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gulf <tsp> ( cnn ) -- when it comes to airline alliances , there is safety and profitability in numbers -- even more so as the industry tries to stave off the worst effects of the great recession and sluggish recovery , where we have seen mergers and code share agreements . all the major european airlines are part of one of the three big alliances . there is star ( the biggest ) based around lufthansa and united airlines ; skyteam based around air france/klm and delta ; and oneworld based around ba and american airlines . alliances are a key part of the aviation industry . according to oneworld ceo bruce ashby , 86 % of the revenue from travel between the world 's top 100 cities business is booked with alliances . passengers who travel for business are heavily invested in alliances carriers , ' he says . oneworld has marked a milestone in airline alliance history with its newest member qatar airways being the first gulf carrier to join an alliance . competition between the big three ' ( emirates , etihad and qatar airways ) is rife and now that qatar has made this bold step to join oneworld , the impact of gulf carriers on the industry and the relationships they choose to forge are being followed more closely than ever before , to see how airlines and alliances will respond . see also : gulf hubs become travel hotspots ' as more airlines are aligned and more consolidation occurs , alliances actually end up competing for members in some ways , ' said bruce ashby , ceo of the oneworld alliance . now that more and more airlines belong , the tension between them has grown . ' for other gulf carriers , a cosy codeshare with different alliances is as far as they 'll go . emirates has codeshare agreements with oneworld carrier qantas and , most recently , with star alliance member tap portugal . skyteam welcomes air france 's partnership with etihad and air berlin , where etihad owns 29 % of the german airline . gulf carriers and their hubs are well-positioned geographically for a number of major traffic flows , both within the gulf region itself and between other continents ' said michael wisburn , ceo of skyteam . these gulf carriers have developed substantial capacity with high transfer capabilities , making these airlines and their hubs relevant players in aviation today , both in terms of industry developments and possible further consolidation , ' he added . although etihad has not joined an alliance , skyteam member air france says it 's a case of if you ca n't beat'em , join'em . ' when you see geographically the way the world is built , gulf carriers bring significant improvement to the alliances , ' said alexandre de juniac , president and ceo of air france in an exclusive interview with cnn -- his first international television appearance since being appointed . watch video : etihad rejects airline alliances when asked about doing business with air berlin -- which is a member of a rival alliance oneworld -- juniac candidly said : in the future if our ties with etihad and air berlin become closer , air berlin will have to make a decision about which alliance they want to belong to . the decision is in their hands . ' air berlin , germany 's second largest carrier after lufthansa , has only been a member of oneworld since march last year and if it were ever to leave , the alliance would n't let it go quietly . we would regret it very deeply if air berlin left oneworld , ' says ashby . we like air berlin and they add a lot of value to us and we think we add a lot of value to them , by the way . it would be easier if we had exclusive clubs and we said'if you join my club you ca n't use any other club ,'but this is the airline business and it 's completely impractical . we would be sad to see them leave . i would definitely put up a fight if i thought it were necessary . ' watch video :'gulf three'shake up global aviation star alliance is monitoring this relationship closely , especially because its chief member , lufthansa , is the only major european airline that has n't teamed up with a gulf carrier . even so , star alliance says it does n't feel left out or threatened . we 're the only global alliance that flies to all of the countries in the middle east and we really have no aspirations to have one of the carriers in the gulf join our alliance , ' says mark schwab , ceo for star alliance , which has 27 members . he adds : fifteen years of star alliance , 21,900 flights a day , 192 countries , 1,330 cities we fly to -- we have turkish airlines in the vicinity , also egyptair , so we 're not feeling any kind of commercial pressure . ' and for airlines like south-east asia 's royal brunei , which are too small for it to be worth their while joining an alliance , the best way to compete is not to compete . i think you have to cut your cloth in this industry , ' says royal brunei deputy chairman dermot mannion . the gulf carriers have put a lot of capacity into the region over the last five-six years and that 's had an impact on all the airlines , especially the kangaroo traffic between the uk , australia and new zealand . we 've cut capacity , we closed routes to brisbane , perth and auckland . we are backing off competing against the gulf carriers and focusing on what we do best -- asean . that way we can happily co-exist with the gulf carriers . ' according to the international air transport association , airlines were expected to return a profit of $ 6.7 billion at the end of 2012 , only slightly improving to $ 8.4 billion in 2013 . adding capacity and connecting continents , gulf carriers will continue to play a crucial role in helping airlines and alliances expand their networks , filling their geographical gaps . ayesha durgahee is the resident reporter on cnn 's business traveller . follow ayesha on twitter at @ ayeshacnn . | but star alliance has no aspirations ' to have a gulf carrier as a member , says ceo |
state department <tsp> ( cnn ) -- experts disagreed tuesday over whether amanda knox is likely to be extradited to italy , where the country 's highest criminal court overturned her acquittal and that of her former boyfriend in the 2007 killing of her roommate , meredith kercher . knox and raffaele sollecito were convicted in 2009 of murder in kercher 's death , but a jury overturned the conviction in 2011 . she then returned to her home city of seattle , washington , where she is studying creative writing at the university of washington , according to her family 's spokesman , david marriott . a u.s. court or the state department would be unlikely to take up any extradition request from italy , said sean casey , a former prosecutor who is now a partner at kobre & kim in new york . he cited an extradition treaty between the united states and italy that states : extradition shall not be granted when the person sought has been convicted , acquitted or pardoned , or has served the sentence imposed , by the requested party for the same acts for which extradition is requested . ' under u.s. law , she was once put in jeopardy and later acquitted , ' casey said . under the treaty , extradition should not be granted . ' in 2011 , deputy state department spokesman mark toner told cnn that although the united states and italy have an extradition treaty , he was not able to answer speculative questions on extradition issues in the knox case . tuesday , state department acting deputy spokesman patrick ventrell noted that the matter was ongoing , and the italian court 's full ruling had not been released . we ca n't really comment beyond that , ' he told reporters . we never talk about extradition from this podium in terms of individual cases . ' knox may be protected on another level , too , according to casey . her original verdict was so terribly flawed by prosecutorial overreaching , ' the lawyer said , noting that the appellate court that overturned the original conviction detailed those flaws in a damning report more than 100 pages in length . timeline : meredith kercher murder case given those errors , i would expect italian law enforcement to not seek extradition , because it would only prolong this law enforcement ordeal . ' but harvard law professor alan dershowitz said that italian prosecutors might very well extradite knox . and , if retried , she likely will be found guilty -- because the evidence supporting a conviction is pretty strong . ' knox , now 25 , has established a fan base in the united states because she has a beautiful face and an angelic appearance , ' dershowitz said . but remember , she originally admitted she was at the scene of the crime and she tried to blame an innocent man -- for which she was also convicted . ' after knox and sollecito were detained for questioning in the killing , she allegedly confessed to being at her home when kercher was killed and implicated patrick lumumba , the owner of a bar where she worked . lumumba was detained , but was released after two weeks when his alibi was corroborated : he had spent the night of the murder talking to a customer in his pub in perugia , police say . he went on to sue knox for libel , winning 40,000 euros ( $ 54,000 ) in damages . dershowitz said the case was not well tried the first time . but at a second trial , there 's a very high likelihood that they may very well convict her . ' he predicted that knox would resist any extradition attempt . but even if she were to succeed in that , she remains a prisoner in the united states , because interpol will put a warrant out for her and , if she travels anywhere outside the united states , she 'll be immediately arrested and turned over to italy . ' if knox were to lose an extradition fight and then wind up being convicted , she would go to jail , he said . amanda knox : fascination with'the evil female' if he were advising kercher 's parents , dershowitz said , he would recommend that they file a civil suit to claim the money knox has received as an advance for a book about the case that is scheduled for publication next month . they have a right to sue her on behalf of their dead daughter , ' he said , noting that the standard required for conviction in civil cases is a preponderance of the evidence . i think that would be easy to do . ' and the extradition treaty 's reference to double jeopardy may not be binding in some cases , he said . in the united states , generally , when you appeal a conviction , you waive your double jeopardy rights , and we permit retrials of people who have had their convictions reversed , at least on procedural grounds , ' he said . and what about casey 's prediction that italian law enforcement would not seek extradition ? i think he 's wrong , ' dershowitz said . i think the italian legal system will welcome a second trial . they 'll put new prosecutors on the case , good ones , and seek to vindicate themselves . ' they will want to have a second opportunity to show that italian justice can be pure . ' dershowitz said purity has also eluded many members of the u.s. news media who have covered the case closely . one issue is why the american media portrayed her in such positive terms , ' he said . at best , she was a terrible person who tried to blame it on some innocent person and she was clearly a liar , and at worst she participated in a horrible murder , and the american media focused much more on amanda knox than on the victim of the case because amanda knox was prettier and an american and an american sweetheart . ' had she been ugly , he argued , the case would have attracted little attention . knox 's lawyer , ted simon , told cnn that his client was not guilty . these charges still remain just as unfounded , just as unjust , as they were before , ' he said . 2011 : how the four-year court saga unfolded | the state department will not discuss individual cases |
hawaii <tsp> ( lonely planet ) -- the youngest of hawaii 's main islands -- and it 's still growing , with over 500 acres of new land added over the last 30 years -- the big island of hawai'i overflows with outdoor adventures . here you can hike to the edge of the world 's longest-running volcanic eruption , then climb hawaii 's two tallest peaks . dropping back down to earth , trek into forested valleys harboring ancient heiau ( hawaiian temples ) and wild beaches where you can camp by the surf in the silvery moonlight . hawaii : the state that does n't vote hawaii volcanoes national park start by going straight to the heart of the big island 's live lava action : hawai'i volcanoes national park . here kilauea caldera has been spewing lava since 1983 . during just the last few years , halemau'mau crater has once again become a roiling lake of fire . traditionally believed to be the home of pele , the hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes , halemau'mau crater looks especially hellish after dark . heavenly hawaii : dos and don'ts wait , is n't all this volcanic activity dangerous ? not exactly . hawaiian shield volcanoes rarely erupt with fountains of fire , but instead send out lava flows that ooze above ground or in underground tubes with glowing skylights . when those flows reach the ocean , they send up huge plumes of steam that billow like clouds during the day and glow ghoulishly at night . lonely planet : hiking o'ahu : a walk through hawaii 's history and culture depending on current volcanic activity , you may be able to hike to within view of the lava flow , either inside the park or at county-run kalapana viewing area ; call +1 ( 808 ) 961-8093 for up-to-date information . to luau or not to luau ? your hawaii tips if you want to set foot on older , more stable but still steaming lava flows , as seen in the alien landscapes of the 2001 hollywood remake of planet of the apes , ' follow the park 's 4-mile kilauea iki trail , which descends from the volcanic crater rim and traipses over jet-back lava flows , which are slowly being recolonized by native plants , and through birdsong-filled rain forest kipuka ( oases ) spared pele 's wrath . mauna loa in a far-flung corner of hawai'i volcanoes national park , mauna loa ( long mountain ' in hawaiian ) , the most massive volcano in hawaii , stands watch . if you 're a peak-bagger , the 19-mile trek to its summit is a worthy challenge . intense sun exposure , white-out fog and the risks of hypothermia and altitude sickness do n't deter ambitious , physically fit climbers from this multi-day ascent over a moonscape of volcanic lava flows to manua loa 's otherworldly summit caldera . travel snapshots : natural beauty shines in aloha state day hikers who want to take the shortcut use the mauna loa observatory trail , another strenuous and breathtakingly high trail ( 13 miles round-trip ) that starts off saddle rd outside the park . it 's a steep , unearthly beautiful climb through rainbow-colored volcanic cinders to mauna loa 's windy , exposed summit . get an early start ( before 8 a.m. ) and check the weather forecast before setting out . the observatory access road is rough and mostly unpaved ; a 4wd vehicle is helpful . note most rental-car companies prohibit driving on unpaved roads , even in jeeps . lonely planet : kaua'i 's coast and mountains : a hiker 's dream mauna kea mauna kea is the world 's tallest mountain -- taller even than mt . everest -- when measured from its base deep on the ocean floor all the way to its summit at 13,796 feet above sea level . startlingly clear skies have made the summit an ideal place for building high-tech astronomical observatories ; some are open to the public for visits and tours . for ancient hawaiians , mauna kea was a pilgrimage spot for sacred ceremonies including burials , as well as collecting materials to make tools . the snow goddess poli'ahu lives here , among the prehistoric lava flows and tiny lake waiau . start partway up the mountain at the mauna kea visitor information station , which offers free star-gazing programs nightly . acclimatize to the heady 9000-foot elevation while you sip hot chocolate indoors . most rental cars are not allowed to drive up to the summit , but you can still get there the hard way -- on foot . it 's an eerie 6-mile climb each way , snaking around cinder cones at eye-level with the clouds and within distant view of the ocean , over two dizzying miles down below . not up for such a workout ? catch sunset at the summit on a guided 4wd tour instead . waipi'o & waimanu valleys as thrilling as the big island 's volcanoes are , just as impressive are its emerald amphitheater valleys . curving along the coast in the shadow of the kohala mountains , most of these enormous valleys are completely inaccessible . but you can still capture panoramas of wildly bucking surf , patchwork fields of green taro plants and lacy waterfalls dropping off the cliffsides from the waipi'o valley lookout . it 's at the end of a paved highway from honoka'a on the northern hamakua coast . from the lookout , it 's a knee-knockingly steep 1-mile walk down a 4wd road to black-sand waipi'o beach where spinner dolphins cavort offshore . hire a guide if you want to venture further back into waipi'o valley , because locals are fiercely protective of private property and you 'll need someone who knows the landscape . alternatively , get a permit in advance for a diy backpacking trip to utterly remote waimanu valley , abandoned after a tsunami wiped out its village in 1946 . the 9-mile muliwai trail from waipi'o valley into waimanu valley is rough , hazardous and extremely steep in spots , so only experienced backcountry hikers should attempt it . lonely planet : hawaii 's big island : how to make the most of a short trip pololu valley a much easier day hike awaits in the north kohala district , at the end of a paved highway winding past hawi . sacred to ancient hawaiians , the fertile pololu valley thrived with taro fields into the 20th century until the kohala ditch diverted water . today you can hike down into this amphitheatre valley on a rocky hiking trail that 's less than a mile long . finish at a black-sand beach where you can sit , contemplate the breaking waves and feel the mana ( spiritual power ) of the big island 's valleys and volcanoes . originally published as exploring the big island 's volcanoes & valleys ' â© 2012 lonely planet . all rights reserved . © 2011 lonely planet . all rights reserved . | the big island has a long-running volcanic eruption and hawaii 's tallest peaks |
hawaii <tsp> ( lonely planet ) -- the youngest of hawaii 's main islands -- and it 's still growing , with over 500 acres of new land added over the last 30 years -- the big island of hawai'i overflows with outdoor adventures . here you can hike to the edge of the world 's longest-running volcanic eruption , then climb hawaii 's two tallest peaks . dropping back down to earth , trek into forested valleys harboring ancient heiau ( hawaiian temples ) and wild beaches where you can camp by the surf in the silvery moonlight . hawaii : the state that does n't vote hawaii volcanoes national park start by going straight to the heart of the big island 's live lava action : hawai'i volcanoes national park . here kilauea caldera has been spewing lava since 1983 . during just the last few years , halemau'mau crater has once again become a roiling lake of fire . traditionally believed to be the home of pele , the hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes , halemau'mau crater looks especially hellish after dark . heavenly hawaii : dos and don'ts wait , is n't all this volcanic activity dangerous ? not exactly . hawaiian shield volcanoes rarely erupt with fountains of fire , but instead send out lava flows that ooze above ground or in underground tubes with glowing skylights . when those flows reach the ocean , they send up huge plumes of steam that billow like clouds during the day and glow ghoulishly at night . lonely planet : hiking o'ahu : a walk through hawaii 's history and culture depending on current volcanic activity , you may be able to hike to within view of the lava flow , either inside the park or at county-run kalapana viewing area ; call +1 ( 808 ) 961-8093 for up-to-date information . to luau or not to luau ? your hawaii tips if you want to set foot on older , more stable but still steaming lava flows , as seen in the alien landscapes of the 2001 hollywood remake of planet of the apes , ' follow the park 's 4-mile kilauea iki trail , which descends from the volcanic crater rim and traipses over jet-back lava flows , which are slowly being recolonized by native plants , and through birdsong-filled rain forest kipuka ( oases ) spared pele 's wrath . mauna loa in a far-flung corner of hawai'i volcanoes national park , mauna loa ( long mountain ' in hawaiian ) , the most massive volcano in hawaii , stands watch . if you 're a peak-bagger , the 19-mile trek to its summit is a worthy challenge . intense sun exposure , white-out fog and the risks of hypothermia and altitude sickness do n't deter ambitious , physically fit climbers from this multi-day ascent over a moonscape of volcanic lava flows to manua loa 's otherworldly summit caldera . travel snapshots : natural beauty shines in aloha state day hikers who want to take the shortcut use the mauna loa observatory trail , another strenuous and breathtakingly high trail ( 13 miles round-trip ) that starts off saddle rd outside the park . it 's a steep , unearthly beautiful climb through rainbow-colored volcanic cinders to mauna loa 's windy , exposed summit . get an early start ( before 8 a.m. ) and check the weather forecast before setting out . the observatory access road is rough and mostly unpaved ; a 4wd vehicle is helpful . note most rental-car companies prohibit driving on unpaved roads , even in jeeps . lonely planet : kaua'i 's coast and mountains : a hiker 's dream mauna kea mauna kea is the world 's tallest mountain -- taller even than mt . everest -- when measured from its base deep on the ocean floor all the way to its summit at 13,796 feet above sea level . startlingly clear skies have made the summit an ideal place for building high-tech astronomical observatories ; some are open to the public for visits and tours . for ancient hawaiians , mauna kea was a pilgrimage spot for sacred ceremonies including burials , as well as collecting materials to make tools . the snow goddess poli'ahu lives here , among the prehistoric lava flows and tiny lake waiau . start partway up the mountain at the mauna kea visitor information station , which offers free star-gazing programs nightly . acclimatize to the heady 9000-foot elevation while you sip hot chocolate indoors . most rental cars are not allowed to drive up to the summit , but you can still get there the hard way -- on foot . it 's an eerie 6-mile climb each way , snaking around cinder cones at eye-level with the clouds and within distant view of the ocean , over two dizzying miles down below . not up for such a workout ? catch sunset at the summit on a guided 4wd tour instead . waipi'o & waimanu valleys as thrilling as the big island 's volcanoes are , just as impressive are its emerald amphitheater valleys . curving along the coast in the shadow of the kohala mountains , most of these enormous valleys are completely inaccessible . but you can still capture panoramas of wildly bucking surf , patchwork fields of green taro plants and lacy waterfalls dropping off the cliffsides from the waipi'o valley lookout . it 's at the end of a paved highway from honoka'a on the northern hamakua coast . from the lookout , it 's a knee-knockingly steep 1-mile walk down a 4wd road to black-sand waipi'o beach where spinner dolphins cavort offshore . hire a guide if you want to venture further back into waipi'o valley , because locals are fiercely protective of private property and you 'll need someone who knows the landscape . alternatively , get a permit in advance for a diy backpacking trip to utterly remote waimanu valley , abandoned after a tsunami wiped out its village in 1946 . the 9-mile muliwai trail from waipi'o valley into waimanu valley is rough , hazardous and extremely steep in spots , so only experienced backcountry hikers should attempt it . lonely planet : hawaii 's big island : how to make the most of a short trip pololu valley a much easier day hike awaits in the north kohala district , at the end of a paved highway winding past hawi . sacred to ancient hawaiians , the fertile pololu valley thrived with taro fields into the 20th century until the kohala ditch diverted water . today you can hike down into this amphitheatre valley on a rocky hiking trail that 's less than a mile long . finish at a black-sand beach where you can sit , contemplate the breaking waves and feel the mana ( spiritual power ) of the big island 's valleys and volcanoes . originally published as exploring the big island 's volcanoes & valleys ' â© 2012 lonely planet . all rights reserved . © 2011 lonely planet . all rights reserved . | most of hawaii 's giant valleys are inaccessible , but they can still be viewed via lookout |
vips <tsp> ( cnn ) -- poor , poor celebrities . it 's probably overwhelming to be famous and on facebook . the volume of posts , comments , likes and mentions on any given day is vastly higher for well-known people than it is for mere mortals . getting a grasp on the quick-moving chatter and knowing when to speak up takes effort . facebook is working on a new mobile tool that would make it easier for the vips to slog through the noise and better communicate with their fans , according to a report from allthingsd . a facebook spokesperson confirmed in an e-mailed statement that the company is working on mobile features designed to help public figures interact with their fans ' and said it was only testing them with a select group of people for now . it 's not clear how the feature makes it easier for the super-popular to sift through mentions from followers , or what was so difficult about doing it from the current mobile apps . it 's likely the feature will be useful to social media professionals more than actual celebrities . the more important the person , the smaller the chance that they are checking their own facebook page to see what their friends are up to and post selfies . it 's common for a social media manager to use the social network on an actor or musician 's behalf to post information about public appearances , carefully chosen snapshots and other updates . the helpers are n't just there to save famous people time . celebrities are lucrative brands that often depend on a carefully crafted and controlled public image . facebook wants to be a place where they can manage that image . twitter has dominated as a platform where the famous can broadcast their latest news and have some casual back and forth with fans . some high profile people do use the site to communicate all on their own , as evidenced by the many entertaining late night ramblings and twitter fights . facebook has tried other twitter-inspired features over the past year , including rolling out hashtags and offering verified pages to separate the impostors from the real public figures . the company is not shy about taking features that have been successful on other platforms and adding them to its own . if facebook can take over as a place where the famous go first to make an important announcement , or even a denial , it could ratchet up the company 's reputation as a go-to news source . the association would also lend some additional cool ' to the site , which is edging into its older age ( for a social network ) and concerned about staying youthful and relevant . but some folks online were complaining about the perceived elitist nature of special treatment for big shots . dear facebook : put away the red carpet for celebs , we 're happy with just friends , ' wrote twitter user tom flowers . | facebook is testing out a mobile feature for vips only according to allthingsd |
zimmerman <tsp> ( cnn ) -- florida law kept george zimmerman from being held accountable in last year 's shooting death of florida teenager trayvon martin , the teen 's mom said friday . wrap your mind around no prom for trayvon , no high school graduation for trayvon ... all because of a law -- a law that has prevented the person who shot and killed my son ' from paying for this awful crime , ' sybrina fulton said friday afternoon at the national urban league conference in philadelphia . zimmerman , a former neighborhood watch volunteer , was found not guilty in the 17-year-old martin 's death on july 13 . father : let 's turn negative energy into positive he fatally shot martin in the sanford , florida , neighborhood where zimmerman and martin 's father lived in february 2012 . zimmerman , who is hispanic , had a confrontation with the unarmed african-american teen after calling police to report a suspicious person , and he said he shot martin in self-defense . the case became a flashpoint in debates over racial profiling , and thousands attended vigils across the country over the weekend , decrying the verdict . zimmerman juror to abc : he'got away with murder' fulton asked attendees of the national urban league gathering friday to use her broken heart ' to ensure there are no more trayvon martins again . ' my message to you is : please use my story . please my use my tragedy . please use my broken heart to say to yourself ,'we can not let this happen to anybody else 's child ,'' she said .'boycott florida ,'is n't so simple , experts say | sybrina fulton : law prevented george zimmerman from paying for this awful crime , ' |
zimmerman <tsp> ( cnn ) -- florida law kept george zimmerman from being held accountable in last year 's shooting death of florida teenager trayvon martin , the teen 's mom said friday . wrap your mind around no prom for trayvon , no high school graduation for trayvon ... all because of a law -- a law that has prevented the person who shot and killed my son ' from paying for this awful crime , ' sybrina fulton said friday afternoon at the national urban league conference in philadelphia . zimmerman , a former neighborhood watch volunteer , was found not guilty in the 17-year-old martin 's death on july 13 . father : let 's turn negative energy into positive he fatally shot martin in the sanford , florida , neighborhood where zimmerman and martin 's father lived in february 2012 . zimmerman , who is hispanic , had a confrontation with the unarmed african-american teen after calling police to report a suspicious person , and he said he shot martin in self-defense . the case became a flashpoint in debates over racial profiling , and thousands attended vigils across the country over the weekend , decrying the verdict . zimmerman juror to abc : he'got away with murder' fulton asked attendees of the national urban league gathering friday to use her broken heart ' to ensure there are no more trayvon martins again . ' my message to you is : please use my story . please my use my tragedy . please use my broken heart to say to yourself ,'we can not let this happen to anybody else 's child ,'' she said .'boycott florida ,'is n't so simple , experts say | zimmerman was found not guilty of murder in martin 's 2012 shooting death |
fulton <tsp> ( cnn ) -- florida law kept george zimmerman from being held accountable in last year 's shooting death of florida teenager trayvon martin , the teen 's mom said friday . wrap your mind around no prom for trayvon , no high school graduation for trayvon ... all because of a law -- a law that has prevented the person who shot and killed my son ' from paying for this awful crime , ' sybrina fulton said friday afternoon at the national urban league conference in philadelphia . zimmerman , a former neighborhood watch volunteer , was found not guilty in the 17-year-old martin 's death on july 13 . father : let 's turn negative energy into positive he fatally shot martin in the sanford , florida , neighborhood where zimmerman and martin 's father lived in february 2012 . zimmerman , who is hispanic , had a confrontation with the unarmed african-american teen after calling police to report a suspicious person , and he said he shot martin in self-defense . the case became a flashpoint in debates over racial profiling , and thousands attended vigils across the country over the weekend , decrying the verdict . zimmerman juror to abc : he'got away with murder' fulton asked attendees of the national urban league gathering friday to use her broken heart ' to ensure there are no more trayvon martins again . ' my message to you is : please use my story . please my use my tragedy . please use my broken heart to say to yourself ,'we can not let this happen to anybody else 's child ,'' she said .'boycott florida ,'is n't so simple , experts say | sybrina fulton : law prevented george zimmerman from paying for this awful crime , ' |
fulton <tsp> ( cnn ) -- florida law kept george zimmerman from being held accountable in last year 's shooting death of florida teenager trayvon martin , the teen 's mom said friday . wrap your mind around no prom for trayvon , no high school graduation for trayvon ... all because of a law -- a law that has prevented the person who shot and killed my son ' from paying for this awful crime , ' sybrina fulton said friday afternoon at the national urban league conference in philadelphia . zimmerman , a former neighborhood watch volunteer , was found not guilty in the 17-year-old martin 's death on july 13 . father : let 's turn negative energy into positive he fatally shot martin in the sanford , florida , neighborhood where zimmerman and martin 's father lived in february 2012 . zimmerman , who is hispanic , had a confrontation with the unarmed african-american teen after calling police to report a suspicious person , and he said he shot martin in self-defense . the case became a flashpoint in debates over racial profiling , and thousands attended vigils across the country over the weekend , decrying the verdict . zimmerman juror to abc : he'got away with murder' fulton asked attendees of the national urban league gathering friday to use her broken heart ' to ensure there are no more trayvon martins again . ' my message to you is : please use my story . please my use my tragedy . please use my broken heart to say to yourself ,'we can not let this happen to anybody else 's child ,'' she said .'boycott florida ,'is n't so simple , experts say | fulton : use my broken heart ' to prevent something like this from happening again |
southeast <tsp> atlanta , georgia ( cnn ) -- it so rarely snows in mobile , alabama , that the city 's public works department does n't bother keeping road salt on hand . so with 2 to 4 inches of snow expected to fall there starting thursday afternoon , road crews were filling trucks with the sand that 's typically reserved for filling cave-ins and for sandbagging during floods . we do n't know what to do , ' said john windley , mobile 's superintendent of public works . we just tell everybody to stay home . ' as forecasters predict up to 8 inches of snow across a swath of the southeast that has n't seen more than an inch of snow in at least a decade -- including parts of alabama , arkansas , louisiana and mississippi -- public officials are reacting with a mix of trepidation and helplessness . hundreds of flights into and out of atlanta have been canceled for friday as snow bears down on the area . texas struggles ; east starts to dig out delta air lines canceled about 800 flights into and out of atlanta 's hartsfield-jackson airport , and airtran airways canceled 32 flights ahead of the storm , according to representatives of the airlines . downtown atlanta could get as much as 5 inches of snow friday , beginning at mid-morning , according to cnn weather modeling . many residents of the deep south , meanwhile , are expressing disbelief . i 'm dubious , ' said john hogan , a college professor who 's planning to lead a mardi gras parade in baton rouge , louisiana , friday night despite forecasts of up to 2 inches of snow and ice there . it snows here once every 15 years , so what 's the likelihood ? ' john demiller , owner of the petit bois grocery in biloxi , mississippi , was also skeptical . ireport : share your winter weather pictures , stories ' to be honest , we do n't believe it 's going to snow , ' he said . it just never does . ' yet it was already snowing in parts of the south by thursday afternoon and forecasters were calling for more to come . the storm system moving across the deep south in the next few days will bring 3 to 6 inches of snow to jackson , mississippi , up to 2 inches to biloxi , mississippi and 2 to 4 inches to mobile , alabama , said cnn meteorologist sean morris . these are cities that rarely see a flake all winter long , ' he said . with most of the accumulation expected overnight , school and workplaces across the region are bracing for closures friday . because temperatures are expected to rise into the 30s and 40s across much of the south on friday , road crews are worried about melting and refreezing on roads over the next couple of days . a representative of the federal aviation administration said the agency is too focused on responding to the double-punch of northeast snow to say how the expected southern snow would affect travel in the region . but by thursday night , dallas/fort worth international airport had already measured a snowfall of 9.4 inches , which broke the record of 7.8 inches set on january 14 , 1917 , and matched on january 15 , 1964 , the national weather service reported . in shreveport , louisiana , where snow had been falling since dawn , the staff at the naked bean cafe said it had only six customers by noon , down from around 30 on a typical day . | forecasters predict up to 8 inches of snow across a swath of the southeast |
rice <tsp> ( cnn ) -- ambassador to the united nations susan rice , a possible nominee to be the next secretary of state , came to capitol hill tuesday to perform a private mea culpa to key republican senators for her erroneous initial public statements about the perpetrators of the attack on the u.s. consulate in benghazi in september in which four americans were killed . it did n't work . after tuesday 's meeting with rice , sen. john mccain said , it is clear that the information that she gave the american people was incorrect when she said that it was a spontaneous demonstration triggered by a hateful video . ' sen. lindsey graham who also met with rice observed , bottom line : i 'm more disturbed now than i was before . ' what is the republican theory of the case against rice ? it appears to boil down to the idea that leading democrats covered up the involvement of terrorists in some way connected to al qaeda in the benghazi attack during the run-up to the close presidential election because president obama and others in his administration had for some time said that al qaeda was close to strategic defeat . news : rice fails to subdue republicans'criticism over libya attack does this case make sense ? first , you would have to accept that obama , rice and secretary of state hillary clinton all knowingly deceived the american public about what had happened at the benghazi consulate . when this notion was raised in october during the second presidential debate , obama scolded republican challenger mitt romney saying , the suggestion that anybody in my team , whether the secretary of state , our u.n. ambassador -- anybody on my team -- would play politics or mislead when we 've lost four of our own , governor , is offensive . ' according to a cnn poll released tuesday most americans agree with the president and do not believe that anyone in his administration intentionally tried to mislead them about what happened in benghazi . second , it was the intelligence community , not officials at the white house or state department , that eliminated from the talking points used by rice after the benghazi attack the suspected involvement of the libyan jihadist group , ansar al-sharia . according to accounts of former cia director david petraeus'closed door testimony about benghazi to congressional intelligence committees earlier this month , the intelligence community eliminated references to ansar al-sharia in the talking points so as not to tip off members of the terrorist group that the cia believed that they were responsible for the attack . ayotte : rice'certainly'misled on benghazi , but unsure of motive the conspiracy therefore was not to mislead the american public but to mislead america 's enemies . if rice had gone beyond her unclassified talking points and said that ansar al-sharia was suspected to be behind the benghazi attacks , no doubt she would now be being hounded for the unauthorized disclosure of classified information . third , it is worth recalling that whenever there is a news event in a chaotic country on the other side of the world , first accounts about the event are often wrong . remember the erroneous reports about another big news event last year ; the death of osama bin laden . initially , it was portrayed by the obama administration that bin laden had died during a firefight with u.s. forces in pakistan and had used his wife as a human shield . as more accurate information subsequently came in from the field , administration officials clarified that bin laden put up no resistance and had not used his wife as a shield . this is not conspiracy ; this is the fog of war . it is also worth recalling that the situation in benghazi was so chaotic and dangerous that it took three weeks for the fbi to get in to the city to investigate what had happened at the consulate . and it took even more time for the facts to emerge that the benghazi mission was n't really a consulate in any conventional sense , but was more of a cia listening station and that two of the four americans who had died in the attack were n't diplomats as initially portrayed but were , in fact , cia contractors . opinion : why attacks on rice are misguided the fact that republicans have pressed to learn more about the security arrangements at the consulate and security in benghazi overall as well as the details of what happened the night of the attack has ended up bringing to light much useful information . but none of that information has changed the basic fact that a tragedy occurred at benghazi , not a cover up . rubio : why we need answers on benghazi stepping back from the whole debate about how rice came to make inaccurate public statements about benghazi , there is another premise of the republican attacks upon her that deserves considerable skepticism . we are supposed to believe that because ansar al-sharia -- a group inspired by al qaeda 's ideas , but having no links to the terrorist group that attacked the united states on 9/11 -- was able to pull off a deadly attack in a middle eastern country ravaged by a recent war against a lightly defended u.s. mission , killing four , that al qaeda is suddenly an important threat again to the united states . if you buy that , i have a bridge in benghazi i 'd like to sell you . | peter bergen : susan rice 's trip to capitol hill was n't a success , senators said |
rice <tsp> ( cnn ) -- ambassador to the united nations susan rice , a possible nominee to be the next secretary of state , came to capitol hill tuesday to perform a private mea culpa to key republican senators for her erroneous initial public statements about the perpetrators of the attack on the u.s. consulate in benghazi in september in which four americans were killed . it did n't work . after tuesday 's meeting with rice , sen. john mccain said , it is clear that the information that she gave the american people was incorrect when she said that it was a spontaneous demonstration triggered by a hateful video . ' sen. lindsey graham who also met with rice observed , bottom line : i 'm more disturbed now than i was before . ' what is the republican theory of the case against rice ? it appears to boil down to the idea that leading democrats covered up the involvement of terrorists in some way connected to al qaeda in the benghazi attack during the run-up to the close presidential election because president obama and others in his administration had for some time said that al qaeda was close to strategic defeat . news : rice fails to subdue republicans'criticism over libya attack does this case make sense ? first , you would have to accept that obama , rice and secretary of state hillary clinton all knowingly deceived the american public about what had happened at the benghazi consulate . when this notion was raised in october during the second presidential debate , obama scolded republican challenger mitt romney saying , the suggestion that anybody in my team , whether the secretary of state , our u.n. ambassador -- anybody on my team -- would play politics or mislead when we 've lost four of our own , governor , is offensive . ' according to a cnn poll released tuesday most americans agree with the president and do not believe that anyone in his administration intentionally tried to mislead them about what happened in benghazi . second , it was the intelligence community , not officials at the white house or state department , that eliminated from the talking points used by rice after the benghazi attack the suspected involvement of the libyan jihadist group , ansar al-sharia . according to accounts of former cia director david petraeus'closed door testimony about benghazi to congressional intelligence committees earlier this month , the intelligence community eliminated references to ansar al-sharia in the talking points so as not to tip off members of the terrorist group that the cia believed that they were responsible for the attack . ayotte : rice'certainly'misled on benghazi , but unsure of motive the conspiracy therefore was not to mislead the american public but to mislead america 's enemies . if rice had gone beyond her unclassified talking points and said that ansar al-sharia was suspected to be behind the benghazi attacks , no doubt she would now be being hounded for the unauthorized disclosure of classified information . third , it is worth recalling that whenever there is a news event in a chaotic country on the other side of the world , first accounts about the event are often wrong . remember the erroneous reports about another big news event last year ; the death of osama bin laden . initially , it was portrayed by the obama administration that bin laden had died during a firefight with u.s. forces in pakistan and had used his wife as a human shield . as more accurate information subsequently came in from the field , administration officials clarified that bin laden put up no resistance and had not used his wife as a shield . this is not conspiracy ; this is the fog of war . it is also worth recalling that the situation in benghazi was so chaotic and dangerous that it took three weeks for the fbi to get in to the city to investigate what had happened at the consulate . and it took even more time for the facts to emerge that the benghazi mission was n't really a consulate in any conventional sense , but was more of a cia listening station and that two of the four americans who had died in the attack were n't diplomats as initially portrayed but were , in fact , cia contractors . opinion : why attacks on rice are misguided the fact that republicans have pressed to learn more about the security arrangements at the consulate and security in benghazi overall as well as the details of what happened the night of the attack has ended up bringing to light much useful information . but none of that information has changed the basic fact that a tragedy occurred at benghazi , not a cover up . rubio : why we need answers on benghazi stepping back from the whole debate about how rice came to make inaccurate public statements about benghazi , there is another premise of the republican attacks upon her that deserves considerable skepticism . we are supposed to believe that because ansar al-sharia -- a group inspired by al qaeda 's ideas , but having no links to the terrorist group that attacked the united states on 9/11 -- was able to pull off a deadly attack in a middle eastern country ravaged by a recent war against a lightly defended u.s. mission , killing four , that al qaeda is suddenly an important threat again to the united states . if you buy that , i have a bridge in benghazi i 'd like to sell you . | he says the gop continues to bash rice for her mistaken explanation for benghazi attack |
susan rice <tsp> ( cnn ) -- ambassador to the united nations susan rice , a possible nominee to be the next secretary of state , came to capitol hill tuesday to perform a private mea culpa to key republican senators for her erroneous initial public statements about the perpetrators of the attack on the u.s. consulate in benghazi in september in which four americans were killed . it did n't work . after tuesday 's meeting with rice , sen. john mccain said , it is clear that the information that she gave the american people was incorrect when she said that it was a spontaneous demonstration triggered by a hateful video . ' sen. lindsey graham who also met with rice observed , bottom line : i 'm more disturbed now than i was before . ' what is the republican theory of the case against rice ? it appears to boil down to the idea that leading democrats covered up the involvement of terrorists in some way connected to al qaeda in the benghazi attack during the run-up to the close presidential election because president obama and others in his administration had for some time said that al qaeda was close to strategic defeat . news : rice fails to subdue republicans'criticism over libya attack does this case make sense ? first , you would have to accept that obama , rice and secretary of state hillary clinton all knowingly deceived the american public about what had happened at the benghazi consulate . when this notion was raised in october during the second presidential debate , obama scolded republican challenger mitt romney saying , the suggestion that anybody in my team , whether the secretary of state , our u.n. ambassador -- anybody on my team -- would play politics or mislead when we 've lost four of our own , governor , is offensive . ' according to a cnn poll released tuesday most americans agree with the president and do not believe that anyone in his administration intentionally tried to mislead them about what happened in benghazi . second , it was the intelligence community , not officials at the white house or state department , that eliminated from the talking points used by rice after the benghazi attack the suspected involvement of the libyan jihadist group , ansar al-sharia . according to accounts of former cia director david petraeus'closed door testimony about benghazi to congressional intelligence committees earlier this month , the intelligence community eliminated references to ansar al-sharia in the talking points so as not to tip off members of the terrorist group that the cia believed that they were responsible for the attack . ayotte : rice'certainly'misled on benghazi , but unsure of motive the conspiracy therefore was not to mislead the american public but to mislead america 's enemies . if rice had gone beyond her unclassified talking points and said that ansar al-sharia was suspected to be behind the benghazi attacks , no doubt she would now be being hounded for the unauthorized disclosure of classified information . third , it is worth recalling that whenever there is a news event in a chaotic country on the other side of the world , first accounts about the event are often wrong . remember the erroneous reports about another big news event last year ; the death of osama bin laden . initially , it was portrayed by the obama administration that bin laden had died during a firefight with u.s. forces in pakistan and had used his wife as a human shield . as more accurate information subsequently came in from the field , administration officials clarified that bin laden put up no resistance and had not used his wife as a shield . this is not conspiracy ; this is the fog of war . it is also worth recalling that the situation in benghazi was so chaotic and dangerous that it took three weeks for the fbi to get in to the city to investigate what had happened at the consulate . and it took even more time for the facts to emerge that the benghazi mission was n't really a consulate in any conventional sense , but was more of a cia listening station and that two of the four americans who had died in the attack were n't diplomats as initially portrayed but were , in fact , cia contractors . opinion : why attacks on rice are misguided the fact that republicans have pressed to learn more about the security arrangements at the consulate and security in benghazi overall as well as the details of what happened the night of the attack has ended up bringing to light much useful information . but none of that information has changed the basic fact that a tragedy occurred at benghazi , not a cover up . rubio : why we need answers on benghazi stepping back from the whole debate about how rice came to make inaccurate public statements about benghazi , there is another premise of the republican attacks upon her that deserves considerable skepticism . we are supposed to believe that because ansar al-sharia -- a group inspired by al qaeda 's ideas , but having no links to the terrorist group that attacked the united states on 9/11 -- was able to pull off a deadly attack in a middle eastern country ravaged by a recent war against a lightly defended u.s. mission , killing four , that al qaeda is suddenly an important threat again to the united states . if you buy that , i have a bridge in benghazi i 'd like to sell you . | peter bergen : susan rice 's trip to capitol hill was n't a success , senators said |
benghazi <tsp> ( cnn ) -- ambassador to the united nations susan rice , a possible nominee to be the next secretary of state , came to capitol hill tuesday to perform a private mea culpa to key republican senators for her erroneous initial public statements about the perpetrators of the attack on the u.s. consulate in benghazi in september in which four americans were killed . it did n't work . after tuesday 's meeting with rice , sen. john mccain said , it is clear that the information that she gave the american people was incorrect when she said that it was a spontaneous demonstration triggered by a hateful video . ' sen. lindsey graham who also met with rice observed , bottom line : i 'm more disturbed now than i was before . ' what is the republican theory of the case against rice ? it appears to boil down to the idea that leading democrats covered up the involvement of terrorists in some way connected to al qaeda in the benghazi attack during the run-up to the close presidential election because president obama and others in his administration had for some time said that al qaeda was close to strategic defeat . news : rice fails to subdue republicans'criticism over libya attack does this case make sense ? first , you would have to accept that obama , rice and secretary of state hillary clinton all knowingly deceived the american public about what had happened at the benghazi consulate . when this notion was raised in october during the second presidential debate , obama scolded republican challenger mitt romney saying , the suggestion that anybody in my team , whether the secretary of state , our u.n. ambassador -- anybody on my team -- would play politics or mislead when we 've lost four of our own , governor , is offensive . ' according to a cnn poll released tuesday most americans agree with the president and do not believe that anyone in his administration intentionally tried to mislead them about what happened in benghazi . second , it was the intelligence community , not officials at the white house or state department , that eliminated from the talking points used by rice after the benghazi attack the suspected involvement of the libyan jihadist group , ansar al-sharia . according to accounts of former cia director david petraeus'closed door testimony about benghazi to congressional intelligence committees earlier this month , the intelligence community eliminated references to ansar al-sharia in the talking points so as not to tip off members of the terrorist group that the cia believed that they were responsible for the attack . ayotte : rice'certainly'misled on benghazi , but unsure of motive the conspiracy therefore was not to mislead the american public but to mislead america 's enemies . if rice had gone beyond her unclassified talking points and said that ansar al-sharia was suspected to be behind the benghazi attacks , no doubt she would now be being hounded for the unauthorized disclosure of classified information . third , it is worth recalling that whenever there is a news event in a chaotic country on the other side of the world , first accounts about the event are often wrong . remember the erroneous reports about another big news event last year ; the death of osama bin laden . initially , it was portrayed by the obama administration that bin laden had died during a firefight with u.s. forces in pakistan and had used his wife as a human shield . as more accurate information subsequently came in from the field , administration officials clarified that bin laden put up no resistance and had not used his wife as a shield . this is not conspiracy ; this is the fog of war . it is also worth recalling that the situation in benghazi was so chaotic and dangerous that it took three weeks for the fbi to get in to the city to investigate what had happened at the consulate . and it took even more time for the facts to emerge that the benghazi mission was n't really a consulate in any conventional sense , but was more of a cia listening station and that two of the four americans who had died in the attack were n't diplomats as initially portrayed but were , in fact , cia contractors . opinion : why attacks on rice are misguided the fact that republicans have pressed to learn more about the security arrangements at the consulate and security in benghazi overall as well as the details of what happened the night of the attack has ended up bringing to light much useful information . but none of that information has changed the basic fact that a tragedy occurred at benghazi , not a cover up . rubio : why we need answers on benghazi stepping back from the whole debate about how rice came to make inaccurate public statements about benghazi , there is another premise of the republican attacks upon her that deserves considerable skepticism . we are supposed to believe that because ansar al-sharia -- a group inspired by al qaeda 's ideas , but having no links to the terrorist group that attacked the united states on 9/11 -- was able to pull off a deadly attack in a middle eastern country ravaged by a recent war against a lightly defended u.s. mission , killing four , that al qaeda is suddenly an important threat again to the united states . if you buy that , i have a bridge in benghazi i 'd like to sell you . | he says the gop continues to bash rice for her mistaken explanation for benghazi attack |
