a picture showing a person apparently in the midst of performing the world famous horse dance from gangnam style . ' the face stuck on the dancing figure is that of park geun-hye , the candidate for the governing saenuri party in the upcoming south korean presidential election . park tapped for presidential bid the video goes on to mockingly evoke park 's support for the past actions of her father , park jung-hee , south korea 's former dictator whose legacy still divides the nation . the military dictator who went on to win elections was behind the rapid economic growth of south korea during the 1960s , following the korean war , which lasted from 1950 to1953 and devastated the peninsula . supporters say he economically transformed the country , but critics say he disregarded democracy to do so and committed human rights abuses . more on north korea : kim jong il 's chef returns after fleeing set to an upbeat 1960s big band instrumental soundtrack , the video includes images from the era of park jung-hee 's rule . the video shows the hallmarks of north korean production . it was not clear when it had been uploaded to the official north korea site , or by whom . park geun-hye has said she will focus on welfare policies if she is elected in the presidential elections in december and will engage with north korea if pyongyang abandons its nuclear weapons program . the hit video for psy 's gangnam style ' has been viewed more then 220 million times on youtube since it was uploaded in july , garnering fame for the rapper around the globe . more on north korea : leader kim jong un marries
the figure has the head of park geun-hye , a south korean candidate