gop <tsp> ( cnn ) -- ambassador to the united nations susan rice , a possible nominee to be the next secretary of state , came to capitol hill tuesday to perform a private mea culpa to key republican senators for her erroneous initial public statements about the perpetrators of the attack on the u.s. consulate in benghazi in september in which four americans were killed . it did n't work . after tuesday 's meeting with rice , sen. john mccain said , it is clear that the information that she gave the american people was incorrect when she said that it was a spontaneous demonstration triggered by a hateful video . ' sen. lindsey graham who also met with rice observed , bottom line : i 'm more disturbed now than i was before . ' what is the republican theory of the case against rice ? it appears to boil down to the idea that leading democrats covered up the involvement of terrorists in some way connected to al qaeda in the benghazi attack during the run-up to the close presidential election because president obama and others in his administration had for some time said that al qaeda was close to strategic defeat . news : rice fails to subdue republicans'criticism over libya attack does this case make sense ? first , you would have to accept that obama , rice and secretary of state hillary clinton all knowingly deceived the american public about what had happened at the benghazi consulate . when this notion was raised in october during the second presidential debate , obama scolded republican challenger mitt romney saying , the suggestion that anybody in my team , whether the secretary of state , our u.n. ambassador -- anybody on my team -- would play politics or mislead when we 've lost four of our own , governor , is offensive . ' according to a cnn poll released tuesday most americans agree with the president and do not believe that anyone in his administration intentionally tried to mislead them about what happened in benghazi . second , it was the intelligence community , not officials at the white house or state department , that eliminated from the talking points used by rice after the benghazi attack the suspected involvement of the libyan jihadist group , ansar al-sharia . according to accounts of former cia director david petraeus'closed door testimony about benghazi to congressional intelligence committees earlier this month , the intelligence community eliminated references to ansar al-sharia in the talking points so as not to tip off members of the terrorist group that the cia believed that they were responsible for the attack . ayotte : rice'certainly'misled on benghazi , but unsure of motive the conspiracy therefore was not to mislead the american public but to mislead america 's enemies . if rice had gone beyond her unclassified talking points and said that ansar al-sharia was suspected to be behind the benghazi attacks , no doubt she would now be being hounded for the unauthorized disclosure of classified information . third , it is worth recalling that whenever there is a news event in a chaotic country on the other side of the world , first accounts about the event are often wrong . remember the erroneous reports about another big news event last year ; the death of osama bin laden . initially , it was portrayed by the obama administration that bin laden had died during a firefight with u.s. forces in pakistan and had used his wife as a human shield . as more accurate information subsequently came in from the field , administration officials clarified that bin laden put up no resistance and had not used his wife as a shield . this is not conspiracy ; this is the fog of war . it is also worth recalling that the situation in benghazi was so chaotic and dangerous that it took three weeks for the fbi to get in to the city to investigate what had happened at the consulate . and it took even more time for the facts to emerge that the benghazi mission was n't really a consulate in any conventional sense , but was more of a cia listening station and that two of the four americans who had died in the attack were n't diplomats as initially portrayed but were , in fact , cia contractors . opinion : why attacks on rice are misguided the fact that republicans have pressed to learn more about the security arrangements at the consulate and security in benghazi overall as well as the details of what happened the night of the attack has ended up bringing to light much useful information . but none of that information has changed the basic fact that a tragedy occurred at benghazi , not a cover up . rubio : why we need answers on benghazi stepping back from the whole debate about how rice came to make inaccurate public statements about benghazi , there is another premise of the republican attacks upon her that deserves considerable skepticism . we are supposed to believe that because ansar al-sharia -- a group inspired by al qaeda 's ideas , but having no links to the terrorist group that attacked the united states on 9/11 -- was able to pull off a deadly attack in a middle eastern country ravaged by a recent war against a lightly defended u.s. mission , killing four , that al qaeda is suddenly an important threat again to the united states . if you buy that , i have a bridge in benghazi i 'd like to sell you . | he says the gop continues to bash rice for her mistaken explanation for benghazi attack |
justice department <tsp> ( cnn ) -- twenty-three suspects , including nine american airlines employees , were arrested tuesday for allegedly transporting nearly $ 20 million worth of cocaine on flights into and out of puerto rico , federal authorities said . manuel santiago-alvarado , an american airlines control crew chief , is among the suspects arrested tuesday . most of the commercial flights carrying suitcases stuffed with illicit drugs came into san juan , which was a transshipment point for drugs bound for cities on the u.s. mainland , authorities said . the drug trafficking organization headed by defendant wilfredo rodriguez rosade had been operating since 1999 , according to the drug enforcement administration and the fbi , which participated in the long-running investigation . in a september 9 indictment unsealed tuesday , justice department officials also moved to seize $ 18 million worth of property owned by the suspects , including seven homes , three businesses and an apartment complex . all but one of the arrests occurred in puerto rico . the lone arrest on the u.s. mainland was in miami , florida . drug enforcement special agent in charge javier pena said the airline industry cooperated in the investigation . by denying the drug traffickers alternate smuggling routes , we disrupt the flow of drugs into puerto rico and discourage the use of the island as a transshipment point in the caribbean , ' he said in a news release . the agency said that if they are convicted , the defendants taken into custody would face sentences ranging from 10 years to life in prison and personal fines of up to $ 4 million . american airlines issued a statement confirming some employees had been arrested , but could not confirm the number because of its privacy policy , spokesman tim wagner said in an e-mail . the airline has been working with authorities , he said . as a company , we hope that the actions of a few employees do n't reflect negatively on the tens of thousands of ethical american airlines employees who work hard to serve the public daily , ' wagner wrote . | justice department moves to seize $ 18 million in property |
american <tsp> kabul , afghanistan ( cnn ) -- six u.s. service members were killed in southern afghanistan in the past two days , the nato-led command said , making the death toll in july the deadliest month for american forces since the war in afghanistan started nine years ago . on friday , one service member died in an insurgent attack and the two others in an improvised explosive device strike , nato 's international security assistance force said . on thursday , ieds killed two troops in one incident and another service member in another , isaf said . their deaths bring the july tally to 66 . a total of 88 international service members , including americans , have died this month . it is no coincidence that ieds caused most of the latest deaths . taliban militants regularly target troops with improvised explosive devices . the homemade bombs are considered the weapon of choice for insurgents in the afghan conflict . the military regularly conducts raids targeting those who stage the attacks against troops . the latest grim milestone comes amid growing frustration among u.s. citizens over washington 's strategy in the afghanistan war , the leak of thousands of secret documents about the war , and the dismissal of gen. stanley mcchrystal as the top military commander . mcchrystal stepped aside over inappropriate comments he made about some officials in the administration . gen. david petraeus took over the role . coalition forces have intensified their war against insurgents , and militants have been tenacious in targeting u.s. and afghan forces and those afghans who participate in the political system . isaf reported that a motorcycle rigged with explosives in kandahar detonated outside the home of a parliamentary candidate on friday , killing a woman and a girl . the bombing occurred when the candidate left his house but he was not injured . on thursday , the son of an election campaign chief for a parliamentary candidate and another civilian died in an insurgent ambush , isaf said . isaf also said friday that insurgents killed 13 afghan civilians friday . coalition and afghan forces have worked to apprehend people behind such attacks . over the last 24 hours , troops detained insurgents in helmand , khost , and paktiya provinces . a commander for the haqqani network , an operation with links to al qaeda , was seized in paktiya . discord that flared in kabul on friday illustrated the tensions between afghans and americans . scores of people rioted in kabul after a vehicle carrying four u.s. contractors was involved in an accident with a car carrying four afghans . the u.s. embassy in kabul said it had been informed of deaths and serious injuries among the afghan in the accident . after the accident , people burned the american vehicle and another going with it and they threw rocks at americans , ' the u.s. contract personnel cooperated immediately with local afghan security forces ... who were on the scene and dealing with the situation . our sympathies go out to the families of those afghans injured or killed in this tragic accident , ' the embassy said . approximately 75,000 pages of documents posted on sunday by the whistle-blower website wikileaks has highlighted the challenges in fighting the war . the reports document attacks on u.s. troops and their responses , relations between americans in the field and their afghan allies , intramural squabbles among afghan civilians and security forces , and concerns about neighboring pakistan 's ties to the taliban . adm. mike mullen , the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff , and secretary of defense robert gates both criticized the leaks . the sheer size and scope of the collection now demands a careful review to determine the degree to which future tactical operations may be impacted and the degree to which the lives of our troops and afghan partners may be at risk . and i think we always need to be mindful of the unknown potential for damage in any particular document that we handle , ' mullen said . afghan president hamid karzai and u.s. military officials are angry that names of afghans helping the coalition are in the documents . this indeed is very irresponsible and shocking , ' karzai told reporters thursday . president barack obama has announced plans to send 30,000 more u.s. troops , but has said he will start withdrawing american forces in july 2011 . before this month , june was the deadliest month for americans and coalition forces . a total of 103 international soldiers died last month -- including 60 americans . the totals are based on reports compiled by cnn . | the july tally of americans is 66 , the highest number for american forces in the 9-year war |
hurricane dean <tsp> ( cnn student news ) -- august 20 , 2007 quick guide stories of summer'07 - catch up on some of the big news stories from the summer of 2007 . hurricane dean - find out how some u.s. officials are preparing for hurricane dean . earthquake in peru : learn about relief efforts in peru following a deadly earthquake . transcript this is a rush transcript . this copy may not be in its final form and may be updated . carl azuz , cnn student news anchor : we 're back with a brand new school year of cnn student news . glad to have you with us everyone . i 'm carl azuz . bracing for the storm : u.s. and mexican authorities are preparing for a powerful hurricane tearing through the caribbean and looks to be headed for the gulf of mexico . and wrapping up the summer : you might have been out of school , but the news does n't take time off . so we 're reviewing some of the summer 's big stories first up : stories of summer'07 azuz : you might have spent the last couple months working at a summer job or working on your tan , but the news did n't stop when school let out last spring . there was tragedy in the twin cities when a bridge in minnesota collapsed during rush hour , and questions in america 's pasttime when a slugger 's record-breaking trip around the bases raised a cloud of controversy . we 've followed it all and we 're ready to get you caught up on some of the biggest headlines of the summer . ( begin video clip ) rusty dornin , cnn reporter : it was an extended family of rescue workers from around the country who converged on charleston to honor the nine fallen firemen , joining blood relatives , friends and the local community . harris whitbeck , cnn reporter : the relatives of those victims deal with the wrenching but definite news that everybody on board the flight from puerto allegre died during yesterday 's crash . liz kennedy , cnn reporter : the questions for the cnn-sponsored debate were submitted to the online video sharing web site youtube . brian todd , cnn reporter : animal rights protesters target their rage at an nfl star as he enters a federal courthouse . inside , michael vick pleads not guilty to felony charges of dogfighting and conspiracy . anderson cooper , cnn reporter : six o'clock on wednesday evening , rush hour in minneapolis . cars , trucks , buses crawl across the i-35w bridge bumper to bumper . just minutes later , that slow traffic comes to a tragic halt . john vause , cnn reporter : many of the toys made here for the u.s. giant mattel were coated in lead paint , and earlier this month more than a million were recalled . barry bonds : this record is not tainted at all , at all , period . you guys can say whatever you want . john lorinc , cnn reporter : nearly a week into the search for six miners trapped in the crandall canyon coal mine , rescuers will now try a new tactic : drilling a third hole in an effort to find the men . barbara starr , cnn reporter : top u.s. commanders are now using the strongest language to condemn the killing and wounding of hundreds after multiple suicide vehicle bombs exploded in remote northern iraqi villages , home to a religious minority group known as yazidis . harris whitbeck , cnn reporter : people waited in lines for hours , desperate for food , water and blankets . civil defense authorities estimate more than 17,000 homes were destroyed in one town alone . ( end video clip ) promo azuz : if you want to keep the discussion going on the stories in our summer round-up , we 've got a learning activity that will help you take a closer look . students can talk about how time and perspective might shape opinions about news events and examine how the stories from this summer might be presented in a history textbook . you can check out the free activity at cnnstudentnews.com . hurricane dean azuz : several countries are preparing for a deadly storm that 's blowing through the caribbean . hurricane dean has been tearing across the area since late last week , and on friday , it strengthened into a category 4 hurricane . jamaican officials turned off some power grids in advance of the storm 's approach and advised residents to move into shelters , and the mexican government issued a hurricane watch for areas in dean 's projected path . this massive storm is large enough to easily be seen from space , and with its menacing winds bearing down on the gulf of mexico , liz kennedy reports on what officials are doing to get ready . ( begin video clip ) liz kennedy , cnn reporter : fema officials came out sunday with a message : if hurricane dean does make landfall on the american gulf coast , help is ready to go . david paulison , fema director : we are ready . this is one of the best efforts i 've seen , the best coordinated efforts i 've seen . kennedy : fema says their latest information shows the storm not making it as far north as texas . however , they say hurricanes are ultimately very unpredictable and they are working under the assumption the united states will be affected . the white house has already approved a request to free up federal assistance for texas . on the gulf of mexico off the texas coast sunday , oil rig workers were evacuated via helicopter to nearby galveston . a veteran of the rigs says he was happy to comply . ken yates , oil rig worker : i know what its like to be on , get caught , trapped on one and you ca n't get off of it . its not much fun . kennedy : dean is being blamed for several deaths in the caribbean . forecasters say it could bring up to 20 inches of rain in heavily populated jamaica , which could trigger life-threatening floods . i 'm liz kennedy , reporting from atlanta . ( end video clip ) fast facts george ramsay , cnn student news : time for some fast facts ! using categories of 1 to 5 , the saffir-simpson scale gauges how much power a hurricane packs . a category 1 hurricane , for example , has wind speeds of at least 74 miles per hour and is capable of lightly damaging trees and shrubs . contrast that to a seriously damaging category 4 , which has wind speeds of more than 130 miles per hour and a storm surge of up to 18 feet above normal . earthquake in peru azuz : as you saw in our summer wrap-up , parts of peru are recovering from a different natural disaster . a massive earthquake struck there last week , killing more than 500 people . this tremor registered an 8.0 on the richter scale , which measures the magnitude , or strength , of earthquakes . towns along the country 's pacific coast suffered the most severe damage , and many peruvians were left in need of food , shelter and supplies . harris whitbeck has more on the relief efforts in the south american nation . ( begin video clip ) harris whitbeck , cnn reporter : three days after the powerful earthquake , aid continued to flow into the stricken ica region of southern peru . a sports stadium in the regional capital hummed with activity as workers sorted supplies . among the workers , peruvian president alan garcia 's daughter . gabriela garcia ( spanish ) : we are trying not only to give support and all the solidarity that we have , but also to give our time to help in moving and classifying things . whitbeck : people waited in lines for hours , desperate for food , water and blankets . civil defense authorities estimate more than 17,000 homes were destroyed in one town alone . many of the area 's residents spent the night in the streets for a third time in a row . they were surrounded by the destruction , accompanied by little more than what lay beneath the rubble earthquake victim ( spanish ) : the dead are still buried under all this . it is going to start stinking here and we can be contaminated by cholera or many other epidemics . whitbeck : military personnel patrolled the stricken cities in efforts to prevent looting . gunfire was heard throughout the night in ica . eyewitnesses reported armed inmates who had escaped from a nearby destroyed prison were roaming parts of town looting homes . amid the chaos , a sign of hope . a baby was born to an earthquake victim while the visiting president alan garcia looked on . but other parents worried about the future for their families . earthquake victim ( spanish ) : i need to think about rebuilding so that my son can live here . i know it is too soon , but someday i will die and my children will live on . whitbeck : they might live on , but they will do so with the memories of the horror of the past . harris whitbeck , cnn , lima , peru . ( end video clip ) promo azuz : cnn student news has a new address , at least online . check out cnnstudentnews.com . you 'll find all of our free curriculum materials , transcripts of all of our programs and of course our show . plus , you wo n't want to miss our brand new blog . it 's all right there at cnnstudentnews.com . shoutout ramsay : time for the shoutout ! fill in the blank : a pachyderm is a _____ . if you think you know the answer , shout it out ! is it a : a ) reptile , b ) mammal , c ) bird or d ) arachnid ? you 've got three seconds -- go ! elephants , hippos and rhinos are all pachyderms , and they 're all warm-blooded mammals to boot . that 's your answer and that 's your shoutout ! before we go azuz : before we go , we 've got a look at an elephant 's trip over the hill . siri the elephant turned the big 40 this weekend . the plodding pachyderm has been the main attraction in her zoo 's elephant exhibit for 35 years . she may be a little long in the tusk , but that does n't mean she does n't know how to party ! plenty of fans were on hand to sing happy birthday and cheer her on as she dove trunk first into her peanut butter birthday cake . siri 's friends at the zoo say she 's got quite the fan club . nick pirro , onondaga county executive : she 's the matriarch of the herd here , and we have one of the finest elephant breeding programs in the country . so we 're very proud of it . goodbye azuz : and that 's our last bite for today . but we 'll see you again tomorrow for more cnn student news . thanks for watching , everyone . i 'm carl azuz . e-mail to a friend | find out how some u.s. officials are preparing for hurricane dean |
oprah winfrey <tsp> ( cnn ) -- if oprah winfrey were a close friend and you had a secret to tell , she 'd be an obvious choice to go to for some relief . not necessarily because she would n't broadcast it , but because she 'd probably hold your hand , ease the tension , listen sympathetically and not make you feel too bad about yourself if the secret 's more like a skeleton . you both might even shed a few tears . in essence , this is the persona that winfrey has crafted over the years as she 's moved from newcomer host on am chicago , ' to the queen of daytime tv with the oprah winfrey show , ' to the current chief executive officer of own , the oprah winfrey network . she 's relatable , but still inspiring ; candid without being crass ; and about as vulnerable as a billionaire media titan can be . one of oprah 's major products is redemption , ' kathryn lofton , a professor of religious and american studies at yale university , told the globe and mail . she sold the experience of confession -- of hearing somebody 's darkest story , and offering to them the possibility of relief from its articulation . ' as a result , winfrey has inspired her fair share of televised confessions , from everyday guests to high-profile names . if you need to come clean and find a new path , winfrey 's the one to show you how to do it . disgraced cyclist lance armstrong is the latest celebrity to sit down with winfrey for a no-holds-barred ' two-part chat set to begin airing on her network thursday night . in the pre-taped oprah 's next chapter ' interview , armstrong is expected to admit to using performance-enhancing substances during his heralded career -- a sharp about-face after he steadfastly denied doping allegations . stripped of his seven tour de france titles and banned from the sport , armstrong is not only facing a mountainous public relations hurdle , but also possible legal ramifications . while winfrey has said she 's never had an interview this big in terms of exposure , she does have a reputation as a go-to for the celebrity confessional interview . in the past , we 've seen notable guests drop by oprah ' when they needed to get something off their chests , address missteps , overhaul their images , or all of the above . after a video appeared to catch sarah ferguson , the duchess of york , getting money for access to her ex-husband , ferguson went to winfrey . ellen degeneres was sure to hit the oprah ' show when she made the decision to come out in 1997 . degeneres even invited winfrey for a cameo appearance on her prime-time comedy , ellen . ' there was also former track and field star marion jones'post-prison talk with winfrey in 2008 -- memorable for the athlete 's tears -- and whitney houston 's frank and at turns unsettling discussion of drug use with winfrey in 2009 . oprah is known for giving the interviewee fair time and creating a relaxed environment , ' sean cassidy , president of public relations firm dkc , said via e-mail of winfrey 's draw . she gives the subject a lot of rope and room to talk . ' these sit-downs do n't always yield the answers the audience is looking for , but winfrey has a knack for creating a rapport with her guests that makes it , at the very least , a riveting watch . ( exhibit a : tom cruise getting so comfortable with winfrey that he thought it was ok to jump on her couch while professing his love for katie holmes . ) for example , david letterman opened up to winfrey last week about suffering from depression and the 2009 scandal he caused when he admitted to sleeping with staffers on his late night show . i have no one to blame but myself , ' letterman told winfrey , expressing the kind of self-reflection viewers at home want to see . in letterman 's case -- and certainly with lance armstrong -- she is probing very uncomfortable , damaging and embarrassing behavior , ' cassidy continued . individuals facing these situations are uncomfortable with a rapid-fire line of questioning -- they shut down , act stiff or stick to a script . oprah is able to create an atmosphere that is conducive to these types of uncomfortable interviews . ' part of that could be because of her brand 's emphasis on renewal and transformation , with some of her content instructing participants on how to repair past damage to move forward and clear room for one 's best life . ' this idea of the confessional as a way of apologizing , as a way of transforming yourself ... and mak ( ing ) things better is something that oprah really banks on , ' said catherine squires , the cowles professor of journalism , diversity and equality at the university of minnesota . all of the celebrity advice people that she 's spawned like dr. phil and dr. oz , it 's all about saying you take personal responsibility for yourself , and focusing on this idea that everyone has to figure out some magic formula to make themselves a better person . ' indeed , the best outcome for anyone walking through winfrey 's confession session would be the opportunity to hit the restart button -- a goal that may have factored into armstrong 's choice to come forward now and talk to winfrey . in an interview with cbs this morning ' on tuesday , not even winfrey could say definitively why armstrong decided at this point to come forward , but she did say it was a difficult interview and that armstrong brought it . ' that euphemism may not have satisfied the skeptical , however , who have pointed out that talking with armstrong about his transgressions would n't be the same as exploring a slip-up by a pop star . the major criticism with her interviews is that she 's a soft-baller , ' said tvguide.com staff editor joyce eng . when it came out that lance was going to do this interview , it was like ,'of course ,'because she 's not going to be hard-hitting with him . you watch'oprah 's next chapter ,'and rihanna 's crying on it . there 's that expectation that she 's going to go a little easy on him . ' winfrey herself has said that she prepared for this interview as if it were a college exam , and walked into it with 112 questions to ask -- although she did n't get to all of them . but perhaps winfrey 's cbs interview was the most interesting confession of all in this scenario , suggested the university of minnesota 's squires . after all , it ca n't be ignored what a great opportunity this is for the media mogul to expose -- and , really , just help viewers find -- her new cable network . the fact that she did interviews about getting the armstrong interview is interesting . ... when she had her own daytime show , she would n't need to do any pre-press or pre-publicity , because everybody would know that lance armstrong was going to be on'oprah ,'' squires said . her network does not get the viewership that her show got , so for her to get the lance armstrong interview is as much about proving she has still has it as anything about whether armstrong is going to be forgiven by the public , or get a'get out of jail free'card from the people who are investigating him . ' | oprah winfrey has a reputation for being a master of confessional tv |
sanrio <tsp> ( cnn ) -- from a country which brought the world brands like sony and toyota , there 's another name that 's crept quietly to global prominence . hello kitty , the moon-faced cat with a bow in her hair and no mouth . shintaro tsuji , ceo of sanrio , famous for its hello kitty brand , speaks in the boardroom . she 's one of 450 characters developed by japan 's sanrio group , but she 's by far most popular -- the embodiment of what 's known in japan as kawaii , or the culture of cute . her image adorns some 50,000 objects , from cute , of course , to downright crazy . but there 's nothing cute about the numbers . hello kitty is responsible for more than half of sanrio 's billion dollar annual turnover . her creator and founder of sanrio is the effervescent 79-year-old shintaro tsuji . he told the boardroom 's andrew stevens what he thinks is the marketing secret behind a cultural icon . tsuji : selling something which people want to buy is one of the ways of doing business . but i thought , goods that i want are also something other people want . so we wanted to make goods which people want to send to somebody else as a gift . the idea is that goods are for social communication purposes and that has been accepted worldwide . in addition , to give hello kitty goods as a present is very thoughtful . our three concepts of friendship , cuteness and thoughtfulness have been reaching out to people . it conveys the importance of being friendly . such gestures are necessary for the japanese nation . you care about other people by sending some gifts . those concepts have been accepted worldwide . stevens : my first question to you is sanrio has developed something like 450 characters . why it is hello kitty has stood out so much more than the others ? what is the secret of its success ? tsuji : at first we were using characters which were created by outsiders , such as cartoonists or artists , but in this case we had to pay the royalty . so we decided to create our own characters . we hired many artists and asked them to create various characters . according to our own research , the most popular animal character was a dog then a white cat and the third one was a bear . snoopy already existed as a dog character -- that 's why we went for the second most popular character . we asked the artists to design a character based on a white cat . stevens : let me just ask you a question about your life , growing up . reading your autobiography , you lost your mother when you were 13 years old . you went to live with your auntie . and you describe your life ; your childhood , has been a quite lonely . how do you think that has shaped you in your business life ? tsuji : i felt that the most important thing in your life is to have someone whom you can open up your heart to and talk about anything ; to have many friends whom you can talk with your heart is the most blessed thing in your life . then i asked myself how can you make friends -- in what way people can make a friend with those people . that is not just to avoid behaving , which makes people uncomfortable . but do something , which makes people happy . in this way people can make friends . for example , when people are ill , you can say something to them , or when people did something for you , you say thank you to them . for those kinds of occasions , you send a small present rather than an expensive gift . it is important to show your appreciation since you are able to make good friends in this way . this idea has formed as a business . as a result , hello kitty was created . hello kitty has become known among everybody and it means that people are becoming friends . i am pleased with this phenomenon . stevens : what , in your business career , is the most important lesson you think you 've learnt ? tsuji : a good company means that , first of all , its sale increases each year and secondly it makes profits each year . this is what people call a quality company . but this is not my main concern . obviously , a company should n't lose money . a company can not contribute to a society easily . but for me , it is important to establish a company , which has a good reputation . stevens : much easier said than done , how do you remain true to your original ideas , though , because there are so many pressures from shareholders among other people to make those profits ? tsuji : the company shareholders actually say make more profits or dividends . ' but what i always say to them at the general assembly is that the shareholder should be someone who truly values my company and is proud of having my company 's share . according to newspapers , there are companies which make a profit by polluting the environment or breaking laws . but this is not acceptable by our standard . i bet the company staffs want to have an increase in the wages . but i want my staffs to be proud of themselves , in particular , when their children ask them where they are working . in my view , that is very important . stevens : what advice would you give to someone starting out their own company in 21st century ? tsuji : it is not only about making profits or establishing a huge corporation . a bigger country does n't mean a better country . having a larger military capacity does n't mean a better thing . it will be ideal to establish a company which is a value to the world . it 's not just about the money . so i would say how about creating companies which people appreciate ? ' e-mail to a friend | hello kitty is responsible for more than half of sanrio 's billion dollar turnover |
sanrio <tsp> ( cnn ) -- from a country which brought the world brands like sony and toyota , there 's another name that 's crept quietly to global prominence . hello kitty , the moon-faced cat with a bow in her hair and no mouth . shintaro tsuji , ceo of sanrio , famous for its hello kitty brand , speaks in the boardroom . she 's one of 450 characters developed by japan 's sanrio group , but she 's by far most popular -- the embodiment of what 's known in japan as kawaii , or the culture of cute . her image adorns some 50,000 objects , from cute , of course , to downright crazy . but there 's nothing cute about the numbers . hello kitty is responsible for more than half of sanrio 's billion dollar annual turnover . her creator and founder of sanrio is the effervescent 79-year-old shintaro tsuji . he told the boardroom 's andrew stevens what he thinks is the marketing secret behind a cultural icon . tsuji : selling something which people want to buy is one of the ways of doing business . but i thought , goods that i want are also something other people want . so we wanted to make goods which people want to send to somebody else as a gift . the idea is that goods are for social communication purposes and that has been accepted worldwide . in addition , to give hello kitty goods as a present is very thoughtful . our three concepts of friendship , cuteness and thoughtfulness have been reaching out to people . it conveys the importance of being friendly . such gestures are necessary for the japanese nation . you care about other people by sending some gifts . those concepts have been accepted worldwide . stevens : my first question to you is sanrio has developed something like 450 characters . why it is hello kitty has stood out so much more than the others ? what is the secret of its success ? tsuji : at first we were using characters which were created by outsiders , such as cartoonists or artists , but in this case we had to pay the royalty . so we decided to create our own characters . we hired many artists and asked them to create various characters . according to our own research , the most popular animal character was a dog then a white cat and the third one was a bear . snoopy already existed as a dog character -- that 's why we went for the second most popular character . we asked the artists to design a character based on a white cat . stevens : let me just ask you a question about your life , growing up . reading your autobiography , you lost your mother when you were 13 years old . you went to live with your auntie . and you describe your life ; your childhood , has been a quite lonely . how do you think that has shaped you in your business life ? tsuji : i felt that the most important thing in your life is to have someone whom you can open up your heart to and talk about anything ; to have many friends whom you can talk with your heart is the most blessed thing in your life . then i asked myself how can you make friends -- in what way people can make a friend with those people . that is not just to avoid behaving , which makes people uncomfortable . but do something , which makes people happy . in this way people can make friends . for example , when people are ill , you can say something to them , or when people did something for you , you say thank you to them . for those kinds of occasions , you send a small present rather than an expensive gift . it is important to show your appreciation since you are able to make good friends in this way . this idea has formed as a business . as a result , hello kitty was created . hello kitty has become known among everybody and it means that people are becoming friends . i am pleased with this phenomenon . stevens : what , in your business career , is the most important lesson you think you 've learnt ? tsuji : a good company means that , first of all , its sale increases each year and secondly it makes profits each year . this is what people call a quality company . but this is not my main concern . obviously , a company should n't lose money . a company can not contribute to a society easily . but for me , it is important to establish a company , which has a good reputation . stevens : much easier said than done , how do you remain true to your original ideas , though , because there are so many pressures from shareholders among other people to make those profits ? tsuji : the company shareholders actually say make more profits or dividends . ' but what i always say to them at the general assembly is that the shareholder should be someone who truly values my company and is proud of having my company 's share . according to newspapers , there are companies which make a profit by polluting the environment or breaking laws . but this is not acceptable by our standard . i bet the company staffs want to have an increase in the wages . but i want my staffs to be proud of themselves , in particular , when their children ask them where they are working . in my view , that is very important . stevens : what advice would you give to someone starting out their own company in 21st century ? tsuji : it is not only about making profits or establishing a huge corporation . a bigger country does n't mean a better country . having a larger military capacity does n't mean a better thing . it will be ideal to establish a company which is a value to the world . it 's not just about the money . so i would say how about creating companies which people appreciate ? ' e-mail to a friend | sanrio 's most famous character is hello kitty , a moon-faced cat |
sanrio <tsp> ( cnn ) -- from a country which brought the world brands like sony and toyota , there 's another name that 's crept quietly to global prominence . hello kitty , the moon-faced cat with a bow in her hair and no mouth . shintaro tsuji , ceo of sanrio , famous for its hello kitty brand , speaks in the boardroom . she 's one of 450 characters developed by japan 's sanrio group , but she 's by far most popular -- the embodiment of what 's known in japan as kawaii , or the culture of cute . her image adorns some 50,000 objects , from cute , of course , to downright crazy . but there 's nothing cute about the numbers . hello kitty is responsible for more than half of sanrio 's billion dollar annual turnover . her creator and founder of sanrio is the effervescent 79-year-old shintaro tsuji . he told the boardroom 's andrew stevens what he thinks is the marketing secret behind a cultural icon . tsuji : selling something which people want to buy is one of the ways of doing business . but i thought , goods that i want are also something other people want . so we wanted to make goods which people want to send to somebody else as a gift . the idea is that goods are for social communication purposes and that has been accepted worldwide . in addition , to give hello kitty goods as a present is very thoughtful . our three concepts of friendship , cuteness and thoughtfulness have been reaching out to people . it conveys the importance of being friendly . such gestures are necessary for the japanese nation . you care about other people by sending some gifts . those concepts have been accepted worldwide . stevens : my first question to you is sanrio has developed something like 450 characters . why it is hello kitty has stood out so much more than the others ? what is the secret of its success ? tsuji : at first we were using characters which were created by outsiders , such as cartoonists or artists , but in this case we had to pay the royalty . so we decided to create our own characters . we hired many artists and asked them to create various characters . according to our own research , the most popular animal character was a dog then a white cat and the third one was a bear . snoopy already existed as a dog character -- that 's why we went for the second most popular character . we asked the artists to design a character based on a white cat . stevens : let me just ask you a question about your life , growing up . reading your autobiography , you lost your mother when you were 13 years old . you went to live with your auntie . and you describe your life ; your childhood , has been a quite lonely . how do you think that has shaped you in your business life ? tsuji : i felt that the most important thing in your life is to have someone whom you can open up your heart to and talk about anything ; to have many friends whom you can talk with your heart is the most blessed thing in your life . then i asked myself how can you make friends -- in what way people can make a friend with those people . that is not just to avoid behaving , which makes people uncomfortable . but do something , which makes people happy . in this way people can make friends . for example , when people are ill , you can say something to them , or when people did something for you , you say thank you to them . for those kinds of occasions , you send a small present rather than an expensive gift . it is important to show your appreciation since you are able to make good friends in this way . this idea has formed as a business . as a result , hello kitty was created . hello kitty has become known among everybody and it means that people are becoming friends . i am pleased with this phenomenon . stevens : what , in your business career , is the most important lesson you think you 've learnt ? tsuji : a good company means that , first of all , its sale increases each year and secondly it makes profits each year . this is what people call a quality company . but this is not my main concern . obviously , a company should n't lose money . a company can not contribute to a society easily . but for me , it is important to establish a company , which has a good reputation . stevens : much easier said than done , how do you remain true to your original ideas , though , because there are so many pressures from shareholders among other people to make those profits ? tsuji : the company shareholders actually say make more profits or dividends . ' but what i always say to them at the general assembly is that the shareholder should be someone who truly values my company and is proud of having my company 's share . according to newspapers , there are companies which make a profit by polluting the environment or breaking laws . but this is not acceptable by our standard . i bet the company staffs want to have an increase in the wages . but i want my staffs to be proud of themselves , in particular , when their children ask them where they are working . in my view , that is very important . stevens : what advice would you give to someone starting out their own company in 21st century ? tsuji : it is not only about making profits or establishing a huge corporation . a bigger country does n't mean a better country . having a larger military capacity does n't mean a better thing . it will be ideal to establish a company which is a value to the world . it 's not just about the money . so i would say how about creating companies which people appreciate ? ' e-mail to a friend | shintaro tsuji , ceo of sanrio speaks to andrew stevens in the boardroom |
real madrid <tsp> ( cnn ) -- there are few rivalries in sport that capture the imagination like the coming together of real madrid and barcelona -- a soccer match of such enormity that it has its own nickname : el clasico . ' on the field , it is a billion-dollar grudge match between the two best teams in the football-mad country of spain . off the field , it is a tale of two cities -- a clash of castilian nationalism and catalan pride ; and a rivalry of cultures forged in the spanish civil war and the reign of general franco . the two will clash wednesday at real madrid 's estadio santiago bernabéu before traveling to barcelona for the second leg of the champions league semifinal next week . in a freak of fixture commitments , the superpowers of spain will have met four times in the space of 18 days by may 4 , giving the historic rivalry an epic new chapter . is real madrid 's jose mourinho the master of mind games ? billion-dollar ball game the modern-day el clasico brings together the world 's two highest-earning sports clubs -- boasting combined revenues of over $ 1 billion , according to international consulting firm deloitte . the great rivals also lead the sports world in wages . according to sporting intelligence , barca paid an average salary of $ 7.9 million to players last season , with madrid dishing out $ 7.4 million . the new york yankees baseball team are third on the list , paying an average $ 6.8 million . both teams ( madrid and barca ) have steadily grown their revenue streams in recent years , contributing to their on-pitch performance through investment in better facilities , players and the development of youth team players , ' said dan jones , sports business partner at deloitte . but while the two teams clearly share a license to print money , they have contrasting approaches to the business of spending it . madrid are famed for their extravagance -- with the $ 130 million paid to manchester united for cristiano ronaldo in 2009 typical of their cavalier policy in the transfer market . they profess the'' galacticos ' mentality -- a team of superstars -- demonstrated by a 2010-11 squad that cost an eye-watering $ 689 million to assemble . barca are not without their big-name signings , but rely far more heavily on homegrown talent -- with the likes of lionel messi and spanish world cup winners xavi and andres iniesta being products of the club 's youth academy . barca 's current squad cost just $ 254 million to assemble . history of rivalry barcelona and real madrid played for the first time in 1902 , but the rivalry soon transcended the confines of a soccer match . barca came to represent the fight for catalan independence from spain , and a rejection of the nationalist regime that ruled the country from madrid -- especially under the rule of franco , who came to power at the culmination of the bloody spanish civil war in 1939 . in spain , the population of catalonia do n't consider themselves spanish , ' said adi-oula sebastian , editor of barca fan site barcablaugranes.com . when the general franco dictatorship forbade the use of regional dialects , the camp nou ( barcelona 's home stadium ) became one of the few places catalans were allowed to speak their language , without having to fear repercussions . ' madrid were the all-powerful institution . they had political and royal backing -- the real ' in their name , meaning royal , ' was a gift from king alfonso xiii in 1920 -- and from the 1950s , boasted a collection of the world 's best and most glamorous players . for madrid fans , the game is n't just about getting one over on our eternal rivals , it 's about winning a small argument about the country itself , ' said gabe lezra , editor of fan site , managingmadrid.com ' in many ways , madrid fans view these games as a playful argument about the way to see and understand the country as a whole . ' the relationship was exacerbated by the transfer of alfredo di stefano to madrid in 1953 . the argentine was wanted by both clubs , and both thought they 'd signed him . but it was madrid who got the legendary striker , and di stefano duly inspired a decade of dominance at the bernabeu . barca have always suspected foul play . their official website claims a royal decree ' persuaded di stefano to join madrid , and there has long been the suggestion that the establishment pushed the deal through . to this day supporters of barcelona feel robbed , while madrid fans argue the legitimacy of the deal , ' said sebastian . imagine if michael jordan gave his word to sign for the chicago bulls , then joined the new york knicks instead ! ' el clasico personalities the el clasico as we find it today is defined by two world-class players , and two world-beating coaches . it is madrid 's cristiano ronaldo against barca 's messi on the field , and jose mourinho against pep guardiola on the sidelines . is jose mourinho the master of mind games ? ronaldo is the powerfully-built portuguese winger , with speed to burn and an armory of tricks at his disposal . messi is the pint-size argentine genius , who took ronaldo 's crown as world player of the year in 2009 -- and retained the award in 2010 . there 's no-one to touch messi at the moment . people compare him to the great diego maradona , and it 's a fair comparison , ' said tim hanlan , author of a catalan dream . ' ronaldo is not quite on the same level , but his strength and pace can make him just as effective as messi on his day . ' both players are having prolific seasons in front of goal , with each vying to be europe 's top scorer . their coaches have equally impressive resumes . guardiola took over at barcelona in 2008 , and led his team to champions league glory in his first season in charge . mourinho oversaw porto 's shock european triumph in 2004 , and repeated the feat with inter milan in 2010 . i 've always loved mourinho . since his time at porto i wanted him to join madrid , ' said lezra . he 's a brilliant tactician , an incredible motivator and a born winner . and his personality fits real madrid perfectly . ' footballing duopoly until relatively recently the real-barca rivalry was a one-sided affair . madrid built dynasties in the 1950s and 1960s , and continued to dominate domestically and in europe throughout the 1970s and 1980s . barca enjoyed sporadic success , but it was n't until the early 1990s that they finally launched a dynasty of their own -- winning four titles in a row under dutch coach johan cruyff before lifting their first european cup in 1992 . the balance of power shifted back and forth over the next 15 years , but barca are now in the ascendancy . guardiola 's team have won the last two spanish titles , and claimed a third champions league crown in 2009 . meanwhile , madrid are without a european success since 2002 . barcelona are definitely on top right now . they 've put together a great team , and have been playing the same style , with more or less the same players , for the last four years or so , ' said lezra . madrid , on the other hand , have fired managers , brought in new players and made various tactical adjustments -- not a good strategy if you 're looking for long-term success . ' whether barca can stay on stop will undoubtedly be influenced by the outcome of this year 's champions league semifinal -- the latest chapter in a rivalry as fierce and colorful as any in sport . who are you rooting for ? the rivalry between barcelona and real madrid is special because both teams are made up of superstars , ' said sebastian . you 'll be hard-pressed to find as many world-class players sharing the pitch at the same time . in football , the el clasico rivalry is as good as it gets . ' | in 2011 barcelona and real madrid were drawn to play four times in 18 days |
real madrid <tsp> ( cnn ) -- there are few rivalries in sport that capture the imagination like the coming together of real madrid and barcelona -- a soccer match of such enormity that it has its own nickname : el clasico . ' on the field , it is a billion-dollar grudge match between the two best teams in the football-mad country of spain . off the field , it is a tale of two cities -- a clash of castilian nationalism and catalan pride ; and a rivalry of cultures forged in the spanish civil war and the reign of general franco . the two will clash wednesday at real madrid 's estadio santiago bernabéu before traveling to barcelona for the second leg of the champions league semifinal next week . in a freak of fixture commitments , the superpowers of spain will have met four times in the space of 18 days by may 4 , giving the historic rivalry an epic new chapter . is real madrid 's jose mourinho the master of mind games ? billion-dollar ball game the modern-day el clasico brings together the world 's two highest-earning sports clubs -- boasting combined revenues of over $ 1 billion , according to international consulting firm deloitte . the great rivals also lead the sports world in wages . according to sporting intelligence , barca paid an average salary of $ 7.9 million to players last season , with madrid dishing out $ 7.4 million . the new york yankees baseball team are third on the list , paying an average $ 6.8 million . both teams ( madrid and barca ) have steadily grown their revenue streams in recent years , contributing to their on-pitch performance through investment in better facilities , players and the development of youth team players , ' said dan jones , sports business partner at deloitte . but while the two teams clearly share a license to print money , they have contrasting approaches to the business of spending it . madrid are famed for their extravagance -- with the $ 130 million paid to manchester united for cristiano ronaldo in 2009 typical of their cavalier policy in the transfer market . they profess the'' galacticos ' mentality -- a team of superstars -- demonstrated by a 2010-11 squad that cost an eye-watering $ 689 million to assemble . barca are not without their big-name signings , but rely far more heavily on homegrown talent -- with the likes of lionel messi and spanish world cup winners xavi and andres iniesta being products of the club 's youth academy . barca 's current squad cost just $ 254 million to assemble . history of rivalry barcelona and real madrid played for the first time in 1902 , but the rivalry soon transcended the confines of a soccer match . barca came to represent the fight for catalan independence from spain , and a rejection of the nationalist regime that ruled the country from madrid -- especially under the rule of franco , who came to power at the culmination of the bloody spanish civil war in 1939 . in spain , the population of catalonia do n't consider themselves spanish , ' said adi-oula sebastian , editor of barca fan site barcablaugranes.com . when the general franco dictatorship forbade the use of regional dialects , the camp nou ( barcelona 's home stadium ) became one of the few places catalans were allowed to speak their language , without having to fear repercussions . ' madrid were the all-powerful institution . they had political and royal backing -- the real ' in their name , meaning royal , ' was a gift from king alfonso xiii in 1920 -- and from the 1950s , boasted a collection of the world 's best and most glamorous players . for madrid fans , the game is n't just about getting one over on our eternal rivals , it 's about winning a small argument about the country itself , ' said gabe lezra , editor of fan site , managingmadrid.com ' in many ways , madrid fans view these games as a playful argument about the way to see and understand the country as a whole . ' the relationship was exacerbated by the transfer of alfredo di stefano to madrid in 1953 . the argentine was wanted by both clubs , and both thought they 'd signed him . but it was madrid who got the legendary striker , and di stefano duly inspired a decade of dominance at the bernabeu . barca have always suspected foul play . their official website claims a royal decree ' persuaded di stefano to join madrid , and there has long been the suggestion that the establishment pushed the deal through . to this day supporters of barcelona feel robbed , while madrid fans argue the legitimacy of the deal , ' said sebastian . imagine if michael jordan gave his word to sign for the chicago bulls , then joined the new york knicks instead ! ' el clasico personalities the el clasico as we find it today is defined by two world-class players , and two world-beating coaches . it is madrid 's cristiano ronaldo against barca 's messi on the field , and jose mourinho against pep guardiola on the sidelines . is jose mourinho the master of mind games ? ronaldo is the powerfully-built portuguese winger , with speed to burn and an armory of tricks at his disposal . messi is the pint-size argentine genius , who took ronaldo 's crown as world player of the year in 2009 -- and retained the award in 2010 . there 's no-one to touch messi at the moment . people compare him to the great diego maradona , and it 's a fair comparison , ' said tim hanlan , author of a catalan dream . ' ronaldo is not quite on the same level , but his strength and pace can make him just as effective as messi on his day . ' both players are having prolific seasons in front of goal , with each vying to be europe 's top scorer . their coaches have equally impressive resumes . guardiola took over at barcelona in 2008 , and led his team to champions league glory in his first season in charge . mourinho oversaw porto 's shock european triumph in 2004 , and repeated the feat with inter milan in 2010 . i 've always loved mourinho . since his time at porto i wanted him to join madrid , ' said lezra . he 's a brilliant tactician , an incredible motivator and a born winner . and his personality fits real madrid perfectly . ' footballing duopoly until relatively recently the real-barca rivalry was a one-sided affair . madrid built dynasties in the 1950s and 1960s , and continued to dominate domestically and in europe throughout the 1970s and 1980s . barca enjoyed sporadic success , but it was n't until the early 1990s that they finally launched a dynasty of their own -- winning four titles in a row under dutch coach johan cruyff before lifting their first european cup in 1992 . the balance of power shifted back and forth over the next 15 years , but barca are now in the ascendancy . guardiola 's team have won the last two spanish titles , and claimed a third champions league crown in 2009 . meanwhile , madrid are without a european success since 2002 . barcelona are definitely on top right now . they 've put together a great team , and have been playing the same style , with more or less the same players , for the last four years or so , ' said lezra . madrid , on the other hand , have fired managers , brought in new players and made various tactical adjustments -- not a good strategy if you 're looking for long-term success . ' whether barca can stay on stop will undoubtedly be influenced by the outcome of this year 's champions league semifinal -- the latest chapter in a rivalry as fierce and colorful as any in sport . who are you rooting for ? the rivalry between barcelona and real madrid is special because both teams are made up of superstars , ' said sebastian . you 'll be hard-pressed to find as many world-class players sharing the pitch at the same time . in football , the el clasico rivalry is as good as it gets . ' | real madrid and barcelona are spain 's richest and most successful football teams |
east haven <tsp> in a scathing report , the u.s. department of justice on monday accused the east haven police department ( ehpd ) in connecticut of engaging in a pattern of widespread discrimination against latinos in violation of the constitution and federal law . we find that ehpd engages in discriminatory policing against latinos , including but not limited to targeting latinos for discriminatory traffic enforcement , treating latino drivers more harshly than non-latino drivers after a traffic stop , and intentionally and woefully failing to design and implement internal systems of control that would identify , track , and prevent such misconduct , ' assistant attorney general thomas j. perez wrote in a 23-page letter to the east haven mayor , detailing the results of a two-year investigation . the letter described the discrimination as deeply rooted in the department 's culture , ' and cited a statistical analysis showing how latinos were intentionally targeted ' for traffic stops . it provided the example of a particular officer 's stops -- 40.5 % of which were of latino drivers . overall , the investigation found that 19.9 % of traffic stops made by the ehpd were of latino drivers , concluding it shows pervasive discrimination against latinos on every level of ehpd traffic enforcement activity . ' the report also said officers were able to target latinos by focusing on customers leaving latino businesses . in addition to the high rate of traffic stops , the report accused some ehpd officers of conducting unauthorized immigration investigations . the report mentioned numerous incident reports ' where ehpd officers contacted immigration and customs enforcement ( ice ) to check on the status or seek an immigration detention of a latino person . investigators said the tactic was used to harass and intimidate latinos rather than pursue legitimate law enforcement objectives . ' the analysis of the police department 's practices against the latino community said the connecticut department , at the very least , turned a blind eye to the blatant cases of biased policing and at worst , enabled it . it also accused the department 's leadership of thwarting the investigation by creating a hostile and intimidating environment ' for anyone willing to cooperate with it . cnn reached out to the east haven police department multiple times for comment on monday . it did not respond . according to 2010 census data , east haven has a population of some 29,000 people . the vast majority of residents , 88.5 % , are white , while 10.3 % of the population identifies as hispanic or latino . close to 3 % of residents identify as black or african-american . the findings come on the heels of a federal investigation that began more than two years ago , involving a massive review of ehpd incident reports , documents and interviews of department personnel . the justice department said it will meet with community leaders , as well with as municipal agencies to address the concerns raised in the report . but the federal agency also made clear that the united states may suspend or terminate federal funding if the town fails to address the civil rights violations . | east haven police did not respond to multiple requests for comment |
east haven <tsp> in a scathing report , the u.s. department of justice on monday accused the east haven police department ( ehpd ) in connecticut of engaging in a pattern of widespread discrimination against latinos in violation of the constitution and federal law . we find that ehpd engages in discriminatory policing against latinos , including but not limited to targeting latinos for discriminatory traffic enforcement , treating latino drivers more harshly than non-latino drivers after a traffic stop , and intentionally and woefully failing to design and implement internal systems of control that would identify , track , and prevent such misconduct , ' assistant attorney general thomas j. perez wrote in a 23-page letter to the east haven mayor , detailing the results of a two-year investigation . the letter described the discrimination as deeply rooted in the department 's culture , ' and cited a statistical analysis showing how latinos were intentionally targeted ' for traffic stops . it provided the example of a particular officer 's stops -- 40.5 % of which were of latino drivers . overall , the investigation found that 19.9 % of traffic stops made by the ehpd were of latino drivers , concluding it shows pervasive discrimination against latinos on every level of ehpd traffic enforcement activity . ' the report also said officers were able to target latinos by focusing on customers leaving latino businesses . in addition to the high rate of traffic stops , the report accused some ehpd officers of conducting unauthorized immigration investigations . the report mentioned numerous incident reports ' where ehpd officers contacted immigration and customs enforcement ( ice ) to check on the status or seek an immigration detention of a latino person . investigators said the tactic was used to harass and intimidate latinos rather than pursue legitimate law enforcement objectives . ' the analysis of the police department 's practices against the latino community said the connecticut department , at the very least , turned a blind eye to the blatant cases of biased policing and at worst , enabled it . it also accused the department 's leadership of thwarting the investigation by creating a hostile and intimidating environment ' for anyone willing to cooperate with it . cnn reached out to the east haven police department multiple times for comment on monday . it did not respond . according to 2010 census data , east haven has a population of some 29,000 people . the vast majority of residents , 88.5 % , are white , while 10.3 % of the population identifies as hispanic or latino . close to 3 % of residents identify as black or african-american . the findings come on the heels of a federal investigation that began more than two years ago , involving a massive review of ehpd incident reports , documents and interviews of department personnel . the justice department said it will meet with community leaders , as well with as municipal agencies to address the concerns raised in the report . but the federal agency also made clear that the united states may suspend or terminate federal funding if the town fails to address the civil rights violations . | federal officials accuse police in east haven of discrimination |
latino <tsp> in a scathing report , the u.s. department of justice on monday accused the east haven police department ( ehpd ) in connecticut of engaging in a pattern of widespread discrimination against latinos in violation of the constitution and federal law . we find that ehpd engages in discriminatory policing against latinos , including but not limited to targeting latinos for discriminatory traffic enforcement , treating latino drivers more harshly than non-latino drivers after a traffic stop , and intentionally and woefully failing to design and implement internal systems of control that would identify , track , and prevent such misconduct , ' assistant attorney general thomas j. perez wrote in a 23-page letter to the east haven mayor , detailing the results of a two-year investigation . the letter described the discrimination as deeply rooted in the department 's culture , ' and cited a statistical analysis showing how latinos were intentionally targeted ' for traffic stops . it provided the example of a particular officer 's stops -- 40.5 % of which were of latino drivers . overall , the investigation found that 19.9 % of traffic stops made by the ehpd were of latino drivers , concluding it shows pervasive discrimination against latinos on every level of ehpd traffic enforcement activity . ' the report also said officers were able to target latinos by focusing on customers leaving latino businesses . in addition to the high rate of traffic stops , the report accused some ehpd officers of conducting unauthorized immigration investigations . the report mentioned numerous incident reports ' where ehpd officers contacted immigration and customs enforcement ( ice ) to check on the status or seek an immigration detention of a latino person . investigators said the tactic was used to harass and intimidate latinos rather than pursue legitimate law enforcement objectives . ' the analysis of the police department 's practices against the latino community said the connecticut department , at the very least , turned a blind eye to the blatant cases of biased policing and at worst , enabled it . it also accused the department 's leadership of thwarting the investigation by creating a hostile and intimidating environment ' for anyone willing to cooperate with it . cnn reached out to the east haven police department multiple times for comment on monday . it did not respond . according to 2010 census data , east haven has a population of some 29,000 people . the vast majority of residents , 88.5 % , are white , while 10.3 % of the population identifies as hispanic or latino . close to 3 % of residents identify as black or african-american . the findings come on the heels of a federal investigation that began more than two years ago , involving a massive review of ehpd incident reports , documents and interviews of department personnel . the justice department said it will meet with community leaders , as well with as municipal agencies to address the concerns raised in the report . but the federal agency also made clear that the united states may suspend or terminate federal funding if the town fails to address the civil rights violations . | police targeted latino drivers , they say |
lindsay <tsp> nairobi , kenya ( cnn ) -- a uk terror suspect whose trial on terror charges reconvened wednesday in kenya served jail time with one of the men who carried out the 2005 london bomb attacks and may have been influenced by him , a british intelligence report reveals . the report , which was shared with kenyan counterterror authorities and was obtained by cnn , suggests that jermaine grant developed a relationship with the london bomber , jermaine lindsay , while they were held at a london facility . british intelligence officials believe grant was radicalized during that prison term . he is facing three counts of conspiracy to commit a felony . a source said the facility where grant and lindsay met was feltham young offenders institution , the same prison in which u.s. shoe bomber ' richard reid was allegedly radicalized , and where july 21 attack leader muktar said ibrahim did time . grant was being held at feltham for non-terror-related offenses , the source said . grant is accused of having connections with the al qaeda-linked somali group al shabaab , and then being dispatched as part of a cell to carry out attacks in kenya 's port city of mombasa . he 's suspected of targeting hotels frequented by western tourists in the city . police allege he worked with lindsay 's widow , british national samantha lewthwaite , who is also wanted by kenyan police on terror charges but remains at large . grant , who was arrested in late 2011 , is being tried in a court complex within a maximum security prison because lewthwaite hatched a plan to break him out , kenyan authorities say . the alleged jailbreak plot has contributed to numerous delays in judicial proceedings . kenyan counterterror police say they found the same kind of bomb-making materials as were used in the london bombings at the last known residence of lewthwaite in mombasa . among the seized items police presented to reporters were firearms , munitions and chemicals including hydrogen peroxide .'bomb-making materials' the court in mombasa heard tuesday that british counterterror officers who flew in to monitor proceedings had brought with them a large volume of evidence prepared by the counterterrorism team of london 's metropolitan police . grant 's defense team asked the court to give them more time to study the evidence , which was provided to them that day , saying they would need to consult technical experts . lawyer chacha mwita also objected to the court hearing the testimony of three metropolitan police officers before the defense team has time to study the reports . warda breik , believed to be grant 's kenyan wife , is also charged in the case . she arrived in court tuesday flanked by close family members , including her mother . the july 7 , 2005 , bombings targeting london 's public transit network killed 52 people and the four bombers . london bomb survivor says humanity can beat despair cnn 's nima elbagir reported in nairobi and laura smith-spark wrote in london . cnn 's mohamed dahir contributed from mombasa . | he 's accused of working alongside lindsay 's widow , samantha lewthwaite |
lindsay <tsp> nairobi , kenya ( cnn ) -- a uk terror suspect whose trial on terror charges reconvened wednesday in kenya served jail time with one of the men who carried out the 2005 london bomb attacks and may have been influenced by him , a british intelligence report reveals . the report , which was shared with kenyan counterterror authorities and was obtained by cnn , suggests that jermaine grant developed a relationship with the london bomber , jermaine lindsay , while they were held at a london facility . british intelligence officials believe grant was radicalized during that prison term . he is facing three counts of conspiracy to commit a felony . a source said the facility where grant and lindsay met was feltham young offenders institution , the same prison in which u.s. shoe bomber ' richard reid was allegedly radicalized , and where july 21 attack leader muktar said ibrahim did time . grant was being held at feltham for non-terror-related offenses , the source said . grant is accused of having connections with the al qaeda-linked somali group al shabaab , and then being dispatched as part of a cell to carry out attacks in kenya 's port city of mombasa . he 's suspected of targeting hotels frequented by western tourists in the city . police allege he worked with lindsay 's widow , british national samantha lewthwaite , who is also wanted by kenyan police on terror charges but remains at large . grant , who was arrested in late 2011 , is being tried in a court complex within a maximum security prison because lewthwaite hatched a plan to break him out , kenyan authorities say . the alleged jailbreak plot has contributed to numerous delays in judicial proceedings . kenyan counterterror police say they found the same kind of bomb-making materials as were used in the london bombings at the last known residence of lewthwaite in mombasa . among the seized items police presented to reporters were firearms , munitions and chemicals including hydrogen peroxide .'bomb-making materials' the court in mombasa heard tuesday that british counterterror officers who flew in to monitor proceedings had brought with them a large volume of evidence prepared by the counterterrorism team of london 's metropolitan police . grant 's defense team asked the court to give them more time to study the evidence , which was provided to them that day , saying they would need to consult technical experts . lawyer chacha mwita also objected to the court hearing the testimony of three metropolitan police officers before the defense team has time to study the reports . warda breik , believed to be grant 's kenyan wife , is also charged in the case . she arrived in court tuesday flanked by close family members , including her mother . the july 7 , 2005 , bombings targeting london 's public transit network killed 52 people and the four bombers . london bomb survivor says humanity can beat despair cnn 's nima elbagir reported in nairobi and laura smith-spark wrote in london . cnn 's mohamed dahir contributed from mombasa . | grant served jail time with jermaine lindsay , who took part in the attack on london , it says |
suu kyi <tsp> london ( cnn ) -- aung san suu kyi appealed for international support for myanmar 's process of democratic reform thursday as she gave a historic address to both of britain 's houses of parliament . this is her nation 's time of greatest need , suu kyi told lawmakers , saying the help of britain and other nations is needed if myanmar is not to lose this opportunity to embrace true democracy . her first trip to europe after years of house arrest signals the progress toward reform in myanmar , also known as burma , over the past year . suu kyi is the first figure who is not a head of state , the first woman from abroad and the first person from an asian nation to address both houses of parliament in westminster hall , house of commons speaker john bercow said as he introduced her . he paid tribute to her as a legendary ' figure , who had withstood unimaginable suffering ' during the dark days of her long house arrest and political oppression . suu kyi meets dj who made house arrest'bearable' addressing an audience that included current and past british prime ministers , suu kyi appealed for practical help ' from britain in the days to come , saying international aid can help give her people a better life through education and training , as well as supporting civil and economic progress . the nobel laureate praised the sincere ' efforts of president thein sein , a former general , to promote political reform in myanmar since his military-backed government was elected in 2010 . but she also called for international support to ensure burma does not waver as it follows the path to a full , free and open democracy . we have an opportunity to re-establish true democracy in burma . it is an opportunity for which we have waited many decades . if we do not use this opportunity , if we do not get this right this time round , it may be several decades more before an opportunity arises again , ' she warned . it is also important that a permanent political resolution is found to ethnic conflicts and violence in the north , west and east of the country , she said . suu kyi met with british prime minister david cameron at downing street ahead of her speech to lawmakers , where they appeared jointly before reporters . cameron said it was a huge honor to welcome suu kyi to britain , saying she has been inspirational in her courage in fighting for democracy ' in myanmar . britain is a resolute friend ' to myanmar and will remain staunch in its support , just as it has been through the long period of darkness you and your people have lived through , ' he said . the prime minister also backed suu kyi 's warning against reckless optimism ' over political reforms in myanmar , saying his country will remain vigorous in our questioning until those changes have been made irreversible . ' at the same time , cameron defended the decision to invite thein sein to britain , saying the visit signals the united kingdom 's willingness to engage so long as the president remains committed to reform . britain 's sanctions against the regime are only suspended , not lifted entirely , he pointed out . suu kyi , who was recently elected to parliament as her national league for democracy won dozens of seats in by-elections , said she supports the invitation to myanmar 's president because we do n't want to be shackled by the past . ' she said it is by strengthening and empowering the people of myanmar that a genuinely democratic society can be built . she also called for responsible investment in myanmar to aid its economic development . the country 's future should lie in the hands of all its people , rather than those of the military or a small elite , she said . what suu kyi 's moment teaches us suu kyi also spoke on the need for a clean , efficient civil service ' to help run the nation even as governments change . cameron said british lawmakers will visit myanmar in july to scrutinize its progress toward full democracy , and will continue to support the country up to its planned elections in 2015 . britain , which is the biggest aid donor to myanmar , will also offer aid to support peacemaking in parts of the country torn by ethnic conflict and back responsible investment in the country , cameron said . suu kyi said she was moved by the warmth and kindness with which she had been welcomed to britain . during a four-day visit to britain -- her first since 1988 -- suu kyi has also visited oxford , the city where she studied from 1964 to 1967 and lived with her late husband , michael aris . she received an honorary degree wednesday at oxford university , her alma mater . suu kyi was awarded the honorary doctorate in civil law in april 1993 , the university said , but until now has been unable to receive it in person . 'the most important thing for me about oxford was not what i learnt there in terms of set texts and set books we had to read , but in terms of a respect for the best in human civilization , ' she is quoted as saying at the ceremony . visiting london on tuesday , suu kyi described how supporters around the world had given her strength while she campaigned against myanmar 's military regime . she also paid a visit to the bbc 's broadcasting house , where she met dj dave lee travis , whose bbc world service music show made her confinement much more bearable , ' she said . on saturday , suu kyi finally gave her nobel acceptance speech in norway , more than two decades after she won the peace prize . she was unable to accept the nobel when it was awarded in 1991 because she was under house arrest in myanmar . her husband and two sons collected it on her behalf . she has also visited ireland , where a music concert was held in her honor monday , and switzerland . the elections that gave her party seats in parliament , albeit in a minority , marked a turning point for the country after decades of oppression by its military rulers . a military coup in september 1988 put gen . saw maung in power , setting off anti-government demonstrations and a crackdown that left hundreds dead . suu kyi -- whose husband remained in england when she returned to myanmar in 1988 -- became a leading activist and co-founder of an opposition group , the national league for democracy . she was placed under house arrest for the first time the following july on charges of trying to divide the military . she spent much of the next two decades confined to her home by the ruling junta . when her party won the 1990 general election in a landslide vote , the military rulers -- in power since 1962 -- refused to let the national league for democracy serve , nullifying the results . the military rulers have recently loosened their grip on power , allowing a series of democratic reforms . her house arrest ended in 2010 , and she was able to travel around the country during her party 's election campaign this year . smiling suu kyi lays out'ambitious'plan for myanmar | suu kyi is on her first visit to britain in 24 years |
suu kyi <tsp> london ( cnn ) -- aung san suu kyi appealed for international support for myanmar 's process of democratic reform thursday as she gave a historic address to both of britain 's houses of parliament . this is her nation 's time of greatest need , suu kyi told lawmakers , saying the help of britain and other nations is needed if myanmar is not to lose this opportunity to embrace true democracy . her first trip to europe after years of house arrest signals the progress toward reform in myanmar , also known as burma , over the past year . suu kyi is the first figure who is not a head of state , the first woman from abroad and the first person from an asian nation to address both houses of parliament in westminster hall , house of commons speaker john bercow said as he introduced her . he paid tribute to her as a legendary ' figure , who had withstood unimaginable suffering ' during the dark days of her long house arrest and political oppression . suu kyi meets dj who made house arrest'bearable' addressing an audience that included current and past british prime ministers , suu kyi appealed for practical help ' from britain in the days to come , saying international aid can help give her people a better life through education and training , as well as supporting civil and economic progress . the nobel laureate praised the sincere ' efforts of president thein sein , a former general , to promote political reform in myanmar since his military-backed government was elected in 2010 . but she also called for international support to ensure burma does not waver as it follows the path to a full , free and open democracy . we have an opportunity to re-establish true democracy in burma . it is an opportunity for which we have waited many decades . if we do not use this opportunity , if we do not get this right this time round , it may be several decades more before an opportunity arises again , ' she warned . it is also important that a permanent political resolution is found to ethnic conflicts and violence in the north , west and east of the country , she said . suu kyi met with british prime minister david cameron at downing street ahead of her speech to lawmakers , where they appeared jointly before reporters . cameron said it was a huge honor to welcome suu kyi to britain , saying she has been inspirational in her courage in fighting for democracy ' in myanmar . britain is a resolute friend ' to myanmar and will remain staunch in its support , just as it has been through the long period of darkness you and your people have lived through , ' he said . the prime minister also backed suu kyi 's warning against reckless optimism ' over political reforms in myanmar , saying his country will remain vigorous in our questioning until those changes have been made irreversible . ' at the same time , cameron defended the decision to invite thein sein to britain , saying the visit signals the united kingdom 's willingness to engage so long as the president remains committed to reform . britain 's sanctions against the regime are only suspended , not lifted entirely , he pointed out . suu kyi , who was recently elected to parliament as her national league for democracy won dozens of seats in by-elections , said she supports the invitation to myanmar 's president because we do n't want to be shackled by the past . ' she said it is by strengthening and empowering the people of myanmar that a genuinely democratic society can be built . she also called for responsible investment in myanmar to aid its economic development . the country 's future should lie in the hands of all its people , rather than those of the military or a small elite , she said . what suu kyi 's moment teaches us suu kyi also spoke on the need for a clean , efficient civil service ' to help run the nation even as governments change . cameron said british lawmakers will visit myanmar in july to scrutinize its progress toward full democracy , and will continue to support the country up to its planned elections in 2015 . britain , which is the biggest aid donor to myanmar , will also offer aid to support peacemaking in parts of the country torn by ethnic conflict and back responsible investment in the country , cameron said . suu kyi said she was moved by the warmth and kindness with which she had been welcomed to britain . during a four-day visit to britain -- her first since 1988 -- suu kyi has also visited oxford , the city where she studied from 1964 to 1967 and lived with her late husband , michael aris . she received an honorary degree wednesday at oxford university , her alma mater . suu kyi was awarded the honorary doctorate in civil law in april 1993 , the university said , but until now has been unable to receive it in person . 'the most important thing for me about oxford was not what i learnt there in terms of set texts and set books we had to read , but in terms of a respect for the best in human civilization , ' she is quoted as saying at the ceremony . visiting london on tuesday , suu kyi described how supporters around the world had given her strength while she campaigned against myanmar 's military regime . she also paid a visit to the bbc 's broadcasting house , where she met dj dave lee travis , whose bbc world service music show made her confinement much more bearable , ' she said . on saturday , suu kyi finally gave her nobel acceptance speech in norway , more than two decades after she won the peace prize . she was unable to accept the nobel when it was awarded in 1991 because she was under house arrest in myanmar . her husband and two sons collected it on her behalf . she has also visited ireland , where a music concert was held in her honor monday , and switzerland . the elections that gave her party seats in parliament , albeit in a minority , marked a turning point for the country after decades of oppression by its military rulers . a military coup in september 1988 put gen . saw maung in power , setting off anti-government demonstrations and a crackdown that left hundreds dead . suu kyi -- whose husband remained in england when she returned to myanmar in 1988 -- became a leading activist and co-founder of an opposition group , the national league for democracy . she was placed under house arrest for the first time the following july on charges of trying to divide the military . she spent much of the next two decades confined to her home by the ruling junta . when her party won the 1990 general election in a landslide vote , the military rulers -- in power since 1962 -- refused to let the national league for democracy serve , nullifying the results . the military rulers have recently loosened their grip on power , allowing a series of democratic reforms . her house arrest ended in 2010 , and she was able to travel around the country during her party 's election campaign this year . smiling suu kyi lays out'ambitious'plan for myanmar | new : aung san suu kyi addresses both british houses of parliament , a rare honor |
congress <tsp> ( cnn ) america 's immigration debate has become red hot because president obama 's critics not only believe that he lacks the authority to act without the consent of congress , but also that he must not change internal enforcement priorities before first securing the border . ' the truth is , the single most important thing congress can do to meaningfully improve our border security is pass comprehensive immigration reform . too often , border security is viewed as preventing the illegal entry of people and goods across state lines . however , border security also is about ensuring the safe , efficient flow of commerce and increasing international trade . comprehensive reform will do both , while our current approach serves neither objective . i say this as someone who has made countless trips to the u.s.-mexico border . i 've seen firsthand how our current approach to policing the border is based on muddled objectives and unmeasurable benchmarks that mask failure . our failure to secure the border is not for a lack of trying . congress has passed at least four laws since 1986 authorizing increases in border patrol personnel . in 1980 , there were 2,268 border patrol agents at the southwest border ; under president obama , that number grew to an all-time high of 21,730 . there was 14 miles of fencing on the border in 1990 ; under this administration , we 've erected nearly 651 miles of new fencing and dramatically increased our mobile surveillance capabilities . yet there is scant evidence that we can spend our way out of this problem . recent studies by princeton university and the university of california at san diego reach desultory conclusions about our ability to stop illegal border crossings . we have been able to stop only about 30 % of those attempting to cross our border between 1996 and 2009 , according to the studies . simply spending more money and adding more agents will not secure the border , but it will complicate trade . nations can not seek maximum security without shuttering trade , but nations can not have fully open borders if they want real security . we can build more fences , identify more tracks , and inspect more vehicles , but only if we are prepared to greatly diminish the free flow of commerce . our nation has wisely opted for a balanced approach . the central reason we will not be more effective at achieving our national security border goals is because u.s. policy , since the 1980s , effectively treats all border incursions as equal threats to the homeland . this diminishes our ability to prevent true threats -- such as drug cartels , human traffickers and potential terrorists -- from flooding the zone ' and gaining passage into the homeland . these criminals know that a small percentage of their goods and vehicles will be inspected and seized . for them , this is the cost of doing business . unless we begin to prioritize threats and facilitate the legitimate entry of validated economic migrants , the cost-benefit analysis will remain in their favor . border security professionals tell me the vast majority of illegal entrants are mexicans seeking temporary work in the united states . all illegal crossings undermine border integrity , but temporary , work-seeking migrants do not pose a significant national security threat to the homeland . the best way to strengthen border security without stifling trade is for congress to establish a system whereby migrant workers can apply for validated , biometric entry keys to cross our border safely and legally . this will free up our border security cadre to focus on preventing cartels , traffickers and terrorists from exploiting holes in our current system . furthermore , channeling economic migrants to efficient legal crossings will reduce threats to their own safety , improve human dignity , and give interdiction operators the bandwidth to respond to a higher percentage of tripwire incursions across our nearly 2,000-mile border with mexico . we need a new risk-based approach , informed by intelligence and emphasizing information sharing and international cooperation . fortunately , there is a precedent that offers great hope . the transportation security administration 's trusted traveler/precheck program is a model of risk-based screening that is increasing our security and facilitating commerce . the tsa approach allows approved , prescreened travelers to establish they are not security threats and move more nimbly to transact international business . this allows tsa officers to focus their attention on more consequential threats to aviation security . this risk-based approach is better for the traveling public and provides more security at less cost . we can adopt a similar approach to our land border with mexico , if the congress acts . as a nation , we do not accept a system where more than half of terror plots will be successful ; we prioritize threats and go after terror cells with zeal . we need to embrace the same strategic approach to border security and abandon a system that does not adequately distinguish between worker crossings and true dangers to u.s. security . by normalizing the process for work-seeking migrants to legally enter the country , we will legalize a critical segment of our labor force and empower security professionals to focus on the true risks to our homeland . this will be good for our economy and our security . now is the time for congress to act . | to meaningfully improve our border security , congress should pass immigration reform |
gareth bale <tsp> ( cnn ) -- if cristiano ronaldo feels threatened by gareth bale 's arrival at real madrid , it certainly is n't showing in his performances . ronaldo followed up his midweek champions league treble with another two goals in sunday 's 4-1 win over getafe , while this season 's marquee signing bale was unable to make his home debut due to an injury suffered in the warmup . the win kept real in third place , two points behind barcelona and atletico madrid after five matches , and the double lifted ronaldo into fifth on the club 's all-time scoring list with 208 . ronaldo failed to score in real 's opening two la liga matches , but including his hat-trick for portugal in a world cup qualifier against northern ireland he now has 10 goals in his last five games -- fully vindicating the bumper new contract he signed after bale arrived . bale -- a world-record signing according to his former club tottenham , but not as expensive as ronaldo was in 2009 according to real -- was replaced in the starting lineup at the bernabeu by the highly-rated isco , another newcomer to madrid . bale scored on his debut in the 2-2 draw at villarreal , playing an hour , and also came on to replace isco in the 6-1 champions league thrashing of galatasaray -- but his only other time on the pitch this season is a substitute appearance for wales before joining up with carlo ancelotti 's squad . he had a small problem in the warmup . i do n't think it is a big problem , but we have to wait till tomorrow to do a scan to see how bad the injury is , ' ancelotti told reporters . the player was n't comfortable , he was worried , so it was better to avoid problems . he was desperate to play his first game in the bernabeu , but he has plenty of games ahead of him here . his pre-season was very unusual , not just physically , but mentally too . he was waiting for a long time ( before signing ) and i think this is a problem . ' getafe stunned the home crowd by taking the lead in the fourth minute when angel lafita 's shot deflected in off pepe , but the real defender equalized just before 20 minutes after ronaldo 's shot was only blocked by keeper miguel angel moya . ronaldo put los blancos ahead just after half an hour from the penalty spot , as michel was ruled to have deliberately handled his free-kick inside the area , and he joined real 's former mexico star hugo sanchez on 207 goals . isco , who last season inspired malaga to the champions league quarterfinals despite the club 's financial problems , made it 3-1 in the 57th minute . fed by ronaldo 's quick free-kick , the 21-year-old spain international made no mistake with his fifth goal in six games . getafe had michel sent off five minutes from time when the midfielder was booked a second time , and ronaldo crowned his night with a cheeky backheel to score from sami khedira 's low cross . promoted villarreal stayed fourth after drawing 0-0 at celta vigo , while there was a mid-table stalemate between real betis and granada . valencia ended a run of three la liga defeats and a europa league loss to swansea by beating bottom club sevilla 3-1 , as jonas scored twice . meanwhile , sunday 's istanbul derby between besiktas and galatasaray was abandoned due to crowd trouble at the end of the match between two of turkey 's leading teams . galatasaray had led 2-1 through two goals by ivory coast veteran didier drogba when his brazilian teammate felipe melo was sent off in time added on , and fans then invaded the pitch . how the proceedings will continue will be announced later by the turkey football federation , ' the galatasaray website reported . in italy , roma went top on goal difference after beating lazio 2-0 in the capital derby for a fourth successive win . second-half goals from federico balzaretti and adem ljajic put the giallorossi marginally above napoli -- also with a 100 % record after winning 2-1 at ac milan . uruguayan defender miguel britos put rafael benitez 's team ahead in the sixth minute and argentina striker gonzalo higuain doubled the lead on 53 before mario balotelli 's late consolation for 11th-placed milan . however , the italy striker had earlier missed the first penalty of his professional career , saved by keeper pepe reina , as napoli beat milan at the san siro for the first time since 1986 . third-placed inter milan crushed sassuolo 7-0 as argentine striker diego milito marked his long-awaited return from a serious knee injury with two goals . it left fiorentina fourth on goal difference after a 2-0 win at atalanta , while fifth-placed defending champion juventus also ha 10 points after coming from behind to beat verona 2-1 thanks to goals from summer signings carlos tevez and fernando llorente . the battle for supremacy between france 's two big-spending clubs ended in a 1-1 draw as monaco came from behind to deny defending champion paris saint-germain . zlatan ibrahimovic put the home side ahead but radamel falcao -- like his swedish striking counterpart , a marquee signing of intent -- leveled to keep monaco top of the table , two points ahead of second-placed psg . | new signing gareth bale misses out on home debut after injury in warmup |
drop dead fred <tsp> tributes are flowing in for much-loved british actor and comedian rik mayall , who died in london monday at age 56 . mayall , one of the leading lights of britain 's alternative comedy scene in the 1980s , is best known for starring roles in hit tv series blackadder , ' the young ones , ' the new statesman ' and bottom . ' his agent , kate benson , of brunskill management , told cnn mayall died suddenly monday ; she did not know the cause of his death . mayall first found widespread fame in student sitcom the young ones , ' which ran for two years on the bbc , and was later shown on mtv in the united states . the series , which he co-wrote , focused on the lives of four roommates at scumbag college . ' mayall played politics-obsessed poet rick alongside his long-term comedy partner ade edmondson as violent punk vyvyan . edmondson led the tributes to mayall monday , telling britain 's press association news agency : there were times when rik and i were writing together when we almost died laughing . they were some of the most carefree , stupid days i ever had , and i feel privileged to have shared them with him . and now he 's died for real . without me . selfish bastard . ' writer and comedian ben elton told the press association mayall had changed his life ' by asking him to work on the young ones . ' he always made me cry with laughter , now he 's just made me cry . ' in cult favorite blackadder ' -- also co-written by elton -- mayall was memorably cast in the guest role of the womanizing lord flashheart , who steals the anti-hero 's fiancé from under his nose -- at the altar . his lines were regularly repeated in schoolyards and student pubs . in the 1990s , he reunited with edmondson for bottom , ' a slapstick-filled series about two unemployed flatmates who spend most of their time attacking each other violently with anything that comes to hand ; the pair are reported to have come up with the idea for the show while starring in a production of samuel beckett 's nihilistic waiting for godot . ' on twitter , writer hugo rifkind suggested that fans of the show should pay homage to mayall in true bottom ' style : go home tonight , find someone you love , and hit them with a frying pan . ' mayall also branched out into movies , taking the lead role in 1991 's drop dead fred , ' in which he played the imaginary friend of phoebe cates , returning years later to wreak havoc in the now grown-up cates'life . mayall survived a near-fatal quad bike accident in 1998 ; he was in a coma for five days after the crash , on his farm in devon , southwest england , and developed epilepsy as a result of the severe head injury he suffered when he was crushed under the bike . in an interview several years later , he joked that he beat jesus ' by coming back from the dead after so long . in 2006 , he told britain 's observer newspaper : i was dead for five days . jesus was only dead for three , so i beat him -- 17 april 1998 was the day i was sent back from heaven . ' he said the accident left him more aware of being alive . ' house star hugh laurie , who worked with mayall on blackadder , ' took to twitter to recount a story about his co-star : a young girl , stricken with terminal cancer , once asked rik mayall for an autograph . he wrote :'young ones are never afraid .'' people we 've lost in 2014 | he had lead role in movie drop dead fred , ' playing imaginary friend of phoebe cates |
the young ones <tsp> tributes are flowing in for much-loved british actor and comedian rik mayall , who died in london monday at age 56 . mayall , one of the leading lights of britain 's alternative comedy scene in the 1980s , is best known for starring roles in hit tv series blackadder , ' the young ones , ' the new statesman ' and bottom . ' his agent , kate benson , of brunskill management , told cnn mayall died suddenly monday ; she did not know the cause of his death . mayall first found widespread fame in student sitcom the young ones , ' which ran for two years on the bbc , and was later shown on mtv in the united states . the series , which he co-wrote , focused on the lives of four roommates at scumbag college . ' mayall played politics-obsessed poet rick alongside his long-term comedy partner ade edmondson as violent punk vyvyan . edmondson led the tributes to mayall monday , telling britain 's press association news agency : there were times when rik and i were writing together when we almost died laughing . they were some of the most carefree , stupid days i ever had , and i feel privileged to have shared them with him . and now he 's died for real . without me . selfish bastard . ' writer and comedian ben elton told the press association mayall had changed his life ' by asking him to work on the young ones . ' he always made me cry with laughter , now he 's just made me cry . ' in cult favorite blackadder ' -- also co-written by elton -- mayall was memorably cast in the guest role of the womanizing lord flashheart , who steals the anti-hero 's fiancé from under his nose -- at the altar . his lines were regularly repeated in schoolyards and student pubs . in the 1990s , he reunited with edmondson for bottom , ' a slapstick-filled series about two unemployed flatmates who spend most of their time attacking each other violently with anything that comes to hand ; the pair are reported to have come up with the idea for the show while starring in a production of samuel beckett 's nihilistic waiting for godot . ' on twitter , writer hugo rifkind suggested that fans of the show should pay homage to mayall in true bottom ' style : go home tonight , find someone you love , and hit them with a frying pan . ' mayall also branched out into movies , taking the lead role in 1991 's drop dead fred , ' in which he played the imaginary friend of phoebe cates , returning years later to wreak havoc in the now grown-up cates'life . mayall survived a near-fatal quad bike accident in 1998 ; he was in a coma for five days after the crash , on his farm in devon , southwest england , and developed epilepsy as a result of the severe head injury he suffered when he was crushed under the bike . in an interview several years later , he joked that he beat jesus ' by coming back from the dead after so long . in 2006 , he told britain 's observer newspaper : i was dead for five days . jesus was only dead for three , so i beat him -- 17 april 1998 was the day i was sent back from heaven . ' he said the accident left him more aware of being alive . ' house star hugh laurie , who worked with mayall on blackadder , ' took to twitter to recount a story about his co-star : a young girl , stricken with terminal cancer , once asked rik mayall for an autograph . he wrote :'young ones are never afraid .'' people we 've lost in 2014 | mayall is best known for starring in tv series the young ones , ' blackadder ' and bottom ' |
deen <tsp> ( cnn ) -- as paula deen 's apology tour continues , it becomes more and more disturbing to watch . with each heartfelt tearful statement , deen seems completely uninterested in the broader contexts of her comments , missing ample opportunities to address the reality of racism today both in the form of cultural and social interactions , but even more powerfully by policies and actions . i heard her speak very little about the extraordinary injuries and injustices black people face , i have not heard her show alliance with those who fight racism nor show solidarity with or compassion for black people based on the profound impact racism has on their lives . what kind of heartfelt apology intended to prove you are not a racist ignores these gestures ? deen is steadfast in her denials about being a racist . but she seems to explain away her actions or redirect the conversation when asked about the specifics of her comments and their implications . her reflections , apologies and justifications are striking in their inability to see things from the perspective of those she has offended , and how they might feel in the face of her actions . plus , she ca n't seem to connect her actions to broader , endemic conditions in society . this could be a teachable moment to discuss how complex racism is , how good intentions can not do the work of anti-racism education , and how even people who like black people can behave in ways that do racial harm . yes , paula deen , good people can hold racist ideas even though they might not be aware of them . instead , it has turned in to a maudlin , self-absorbed reality-tv style drama . her apology on the today ' show on wednesday is a case in point . in it , deen was asked about her use of the n-word . in reply , she emphasized that she had a gun put to her head and that the black man wielding it was someone to whom she had given a loan . her emphasis asks us to empathize with her . i guess we are to say , oh sure , with a gun to my head i 'd resort to racial epithets , too , especially if i gave that n-word some loan money . ' she has other options here : ones that might contribute to our broader racial conversation and knowledge about race . she could have said : it was a horrible word to use given its powerful centuries long role , especially in the south , as a way to dehumanize black people . and , my identity as a white southern woman ( one whose family were slave holders ) only makes it worse . it undermines my belief in racial equality and counters my efforts to support racial justice . ' later in the interview , when today ' anchor matt lauer returned to the issue of her use of the n-word , she deflected her use , and instead described how the constant use of the word by the young black staffers in her kitchen hurts her . what ? i am not a fan of black youth using the word so casually , extensively and publicly , but there is a remarkable lack of self-awareness to imagine that their use of the term is equivalent to her use of the word . what does their use have to do with hers ? how is it that we are talking about her injury again ? her lack of awareness was evident again in her desire to have a plantation style wedding party , which would feature a black-only wait staff . she thought the black-only wait staff - who , in historical context would likely be performing as slave workers -- would be an entertaining theme . was she going to have the white guests perform southern plantation era behavior of cultured ' and vicious racial domination , too ? who was supposed to be entertained by this ? perhaps some of the apology tour could be devoted to explaining her vision for this party and why she thought it a good idea . and , ideally , this would be followed by an admission that she should have considered the downside of having black low-wage workers , who as a group face extraordinary levels of job discrimination and other hurdles , play slaves for white partygoers . i suspect she imagines no ill racial intent in this , either . frankly , she is n't alone in this kind of thinking . our public understanding about how racism works today is thwarted by the personalized response that focuses on intention , rather than action . good ' people are very often blind to and support disturbing and discriminatory actions , behaviors and ideas . today , there is widespread normalized racial discrimination . one study shows that white job applicants with a criminal record are nearly twice as likely to get a call back for low-wage work than equally qualified black applicants with a college degree and no criminal record . for this apology tour to do real good , deen might consider taking an anti-racist position , reaching out to black people and honoring the pain many face as a result of serious racial discrimination , and thinking about how she might have contributed to it . deen might use her extensive media platform to draw attention to racial injustice today , to show the broader public just how much it saturates american society , even for those who think they are above it . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of tricia rose . | tricia rose : paula deen does n't seem to see why she offended people |
deen <tsp> ( cnn ) -- as paula deen 's apology tour continues , it becomes more and more disturbing to watch . with each heartfelt tearful statement , deen seems completely uninterested in the broader contexts of her comments , missing ample opportunities to address the reality of racism today both in the form of cultural and social interactions , but even more powerfully by policies and actions . i heard her speak very little about the extraordinary injuries and injustices black people face , i have not heard her show alliance with those who fight racism nor show solidarity with or compassion for black people based on the profound impact racism has on their lives . what kind of heartfelt apology intended to prove you are not a racist ignores these gestures ? deen is steadfast in her denials about being a racist . but she seems to explain away her actions or redirect the conversation when asked about the specifics of her comments and their implications . her reflections , apologies and justifications are striking in their inability to see things from the perspective of those she has offended , and how they might feel in the face of her actions . plus , she ca n't seem to connect her actions to broader , endemic conditions in society . this could be a teachable moment to discuss how complex racism is , how good intentions can not do the work of anti-racism education , and how even people who like black people can behave in ways that do racial harm . yes , paula deen , good people can hold racist ideas even though they might not be aware of them . instead , it has turned in to a maudlin , self-absorbed reality-tv style drama . her apology on the today ' show on wednesday is a case in point . in it , deen was asked about her use of the n-word . in reply , she emphasized that she had a gun put to her head and that the black man wielding it was someone to whom she had given a loan . her emphasis asks us to empathize with her . i guess we are to say , oh sure , with a gun to my head i 'd resort to racial epithets , too , especially if i gave that n-word some loan money . ' she has other options here : ones that might contribute to our broader racial conversation and knowledge about race . she could have said : it was a horrible word to use given its powerful centuries long role , especially in the south , as a way to dehumanize black people . and , my identity as a white southern woman ( one whose family were slave holders ) only makes it worse . it undermines my belief in racial equality and counters my efforts to support racial justice . ' later in the interview , when today ' anchor matt lauer returned to the issue of her use of the n-word , she deflected her use , and instead described how the constant use of the word by the young black staffers in her kitchen hurts her . what ? i am not a fan of black youth using the word so casually , extensively and publicly , but there is a remarkable lack of self-awareness to imagine that their use of the term is equivalent to her use of the word . what does their use have to do with hers ? how is it that we are talking about her injury again ? her lack of awareness was evident again in her desire to have a plantation style wedding party , which would feature a black-only wait staff . she thought the black-only wait staff - who , in historical context would likely be performing as slave workers -- would be an entertaining theme . was she going to have the white guests perform southern plantation era behavior of cultured ' and vicious racial domination , too ? who was supposed to be entertained by this ? perhaps some of the apology tour could be devoted to explaining her vision for this party and why she thought it a good idea . and , ideally , this would be followed by an admission that she should have considered the downside of having black low-wage workers , who as a group face extraordinary levels of job discrimination and other hurdles , play slaves for white partygoers . i suspect she imagines no ill racial intent in this , either . frankly , she is n't alone in this kind of thinking . our public understanding about how racism works today is thwarted by the personalized response that focuses on intention , rather than action . good ' people are very often blind to and support disturbing and discriminatory actions , behaviors and ideas . today , there is widespread normalized racial discrimination . one study shows that white job applicants with a criminal record are nearly twice as likely to get a call back for low-wage work than equally qualified black applicants with a college degree and no criminal record . for this apology tour to do real good , deen might consider taking an anti-racist position , reaching out to black people and honoring the pain many face as a result of serious racial discrimination , and thinking about how she might have contributed to it . deen might use her extensive media platform to draw attention to racial injustice today , to show the broader public just how much it saturates american society , even for those who think they are above it . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of tricia rose . | deen also should explain idea of a plantation wedding with all-black staff , rose says |
deen <tsp> ( cnn ) -- as paula deen 's apology tour continues , it becomes more and more disturbing to watch . with each heartfelt tearful statement , deen seems completely uninterested in the broader contexts of her comments , missing ample opportunities to address the reality of racism today both in the form of cultural and social interactions , but even more powerfully by policies and actions . i heard her speak very little about the extraordinary injuries and injustices black people face , i have not heard her show alliance with those who fight racism nor show solidarity with or compassion for black people based on the profound impact racism has on their lives . what kind of heartfelt apology intended to prove you are not a racist ignores these gestures ? deen is steadfast in her denials about being a racist . but she seems to explain away her actions or redirect the conversation when asked about the specifics of her comments and their implications . her reflections , apologies and justifications are striking in their inability to see things from the perspective of those she has offended , and how they might feel in the face of her actions . plus , she ca n't seem to connect her actions to broader , endemic conditions in society . this could be a teachable moment to discuss how complex racism is , how good intentions can not do the work of anti-racism education , and how even people who like black people can behave in ways that do racial harm . yes , paula deen , good people can hold racist ideas even though they might not be aware of them . instead , it has turned in to a maudlin , self-absorbed reality-tv style drama . her apology on the today ' show on wednesday is a case in point . in it , deen was asked about her use of the n-word . in reply , she emphasized that she had a gun put to her head and that the black man wielding it was someone to whom she had given a loan . her emphasis asks us to empathize with her . i guess we are to say , oh sure , with a gun to my head i 'd resort to racial epithets , too , especially if i gave that n-word some loan money . ' she has other options here : ones that might contribute to our broader racial conversation and knowledge about race . she could have said : it was a horrible word to use given its powerful centuries long role , especially in the south , as a way to dehumanize black people . and , my identity as a white southern woman ( one whose family were slave holders ) only makes it worse . it undermines my belief in racial equality and counters my efforts to support racial justice . ' later in the interview , when today ' anchor matt lauer returned to the issue of her use of the n-word , she deflected her use , and instead described how the constant use of the word by the young black staffers in her kitchen hurts her . what ? i am not a fan of black youth using the word so casually , extensively and publicly , but there is a remarkable lack of self-awareness to imagine that their use of the term is equivalent to her use of the word . what does their use have to do with hers ? how is it that we are talking about her injury again ? her lack of awareness was evident again in her desire to have a plantation style wedding party , which would feature a black-only wait staff . she thought the black-only wait staff - who , in historical context would likely be performing as slave workers -- would be an entertaining theme . was she going to have the white guests perform southern plantation era behavior of cultured ' and vicious racial domination , too ? who was supposed to be entertained by this ? perhaps some of the apology tour could be devoted to explaining her vision for this party and why she thought it a good idea . and , ideally , this would be followed by an admission that she should have considered the downside of having black low-wage workers , who as a group face extraordinary levels of job discrimination and other hurdles , play slaves for white partygoers . i suspect she imagines no ill racial intent in this , either . frankly , she is n't alone in this kind of thinking . our public understanding about how racism works today is thwarted by the personalized response that focuses on intention , rather than action . good ' people are very often blind to and support disturbing and discriminatory actions , behaviors and ideas . today , there is widespread normalized racial discrimination . one study shows that white job applicants with a criminal record are nearly twice as likely to get a call back for low-wage work than equally qualified black applicants with a college degree and no criminal record . for this apology tour to do real good , deen might consider taking an anti-racist position , reaching out to black people and honoring the pain many face as a result of serious racial discrimination , and thinking about how she might have contributed to it . deen might use her extensive media platform to draw attention to racial injustice today , to show the broader public just how much it saturates american society , even for those who think they are above it . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of tricia rose . | she says deen does n't connect her actions to broader , endemic conditions in society |
foxx <tsp> los angeles , california ( cnn ) -- jamie foxx suffered through his own psychological turmoil while plunging into the role of a mentally ill musician in the soloist , ' the actor said . jamie foxx plays mentally ill musician nathaniel ayers in the soloist . ' foxx , 41 , revealed that his bond with nathaniel ayers was close because of his own yearlong battle two decades ago -- triggered when somebody slipped me something in college and i lost my mind . ' the soloist , ' based on a true story , tells how los angeles times columnist steve lopez , played by robert downey jr. , discovered the homeless ayers and helped the former music prodigy , who has schizophrenia . the movie comes out friday . foxx , who won an oscar in 2005 for his portrayal of music legend ray charles , said he consulted a psychiatrist because he feared what would happen as he took on ayers'personality . i asked very foolishly ,'can i catch schizophrenia ?'and he says ,'no , you ca n't catch schizophrenia .' the doctor warned him he could experience post-traumatic stress , foxx said . the los angeles times reported that foxx suffered panic attacks and bouts of paranoia ' during filming . foxx told of one early morning incident when he got so far into ayers'character that he called his manager and said , i know why nathaniel does this and i 'm him ! ' i explained what i was feeling to him and he said'foxx , you 're not nathaniel ,' he said . foxx said he had a childhood fear of going crazy . ' there was a sanitarium in my hometown in terrell , texas , called the terrell state hospital , and when we would visit i would go ,'i hope that never happens to me ,' he said . he left texas after high school to attend college on a music scholarship in san diego , california . when i was 18 , somebody slipped me something in college and i lost my mind and they had to take me to the hospital , ' foxx said . for 11 months it was tough . ' another student served as his angel , ' just as lopez helped ayers , foxx said . he 'd say ,'you 're good , you 're not crazy , everything is fine , i 'm here with you .' just as ayers used a cello for comfort , foxx would use the piano . i would play my music to sort of like soothe it , ' foxx said . his bad trip ' subsided after almost a year , but foxx said he drew on the experience to understand ayers . we had a marriage , myself and nathaniel , ' he said . here 's a person who happened to be great playing the cello . he happened to go to juilliard . he happened to go to l.a. , become homeless and run into his angel , steve lopez . ' ayers still lives in los angeles and is working part-time as a janitor . the exposure to people who lived on the streets of los angeles taught foxx a positive lesson , he said . we had a ball with them , ' he said . they love to dance , they love to talk trash . ... they actually had a life . people were smiling and enjoying their lives . ' the oscar buzz is again building for foxx , who is firmly established as master of the biopic . he said he and his management have carved out our own niche . ' they found this beautiful story , which paralleled my life a little bit , ' he said . foxx said he 's got his fingers crossed ' that he will be able to someday bring the character of former heavyweight boxing champ mike tyson to the big screen . i think there 's a beautiful story in it , not like ali , ' he said . ali was a story of yesterday when our heroes were heroes , ' he said . this is a different type of hero story . it 's a story of today . it 's tragedy . it 's a triumph . it 's all of it put together . ' cnn 's kj matthews contributed to this story . | jamie foxx plays mentally ill homeless man in the soloist ' |
foxx <tsp> los angeles , california ( cnn ) -- jamie foxx suffered through his own psychological turmoil while plunging into the role of a mentally ill musician in the soloist , ' the actor said . jamie foxx plays mentally ill musician nathaniel ayers in the soloist . ' foxx , 41 , revealed that his bond with nathaniel ayers was close because of his own yearlong battle two decades ago -- triggered when somebody slipped me something in college and i lost my mind . ' the soloist , ' based on a true story , tells how los angeles times columnist steve lopez , played by robert downey jr. , discovered the homeless ayers and helped the former music prodigy , who has schizophrenia . the movie comes out friday . foxx , who won an oscar in 2005 for his portrayal of music legend ray charles , said he consulted a psychiatrist because he feared what would happen as he took on ayers'personality . i asked very foolishly ,'can i catch schizophrenia ?'and he says ,'no , you ca n't catch schizophrenia .' the doctor warned him he could experience post-traumatic stress , foxx said . the los angeles times reported that foxx suffered panic attacks and bouts of paranoia ' during filming . foxx told of one early morning incident when he got so far into ayers'character that he called his manager and said , i know why nathaniel does this and i 'm him ! ' i explained what i was feeling to him and he said'foxx , you 're not nathaniel ,' he said . foxx said he had a childhood fear of going crazy . ' there was a sanitarium in my hometown in terrell , texas , called the terrell state hospital , and when we would visit i would go ,'i hope that never happens to me ,' he said . he left texas after high school to attend college on a music scholarship in san diego , california . when i was 18 , somebody slipped me something in college and i lost my mind and they had to take me to the hospital , ' foxx said . for 11 months it was tough . ' another student served as his angel , ' just as lopez helped ayers , foxx said . he 'd say ,'you 're good , you 're not crazy , everything is fine , i 'm here with you .' just as ayers used a cello for comfort , foxx would use the piano . i would play my music to sort of like soothe it , ' foxx said . his bad trip ' subsided after almost a year , but foxx said he drew on the experience to understand ayers . we had a marriage , myself and nathaniel , ' he said . here 's a person who happened to be great playing the cello . he happened to go to juilliard . he happened to go to l.a. , become homeless and run into his angel , steve lopez . ' ayers still lives in los angeles and is working part-time as a janitor . the exposure to people who lived on the streets of los angeles taught foxx a positive lesson , he said . we had a ball with them , ' he said . they love to dance , they love to talk trash . ... they actually had a life . people were smiling and enjoying their lives . ' the oscar buzz is again building for foxx , who is firmly established as master of the biopic . he said he and his management have carved out our own niche . ' they found this beautiful story , which paralleled my life a little bit , ' he said . foxx said he 's got his fingers crossed ' that he will be able to someday bring the character of former heavyweight boxing champ mike tyson to the big screen . i think there 's a beautiful story in it , not like ali , ' he said . ali was a story of yesterday when our heroes were heroes , ' he said . this is a different type of hero story . it 's a story of today . it 's tragedy . it 's a triumph . it 's all of it put together . ' cnn 's kj matthews contributed to this story . | when he was 18 , someone slipped him something ' and foxx ended up in hospital |
foxx <tsp> los angeles , california ( cnn ) -- jamie foxx suffered through his own psychological turmoil while plunging into the role of a mentally ill musician in the soloist , ' the actor said . jamie foxx plays mentally ill musician nathaniel ayers in the soloist . ' foxx , 41 , revealed that his bond with nathaniel ayers was close because of his own yearlong battle two decades ago -- triggered when somebody slipped me something in college and i lost my mind . ' the soloist , ' based on a true story , tells how los angeles times columnist steve lopez , played by robert downey jr. , discovered the homeless ayers and helped the former music prodigy , who has schizophrenia . the movie comes out friday . foxx , who won an oscar in 2005 for his portrayal of music legend ray charles , said he consulted a psychiatrist because he feared what would happen as he took on ayers'personality . i asked very foolishly ,'can i catch schizophrenia ?'and he says ,'no , you ca n't catch schizophrenia .' the doctor warned him he could experience post-traumatic stress , foxx said . the los angeles times reported that foxx suffered panic attacks and bouts of paranoia ' during filming . foxx told of one early morning incident when he got so far into ayers'character that he called his manager and said , i know why nathaniel does this and i 'm him ! ' i explained what i was feeling to him and he said'foxx , you 're not nathaniel ,' he said . foxx said he had a childhood fear of going crazy . ' there was a sanitarium in my hometown in terrell , texas , called the terrell state hospital , and when we would visit i would go ,'i hope that never happens to me ,' he said . he left texas after high school to attend college on a music scholarship in san diego , california . when i was 18 , somebody slipped me something in college and i lost my mind and they had to take me to the hospital , ' foxx said . for 11 months it was tough . ' another student served as his angel , ' just as lopez helped ayers , foxx said . he 'd say ,'you 're good , you 're not crazy , everything is fine , i 'm here with you .' just as ayers used a cello for comfort , foxx would use the piano . i would play my music to sort of like soothe it , ' foxx said . his bad trip ' subsided after almost a year , but foxx said he drew on the experience to understand ayers . we had a marriage , myself and nathaniel , ' he said . here 's a person who happened to be great playing the cello . he happened to go to juilliard . he happened to go to l.a. , become homeless and run into his angel , steve lopez . ' ayers still lives in los angeles and is working part-time as a janitor . the exposure to people who lived on the streets of los angeles taught foxx a positive lesson , he said . we had a ball with them , ' he said . they love to dance , they love to talk trash . ... they actually had a life . people were smiling and enjoying their lives . ' the oscar buzz is again building for foxx , who is firmly established as master of the biopic . he said he and his management have carved out our own niche . ' they found this beautiful story , which paralleled my life a little bit , ' he said . foxx said he 's got his fingers crossed ' that he will be able to someday bring the character of former heavyweight boxing champ mike tyson to the big screen . i think there 's a beautiful story in it , not like ali , ' he said . ali was a story of yesterday when our heroes were heroes , ' he said . this is a different type of hero story . it 's a story of today . it 's tragedy . it 's a triumph . it 's all of it put together . ' cnn 's kj matthews contributed to this story . | foxx was frightened by experience : he had childhood fear of going crazy ' |
fda <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the tobacco industry was once a well-funded behemoth in american politics , and while big tobacco 's power is slowly eroding , its influence is far from gone . once president obama signs the new tobacco bill , the tobacco industry will be subject to federal regulation . president obama on monday signed a bill that gives the food and drug administration power to regulate the manufacturing , marketing and sale of tobacco . anti-tobacco activists champion the legislation as a historic step forward for public health , but even some who have fought tobacco concede that the tobacco companies scored some wins in the final legislation . it 's a great victory for the public health community , but i would not overestimate the demise of the tobacco industry and their ability to lobby , ' said paul g. billings , vice president of national policy and advocacy for the american lung association . in the past century , the tobacco industry has been distinctive in its ability to avoid coming under the authority of the fda , while almost every other consumer product has been subject to federal regulation . congress voted in 1965 to require all cigarette packages to carry warning labels , a warning that was made under the surgeon general 's name five years later . the legislation congress approved this month , known as the family smoking prevention and tobacco control act , would give the fda power to ban candy and fruit-flavored cigarettes , widely considered appealing to first-time smokers , including youths . it would prohibit tobacco companies from using terms such as low tar , ' light ' or mild , ' require larger warning labels on packages that show pictures of the effects of tobacco use and restrict advertising of tobacco products . it also would require tobacco companies to reduce levels of nicotine in cigarettes . similar legislation , introduced by sen. john mccain , r-arizona , more than a decade ago , failed to make it through congress . patrick reynolds , whose grandfather founded the r.j. reynolds tobacco co. , said the passage of the bill marks the diminished clout of the tobacco lobby on the hill . ' stanton glantz , a longtime anti-tobacco advocate and director of the center for tobacco control research and education at the university of california , san francisco , said the public health community has made gigantic progress ' over the past few decades , but he sees the fda bill as a win for philip morris usa , the nation 's biggest cigarette company . at last week 's annual national conference on tobacco or health , a large anti-tobacco gathering , in phoenix , arizona , glantz said only about half of the room applauded when it was announced that the legislation passed . people were talking about making lemonade out of lemons , ' he said . basically , the public health people cut a deal with philip morris . ' philip morris , which is owned by altria group inc. , was the only major tobacco company to endorse the legislation , although the company has expressed some first amendment reservations about parts of it . glantz argues that the legislation legitimizes the tobacco industry at a time when legitimacy was being lost . ' his biggest complaint : the bill creates a 12-member advisory board through which all regulations will flow . tobacco industry representatives will hold three nonvoting seats . putting three guys on this committee would be a little bit like putting three mobsters on the department of justice committee on organized crime , ' glantz said , echoing the sentiment of other strong tobacco-control advocates . r.j. reynolds said one of its early objections to the legislation was that philip morris had a role in crafting it . the only way a company can grow is at the expense of another , ' said maura payne , vice president of communications for reynolds american inc. philip morris argues the bill wo n't create a commercial advantage for it and instead will create a framework for an emerging market of reduced-harm products . ' for adults who use tobacco products who want to avoid the health risks of smoking , the best thing for them to do is quit , ' said william phelps , a spokesman for altria . our goal would be to design the best products that we can and then , under federal authority , make those products available to adults who do not quit . ' | president obama signs bill putting tobacco under fda legislation |
putin <tsp> russian president vladimir putin on thursday defended his government 's record on free speech and rejected a claim it uses stalinist ' methods , a day after two international rights groups issued scathing reports . putin was put on the spot during an annual televised call-in session in moscow . it was his first since he was elected to a third term as president last may and lasted close to five hours . journalist alexey venedictov , who is editor in chief of the echo of moscow radio station , asked putin if russia can use stalinist tools ' if it wants to be an advanced , modern state . i do n't think we can see stalinist elements here , ' putin responded . stalin is recalled for the personality cult and mass violation of law , reprisals , prison camps -- we see nothing like that in russia today and i hope we will never see that again . our people will never allow that to happen again , ' he said . but that does n't mean we should have no discipline , no law and order -- and all people in russia should be equal before the law . ' that includes the women in the punk band pussy riot , putin said . no one puts anyone in prison for political reasons , for their political views . they get punished for violating the law . everybody should observe the law . ' three pussy riot members were convicted last year of hooliganism for performing a song critical of putin in a russian orthodox cathedral , in a brief but provocative protest action . two are still in prison following the controversial trial . the reports published wednesday by amnesty international and human rights watch both outlined a deterioration in the freedom of speech , citing a heavy clampdown on critics and activists human rights watch said the government has unleashed a crackdown on civil society unprecedented in the country 's post-soviet history ' in the 12 months since putin regained the presidency . the authorities have introduced a series of restrictive laws , harassed , intimidated , and in several cases imprisoned political activists , interfered in the work of nongovernmental organizations ( ngos ) and sought to cast government critics as clandestine enemies , thereby threatening the viability of russia 's civil society , ' it said . putin told the audience it is ok to have demonstrations , but they should be legal ' and should n't interfere with other people 's lives . controls of the internet are needed only to limit access to child pornography , pedophilia and education on suicide activities , ' putin said . putin said non-governmental organizations are welcome in russia -- and play a useful role in exposing local abuses of power -- but those that receive foreign funding and are involved in political affairs should declare where the money came from and what it is spent on . the two rights groups were critical of new laws which , human rights watch said , clearly seek to limit , or even end , independent advocacy and other ngo work . ' the president also was asked about the trial for embezzlement of prominent kremlin critic and opposition leader aleksei navalny , which resumed wednesday in the northern city of kirov . navalny , who 's also a popular anti-corruption blogger , says the charges are politically motivated . putin responded that people who fight corruption have to be completely honest themselves ... if someone accuses other people of stealing , it does n't mean he 's above the law himself . ' international relations putin urged closer cooperation between different countries'security services in the wake of the boston marathon bombings . on two occasions -- in march and late september 2011 -- russian authorities asked u.s authorities to investigate one of the bombing suspects , tamerlan tsarnaev . fbi agents on wednesday interviewed his parents in dagestan , in russia 's north caucasus region . this tragedy should motivate us to work closer together , ' putin said . if we combine our efforts we will not suffer blows like that . ' questioned about his country 's external ties , putin acknowledged that there has been some cooling off ' in russia 's relationship with the united states since the iraq war , which moscow opposed . putin also pointed to other u.s. actions as factors in the deterioration of relations between moscow and washington . he highlighted the decision of u.s. lawmakers to pass the december 2012 magnitsky act , a law that imposes visa bans on and freezes the assets of 18 russian officials believed to be connected to the death in prison of whistle-blowing russian lawyer sergei magnitsky . why did they do this ? nobody knows the answer to that question , ' putin said . russia 's lawmakers responded to the magnitsky list with their own list , slapping similar sanctions on 18 americans it called rights violators . putin also said he is grateful for the obama administration 's support of russia 's entry to the world trade organization but questioned why it still has cold war-era legislation -- the so-called jackson-vanik amendment -- governing its trade relations with russia . the united states has waived the legislation every year since 1994 , but it still violates world trade organization rules requiring members of the body to give one another permanent normal trade relations . nato 's engagement in the libya conflict also led to cooler relations , putin said . the session was putin 's 11th televised question-and-answer conference , according to russian state-run broadcaster rt . | putin says u.s. actions have been factor in a cooling off ' of moscow-washington relations |
putin <tsp> russian president vladimir putin on thursday defended his government 's record on free speech and rejected a claim it uses stalinist ' methods , a day after two international rights groups issued scathing reports . putin was put on the spot during an annual televised call-in session in moscow . it was his first since he was elected to a third term as president last may and lasted close to five hours . journalist alexey venedictov , who is editor in chief of the echo of moscow radio station , asked putin if russia can use stalinist tools ' if it wants to be an advanced , modern state . i do n't think we can see stalinist elements here , ' putin responded . stalin is recalled for the personality cult and mass violation of law , reprisals , prison camps -- we see nothing like that in russia today and i hope we will never see that again . our people will never allow that to happen again , ' he said . but that does n't mean we should have no discipline , no law and order -- and all people in russia should be equal before the law . ' that includes the women in the punk band pussy riot , putin said . no one puts anyone in prison for political reasons , for their political views . they get punished for violating the law . everybody should observe the law . ' three pussy riot members were convicted last year of hooliganism for performing a song critical of putin in a russian orthodox cathedral , in a brief but provocative protest action . two are still in prison following the controversial trial . the reports published wednesday by amnesty international and human rights watch both outlined a deterioration in the freedom of speech , citing a heavy clampdown on critics and activists human rights watch said the government has unleashed a crackdown on civil society unprecedented in the country 's post-soviet history ' in the 12 months since putin regained the presidency . the authorities have introduced a series of restrictive laws , harassed , intimidated , and in several cases imprisoned political activists , interfered in the work of nongovernmental organizations ( ngos ) and sought to cast government critics as clandestine enemies , thereby threatening the viability of russia 's civil society , ' it said . putin told the audience it is ok to have demonstrations , but they should be legal ' and should n't interfere with other people 's lives . controls of the internet are needed only to limit access to child pornography , pedophilia and education on suicide activities , ' putin said . putin said non-governmental organizations are welcome in russia -- and play a useful role in exposing local abuses of power -- but those that receive foreign funding and are involved in political affairs should declare where the money came from and what it is spent on . the two rights groups were critical of new laws which , human rights watch said , clearly seek to limit , or even end , independent advocacy and other ngo work . ' the president also was asked about the trial for embezzlement of prominent kremlin critic and opposition leader aleksei navalny , which resumed wednesday in the northern city of kirov . navalny , who 's also a popular anti-corruption blogger , says the charges are politically motivated . putin responded that people who fight corruption have to be completely honest themselves ... if someone accuses other people of stealing , it does n't mean he 's above the law himself . ' international relations putin urged closer cooperation between different countries'security services in the wake of the boston marathon bombings . on two occasions -- in march and late september 2011 -- russian authorities asked u.s authorities to investigate one of the bombing suspects , tamerlan tsarnaev . fbi agents on wednesday interviewed his parents in dagestan , in russia 's north caucasus region . this tragedy should motivate us to work closer together , ' putin said . if we combine our efforts we will not suffer blows like that . ' questioned about his country 's external ties , putin acknowledged that there has been some cooling off ' in russia 's relationship with the united states since the iraq war , which moscow opposed . putin also pointed to other u.s. actions as factors in the deterioration of relations between moscow and washington . he highlighted the decision of u.s. lawmakers to pass the december 2012 magnitsky act , a law that imposes visa bans on and freezes the assets of 18 russian officials believed to be connected to the death in prison of whistle-blowing russian lawyer sergei magnitsky . why did they do this ? nobody knows the answer to that question , ' putin said . russia 's lawmakers responded to the magnitsky list with their own list , slapping similar sanctions on 18 americans it called rights violators . putin also said he is grateful for the obama administration 's support of russia 's entry to the world trade organization but questioned why it still has cold war-era legislation -- the so-called jackson-vanik amendment -- governing its trade relations with russia . the united states has waived the legislation every year since 1994 , but it still violates world trade organization rules requiring members of the body to give one another permanent normal trade relations . nato 's engagement in the libya conflict also led to cooler relations , putin said . the session was putin 's 11th televised question-and-answer conference , according to russian state-run broadcaster rt . | vladimir putin denies the use of stalinist tools ' to limit freedoms in russia in a televised session |
putin <tsp> russian president vladimir putin on thursday defended his government 's record on free speech and rejected a claim it uses stalinist ' methods , a day after two international rights groups issued scathing reports . putin was put on the spot during an annual televised call-in session in moscow . it was his first since he was elected to a third term as president last may and lasted close to five hours . journalist alexey venedictov , who is editor in chief of the echo of moscow radio station , asked putin if russia can use stalinist tools ' if it wants to be an advanced , modern state . i do n't think we can see stalinist elements here , ' putin responded . stalin is recalled for the personality cult and mass violation of law , reprisals , prison camps -- we see nothing like that in russia today and i hope we will never see that again . our people will never allow that to happen again , ' he said . but that does n't mean we should have no discipline , no law and order -- and all people in russia should be equal before the law . ' that includes the women in the punk band pussy riot , putin said . no one puts anyone in prison for political reasons , for their political views . they get punished for violating the law . everybody should observe the law . ' three pussy riot members were convicted last year of hooliganism for performing a song critical of putin in a russian orthodox cathedral , in a brief but provocative protest action . two are still in prison following the controversial trial . the reports published wednesday by amnesty international and human rights watch both outlined a deterioration in the freedom of speech , citing a heavy clampdown on critics and activists human rights watch said the government has unleashed a crackdown on civil society unprecedented in the country 's post-soviet history ' in the 12 months since putin regained the presidency . the authorities have introduced a series of restrictive laws , harassed , intimidated , and in several cases imprisoned political activists , interfered in the work of nongovernmental organizations ( ngos ) and sought to cast government critics as clandestine enemies , thereby threatening the viability of russia 's civil society , ' it said . putin told the audience it is ok to have demonstrations , but they should be legal ' and should n't interfere with other people 's lives . controls of the internet are needed only to limit access to child pornography , pedophilia and education on suicide activities , ' putin said . putin said non-governmental organizations are welcome in russia -- and play a useful role in exposing local abuses of power -- but those that receive foreign funding and are involved in political affairs should declare where the money came from and what it is spent on . the two rights groups were critical of new laws which , human rights watch said , clearly seek to limit , or even end , independent advocacy and other ngo work . ' the president also was asked about the trial for embezzlement of prominent kremlin critic and opposition leader aleksei navalny , which resumed wednesday in the northern city of kirov . navalny , who 's also a popular anti-corruption blogger , says the charges are politically motivated . putin responded that people who fight corruption have to be completely honest themselves ... if someone accuses other people of stealing , it does n't mean he 's above the law himself . ' international relations putin urged closer cooperation between different countries'security services in the wake of the boston marathon bombings . on two occasions -- in march and late september 2011 -- russian authorities asked u.s authorities to investigate one of the bombing suspects , tamerlan tsarnaev . fbi agents on wednesday interviewed his parents in dagestan , in russia 's north caucasus region . this tragedy should motivate us to work closer together , ' putin said . if we combine our efforts we will not suffer blows like that . ' questioned about his country 's external ties , putin acknowledged that there has been some cooling off ' in russia 's relationship with the united states since the iraq war , which moscow opposed . putin also pointed to other u.s. actions as factors in the deterioration of relations between moscow and washington . he highlighted the decision of u.s. lawmakers to pass the december 2012 magnitsky act , a law that imposes visa bans on and freezes the assets of 18 russian officials believed to be connected to the death in prison of whistle-blowing russian lawyer sergei magnitsky . why did they do this ? nobody knows the answer to that question , ' putin said . russia 's lawmakers responded to the magnitsky list with their own list , slapping similar sanctions on 18 americans it called rights violators . putin also said he is grateful for the obama administration 's support of russia 's entry to the world trade organization but questioned why it still has cold war-era legislation -- the so-called jackson-vanik amendment -- governing its trade relations with russia . the united states has waived the legislation every year since 1994 , but it still violates world trade organization rules requiring members of the body to give one another permanent normal trade relations . nato 's engagement in the libya conflict also led to cooler relations , putin said . the session was putin 's 11th televised question-and-answer conference , according to russian state-run broadcaster rt . | putin says the boston tragedy should motivate countries to work together |
tlas <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a high-profile defector from syrian president bashar al-assad 's regime fled the country because he is outraged over the government 's brutality , an activist told cnn . omar al muqdad , a syrian journalist and opposition activist , said he spoke to brig . gen. manaf tlas on thursday night during an interview on skype . tlas is a republican guard military commander , the son of a former defense minister and possibly the most senior sunni in a power structure dominated by the alawite minority . he escaped from the syrian city of rastan to turkey with the help of the maher noaimi brigade of the rebel free syrian army , al muqdad said . but his whereabouts at present are not known , said al muqdad , who once worked as a translator and journalist for cnn . a western diplomat who reported the defection said tlas has been estranged from the regime over the killing of sunnis . al muqdad said tlas passed on similar sentiments , calling the regime brutal and al-assad a dictator . he said tlas said he left the regime because he does n't want to be involved in any actions that would harm syrians . tlas said he 's not going to join the opposition now , al muqdad said . but a u.s. official who is not authorized to speak on the record said if tlas did join the insurgency , it would be significant . ' reports of tlas'defection first surfaced thursday , and western officials are saying he is on his way to paris . his father , former defense minister mustafa tlas , and the rest of his family are in paris , the official said . syria has been engulfed in nearly 16 months of unrest , resulting in thousands of deaths . manaf tlas'defection comes as government assaults against protesters led to a nationwide uprising . his departure is regarded as a stunning blow to the embattled regime . he 's an inside confidant of assad . so it counts that even an insider thinks it 's time to go , ' said one western official , who spoke on condition of anonymity . pentagon spokesman capt . john kirby said the crack in the inner circle ' is significant ' because of tlas'position and ties with the assad family . we do n't believe this defection should be taken lightly , ' he said . andrew tabler , syria expert at the washington institute for near east policy , said it 's by far the biggest defection . ' this is a good-sized step in the right direction , ' he said the tlas family knows how the place is wired . ' rafif jouejati , spokeswoman for the opposition local coordination committees of syria , called the development quite significant . ' it signals that the domino effect of defections is speeding up as longtime regime supporters and collaborators realize that assad 's ship is sinking fast . expect more defections in the coming days as the regime accelerates its scorched-earth policy in a desperate attempt to destroy as much as possible before falling apart , ' she told cnn . jeffrey white , a defense fellow at the washington institute for near east policy , said the defection raises questions about the cohesions of his brigade and division . ' white recently wrote an essay describing the mounting pressures on the syrian military , including the growing opposition clout and defections . he told cnn on friday that the defection process is accelerating somewhat and that we are getting more reports of higher-ranking officers leaving . ' tlas had been the commander of an important regime protection unit , a component of the republican guard division , whose main responsibility in the current conflict has been the defense of damascus , ' white said . the defection reflects two important trends , he said . one is that many of the higher-ranking defectors are staff officers and medical officers . tlas , in contrast , is from a combat unit . if we start seeing more defections from the higher ranks of combat units that will be significant , ' white said . the move also might indicate that the regime can not count on the sunnis it has so far kept in the fold . ' it will create suspicions within the regime about'loyalist'sunnis and'loyalist'sunnis will be wondering what the regime has in store for them . some will likely split , if they can find a safe path for themselves and their families . manaf 's defection will undoubtedly heighten the awareness of the regime 's security personnel . ' ted kattouf , a former u.s. ambassador to syria , said the defection was psychologically ' important , but it 's not going to bring down the regime . ' he said a much bigger blow ' would be the defection of an alawite senior officer . joshua landis , a syria expert at the university of oklahoma , said thursday in a post on his blog syria comment that if tlas has indeed fled the country , the regime will be thrown back on its heels . ' tlas was a close confidant of bashar from his earliest days and part of his inner circle , ' landis said . and he supported a policy of negotiation , flexibility and compromise ' but was overruled by the military leadership and has since looked for a way out . ' for example , tlas had been ordered to solve problems in the restive damascus suburban towns of harasta and douma , landis said . he did a good job by negotiating with the opposition leaders in both suburbs , agreeing that both government forces and opposition would pull back , ' landis said . but , landis said , the alawi leadership said'no , that is not how we are going to do this .'they pushed him aside and came down like a ton of bricks on the opposition in both neighborhoods , in an effort to assert state authority and crush the uprising through military means . ' tlas is perhaps the most senior sunni in the regime because he was a close friend of bashar , ' landis wrote . for 16 months the opposition has been complaining that elite sunnis have not defected . that complaint can now , officially , be put to rest if the stories of manaf 's flight prove to be true . in march it was rumored that he had led with his father and brother , but those stories were false , ' he wrote . tlas exudes charisma , and landis describes him as smart , dashing and cunning . ' manaf is as handsome as a movie star and carried a lot of authority . he was a true military guy and had spent his entire life in the military , unlike bashar . people close to him say that when he walked into a room , all eyes turned to him . not only did women find him attractive , but men did as well . he carried himself with an air of self-confidence and authority , ' landis said . the tlas family has been part of the syrian power structure during the tenure of bashar and his father , hafez assad . when foreign statesmen or syrians thought of a sunni who could possibly take power , manaf had to be at the top of the list or very close to the top , ' he said . manaf is respected by bashar 's generation and a military leader . ' there has been a lot of buzz about the development on the streets of damascus and the pages of facebook . one man wrote it 's important because the tlas family was n't just pro-regime , they are the regime . ' another activist said , you idiots , defect before it 's too late . tlas saved himself at the very last moment . ' while opposition voices welcome the move , they voiced suspicion and scorn . should we work with him ? no , never , ' said one . another said , ( h ) e and his father and brother should return the money they stole from the syrian people first . ' this comment is an apparent reference to manaf tlas'brother firas , a businessman . firas tlas has been in favor of reform in syria . he told reporters in 2005 there was a huge expectation ' from syrians of economic change . cnn 's barbara starr , pam benson and journalist shiyar sayed mohamad contributed to this report . | tlas was disgusted with the killing of sunnis , a western official says |
tlas <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a high-profile defector from syrian president bashar al-assad 's regime fled the country because he is outraged over the government 's brutality , an activist told cnn . omar al muqdad , a syrian journalist and opposition activist , said he spoke to brig . gen. manaf tlas on thursday night during an interview on skype . tlas is a republican guard military commander , the son of a former defense minister and possibly the most senior sunni in a power structure dominated by the alawite minority . he escaped from the syrian city of rastan to turkey with the help of the maher noaimi brigade of the rebel free syrian army , al muqdad said . but his whereabouts at present are not known , said al muqdad , who once worked as a translator and journalist for cnn . a western diplomat who reported the defection said tlas has been estranged from the regime over the killing of sunnis . al muqdad said tlas passed on similar sentiments , calling the regime brutal and al-assad a dictator . he said tlas said he left the regime because he does n't want to be involved in any actions that would harm syrians . tlas said he 's not going to join the opposition now , al muqdad said . but a u.s. official who is not authorized to speak on the record said if tlas did join the insurgency , it would be significant . ' reports of tlas'defection first surfaced thursday , and western officials are saying he is on his way to paris . his father , former defense minister mustafa tlas , and the rest of his family are in paris , the official said . syria has been engulfed in nearly 16 months of unrest , resulting in thousands of deaths . manaf tlas'defection comes as government assaults against protesters led to a nationwide uprising . his departure is regarded as a stunning blow to the embattled regime . he 's an inside confidant of assad . so it counts that even an insider thinks it 's time to go , ' said one western official , who spoke on condition of anonymity . pentagon spokesman capt . john kirby said the crack in the inner circle ' is significant ' because of tlas'position and ties with the assad family . we do n't believe this defection should be taken lightly , ' he said . andrew tabler , syria expert at the washington institute for near east policy , said it 's by far the biggest defection . ' this is a good-sized step in the right direction , ' he said the tlas family knows how the place is wired . ' rafif jouejati , spokeswoman for the opposition local coordination committees of syria , called the development quite significant . ' it signals that the domino effect of defections is speeding up as longtime regime supporters and collaborators realize that assad 's ship is sinking fast . expect more defections in the coming days as the regime accelerates its scorched-earth policy in a desperate attempt to destroy as much as possible before falling apart , ' she told cnn . jeffrey white , a defense fellow at the washington institute for near east policy , said the defection raises questions about the cohesions of his brigade and division . ' white recently wrote an essay describing the mounting pressures on the syrian military , including the growing opposition clout and defections . he told cnn on friday that the defection process is accelerating somewhat and that we are getting more reports of higher-ranking officers leaving . ' tlas had been the commander of an important regime protection unit , a component of the republican guard division , whose main responsibility in the current conflict has been the defense of damascus , ' white said . the defection reflects two important trends , he said . one is that many of the higher-ranking defectors are staff officers and medical officers . tlas , in contrast , is from a combat unit . if we start seeing more defections from the higher ranks of combat units that will be significant , ' white said . the move also might indicate that the regime can not count on the sunnis it has so far kept in the fold . ' it will create suspicions within the regime about'loyalist'sunnis and'loyalist'sunnis will be wondering what the regime has in store for them . some will likely split , if they can find a safe path for themselves and their families . manaf 's defection will undoubtedly heighten the awareness of the regime 's security personnel . ' ted kattouf , a former u.s. ambassador to syria , said the defection was psychologically ' important , but it 's not going to bring down the regime . ' he said a much bigger blow ' would be the defection of an alawite senior officer . joshua landis , a syria expert at the university of oklahoma , said thursday in a post on his blog syria comment that if tlas has indeed fled the country , the regime will be thrown back on its heels . ' tlas was a close confidant of bashar from his earliest days and part of his inner circle , ' landis said . and he supported a policy of negotiation , flexibility and compromise ' but was overruled by the military leadership and has since looked for a way out . ' for example , tlas had been ordered to solve problems in the restive damascus suburban towns of harasta and douma , landis said . he did a good job by negotiating with the opposition leaders in both suburbs , agreeing that both government forces and opposition would pull back , ' landis said . but , landis said , the alawi leadership said'no , that is not how we are going to do this .'they pushed him aside and came down like a ton of bricks on the opposition in both neighborhoods , in an effort to assert state authority and crush the uprising through military means . ' tlas is perhaps the most senior sunni in the regime because he was a close friend of bashar , ' landis wrote . for 16 months the opposition has been complaining that elite sunnis have not defected . that complaint can now , officially , be put to rest if the stories of manaf 's flight prove to be true . in march it was rumored that he had led with his father and brother , but those stories were false , ' he wrote . tlas exudes charisma , and landis describes him as smart , dashing and cunning . ' manaf is as handsome as a movie star and carried a lot of authority . he was a true military guy and had spent his entire life in the military , unlike bashar . people close to him say that when he walked into a room , all eyes turned to him . not only did women find him attractive , but men did as well . he carried himself with an air of self-confidence and authority , ' landis said . the tlas family has been part of the syrian power structure during the tenure of bashar and his father , hafez assad . when foreign statesmen or syrians thought of a sunni who could possibly take power , manaf had to be at the top of the list or very close to the top , ' he said . manaf is respected by bashar 's generation and a military leader . ' there has been a lot of buzz about the development on the streets of damascus and the pages of facebook . one man wrote it 's important because the tlas family was n't just pro-regime , they are the regime . ' another activist said , you idiots , defect before it 's too late . tlas saved himself at the very last moment . ' while opposition voices welcome the move , they voiced suspicion and scorn . should we work with him ? no , never , ' said one . another said , ( h ) e and his father and brother should return the money they stole from the syrian people first . ' this comment is an apparent reference to manaf tlas'brother firas , a businessman . firas tlas has been in favor of reform in syria . he told reporters in 2005 there was a huge expectation ' from syrians of economic change . cnn 's barbara starr , pam benson and journalist shiyar sayed mohamad contributed to this report . | the tlas family knows how the place is wired , ' a syria expert says |
tlas <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a high-profile defector from syrian president bashar al-assad 's regime fled the country because he is outraged over the government 's brutality , an activist told cnn . omar al muqdad , a syrian journalist and opposition activist , said he spoke to brig . gen. manaf tlas on thursday night during an interview on skype . tlas is a republican guard military commander , the son of a former defense minister and possibly the most senior sunni in a power structure dominated by the alawite minority . he escaped from the syrian city of rastan to turkey with the help of the maher noaimi brigade of the rebel free syrian army , al muqdad said . but his whereabouts at present are not known , said al muqdad , who once worked as a translator and journalist for cnn . a western diplomat who reported the defection said tlas has been estranged from the regime over the killing of sunnis . al muqdad said tlas passed on similar sentiments , calling the regime brutal and al-assad a dictator . he said tlas said he left the regime because he does n't want to be involved in any actions that would harm syrians . tlas said he 's not going to join the opposition now , al muqdad said . but a u.s. official who is not authorized to speak on the record said if tlas did join the insurgency , it would be significant . ' reports of tlas'defection first surfaced thursday , and western officials are saying he is on his way to paris . his father , former defense minister mustafa tlas , and the rest of his family are in paris , the official said . syria has been engulfed in nearly 16 months of unrest , resulting in thousands of deaths . manaf tlas'defection comes as government assaults against protesters led to a nationwide uprising . his departure is regarded as a stunning blow to the embattled regime . he 's an inside confidant of assad . so it counts that even an insider thinks it 's time to go , ' said one western official , who spoke on condition of anonymity . pentagon spokesman capt . john kirby said the crack in the inner circle ' is significant ' because of tlas'position and ties with the assad family . we do n't believe this defection should be taken lightly , ' he said . andrew tabler , syria expert at the washington institute for near east policy , said it 's by far the biggest defection . ' this is a good-sized step in the right direction , ' he said the tlas family knows how the place is wired . ' rafif jouejati , spokeswoman for the opposition local coordination committees of syria , called the development quite significant . ' it signals that the domino effect of defections is speeding up as longtime regime supporters and collaborators realize that assad 's ship is sinking fast . expect more defections in the coming days as the regime accelerates its scorched-earth policy in a desperate attempt to destroy as much as possible before falling apart , ' she told cnn . jeffrey white , a defense fellow at the washington institute for near east policy , said the defection raises questions about the cohesions of his brigade and division . ' white recently wrote an essay describing the mounting pressures on the syrian military , including the growing opposition clout and defections . he told cnn on friday that the defection process is accelerating somewhat and that we are getting more reports of higher-ranking officers leaving . ' tlas had been the commander of an important regime protection unit , a component of the republican guard division , whose main responsibility in the current conflict has been the defense of damascus , ' white said . the defection reflects two important trends , he said . one is that many of the higher-ranking defectors are staff officers and medical officers . tlas , in contrast , is from a combat unit . if we start seeing more defections from the higher ranks of combat units that will be significant , ' white said . the move also might indicate that the regime can not count on the sunnis it has so far kept in the fold . ' it will create suspicions within the regime about'loyalist'sunnis and'loyalist'sunnis will be wondering what the regime has in store for them . some will likely split , if they can find a safe path for themselves and their families . manaf 's defection will undoubtedly heighten the awareness of the regime 's security personnel . ' ted kattouf , a former u.s. ambassador to syria , said the defection was psychologically ' important , but it 's not going to bring down the regime . ' he said a much bigger blow ' would be the defection of an alawite senior officer . joshua landis , a syria expert at the university of oklahoma , said thursday in a post on his blog syria comment that if tlas has indeed fled the country , the regime will be thrown back on its heels . ' tlas was a close confidant of bashar from his earliest days and part of his inner circle , ' landis said . and he supported a policy of negotiation , flexibility and compromise ' but was overruled by the military leadership and has since looked for a way out . ' for example , tlas had been ordered to solve problems in the restive damascus suburban towns of harasta and douma , landis said . he did a good job by negotiating with the opposition leaders in both suburbs , agreeing that both government forces and opposition would pull back , ' landis said . but , landis said , the alawi leadership said'no , that is not how we are going to do this .'they pushed him aside and came down like a ton of bricks on the opposition in both neighborhoods , in an effort to assert state authority and crush the uprising through military means . ' tlas is perhaps the most senior sunni in the regime because he was a close friend of bashar , ' landis wrote . for 16 months the opposition has been complaining that elite sunnis have not defected . that complaint can now , officially , be put to rest if the stories of manaf 's flight prove to be true . in march it was rumored that he had led with his father and brother , but those stories were false , ' he wrote . tlas exudes charisma , and landis describes him as smart , dashing and cunning . ' manaf is as handsome as a movie star and carried a lot of authority . he was a true military guy and had spent his entire life in the military , unlike bashar . people close to him say that when he walked into a room , all eyes turned to him . not only did women find him attractive , but men did as well . he carried himself with an air of self-confidence and authority , ' landis said . the tlas family has been part of the syrian power structure during the tenure of bashar and his father , hafez assad . when foreign statesmen or syrians thought of a sunni who could possibly take power , manaf had to be at the top of the list or very close to the top , ' he said . manaf is respected by bashar 's generation and a military leader . ' there has been a lot of buzz about the development on the streets of damascus and the pages of facebook . one man wrote it 's important because the tlas family was n't just pro-regime , they are the regime . ' another activist said , you idiots , defect before it 's too late . tlas saved himself at the very last moment . ' while opposition voices welcome the move , they voiced suspicion and scorn . should we work with him ? no , never , ' said one . another said , ( h ) e and his father and brother should return the money they stole from the syrian people first . ' this comment is an apparent reference to manaf tlas'brother firas , a businessman . firas tlas has been in favor of reform in syria . he told reporters in 2005 there was a huge expectation ' from syrians of economic change . cnn 's barbara starr , pam benson and journalist shiyar sayed mohamad contributed to this report . | tlas was perhaps the most senior sunni in bashar al-assad 's regime , scholar says |
tlas <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a high-profile defector from syrian president bashar al-assad 's regime fled the country because he is outraged over the government 's brutality , an activist told cnn . omar al muqdad , a syrian journalist and opposition activist , said he spoke to brig . gen. manaf tlas on thursday night during an interview on skype . tlas is a republican guard military commander , the son of a former defense minister and possibly the most senior sunni in a power structure dominated by the alawite minority . he escaped from the syrian city of rastan to turkey with the help of the maher noaimi brigade of the rebel free syrian army , al muqdad said . but his whereabouts at present are not known , said al muqdad , who once worked as a translator and journalist for cnn . a western diplomat who reported the defection said tlas has been estranged from the regime over the killing of sunnis . al muqdad said tlas passed on similar sentiments , calling the regime brutal and al-assad a dictator . he said tlas said he left the regime because he does n't want to be involved in any actions that would harm syrians . tlas said he 's not going to join the opposition now , al muqdad said . but a u.s. official who is not authorized to speak on the record said if tlas did join the insurgency , it would be significant . ' reports of tlas'defection first surfaced thursday , and western officials are saying he is on his way to paris . his father , former defense minister mustafa tlas , and the rest of his family are in paris , the official said . syria has been engulfed in nearly 16 months of unrest , resulting in thousands of deaths . manaf tlas'defection comes as government assaults against protesters led to a nationwide uprising . his departure is regarded as a stunning blow to the embattled regime . he 's an inside confidant of assad . so it counts that even an insider thinks it 's time to go , ' said one western official , who spoke on condition of anonymity . pentagon spokesman capt . john kirby said the crack in the inner circle ' is significant ' because of tlas'position and ties with the assad family . we do n't believe this defection should be taken lightly , ' he said . andrew tabler , syria expert at the washington institute for near east policy , said it 's by far the biggest defection . ' this is a good-sized step in the right direction , ' he said the tlas family knows how the place is wired . ' rafif jouejati , spokeswoman for the opposition local coordination committees of syria , called the development quite significant . ' it signals that the domino effect of defections is speeding up as longtime regime supporters and collaborators realize that assad 's ship is sinking fast . expect more defections in the coming days as the regime accelerates its scorched-earth policy in a desperate attempt to destroy as much as possible before falling apart , ' she told cnn . jeffrey white , a defense fellow at the washington institute for near east policy , said the defection raises questions about the cohesions of his brigade and division . ' white recently wrote an essay describing the mounting pressures on the syrian military , including the growing opposition clout and defections . he told cnn on friday that the defection process is accelerating somewhat and that we are getting more reports of higher-ranking officers leaving . ' tlas had been the commander of an important regime protection unit , a component of the republican guard division , whose main responsibility in the current conflict has been the defense of damascus , ' white said . the defection reflects two important trends , he said . one is that many of the higher-ranking defectors are staff officers and medical officers . tlas , in contrast , is from a combat unit . if we start seeing more defections from the higher ranks of combat units that will be significant , ' white said . the move also might indicate that the regime can not count on the sunnis it has so far kept in the fold . ' it will create suspicions within the regime about'loyalist'sunnis and'loyalist'sunnis will be wondering what the regime has in store for them . some will likely split , if they can find a safe path for themselves and their families . manaf 's defection will undoubtedly heighten the awareness of the regime 's security personnel . ' ted kattouf , a former u.s. ambassador to syria , said the defection was psychologically ' important , but it 's not going to bring down the regime . ' he said a much bigger blow ' would be the defection of an alawite senior officer . joshua landis , a syria expert at the university of oklahoma , said thursday in a post on his blog syria comment that if tlas has indeed fled the country , the regime will be thrown back on its heels . ' tlas was a close confidant of bashar from his earliest days and part of his inner circle , ' landis said . and he supported a policy of negotiation , flexibility and compromise ' but was overruled by the military leadership and has since looked for a way out . ' for example , tlas had been ordered to solve problems in the restive damascus suburban towns of harasta and douma , landis said . he did a good job by negotiating with the opposition leaders in both suburbs , agreeing that both government forces and opposition would pull back , ' landis said . but , landis said , the alawi leadership said'no , that is not how we are going to do this .'they pushed him aside and came down like a ton of bricks on the opposition in both neighborhoods , in an effort to assert state authority and crush the uprising through military means . ' tlas is perhaps the most senior sunni in the regime because he was a close friend of bashar , ' landis wrote . for 16 months the opposition has been complaining that elite sunnis have not defected . that complaint can now , officially , be put to rest if the stories of manaf 's flight prove to be true . in march it was rumored that he had led with his father and brother , but those stories were false , ' he wrote . tlas exudes charisma , and landis describes him as smart , dashing and cunning . ' manaf is as handsome as a movie star and carried a lot of authority . he was a true military guy and had spent his entire life in the military , unlike bashar . people close to him say that when he walked into a room , all eyes turned to him . not only did women find him attractive , but men did as well . he carried himself with an air of self-confidence and authority , ' landis said . the tlas family has been part of the syrian power structure during the tenure of bashar and his father , hafez assad . when foreign statesmen or syrians thought of a sunni who could possibly take power , manaf had to be at the top of the list or very close to the top , ' he said . manaf is respected by bashar 's generation and a military leader . ' there has been a lot of buzz about the development on the streets of damascus and the pages of facebook . one man wrote it 's important because the tlas family was n't just pro-regime , they are the regime . ' another activist said , you idiots , defect before it 's too late . tlas saved himself at the very last moment . ' while opposition voices welcome the move , they voiced suspicion and scorn . should we work with him ? no , never , ' said one . another said , ( h ) e and his father and brother should return the money they stole from the syrian people first . ' this comment is an apparent reference to manaf tlas'brother firas , a businessman . firas tlas has been in favor of reform in syria . he told reporters in 2005 there was a huge expectation ' from syrians of economic change . cnn 's barbara starr , pam benson and journalist shiyar sayed mohamad contributed to this report . | new : activist says brig . gen. manaf tlas does n't plan to join the opposition at present |
bashar al-assad <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a high-profile defector from syrian president bashar al-assad 's regime fled the country because he is outraged over the government 's brutality , an activist told cnn . omar al muqdad , a syrian journalist and opposition activist , said he spoke to brig . gen. manaf tlas on thursday night during an interview on skype . tlas is a republican guard military commander , the son of a former defense minister and possibly the most senior sunni in a power structure dominated by the alawite minority . he escaped from the syrian city of rastan to turkey with the help of the maher noaimi brigade of the rebel free syrian army , al muqdad said . but his whereabouts at present are not known , said al muqdad , who once worked as a translator and journalist for cnn . a western diplomat who reported the defection said tlas has been estranged from the regime over the killing of sunnis . al muqdad said tlas passed on similar sentiments , calling the regime brutal and al-assad a dictator . he said tlas said he left the regime because he does n't want to be involved in any actions that would harm syrians . tlas said he 's not going to join the opposition now , al muqdad said . but a u.s. official who is not authorized to speak on the record said if tlas did join the insurgency , it would be significant . ' reports of tlas'defection first surfaced thursday , and western officials are saying he is on his way to paris . his father , former defense minister mustafa tlas , and the rest of his family are in paris , the official said . syria has been engulfed in nearly 16 months of unrest , resulting in thousands of deaths . manaf tlas'defection comes as government assaults against protesters led to a nationwide uprising . his departure is regarded as a stunning blow to the embattled regime . he 's an inside confidant of assad . so it counts that even an insider thinks it 's time to go , ' said one western official , who spoke on condition of anonymity . pentagon spokesman capt . john kirby said the crack in the inner circle ' is significant ' because of tlas'position and ties with the assad family . we do n't believe this defection should be taken lightly , ' he said . andrew tabler , syria expert at the washington institute for near east policy , said it 's by far the biggest defection . ' this is a good-sized step in the right direction , ' he said the tlas family knows how the place is wired . ' rafif jouejati , spokeswoman for the opposition local coordination committees of syria , called the development quite significant . ' it signals that the domino effect of defections is speeding up as longtime regime supporters and collaborators realize that assad 's ship is sinking fast . expect more defections in the coming days as the regime accelerates its scorched-earth policy in a desperate attempt to destroy as much as possible before falling apart , ' she told cnn . jeffrey white , a defense fellow at the washington institute for near east policy , said the defection raises questions about the cohesions of his brigade and division . ' white recently wrote an essay describing the mounting pressures on the syrian military , including the growing opposition clout and defections . he told cnn on friday that the defection process is accelerating somewhat and that we are getting more reports of higher-ranking officers leaving . ' tlas had been the commander of an important regime protection unit , a component of the republican guard division , whose main responsibility in the current conflict has been the defense of damascus , ' white said . the defection reflects two important trends , he said . one is that many of the higher-ranking defectors are staff officers and medical officers . tlas , in contrast , is from a combat unit . if we start seeing more defections from the higher ranks of combat units that will be significant , ' white said . the move also might indicate that the regime can not count on the sunnis it has so far kept in the fold . ' it will create suspicions within the regime about'loyalist'sunnis and'loyalist'sunnis will be wondering what the regime has in store for them . some will likely split , if they can find a safe path for themselves and their families . manaf 's defection will undoubtedly heighten the awareness of the regime 's security personnel . ' ted kattouf , a former u.s. ambassador to syria , said the defection was psychologically ' important , but it 's not going to bring down the regime . ' he said a much bigger blow ' would be the defection of an alawite senior officer . joshua landis , a syria expert at the university of oklahoma , said thursday in a post on his blog syria comment that if tlas has indeed fled the country , the regime will be thrown back on its heels . ' tlas was a close confidant of bashar from his earliest days and part of his inner circle , ' landis said . and he supported a policy of negotiation , flexibility and compromise ' but was overruled by the military leadership and has since looked for a way out . ' for example , tlas had been ordered to solve problems in the restive damascus suburban towns of harasta and douma , landis said . he did a good job by negotiating with the opposition leaders in both suburbs , agreeing that both government forces and opposition would pull back , ' landis said . but , landis said , the alawi leadership said'no , that is not how we are going to do this .'they pushed him aside and came down like a ton of bricks on the opposition in both neighborhoods , in an effort to assert state authority and crush the uprising through military means . ' tlas is perhaps the most senior sunni in the regime because he was a close friend of bashar , ' landis wrote . for 16 months the opposition has been complaining that elite sunnis have not defected . that complaint can now , officially , be put to rest if the stories of manaf 's flight prove to be true . in march it was rumored that he had led with his father and brother , but those stories were false , ' he wrote . tlas exudes charisma , and landis describes him as smart , dashing and cunning . ' manaf is as handsome as a movie star and carried a lot of authority . he was a true military guy and had spent his entire life in the military , unlike bashar . people close to him say that when he walked into a room , all eyes turned to him . not only did women find him attractive , but men did as well . he carried himself with an air of self-confidence and authority , ' landis said . the tlas family has been part of the syrian power structure during the tenure of bashar and his father , hafez assad . when foreign statesmen or syrians thought of a sunni who could possibly take power , manaf had to be at the top of the list or very close to the top , ' he said . manaf is respected by bashar 's generation and a military leader . ' there has been a lot of buzz about the development on the streets of damascus and the pages of facebook . one man wrote it 's important because the tlas family was n't just pro-regime , they are the regime . ' another activist said , you idiots , defect before it 's too late . tlas saved himself at the very last moment . ' while opposition voices welcome the move , they voiced suspicion and scorn . should we work with him ? no , never , ' said one . another said , ( h ) e and his father and brother should return the money they stole from the syrian people first . ' this comment is an apparent reference to manaf tlas'brother firas , a businessman . firas tlas has been in favor of reform in syria . he told reporters in 2005 there was a huge expectation ' from syrians of economic change . cnn 's barbara starr , pam benson and journalist shiyar sayed mohamad contributed to this report . | tlas was perhaps the most senior sunni in bashar al-assad 's regime , scholar says |
highway 101 <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a single-engine airplane made an emergency landing on a california highway sunday morning , though no major injuries were reported , authorities said . the piper comanche 260 carrying a married couple landed on the southbound lanes of u.s. highway 101 . the piper comanche 260 carrying a married couple landed on the southbound lanes of u.s. highway 101 just outside santa barbara and a few miles from the airport , said california highway patrol spokesman officer james richards . the plane 's engine quit , and as the pilot descended , he lost control of the plane and landed in the southbound lane facing oncoming traffic . the plane struck two vehicles while landing , then spun and hit another one with its tail , richards said . one vehicle passenger was treated for minor injuries , he said . no other injuries were reported . the landing happened at 10:36 a.m. ( 1:36 p.m . et ) and held up traffic for less than two hours , richards said . he added that the plane had departed temecula in southwestern riverside county , california , and was destined for the airport in santa barbara , a flight of about 180 miles . the pilot told authorities that he attempted to switch fuel lines during the flight , but was unable to restore power to the plane . he said he alerted a tower at the airport that a landing on the highway was imminent , richardson said . | piper comanche 260 carrying a married couple landed on u.s. highway 101 |
catherine greig <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the longtime companion of notorious fugitive james whitey ' bulger has pleaded guilty to several charges related to her infamous 16-year run from authorities with her alleged mobster boyfriend . catherine greig entered the guilty plea wednesday to one charge of conspiracy to harbor a fugitive and two counts of identity theft , according to federal court spokesman steve york . in early 1995 , i agreed to join bulger and travel with bulger during his flight from law enforcement . from january 1995 through june 22 . 2011 , i also agreed with others , including bulger , to harbor and conceal him from law enforcement , ' greig said in court documents . bulger , 82 , has previously pleaded not guilty to all charges against him , including 19 murder charges . u.s. attorney carmen m. ortiz of massachusetts said greig is no victim ' and her plea was no sweetheart deal . ' there was no deal -- certainly no sweetheart deal , ' ortiz said . i want the record to stand that at no time we compromised our ability to make a sentencing recommendation . the chapter has not closed on this matter on this case . we think that bringing this matter swiftly to a conviction is a fair and just result . we can focus on an ongoing investigation now . we can focus on the trial of mr. bulger . the taxpayers do n't want to see a trail that 's not necessary to be had , and i think this is a very appropriate conclusion , ' ortiz said . bulger , who is being held without bail , was the head of a south boston irish gang before he fled an impending racketeering indictment in 1995 . he evaded law enforcement for 16 years before he and greig were arrested in june 2011 in santa monica . the couple had , for several years , hid in plain sight in the palm-tree-lined , oceanside city near los angeles in a three-story building named princess eugenia . bulger was arrested after he was lured out of his apartment with an fbi ruse : he received a phone call and was told his lock box had been broken into in the basement parking lot area of his apartment building . when bulger went down to check it out , fbi agents arrested him . neighbors said the couple was quiet . a manager of a restaurant near their home recalled how the alleged gangster and his girlfriend liked the privacy of a far corner table and once worked up a $ 192 bill , plus tip , for a steak and lobster dinner , accompanied by foie gras , vodka highballs and chardonnay . but before settling into anonymity , bulger was once one of the fbi 's top 10 most wanted fugitives . his alleged barbarity as an irish-american mobster in boston is said to have inspired the jack nicholson character in martin scorsese 's 2006 film the departed . ' dick lehr , who wrote a book about bulger , described him as a cold-blooded killer whose gang went to lengths to avoid detection . when they killed someone -- this is pre-dna -- they pulled the teeth out , cut the fingers off , tried to make it so the victims , if they were discovered from their graves , could n't be identified . there 's just no bottom . it does n't get much uglier than someone like whitey bulger , ' lehr said . the fbi employed many methods to capture bulger , including offering a $ 2 million reward . in 2011 , the agency began airing a 30-second public service announcement aimed at getting bulger . the agency bought about 350 ad spots in 14 u.s. cities . the ad focused on greig , then 60 , and targeted female viewers around the same age . it described her as loving dogs and other animals and frequenting beauty salons . it said she had worked as a dental hygienist , likes to maintain her teeth , and had had multiple plastic surgeries . bulger 's brother , william bulger , is a former president of the university of massachusetts and a state senate leader . he was forced to step down from his university job after then-gov . mitt romney , now a republican presidential candidate , accused him of being evasive during congressional testimony about the whereabouts of his brother . greig could face a five-year sentence for each count , according to court documents . cnn 's julia talanova contributed to this report . | catherine greig has pleaded guilty to three counts |
bulger <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the longtime companion of notorious fugitive james whitey ' bulger has pleaded guilty to several charges related to her infamous 16-year run from authorities with her alleged mobster boyfriend . catherine greig entered the guilty plea wednesday to one charge of conspiracy to harbor a fugitive and two counts of identity theft , according to federal court spokesman steve york . in early 1995 , i agreed to join bulger and travel with bulger during his flight from law enforcement . from january 1995 through june 22 . 2011 , i also agreed with others , including bulger , to harbor and conceal him from law enforcement , ' greig said in court documents . bulger , 82 , has previously pleaded not guilty to all charges against him , including 19 murder charges . u.s. attorney carmen m. ortiz of massachusetts said greig is no victim ' and her plea was no sweetheart deal . ' there was no deal -- certainly no sweetheart deal , ' ortiz said . i want the record to stand that at no time we compromised our ability to make a sentencing recommendation . the chapter has not closed on this matter on this case . we think that bringing this matter swiftly to a conviction is a fair and just result . we can focus on an ongoing investigation now . we can focus on the trial of mr. bulger . the taxpayers do n't want to see a trail that 's not necessary to be had , and i think this is a very appropriate conclusion , ' ortiz said . bulger , who is being held without bail , was the head of a south boston irish gang before he fled an impending racketeering indictment in 1995 . he evaded law enforcement for 16 years before he and greig were arrested in june 2011 in santa monica . the couple had , for several years , hid in plain sight in the palm-tree-lined , oceanside city near los angeles in a three-story building named princess eugenia . bulger was arrested after he was lured out of his apartment with an fbi ruse : he received a phone call and was told his lock box had been broken into in the basement parking lot area of his apartment building . when bulger went down to check it out , fbi agents arrested him . neighbors said the couple was quiet . a manager of a restaurant near their home recalled how the alleged gangster and his girlfriend liked the privacy of a far corner table and once worked up a $ 192 bill , plus tip , for a steak and lobster dinner , accompanied by foie gras , vodka highballs and chardonnay . but before settling into anonymity , bulger was once one of the fbi 's top 10 most wanted fugitives . his alleged barbarity as an irish-american mobster in boston is said to have inspired the jack nicholson character in martin scorsese 's 2006 film the departed . ' dick lehr , who wrote a book about bulger , described him as a cold-blooded killer whose gang went to lengths to avoid detection . when they killed someone -- this is pre-dna -- they pulled the teeth out , cut the fingers off , tried to make it so the victims , if they were discovered from their graves , could n't be identified . there 's just no bottom . it does n't get much uglier than someone like whitey bulger , ' lehr said . the fbi employed many methods to capture bulger , including offering a $ 2 million reward . in 2011 , the agency began airing a 30-second public service announcement aimed at getting bulger . the agency bought about 350 ad spots in 14 u.s. cities . the ad focused on greig , then 60 , and targeted female viewers around the same age . it described her as loving dogs and other animals and frequenting beauty salons . it said she had worked as a dental hygienist , likes to maintain her teeth , and had had multiple plastic surgeries . bulger 's brother , william bulger , is a former president of the university of massachusetts and a state senate leader . he was forced to step down from his university job after then-gov . mitt romney , now a republican presidential candidate , accused him of being evasive during congressional testimony about the whereabouts of his brother . greig could face a five-year sentence for each count , according to court documents . cnn 's julia talanova contributed to this report . | her boyfriend , james whitey ' bulger , has pleaded not guilty to all charges |
bulger <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the longtime companion of notorious fugitive james whitey ' bulger has pleaded guilty to several charges related to her infamous 16-year run from authorities with her alleged mobster boyfriend . catherine greig entered the guilty plea wednesday to one charge of conspiracy to harbor a fugitive and two counts of identity theft , according to federal court spokesman steve york . in early 1995 , i agreed to join bulger and travel with bulger during his flight from law enforcement . from january 1995 through june 22 . 2011 , i also agreed with others , including bulger , to harbor and conceal him from law enforcement , ' greig said in court documents . bulger , 82 , has previously pleaded not guilty to all charges against him , including 19 murder charges . u.s. attorney carmen m. ortiz of massachusetts said greig is no victim ' and her plea was no sweetheart deal . ' there was no deal -- certainly no sweetheart deal , ' ortiz said . i want the record to stand that at no time we compromised our ability to make a sentencing recommendation . the chapter has not closed on this matter on this case . we think that bringing this matter swiftly to a conviction is a fair and just result . we can focus on an ongoing investigation now . we can focus on the trial of mr. bulger . the taxpayers do n't want to see a trail that 's not necessary to be had , and i think this is a very appropriate conclusion , ' ortiz said . bulger , who is being held without bail , was the head of a south boston irish gang before he fled an impending racketeering indictment in 1995 . he evaded law enforcement for 16 years before he and greig were arrested in june 2011 in santa monica . the couple had , for several years , hid in plain sight in the palm-tree-lined , oceanside city near los angeles in a three-story building named princess eugenia . bulger was arrested after he was lured out of his apartment with an fbi ruse : he received a phone call and was told his lock box had been broken into in the basement parking lot area of his apartment building . when bulger went down to check it out , fbi agents arrested him . neighbors said the couple was quiet . a manager of a restaurant near their home recalled how the alleged gangster and his girlfriend liked the privacy of a far corner table and once worked up a $ 192 bill , plus tip , for a steak and lobster dinner , accompanied by foie gras , vodka highballs and chardonnay . but before settling into anonymity , bulger was once one of the fbi 's top 10 most wanted fugitives . his alleged barbarity as an irish-american mobster in boston is said to have inspired the jack nicholson character in martin scorsese 's 2006 film the departed . ' dick lehr , who wrote a book about bulger , described him as a cold-blooded killer whose gang went to lengths to avoid detection . when they killed someone -- this is pre-dna -- they pulled the teeth out , cut the fingers off , tried to make it so the victims , if they were discovered from their graves , could n't be identified . there 's just no bottom . it does n't get much uglier than someone like whitey bulger , ' lehr said . the fbi employed many methods to capture bulger , including offering a $ 2 million reward . in 2011 , the agency began airing a 30-second public service announcement aimed at getting bulger . the agency bought about 350 ad spots in 14 u.s. cities . the ad focused on greig , then 60 , and targeted female viewers around the same age . it described her as loving dogs and other animals and frequenting beauty salons . it said she had worked as a dental hygienist , likes to maintain her teeth , and had had multiple plastic surgeries . bulger 's brother , william bulger , is a former president of the university of massachusetts and a state senate leader . he was forced to step down from his university job after then-gov . mitt romney , now a republican presidential candidate , accused him of being evasive during congressional testimony about the whereabouts of his brother . greig could face a five-year sentence for each count , according to court documents . cnn 's julia talanova contributed to this report . | bulger is said to be the inspiration for 2006 movie the departed ' |
cbs studio center <tsp> ( cnn ) -- django unchained ' actress daniele watts and her boyfriend have been charged with one count each of lewd conduct , a spokesman said tuesday . if found guilty , both watts and her boyfriend , brian james lucas , could face a maximum of six months in jail and a $ 1,000 fine , according to frank mateljan , spokesman for the los angeles city attorney 's office . the charges stem from an incident last month outside cbs studio center in studio city , california . officers with the los angeles police department received calls that the couple was having sex in a parked car . the african-american actress and her white boyfriend accused police of racism for questioning them in what they said was only a public display of affection . watts , a native of atlanta , made her feature film debut in 2012 as coco in the oscar-nominated django unchained . ' opinion :'django unchained'actress was out of line cnn 's alan duke contributed to this report . | the charges stem from an incident last month outside cbs studio center |
mike brown <tsp> st. louis , missouri ( cnn ) -- hundreds of demonstrators marched 12 miles saturday from ferguson , missouri , to a downtown st. louis plaza near its iconic arch to deliver a message : they want the police officer who killed michael brown to be charged with a crime . but few protesters traveled as far as sara benjamin , 23 , and daughter imari , 5 . they trekked 750 miles from baltimore to attend the justice for all rally on st louis'kiener plaza . i came down here because i 'm the mother of a 5-year-old , and we wanted to show our solidarity with the people of ferguson , ' benjamin said . i think this is an attempt to break up the black community by targeting black men . ' she was referring to how a white ferguson police officer fatally shot brown , 18 , who was black and unarmed , on august 9 . by splitting costs with others for gas , food and lodging , the trip cost her a little over $ 100 , benjamin said . civil rights activists calling for charges to be brought against the police officer who killed brown held a second day of protests saturday . according to tweets from st. louis police chief sam dotson , protesters threw rocks at police and tried to storm a quiktrip store early sunday . arrests have been made for continued illegal behavior ' says one tweet . the protests , dubbed a ferguson october ' and weekend of resistance , ' are taking place in ferguson , st. louis and the surrounding area . demonstrations focused on the encounter between brown and police officer darren wilson , who authorities said shot brown after he attacked him and tried to take his gun . but witnesses said the unarmed teenager had his hands in the air when he was shot . the shooting prompted weeks of protests in ferguson , which sometimes became violent when demonstrators and police clashed . before this week , protests had died down considerably . are you there ? share your images the goal of the protests scheduled for friday through monday is to demand wilson 's arrest and bring attention to what organizers describe as racial profiling and police violence nationwide . power concedes nothing without a demand , ' organizers said . our country can no longer deny the epidemic of police violence facing black and brown communities , ' the movement 's website states . mike brown is now part of a long list of people like john crawford , ezell ford , eric garner , oscar grant and countless others who have been unjustly killed by police . their lives mattered . ' demonstrations on friday night focused on the ferguson police department , which is facing a storm of criticism after brown 's death . a large group of protesters marched the west florissant corridor -- the scene of looting and vandalism after brown 's death -- to police headquarters . then they proceeded to st. louis , said st. louis county police spokesman brian schellman . marchers in the diverse , multigenerational crowd declared their attempt to create a national movement about alleged police abuses against minorities as vitally important , ' one demonstrator said . protesters hailed from california , illinois and kansas . we have people from all across the united states to stand in one accord for justice in this matter , ' reginald rounds , who lives in the same apartment complex where brown resided , said saturday . we are not going to stop addressing the matter until we get some resolve . we 'll be here , ' he said . organizers said they expect thousands to attend four days of events . the early saturday protests featured a few hundred people as police in riot gear stood watch . no justice , no peace ! ' they chanted . hands up , do n't shoot ! ' others carried placards that read , demilitarize the police . ' as protesters stared down police officers standing single file , an announcement came on a megaphone . if you touch a police officer , you will be arrested for assault , ' it said . complete coverage of ferguson shooting and protests the protests kicked off friday afternoon when demonstrators invoked a mexican halloween tradition and set up a day of the dead altar to memorialize brown and others . the altar featured candles , flowers and photos of the deceased . men in dark suits quietly carried a coffin made of mirrors down the streets as chanting protesters followed . a few hours later , the crowd dispersed . several other events will be held sunday , including an evening meeting of reflection and resistance ' at st. louis university with author and professor cornel west , rapper-activist tef poe and rabbi susan talve . a closing ceremony monday will feature participants removing items from the day of the dead memorial , organizers said . twelve miles away in st louis , protesters have also rallied against the death of vonderrit deondre myers , 18 . protests erupted there after a white police officer fatally shot the black teenager . but this one was different from the brown case because the teenager was armed and fired at the officer , according to authorities . cnn 's stephanie elam and bill kirkos contributed from missouri . faith karimi , brian rokus , greg botelho , joe sutton and carma hassan also contributed to this report . michael martinez wrote and reported from los angeles . | the protests are to demand justice for mike brown and other victims of police violence |
jackson <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the gunshot wounds to two ohio boys found dead in their grandparents'home are consistent with a homicide-suicide , a coroner said friday . the two boys , who were half-brothers , were found wednesday in jackson , ohio , about 75 miles south of columbus . they were identified as austin wiseman , 12 , and blake campbell , 9 . both boys suffered gunshot wounds to the head . the nature of the wounds and the bullets in their bodies indicated that the killings were a homicide-suicide , but it is not known whether they were accidental or intentional , said dr. gregory hawker , the jackson county coroner . we ca n't tell -- we might not ever know , ' he said . family and friends have suggested that the older boy accidentally shot his younger brother and then was overcome with grief and turned the gun on himself , but there is no way to prove that forensically . authorities have taken the older boy 's computer to make sure there 's no indication of ill intent , ' hawker said . the older boy had become obsessed with guns in the last few weeks , he said . the boys lived with their grandparents and were unsupervised when the shooting happened , he said . the shooting occurred in an upstairs bedroom . that 's crazy to think two young boys are dead , and no one knows anything about it , ' neighbor michael hatley told cnn affiliate wsaz . opinion : how we can keep kids from shooting people | two boys , ages 9 and 12 , were found shot dead in jackson , ohio , on wednesday |
velez-mitchell <tsp> ( cnn ) -- here 's a thought to chew on : america 's most intractable problems all double back to our collective mistreatment of animals . sounds crazy , right ? well , humor me for a minute . our own lives would improve if we started showing some basic decency to the 9 billion cows , calves , pigs , lambs , turkeys and chickens that are slaughtered a year in the united states . more than 99 % of farm animals in the u.s. are raised in factory farms , many unable to even turn around in small cages . a slew of investigations by mercy for animals , peta and the humane society of the united states have uncovered repeated instances of vicious abuse of animals headed for slaughter . the latest humane society undercover investigation of a large veal calf slaughterhouse in new jersey showed abuse too gruesome to display on television and resulted in the temporary shutdown of the facility by the u.s. department of agriculture . animal abuse is the norm in the meat industry , ' says paul shapiro , vice president of farm animal protection at the humane society . many standard practices in animal agribusiness are so cruel that they 're just out of step with mainstream american values about how animals ought to be treated . ' the society cites piglet tail docking and castration without anesthesia , the confinement of pigs to crates where they can not turn around and cutting off the beaks of egg-laying hens before they 're confined to tiny cages . if all of this sounds hideous , it is . and here 's how it hurts us humans . the obesity crisis : two thirds of american adults are overweight or obese . the american medical association has declared obesity a chronic disease in an attempt to get a grip on what some label the 21st century plague . a recent study published in the new england journal of medicine shows that kids who are overweight in kindergarten are often condemned to future obesity . it also showed obesity is highest in the poorest socioeconomic sectors of society , further hobbling already disadvantaged kids . the rise of obesity has paralleled the rise of fast food , laden with meat and dairy products : burgers and shakes . obesity affects every aspect of a people 's lives , from health to relationships . less fast food would help stop the obesity epidemic and would also mean raising and killing fewer animals . a 2010 study published in the american journal of clinical nutrition concluded , a plant-based diet seems to be a sensible approach for the prevention of obesity in children . ' the health care crisis : the myriad of serious health risks resulting from poor diet include high cholesterol , heart disease , type 2 diabetes , high blood pressure , stroke and even sleep apnea . eating too much meat and dairy products , combined with excessive intake of sugars and starch , plays a big role in these medical issues . cholesterol does not exist in vegetables . vegetables do not clog arteries . a report by the union of concerned scientists says we could save 100,000 lives and $ 17 billion in health care costs from heart disease every year if americans ate more fruits and vegetables . the report begs congress to slash farm policies that subsidize big ag 's massive production of junk and fast food . critics say the $ 956 billion farm bill that just passed is simply a bait and switch that cuts direct subsidies but replaces them with generous crop insurance . that brings us to money . the deficit : skyrocketing health care costs are a key factor in the ballooning deficit . the yearly medical costs of obesity are estimated to be as high as $ 190 billion a year , according to a study reported in the journal of health economics , with expenditures of almost $ 1,200 more a year to treat obese americans compared with those of normal weight . natural disasters : extreme weather phenomena is on the rise leading to more massive , destructive storms as a result of climate change . hurricane sandy alone cost $ 70 billion in damage and lost economic productivity . meat production is one of the leading causes of climate change because of the destruction of the rainforest for grazing lands , the massive amounts of methane produced by farm animals and the huge amounts of water , grain and other resources required to feed animals the u.n. food and agriculture organization found the production of meat contributes from 14 % and 22 % of the world 's greenhouse gases . hunger : every five seconds a child dies somewhere in the world of malnutrition or starvation . world hunger could be eliminated if all the produce fed to cows , chickens and pigs raised for human consumption was distributed directly to hungry humans . bill gates , who is championing meat alternatives in his future of food ' project , puts it succinctly when he notes : for every 10 kilograms of grain we feed cattle , we get 1 kilogram of beef in return . the calorie kick-back is just too low to feed a growing world population . ' some of the smartest people in america , from bill clinton to bill gates , are starting to see the big picture . clinton , after having quadruple bypass surgery and later stents to open his veins , publicly adopted a plant-based diet . bill gates , in his future of food project , sums up the unsustainability of our food system succinctly , noting : raising meat takes a great deal of land and water and has a substantial environmental impact . put simply , there 's no way to produce enough meat for 9 billion people . ' the human population of earth is expected to surpass 9 billion by 2050 . now , it 's time for the rest of us to wake up and vote with our shopping carts . american taxpayers and consumers are being exploited right along with the animals . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of jane velez-mitchell . | velez-mitchell : animal abuse and cruelty is the norm in the meat industry |
velez-mitchell <tsp> ( cnn ) -- here 's a thought to chew on : america 's most intractable problems all double back to our collective mistreatment of animals . sounds crazy , right ? well , humor me for a minute . our own lives would improve if we started showing some basic decency to the 9 billion cows , calves , pigs , lambs , turkeys and chickens that are slaughtered a year in the united states . more than 99 % of farm animals in the u.s. are raised in factory farms , many unable to even turn around in small cages . a slew of investigations by mercy for animals , peta and the humane society of the united states have uncovered repeated instances of vicious abuse of animals headed for slaughter . the latest humane society undercover investigation of a large veal calf slaughterhouse in new jersey showed abuse too gruesome to display on television and resulted in the temporary shutdown of the facility by the u.s. department of agriculture . animal abuse is the norm in the meat industry , ' says paul shapiro , vice president of farm animal protection at the humane society . many standard practices in animal agribusiness are so cruel that they 're just out of step with mainstream american values about how animals ought to be treated . ' the society cites piglet tail docking and castration without anesthesia , the confinement of pigs to crates where they can not turn around and cutting off the beaks of egg-laying hens before they 're confined to tiny cages . if all of this sounds hideous , it is . and here 's how it hurts us humans . the obesity crisis : two thirds of american adults are overweight or obese . the american medical association has declared obesity a chronic disease in an attempt to get a grip on what some label the 21st century plague . a recent study published in the new england journal of medicine shows that kids who are overweight in kindergarten are often condemned to future obesity . it also showed obesity is highest in the poorest socioeconomic sectors of society , further hobbling already disadvantaged kids . the rise of obesity has paralleled the rise of fast food , laden with meat and dairy products : burgers and shakes . obesity affects every aspect of a people 's lives , from health to relationships . less fast food would help stop the obesity epidemic and would also mean raising and killing fewer animals . a 2010 study published in the american journal of clinical nutrition concluded , a plant-based diet seems to be a sensible approach for the prevention of obesity in children . ' the health care crisis : the myriad of serious health risks resulting from poor diet include high cholesterol , heart disease , type 2 diabetes , high blood pressure , stroke and even sleep apnea . eating too much meat and dairy products , combined with excessive intake of sugars and starch , plays a big role in these medical issues . cholesterol does not exist in vegetables . vegetables do not clog arteries . a report by the union of concerned scientists says we could save 100,000 lives and $ 17 billion in health care costs from heart disease every year if americans ate more fruits and vegetables . the report begs congress to slash farm policies that subsidize big ag 's massive production of junk and fast food . critics say the $ 956 billion farm bill that just passed is simply a bait and switch that cuts direct subsidies but replaces them with generous crop insurance . that brings us to money . the deficit : skyrocketing health care costs are a key factor in the ballooning deficit . the yearly medical costs of obesity are estimated to be as high as $ 190 billion a year , according to a study reported in the journal of health economics , with expenditures of almost $ 1,200 more a year to treat obese americans compared with those of normal weight . natural disasters : extreme weather phenomena is on the rise leading to more massive , destructive storms as a result of climate change . hurricane sandy alone cost $ 70 billion in damage and lost economic productivity . meat production is one of the leading causes of climate change because of the destruction of the rainforest for grazing lands , the massive amounts of methane produced by farm animals and the huge amounts of water , grain and other resources required to feed animals the u.n. food and agriculture organization found the production of meat contributes from 14 % and 22 % of the world 's greenhouse gases . hunger : every five seconds a child dies somewhere in the world of malnutrition or starvation . world hunger could be eliminated if all the produce fed to cows , chickens and pigs raised for human consumption was distributed directly to hungry humans . bill gates , who is championing meat alternatives in his future of food ' project , puts it succinctly when he notes : for every 10 kilograms of grain we feed cattle , we get 1 kilogram of beef in return . the calorie kick-back is just too low to feed a growing world population . ' some of the smartest people in america , from bill clinton to bill gates , are starting to see the big picture . clinton , after having quadruple bypass surgery and later stents to open his veins , publicly adopted a plant-based diet . bill gates , in his future of food project , sums up the unsustainability of our food system succinctly , noting : raising meat takes a great deal of land and water and has a substantial environmental impact . put simply , there 's no way to produce enough meat for 9 billion people . ' the human population of earth is expected to surpass 9 billion by 2050 . now , it 's time for the rest of us to wake up and vote with our shopping carts . american taxpayers and consumers are being exploited right along with the animals . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of jane velez-mitchell . | jane velez-mitchell : almost all farm animals in the u.s. are raised in factory farms |
taliban <tsp> ( cnn ) -- three people were killed and more than 30 injured in back-to-back explosions near the headquarters of an anti-taliban political party in karachi , pakistan , police told cnn on saturday . the explosions , about 30 minutes apart , took place near the headquarters of muttahida quami movement , or mqm , police spokesman mureed abbas said . one device was placed in a rickshaw , police said . the second was buried in the ground . the mqm , which is one of pakistan 's largest and most liberal parties , has been targeted by the pakistani taliban in recent weeks . the party is firmly opposed to the islamist militant group . in a call to cnn after the explosions , pakistani taliban spokesman ihsan ullah ihsan said his group claimed responsibility . president asif ali zardari strongly condemned the bomb blasts and expressed sympathies for those killed and injured and their families . the mqm 's coordination committee condemned the two bomb blasts and called for businesses and transportation providers in the province to shut down sunday to observe a day of mourning . a candidate in this month 's national elections was shot and killed thursday by two gunmen on a motorbike , a senior police official in hyderabad said . candidate fakhar ul islam was targeted on his way home from his office and was a member of mqm . pakistani taliban leader hakimullah mehsud has told pakistanis to stay away from the elections . on friday , gunmen on a motorbike in karachi shot and killed sadiq zaman khattak and his 4-year-old son when they were leaving a mosque , said zahid khan of awami national party , another anti-taliban liberal party . khattak , representing the awami national party , had been a candidate for a seat in the national assembly . on saturday , raza haroon , a member of the mqm 's coordination committee , deplored how terrorists have been targeting candidates and workers of his party , the anp and the ruling pakistan people party . haroon charged that the election commission , the government and law agencies were playing a role of silent spectators . but haroon said his party would n't be cowed . on may 11 , pakistanis will go to the polls to elect a new civilian government for a five-year term . cnn 's aliza kassim contributed to this report . | muttahida quami movement , or mqm , opposes the taliban |
taliban <tsp> ( cnn ) -- three people were killed and more than 30 injured in back-to-back explosions near the headquarters of an anti-taliban political party in karachi , pakistan , police told cnn on saturday . the explosions , about 30 minutes apart , took place near the headquarters of muttahida quami movement , or mqm , police spokesman mureed abbas said . one device was placed in a rickshaw , police said . the second was buried in the ground . the mqm , which is one of pakistan 's largest and most liberal parties , has been targeted by the pakistani taliban in recent weeks . the party is firmly opposed to the islamist militant group . in a call to cnn after the explosions , pakistani taliban spokesman ihsan ullah ihsan said his group claimed responsibility . president asif ali zardari strongly condemned the bomb blasts and expressed sympathies for those killed and injured and their families . the mqm 's coordination committee condemned the two bomb blasts and called for businesses and transportation providers in the province to shut down sunday to observe a day of mourning . a candidate in this month 's national elections was shot and killed thursday by two gunmen on a motorbike , a senior police official in hyderabad said . candidate fakhar ul islam was targeted on his way home from his office and was a member of mqm . pakistani taliban leader hakimullah mehsud has told pakistanis to stay away from the elections . on friday , gunmen on a motorbike in karachi shot and killed sadiq zaman khattak and his 4-year-old son when they were leaving a mosque , said zahid khan of awami national party , another anti-taliban liberal party . khattak , representing the awami national party , had been a candidate for a seat in the national assembly . on saturday , raza haroon , a member of the mqm 's coordination committee , deplored how terrorists have been targeting candidates and workers of his party , the anp and the ruling pakistan people party . haroon charged that the election commission , the government and law agencies were playing a role of silent spectators . but haroon said his party would n't be cowed . on may 11 , pakistanis will go to the polls to elect a new civilian government for a five-year term . cnn 's aliza kassim contributed to this report . | in a call to cnn , pakistani taliban takes responsibility for explosions |
james hellwig <tsp> ( cnn ) -- on wednesday the wrestling community and fans around the world mourned the passing of ultimate warrior , one of the biggest and brightest stars of the world wrestling federation ( wwf ) . born james hellwig , before legally changing his name to warrior in 1993 , he is fondly remembered by many for his rivalries in the ring and for his trademark vivid face paint . he died aged 54 and is survived by his wife and two daughters . the cause of his death is not yet known . wwe is shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one of the most iconic world wrestling entertainment ( wwe ) superstars ever , the ultimate warrior , ' read a statement fron wwe , the modern incarnation of the wwf . warrior began his wwe career in 1987 and quickly went on to become one of the biggest stars in wwe history . warrior became wwe champion at wrestlemania vi , defeating hulk hogan in an epic encounter . ' gallery : best sports images of the last seven days ultimate warrior 's death came just days after he had been inducted into the wwe hall of fame . on monday he appeared in the wwe 's weekly raw show . tributes to the former wwf world champion poured in from throughout the wrestling world , including from his former rival hulk hogan . triple h , real name paul michael levesque , is one of the modern day wwe superstars ' and he also mourned the death of ultimate . during his appearance on raw , ultimate gave a poignant speech . no man becomes a legend on their own , ' he told the arena . every man 's heart one day beats its final beat . his lungs breathe their final breath . and if what that man did in his life makes the blood pulse through the body of others and makes them believe deeper in something that 's larger than life , then his essence , his spirit , will be immortalized by the storytellers -- by the loyalty , by the memory of those who honor him , and make the running the man did live forever . ' | he was born james hellwig , but changed his name to warrior in 1993 |
howard university <tsp> ( cnn ) debates on climate change can break down fairly fast . there are those who believe that mankind 's activities are changing the planet 's climate , and those who do n't . but a new way to talk about climate change is emerging , which shifts focus from impersonal discussions about greenhouse gas emissions and power plants to a very personal one : your health . it 's easy to brush aside debates involving major international corporations , but who would n't stop to think -- and perhaps do something -- about their own health , or the health of their children ? this new way of talking about climate change -- and linking it to public health issues -- was part of a roundtable discussion tuesday at howard university 's college of medicine . president barack obama joined u.s . surgeon general dr. vivek murthy and epa administrator gina mccarthy for a roundtable discussion on the topic as part of national public health week . i think we 've always known -- or at least in the 20th century we 've understood -- that environment has an impact on public health , ' the president told cnn 's dr. sanjay gupta . i remember when i first went to college in los angeles in 1979 , the air was so bad that you could n't go running outside , ' obama said . you 'd have air quality alerts , and people who had respiratory problems or were vulnerable had to stay inside . we took action , and the air 's a lot better . ' there are a whole host of public health impacts that are going to hit home , so we 've got to do better in protecting vulnerable americans , ' obama continued . ultimately , though , all of our families are going to be vulnerable . you ca n't cordon yourself off from air or climate . ' murthy revealed to the group that asthma is a personal issue for him , as a favorite uncle died from a severe attack when he was younger . it 's also personal to me because i 've cared for many patients over the years who have suffered from asthma and have seen firsthand how frightening it can be to suddenly be wheezing and fighting for every breath , ' murthy said . asthma can be very difficult for patients , but also for their families . the impacts of climate change could make the situation worse . ' this is not just a future threat -- this is a present threat , ' said brian deese , a senior adviser to the president . deese cited a recent study by the american thoracic society that found seven out of 10 doctors reported climate change is contributing to more health problems among their patients . the good news is that , in addition to having doctors and nurses , public health officials , schools of medicine joining together to raise awareness -- and to in some cases impact their practice -- they anticipate , for example , increased asthma instances , and plan ahead of time to deal with those , ' obama told gupta . what we have is companies like google and microsoft that are going to take data we 're releasing and start developing apps so that , potentially , individual families are going to be able to monitor the air quality in their communities in a real-time basis . ' communities can start planning for prevention and mitigation efforts more effectively , and hopefully the other thing that happens is that families and parents join with these doctors and nurses to start putting some pressure on elected officials to try to make something happen to reduce the impacts of climate change , ' said obama . the impacts of climate change on health will depend on a multitude of factors , according to the environmental protection agency . these factors include the effectiveness of a community 's public health and safety systems to address or prepare for the risk and the behavior , age , gender , and economic status of individuals affected , ' the epa says on its website . impacts will likely vary by region , the sensitivity of populations , the extent and length of exposure to climate change impacts , and society 's ability to adapt to change . ' the world health organization estimates climate change will cause an additional 250,000 deaths per year between 2030 and 2050 . most will likely perish from malaria , diarrhea , heat exposure and under-nutrition . ' around the world , variations in climate are affecting , in profoundly diverse ways , the air we breathe , the food we eat , and the water we drink , ' writes dr. maria neira , director of the who 's public health and environment department . we are losing our capacity to sustain human life in good health . ' consider air pollution , the single greatest environmental health risk we face . in 2012 alone , exposure to indoor and outdoor pollutants killed more than 7 million people -- one in eight deaths worldwide . under-nutrition already accounts for 3 million deaths each year in the world 's poorest regions . rising temperatures and more variable rainfall patters are expected to reduce crop yields , further compromising food security . floods are increasing in frequency and intensity , creating breeding grounds for disease-carrying insects . mosquito-borne diseases , like malaria , are particularly sensitive to heat and humidity . what will happen if rising temperatures accelerate the lifecycle of the malaria parasite ? ' children and the elderly will be among the most vulnerable , ' writes neira . areas with health infrastructure will be least able to cope . developing countries will be hardest hit . the health gaps we have been trying hard to close may grow even wider . ' earth 's average temperature has risen by 1.4 degrees fahrenheit over the past century , and is projected to rise an additional 2 degrees over the next hundred years , according to the epa . small changes in the average temperature of the planet can translate to large and potentially dangerous shifts in climate and weather , ' the agency warns . many places have seen changes in rainfall , resulting in more floods , droughts , or intense rain , as well as more frequent and severe heat waves . ' still , there exists a sizable group of people who doubt climate change is happening . although climate scientists have been in the news describing this winter as a strong signal that global warming is producing extreme weather , americans are no more likely today ( 55 % ) than in the past two years to believe the effects of global warming are occurring , ' according to a march gallup poll . a 2013 time magazine article makes the case that medical professionals may be the best messengers for global warming . framing global warming as a public health issue rather than as an environmental or national security one produces the most emotionally compelling response among people , since it focuses on the immediate implications a warmer climate would have on people 's lives , ' the article says . this strategy also has the benefit of providing a sense of hope that the problems can be addressed and avoided , if action is taken early enough . ' the president said what happened with los angeles'air proved that point . when the clean air act was passed , not only was there a terrible smog in los angeles , it was true in most metropolitan areas across the country , ' obama said . the fact is that air quality has dramatically improved and it 's been much cheaper than anybody expected , because technology advanced and people figured out how to do it . as a consequence , the american people are a lot healthier , in addition to being able to , you know , see the mountains in the background because it 's not covered in smog . ' we know how to do this , ' obama said . we just have to be bold and recognize and trust the kind of innovative spirit that the american people have always displayed . ' | president obama attends howard university roundtable on climate change and public health |
obama <tsp> ( cnn ) debates on climate change can break down fairly fast . there are those who believe that mankind 's activities are changing the planet 's climate , and those who do n't . but a new way to talk about climate change is emerging , which shifts focus from impersonal discussions about greenhouse gas emissions and power plants to a very personal one : your health . it 's easy to brush aside debates involving major international corporations , but who would n't stop to think -- and perhaps do something -- about their own health , or the health of their children ? this new way of talking about climate change -- and linking it to public health issues -- was part of a roundtable discussion tuesday at howard university 's college of medicine . president barack obama joined u.s . surgeon general dr. vivek murthy and epa administrator gina mccarthy for a roundtable discussion on the topic as part of national public health week . i think we 've always known -- or at least in the 20th century we 've understood -- that environment has an impact on public health , ' the president told cnn 's dr. sanjay gupta . i remember when i first went to college in los angeles in 1979 , the air was so bad that you could n't go running outside , ' obama said . you 'd have air quality alerts , and people who had respiratory problems or were vulnerable had to stay inside . we took action , and the air 's a lot better . ' there are a whole host of public health impacts that are going to hit home , so we 've got to do better in protecting vulnerable americans , ' obama continued . ultimately , though , all of our families are going to be vulnerable . you ca n't cordon yourself off from air or climate . ' murthy revealed to the group that asthma is a personal issue for him , as a favorite uncle died from a severe attack when he was younger . it 's also personal to me because i 've cared for many patients over the years who have suffered from asthma and have seen firsthand how frightening it can be to suddenly be wheezing and fighting for every breath , ' murthy said . asthma can be very difficult for patients , but also for their families . the impacts of climate change could make the situation worse . ' this is not just a future threat -- this is a present threat , ' said brian deese , a senior adviser to the president . deese cited a recent study by the american thoracic society that found seven out of 10 doctors reported climate change is contributing to more health problems among their patients . the good news is that , in addition to having doctors and nurses , public health officials , schools of medicine joining together to raise awareness -- and to in some cases impact their practice -- they anticipate , for example , increased asthma instances , and plan ahead of time to deal with those , ' obama told gupta . what we have is companies like google and microsoft that are going to take data we 're releasing and start developing apps so that , potentially , individual families are going to be able to monitor the air quality in their communities in a real-time basis . ' communities can start planning for prevention and mitigation efforts more effectively , and hopefully the other thing that happens is that families and parents join with these doctors and nurses to start putting some pressure on elected officials to try to make something happen to reduce the impacts of climate change , ' said obama . the impacts of climate change on health will depend on a multitude of factors , according to the environmental protection agency . these factors include the effectiveness of a community 's public health and safety systems to address or prepare for the risk and the behavior , age , gender , and economic status of individuals affected , ' the epa says on its website . impacts will likely vary by region , the sensitivity of populations , the extent and length of exposure to climate change impacts , and society 's ability to adapt to change . ' the world health organization estimates climate change will cause an additional 250,000 deaths per year between 2030 and 2050 . most will likely perish from malaria , diarrhea , heat exposure and under-nutrition . ' around the world , variations in climate are affecting , in profoundly diverse ways , the air we breathe , the food we eat , and the water we drink , ' writes dr. maria neira , director of the who 's public health and environment department . we are losing our capacity to sustain human life in good health . ' consider air pollution , the single greatest environmental health risk we face . in 2012 alone , exposure to indoor and outdoor pollutants killed more than 7 million people -- one in eight deaths worldwide . under-nutrition already accounts for 3 million deaths each year in the world 's poorest regions . rising temperatures and more variable rainfall patters are expected to reduce crop yields , further compromising food security . floods are increasing in frequency and intensity , creating breeding grounds for disease-carrying insects . mosquito-borne diseases , like malaria , are particularly sensitive to heat and humidity . what will happen if rising temperatures accelerate the lifecycle of the malaria parasite ? ' children and the elderly will be among the most vulnerable , ' writes neira . areas with health infrastructure will be least able to cope . developing countries will be hardest hit . the health gaps we have been trying hard to close may grow even wider . ' earth 's average temperature has risen by 1.4 degrees fahrenheit over the past century , and is projected to rise an additional 2 degrees over the next hundred years , according to the epa . small changes in the average temperature of the planet can translate to large and potentially dangerous shifts in climate and weather , ' the agency warns . many places have seen changes in rainfall , resulting in more floods , droughts , or intense rain , as well as more frequent and severe heat waves . ' still , there exists a sizable group of people who doubt climate change is happening . although climate scientists have been in the news describing this winter as a strong signal that global warming is producing extreme weather , americans are no more likely today ( 55 % ) than in the past two years to believe the effects of global warming are occurring , ' according to a march gallup poll . a 2013 time magazine article makes the case that medical professionals may be the best messengers for global warming . framing global warming as a public health issue rather than as an environmental or national security one produces the most emotionally compelling response among people , since it focuses on the immediate implications a warmer climate would have on people 's lives , ' the article says . this strategy also has the benefit of providing a sense of hope that the problems can be addressed and avoided , if action is taken early enough . ' the president said what happened with los angeles'air proved that point . when the clean air act was passed , not only was there a terrible smog in los angeles , it was true in most metropolitan areas across the country , ' obama said . the fact is that air quality has dramatically improved and it 's been much cheaper than anybody expected , because technology advanced and people figured out how to do it . as a consequence , the american people are a lot healthier , in addition to being able to , you know , see the mountains in the background because it 's not covered in smog . ' we know how to do this , ' obama said . we just have to be bold and recognize and trust the kind of innovative spirit that the american people have always displayed . ' | president obama attends howard university roundtable on climate change and public health |
shahzad <tsp> washington ( cnn ) -- the man charged in the failed times square bombing was working with the taliban movement in pakistan , the u.s. attorney general said sunday . the evidence that we have now developed shows the pakistani taliban directed this plot , ' attorney general eric holder said , describing the investigation into suspect faisal shahzad during an appearance on nbc 's meet the press . ' we know that they helped facilitate it , we know they helped direct it , and i suspect we 're going to come up with evidence that shows they helped to finance it , ' holder said . john brennan , the assistant to the president for counterterrorism and homeland security , told cnn 's state of the union ' that the pakistani taliban -- also known as tehrik-e-taliban , or ttp -- is closely allied with al qaeda . the group has pledged to carry out attacks outside of central asia , including the united states , brennan said sunday . shahzad has been charged in the may 1 attempted bombing in times square . he was arrested while trying to fly out of new york on monday night , two days after he allegedly attempted to set off a car bomb in times square . the bomb failed to detonate . it was the second case in the past six months of a bungled terrorist attack in the united states , following the failed bombing of a u.s. airliner on christmas day . brennan said u.s. counterterrorism efforts had degraded the ability of groups such as al qaeda and the taliban to launch successful attacks . they 're trying to find vulnerabilities in our defenses , ' brennan said , noting the attempts have been unsophisticated . ' shahzad , a pakistani-american , had traveled to pakistan several times in recent years , brennan said . he was captured by the murderous rhetoric of al qaeda and ttp , ' brennan said of the suspect . preventing attacks by individuals , especially american citizens such as shahzad , is a very difficult challenge , ' brennan said . the case raised new questions about whether terrorism suspects should be read the miranda warning that advises them of their rights to remain silent and obtain legal representation . critics have accused the obama administration of losing interrogation opportunities by giving miranda warnings to terrorism suspects , including the alleged christmas day airplane bomber and shahzad . brennan said shahzad was interrogated for four hours under an exclusion to the miranda warning involving public safety . authorities then advised shahzad of his rights , as required by law , brennan told the fox news sunday ' program . it did not impede our ability to continue to acquire very important intelligence from him , ' brennan said . it was , i think , a very good example that law enforcement , operating within ... the existing system , were able to leverage the opportunities that they had to get this information . ' also on the fox program , republican rep. peter king of new york argued a change in the miranda warning was necessary . if there 's another 10 , 15 , 20 plots out there , that to me is more important to get all the intelligence we can on that , ' king said . so i think we may have to work on revisions . ' one idea , king said , would set up separate system of justice dealing with american citizens who are allied with a foreign army or a foreign enemy . ' holder also said sunday that he was considering possible changes to the miranda warning . asked whether international terrorism made the current miranda warnings too limited , holder told the abc program this week ' that some adjustment may be necessary . the system is working so far , holder said , but we also want to ... make determinations as to whether or not we have the necessary flexibility , whether we have a system that can deal with the situation that agents now confront . ' we 're now dealing with international terrorism , ' holder said , adding that his department would work with congress to come up with a proposal that is both constitutional , but that is also relevant to our time and the threat that we now face . ' | shahzad is charged in foiled times square car bombing |
shahzad <tsp> washington ( cnn ) -- the man charged in the failed times square bombing was working with the taliban movement in pakistan , the u.s. attorney general said sunday . the evidence that we have now developed shows the pakistani taliban directed this plot , ' attorney general eric holder said , describing the investigation into suspect faisal shahzad during an appearance on nbc 's meet the press . ' we know that they helped facilitate it , we know they helped direct it , and i suspect we 're going to come up with evidence that shows they helped to finance it , ' holder said . john brennan , the assistant to the president for counterterrorism and homeland security , told cnn 's state of the union ' that the pakistani taliban -- also known as tehrik-e-taliban , or ttp -- is closely allied with al qaeda . the group has pledged to carry out attacks outside of central asia , including the united states , brennan said sunday . shahzad has been charged in the may 1 attempted bombing in times square . he was arrested while trying to fly out of new york on monday night , two days after he allegedly attempted to set off a car bomb in times square . the bomb failed to detonate . it was the second case in the past six months of a bungled terrorist attack in the united states , following the failed bombing of a u.s. airliner on christmas day . brennan said u.s. counterterrorism efforts had degraded the ability of groups such as al qaeda and the taliban to launch successful attacks . they 're trying to find vulnerabilities in our defenses , ' brennan said , noting the attempts have been unsophisticated . ' shahzad , a pakistani-american , had traveled to pakistan several times in recent years , brennan said . he was captured by the murderous rhetoric of al qaeda and ttp , ' brennan said of the suspect . preventing attacks by individuals , especially american citizens such as shahzad , is a very difficult challenge , ' brennan said . the case raised new questions about whether terrorism suspects should be read the miranda warning that advises them of their rights to remain silent and obtain legal representation . critics have accused the obama administration of losing interrogation opportunities by giving miranda warnings to terrorism suspects , including the alleged christmas day airplane bomber and shahzad . brennan said shahzad was interrogated for four hours under an exclusion to the miranda warning involving public safety . authorities then advised shahzad of his rights , as required by law , brennan told the fox news sunday ' program . it did not impede our ability to continue to acquire very important intelligence from him , ' brennan said . it was , i think , a very good example that law enforcement , operating within ... the existing system , were able to leverage the opportunities that they had to get this information . ' also on the fox program , republican rep. peter king of new york argued a change in the miranda warning was necessary . if there 's another 10 , 15 , 20 plots out there , that to me is more important to get all the intelligence we can on that , ' king said . so i think we may have to work on revisions . ' one idea , king said , would set up separate system of justice dealing with american citizens who are allied with a foreign army or a foreign enemy . ' holder also said sunday that he was considering possible changes to the miranda warning . asked whether international terrorism made the current miranda warnings too limited , holder told the abc program this week ' that some adjustment may be necessary . the system is working so far , holder said , but we also want to ... make determinations as to whether or not we have the necessary flexibility , whether we have a system that can deal with the situation that agents now confront . ' we 're now dealing with international terrorism , ' holder said , adding that his department would work with congress to come up with a proposal that is both constitutional , but that is also relevant to our time and the threat that we now face . ' | new : faisal shahzad linked to pakistani taliban , u.s. attorney general says |
gypsy lawson <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a washington woman who hid a sedated monkey under her blouse on a flight from thailand was convicted of violating wildlife laws for smuggling the monkey into the united states , prosecutors said tuesday . authorities rescued the monkey from gypsy lawson 's fake womb . gypsy lawson , 28 , and her mother , fran ogren , 56 , were convicted of smuggling and conspiracy to smuggle the monkey in violation of the endangered species act and other federal laws . lawson hid the young rhesus macaque monkey under a loose-fitting blouse on a flight from bangkok , thailand , to los angeles , california , international airport , pretending she was pregnant , the u.s . attorneys office for the eastern district of washington said . permits are required to possess rhesus monkeys and many other species of animals . such permits are granted for research , enhancement and conservation purposes . additionally , transporting such species into the united states requires a customs declaration . lawson and ogren had neither . these defendants purposely undertook a course of action which could well have endangered many citizens , as well as the life of the animal in question , ' said u.s. attorney james mcdevitt . ireport.com : what you 're doing to save the planet and its endangered species rhesus monkeys are known to carry viruses and parasites that can be transmitted to humans , said paul chang , a u.s . fish and wildlife service agent . this particular animal tested negative , ' he said . chang said the monkey has been placed with a rescue center for abandoned primates , but it could have been living out its life with its family in its native habitat . ' authorities found journals and handwritten notes describing the mother and daughter 's attempts to find a monkey small enough to smuggle back to the united states . the journal also described the pair 's acquisition of a small monkey and their experimenting with different medicines to sedate the monkey for their journey home , ' mcdevitt 's office said . authorities also found photographs of lawson at two airports and on an airplane in which she is wearing loose-fitting clothing and appears to be pregnant . the journal confirms that she and her mother smuggled the monkey into the united states by hiding it under her shirt , pretending she was pregnant in order to get past authorities , ' the statement from mcdevitt 's office said . co-defendant james edward pratt , 34 , already has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of possession and transportation of prohibited wildlife . he will be sentenced in january . sentencing for lawson and ogren is scheduled for march 3 , 2009 . the smuggling conviction carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison , a $ 250,000 fine and up to three years of court supervision after release . the conspiracy charge carries a maximum of five years in prison , a $ 250,000 fine and up to three years of court supervision after release . flight itineraries show the pair flew from spokane , washington , to bangkok on november 4-5 , 2007 , with stops in seattle , washington , and inchon , south korea . they returned on a direct flight from bangkok to los angeles , california , on november 28 , 2007 . | gypsy lawson , 28 , faked pregnancy to hide sedated monkey under her blouse |
lebanon <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the special court trying to bring the killers of former lebanese prime minister rafik hariri to justice published wednesday previously secret details of the case against four men it has charged . prosecutors assert that the ringleader of the group had earlier been sentenced to death in kuwait over the 1983 bombings of the u.s. and french embassies there . the suspect , mustafa amine badreddine , escaped from prison in 1990 when saddam hussein 's forces invaded kuwait , the tribunal says in the indictment . he and three other men were indicted by the united nations-backed special tribunal for lebanon in june , and their identities and the charges against them were made public last month . but they remain at-large . the tribunal says it asked lebanese authorities on june 30 to arrest badreddine , salim jamil ayyash , hussein hassan oneissi and assad hassan sabra . as of august 9 , there had been no progress , the court said wednesday . the four are accused of involvement in the bombing that ripped apart hariri 's armored car in beirut on february 14 , 2005 . it destroyed his motorcade , killing him and 21 others , and injuring 231 people . badreddine was the ringleader , prosecutors charge . ayyash was the head of what they call the assassination team , ' and oneissi and sabra were involved in planting a false claim of responsibility in the media , prosecutors say . they add that all four are supporters of hezbollah , the lebanese shiite militant group , and that badreddine and ayyash are related to one of its founders . in a speech , hezbollah leader hassan nasrallah said the indictment contained no direct evidence ' against the men . the text ( of the indictment ) is based on circumstantial evidence whose credibility is contested , ' he said . this makes us more convinced that what is happening is highly unjust and politicized , and this is unfair to the suspects . ' investigators pieced together a timeline of the assassination plot dating back at least as far as november 11 , 2004 , based on cell phone data . they identified five networks of cell phones , including one they claim was used by the assassination team . prosecutors label that the red network . ' a green network ' was used by leaders of the operation , with the last call between phones in that group made about an hour before the blast . prosecutors assume that that 14-second last call was final authorization for the attack to go ahead . the last call on the red network was made about five minutes before the explosion , prosecutors allege . cell phone data suggests that hariri had been under surveillance for at least 15 days before he was killed . it also places ayyash in the location where the vehicle used in the bombing was bought , the indictment says . prosecutors concede in the indictment that the charges are based heavily on circumstantial evidence , but they argue that such information can be stronger than direct evidence ' because it does not rely on things like potentially faulty witness accounts . hariri 's supporters say the businessman-turned-politician was killed because of his opposition to syria 's long-time military presence in his country , and his death led to popular protests , nicknamed the cedar revolution , ' that led damascus to withdraw its troops . syria has denied accusations that it was behind the bombing . the special tribunal 's prosecutor welcomed the publishing of previously confidential parts of the indictment . unsealing the indictment answers many questions about the 14 february 2005 attack , ' daniel bellemare said in a statement . the full story will however only unfold in the courtroom , where an open , public , fair and transparent trial will render a final verdict . ' judge antonio cassese , the president of the special tribunal for lebanon , last week publicly urged the suspects to cooperate . he said in an open letter to the four men that they will be treated fairly if they appear before the court or participate in the trial proceedings without being present . cassese issued the statement after lebanese authorities told him they had been unable to serve the accused warrants and arrest them . in washington , the state department lauded the process . this process is a means of ending the era of impunity for the terrible and tragic violence that has touched all of lebanon 's communities , ' the department said in a statement . cnn 's nada husseini contributed to this report . | the u.n.-backed tribunal asked lebanon to arrest the four suspects in june but they are still at-large |
california <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a massive manhunt that spanned 1,000 miles ended in gunfire in the idaho wild late saturday afternoon -- shots that ended the life of the family friend who was suspected of abducting 16-year-old hannah anderson and killing her mother and brother . the teenager was rescued near morehead lake , idaho , where an fbi tactical agent killed her alleged kidnapper , james dimaggio , around 5:20 p.m ( 7:20 p.m . et ) , authorities said . it 's now healing time , ' brett anderson , hannah 's father , said in a message to cnn . hannah anderson had last been seen in san diego county , california , at her cheerleading practice august 3 . the bodies of her mother , christina anderson , and 8-year-old brother , ethan , were found the next day about 45 miles east in dimaggio 's boulevard house ; lab tests were needed to identify the boy because his remains were so badly charred . that horror spurred a manhunt , which turned to central idaho after a telling tip from a horseback rider and the discovery of dimaggio 's blue nissan versa in the frank church-river of no return wilderness , about 15 miles outside cascade , idaho . by saturday morning , there were more than 250 law enforcement agents on site scouring 300 square miles of rough terrain . by late saturday afternoon , they 'd accomplished their first mission : finding dimaggio and his alleged captive . the pair 's campsite was first spotted from the air , then law enforcement personnel moved in on the ground , said san diego county sheriff bill gore . he said that there had been a confrontation , ' though authorities speaking a short time later in idaho declined to say whether there had been a shootout . however the scene unfolded , it ended with an fbi tactical agent fatally shooting the suspected murderer and kidnapper . obviously we would have liked for mr. dimaggio to surrender and face justice in the court of law , ' gore said . but that 's not going to be the case . ' saga starts in california , ends in idaho the suspect 's car was found after a man on horseback reported he had a brief conversation with two campers in the idaho wilderness on wednesday . the horseback rider was not aware of the manhunt at the time , but he called the amber alert tip line after he saw a news account that night and realized the pair matched the description of dimaggio and hannah anderson , according to ada county , idaho , sheriff 's office spokeswoman andrea dearden . why more amber alerts will be waking you up the rider 's impression was that the pair seemed odd , ' though he was n't alarmed , she said . they did speak and exchange pleasantries . i do n't think there was a lot of information exchanged , ' dearden said . he left the conversation believing they were camping in the area . ' the rider said the man and girl were on foot , hiking with camping gear , dearden said . dimaggio 's car was found unoccupied friday -- hidden by brush and its license plate removed -- spurring authorities to intensify their search in that area even further . this massive effort included law enforcement personnel from a host of federal , state and local agencies , with dearden saying they 'd use every single resource possible . ' still , despite the numbers , they faced a daunting task given the expansive , rugged nature of the area . ultimately , dimaggio was spotted and killed not far from where he left his car , according to dearden . his alleged captive did n't appear to have suffered significant physical injuries , though she was nonetheless helicoptered from the scene to a hospital , the sheriff 's spokeswoman said . hannah is safe , and that was our first priority from the very beginning , ' valley county , idaho , sheriff patti bolen said . she should be reunited sunday morning with her father in idaho , according to gore . in his text to cnn , brett anderson admitted to feeling a range of emotions upon hearing of his daughter 's rescue soon after his wife and son 's death . i am nervous excited saddened 4 my wife and son and worried what my daughter has been through , ' he wrote . father of missing teen pleads for daughter 's release witness : dimaggio had crush a friend of hannah anderson on saturday provided a clearer picture of the relationship between dimaggio and the teen . marissa chavez told cnn that she was in a car with hannah and dimaggio a few months ago when the 40-year-old told hannah he had a crush on her . he followed it up by saying if he was her age , he would date hannah , chavez said . hannah was unnerved by the comments , but did not tell her mother because she did not want to ruin the close relationship that her parents had with dimaggio , chavez said . after that , however , hannah did not want to be alone with dimaggio , chavez said . in an earlier episode , chavez recalled a trip that dimaggio and hannah took to hollywood . the trip was supposed to be for one week , but hannah told chavez that they came back after two days because dimaggio was upset that she was n't paying enough attention to him . i do n't think she would have gone willingly with him at all , ' she said . cnn 's mariano castillo , alicia eakin , michael martinez and anneclaire stapleton contributed to this report . | the alleged captive 's mother , brother was found dead after a fire at dimaggio 's california home |
malala yousafzai <tsp> london ( cnn ) -- pakistani schoolgirl activist malala yousafzai added her voice tuesday to calls for an end to female genital mutilation , a procedure affecting millions of women and girls worldwide . a global girl summit ' is aimed at eradicating the practice , as well as child , early and forced marriage , within a generation . it 's being held in london , hosted by the uk government along with u.n. children 's agency unicef . unicef estimates that at least 125 million women and girls around the world have been subjected to fgm , the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons . ' as many as 30 million girls under the age of 15 may still be at risk , unicef says , although the practice appears to be declining . fgm is concentrated in 29 countries , mostly in africa , according to the agency . generally done without anesthetic , it can have lifelong health consequences including chronic infection , severe pain during urination , menstruation , sexual intercourse , and childbirth , and psychological trauma , ' campaign group equality now states on its website . no one knows how many girls die from fgm . ' according to unicef , social acceptance ' is the most frequently cited reason for supporting the continuation of the practice . the summit -- the first of its kind and attended by representatives of governments , grass-roots organizations , campaigners and survivors from around the world -- aims to change people 's ways of thinking . malala said via twitter : we should not be followers of traditions that go against human rights ... we are human beings and we make traditions . ' alimatu dimonekene , who underwent the procedure at the age of 16 in sierra leone and now campaigns against fgm , told the summit that while she was cut , her daughters never would be . in a video produced ahead of the conference with the national society for the prevention of cruelty to children , a uk children 's charity , she told of the day her life was changed forever . i was 16 . it was a nice warm day , normal day . there was no idea it was going to happen , ' she said . a room was already prepared for what is known in sierra leone as the cutting , ' she said . a friend of her mother 's sat on her chest to try to keep her quiet , dimonekene said , as she struggled against others who were pulling off her clothes and underwear . she came in with a knife and little blades in her hands , ' dimonekene said of the woman who carried out the procedure , who had been hired by her grandmother . and a cloth was put in my mouth so i could n't scream . ' she and a friend who was also cut were left alone in the room . for the next four days we were just crying , no one cleaned us up , we were still bleeding . ' the pain was just getting worse but she was unable to tell anyone , dimonekene said . physically , emotionally , it affected me terribly . ' prime minister david cameron announced new uk government measures tuesday to tackle the problem , a day after a major study revealed that an estimated 137,000 women are affected or at risk of fgm in england and wales . the uk measures include legislation that will mean parents can be prosecuted if they fail to prevent their daughters being cut , as well as extra guidance for police and funding for support for survivors . i 'll make reporting fgm mandatory for doctors , teachers and social workers . let 's end this abhorrent practice once and for all , ' cameron said via twitter . the new study , by city university london and campaign group equality now , is based on an examination of 2011 united kingdom census data , in an effort to determine how many women and girls have moved to the country from places where the practice of mutilation is common . the last major report on the problem in england and wales , in 2007 , estimated that there were 66,000 women affected in the country and 24,000 at risk . the practice is illegal in the uk , but many girls are taken back to their parents'countries of origin for the procedure to be carried out . experts tie the practice to specific ethnic groups rather than a particular religion or country and say there 's a variety of justifications , including diminishing or controlling female sexual desire and ensuring a girl 's marriageability . ' cnn 's richard allen greene contributed to this report . | we should not be followers of traditions that go against human rights , ' says malala yousafzai |
david cameron <tsp> london , england ( cnn ) -- british prime minister gordon brown and his conservative rival david cameron both offered to form an alliance with the minority liberal democrats friday as they jostled for power after an election that failed to create an outright winner . the center-right conservatives won more seats than brown 's labour party in thursday 's fiercely-contested vote but lacked the majority needed to form an effective government -- a rare outcome in british politics . cameron emphasized areas where his party and the liberal democrats agreed , including education reform and scrapping plans for national id cards , while drawing red lines on defense and the economy . he was much vaguer on the liberal democrats'greatest ambition -- electoral reform -- that would probably give them more seats in parliament . cameron said : the best thing for britain now is a new government that works together in that national interest , ' adding that the country needed a strong , stable government that lasts . ' brown said friday he would be willing to negotiate with any party leader , but said that cameron and liberal leader nick clegg were entitled to take as much time as they feel necessary ' to forge a coalition . should the discussions between mr. cameron and mr. clegg come to nothing then i would of course be prepared to discuss with mr. clegg the areas where there may be some measure of agreement between our two parties , ' he said . what happens next ? aware of the uncertainty in the uk financial markets about the outcome of the election and how any future government will tackle the country 's budget deficit , both brown and cameron pledged to work in the national interest . ' ireport : is voting a duty ? clegg indicated he would be willing to talk first to the conservatives . we 're in a fluid political situation , he said . it 's vital that all political parties , all political leaders act in the national interest and not out of narrow party political advantage . ' full election coverage official returns friday showed it would be impossible for any one party to get a majority of seats . the conservative party came in first , with at least 306 seats in the 650-seat parliament , followed by brown 's labour party with at least 258 . the liberal democrats came third , with at least 57 . about two dozen seats went to smaller parties . one seat will not be decided until may 27 , after the election was delayed due to the death of a candidate . it 's very unusual for no party to get an absolute majority of seats in the commons . the last time it happened , in 1974 , voters were back at the polls within months . hung parliament casts shadow over markets several high-profile incumbents lost their seats overnight , including former home secretary jacqui smith , of labour ; and liberal democrat lembit opik , who had been in parliament for 13 years . all had been implicated in last year 's parliamentary expenses scandal . northern ireland first minister peter robinson , who has faced questions over land deals and a scandal involving his wife , also lost his seat . the loss of robinson , head of the democratic unionist party , robs the conservatives of a potential coalition supporter . the green party , which favors environmental and social justice policies , gained its first member of parliament when caroline lucas was elected in brighton , in southern england . there were some scenes of voter anger across the country over long lines to cast ballots or polling stations running out of ballot papers , but it was not immediately clear how widespread problems were . anger at polling stations ' we will be doing a serious and thorough review of this and making recommendations to parliament and the government , ' electoral commission chairwoman jenny watson said . the united kingdom 's system of voting is victorian , antiquated , left over from an era when less people had to vote ' and not designed to cope with mass participation , she said , adding that the system is now at breaking point . ' liberal democrat leader clegg expressed his anger after hundreds of voters were turned away from a polling station in his sheffield constituency . clegg said friday he was disappointed that an exuberant election campaign buoyed by his stellar performance in the country 's first-ever televised prime ministerial debates had failed to deliver hoped-for results . many many people during the election campaign were excited about the prospect of doing something different , but it seems when they came to vote , many of them decided to stick with what they know , ' he said . the liberal democrats'principal policy aim is reform to the electoral system which is currently weighted in favor of labour and the conservatives . under the system , the candidate who receives the most votes in a constituency wins . the system , known as first past the post , ' is praised for its simplicity and the strong ties it forms between voters and representatives , but critics dislike its failure to provide proportional representation . cnn 's melissa gray , richard greene and paul armstrong in london contributed to this report . | leader of conservative party david cameron indicates he could work with lib dems |
copa del rey <tsp> carles puyol is poised to miss spain 's defense of their european championship crown after barcelona confirmed their captain will be out for six weeks with a knee injury . the 34-year-old felt pain in his knee after his side 's 4-0 victory in the barcelona derby against espanyol on saturday -- a game in which he scored . the catalan club have confirmed puyol will undergo surgery to correct the problem and as a result he will miss the copa del rey final against athletic bilbao on may 25 . that match also represents coach pep guardiola 's last game in charge of the club after he , together with puyol as skipper , led barcelona to an unprecedented 13 trophies in his four-year tenure . a statement on the club 's official website read : carles puyol will not be featuring in the copa del rey final on may 25 . the medical services have announced that the player ended the game on saturday against espanyol feeling pain in his right knee . 'following complementary tests , we have decided to subject the player to arthroscopy next saturday may 12 ,'they said . the surgery will be directed by doctor ramon cugat . the catalan is expected to need about six weeks to recover . ' with spain 's opening game of euro 2012 coming against italy on june 10 , it means coach vicente del bosque could be without one of his stalwarts for the tournament . puyol will be a big loss for spain . he played all but seven minutes of their successful 2010 world cup campaign in south africa and scored the winner in his country 's semifinal victory over germany . he played the full 120 minutes in the final against netherlands as spain won soccer 's biggest prize for the first time in their history . two years prior to that , puyol was also an integral part of the spanish team that won the european championships in austria and switzerland . | puyol will miss barcelona 's copa del rey final against athletic bilbao on may 25 |
kennedy <tsp> washington ( cnn ) -- to help mark the 50th anniversary of president john f. kennedy 's inauguration , the united states'largest online digitized presidential archives were unveiled thursday . at the beginning of the event at the national archives in washington , reporters were shown a portion of one of kennedy 's press conferences from the early 1960s in which he addressed the question of where and how his historical documents would be kept . we will find it possible to reproduce the key documents , that they will be commonly available , i would hope , in washington , ' kennedy responded . many original records , however , ended up being kept at the kennedy library in boston , making them not accessible to historians who were unable to travel . now , with advances in critical hardware and software , the most important papers , records , photographs and recordings from kennedy 's time in office will be available online . as of today , anyone in the world with access to the internet can now view , download and analyze the original records of the kennedy administration at the click of a mouse . ' said david s. ferriero , archivist of the united states . caroline kennedy , who attended thursday 's unveiling , believes that the digitization of her father 's records will be useful to today 's youth , in particular . in our increasingly fragmented society , young people are often disconnected and disillusioned with politics . president kennedy 's example -- his words , his spirit -- are more relevant than ever , ' she said , using today 's technology , we will be able to give today 's generation access to the historical record and challenge them to answer my father 's call to service , to solve the problems of our own time . ' four corporations -- at & t , emc , iron mountain and raytheon -- worked together to create the hardware and software needed to make the digitization possible . this new kennedy library digital archives includes more than 200,000 digitized documents , the drafts of every speech delivered by the president , thousands of official white house photographs , and audio of all of president kennedy 's speeches and video of press conferences during his years in office , ' ferriero said . the jfk archives can be viewed at jfklibrary.org . | kennedy had hoped that the key documents ' from his administration would be available |
british <tsp> ( cnn ) -- few issues divide people more sharply than abortion . so it is great news when recently lawmakers across the political aisle in britain voted 181 to 1 to ban sex-selective abortion . the overwhelming support for banning abortion of a fetus based on its gender is progressive , moral and just . but what about gendercide -- the practice of killing baby girls , whether aborted or neglected after birth ? surely , there is no room for disagreement on the need to end gendercide . for every woman who freely chooses to abort a girl , there are countless others who are being forced to do so because of strong cultural preference for son . the sex-selective abortion of baby girls is not a pro-choice or a pro-life issue . it is a human rights issue that must be approached as an area of common ground . it is a woman 's right to give birth to her daughter . for most of us , hearing it 's a girl ' during a pregnancy ultrasound is cause for celebration . but in many countries , this phrase can be a death sentence . in fact , the words , it 's a girl ' are the deadliest words on earth when heard during pregnancy . according to a u.n. estimate , up to 200 million women are missing in the world today due to gendercide . in china , the birth ratio of girls to boys is the most skewed in the world -- approximately 100 girls born for every 118 boys . when couples are restricted to one child , women often become the focus of intense pressure by their husband and in-laws to give birth to a boy . a woman need not be dragged out of her home and strapped down to a table to be a victim of forced abortion . crushing social , economic , political and personal pressures in cultures with a strong son preference trample women who are pregnant with a girl . all too often , women in these cultures do not choose ' their daughters for abortion . they are forced . the terracotta daughters ' exhibit recently on view in new york city gave dramatic visual form to the girls that have been lost to the world through sex-selective abortion -- the haunting stares of an army of the dead . because of gendercide , there are an estimated 37 million more men than women in china . as a result , the presence of excess males ' is one of the driving forces behind human trafficking and sexual slavery , not only in china but in surrounding nations as well . alarmingly , china also has the highest female suicide rate of any country in the world . according to the u.s. state department china human rights report , the number of female suicides has risen sharply in recent years , from 500 women per day to a staggering 590 . i believe that this grim statistic may be in some ways related to pressure on women to selectively abort or abandon their daughters . in india , the sex ratio at birth is 112 boys born for every 100 girls born . indian girls , moreover , die of disease and neglect at a much higher rate than boys . impoverished women in india are often manipulated or pressured into sterilization , which is one way of population control . there are even mass sterilization camps ' where women sometimes die of complications . just this week , in chhattisgarh , one of india 's poorest areas , 11 out of 83 women who were sterilized died . this is the true war on women ' on a global scale . that one-third of the world 's women -- those living in china and india -- are deprived of their right to bear girls is the biggest women 's rights abuse on earth . these women deserve a passionate response from groups that stand for women 's rights . yet the response of the u.s. women 's rights community has ranged from tepid to confused . my organization , women 's rights without frontiers , has launched the save a girl ' campaign in rural china , and we are stopping gendercide , one baby girl at a time . we have fieldworkers in china who reach out to women who have learned that they are pregnant with or have just given birth to a girl , and are being pressured to abort or abandon her . a fieldworker will visit that woman and say , do n't abort or abandon your baby just because she 's a girl . she 's a precious daughter . we will give you a monthly stipend for a year to help you support her . ' the practical support we offer empowers these women to keep their daughters . our effort has helped more than 120 families keep their daughters . we plan to launch a save a girl ' campaign in india in 2015 as well . every struggling mother in china and india deserves help to keep her daughter . together , we can end gendercide one girl at a time and sweep sex-selective abortion into the dung-heap of history , where it belongs . | the british parliament recently voted 181 to 1 to ban sex-selective abortion |
brown <tsp> washington ( cnn ) -- the white house has provided the use of a government airplane to a key democratic senator in order to ensure the availability of what may prove to be the deciding 60th vote in favor of the $ 787 billion economic stimulus package . sen. sherrod brown , d-ohio , could represent the decisive 60th vote on the $ 787 billion economic stimulus package . sen. sherrod brown , d-ohio , has returned to his home state to attend a wake for his 88-year-old mother , who died february 2 from complications from leukemia . at the end of the wake , brown will be flown from mansfield , ohio , to andrews air force base . after he casts his vote , he will return to ohio for his mother 's funeral early saturday . the plane is being provided by the white house , brown 's office said , because the vote is considered official business , ' and there are no commercial flights available that would allow him to cast the vote and return to ohio for his mother 's funeral saturday morning . a white house official refused to provide a cost estimate for the military plane , but acknowledged it will be a higher cost than if he were flying commercial . ' the official said it is a small government plane . ' taking immediate action to save or create 3.5 million jobs and get america 's economy moving again is a top priority for ohio and the nation , ' said the white house official . given that no commercial flights were available that would allow sen. brown to make the vote and to attend services memorializing his mother , the administration provided government transportation to ensure that he could do so . ' while the final senate vote on the stimulus plan began at 5:30 p.m . et , senators are expected to be allowed to vote until after 10:30 p.m. , giving brown enough time to return to the capitol . cnn 's ed henry and ted barrett contributed to this report | sen. sherrod brown , d-ohio , may represent the decisive 60th vote on measure |
brown <tsp> washington ( cnn ) -- the white house has provided the use of a government airplane to a key democratic senator in order to ensure the availability of what may prove to be the deciding 60th vote in favor of the $ 787 billion economic stimulus package . sen. sherrod brown , d-ohio , could represent the decisive 60th vote on the $ 787 billion economic stimulus package . sen. sherrod brown , d-ohio , has returned to his home state to attend a wake for his 88-year-old mother , who died february 2 from complications from leukemia . at the end of the wake , brown will be flown from mansfield , ohio , to andrews air force base . after he casts his vote , he will return to ohio for his mother 's funeral early saturday . the plane is being provided by the white house , brown 's office said , because the vote is considered official business , ' and there are no commercial flights available that would allow him to cast the vote and return to ohio for his mother 's funeral saturday morning . a white house official refused to provide a cost estimate for the military plane , but acknowledged it will be a higher cost than if he were flying commercial . ' the official said it is a small government plane . ' taking immediate action to save or create 3.5 million jobs and get america 's economy moving again is a top priority for ohio and the nation , ' said the white house official . given that no commercial flights were available that would allow sen. brown to make the vote and to attend services memorializing his mother , the administration provided government transportation to ensure that he could do so . ' while the final senate vote on the stimulus plan began at 5:30 p.m . et , senators are expected to be allowed to vote until after 10:30 p.m. , giving brown enough time to return to the capitol . cnn 's ed henry and ted barrett contributed to this report | brown will vote between wake and funeral in ohio for his mother , who died at age 88 |
ohio <tsp> washington ( cnn ) -- the white house has provided the use of a government airplane to a key democratic senator in order to ensure the availability of what may prove to be the deciding 60th vote in favor of the $ 787 billion economic stimulus package . sen. sherrod brown , d-ohio , could represent the decisive 60th vote on the $ 787 billion economic stimulus package . sen. sherrod brown , d-ohio , has returned to his home state to attend a wake for his 88-year-old mother , who died february 2 from complications from leukemia . at the end of the wake , brown will be flown from mansfield , ohio , to andrews air force base . after he casts his vote , he will return to ohio for his mother 's funeral early saturday . the plane is being provided by the white house , brown 's office said , because the vote is considered official business , ' and there are no commercial flights available that would allow him to cast the vote and return to ohio for his mother 's funeral saturday morning . a white house official refused to provide a cost estimate for the military plane , but acknowledged it will be a higher cost than if he were flying commercial . ' the official said it is a small government plane . ' taking immediate action to save or create 3.5 million jobs and get america 's economy moving again is a top priority for ohio and the nation , ' said the white house official . given that no commercial flights were available that would allow sen. brown to make the vote and to attend services memorializing his mother , the administration provided government transportation to ensure that he could do so . ' while the final senate vote on the stimulus plan began at 5:30 p.m . et , senators are expected to be allowed to vote until after 10:30 p.m. , giving brown enough time to return to the capitol . cnn 's ed henry and ted barrett contributed to this report | brown will vote between wake and funeral in ohio for his mother , who died at age 88 |
gary norton <tsp> four years ago , the discovery of 11 decomposed bodies inside an east cleveland home seemed like the kind of devastating , once-in-generations event that would spur change for the better . then , this spring , came the shocking allegations of three women who told police they 'd been held captive for years , sometimes raped and beaten , by a man named ariel castro , in a house just a few miles away . lightning had struck twice . but , surely , it could n't happen again . yet it did . last weekend , authorities found the bodies of three women , wrapped in plastic in a style reminiscent of the victims of serial killer anthony sowell , the man sentenced to death in the 2009 case . it does raise questions : what 's up with cleveland ? why so many high-profile crimes in such a short span ? why such violence against the metro area 's women ? cleveland neighborhood struggles with horrors it 's the kind of question academics could spend an entire career researching and still not reach a satisfying answer . after all , the murder rate in cleveland 's metropolitan area is n't out of line with that of other rust belt communities . and while more rapes are reported per capita than in many other cities , the director of a cleveland rape center says there 's nothing particularly unusual about sexual violence there , compared with other cities . cleveland 's police department declined a cnn request to talk about the recent crimes . but to those who study the city , some patterns do emerge : crushing poverty , dehumanizing unemployment and thousands of tumbledown vacant homes -- ideal places to rape and kill in the shadows . i hate to say this , but in a sense , to a large degree , we have an underclass in the city of cleveland of those that truly are disconnected from the social fabric , from the mainstream economy and society , ' said ronnie dunn , an urban studies professor at cleveland state university . they 're left without anything to grasp onto . ' cleveland and poverty are no strangers . once a hub of the nation 's industrial might -- shipping out seemingly endless streams of iron , steel , machinery and automobiles from its perch on lake erie -- the city that once housed nearly a million people now has barely a third of that population . in east cleveland , where authorities found the three bodies over the weekend , more than half of families with children under the age of 5 live in poverty , according to the u.s. census bureau . the median household income is half that of the nation as a whole . and east cleveland mayor gary norton says 2,500 vacant and abandoned homes crowd his city 's three square miles . across cuyahoga county , home to the entire cleveland metro area , about 76,000 residences are vacant , according to census figures . it 's a perfect environment for crime and social indifference to thrive , said dunn . but that does n't explain what makes cleveland different -- plenty of cities across the nation suffer from urban rot . maybe it 's a history of extreme racial disparity in cuyahoga county 's justice system , crime author james renner says . he says such disparities drive a wedge between police and residents of impoverished areas , making them reluctant to go to authorities to report crime for fear they might be hassled by police themselves . that , he says , allowed criminals time and space to do their work and created the perfect killing fields for these men . ' sowell , for instance , killed for at least two years before he was caught . castro snatched the first of his victims a decade before he was finally arrested . and authorities have not said how long they believe east cleveland 's michael madison , charged in the three most recent deaths , may have been killing . the bodies of his victims were badly decomposed , authorities said this week . one of them was found in an abandoned house . again , similar things could be said of many big cities , where pockets of social rot provide an ideal habitat for criminals to set up shop . violence knows no boundaries , ' norton , the east cleveland mayor , told cnn 's martin savidge . violence occurs in california . it occurs in iowa . it occurs in texas . it occurs in ohio . ' indeed , cleveland 's raw violent crime statistics are n't particularly out of line with those of other big rust belt cities . the city had 84 murders in 2012 and a violent crime rate of 1,386 for every 100,000 residents , according to bureau of justice statistics figures . that 's lower than baltimore 's crime rate and a pale shadow of detroit 's , where 386 people were murdered in 2012 amid a crime rate one and a half times higher than cleveland 's . but the city 's rape statistics do seem to paint a somewhat different picture . in 2012 , police took reports on 92 rapes for every 100,000 residents -- more than double the rate in baltimore or detroit . only a few cities had a higher rate of reported rapes . that might suggest a particular problem with sexual violence against women in the cleveland area , dunn said . there are some things in the culture in this area where it appears that the lives of women in particular have been devalued , ' he said . he said some men seem emasculated by their economic plight , and violence sometimes results . they manifest their lack of control in a violent manner against women , ' dunn said . it might not always result in murder , but it often does in physical abuse . ' sondra miller , who deals with rape victims as interim director of cleveland 's rape crisis center , does n't think violence against women is any more a problem in cleveland than in any other community . she believes that the data show that after years of high-profile cases in cleveland , more people are willing to report rape and sexual assault . could it be just something in the city 's dna ? outrageous crimes are not a new phenomenon : in the 1930s , dismembered bodies kept turning up in the city 's kingsbury run area , a string of killings that to this day remains unsolved . and , as crime author renner points out , the city was once famous for its burning river , once dubbed the mistake on the lake ' and branded with an outsized inferiority complex after decades of being the butt of national jokes . you live here , you grow up here , and there is some kind of weird vibe in the air here that anything 's possible , ' he said . whatever 's going on , miller says , residents ca n't help but wonder , why here ? why us ? ' as cleveland 's gritty side goes on display once again in the national media . i do think we 're all asking how this happens in a city i love and care deeply about , ' miller said . we definitely have more questions than we have answers at this point . ' | violence knows no boundaries , ' east cleveland mayor gary norton says |
hillary clinton <tsp> ( cnn ) -- now that embattled u.s . ambassador to the united nations susan rice has withdrawn her name from secretary of state consideration , attention is turning toward sen. john kerry , d-massachusetts , the other top candidate to replace outgoing secretary of state hillary clinton . republicans opposed to a rice nomination have bandied about kerry 's name for weeks , and thursday , senate minority leader mitch mcconnell told cnn that kerry would be a popular choice with the senate . ' it 's ironic that several prominent republicans are rallying behind kerry , just eight years after their party demonized him during his failed 2004 presidential campaign against president george w. bush . kerry remembered that experience in a statement he released about rice . as someone who has weathered my share of political attacks and understands on a personal level just how difficult politics can be , i 've felt for her throughout these last difficult weeks , but i also know that she will continue to serve with great passion and distinction , ' kerry said . if kerry replaces clinton , who replaces him ? the senior senator from massachusetts is noted for the experience , gravitas and relationship-building skills that could help him succeed as the united states'top diplomat . in his current role as chairman of the senate foreign relations committee , kerry has traveled the globe on behalf of the obama administration to mend frayed relationships . most notably he has traveled to pakistan after a series of incidents , including the raid that killed osama bin laden , that had set relations back . world travel is second nature to kerry . while he was born in denver , on december 11 , 1943 , he spent much of his childhood overseas , living in berlin , then went to a swiss boarding school at age 11 . obama 's cabinet : who 's in , who 's out ? after graduating from yale university in 1966 , kerry was deployed to vietnam as a lieutenant in the u.s. navy . kerry served as a gunboat officer on the mekong delta , earning the silver star , the bronze star and three purple hearts . upon his return home in the early 1970s , kerry gained public recognition as the head of the group vietnam veterans against the war and for his anti-war testimony before the senate foreign relations committee . rice vs. kerry : weighing the odds in 1972 , kerry ran his first campaign , a losing effort for a congressional seat in massachusetts . he eventually entered politics in 1982 as lieutenant governor under massachusetts gov . michael dukakis . two years later , kerry won the u.s. senate seat he has held for five consecutive terms . the vietnam experience came back to haunt kerry during the 2004 presidential election . a republican-funded group called swift boat veterans for truth ' aired campaign ads accusing kerry of lying to receive two of his five combat decorations and criticizing his anti-war activism . the incumbent bush won the electoral college vote 292 to 252 and racked up 3 million more votes than kerry nationwide . after winning his fifth senate race in 2008 , kerry took over the senate foreign relations committee the next january . and while kerry has a powerful voice outside the obama administration in his current role , with rice out of the running , a path to the cabinet has one less obstacle for the man sen. john mccain , r-arizona , jokingly called mr. secretary ' last week . read more : rice once looked like shoo-in ted barrett and jamie crawford contributed to this report from washington . | sen. john kerry looks like the front-runner to replace outgoing secretary of state hillary clinton |
namibia <tsp> london , england ( cnn ) -- let 's say you were making a film . which do you think would be harder ? a . coordinating a mass alien invasion b . invoking tidal waves and tornadoes c. telling a prehistoric love story . roland emmerich and steven strait ( d'leh ) discuss a scene shot in namibia when the young hunter discovers farming for the first time . for roland emmerich , the answer is c. he says 10,000 bc ' is without a doubt the most difficult film he 's ever made . it was n't the time-consuming graphics that took the greatest toll , nor the need to re-record a lot of the dialogue . no , the most challenging aspect of this film was , um , the weather . you 're obsessed with the weather channel , ' emmerich says , of the duration of filming . ninety percent of this movie was [ shot ] outdoors . ' producer michael wimer : it seemed like every time we needed sun , we 'd get rain , every time we needed green landscape , we 'd get snow . there we just got a series of curve balls , the weather is really fickle . ' emmerich says : it 's like somebody did n't like'day after tomorrow'and was like :'we showed him .'' filming started in the wintry peaks of new zealand 's south island , then moved to cape town in south africa , then further north to the desert of namibia . but it was n't just the weather that tested the filmmakers'skill , patience and stamina . see scenes from the film » prehistoric beasts visual effects supervisor karen goulekas started working on project two years before principal filming even started . she broke down the script to see what could be done , and what could n't , then set about the bringing prehistoric animals back to life . perhaps her biggest challenge was to create the film 's terror birds ' , flightless predators with huge beaks that hunt like sharks , suddenly piercing through long grass to snatch their prey before disappearing again . the birds were based on a number of images . during filming the terrifying bird was actually a blue head on a stick . it 's been an experience , ' says camilla belle ( evolet ) , i 've never worked with blue birds before and all that fun stuff . ' see d'leh take on the terror birds » sets after seeing off all manner of prehistoric threats , the film 's hero d'leh and his assembled army are awestruck by an immense'lost'civilization dominated by pyramids that reach up into the sky . not only did the filmmaker build the pyramids ( at dune 7 in namibia ) , they also built miniature replicas of the pyramids ,'god 's palace', the slave quarters and the nile river . the buildings were made in munich before being transport to namibia in 15 sea containers . once assembled , they covered an area of 100 square meters . see the pyramids during a battle scene in the film costumes what to wear when you live in 10,000 bc ? presumably there was n't much choice in those days , which gave the film 's costume designers plenty of scope to use their imagination . they dressed the yagahl tribe , or mammoth hunters , in antelope fur and hides in place of mammoth . but the weather was so cold during filming that some actors also wore thermals underneath . the final scenes required dressing 800 extras as slaves . each costume had to be handmade to conceal the stitching . says costume designer renee april : we had an army in the workshops making beads from clay and glass and sewing them onto the costumes as well as making the fabric and headdresses . ' 1000 sandals also had to be made to order . sound most of the dialogue in the film had to be recorded not once , but twice . peter gleaves , an automated dialogue replacement mixer at de lane lea studios in soho , london explains : the original sound sometimes has background noises -- wind machines , sounds of cars and aeroplanes -- that in a production like '10,000 bc'you do n't want to hear . so to get rid of them you have to get the actors to redo all their lines , or most of their lines . ' steven strait was summoned to london to re-record some of his dialogue . when the revealed cameras dropped in he was working on his grunts . see steven strait grunting and panting ! it 's an action sequence , ' strait explains , so there are very few words . it 's mostly just running and jumping and grunting and doing all sorts of strange sound effects that are going to look incredibly weird in this room , but hopefully it works in the film . ' see the final product of steven 's grunting , the mammoth hunt | film was shot in new zealand 's south island , south africa and namibia |
namibia <tsp> london , england ( cnn ) -- let 's say you were making a film . which do you think would be harder ? a . coordinating a mass alien invasion b . invoking tidal waves and tornadoes c. telling a prehistoric love story . roland emmerich and steven strait ( d'leh ) discuss a scene shot in namibia when the young hunter discovers farming for the first time . for roland emmerich , the answer is c. he says 10,000 bc ' is without a doubt the most difficult film he 's ever made . it was n't the time-consuming graphics that took the greatest toll , nor the need to re-record a lot of the dialogue . no , the most challenging aspect of this film was , um , the weather . you 're obsessed with the weather channel , ' emmerich says , of the duration of filming . ninety percent of this movie was [ shot ] outdoors . ' producer michael wimer : it seemed like every time we needed sun , we 'd get rain , every time we needed green landscape , we 'd get snow . there we just got a series of curve balls , the weather is really fickle . ' emmerich says : it 's like somebody did n't like'day after tomorrow'and was like :'we showed him .'' filming started in the wintry peaks of new zealand 's south island , then moved to cape town in south africa , then further north to the desert of namibia . but it was n't just the weather that tested the filmmakers'skill , patience and stamina . see scenes from the film » prehistoric beasts visual effects supervisor karen goulekas started working on project two years before principal filming even started . she broke down the script to see what could be done , and what could n't , then set about the bringing prehistoric animals back to life . perhaps her biggest challenge was to create the film 's terror birds ' , flightless predators with huge beaks that hunt like sharks , suddenly piercing through long grass to snatch their prey before disappearing again . the birds were based on a number of images . during filming the terrifying bird was actually a blue head on a stick . it 's been an experience , ' says camilla belle ( evolet ) , i 've never worked with blue birds before and all that fun stuff . ' see d'leh take on the terror birds » sets after seeing off all manner of prehistoric threats , the film 's hero d'leh and his assembled army are awestruck by an immense'lost'civilization dominated by pyramids that reach up into the sky . not only did the filmmaker build the pyramids ( at dune 7 in namibia ) , they also built miniature replicas of the pyramids ,'god 's palace', the slave quarters and the nile river . the buildings were made in munich before being transport to namibia in 15 sea containers . once assembled , they covered an area of 100 square meters . see the pyramids during a battle scene in the film costumes what to wear when you live in 10,000 bc ? presumably there was n't much choice in those days , which gave the film 's costume designers plenty of scope to use their imagination . they dressed the yagahl tribe , or mammoth hunters , in antelope fur and hides in place of mammoth . but the weather was so cold during filming that some actors also wore thermals underneath . the final scenes required dressing 800 extras as slaves . each costume had to be handmade to conceal the stitching . says costume designer renee april : we had an army in the workshops making beads from clay and glass and sewing them onto the costumes as well as making the fabric and headdresses . ' 1000 sandals also had to be made to order . sound most of the dialogue in the film had to be recorded not once , but twice . peter gleaves , an automated dialogue replacement mixer at de lane lea studios in soho , london explains : the original sound sometimes has background noises -- wind machines , sounds of cars and aeroplanes -- that in a production like '10,000 bc'you do n't want to hear . so to get rid of them you have to get the actors to redo all their lines , or most of their lines . ' steven strait was summoned to london to re-record some of his dialogue . when the revealed cameras dropped in he was working on his grunts . see steven strait grunting and panting ! it 's an action sequence , ' strait explains , so there are very few words . it 's mostly just running and jumping and grunting and doing all sorts of strange sound effects that are going to look incredibly weird in this room , but hopefully it works in the film . ' see the final product of steven 's grunting , the mammoth hunt | miniature pyramids ,'god 's palace', made in munich then shipped to namibia |
sars <tsp> ( cnn ) -- managing ebola demands as much of our diligence in infection control practice as sars did . and though ebola may , in theory , be less contagious than the airborne sars or middle east respiratory syndrome viruses , it is spread through direct contact with infected body fluids or organs and has been demonstrably and tragically more fatal . the sars experience in canada , though harrowing at the time , has helped us better prepare . in 2003 , 224 people in toronto were diagnosed with sars , and 38 people died . sars , which stands for severe acute respiratory syndrome , had originated in china and became a worldwide epidemic . no longer are highly infectious diseases a world away . we have become more sensitive about just how global any infectious disease can be , and that it 's easy enough to import ' a disease . sars also reminded us that many infections may be spread and acquired by patients , visitors and staff in health care settings . after sars , that sensitivity translated into planning and implementation for the eventuality that a patient with another infectious disease may present at our door . we are ready with protocols in place , in particular for adequate screening with the travel history of new patients , providing health care providers with personal protective equipment and ongoing training in its appropriate use , and ensuring rigorous environmental cleaning practices for all patient care areas . we regularly engage our health care providers on the critical importance of knowing how to appropriately put on and remove personal protective equipment . we have the advantage of learning from experiences in west africa . many of the centers that have been set up for dealing with ebola patients there now use a buddy system to help ensure that everyone puts on and takes off personal protective equipment in the safest way possible , and we are going to be implementing that policy here . the sars experience also increased our emphasis on proper hand hygiene . one can not just rely on the barriers like personal protective equipment . we need to also rely on the important and fundamental practice of cleaning one 's hands . proper hand hygiene includes washing with soap and water , or use of an alcohol-based hand wash rub , before and after each patient contact . we and other facilities across the country conduct regular audits for hand hygiene compliance . planning and implementation require resources and expertise , and there is no question that after sars , nationally and federally , our government acknowledged and addressed the need to strengthen our public health services . hospitals were given additional resources to ensure they had appropriate infection prevention and control infrastructure , including adequate isolation facilities across the country . hospital accreditation standards and guidelines were also substantially bolstered to ensure adequate attention to infection prevention and control . more policies were developed to address these kinds of wide-impact infectious diseases scenarios . sars also taught us the importance of communication , consistent messages , and accountability for dealing with these types of wide-impact events , and of making everyone aware -- both internally to patients and staff , and externally to the community served by the hospital -- of the situation and what measures were being implemented . today , our lines of communication are much more open . we began a planning process months ago in collaboration with public health agencies for the eventuality that an ebola patient may present at our hospital . it is not an eventuality we look forward to , but given the lessons we have learned , we are better informed and prepared . | sars killed 38 people in toronto ; dr. andrew simor says there were lessons learned |
nebraska <tsp> ( cnn ) -- as you celebrate the holiday season , make time to see alexander payne 's brilliant new film , nebraska . ' the movie is a riveting story , filmed in black and white , about an elderly man named woody grant ( played by bruce dern ) who takes a road trip with his youngest son , david ( played by will forte ) . the two of them drive from billings , montana , to lincoln , nebraska . woody , an alcoholic who has lived a hard life , is convinced that he has won a million dollars based on a letter from a company that sells magazine subscriptions . david tries to explain to his gruff father that the letter is simply a ploy to convince him to purchase subscriptions . the father is determined , and desperate , to claim the prize . with a kind heart , david ends up taking his dad on the trip to play out his dream . throughout the film , viewers see a landscape that is visually beautiful and economically devastating . the two travel through towns that are aging and fading , where almost every character is struggling to make ends meet . indeed , the fact that woody is depending on this kind of letter to find fortune is in itself a devastating statement about what has become of the american dream . david , a struggling salesman in the audio and electronics business , at one point asks what his father would actually do with a million dollars . it turns out that all woody really wants is a new truck and an air compressor . that 's the limit of his aspirations . he ca n't even dream of anything more or of a better way to obtain it . the movie is a powerful statement about the economic challenges that face so many americans who live in , or on the verge of , poverty . one of the greatest tragedies of the current political era is that neither party has been doing much to make things better . like woody , many americans cling on for their economic lives , daring to dream based on the flimsiest of opportunities . while the american dream once revolved around making your way up through a union job , selling products to consumers or starting a small business , today for many americans that dream has come down to hoping to win sweepstakes , contests that are doomed to disappoint almost everyone . in this context , it 's remarkable that in recent years , many republicans have actually threatened to make things more difficult in these communities . besides the fact that the national gop has not supported any kind of substantive policies to invest in certain regions to kick start economic growth , congressional republicans have launched an all-out assault on the social safety net . the house gop , for example , has pushed for a reduction in food stamps , one of the most important benefits upon which millions of americans have depended since the 1960s . rep. paul ryan of wisconsin has called for a conservative war on poverty that relies on private markets , voluntarism and vouchers to help the poor while he simultaneously promotes stringent budget cuts in nondefense spending that would weaken government support systems such as food stamps or the earned income tax credit . republicans have pushed for major reductions in programs such as social security and medicare . many republican governors are continuing to reject the expanded medicaid funding in the affordable care act , which would be hugely beneficial to the poor and working poor . there are many more democrats who are clearly interested in using government to tackle some of the conditions with which the characters in nebraska ' have to cope , though the actual programs they seek to put into place remain unclear ( outside of the aca , which is hugely significant ) . president barack obama delivered a speech last week on economic inequality , calling on politicians to do more to address the issue , which he characterized as the defining challenge of our time . ' the president called on congress to pass legislation strengthening unions , raising the minimum wage , reducing the gender pay gap and making college more affordable . but until now , there has been little movement during by the obama white house to deal with these kinds of structural economic problems . obama has also faced fierce opposition whenever he raises these issues . many democrats assume that tackling poverty is politically impossible today , so they invest more energy in programs that will win them votes in prosperous suburban communities . the nation ca n't afford to continue along this path . fifty years ago next year , president lyndon johnson and the 88th congress launched a war on poverty that committed government funding and created an agency to help impoverished americans become self-sufficient and restore their communities . for over a decade , the program had many beneficial effects and played a role in diminishing the number of people living under the worst economic conditions . a recent paper from the center on budget and policy priorities showed how government supports created since the new deal lift millions of americans out of poverty . in 2011 , the paper found , the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit rescued 9.4 million people from the grasp of poverty . to be sure , the war on poverty suffered from many shortcomings . the funding for the programs was always meager compared with the inflated promises that came from elected officials . some of the programs created huge friction among democrats as local politicians did n't like what community activists did with federal money that was out of their control . conservatives have also railed against the unintended consequences of the programs , claiming they made recipients dependent on government . regardless of the criticism , this was a period when the federal government tried to do something . importantly , it was not just liberals who were behind these programs , but also conservatives such as southern democrat phil landrum of georgia , who sponsored the economic opportunity act of 1964 in the house . the time has come to focus our attention on the issue of systematic poverty once again , to make sure that we move the nation on a path toward a better christmas in nebraska . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of julian zelizer . | nebraska ' vividly shows deterioration in middle-class america |
zelizer <tsp> ( cnn ) -- as you celebrate the holiday season , make time to see alexander payne 's brilliant new film , nebraska . ' the movie is a riveting story , filmed in black and white , about an elderly man named woody grant ( played by bruce dern ) who takes a road trip with his youngest son , david ( played by will forte ) . the two of them drive from billings , montana , to lincoln , nebraska . woody , an alcoholic who has lived a hard life , is convinced that he has won a million dollars based on a letter from a company that sells magazine subscriptions . david tries to explain to his gruff father that the letter is simply a ploy to convince him to purchase subscriptions . the father is determined , and desperate , to claim the prize . with a kind heart , david ends up taking his dad on the trip to play out his dream . throughout the film , viewers see a landscape that is visually beautiful and economically devastating . the two travel through towns that are aging and fading , where almost every character is struggling to make ends meet . indeed , the fact that woody is depending on this kind of letter to find fortune is in itself a devastating statement about what has become of the american dream . david , a struggling salesman in the audio and electronics business , at one point asks what his father would actually do with a million dollars . it turns out that all woody really wants is a new truck and an air compressor . that 's the limit of his aspirations . he ca n't even dream of anything more or of a better way to obtain it . the movie is a powerful statement about the economic challenges that face so many americans who live in , or on the verge of , poverty . one of the greatest tragedies of the current political era is that neither party has been doing much to make things better . like woody , many americans cling on for their economic lives , daring to dream based on the flimsiest of opportunities . while the american dream once revolved around making your way up through a union job , selling products to consumers or starting a small business , today for many americans that dream has come down to hoping to win sweepstakes , contests that are doomed to disappoint almost everyone . in this context , it 's remarkable that in recent years , many republicans have actually threatened to make things more difficult in these communities . besides the fact that the national gop has not supported any kind of substantive policies to invest in certain regions to kick start economic growth , congressional republicans have launched an all-out assault on the social safety net . the house gop , for example , has pushed for a reduction in food stamps , one of the most important benefits upon which millions of americans have depended since the 1960s . rep. paul ryan of wisconsin has called for a conservative war on poverty that relies on private markets , voluntarism and vouchers to help the poor while he simultaneously promotes stringent budget cuts in nondefense spending that would weaken government support systems such as food stamps or the earned income tax credit . republicans have pushed for major reductions in programs such as social security and medicare . many republican governors are continuing to reject the expanded medicaid funding in the affordable care act , which would be hugely beneficial to the poor and working poor . there are many more democrats who are clearly interested in using government to tackle some of the conditions with which the characters in nebraska ' have to cope , though the actual programs they seek to put into place remain unclear ( outside of the aca , which is hugely significant ) . president barack obama delivered a speech last week on economic inequality , calling on politicians to do more to address the issue , which he characterized as the defining challenge of our time . ' the president called on congress to pass legislation strengthening unions , raising the minimum wage , reducing the gender pay gap and making college more affordable . but until now , there has been little movement during by the obama white house to deal with these kinds of structural economic problems . obama has also faced fierce opposition whenever he raises these issues . many democrats assume that tackling poverty is politically impossible today , so they invest more energy in programs that will win them votes in prosperous suburban communities . the nation ca n't afford to continue along this path . fifty years ago next year , president lyndon johnson and the 88th congress launched a war on poverty that committed government funding and created an agency to help impoverished americans become self-sufficient and restore their communities . for over a decade , the program had many beneficial effects and played a role in diminishing the number of people living under the worst economic conditions . a recent paper from the center on budget and policy priorities showed how government supports created since the new deal lift millions of americans out of poverty . in 2011 , the paper found , the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit rescued 9.4 million people from the grasp of poverty . to be sure , the war on poverty suffered from many shortcomings . the funding for the programs was always meager compared with the inflated promises that came from elected officials . some of the programs created huge friction among democrats as local politicians did n't like what community activists did with federal money that was out of their control . conservatives have also railed against the unintended consequences of the programs , claiming they made recipients dependent on government . regardless of the criticism , this was a period when the federal government tried to do something . importantly , it was not just liberals who were behind these programs , but also conservatives such as southern democrat phil landrum of georgia , who sponsored the economic opportunity act of 1964 in the house . the time has come to focus our attention on the issue of systematic poverty once again , to make sure that we move the nation on a path toward a better christmas in nebraska . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of julian zelizer . | zelizer says american politicians of both parties failing their down-and-out constituents |
zelizer <tsp> ( cnn ) -- as you celebrate the holiday season , make time to see alexander payne 's brilliant new film , nebraska . ' the movie is a riveting story , filmed in black and white , about an elderly man named woody grant ( played by bruce dern ) who takes a road trip with his youngest son , david ( played by will forte ) . the two of them drive from billings , montana , to lincoln , nebraska . woody , an alcoholic who has lived a hard life , is convinced that he has won a million dollars based on a letter from a company that sells magazine subscriptions . david tries to explain to his gruff father that the letter is simply a ploy to convince him to purchase subscriptions . the father is determined , and desperate , to claim the prize . with a kind heart , david ends up taking his dad on the trip to play out his dream . throughout the film , viewers see a landscape that is visually beautiful and economically devastating . the two travel through towns that are aging and fading , where almost every character is struggling to make ends meet . indeed , the fact that woody is depending on this kind of letter to find fortune is in itself a devastating statement about what has become of the american dream . david , a struggling salesman in the audio and electronics business , at one point asks what his father would actually do with a million dollars . it turns out that all woody really wants is a new truck and an air compressor . that 's the limit of his aspirations . he ca n't even dream of anything more or of a better way to obtain it . the movie is a powerful statement about the economic challenges that face so many americans who live in , or on the verge of , poverty . one of the greatest tragedies of the current political era is that neither party has been doing much to make things better . like woody , many americans cling on for their economic lives , daring to dream based on the flimsiest of opportunities . while the american dream once revolved around making your way up through a union job , selling products to consumers or starting a small business , today for many americans that dream has come down to hoping to win sweepstakes , contests that are doomed to disappoint almost everyone . in this context , it 's remarkable that in recent years , many republicans have actually threatened to make things more difficult in these communities . besides the fact that the national gop has not supported any kind of substantive policies to invest in certain regions to kick start economic growth , congressional republicans have launched an all-out assault on the social safety net . the house gop , for example , has pushed for a reduction in food stamps , one of the most important benefits upon which millions of americans have depended since the 1960s . rep. paul ryan of wisconsin has called for a conservative war on poverty that relies on private markets , voluntarism and vouchers to help the poor while he simultaneously promotes stringent budget cuts in nondefense spending that would weaken government support systems such as food stamps or the earned income tax credit . republicans have pushed for major reductions in programs such as social security and medicare . many republican governors are continuing to reject the expanded medicaid funding in the affordable care act , which would be hugely beneficial to the poor and working poor . there are many more democrats who are clearly interested in using government to tackle some of the conditions with which the characters in nebraska ' have to cope , though the actual programs they seek to put into place remain unclear ( outside of the aca , which is hugely significant ) . president barack obama delivered a speech last week on economic inequality , calling on politicians to do more to address the issue , which he characterized as the defining challenge of our time . ' the president called on congress to pass legislation strengthening unions , raising the minimum wage , reducing the gender pay gap and making college more affordable . but until now , there has been little movement during by the obama white house to deal with these kinds of structural economic problems . obama has also faced fierce opposition whenever he raises these issues . many democrats assume that tackling poverty is politically impossible today , so they invest more energy in programs that will win them votes in prosperous suburban communities . the nation ca n't afford to continue along this path . fifty years ago next year , president lyndon johnson and the 88th congress launched a war on poverty that committed government funding and created an agency to help impoverished americans become self-sufficient and restore their communities . for over a decade , the program had many beneficial effects and played a role in diminishing the number of people living under the worst economic conditions . a recent paper from the center on budget and policy priorities showed how government supports created since the new deal lift millions of americans out of poverty . in 2011 , the paper found , the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit rescued 9.4 million people from the grasp of poverty . to be sure , the war on poverty suffered from many shortcomings . the funding for the programs was always meager compared with the inflated promises that came from elected officials . some of the programs created huge friction among democrats as local politicians did n't like what community activists did with federal money that was out of their control . conservatives have also railed against the unintended consequences of the programs , claiming they made recipients dependent on government . regardless of the criticism , this was a period when the federal government tried to do something . importantly , it was not just liberals who were behind these programs , but also conservatives such as southern democrat phil landrum of georgia , who sponsored the economic opportunity act of 1964 in the house . the time has come to focus our attention on the issue of systematic poverty once again , to make sure that we move the nation on a path toward a better christmas in nebraska . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of julian zelizer . | julian zelizer : a new film presents stark portrait of struggling americans |
dallas <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a rash of inclement weather shut down dallas-fort worth international airport tuesday morning , raising questions as to whether super bowl fans will face travel problems ahead of sunday 's big game . icy road conditions on tuesday forced schools and some government offices to close , while 60 municipal trucks salted and scraped their way through dallas , texas , said mayoral spokesman frank librio . but forecasters expect the blustery winter weather to leave the region -- and much of the country -- by thursday , just as the first wave of pigskin enthusiasts are due to arrive . we have been planning for this for a whole year , ' librio said of sunday 's match-up between the green bay packers and pittsburgh steelers . we 'll be ready . ' both teams and their fans are cold weather clubs , accustomed to the frozen tundra of lambeau field in green bay , wisconsin , and heinz field in pittsburgh , pennsylvania . ireport : planning for a super bowl road trip ? but as a massive winter storm sweeps across the nation 's heartland , up to 500 dallas flights are expected to be canceled , said airport spokesman david magana , making re-bookings difficult for those with early travel plans . with more than 30 states under winter storm warnings or blizzard warnings , air traffic came to a halt in some places . dallas and houston in texas and chicago , illinois , are feeling the most impact , said faa spokeswoman tammy jones . transport personnel had reopened one runway at dallas-fort worth airport by tuesday afternoon , authorities said . meanwhile , dallas love field airport was down to one open runway , according to the faa . forecasters say the sub-freezing temperatures will let up friday , reaching highs of 42 degrees . but super bowl xlv , scheduled to begin sunday at 6:30pm et , is expected to draw thousands of fans to the texan gridiron in search of warmer weather . forecasters say dallas temperatures will bump up to a high of 61 degrees by game day . while not exactly balmy conditions , the warm weather super bowl tradition could more abruptly end three years from now . the new meadowlands stadium , co-owned by the new york giants and jets , won the bid to host super bowl xlviii in east rutherford , new jersey . fans may be forced to don winter gloves underneath their foam fingers in what could be the nation 's first true cold-weather classic in 2014 . the big game is customarily played in either domed stadiums or warm weather states . the 1967 ice-bowl , ' in which the packers edged out a 21-17 win over the dallas cowboys , was played in frigid temperatures at lambeau field in the 35th national football league championship game . green bay then traveled to los angeles to defeat the kansas city chiefs 35-10 in the very first super bowl . | forecasters say dallas temperatures will bump up to a high of 61 degrees by game day |
dallas <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a rash of inclement weather shut down dallas-fort worth international airport tuesday morning , raising questions as to whether super bowl fans will face travel problems ahead of sunday 's big game . icy road conditions on tuesday forced schools and some government offices to close , while 60 municipal trucks salted and scraped their way through dallas , texas , said mayoral spokesman frank librio . but forecasters expect the blustery winter weather to leave the region -- and much of the country -- by thursday , just as the first wave of pigskin enthusiasts are due to arrive . we have been planning for this for a whole year , ' librio said of sunday 's match-up between the green bay packers and pittsburgh steelers . we 'll be ready . ' both teams and their fans are cold weather clubs , accustomed to the frozen tundra of lambeau field in green bay , wisconsin , and heinz field in pittsburgh , pennsylvania . ireport : planning for a super bowl road trip ? but as a massive winter storm sweeps across the nation 's heartland , up to 500 dallas flights are expected to be canceled , said airport spokesman david magana , making re-bookings difficult for those with early travel plans . with more than 30 states under winter storm warnings or blizzard warnings , air traffic came to a halt in some places . dallas and houston in texas and chicago , illinois , are feeling the most impact , said faa spokeswoman tammy jones . transport personnel had reopened one runway at dallas-fort worth airport by tuesday afternoon , authorities said . meanwhile , dallas love field airport was down to one open runway , according to the faa . forecasters say the sub-freezing temperatures will let up friday , reaching highs of 42 degrees . but super bowl xlv , scheduled to begin sunday at 6:30pm et , is expected to draw thousands of fans to the texan gridiron in search of warmer weather . forecasters say dallas temperatures will bump up to a high of 61 degrees by game day . while not exactly balmy conditions , the warm weather super bowl tradition could more abruptly end three years from now . the new meadowlands stadium , co-owned by the new york giants and jets , won the bid to host super bowl xlviii in east rutherford , new jersey . fans may be forced to don winter gloves underneath their foam fingers in what could be the nation 's first true cold-weather classic in 2014 . the big game is customarily played in either domed stadiums or warm weather states . the 1967 ice-bowl , ' in which the packers edged out a 21-17 win over the dallas cowboys , was played in frigid temperatures at lambeau field in the 35th national football league championship game . green bay then traveled to los angeles to defeat the kansas city chiefs 35-10 in the very first super bowl . | icy weather in dallas is raising questions over whether super bowl fans will face travel problems |
dallas <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a rash of inclement weather shut down dallas-fort worth international airport tuesday morning , raising questions as to whether super bowl fans will face travel problems ahead of sunday 's big game . icy road conditions on tuesday forced schools and some government offices to close , while 60 municipal trucks salted and scraped their way through dallas , texas , said mayoral spokesman frank librio . but forecasters expect the blustery winter weather to leave the region -- and much of the country -- by thursday , just as the first wave of pigskin enthusiasts are due to arrive . we have been planning for this for a whole year , ' librio said of sunday 's match-up between the green bay packers and pittsburgh steelers . we 'll be ready . ' both teams and their fans are cold weather clubs , accustomed to the frozen tundra of lambeau field in green bay , wisconsin , and heinz field in pittsburgh , pennsylvania . ireport : planning for a super bowl road trip ? but as a massive winter storm sweeps across the nation 's heartland , up to 500 dallas flights are expected to be canceled , said airport spokesman david magana , making re-bookings difficult for those with early travel plans . with more than 30 states under winter storm warnings or blizzard warnings , air traffic came to a halt in some places . dallas and houston in texas and chicago , illinois , are feeling the most impact , said faa spokeswoman tammy jones . transport personnel had reopened one runway at dallas-fort worth airport by tuesday afternoon , authorities said . meanwhile , dallas love field airport was down to one open runway , according to the faa . forecasters say the sub-freezing temperatures will let up friday , reaching highs of 42 degrees . but super bowl xlv , scheduled to begin sunday at 6:30pm et , is expected to draw thousands of fans to the texan gridiron in search of warmer weather . forecasters say dallas temperatures will bump up to a high of 61 degrees by game day . while not exactly balmy conditions , the warm weather super bowl tradition could more abruptly end three years from now . the new meadowlands stadium , co-owned by the new york giants and jets , won the bid to host super bowl xlviii in east rutherford , new jersey . fans may be forced to don winter gloves underneath their foam fingers in what could be the nation 's first true cold-weather classic in 2014 . the big game is customarily played in either domed stadiums or warm weather states . the 1967 ice-bowl , ' in which the packers edged out a 21-17 win over the dallas cowboys , was played in frigid temperatures at lambeau field in the 35th national football league championship game . green bay then traveled to los angeles to defeat the kansas city chiefs 35-10 in the very first super bowl . | up to 500 dallas flights are expected to be canceled tuesday , airport officials said |
indiana <tsp> ( cnn ) -- an indiana lawmaker who opposes celebrating the centennial anniversary of the girl scouts of america says the group sexualizes ' young girls , promotes homosexuality and is a tactical arm of planned parenthood . in a letter sent to members of the republican caucus , indiana state rep. bob morris said many parents were abandoning the girl scouts because they promote homosexual lifestyles . ' as members of the indiana house of representatives , we must be wise before we use the credibility and respect of the'peoples'house'to extend legitimacy to a radicalized organization , ' morris said , warning lawmakers not to endorse a group that has been subverted in the name of liberal progressive politics and the destruction of traditional american family values . ' in the saturday letter , obtained by cnn affiliate wrtv-tv in indianapolis , morris lobbied lawmakers to oppose a nonbinding resolution celebrating the 100th anniversary of the girl scouts . morris was the only member not to sign the measure . after doing what he called a small amount ' of research on the internet , morris said , he and his wife concluded the girl scouts have become a tactical arm of planned parenthood and are part of an agenda that includes sexualizing ' young girls . morris'two daughters have been pulled from the girl scouts , he said , and instead will become active in american heritage girls little flowers organization -- a group that will not confuse their conservative hoosier upbringing . ' morris said he takes the stand despite the knowledge that 99.9 % of girl scout troops in this country ' are run by good leaders , he told wrtv . the concern , he said , is where the money goes on the national level . in a statement , the girl scouts said , regarding representative morris , if the freshman representative wishes to discredit the contributions that hundreds of thousands of indiana women and girls have made through the girl scouts program over the last 100 years , then he 's entitled to his opinion . not only is rep. morris off the mark on his claims , it 's also unfortunate in his limited research that he failed to discover that since 1917 , every first lady has served as the honorary leader of girl scouts , including nancy reagan , barbara bush and laura bush . ' betty cockrum , president and ceo of planned parenthood of indiana , said she was disappointed in morris'words , calling them inflammatory , misleading , woefully inaccurate and harmful . ' the controversy is the latest involving planned parenthood and its affiliates . the susan g. komen for the cure foundation briefly cut funding for some planned parenthood projects , saying it decided it would no longer fund groups under federal investigation . congress in september began investigating whether planned parenthood illegally used federal funds to provide abortions . after komen 's initial decision , planned parenthood said money from the foundation has largely paid for breast exams at local centers . in the past five years , it said , grants from komen have directly supported 170,000 screenings , making up about 4 % of the exams performed at planned parenthood clinics nationwide . karen handel , a vice president with the komen foundation , resigned her position this month following uproar over komen 's actions . in stark contrast to his colleague , indiana house speaker brian bosma , also a republican , handed out girl scout cookies on the floor of the general assembly on tuesday . there are a lot of sideshows at the general assembly ... and all walks of life , and you just have to determine which ones you 're going to go into , ' bosma told cnn affiliate wish-tv in indianapolis . read more about this story from cnn affiliates wrtv and wish . | indiana 's house speaker hands out girl scout cookies |
indiana <tsp> ( cnn ) -- an indiana lawmaker who opposes celebrating the centennial anniversary of the girl scouts of america says the group sexualizes ' young girls , promotes homosexuality and is a tactical arm of planned parenthood . in a letter sent to members of the republican caucus , indiana state rep. bob morris said many parents were abandoning the girl scouts because they promote homosexual lifestyles . ' as members of the indiana house of representatives , we must be wise before we use the credibility and respect of the'peoples'house'to extend legitimacy to a radicalized organization , ' morris said , warning lawmakers not to endorse a group that has been subverted in the name of liberal progressive politics and the destruction of traditional american family values . ' in the saturday letter , obtained by cnn affiliate wrtv-tv in indianapolis , morris lobbied lawmakers to oppose a nonbinding resolution celebrating the 100th anniversary of the girl scouts . morris was the only member not to sign the measure . after doing what he called a small amount ' of research on the internet , morris said , he and his wife concluded the girl scouts have become a tactical arm of planned parenthood and are part of an agenda that includes sexualizing ' young girls . morris'two daughters have been pulled from the girl scouts , he said , and instead will become active in american heritage girls little flowers organization -- a group that will not confuse their conservative hoosier upbringing . ' morris said he takes the stand despite the knowledge that 99.9 % of girl scout troops in this country ' are run by good leaders , he told wrtv . the concern , he said , is where the money goes on the national level . in a statement , the girl scouts said , regarding representative morris , if the freshman representative wishes to discredit the contributions that hundreds of thousands of indiana women and girls have made through the girl scouts program over the last 100 years , then he 's entitled to his opinion . not only is rep. morris off the mark on his claims , it 's also unfortunate in his limited research that he failed to discover that since 1917 , every first lady has served as the honorary leader of girl scouts , including nancy reagan , barbara bush and laura bush . ' betty cockrum , president and ceo of planned parenthood of indiana , said she was disappointed in morris'words , calling them inflammatory , misleading , woefully inaccurate and harmful . ' the controversy is the latest involving planned parenthood and its affiliates . the susan g. komen for the cure foundation briefly cut funding for some planned parenthood projects , saying it decided it would no longer fund groups under federal investigation . congress in september began investigating whether planned parenthood illegally used federal funds to provide abortions . after komen 's initial decision , planned parenthood said money from the foundation has largely paid for breast exams at local centers . in the past five years , it said , grants from komen have directly supported 170,000 screenings , making up about 4 % of the exams performed at planned parenthood clinics nationwide . karen handel , a vice president with the komen foundation , resigned her position this month following uproar over komen 's actions . in stark contrast to his colleague , indiana house speaker brian bosma , also a republican , handed out girl scout cookies on the floor of the general assembly on tuesday . there are a lot of sideshows at the general assembly ... and all walks of life , and you just have to determine which ones you 're going to go into , ' bosma told cnn affiliate wish-tv in indianapolis . read more about this story from cnn affiliates wrtv and wish . | indiana state rep. bob morris lobbies against honoring girl scouts |
lisa jackson <tsp> a federal judge has dismissed the racial discrimination claims in a lawsuit filed by a former employee against paula deen , the celebrity chef 's representative said monday . the former employee ca n't claim to be a victim of racial discrimination targeting african-american workers because she is white , u.s. district judge william t. moore jr. ruled . at best , plaintiff is an accidental victim of the alleged racial discrimination , ' moore wrote . other aspects of the lawsuit , including sexual harassment and abusive treatment , are still pending . we are pleased with the court 's ruling today that lisa jackson 's claims of race discrimination have been dismissed , ' deen 's representatives said in a statement to cnn . as ms. deen has stated before , she is confident that those who truly know how she lives her life know that she believes in equal opportunity , kindness and fairness for everyone . ' paula deen -- from the frying pan to the firestorm deen 's career and public reputation went into a tailspin earlier this summer after her deposition in the lawsuit , in which she admitted using the n-word in the past , was released . dean has insisted she does not tolerate prejudice , but her apologies have failed to suppress the controversy . former employee lisa jackson alleged in the federal suit that deen and her brother bubba hiers committed numerous acts of violence , discrimination and racism that resulted in the end of her five years of employment at the lady and sons , and uncle bubba 's oyster house , two savannah , georgia , restaurants run by deen and her family . savannah is where deen built her business and brand into what many consider the folksy face of southern cooking . share your thoughts on the dismissal in the media firestorm that followed , deen lost lucrative endorsements and her food network cooking show , while the publication of her eagerly anticipated cookbook was canceled . jackson 's complaint alleged that a racially biased attitude prevailed throughout and pervaded defendants restaurant operations , ' and that african-american staff could use the restaurant 's rear entrance only . she claimed that a racist atmosphere caused her immense personal and work related emotional and physical distress ' because employees came to her complain and for help , which she felt obligated to give but was unable to fully provide . ' she suffered from the discrimination because the conduct denies her right to associate in the workplace with persons of other races , ' the suit said . it deprived her of harmonious working relationships with her african-american subordinates ' and denied her the right to work free from racial harassment , ' it alleged . there are no allegations that defendant hiers'racially offensive comments were either directed toward plaintiff or made with the intent to harass her , ' the judge ruled . deen and hiers still face the sex harassment allegations by jackson , who began as a hostess at uncle bubba 's in 2005 and worked her way up to general manager before she was fired in august 2010 . the complaint said the company was a boy 's club ' with men in management positions , and women are not invited to take on substantial decision-making roles . ' jackson contended that hiers subjected her to sexual harassment on an almost daily basis . ' | judge rules lisa jackson ca n't sue for race discrimination because she is white |
merkel <tsp> athens , greece ( cnn ) -- german chancellor angela merkel expressed solidarity with greece tuesday on a trip to athens , even as tens of thousands of greeks rallied to show their anger toward her over the hardship their country is suffering . critics see merkel as the main enforcer of the european union-imposed austerity measures that have left a large number of greeks unemployed and streaming to soup kitchens for a hot meal . police estimated that as many as 25,000 people turned out to demonstrate in central athens , despite a ban on protests in certain areas amid beefed-up security for merkel 's six-hour stay . merkel , who was making her first visit to athens in several years , spoke of greece as a partner and a friend to germany as she addressed reporters with greek prime minister antonis samaras . merkel noted that greece was going through a very difficult phase ' in which many people were suffering , but she insisted the debt-stricken nation had made progress in reducing its deficit and passing reforms . it 's for this reason that i would like to say that a huge part of the journey has already been accomplished , ' she said . germany and greece are going to work very closely together , ' she added , as fellow members of europe and the euro single currency . thousands protest austerity measures in greece samaras , whose coalition government is seeking new ways to implement budget cuts of 11.5 billion euros ( $ 14.49 billion ) to ensure the country receives another international bailout installment this month , also stressed the strong ties between the two nations . the greeks are proud and they know how to show support for their friends , and we welcome a friend here today , ' samaras said of merkel . greece would show those speculators who had wagered on its collapse and exit from the eurozone that they were wrong , he said . greek president karolos papoulias also welcomed merkel 's visit at what he said was a very difficult time for his people . they have nearly exhausted how much they can take . and of course we need to think of measures that will give hope to these people that are suffering , ' he said . those measures must include steps to boost growth and create jobs for young people and women , he told the german chancellor . merkel and samaras met with greek and german business leaders following their joint news conference . the crowds of protesters who gathered in syntagma square , by the greek parliament building , had largely dispersed by tuesday evening . earlier , a number of people were arrested after objects were thrown at riot police . many protesters , some of whom belong to labor unions and syriza , the radical-left opposition party , carried anti-merkel banners . merkel we are a free nation and not your colony , ' said one banner . another read , merkel raus ( out , in german ) . murderer of 3,500 greeks , ' a reference to the number of greeks who have taken their own lives , according to some estimates , as a result of the current hardship . before her visit , merkel told cnn she knows the austerity measures have been hard on some . it 's very bitter obviously , sacrifices need to be made , ' she said . but i think these are necessary measures that have to be taken , i think it was not easy for anyone to impose those measures on them , but these , i think , have been made on the background of great experience . ' analysts say that for merkel , who faces a general election next year , the athens trip also sends a message back home that she views greece as an integral part of europe . while some within her own governing coalition have spoken of the need for contingency plans for a possible greek exit from the euro , merkel has signaled that she would view that outcome as extremely risky . however , many german taxpayers are opposed to committing more european funds to greece . in return for international bailout funds , greece has agreed to the austerity program and labor market reforms -- measures that have led to violent street demonstrations in the past . speaking in syntagma square , syriza leader alexis tsipras said merkel had come to athens in support of samaras and his ministers while the people are on their knees ahead of new , barbaric measures . ' but , he said , her visit would allow the greek people to send a message to the rest of europe that they were stronger than those supporting the bankers and bailouts . the democratic tradition of europe will not allow a european people , the greek people , to be transformed into a crisis'guinea pig'and for greece to become a vast social cemetery . we will win in the end , because we are right and we are many , ' he said . to comply with the belt-tightening measures , salaries have been cut for many workers in greece , pensions and benefits have been slashed , and unemployment rates have soared . as of may , 53.8 % of greeks younger than 25 were unemployed , according to eurostat , the statistics division of the european commission . a number of those who demonstrated in athens on tuesday said it was the first time they had taken to the streets to protest the economic crisis -- a reflection , perhaps , of how widely the anger over austerity is now felt . many of the protesters were retirees , a group that has lost , in many cases , more than 30 % of its income since the crisis hit . retirees are also among the groups that will be most affected by the new measures to which greece must agree in order to receive the next tranche of its international bailout loan . maria kirioni , a 53-year-old civil servant , told cnn she was protesting for the first time since she was a university student . merkel does not know what is going on in greece . she only hears the politicians'voices . we must show her . it would be better if she stayed longer to see the reality , ' kirioni said . stella gianakopoulou , a 56-year-old schoolteacher who lived in wupertal , germany , for 18 years , said : merkel will cause the eruption of greek society , and then this will spread throughout southern europe . this may lead to a eurozone collapse . ' but rafael voulgarakis , a university student , welcomed the german chancellor 's visit . it is clearly positive , because as we know , germany is the largest power in europe at the moment and one of the largest powers in the world , ' he said . it is clear that the support of ms. merkel is good for our country and is needed . ' cnn ireporter margaret roesler , from minnesota , saw the buildup to the protest . it seemed like a fairly tense atmosphere , ' she said . the main road near our apartment was absolutely deserted , seems like everything shut down for the day . someone told us to use extreme caution and to leave as soon as possible , which we did . ' german foreign minister guido westerwelle told bild newspaper last week that greece deserves fairness and respect . ' he suggested that merkel 's visit represents a show of eurozone solidarity between nations that are fiscally healthy and those that are debt-ridden and battling savage cuts and social unrest . christoph weil , a senior economist at commerzbank , told cnn that merkel 's visit to athens comes as a surprise ' and that there was a significant risk that greece will exit the euro in the next two years . ' however , wolfango piccoli , director of eurasia group , says that the risk of a greek exit from the eurozone remains marginal ' at the moment and that the so-called troika -- the european commission , european central bank and international monetary fund -- will provide greece with the next tranche of bailout funds to meet its debt obligations . but piccoli warns that the country will have to undergo stringent austerity measures before creditors will release any funds . the vast majority will come from an additional round of cuts to wages and pensions . it 's going to be almost 8 billion euros of the 13.5 billion euros coming from that . the total cut is 11.5 billion euros and then 2 billion euros of additional taxes , ' he told cnn . on monday , the eurogroup -- a meeting of eurozone finance ministers -- convened in luxembourg to give the green light to the european stability mechanism , the 17-nation currency bloc 's permanent bailout fund . spain is expected to be the first country to make a request for financial aid from the esm . cnn 's elinda labropoulou , laura smith-spark , diana magnay and sarah brown contributed to this report . | critics see merkel as the main enforcer of internationally imposed austerity measures |
merkel <tsp> athens , greece ( cnn ) -- german chancellor angela merkel expressed solidarity with greece tuesday on a trip to athens , even as tens of thousands of greeks rallied to show their anger toward her over the hardship their country is suffering . critics see merkel as the main enforcer of the european union-imposed austerity measures that have left a large number of greeks unemployed and streaming to soup kitchens for a hot meal . police estimated that as many as 25,000 people turned out to demonstrate in central athens , despite a ban on protests in certain areas amid beefed-up security for merkel 's six-hour stay . merkel , who was making her first visit to athens in several years , spoke of greece as a partner and a friend to germany as she addressed reporters with greek prime minister antonis samaras . merkel noted that greece was going through a very difficult phase ' in which many people were suffering , but she insisted the debt-stricken nation had made progress in reducing its deficit and passing reforms . it 's for this reason that i would like to say that a huge part of the journey has already been accomplished , ' she said . germany and greece are going to work very closely together , ' she added , as fellow members of europe and the euro single currency . thousands protest austerity measures in greece samaras , whose coalition government is seeking new ways to implement budget cuts of 11.5 billion euros ( $ 14.49 billion ) to ensure the country receives another international bailout installment this month , also stressed the strong ties between the two nations . the greeks are proud and they know how to show support for their friends , and we welcome a friend here today , ' samaras said of merkel . greece would show those speculators who had wagered on its collapse and exit from the eurozone that they were wrong , he said . greek president karolos papoulias also welcomed merkel 's visit at what he said was a very difficult time for his people . they have nearly exhausted how much they can take . and of course we need to think of measures that will give hope to these people that are suffering , ' he said . those measures must include steps to boost growth and create jobs for young people and women , he told the german chancellor . merkel and samaras met with greek and german business leaders following their joint news conference . the crowds of protesters who gathered in syntagma square , by the greek parliament building , had largely dispersed by tuesday evening . earlier , a number of people were arrested after objects were thrown at riot police . many protesters , some of whom belong to labor unions and syriza , the radical-left opposition party , carried anti-merkel banners . merkel we are a free nation and not your colony , ' said one banner . another read , merkel raus ( out , in german ) . murderer of 3,500 greeks , ' a reference to the number of greeks who have taken their own lives , according to some estimates , as a result of the current hardship . before her visit , merkel told cnn she knows the austerity measures have been hard on some . it 's very bitter obviously , sacrifices need to be made , ' she said . but i think these are necessary measures that have to be taken , i think it was not easy for anyone to impose those measures on them , but these , i think , have been made on the background of great experience . ' analysts say that for merkel , who faces a general election next year , the athens trip also sends a message back home that she views greece as an integral part of europe . while some within her own governing coalition have spoken of the need for contingency plans for a possible greek exit from the euro , merkel has signaled that she would view that outcome as extremely risky . however , many german taxpayers are opposed to committing more european funds to greece . in return for international bailout funds , greece has agreed to the austerity program and labor market reforms -- measures that have led to violent street demonstrations in the past . speaking in syntagma square , syriza leader alexis tsipras said merkel had come to athens in support of samaras and his ministers while the people are on their knees ahead of new , barbaric measures . ' but , he said , her visit would allow the greek people to send a message to the rest of europe that they were stronger than those supporting the bankers and bailouts . the democratic tradition of europe will not allow a european people , the greek people , to be transformed into a crisis'guinea pig'and for greece to become a vast social cemetery . we will win in the end , because we are right and we are many , ' he said . to comply with the belt-tightening measures , salaries have been cut for many workers in greece , pensions and benefits have been slashed , and unemployment rates have soared . as of may , 53.8 % of greeks younger than 25 were unemployed , according to eurostat , the statistics division of the european commission . a number of those who demonstrated in athens on tuesday said it was the first time they had taken to the streets to protest the economic crisis -- a reflection , perhaps , of how widely the anger over austerity is now felt . many of the protesters were retirees , a group that has lost , in many cases , more than 30 % of its income since the crisis hit . retirees are also among the groups that will be most affected by the new measures to which greece must agree in order to receive the next tranche of its international bailout loan . maria kirioni , a 53-year-old civil servant , told cnn she was protesting for the first time since she was a university student . merkel does not know what is going on in greece . she only hears the politicians'voices . we must show her . it would be better if she stayed longer to see the reality , ' kirioni said . stella gianakopoulou , a 56-year-old schoolteacher who lived in wupertal , germany , for 18 years , said : merkel will cause the eruption of greek society , and then this will spread throughout southern europe . this may lead to a eurozone collapse . ' but rafael voulgarakis , a university student , welcomed the german chancellor 's visit . it is clearly positive , because as we know , germany is the largest power in europe at the moment and one of the largest powers in the world , ' he said . it is clear that the support of ms. merkel is good for our country and is needed . ' cnn ireporter margaret roesler , from minnesota , saw the buildup to the protest . it seemed like a fairly tense atmosphere , ' she said . the main road near our apartment was absolutely deserted , seems like everything shut down for the day . someone told us to use extreme caution and to leave as soon as possible , which we did . ' german foreign minister guido westerwelle told bild newspaper last week that greece deserves fairness and respect . ' he suggested that merkel 's visit represents a show of eurozone solidarity between nations that are fiscally healthy and those that are debt-ridden and battling savage cuts and social unrest . christoph weil , a senior economist at commerzbank , told cnn that merkel 's visit to athens comes as a surprise ' and that there was a significant risk that greece will exit the euro in the next two years . ' however , wolfango piccoli , director of eurasia group , says that the risk of a greek exit from the eurozone remains marginal ' at the moment and that the so-called troika -- the european commission , european central bank and international monetary fund -- will provide greece with the next tranche of bailout funds to meet its debt obligations . but piccoli warns that the country will have to undergo stringent austerity measures before creditors will release any funds . the vast majority will come from an additional round of cuts to wages and pensions . it 's going to be almost 8 billion euros of the 13.5 billion euros coming from that . the total cut is 11.5 billion euros and then 2 billion euros of additional taxes , ' he told cnn . on monday , the eurogroup -- a meeting of eurozone finance ministers -- convened in luxembourg to give the green light to the european stability mechanism , the 17-nation currency bloc 's permanent bailout fund . spain is expected to be the first country to make a request for financial aid from the esm . cnn 's elinda labropoulou , laura smith-spark , diana magnay and sarah brown contributed to this report . | police say 25,000 people joined a protest voicing anger over angela merkel 's visit |
eu <tsp> ( cnn ) -- hezbollah denounced the european union 's decision to list its military wing as a terrorist organization , calling the move aggressive and imbalanced . ' the iranian-backed lebanese shiite group is already viewed as a terrorist organization by the united states and israel . in recent months , it has joined forces with syrian president bashar al-assad in that country 's ongoing civil war . hezbollah issued a statement tuesday saying the eu 's decision monday was written by american hands using israeli ink ' and that all ( that ) was left for the europeans to do was to sign the document and approve the legislation . ' lebanese prime minister najib mikati said he hoped that the european union had read data and facts about hezbollah more thoroughly before making the decision , the state-run national news agency reported . the report did not specify what data about hezbollah the prime minister was referring to . hezbollah leader acknowledges fighters'presence in syria town the eu move the european union agreed to target just the military component , a european diplomat told cnn . critics of such an approach say designating part of an entity is n't effective or practical . but israeli justice minister tzipi livni 's spokeswoman called the decision correct and just , ' adding that it puts an end to the wrong argument ' that hezbollah 's military activities are absolved by the group 's political status . even if hezbollah is a political party , that does not whitewash and make legitimate their terrorist activities , ' the spokeswoman said . u.s. secretary of state john kerry said the move will have a significant impact on hezbollah 's ability to operate freely in europe by enabling european law enforcement agencies to crack down on hezbollah 's fundraising , logistical activity and terrorist plotting . ' as hezbollah has deepened its support for the brutal assad regime and worked to expand its global reach through increased involvement in international criminal schemes and terrorist plots around the world , a growing number of governments are recognizing hezbollah as the dangerous and destabilizing terrorist organization that it is , ' kerry said . the syrian national coalition , an affiliation of syrian dissident groups , praised the eu 's move -- but said the group could do more . we urge the european union to extend their decision to include all of hezbollah political officials who are part of the decision making ' of the party 's military wing , the snc said in a statement tuesday . the snc also called for the trial of all of hezbollah 's officials for their crimes of terrorism committed against our syrian people and on our soil . ' donilon : hezbollah not a'responsible political actor' hezbollah was formed after israel invaded lebanon in 1982 to go after the palestine liberation organization . the group has been accused of high-profile terror attacks over the years . opinion : time for g8 to make hezbollah statement ' hezbollah first gained notoriety in 1983 after it bombed the united states embassy in beirut -- an attack that killed 63 people , ' wrote tom donilon , president barack obama 's former national security adviser , in a new york times column this year . shortly thereafter , hezbollah bombed the american and french marine barracks in beirut , killing 241 americans and 58 french service members with one of the largest explosive devices ever detonated during a terrorist attack . ' the group also conducted a series of kidnappings , airplane hijackings and bombings in the 1980s and 1990s , donilon wrote . he said the group has tried to portray itself as a political entity focused on social services and defending the country . but it is an illusion to speak of hezbollah as a responsible political actor , ' donilon said . hezbollah remains a terrorist organization and a destabilizing force across the middle east . ' cnn 's tom cohen contributed to this report . | a syrian opposition group says praises the eu 's decision but says it can go further |
eu <tsp> ( cnn ) -- hezbollah denounced the european union 's decision to list its military wing as a terrorist organization , calling the move aggressive and imbalanced . ' the iranian-backed lebanese shiite group is already viewed as a terrorist organization by the united states and israel . in recent months , it has joined forces with syrian president bashar al-assad in that country 's ongoing civil war . hezbollah issued a statement tuesday saying the eu 's decision monday was written by american hands using israeli ink ' and that all ( that ) was left for the europeans to do was to sign the document and approve the legislation . ' lebanese prime minister najib mikati said he hoped that the european union had read data and facts about hezbollah more thoroughly before making the decision , the state-run national news agency reported . the report did not specify what data about hezbollah the prime minister was referring to . hezbollah leader acknowledges fighters'presence in syria town the eu move the european union agreed to target just the military component , a european diplomat told cnn . critics of such an approach say designating part of an entity is n't effective or practical . but israeli justice minister tzipi livni 's spokeswoman called the decision correct and just , ' adding that it puts an end to the wrong argument ' that hezbollah 's military activities are absolved by the group 's political status . even if hezbollah is a political party , that does not whitewash and make legitimate their terrorist activities , ' the spokeswoman said . u.s. secretary of state john kerry said the move will have a significant impact on hezbollah 's ability to operate freely in europe by enabling european law enforcement agencies to crack down on hezbollah 's fundraising , logistical activity and terrorist plotting . ' as hezbollah has deepened its support for the brutal assad regime and worked to expand its global reach through increased involvement in international criminal schemes and terrorist plots around the world , a growing number of governments are recognizing hezbollah as the dangerous and destabilizing terrorist organization that it is , ' kerry said . the syrian national coalition , an affiliation of syrian dissident groups , praised the eu 's move -- but said the group could do more . we urge the european union to extend their decision to include all of hezbollah political officials who are part of the decision making ' of the party 's military wing , the snc said in a statement tuesday . the snc also called for the trial of all of hezbollah 's officials for their crimes of terrorism committed against our syrian people and on our soil . ' donilon : hezbollah not a'responsible political actor' hezbollah was formed after israel invaded lebanon in 1982 to go after the palestine liberation organization . the group has been accused of high-profile terror attacks over the years . opinion : time for g8 to make hezbollah statement ' hezbollah first gained notoriety in 1983 after it bombed the united states embassy in beirut -- an attack that killed 63 people , ' wrote tom donilon , president barack obama 's former national security adviser , in a new york times column this year . shortly thereafter , hezbollah bombed the american and french marine barracks in beirut , killing 241 americans and 58 french service members with one of the largest explosive devices ever detonated during a terrorist attack . ' the group also conducted a series of kidnappings , airplane hijackings and bombings in the 1980s and 1990s , donilon wrote . he said the group has tried to portray itself as a political entity focused on social services and defending the country . but it is an illusion to speak of hezbollah as a responsible political actor , ' donilon said . hezbollah remains a terrorist organization and a destabilizing force across the middle east . ' cnn 's tom cohen contributed to this report . | hezbollah : the eu 's decision was written by american hands using israeli ink ' |
hezbollah <tsp> ( cnn ) -- hezbollah denounced the european union 's decision to list its military wing as a terrorist organization , calling the move aggressive and imbalanced . ' the iranian-backed lebanese shiite group is already viewed as a terrorist organization by the united states and israel . in recent months , it has joined forces with syrian president bashar al-assad in that country 's ongoing civil war . hezbollah issued a statement tuesday saying the eu 's decision monday was written by american hands using israeli ink ' and that all ( that ) was left for the europeans to do was to sign the document and approve the legislation . ' lebanese prime minister najib mikati said he hoped that the european union had read data and facts about hezbollah more thoroughly before making the decision , the state-run national news agency reported . the report did not specify what data about hezbollah the prime minister was referring to . hezbollah leader acknowledges fighters'presence in syria town the eu move the european union agreed to target just the military component , a european diplomat told cnn . critics of such an approach say designating part of an entity is n't effective or practical . but israeli justice minister tzipi livni 's spokeswoman called the decision correct and just , ' adding that it puts an end to the wrong argument ' that hezbollah 's military activities are absolved by the group 's political status . even if hezbollah is a political party , that does not whitewash and make legitimate their terrorist activities , ' the spokeswoman said . u.s. secretary of state john kerry said the move will have a significant impact on hezbollah 's ability to operate freely in europe by enabling european law enforcement agencies to crack down on hezbollah 's fundraising , logistical activity and terrorist plotting . ' as hezbollah has deepened its support for the brutal assad regime and worked to expand its global reach through increased involvement in international criminal schemes and terrorist plots around the world , a growing number of governments are recognizing hezbollah as the dangerous and destabilizing terrorist organization that it is , ' kerry said . the syrian national coalition , an affiliation of syrian dissident groups , praised the eu 's move -- but said the group could do more . we urge the european union to extend their decision to include all of hezbollah political officials who are part of the decision making ' of the party 's military wing , the snc said in a statement tuesday . the snc also called for the trial of all of hezbollah 's officials for their crimes of terrorism committed against our syrian people and on our soil . ' donilon : hezbollah not a'responsible political actor' hezbollah was formed after israel invaded lebanon in 1982 to go after the palestine liberation organization . the group has been accused of high-profile terror attacks over the years . opinion : time for g8 to make hezbollah statement ' hezbollah first gained notoriety in 1983 after it bombed the united states embassy in beirut -- an attack that killed 63 people , ' wrote tom donilon , president barack obama 's former national security adviser , in a new york times column this year . shortly thereafter , hezbollah bombed the american and french marine barracks in beirut , killing 241 americans and 58 french service members with one of the largest explosive devices ever detonated during a terrorist attack . ' the group also conducted a series of kidnappings , airplane hijackings and bombings in the 1980s and 1990s , donilon wrote . he said the group has tried to portray itself as a political entity focused on social services and defending the country . but it is an illusion to speak of hezbollah as a responsible political actor , ' donilon said . hezbollah remains a terrorist organization and a destabilizing force across the middle east . ' cnn 's tom cohen contributed to this report . | kerry : the move will allow european agencies to crack down on hezbollah 's fundraising |
hezbollah <tsp> ( cnn ) -- hezbollah denounced the european union 's decision to list its military wing as a terrorist organization , calling the move aggressive and imbalanced . ' the iranian-backed lebanese shiite group is already viewed as a terrorist organization by the united states and israel . in recent months , it has joined forces with syrian president bashar al-assad in that country 's ongoing civil war . hezbollah issued a statement tuesday saying the eu 's decision monday was written by american hands using israeli ink ' and that all ( that ) was left for the europeans to do was to sign the document and approve the legislation . ' lebanese prime minister najib mikati said he hoped that the european union had read data and facts about hezbollah more thoroughly before making the decision , the state-run national news agency reported . the report did not specify what data about hezbollah the prime minister was referring to . hezbollah leader acknowledges fighters'presence in syria town the eu move the european union agreed to target just the military component , a european diplomat told cnn . critics of such an approach say designating part of an entity is n't effective or practical . but israeli justice minister tzipi livni 's spokeswoman called the decision correct and just , ' adding that it puts an end to the wrong argument ' that hezbollah 's military activities are absolved by the group 's political status . even if hezbollah is a political party , that does not whitewash and make legitimate their terrorist activities , ' the spokeswoman said . u.s. secretary of state john kerry said the move will have a significant impact on hezbollah 's ability to operate freely in europe by enabling european law enforcement agencies to crack down on hezbollah 's fundraising , logistical activity and terrorist plotting . ' as hezbollah has deepened its support for the brutal assad regime and worked to expand its global reach through increased involvement in international criminal schemes and terrorist plots around the world , a growing number of governments are recognizing hezbollah as the dangerous and destabilizing terrorist organization that it is , ' kerry said . the syrian national coalition , an affiliation of syrian dissident groups , praised the eu 's move -- but said the group could do more . we urge the european union to extend their decision to include all of hezbollah political officials who are part of the decision making ' of the party 's military wing , the snc said in a statement tuesday . the snc also called for the trial of all of hezbollah 's officials for their crimes of terrorism committed against our syrian people and on our soil . ' donilon : hezbollah not a'responsible political actor' hezbollah was formed after israel invaded lebanon in 1982 to go after the palestine liberation organization . the group has been accused of high-profile terror attacks over the years . opinion : time for g8 to make hezbollah statement ' hezbollah first gained notoriety in 1983 after it bombed the united states embassy in beirut -- an attack that killed 63 people , ' wrote tom donilon , president barack obama 's former national security adviser , in a new york times column this year . shortly thereafter , hezbollah bombed the american and french marine barracks in beirut , killing 241 americans and 58 french service members with one of the largest explosive devices ever detonated during a terrorist attack . ' the group also conducted a series of kidnappings , airplane hijackings and bombings in the 1980s and 1990s , donilon wrote . he said the group has tried to portray itself as a political entity focused on social services and defending the country . but it is an illusion to speak of hezbollah as a responsible political actor , ' donilon said . hezbollah remains a terrorist organization and a destabilizing force across the middle east . ' cnn 's tom cohen contributed to this report . | hezbollah : the eu 's decision was written by american hands using israeli ink ' |
american <tsp> ( cnn ) -- hezbollah denounced the european union 's decision to list its military wing as a terrorist organization , calling the move aggressive and imbalanced . ' the iranian-backed lebanese shiite group is already viewed as a terrorist organization by the united states and israel . in recent months , it has joined forces with syrian president bashar al-assad in that country 's ongoing civil war . hezbollah issued a statement tuesday saying the eu 's decision monday was written by american hands using israeli ink ' and that all ( that ) was left for the europeans to do was to sign the document and approve the legislation . ' lebanese prime minister najib mikati said he hoped that the european union had read data and facts about hezbollah more thoroughly before making the decision , the state-run national news agency reported . the report did not specify what data about hezbollah the prime minister was referring to . hezbollah leader acknowledges fighters'presence in syria town the eu move the european union agreed to target just the military component , a european diplomat told cnn . critics of such an approach say designating part of an entity is n't effective or practical . but israeli justice minister tzipi livni 's spokeswoman called the decision correct and just , ' adding that it puts an end to the wrong argument ' that hezbollah 's military activities are absolved by the group 's political status . even if hezbollah is a political party , that does not whitewash and make legitimate their terrorist activities , ' the spokeswoman said . u.s. secretary of state john kerry said the move will have a significant impact on hezbollah 's ability to operate freely in europe by enabling european law enforcement agencies to crack down on hezbollah 's fundraising , logistical activity and terrorist plotting . ' as hezbollah has deepened its support for the brutal assad regime and worked to expand its global reach through increased involvement in international criminal schemes and terrorist plots around the world , a growing number of governments are recognizing hezbollah as the dangerous and destabilizing terrorist organization that it is , ' kerry said . the syrian national coalition , an affiliation of syrian dissident groups , praised the eu 's move -- but said the group could do more . we urge the european union to extend their decision to include all of hezbollah political officials who are part of the decision making ' of the party 's military wing , the snc said in a statement tuesday . the snc also called for the trial of all of hezbollah 's officials for their crimes of terrorism committed against our syrian people and on our soil . ' donilon : hezbollah not a'responsible political actor' hezbollah was formed after israel invaded lebanon in 1982 to go after the palestine liberation organization . the group has been accused of high-profile terror attacks over the years . opinion : time for g8 to make hezbollah statement ' hezbollah first gained notoriety in 1983 after it bombed the united states embassy in beirut -- an attack that killed 63 people , ' wrote tom donilon , president barack obama 's former national security adviser , in a new york times column this year . shortly thereafter , hezbollah bombed the american and french marine barracks in beirut , killing 241 americans and 58 french service members with one of the largest explosive devices ever detonated during a terrorist attack . ' the group also conducted a series of kidnappings , airplane hijackings and bombings in the 1980s and 1990s , donilon wrote . he said the group has tried to portray itself as a political entity focused on social services and defending the country . but it is an illusion to speak of hezbollah as a responsible political actor , ' donilon said . hezbollah remains a terrorist organization and a destabilizing force across the middle east . ' cnn 's tom cohen contributed to this report . | hezbollah : the eu 's decision was written by american hands using israeli ink ' |
peleliu <tsp> for more than two decades , chester nez kept silent about his role as one of the original navajo code talkers responsible for developing an unbreakable code during world war ii . his death wednesday at his home in albuquerque , new mexico , at age 93 was lamented by the marine corps as the end of an era -- for both the country and its armed forces . we mourn his passing but honor and celebrate the indomitable spirit and dedication of those marines who became known as the navajo code talkers , ' the marines said in a statement . nez was the last remaining of the original 29 navajos recruited by the marine corps to develop the legendary code that was used for vital communications during battle . he was a teenager when he was recruited in 1942 and assigned with the other code talkers to the marine corps'382nd platoon at camp pendleton . together , they created a code , including developing a dictionary . military authorities chose navajo as a code language because its syntax and tonal qualities were almost impossible for a non-navajo to learn , and it had no written form . the ranks of the navajo code talkers swelled to more than 300 by the end of the war in 1945 . the code talkers were forbidden from telling anyone about it -- not their fellow marines , not their families -- until their work was declassified in 1968 . the original 29 were presented with the congressional gold medal in 2001 by president george w. bush . in developing our code , we were careful to use everyday navajo words , so that we could memorize and retain the words easily , ' nez told cnn in 2011 while promoting his book code talker . ' i think that made our job easier , and i think it helped us to be successful in the heat of battle . ' still , nez said he worried every day that an error might cost the life of an american military service member . nez was among the code talkers who were shipped out to guadalcanal in 1942 , where the code talkers worked in teams of two , with one relaying and receiving messages while the other cranked the portable radio and listened for errors in transmission . that was my first combat experience , and there was a lot of suffering and a lot of the condition was real bad out there , ' he told cnn 's larry king in 2002 . nez also fought in guam and peleliu . when bombs dropped , generally we code talkers could n't just curl up in a shelter , ' nez wrote in his book . we were almost always needed to transmit information , to ask for supplies and ammunition , and to communicate strategies . and after each transmission , to avoid japanese fire , we had to move . ' the code talkers faced initial resistance from fellow marines who did not understand who they were and what they were doing . that changed once they understood the importance of the code , nez said . the navajo code baffled the japanese , who had successfuly deciphered codes used by the u.s. army . after the war , the japanese chief of intelligence , lt. general seizo arisue , admitted they were never able to crack the navajo code used by the marines and navy , according to the navy . nez was discharged in 1945 , but later volunteered to fight in the korean war . after the code talkers'exploits were declassified by the military , the group gained legendary status with books and , ultimately , a movie that was inspired by their stories . the recognition of the code talkers came late , but it has been good for my navajo people . i hope that this type of recognition continues across cultures , ' nez said . the 2002 film windtalkers , ' starring adam beach and nicolas cage , followed the fictional account of two marines assigned to protect two code talkers during the battle of saipan . i could understand when they sent the message and received on the other end , ' nez said . i could understand , and i could sit there and write it down myself . i still remember it . ' it was a far cry from his childhood , when he was forced to attend a boarding school and punished by the teachers for speaking navajo , according to his book . it 's a language , though , that appears lost even to many members of his own family . my own children do not speak navajo , although my daughter-in-law ... speaks it well , ' he said . nez said he decided to tell his story because he wanted to share the contributions and sacrifices of the navajo during world war ii . our navajo code was one of the most important military secrets of world war ii . the fact that the marines did not tell us navajo men how to develop that code indicated their trust in us and in our abilities , ' he said . the feeling that i could make it in both the white world and the navajo world began there , and it has stayed with me all of my life . for that i am grateful . ' the navajo nation 's flags have been ordered lowered in nez 's honor , president ben shelly said . people we have lost in 2014 | nez served as a code talker in the battles of guadalcanal , guam and peleliu |
nez <tsp> for more than two decades , chester nez kept silent about his role as one of the original navajo code talkers responsible for developing an unbreakable code during world war ii . his death wednesday at his home in albuquerque , new mexico , at age 93 was lamented by the marine corps as the end of an era -- for both the country and its armed forces . we mourn his passing but honor and celebrate the indomitable spirit and dedication of those marines who became known as the navajo code talkers , ' the marines said in a statement . nez was the last remaining of the original 29 navajos recruited by the marine corps to develop the legendary code that was used for vital communications during battle . he was a teenager when he was recruited in 1942 and assigned with the other code talkers to the marine corps'382nd platoon at camp pendleton . together , they created a code , including developing a dictionary . military authorities chose navajo as a code language because its syntax and tonal qualities were almost impossible for a non-navajo to learn , and it had no written form . the ranks of the navajo code talkers swelled to more than 300 by the end of the war in 1945 . the code talkers were forbidden from telling anyone about it -- not their fellow marines , not their families -- until their work was declassified in 1968 . the original 29 were presented with the congressional gold medal in 2001 by president george w. bush . in developing our code , we were careful to use everyday navajo words , so that we could memorize and retain the words easily , ' nez told cnn in 2011 while promoting his book code talker . ' i think that made our job easier , and i think it helped us to be successful in the heat of battle . ' still , nez said he worried every day that an error might cost the life of an american military service member . nez was among the code talkers who were shipped out to guadalcanal in 1942 , where the code talkers worked in teams of two , with one relaying and receiving messages while the other cranked the portable radio and listened for errors in transmission . that was my first combat experience , and there was a lot of suffering and a lot of the condition was real bad out there , ' he told cnn 's larry king in 2002 . nez also fought in guam and peleliu . when bombs dropped , generally we code talkers could n't just curl up in a shelter , ' nez wrote in his book . we were almost always needed to transmit information , to ask for supplies and ammunition , and to communicate strategies . and after each transmission , to avoid japanese fire , we had to move . ' the code talkers faced initial resistance from fellow marines who did not understand who they were and what they were doing . that changed once they understood the importance of the code , nez said . the navajo code baffled the japanese , who had successfuly deciphered codes used by the u.s. army . after the war , the japanese chief of intelligence , lt. general seizo arisue , admitted they were never able to crack the navajo code used by the marines and navy , according to the navy . nez was discharged in 1945 , but later volunteered to fight in the korean war . after the code talkers'exploits were declassified by the military , the group gained legendary status with books and , ultimately , a movie that was inspired by their stories . the recognition of the code talkers came late , but it has been good for my navajo people . i hope that this type of recognition continues across cultures , ' nez said . the 2002 film windtalkers , ' starring adam beach and nicolas cage , followed the fictional account of two marines assigned to protect two code talkers during the battle of saipan . i could understand when they sent the message and received on the other end , ' nez said . i could understand , and i could sit there and write it down myself . i still remember it . ' it was a far cry from his childhood , when he was forced to attend a boarding school and punished by the teachers for speaking navajo , according to his book . it 's a language , though , that appears lost even to many members of his own family . my own children do not speak navajo , although my daughter-in-law ... speaks it well , ' he said . nez said he decided to tell his story because he wanted to share the contributions and sacrifices of the navajo during world war ii . our navajo code was one of the most important military secrets of world war ii . the fact that the marines did not tell us navajo men how to develop that code indicated their trust in us and in our abilities , ' he said . the feeling that i could make it in both the white world and the navajo world began there , and it has stayed with me all of my life . for that i am grateful . ' the navajo nation 's flags have been ordered lowered in nez 's honor , president ben shelly said . people we have lost in 2014 | nez says recognition as a code talker came late , but was good when it did |
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